26/02/2022
Pray for Ukraine! What does the Bible say about the conflict in Russia and Ukraine? Jesus said in Matthew 24, “You will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:6-13)
The first thing I notice about this passage is the command of “don’t panic.” Our job as Christians is to not be caught up with the rest of the world with the spirit of fear. “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Tim. 1:7) The second thing I notice about this passage is Jesus telling us when we hear of “wars and rumors of wars” that “the end won’t follow immediately.” We might be living in the end times, but this is not the end of the end according to Jesus. The third thing I notice here is Jesus’ stern warning against false prophets. It’s easy when there is fear and turmoil to cling to words that make us feel good, but they may not necessarily be what the Bible says. Beware of false teachers, be grounded in the word of God. This is no time to follow popular opinions. This is a time to stand on God’s word.
So what’s our assignment as Christians? Jesus says in Luke 19:13, “Occupy until I come.” The end times are not a time to sit on your rapture rug and wait until Jesus comes back. The end times are for a glorious church to rise and to rule and reign with Christ as “kings and priests unto our God.” (Rev. 1:6) Now is the time to take our royal authority over the darkness, to push back the darkness, to contend for souls, to go to war with our prayers and spiritual weapons. Jesus is not coming back for a weak bride. Jesus is coming back for a warrior bride. Now is the time to take authority over the darkness and to push back the gates of hell with our prayers.
So when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t panic. Jesus said this is not the end of the end. Occupy until Christ comes. Push back the gates of hell with your prayers and weapons of warfare. Stand on the word and sound doctrine. And remember your prayers are more powerful than you realize. They can pull down the demonic strongholds in the earth, which in turn changes the physical realm. When we go after the kingdom of hell in prayer, we will begin to see the victory in the physical realm as well. Pray for Ukraine. Pray for the nations of the world. Pray bold prayers and take authority over the dark powers and demons. Christ gave you that authority. The church is the hope of the world. “Upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matt. 16:18)
