2009 and the Victory of the Lord

The New Year is upon us and I'm sure, as seems to be the case at this time of year, we have reflected upon the past year and are thinking of the year ahead of us. Let me take this opportunity to bless you and to wish you God's goodness and fullness of joy in the year ahead.

It has probably not escaped your notice that tensions in the Middle East have heated up and there is renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas. As I sit writing this latest edition to my blog, Israel has just dramatically and decisively escalated its war against the forces of Hamas. Israeli tanks, ground forces and gun ships have cut through and, according to reports from Fox News, divided the Gaza strip into 3 different areas in an attempt to keep the Palestinian forces from joining together, rearming themselves and repelling the Israeli attack. The stated objective of Israel is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure along with their mortar and missile sites. While I certainly have my opinions regarding this latest round of fighting, there are others far more versed in the complexities and nuances on both sides of the issue and I would direct your attention to them. An excellent website for in depth analysis on this subject is Joel Rosenberg's Weblog. I highly recommend it.

Allow me, though, to direct your attention to a proactive and healthy response to world events and the year that lies ahead. My desire is to leave with you the strong and glorious belief and conviction, that God is victorious and that His purposes will not fail and you and I play a part in the victory that He will win. I am more convinced today than I have ever been that the prayers of the saints are key to God's overall victory and the accomplishment of Jesus Christ's mission here on earth. Allow me to remind all of us that Jesus Christ is coming and He will not be stopped, nor will His plans be thwarted. "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him." Revelation 1:7. The victory of God is the coming of His Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. That is our hope in these days of evil. That is our glory and joy in these times of trial. We are, as Paul reveals, "...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13.

What I want you to see and understand is the connection that exists between God's victory and our prayers. Not that you might need convincing, but I want you to recognize that there is a direct correlation and need for God's people here on earth to be bathing these days, events and times in prayer. I cannot say it any clearer than this, your prayers are God's means of accomplishing the victory of Jesus Christ over this world.

What is transpiring today in Israel and Gaza is not new. You know that. It's older than the hills. Strife, tension, conflict and war have been part of this region and the lives of its people for centuries. In Isaiah 37 we read that Jerusalem finds itself under threat of attack and defeat. Her enemies, the Assyrians, not at all unlike her enemies of today, we're bent on destruction. As a matter of fact, vs. 11 says the kings of Assyria were "devoting" all lands to destruction. Vs. 14, though, records Hezekiah's response to the threat against Israel, he went up to the house of the Lord and prayed. Hezekiah prayed for the rescue of Israel and God delivered. Vs. 36 records that an angel of the Lord went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. The great battles facing us today are fought not with swords, but the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is fought for in the souls of men and women. It is fought under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. It is fought and won through deeds of love, acts of mercy, lives of compassion, humility of spirit and knees bent in prayer. God's purposes will not be hindered, nor will they be derailed. He will accomplish what He has set forth and He will be victorious. Hezekiah shows us that victory comes when we humble ourselves and pray.
In 2009, may we devote ourselves to praying for God's victory to come. May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May we pray for boldness, courage and tenacity to love people, share Jesus and lives changed.