Don’t Let Our Most Powerful Weapon Get Rusty!

Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him reprove me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. --- Psalm 141:5

One of many issues hammered into the members of Platoon 511 many years ago at Parris Island, South Carolina was the care and use of our M-1 rifles. They were to be cleaned, maintained and ready for use at all times.

One of the greatest and most offensive acts of which a Marine could be guilty was to allow rust to accumulate on his rifle – even more serious than having unpolished shoes worn with an unpressed uniform, which was considered a serious offense in itself.

The wrath of a U.S.M.C. drill instructor upon discovering rust on a recruit’s rifle is beyond description – no words in our English language can fully define it!

How beneficial it would be if we would maintain a similar vigilance regarding rust gathering on a most powerful weapon made available to every Christian. It is the weapon of prayer -- never forget, it is precisely that!

Sadly, there is too often failure to recognize prayer at times is to be utilized as an offensive weapon in the battle against evil in its many forms of expression – one of those being in the misuse of power and influence in a system of government.

Review again the words of a man who knew what it was to pray in regard to the threat of evil – “For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.”

Our republic is embroiled in controversy due to the greatest power grab attempt in its entire history! We are plagued with political leaders who want to control every aspect of our lives. It began with control of financial institutions and the auto industries. Now there is an all out open assault to force us to accept government controlled health care!

Those in open opposition and who are making their objections know through town hall events, personal contacts with legislators and communications with the executive branch of our government are being labeled in the most vicious ways. They are called un-American, mobs, AstroTurf, compared to Nazis with swastikas, etc. There is also hard evidence that ACORN, unions, and other Obama supporters are attempting to infiltrate these gatherings and mute the dissent.

If you believe miracles can take place through prayer, then clean the rust off the weapon that may have been neglected for too long and begin praying against the deeds of the wicked who sit in high and powerful places in this republic.

Pray specifically that God will return upon their heads the “fruit of their doings!” This is a Biblical expression by the way, and it is demonstrated from time to time in ancient Israelite history. God does bring upon a person or a group the “fruits” of their actions when they are resolved to disregard the standards God has laid down in terms of responsible conduct – especially when you are in the powerful position of governing!

Since the evidence is overwhelming that Obama & Co. (his chief of staff, his V.P., his appointees at the Cabinet level, his multitude of “czars”) are not the least concerned about seeking and doing the will of God, nor seeking the blessing of God upon our republic, then it behooves us to pray that God will deal with them in such a way that all will know this one thing – you cannot defy God and reach a fulfilling and satisfactory goal!

So get the rust off that weapon and use it – and see how quickly God does something that will put the fear into the hearts of all, leading to full scale repentance – including elected officials!

We are long since past the point of simply praying, “God bless (name of elected official).” It is time to pray that God will deal with them according to their deeds and their words -- promises made but not kept. Worst of all, and you can sink no lower than this -- to agressively sanction the mass destruction of unborn children is such an abomination that no culture and its leaders can ultimately survive! Further, if they will not bring themselves into compliance with His divine will, then may God remove them from their positions in whatever way He sees fit!

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. --- James 5:17, 18

Prayer Is Also a Weapon -- Use It!

Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him reprove me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. --- Psalm 141:5

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. --- James 5:16-18

The concept of prayer for a large number of people consists mainly in seeking something from God -- it boils down to asking God for blessings and if one is in some kind of "crisis" dilemma, then you ask God for help and that He would get you out of the trouble in which you find yourself.

Some may go a bit further and say that we ought to give God thanks and express gratitude for good things He has granted. At that one special time of the year, in between a turkey dinner and a plethora of football games, we may be reminded to pray a bit and offer up an expression of gratitude!

Prayer is much more than what has been mentioned, and that includes use of prayer as a "weapon." Note the statements in Psalm 141 as mentioned above -- about praying against the "deeds of the wicked." Then we are informed of one person who did this very thing -- Elijah prayed that it would not rain and for 3 1/2 years God turned off the spigot when it came to rain events in the northern kingdom of ancient Israel. Its king was Ahab with a rather notorious wife named Jezebel -- she was a good missionary -- she brought all her heathen deities with her when she married Ahab and Baal worship was widely promoted and accepted -- perhaps the people were excitedly proclaiming the fact that now they were a "diverse" people with different ideas about belief systems and worship just as has been happening in the mainline denominations today -- you hear a lot about celebrating "diversity" in the United Methodist Church at the present time!

Ahab confronted Elijah and accused him of causing trouble in the kingdom -- it's a fascinating encounter -- I'll let you hunt it up and see what adventures Elijah had as he used prayer as a weapon.

There is a lot of wickedness in our culture and even big name people can be a part of it -- they live it and actively promote it at times! So pray "against" them -- that God will return upon their heads the "fruit of their doings!" This last expression is Biblical by the way -- you can see references to it from time to time.

Try that approach for instance with the guys who mutilate and murder unborn children! Or with elected officials who act more out of self-interest and self-preservation than they do for the interests and well being of the citizens they are supposed to represent! Or with those in the entertainment industry with their repulsive display of immorality and ungodly influence upon our young folks! And don't forget other ways those who are wicked in their ways have a destructive influence on our young -- those who traffic in drugs and alcohol -- those who influence the young with "music" (term used loosely) laced with lyrics encouraging immoral and violent conduct -- those who teach our young that we have "evolved" from lower life forms rather than being a special creation, with each person known and identified by God before conception in the womb and for whom there is a special place in God's overall plan for His creation. This last problem on origins is to be compared to an intellectual cancer which is out of control in the majority of educational institutions throughout the U.S. starting at the elementary level and continuing all the way through the graduate school level!

And just maybe with the resulting calamities that come about, there may be some who will actually repent of their wickedness and seek the mercy and forgiveness of God so wonderfully offered in and through His Son, Jesus Christ!

But we also are sobered with the historical record that in Elijah's case, it didn't do any good -- the kingdom continued down the slippery slope toward impending judgment and ultimate collapse. It doesn't exist anymore.

So, shake the dust off that weapon and be sure to use it every day -- you have to keep working at it because it's virtually impossible to fully identify all the wickedness which exists within a republic known as the United States of America! But sensitivity to what God has revealed in His Word about the patterns of wickedness and enlightenment provided by the Holy Spirit, we will be able to see more clearly where it is concentrated and then pray against it!

In a sense we who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord find ourselves surrounded by the "lions" of wickedness in a variety of forms -- and we are constantly pressured to go along with the ungodliness of our culture without objection or saying something that may "offend" somebody! Nonsense! Get out that weapon and use it -- see what great things God can and will do -- if He shut the mouths of hungry lions in the presence of His servant, Daniel, He can bring all manner of chaos into the lives of those who live and promote the ways of wickedness!

And a PS: Do you remember what happened to that bunch which conspired against Daniel with the result that he was thrown into the lions den? They and all the members of their families were pitched into the den and this time the lions had a feast -- God allowed them to gorge themselves. Yes, wickedness does pay off, but not in a very pleasant way ultimately!

It is time for You to act, O LORD, for they have regarded Your law as void. Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold! Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. --- Psalm 119:126-128