Recently the US embassies in Egypt and Libya have been attacked, killing one ambassador and three staff members (click here for the story.) 

The rage that is coming from Islam is sweeping the globe.  It is captured in in this picture of a blogger who has come to be known as "Islamic Rage Boy."  Since 2006 he has dispensed what Wikapedia calls an exaggerated form of Islamic justice.  Lawlessness is sweeping the globe in many nations spurred on by the demonic spirit behind it.

Our own nation seems to have forgotten what the first role of government is, and that is the protection of its people (Romans 13:1-4).  Because of our nation's growing sin we've become blinded to certain truths and principles which have led to our economic decline and the weakening of our power to protect freedom, liberty and human rights. 

The excuse for this mob violence was a protest to an Egyptian Christian who created a movie in America criticizing Islam.  Many may not be aware but since the Muslim Brotherhood took over in Egypt, the violence against Christians and those who oppose that violent regime has escalated to the point where people are being CRUCIFIED (click here).   Bringing the world's attention to a human rights violation is an issue of justice.  In America we have a First Amendment which guarantees among other things, free speech.

Our embassy's first response to the mob violence and attack on our sovereign soil of the embassy was an apology.  Here is a biblical principle of government:

Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Now, with all this being said, the truth is our government's response is less than half the issue.  Many do not recognize that this is a spiritual war that has gone on for thousands of years before America was even discovered.  Click here for the History of Islamic Hostility Towards the West is Much Deeper Than You Think. 

So how do we confront the "RAGE" that is sweeping the globe?

Last night I was with Jake & Nancy Dragseth and the Jefferson County Prayer Council in Port Townsend WA.  We were privileged to meet Mayor King and hear his requests as to how the Church might serve the community (ie. praying for and helping with a number of young homeless men).  I shared about the almost 700 lightning strikes that occurred in one hour on July 13th of which they were right in the middle of it. 

I was very excited because I knew there were many many prayers answered on that day.  I've often seen the Lord give signs like this to encourage His people to continue to pray until they saw the breakthrough.  As we entered into a time of prayer I received more revelation (click here for access to a powerful teaching on thunder, lightning and the voice of the Lord) from Job 36:32 which says,

"He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike."

The word "covers" in Hebrew means He conceals in secret of hides. "Commands" means He sends a messenger to enjoin or set things in order.  The word "strike" is the most interesting word.  It is the Hebrew word pronounced "paga."  It means to entreat, to fall upon, intercede, intercession or pray.  It is the same word used in Isaiah 53:12 wherein it prophesies of Jesus saying "...he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."  In Isaiah 59:16 it says:

A dilemma is defined as a situation requiring a choice between unequally desirable alternatives.  It is a difficult and perplexing problem.

I am talking about the dilemma between having compassion for the individual holding office verses the consequences of that office making decisions that invite  harsh consequences for the people.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 exhorts us to pray for all men especially kings and those who are in authority.  The question is, how do you pray?

How do you pray for one who does not know Jesus and who makes decisions that appear to hurt our nation or your state?  For example, in 1 Chronicles 21 King David, a good king, sinned, made a mistake, missed the mark and numbered the people.  Due to his error 70,000 people died.  In 1 Kings 14 and 15 we see numerous instances where the "king" made decisions that "made Israel sin" and it provoked God to anger.   

There are certain decisions that when executed by a people or by law will cause the land to vomit the people out of the land (Leviticus 18 & 20).  There are spiritual laws just like the law of gravity.  You don't have to do anything to make gravity work, it just does because it is a law of the universe.  It just works.  There are spiritual laws that work like that and the Bible is God's tool to help educate us as to how the universe works.

Through the Bible we learn that God does not desire anyone to perish.  He wants all to come to the saving knowledge of Christ, repent and receive the wonderful, awesome, eternal life with Him so that we might have fellowship one with another.  Hell was made for the angels who sinned and left their first domain.  It was not made for man.  

So how do you pray for a person who is holding a political office yet who does not know the Lord and makes decisions that are contrary to God's word which would result in dangerous consequences?  

Pentecost is one of three feasts of the Lord where all of Israel were to celebrate.  It is also known as the Feast of Weeks and occurs 50 days after Passover. and part of its celebration included worshiping the Lord with freewill offerings and the first harvest of the sheaves.  It marked the end of the grain harvest.  It was also an occasion for covenant renewal.  For about 1500 years this festival served as a prophetic act proclaiming what was to come which was recorded in Acts 2 with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  It was part of the fulfillment of:

Acts 2:16-21 -  But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:   'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,  That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.   And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.  I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:  Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.   The sun shall be turned into darkness,  And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.   And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.' 

What precipitated this outpouring? 

Whooping cough epidemic stopped through the Church in Jefferson County. 

Churches in Jefferson County WA used our strategy to mobilize prayer and establish councils to connect  in 7 spheres of society.  On Mar 27 they met and a County Commissioner asked them to pray about the whooping cough epidemic.  Last night I was with them when the director of emergency services addressed this Council.  As of April 13 there has not been one case reported.   From epidemic proportions to zero.

The PTLeader reported on 4/10/12 that the whooping cough had become an epidemic all though there were only two cases reported in the last two weeks (note the time the Church began to pray above).   The headline in the PTLeader on 5/15/2012 states "No New Cases Here Since April 13.."

In December the police chief asked them to pray about crime and it decreased by more than 50% compared to the Christmas holidays last year. Click here for Ap. Jake's testimony.

Are you looking to your faith in action to transform your community with real results?   This testimony is the power of a united Church working together.  Discover the strategy and principles this powerful series on "Strategic Leadership."  Click here.

For years I've heard people and ministers talk about the abuse of authority in the Church.  As the story unfolds they describe how it began with a teaching they heard on the need to be "covered" and the role of Church government.  They describe how a minister or an organization used this teaching to manipulate and control them.  Hence we tend to shy away from even wanting to use the term. 

In fact, human nature is often like a pendulum.  Rather than seeking balance the pendulum swings to another extreme.  Therefore we end up avoiding words or concepts that someone has abused.

Abuse does not negate the truth.  Rather than react to excess or abuse we need to find the truth and DO IT!

When you study the word translated "sin" in the bible you will find the root word comes from a concept of an archer shooting an arrow at a target.  To sin means to miss the mark.  I don't care if you shoot to high, to low, left or right all of these results "miss the mark."  Personally, I want to "hit the mark."

In 2005 the Lord spoke to me about how to gather the elders at the gates of a city today through the formation of strategic councils.  In 2006 I began to pioneer the concept as I tested God's word through Operation Rolling Thunder.  This year the theme for Operation Rolling Thunder is captured by Psalm 24.  Verse 7; Psalm 24:7; contains a key.  24/7 prayer is the key to "Lift up your heads oh you gates and be lifted up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in."

Who sits in the gates?  Kings and elders (Prov. 31:23 and 2 Sam. 18:24).  What invites the King of glory, the Lord of Hosts to enter the gates?  I submit to you it is the key of David (Isaiah 22:22) which is 24/7 prayer, praise and worship (Acts 15:16-17).   

Here is a testimony from Pastor Paul in Gig Harbor as to how Operation Rolling Thunder helped him and the Church in Gig Harbor to form councils in all 7 spheres while establishing 24/7 prayer in the spirit of the restoration of David's tabernacle.