During the American Civil War (1861-1865) fought over the issue of slavery, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer for April 30, 1863. “Nations like individuals are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world… We have forgotten God… too proud to pray to the God that made us.” On July 4, 1863, the Confederate forces surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Siege and Battle of Vicksburg and giving control of the Mississippi River and the West to the Union. Likewise, the Confederate invasion of the North was halted at the Battle of Gettysburg, where General Robert E. Lee was forced to withdraw on July 4, 1863. Understandably, military historians view this as the turning point of the war. “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14 KJV).
Spiritual Warfare
The Courts of Heaven
God rules sovereignly from Heaven but not arbitrarily. In the Unseen Realm, “God [Hebrew, ělôhîym, ruler, judge, divine one, angel] has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [Hebrew, ělôhîym] He holds judgment” (Psalms 82:1 ESV). With the Supreme Judge of All the Earth (Genesis 18:25), both Abraham and Moses pleaded cases before His court and won (Genesis 18:25; Numbers 14:13-20). Why should Yahweh allow Himself to be persuaded by a mere mortal in prayer? “Remind Me of what happened! Let’s debate! You, prove to Me that you are right [Hebrew, tsadeq, acquitted, justified, vindicated, declared right]!” (Isaiah 43:26 NET). God desires us to enter into intimate relation with Him to form a more perfect union, when we argue our case in the Courts of Heaven using all our intellect, understanding, experience, emotion, and feeling, thus bonding to Him with all our strength for eternity.
God Has Got Your Back
“I’ve got your back” is what we would hear from a trusted friend, who is looking out for our best interests, like ‘eyes in the back of our head.’ When a military formation advances or especially retreats, a rear guard must protect its interests from behind. David had his Jonathan looking out for him, where he wasn’t looking. Most importantly, Jehovah looks out for those who put their confidence in Him. “For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward [Hebrew, ‘âsaph, rearguard]” (Isaiah 52:12 KJV). God has got your back is the assurance of all those who put their trust in Him.
Good Thoughts: Only From God
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17 KJV). Substitute “thought” for “gift,” and it becomes clear our “good” and “perfect” thoughts come from God alone. What about all the other thoughts? We choose to whom we subject our thoughts — all of them. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness” (Romans 6:16). Thought warfare is Total Warfare for God.
Who Doesn’t Root for the Underdog?
Later today, Brock Purdy #13 quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers will take the field in Super Bowl LVIII against defending Super Bowl champ, Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15, who has won two Super Bowls. Most everyone knows about Kansas City Chief’s tight end Travis Kelce #87’s dating relationship with Taylor Swift, the world renowned pop singer. But, 49ers Brock Purdy is an underdog, who has flown under the radar as a player overlooked in high school, given a chance at Iowa State University, the last player drafted by the 49ers, one of the 49ers’ lowest paid players this season at $934,252, and still drives a Toyota Sequoia. As one of the pass completion leaders in the NFL (2023), Purdy took the place of injured starting quarterbacks, demonstrated calmness under stress on the field, has been praised for humility by fellow players, and is a professing Christian. David was an underdog, a young man, who as a shepherd killed a bear and a lion protecting his father’s sheep (1Samuel 17:36). When the giant, Goliath of Gath (a Nephilim) defied Israel, David volunteered to kill him. “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee” (17:37 KJV). David won. We, too, may be underdogs. But, may our desire for God to be magnified in the earth cause us to dream, work, and pray for His Kingdom to come, and His Will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.
Do Not Relinquish Your Life Lightly
Though Christians may be willing to lay down their lives for Christ, we must be willing to endure the often difficulty of living for Christ. I’ve heard stories of Christians competing for the honor of sacrificing their physical lives for the cause of Christ. This is noble, if we are just as willing to endure the suffering for Christ, should we live. “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My [Christ’s] strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Corinthians 12:9 KJV).
I Can Do All Things
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Humanism makes large about the abilities of man. Christianity is about our need for Christ. Through Christ we understand our humanity only has meaning because of Christ. Only through Christ are we truly able to do anything worth doing. The enemy cannot win, if we rely only upon Christ.
Obey God
“Obedience to a law of disobedience is disobedience. And disobedience to a law of disobedience is obedience.” The Josiah Manifesto: The Ancient Mystery & Guide for the End Times by Jonathan Cahn. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1 KJV). “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29 KJV). “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
KEYWORDS: Obedience, Disobedience, Serve the LORD, Spiritual Warfare, Supernatural Warfare
Greatness for God
“According to biblical prophecy, the end times will be marked by the increase of evil but also by the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Thus it will be marked both by great good and great evil. Thus the end-time believers must aspire not only to goodness—but to greatness. They must seek to become great in faith, great in love, great in righteousness, great in prayer, great in purity, great in worship, great in zeal, great in hope, great in joy, great in goodness, great in God.” The Josiah Manifesto: The Ancient Mystery & Guide for the End Times by Jonathan Cahn. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:28-31 KJV).
Age of Polarization
“In an age of polarization, when the darkness is purging itself of its grayness to become wholly dark, the light must, likewise, purge itself of its own grayness to become wholly light. If the darkness is to become darker, the lights must shine all the more bright.” The Josiah Manifesto: The Ancient Mystery & Guide for the End Times by Jonathan Cahn. A wholehearted separation unto the LORD will become more manifest in our lives, when our consecration is more than superficial. “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matthew 4:16 KJV).
We Need A Miracle 
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