Watch Focus: Fathering Lies

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:29 

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. … For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith… Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him…We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 JOHN 15:1-20 

The “us vs. them” motif of John sets the battle lines between truth and lies. We take our place as watchmen in the face of multiple threats from supernatural enemy powers driving current events: 

In America, across denominational lines the failure of major church leaders is on display. Sex scandals, financial corruption, and being co-opted as spokespersons for anti-Christian forces such as Davos and the Word Economic Forum, are all evidence that wolves have entered the sheepfold. Christians are confused, angry, retreating, or aligning with the enemy. 

Israel is under imminent threat from Iran and Hezbollah while continuing to hunt the murderers of October 7th and free the remaining hostages who are still alive in or out of Gaza. 

The US has deployed significant military resources to the region as a signal of deterrence against Iran positing a nuclear attack on Israel and potential WW3. 

Russia and Ukraine remain locked in a deathmatch daily devouring lives, territory, and resources, also involving the US. 

Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea strengthen their alliance to bring down the West, America specifically, as the dominant world power.  

The US presidential campaign heats up in a barrage of rhetoric and out and out lies clouding real policy issues that dramatically affect our personal lives depending on which party players prevail in the election. 

Social unrest continues to increase on the campuses across the US and in the streets of Britain over domestic politics, government crackdowns on average citizens, and immigration regarding Muslim populations specifically, casting deep cultural divides.  

The poison fruit of years of re-tooled communist theory has overtaken many of our institutions threatening to undo our national bonds in Judeo Christianity and traditional definitions of faith, family, and economy, accorded in our Declaration and Constitution.  

Globally, economists agree the nations of the world are underwater financially and on the brink of imminent collapse, the result of widespread government mismanagement anticipating a domino effect of global recession throwing vast regions into social chaos, food and energy shortage, and violence. 

Any one of these crises affect us directly. All of them are beyond any human ability to solve. The driving force behind all of them is the power of truth or lies. Daniel 5:24, describing an antichrist figure, typifies our situation! “And he shall speak great words against the most High and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” 

Our watch focus is for a revival of prevailing corporate prayer to combat the supernatural forces driving world chaos and societal breakdown.  

Our strategy is to take Jesus’ example in John 8. When everyone else retreats to his own house Jesus goes to spend the night in prayer to God. He comes down in the morning to teach by the treasury in the Temple. He is challenged by authorities who bring him a ‘law breaker’ demanding He render judgment. When He does, Jesus enemies attack His reputation and mock His death, the event that will ultimately resolve human crisis, Jesus’ death on the cross.  

Jesus says, “You are of your father the devil, and do what your father desires you to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he is speaking his native language.” John 8:44. 


Culturally, America is like a young woman in the critical throes of an infectious disease. The possibility of living our lives as image bearers of God originally ascribed in our national founding is at play. She will either survive the night and recover or die. And the world will catch her disease.  


Responsibility belongs to the church. It begins with active participation in prayer, uncompromised preaching of the gospel in truth, and continuing lives of courageous Christian witness.  

 
We bind every prince and every purveyor of lies, seduction, manipulation, and corruption. We loose the word of God and the gospel in truth to tabernacle in our midst and overwhelm the darkness with light. 


We call on the Captain of Hosts to ride forth victoriously over His enemies in this hour on behalf of His people everywhere.  


In the Name of Jesus, we cast down thrones and principalities whose agendas oppose the human family and society as God has created and ordained it. 
 

We pray for leaders and influencers, elected and unelected, whose words and ideas are shaping popular perception. “Lord, bring down the wicked and raise up the righteous ones as instruments in Your hand.” 


We claim Your Name and humble ourselves together, direct our prayer, hear, and act. Give us the victory for Your glory and the preservation of our children for righteousness’ sake.  


Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 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. 

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20