Author’s note: I’ve written these last three articles (SUPER INTERCESSION, GET CONVINCED and this one THE HEART OF THE KING) in light of the current midterm elections in the USA, to encourage people to pray. But the reality is that we all live under governments, and we all have the right and the authority to shape those governments, and our nations, to the will of God. Please read the articles (lightbearers.injesus.com) and go get ‘em, dear ones. Love you!
THE HEART OF THE KING
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Prov 21:1 NKJV
When I go to Heaven I suspect I will learn of the great authority and promises that I could have exercised while here on earth, had I done a little more study and been a little more diligent. The promises of God are faithful and true! But I want to close that gap as much as possible while I’m still breathing. Such is the situation with regard to prayer for politicians and civil leaders that we must consider our rights and responsibilities before God to shape the world around us, lest through evil we have it shaped for us.
And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work… Ezra 6:22 NKJV
When I think of ‘the king,’ I think not of a single man but of the whole power structure of government. We don’t live in a monarchy, but even then, the king needed officials and ministers to carry out his business, a power structure. Thus, there is a power structure that can be turned by the hand of the Lord to bring blessing or judgment to the people it is supposed to serve.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2 Sam 23:3 NKJV
When praying for ‘kings,’ and all that are in authority, it’s a good idea to review just what is the purpose of government, and what must be the character of those who rule. This is important because when we know what to pray for then we can trust God to search out and bring the best possible one to us. During World War Two, when the British forces in north Africa were being defeated because of the ineptitude of their generals, Cpl. Derek Prince prayed, “Lord give us leadership through whom it will give You glory to give us victory!” The answer to that prayer was a God-fearing man named Bernard Montgomery and the rest, as they say, is history…
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Gal 5:1 NKJV
The purpose of government is to help us restrain the unsaved nature of man, by providing for national defense, a criminal courts system, and other systems that allow for free commerce, private property and the prosperity of its citizens. Good government is the will of God. Today, the government overreaches because the Church and the family have abdicated their roles in the leadership of society. For instance, it was never the purpose of government to force one man to pay for the wellbeing of another. It’s the responsibility of the family, then of the Church, to provide such welfare. When government does for us what we should be doing for ourselves, and among ourselves, it always weakens and divides us!
So, what we pray for is the best possible God fearing men and women, leaders who are just, and for good government!
Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. Isa 37:7 NKJV
Can you stand for some advanced intercessory training? Remember that the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, and He turns it as He wishes. Does that mean that the Lord is responsible for every cruel decision ever made by a ruler? No. Rulers can be influenced by demons until the Lord overrules them, and essentially takes control. Now, how does this work? What is our job in all of this?
And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord…So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. And Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land. Isa 37:1-7 NKJV
Two essential things here: Hezekiah prayed to the living God, and Isaiah got a word from the living God. The implied understanding is that both men believed the word. Faith comes by hearing the RHEMA word of God! I love the fact that the first thing God says is, “Be not afraid.” Fearlessness is the position of authority and victory. Always seek to study and prepare your heart to pray out of faith and not fear. This may be ‘easier said than done,’ but if you stay in a place of constant preparation, of daily intimate fellowship with Him, then you will find that you are ready when faith gets tested.
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Eccl 4:12 NKJV
Hezekiah prayed, and Isaiah got a word. One of the beautiful things about teammates is that you can get a word of knowledge, I can get a word of wisdom, and a third teammate can get the workings of a miracle to bring the whole thing to pass. I watch this dynamic all the time when I am working with teams. We are members one of another with a purpose to do the primary will of God together. Now, when you don’t have a team, you can do all these things as one person. But a team generally is much more effective, and more fun!
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; Ezek 22:30 NKJV
As I considered this verse, I thought, “To what extent could I as one man, an individual, make intercession for a whole nation?” That’s what it says, doesn’t it? If I could make intercession for a nation, could I make it for the whole world? Is that possible? It didn’t seem conceivable. Then I realized that one man named Jesus had already done just that! Let’s say there is a war about to start between China and Russia – could I stop that war through intercession? Perhaps there are people starving in the Sudan – could I bring food to those people through intercession?
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 NKJV
The key to successful intercession, for you or as a team, is to pray with authority like a Hezekiah, a king crying out for his land, and hear a word from God like an Isaiah, a prophet whose ear was pressed to the lips of God. Then to believe the word and stand!
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:13 NKJV
I think some times the Lord walks among us looking for someone who takes Him at His word, and He waits for someone He can use to answer prayer. Are you that man or woman? He waits until He finds a Wilberforce, or a Washington, or a King, or a Mandela, through whom He can change the world. Those people rise up in response to the prayers of intercessors. You have the power to change the world, dear one, so let’s get on our knees and make it happen. The Lord is walking, and waiting. Love you!
Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…