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WEEK THIRTY—SIX: Friday, July 28—Thursday, August 3, 2006

1. REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION—PERGAMOS

   This week, we focus on the Church of Pergamos, who were judged for their spirit of compromise.

   “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

   “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’ (Revelation 2:12-17)

   “Father God, we ask you to forgive us for falling into the error of allowing compromise to come into our lives. Lord, we ask You to once again teach us YOUR ways, that we might repent, return to you, and be found faithful in the day of judgment. We ask you for your mercy, dear God, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

2. REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION: PORNOGRAPHY, ADULTERY AND CHILD ABUSE

   Availability of Pornography Should Not Be Confused with Community Acceptance
   Aug 30th, 2006
   By Robert Peters

   EDITOR’S NOTE: Robert Peters is president of Morality in Media, a national nonprofit organization based in New York City that works to curb traffic in obscene materials and uphold standards of decency in the media.

   There are two things that keep me going in the war against pornography. The first is my belief that with God all things are possible and that God is not “on the side” of individuals who exploit and debase sex for crass commercial purposes. The second is my belief that given a choice, most Americans would rather live in a decent and safe society rather than in a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.

   With the explosive increase in the availability of pornography, the second ground of my “confidence” has been tested! But while I fear the “good guys” in this war may be losing ground, I have not abandoned my belief that most Americans are not pleased with the proliferation of hardcore pornography via “adult businesses,” mainstream video stores, pay TV channels, the Internet, and now cell phones. ...

   The porn defenders overlook at least four factors:

   1. Much if not most pornography is consumed by a relatively small percentage of males who are hooked on it.
   2. Just because a person, whether out of curiosity or at a weak moment or for a period of time, views pornography does not mean he has become a devotee of it. This is especially true when Internet pornographers use aggressive and unscrupulous means to bring people to their websites, including porn spam, using innocent sounding domain names and common misspellings of websites, buying up expired domain names, manipulating search engine results, and “mouse trapping.”
   3. Even among long-term users, not all approve of their own behavior. Many addicts hate what they do.
   4. The primary reason that we have so much pornography today is because federal and state obscenity laws have not been vigorously enforced. A variety of prosecutorial explanations (excuses) have been given for not doing so; but to my knowledge, no prosecutor has ever stated publicly that he or she does not enforce obscenity laws because his or her community does not want these laws enforced.

   One action step is to make complaints to federal prosecutors if you or your children are exposed to pornography on the Internet or to ads for pornography (porn spam). In 2002, Morality in Media (MIM) launched www.obscenitycrimes.org to enable citizens to report possible violations of federal Internet obscenity laws. MIM forwards complaints to the Justice Department in Washington and to each local U.S. Attorney where a complaint originated. MIM has also retained the services of two retired law enforcement agents who prepare their own investigative reports that describe the content of websites that citizens have complained about. Justice Department spokespersons have expressed appreciation for the website. Congress has also appropriated funds to help operate it. We need more citizen complaints!

   Another action step is to educate your community about the pornography problem and solutions. Morality in Media is just one of many national, state and local organizations that can provide literature or a speaker or help organize a workshop to educate your community or church.

   I do not say that that the war against pornography will be won easily. I do think there is still time to reverse the floodtide of obscenity pouring into our nation’s communities and homes; but at the rate our youth are following in the path of the Destroyer, it’s hard to know how much longer we have!

   The English poet Alexander Pope once wrote: “Vice is a monster of so frightful face, as to be hated needs but to be seen; but seen too often, familiar with her face, we first endure, then tolerate, then embrace.” As I see it, most Americans are still at the hate and endurance stages when it comes to pornography, but among our nation’s cultural elite and young adults, many now tolerate and even embrace pornography. (This article is posted in its entirety at: http://www.movieguide.org/?s=articles&id=133)

   “Father God, in the Name of Jesus, we ask You to forgive us as a nation for allowing the sin of pornography to thrive in our culture, without penalty. We repent for those in the church, especially, who have been ensnared by Satan into this web of debauchery, and who spend hours in this pursuit in the “secret place” of the internet. Holy God, we cry out to You, asking for Your mercy and forgiveness for these ones, for they know not what they do. Father God, we CRY OUT that they might be set free by a mighty work of deliverance from Your throne of Grace, from the sin of hidden sexual pursuits.”

   “Holy God, for those who have violated the holy covenant of matrimony, and been found in adulterous relationships, we ask for their forgiveness—even as You forgave King David for his own sin of adultery. We ask for healing to come, both for those who have committed this sin, and for their wives (or husbands) with whom relationships must be restored.”

   “And Lord, let us not forget the children. Father God, child abuse comes in many, many forms, but each story bears the wounds of a child’s heart hardened through abuse, and the guilt, shame, despair and hopelessness that remains in both the abused and the abuser. Holy God, once again, we thank YOU that nothing is too difficult for You, and we cry out for our little ones, that You might visit each one and bring the precious healing touch that can only come from the hem of Your garment.”

   We ask all of this in Jesus’ Mighty Name, amen.

   “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.“ (Isaiah 53:6)

3. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: PRAYERS FOR SAFETY AT THE NORTHERN BORDER

   Please pray into the below topics and Scriptures as the LORD leads you.

   1. Prayers of thanksgiving for God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and guidance.
      • Daniel 2:20-23, "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And he changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. I thank you and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we have asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's demand.“

      • Philippians 4:6-7, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God , which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Yeshua the Messiah.“

   2. Protection for Israel's soldiers.
      • Numbers 31:48-50, Then the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses; and they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing. Therefore we have brought an offering for the LORD, what every man found of ornaments of gold: armlets and bracelets and signet rings and earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.“

      Pray

      • That the fear of God would come upon the enemies of Israel causing them to flee.

      • That God would put a shield and a canopy of protection over the soldiers of Israel.

   3. For the government of Israel to press through to complete victory over Hezbollah.
      • 2 Kings 13:16-19, Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. And he said, "Open the east window"; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the LORD's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them." Then he said, "Take the arrows"; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground"; so he struck three times and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.“

      • Joshua 10:8, And the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.“

      Pray

      • That the government will not be limited by the worldview of politicians.

      • That God will overrule decisions made by the government which are wrong.

      • That God will reveal His wisdom and strength through the inexperience, ineptness, and indecisiveness of Israel's leaders and replace those who need to be replaced.

   4. For the Lord to take the military campaign out of Israel's hands.
      • Ezekiel 28:25-26, Thus says the Lord God: "When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant Jacob. And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God.“

      • 1 Samuel 14:6, Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.“

      • Psalm 68:1, Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him.

   5. That God would destroy the power behind Hezbollah.
      • 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. bringing ever thought into captivity to the obedience of the Messiah, being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.“

      Pray

      • That God would remove and destroy the blood lust controlling and driving the Hezbollah guerillas and others under the power of Islam.

   6. For international diplomats.
      • Psalm 2:1-3, Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.“

      Pray

      • That God will raise up men and women of integrity in the councils of the nations.

      • That confusion and division will come on those councils that try to impose humanistic policies on Israel.

   7. Salvation for many in Israel and Lebanon at this time.
      • Psalm 130:7-8, O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy. And with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

      • Psalm 83:13-16, O my God, make them (the enemies of Israel) like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind! As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O LORD.

   Shabbat Shalom,
   The IFI Team

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