Holiday Madness What to do if your loved one is lost By Jason DeckerI was planning on writing a different article, but as I was praying in preparation before I started, the Lord led me to this. One other quick note: I am selectively quoting certain scriptures to illustrate points, I mention other scriptures for you to look up on your own. Please take the time to read all them for yourself. The absolutely most important thing we can do right now is begin to prepare for our upcoming holiday opportunities to share the love of Christ to our friends and family. The most effective way for us to prepare is with intercession. This is the one time of year that we have opportunity that we often do not have on a daily basis to spend time with family and friends. I have two older brothers who are not saved, the reason I mention this is because the Lord has laid it upon my heart this year to do things differently this year. I don’t want to end up in the same old arguments or dead end conversation that are all too familiar. If you all ways do the same thing as you’ve done before, then expect what you’ve always gotten. This year I am willing to do whatever it takes to see my brothers breakthrough with the Lord. I ask and pray that you would consider your commitment to breakthrough with your loved one. The issue of forgiveness is another important issue the Lord put on my heart. Read Matt 18:21-35 for yourself. This chapter lays out several important points that may hinder you in your witness. Many of us have issues of past situations and experiences with our loved ones that have brought division and unforgiveness between us. You need to pray and release that person before you can expect a break through. You also need to pursue reconciliation and restore anything the enemy has taken from between you and them. If you have not completely forgiven them, you have essentially put yourself in prison spiritually and limited the borders of your spiritual domain that God has given you. Often times we tend to categorize sin and our actions comparatively. We need to be careful that we do not loose our focus on the importance of the "small things". During the holiday meals and get together times we as Christians, are watched and judged by our lost family and friends as to the degree in which our actions follow what we say. Sometimes its not the fact we do or do not engage in a lifestyle of excessive sin, but we may have a pattern of "little things" that can add up to bad witness. Read Matt 18:6-9, 1 Cor.5:6, Luke 16:10 We need to pray with FAITH - Faith is not just believing in something. It is much more powerful that belief. Faith is standing on the Word of God – both in Scripture and "Rhema" spoken words the Holy Spirit speaks to you. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "Without Faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Romans 10:17 says that Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. When we are "hearing" – this is active, not something we’ve heard in the past. I am going to list several "Things to Pray" and during your prayer times this holiday, recite these scriptures and speak them over your loved one. Use the Word as a position from which to attack the enemy. Jesus gave us this example during His temptation in the wilderness. His victory came when He said "It is written…." Read Luke 4 Things to Pray: 1. Open their Eyes: Acts 26:17b-18: "I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."(NIV) 2. Awakening in Their Heart: 2 Tim 2:25-26: "Those who oppose him, he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."(NIV) 3. God’s Will be Accomplished in Their Life: Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— His good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV) * Not what you think is right – But what God knows is the best for them John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us— whatever we ask— we know that we have what we asked of Him." 4. God will open a Door to reach Them: Col 4:3-6: "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (NIV) Prayer Tactics: "Prayer is not just folding your hands and shooting a one-liner up to God." Pray the way Jesus said to: Matt 6:9-15 "This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." The Lord’s Prayer is not a 15 second prayer or Mantra you recite. Think of it as an outline that has a specific order. First start with Praising God, Second Pray for God’s will and that YOU come inside it. Pray for His will to be manifested. Ask God for both spiritual renewal and physical provision. Then ask Him for conviction, and cleansing as you repent. Pray for His protection over yourself, family, belongings etc. Then look for anything between you and the lost person, i.e. bitterness, anger, pride, etc.… confess and cover with His cleansing Blood. Then pray for needs, salvations and other breakthroughs. Close with thanksgiving and praise. Pray with someone: Mark 6:7, Deut. 32:30, Jn. 8:17, Heb.11:37 * If you can, pray with another family member and/or with your spouse. Also, you can do this over the phone if you need to. Pray with Scriptures: 1Thes 2:13 "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe." (NIV) * Use the scriptures list above in your prayers Pray on the Armor of God Eph.6:10-12,18 * Do this before you engage in spiritual warfare. Pray Consistently and "Fervently" (James 5:16). * Don’t get too busy and become distracted during the holiday rush and back off. The enemy will try to do this especially if you are just about to breaking through. Set aside a daily special time and place that minimizes distraction. *Jesus often went off alone to pray - Matt:26:36 Use a prayer list, prayer journal or plan to make good use of time, being detailed and thorough for everyone you pray for. Pray for special needs they have. What is the one need they have, that if God met it – they would see the reality of His love and not be able to deny it? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things to you prophetically. Hab.2:2, Jer.30:2 Call or Write Saints Alive and your local Church and put your loved one on a Prayer Chain/List. Fill out the card enclosed with this newsletter and send it to us. Spiritual Warfare: Whether or not your friend or loved one is a Christian believer, they have evidently been blinded by Satan. You need to pray in a specific way, doing spiritual warfare against the demonic blindness which has taken him. 2 Cor. 4:3-4 says "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."(KJV) This illustrates the problem that those in both Mormonism and Masonry have—it is difficult to discuss reasonably the faith with them because of the spiritual darkness, which blinds them. This is what makes them so difficult to witness to, and why prayer is the key. We must wrestle spiritually with the Masonic principalities and powers (Eph.6:12). "Baal," "Hiram Abiff" and "Tubalcain" are key demonic principalities which blind the Freemason. Likewise, "Mormo," the Satanic god of the dead and "Moroni," the false messenger, and Mechizedek, (priestcraft) are key demonic principalities of Mormonism. These can also be strongholds in their lifestyle such as fornication, premarital sex or drug use. You must take authority over them as a believer in Christ and bind their influence away from that friend or loved one, at least for a season (Matt. 16:19, 18:18,20). As I said earlier, if you can find others in a prayer group or your church to agree in prayer with you, so much the better! Use your authority as a believer to literally cast out the demons which may be oppressing him/her/them at least for a short time—long enough for you to share the truth! You need to pray against these deceitful spirits in advance, perhaps for weeks. Read Mark.16:17 As Paul writes in 2 Cor.10:4-5: "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (KJV) Pray like this, and "soften the soil" upon which you are going to scatter your seeds before you approach the battle. Finally, the last thing I want to bring up is this: It is NOT your job to convict or convince your loved one of their sin. This is the job of the Holy Spirit. This is good news because you are not alone in this battle. You have the greatest tag team partners in the ring with you – Jesus Christ, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Let God do what He does, and just be willing to do whatever it takes. If you feel your heart beating hard and a strong leading to say or do something – JUST DO IT! Don’t wait until next time. You never know when and if that will ever be. Remember The generous gifts and prayers of friends like you support Saints Alive, our newsletters, websites and outreaches
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