Better than Bombs or Bullets

As I saw the news this past week of the tragic deaths at Fort Hood, I knew what the responses would be. From one side, we would be told "not to judge too quickly," and some people were even angry that the killer's name was mentioned, since it was definitely Arabic/Muslim. From the other side came the other extreme, that we needed to ship all Muslims back to the Middle East, and that we could trust none of them.

I hope that as you read this, your sentiments lie somewhere between. No, not all Muslims are terrorists, but sadly, in the past ten years, nearly all terrorists have been Muslims. Not since the Oklahoma City bombings have we seen an exception to this rule.

So what should we do? More bombs in the Middle East? Declare war on another Arab nation? These actions have not worked very well so far. I suggest a Weapon more powerful than any that has been unleashed on any nation. I suggest we unload a Prayer Bomb.

Jesus commanded us to "pray to the Lord of the Harvest, that He send laborers into the harvest." The Bible tells us that if we ask anything according to God's will, He will do it. What better indication of God's will than praying as He has commanded us to? Every time a believer asks God to send more laborers into the harvest, it is done immediately. I pray this daily, and lead my church in praying it when we are together. Our one small church has used this promise to unleash thousands of laborers into the harvest. Imagine what would be happening if every church in America began to pray this prayer, regularly and fervently.

So what does this have to do with bombs? I believe that we at our church are bombarding the kingdom of the evil one with these prayers, which he sees as "weapons of mass destruction." Prayer hits the very foundations of Satan's kingdom. It crumbles the base on which he has built. It destroys his work.

In one way, I, as a Christian, am like these radical Muslims. I believe that there is one true God, and one true way to salvation. I believe that the Christianity that Jesus Himself brought to earth is the only way to God's favor, and that all other religions are wrong. I don't even accept Allah as a true god, but see him as an imposter.

My difference is in my response. I do not believe that it is my job to "kill the infidels." I think it is my joyous obligation to love them, to pray for them, and to ask the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into Allah's back yard with the truth of the Gospel.

Christ's coming put an end to the edge of the sword. True conversion is not brought about by intimidation or extermination. I desire no one's death, and wish that Osama bin Laden himself could find saving faith in Christ Jesus, the only way to God.

From my prayer closet, I am bombarding Teheran, Baghdad, Kabul, and Riyadh. I am dropping prayer bombs all over the Middle East that is cloaked in the darkness of deception. I'm also praying for Jerusalem, where Christ is excluded. I'm praying for Pyong Yang, for Calcutta, for Moscow, for Shanghai, and for Manila. I am an equal-opportunity bomber. I am dropping prayer bombs on New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami. I am also remembering small communities, and I have dropped bombs in my own neighborhood.

One well-said prayer, in accordance with God's will, can do infinitely more than bombs, bullets, or ballots. We need to bombard the strongholds of Satan in our world, whether it's on the other side of the world, or in our own backyard.

I invite you to Command Center. We pray at our church. Especially I invite you to Wednesday night, where we get specific. I drop bombs because I love people. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest. May His Gospel sweep over the dark places of this earth like a spiritual Tsunami, wrecking the foundations of evil and deception. Pray for the light of the Gospel to shine in these areas. It's a prayer with a guaranteed answer!