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For Those Who Weep In Zion

Bob Neumann

Published on ETPV on April 18, 1999

Dearest Children of the Father, In the last three days I have been sent numerous posts from numerous individuals ”caught up” in this spreading web in the Balkans. There have been first hand accounts of the horrors of war from those still inside, and from those who recently have taken sanctuary in Hungary, Macedonia, or elsewhere. >From among these posts have come requests for prayer. Some ask for prayer for the displaced Kosovars. Others ask for prayer for the innocent Serbs. There are a few that are calling for Christians to pray that NATO “repents” of their crimes and stop the bombing. The one who asked/demanded this is a “Serbian Pastor”….Protestant/Evangelical/Pentecostal I believe.

I always wondered how ”political” GOD really is.

Years ago as an impressionable lad I watched a satirical commentary. It occurred on a program called “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In”. In this skit the members of the comedy troupe each made one short statement. Artie Johnson in his German Soldier Persona began the presentation by declaring: ”GOD is on our side.” One by one an American GI, a Japanese Soldier, a Scots Guardsman, an Israeli Tanker, and a Palestinian Terrorist each declared “GOD is on our side….”. At the completion Dan Rowen stepped before the camera and asked “Whose side is GOD really on?

Now this program was part of America in the Sixties. Vietnam was a place where a very ”unsanitary” war was being waged. The country was divided and torn apart. Today commentators ask if Kosovo/Yugoslavia can become another “Vietnam”. Concerning the possibility, many in Congress are asking for ”serious” debate prior to the committing of ”ground troops” to active incursion into Yugoslavia.

If you go by most of the commentaries coming from the Serbian members in our “Christian” camp, the majority place NATO and America as the aggressors and the cause of this conflict. Most non-Serb members of our thing called ”the church” who witnessed NATO ordinance from ground level side with the native Serbs. I can not blame them. Hearing the roar of incoming Tomahawk missiles and the rattle of AAA batteries will prejudice any opinion. Too bad these pleas for prayers from this direction seldom mention the Kosovars except in passing. For you see there will be few ”missionaries” that were among the Kosovars asking for prayer because what few were there may never get out. But there were very few indeed among the MOSLEM ALBANIAN KOSOVARS.

So how do I pray? As an American for the safety of American Airman, Sailors, Marines, and Soldiers? For their families who are worried that any day personal tragedy can and does occur? Do a pray as an emotional Christian for every prayer request that comes my way?

Or do I do the unexpected and ask THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT how to pray?

For you see, the majority of the prayer requests that I have seen are at best conflicting, at worst manipulative. Regrettably most prayer by and in the ”church” is in ”conflict” with the will of GOD. To manipulate GOD to serve man through man’s prayer and fasting all to often is the purpose of our prayers.

Yes, I include myself for I too believed that if I prayed long enough, often enough, good enough I would get “it”. That “it’ was whatever I decided to “name it and claim it” to be. My ”heart’s desire” God had to cough up. Many books say it right out front. Many preach it openly. But no matter how it is presented or who presents it, it is still a lie. The LIE simply is ignoring what GOD might want, and ‘PUSH’ what ”I” want.

Anyone remember “PUSH”….Pray Until Something Happens. I heard this over and over. But it was a long time before anyone told me GOD can say “NO!”. Then there were those who said don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. I was messed up by man real bad. Then one day I met GOD. YHVH. and He scared me silly.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD….happens the first time usually when we do not expect it. So many talk about it and preach it, yet sneer when I say ”scared silly”. They just don’t have it. It is not something easily forgotten and ignored. In fact, the closer you ”press in”, to use a much used and popular phrase, the more real HE IS….ALL HE IS becomes more apparent. When David commands us to “CLAP YOUR HANDS ALL YOU PEOPLE AND SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH” it is because of first hand experience listening to the ARMY OF GOD at the top of the mulberry trees. When David says GOD is a GREAT AND TERRIBLE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH, it was not to write a cute worship song with easily remembered chorus.

The WORD SAYS :

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (KJV)

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ”

The situation in the Balkans is not of this world. It manifests deadly and ugly no matter how humane we attempt to make it. Little of the problems, troubles, and general sin of and in this world can be found as originating with man. We’ve been helped along this way by many unwanted ”players”. As Paul really tried to teach us, this is a cosmic battle of/for which mankind are both the victims and the perpetrators of ”violence”, ”iniquity”, and ”perversion”.

Isaiah instructed us of a coming time, and a specific action….

²⁰ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

²¹ For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Has anyone remembered that the KING COMES to judge the earth?

As a ”watchman” I called out warnings. So did many others. Kosovo is as good a place as any for the ”rulers of the darkness of this world” to begin their final assault for the THRONE OF GOD. These rulers may not yet believe they have lost. All evidence would seem to show that they have not changed any of their strategies, just escalate them as time gets closer. We are to ”enter our chambers” and wait upon the LORD”. Our only weapon given to us is HIS SWORD….THE WORD OF GOD. In Ephesians that term “word” is RHEMA. Which means we must listen to the direction of THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT, who will direct our warfare in the heavenlies as we raise supplication as we are ”watching”….persevering on behalf of the saints.

We are not to be praying for one side or another. We are to pray for all our brothers and sisters as we all pray as THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT directs. Some of us may be called to pray in ways we have never prayed before. But we have to trust ABBA, people. It is not going to be easy if you prefer to follow your old patterns and all your favorite cliches. Do not rely on past experiences, or your own ”understanding” of how things should be. What is required is being willing to listen irregardless of all the noise around us, and choosing to walk in complete obedience in spite of the consequences.

Of those of you who already hear the call to ”go over the wall”, to engage the enemy, you are not alone. Do not try to induce others to join you unless THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT directs you to. Few are called to this line of battle. Few are called to any of them for that matter. Each of us who have chosen to serve GOD, has a place and a purpose. Do what you are called to do and pray for each other unknowing of anything except for what THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT imparts.

Do not be deceived by ”the smoke and mirrors” that the world will throw up from time to time. The Enemy still comes to steal, kill, and destroy. His patterns do not change. Deception, Distraction, Division, Discouragement, Depression, Delusion, Defilement are the major weapons in his arsenal….and we have all felt their blows the last few weeks. It is time to get over our personal pains, problems, and plans to do the work of THE KING.

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON THE EARTH RIGHT NOW ! !

is our Battle Cry. Try it out loud…it feels real good….

selah old dog

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