Friday, August 12, 2011

Plucked from the fire - Christ rules in the midst of His enemies

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

     I’m writing to ask for your strong involvement with us as a fellow prayer warrior. Will you bear with me for a moment as I share the burden of the Lord I’m carrying right now?

A Prophetic Action

     I’m asking you here and now to join with us in a prophetic action. It will take boldness and faith, but there is an urgency that is crying out to us. I’m asking you to take a bold step with me to call back and to call forth coming generations who are destined to fulfill God’s plans in the times to come.

     For years now, both as a father and as a concerned observer of the direction the world and the Church are taking, I have watched in dismay as our children and their generation have been sidetracked and ripped off by the enemy from serving the Lord as we would hope. It’s not so much overt sinfulness, although there is certainly much of that going on. But what we have seen for years is the enemy of our souls cunningly captivating the next generations, preoccupying them with all the distractions and enticements our modern world offers. I want it to stop. I want it to change.

     As I see my grandchildren coming into the world, it’s even more alarming to consider that the next generations are also in peril of being ripped off by the enemy. Can you and I as believers reverse this trend and help restore their God-given destiny?

Snatching the Brand from the Fire

     Zechariah 3 has been a regular source of inspiration for me. It is the story of Joshua, the high priest as he is standing before the Lord in filthy garments, reeling under the accusation of Satan. The Lord of Hosts would not stand for it. From the throne, He issues this statement in verse 2 (nasb): “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

     That’s the phrase that sticks in my mind as I consider the young men and women of the generations that follow us. They are to be brands plucked from the fire. I know what that is like. That phrase applied to me as well when the Lord graciously reached down into the confusion that captivated me as a young man and drew me to Himself. Now, 47 years later, I want the same for our children and grandchildren. What can we do to see them become brands plucked from the fire?

The Dew of the Morning

     Derek Prince had an amazing heart for the generations that would follow after him. One of his recurring topics of instruction was Psalm 110, where it talks of people volunteering freely to serve the Lord, especially the youth, who “…are to You as the dew” (verse 3). Derek had an intense regard for the purposes of God for the generations who were to come, as evidenced in this excerpt from his message entitled “Christ Rules in the Midst of His Enemies”:

     There’s a birth taking place of an army that’s being brought out of the night of darkness into the light of day. This is the army of God. Verse 3 says: “Thy people shall be willing offerings in the day of thy power, in the beauty of holiness out of the womb of the morning; they shall come forth unto thee like the dew of thy youth.”

     This is what God is doing today. This is exactly where we’re at. Out of the long night of misery, degradation and frustration, when the Church has been stripped of its power and its glory and its faith, God is now bringing forth by a spiritual birth an army made up of willing offerings.

     A large part of that army will be the young people who are being swept into the kingdom of God by the thousands. They’re going to be like the dew when the sun rises after the darkness of the light. What’s the first thing you see in the dawn when the sun rises? It’s the dew. Praise God. This is where we’re at.

     It tells us two main practical things. First of all, it speaks of the ministry of prayer, God’s people assembled in divine order under the headship of Christ in submission to one another and to their God-given leaders. When they pray, the rod of divine authority is stretched forth over the rulers and the nations bringing them into subjection to Christ and His will and His purposes.

     The second thing it tells us is there’s going to be an army of young people who will go forth to finish the task of the Church, which is to bring the gospel of the kingdom to every tribe and people and nation and tongue. That’s where we’re at tonight. It’s very, very near to its fulfillment.

     Although I earlier expressed my concern at what I see happening in the world and the Church, I would also add that I have caught glimpses of what Derek is speaking of in this excerpt. I have been in meetings where tens of thousands of young people have gathered to cry out to the Lord in worship and intercession. It is happening. And now we want to see it happen on a much larger scale.

Are You Ready to Proclaim It?

     In most of the letters we send to you, this is the point where we pray together and ask the Lord for help in our personal situations. This time, it’s a little different. Instead, we want to ask you to agree with us in a bold prayer and proclamation to call back and to call forth the generations that have been captivated by Satan.

     One of the most amazing passages of Scripture to me is Romans 4, which deals with the faith of our father, Abraham. Specifically, in verse 17, the Word describes the Lord as “…Him whom he [Abraham] believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.” The literal translation of that phrase is: “…calls the things which do not exist as existing.” To a large degree, what we are about to pray and proclaim for these generations has not yet taken place. We are going to join with the Lord in calling into being a reality that does not presently exist. Are you ready?

     Lord Jesus, In Your mighty name we intercede now for our children’s generation and for generations to come. By faith, we declare that they will be the ones who will usher in Your kingdom on this earth. We hope and intend to be involved in it as well, and for that we thank You. But we declare that they will be the ones on the front lines, bringing Your light into the darkness around them.

     By faith, we pluck them now from the fire which presently engulfs them. In Your name, Jesus, we pull them out of filth and darkness into Your kingdom. We say to the enemy who has captivated them, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

     We claim them for Your kingdom and for your purposes, O Lord Most High. We say to the north, “Give them up!” and to the south, “Do not keep them back!” We call them back into Your kingdom and Your purposes this day. In Your name we pray, Lord Jesus. Amen!

Seeing the Fulfillment Together

     If you just prayed that prayer, all I can say is, “Be prepared for battle.” When I told my wife, Cindi, what I had written in this month’s letter, we immediately prayed for our children and grandchildren, claiming them for the Kingdom of God and asking for divine protection for them. The enemy would like to fight to keep them in his grasp, but he is a defeated foe, and his intentions will not come to pass.

     Thank you for taking such a strong stand with us. We are so grateful to know that you are willing to partner with us in prayer, proclamation and support. Your friendship and financial support mean the world to us, and we are so grateful for the way you have come alongside this ministry. Because of you, we are able to touch the lives of untold numbers of people with the teaching legacy of Derek Prince.

     Speaking of Derek’s legacy, we want to further encourage you this month by offering the very message from which the earlier excerpt was taken. It’s yours for free, simply by clicking here to download it. We know it will inspire you as you continue to pray along the lines we have covered in this letter.

     May we see with our own eyes the fulfillment of our prayer and proclamation — generations to come streaming into the Kingdom, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Thank you for your part in making that happen!

All the best,
Dick Leggatt
President,
Derek Prince Ministries – USA

P.S. Thank you again for your strong agreement with us in prayer. We will continue to stand together with you for your own family members in the days ahead. Please take advantage of the free offer for the MP3 version of Derek’s powerful message, “Christ Rules in the Midst of His Enemies.”

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