Home

WEEK TWENTY—EIGHT: Friday, June 2—Thursday, June 9, 2006

I. REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH: RACISM AND SEGREGATION

We need to love every brother and sister no matter what color their skin. This would be a boring planet if everyone had the same color of skin. God didn’t want clones. He wanted every person to be unique with his or her own character, personality, talents and looks. God does not create junk or accidents. Every person He creates is for a purpose and has a destiny. But we choose our own path. Which one are we on? The straight and narrow that leads to heaven or the wide path that leads to hell and destruction?

“These are the sayings of the wise: to discriminate and show partiality, having respect of persons in judging, is not good.” (Prov. 24:23 AMP)

(Source: Riding with the King in Unity, by Giles F. Mack, P.O. Box 1761, Branson, MO 65615, pp. 20,21)

II. REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION: AFRICAN AMERICAN SLAVERY

This week, we begin to consider an area of sin that is HUGE: the matter of African-American slavery and (next week) racism in America today. Once again, we can only “point the way” in the space below to an area for prayer; and we trust the Holy Spirit to take each of you into much, much more as you seek Him in intercession over this issue.

The following information is an excerpt from an article, “Conditions of Antebellum Slavery.” Specific points for repentance are boldfaced in this article. Also, as we continue in this emphasis on African-American slavery, you may also wish to rent the movie “Roots,” and offer repentance, point-by-point, over the many abuses of black men and women that are shown in that excellent movie.

CONDITIONS OF ANTEBELLUM SLAVERY

By 1830 slavery was primarily located in the South, where it existed in many different forms. African Americans were enslaved on small farms, large plantations, in cities and towns, inside homes, out in the fields, and in industry and transportation.Though slavery had such a wide variety of faces, the underlying concepts were always the same. Slaves were considered property, and they were property because they were black. Their status as property was enforced by violence—actual or threatened. One of the worst conditions that enslaved people had to live under was the constant threat of sale. Immediate families were often separated. If they were kept together, they were almost always sold away from their extended families. Grandparents, sisters, brothers, and cousins could all find themselves forcibly scattered, never to see each other again.

The heat and humidity of the South created health problems for everyone living there. However, the health of plantation slaves was far worse than that of whites. Unsanitary conditions, inadequate nutrition and unrelenting hard labor made slaves highly susceptible to disease. Illnesses were generally not treated adequately, and slaves were often forced to work even when sick. The rice plantations were the most deadly. Black people had to stand in water for hours at a time in the sweltering sun. Malaria was rampant. Child mortality was extremely high on these plantations, generally around 66%—on one rice plantation it was as high as 90%.African American women had to endure the threat and the practice of sexual exploitation. There were no safeguards to protect them from being sexually stalked, harassed, or raped, or to be used as long-term concubines by masters and overseers. The abuse was widespread, as the men with authority took advantage of their situation. Even if a woman seemed agreeable to the situation, in reality she had no choice. Slave men, for their part, were often powerless to protect the women they loved.

Many slaves turned to religion for inspiration and solace. Some practiced African religions, including Islam, others practiced Christianity. Many practiced a brand of Christianity which included strong African elements. Most rejected the Christianity of their masters, which justified slavery. The slaves held their own meetings in secret, where they spoke of the New Testament promises of the day of reckoning and of justice and a better life after death, as well as the Old Testament story of Moses leading his people out of slavery in Egypt. The religion of enslaved African Americans helped them resist the degredation of bondage.

Father God, when we consider these genocidal sins, we can only come to You, our holy God and Father, to begin to cleanse this evil from our land. We ask You, Mighty God, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, to look down upon us now as we bring these sins to you, in weeping, in prayers, and in repentance for the evils our ancestors have committed against the African American people on our land. Father God, we ask You to have mercy upon us, and to show us Your ways in bringing healing to that which has been rooted and grounded in some of the vilest wickedness known to man.

We thank YOU for the promise of Your word over us now, out of Isaiah 1:18:

“Come now, let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”

III. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: SHAVUOT, OR PENTECOST

Judaism relates Shavuot to the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. And of course, the Church relates this day to that outpouring of the Holy Spirit that occurred in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago.

• Both are needed—God's Word and His Spirit. And we thank You Lord that both are available today.

• "The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more." (Joel 3:16-17)

• Save the unsaved family members of Messianic Jews. "Believe on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Act 16:31)

• Bless You for the privilege of standing before You in this dark time before the light of the world comes to this nation in His full glory.

(Source: Intercessors for Israel)

Top - Home