A Message From Anne Graham Lotz

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Isaiah 60:1-2

Terrorist attacks in Paris, Colorado Springs, and San Bernardino have left us ashen-faced and horrified. Polarization within political parties, corruption at the highest levels of government, name-calling of opponents, character assassination of those who disagree, lies spun as truth, brutality covered up, the economy propped-up are just some issues that are contributing to our sense that America is unraveling. We no longer trust our government, our leaders, our bankers, our police officers, our newspapers, our business partners, our investors, our neighbors…even our religious leaders.

As I look ahead into 2016, I believe our national and global situation will get worse. A good friend has focused my attention on Isaiah 60:1-2 as a word from the Lord for the New Year: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. I can feel the encroaching darkness of evil that is like a heavy moral and spiritual fog. It’s permeating our nation at every level. At the very same time that our nation is enveloped in thick darkness, God commands us to arise, let our Light shine, and the distinctive glory of our Lord will be obvious to all.

These conflicting thoughts of thick darkness and light, of encroaching evil and glory, are on my mind during these days before Christmas. I have been meditating on 2 Chronicles 20 in which Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was warned that a vast army was coming against him. As I put myself in his place, I asked myself, what do we do when we are warned of the enemy’s advance? The answer was given in the next verse: Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord…1 Jehoshaphat led God’s people in a prayer that was a desperate heart’s cry for help.

I have been repeatedly warned in my spirit that the enemy is advancing. It’s something that I know. And I feel compelled, like Jehoshaphat, to lead God’s people also in a desperate prayer for help before we plunge past the point of no return into the abyss of God’s judgment.

The glory is that God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer by reassuring him, Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged… the Lord will be with you.2

What is the position we are to take up? I believe it’s a position on our knees as we humble ourselves, seek God’s face, repent of our sin, and intercede for our nation. Then having done all, we stand firm in our faith that God has heard and will answer our prayer.

Please join with me for one hour on the first day of the first month…January 1, 2016… as together we fast and PREPRAYER for the New Year.

For more information go to:

http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/category/messages-from-gods-word/latest-from-anne/

 

Joyful, Joyful...

It’s December 14, 2015--less than two weeks from Christmas--and everywhere we turn, we are confronted with the news of terrorists, killings, distrust among people and nations. Fear is holding many of us hostage.

People are afraid today--afraid to fly, afraid to go to sporting events or shopping malls. Yet we have a reason to sing--to be joyful. This is a season of celebration--we remember the day that God left heaven and came to earth as a baby. He came to bring peace to our hearts and to save us from our sins--to give us an abundant life on earth and eternal life with Him forever. He has power over everything. Can the cares of the world really overshadow this great truth? As I watched this video (see link below), I felt sad--sad that our times are so troubled and full of turmoil. But then I was reminded that we have a reason to sing, even when times are the darkest because, no matter how dark it gets, we know the God who is working out His plan for all mankind. Are we going to be full of desperation and despair like those who have no hope, or will we show the world that knowing Jesus and celebrating His birth brings joy and peace to our hearts?

http://youtu.be/Vnt7euRF5Pg

 

Loving Your "Enemies"

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48

Who is your enemy? Some of us have real enemies--people who want to harm us in some way. Then there are those that we just disagree with. Some in the Church view the gay community and abortion rights proponents as their enemy, and they treat them with contempt and even hatred. They, in turn, hate us back. The overall message in these verses from Matthew is that we are to show the world that we are different. Regardless of who we consider to be our enemy, no matter what they have done, we are to show love. Were we once sinners? Did Christ not die for us, in spite of the things we had done? We are to demonstrate the same attitude as our Father and our Brother demonstrated towards us:

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8