COMMENTARY

Barbara Atkin

A CALL TO BATTLE

Don and I have been receiving so many urgent requests for prayer these past few weeks that it is almost overwhelming. We learned of three new tragic situations today! Christians in both our natural family and spiritual family are being ferociously attacked ... mostly by severe infirmities, but also by financial attacks, and other tribulations that seem to have no solutions.

As we try to pray for all of them, a portion of scripture in Psalm 118:10-14 comes to mind:

"All nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. They surrounded me like bees." (The attacks are so numerous, and coming so fast, that it is like being attacked by a swarm of bees, trying to fight them off, feeling overwhelmed because there are so many.)

However, this scripture continues,

"They were quenched like a fire of thorns; for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. You pushed me violently that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation."

In David Wilkerson’s recent newsletter, he states:

"I am convinced that right now the faith of the body of Christ is under fierce satanic attack. All the demonic hordes of hell, Satan’s amassed principalities and powers of darkness, are waging an all-out war against the faith of God’s saints.

"We know that Satan has always brought intense attacks against God’s people, causing awful suffering. For centuries, the blood of martyrs has been spilled. Godly saints like Job have been tried severely. But the onslaught against the faithful we see today is Satan’s last stand.

"Just as wickedness abounds around the world today, so do the afflictions and trials of God’s church. We’re seeing an unprecedented barrage of sickness, affliction, trouble after trouble, one problem and another – all of which make an overcoming life seem impossible to any believer. Yet, all that we are facing right now is supernatural:

"‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’"

These aren’t prayer requests for minor sicknesses that we are receiving, but most on our personal prayer list are suffering with cancer and other life-threatening, debilitating diseases. As David Wilkerson has observed, on our own personal prayer list we see a barrage of severe afflictions.

Daily, we are also receiving urgent, heart-rending requests for prayer from our brothers and sisters in Kenya. They are seeing murderers coming into their towns and killing people with machetes, knives, boards with nails! Some of the pastors there have dozens of relatives and members of their flocks coming to stay in the pastors’ small homes because their houses have been burnt. One pastor said that he has buried four of his people. They are experiencing a taste of hell there right now, and are crying out for our prayers!

My appeal to the body of Christ is that we become acutely aware of what is happening, put on our spiritual armor, and go to battle!

"Onward, Christian soldiers, marching unto war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ the royal Master, leads against the foe.

Forward into battle, see His banners go.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,

But the church of Jesus constant will remain.

Gates of hell can never ‘gainst that church prevail.

We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.

"Onward, Christian soldiers, marching unto war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before."

Some of us have sung these words forever. Have they sunk into our hearts? It is time to stop merely singing, and begin marching! We are at war! We see our Christian loved ones being struck down, many in a day, and we can’t just sit calmly by. The burden is great. We need your help! That portion of the body that is under attack needs your help!

How do we war against these attacks of the enemy? Let’s look at Ephesians 6:10-18:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

"Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints."

II Corinthians 10:3,4 tells us:

"Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God."

BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION, AND SOUND AN ALARM IN MY HOLY MOUNTAIN!!!