It is difficult to have the right words to say after deliberate acts of evil. It is heartbreaking to see so many people hurt. We must remember that God is the God of peace, comfort, and hope. As Paul reminds us, God is the “God of all comfort, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble.” I pray that those who have been affected by the violence in Orlando will have that become a reality for them.
May the believers, in particular, find the attributes of the Holy Spirit becoming real to them; He is our Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby. We need our family in Christ to have the strength to stand up and be light in the middle of that dark situation!
The combination of senselessness of violence and seemingly planned acts of terror is mind-boggling and potentially fear-inducing. That’s why I want to remind you that your authority as a believer has not changed. Jesus’ words about our authority are still true:
Verily I say unto you whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(Matt. 18:18)Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.
(Luke 10:19 AMP)
The kingdom of darkness must always bow to the kingdom of God’s eternal light—as long as the authority of those in His kingdom is exercised! That’s the part that is up to you. James 4:7 tells us that when we resist the devil, he has to flee from us—but the resisting part is our job.
Remember our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies” (Ephesians 6:12 Amplified). We are working for the kingdom of light against the kingdom of darkness with weapons that “are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Now, you don’t have to use your spiritual weapons of the Word and prayer to exercise authority over the whole world. Defeating worldwide terrorism is not dependent solely on you taking your authority; it is made possible when every person in the body of Christ takes authority within the areas they can reach.
Plead the blood of Jesus over your family, your neighborhood, your friends, your school or your children’s school, your city, and whatever else God places on your heart. Stand your ground and don’t allow darkness to be what reigns supreme in those areas. Pray for light to shine. It may take time, but your consistent faith and prayers will make a difference.
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
(Isa. 59:19)
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”