As I read chapters 18 and 19 of Genesis something significant occurred to me. “Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know,’” (Genesis 18:20-21). This was when the Lord visited Abraham. When the angels visited Lot they told him in chapter 19:13: “The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”
We said in a previous message that the Lord didn’t keep Abraham and Sarah’s sin against them, for He had no law by which He could judge it. Why then did He keep these horrible sins of the men of Sodom against them? Someone had cried out against it. Prayers went up to God to do something about the behaviour of those men. This gave the Lord the mandate to act against these sinners and destroy the sin.
How often do we cry out to the Lord against the sin of our fellow citizens – both of our respective countries and of the Kingdom of God? “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven,” (Matthew 5:44-45). If we love those who hate and persecute us we would not like any harm to come to them, would we? When we ignore the horrible sins that destroy relationships, such as abortion and pornography, do we love the people affected by it? Someone cried out to God against Sodom’s sin and the acceptable judgement then was death. However, Jesus died for everybody’s sin and therefore we should pray in love that the Lord would get rid of the sin, but spare the person. We therefore need to pray for their salvation.
Are those who bully and persecute you on your prayer list? It’s not easy, I know. A while ago I’ve been severely persecuted, after which I felt hurt and shaken, but I had a promise the Lord gave me recently, which gave me hope: “I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless,” (Jeremiah 15:20-21).
Although I have prayed much for my persecuters' salvation in the past, it took me some time to start praying for them after this last incident. When I see them again I would have to love them as well, acting in the love of Christ that is in me, and not in the bitterness and hatred that the sinful nature gladly would bestow on me. Jesus prayed on the cross “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:34). Satan is the force behind persecution and instigates people to make life difficult for us. E.g. when Judas had betrayed Jesus, he did it under Satan’s instigation and once it was done, Satan left him and only then Judas realised what he had done. At the time he was blinded.
Only the Lord can open the eyes of those blinded by the devil - though our outcries in prayer.
The same applies when another Christian sins. “If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life,” (1 John 5:16). We are responsible for each other. When you are in the situation it is difficult to see or overcome your sin, unless the Lord reveals it to you when someone has prayed for you and talks to you about it (Matthew 18:15-17 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18:15-17&version=NIV1984).
Lord, help me to care for those who sin and do not realise it.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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