A Firm Foundation
There is no better foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:10-11). Both the secular and the Christian worlds want to be able to “train up our children in the way they should go, when they are old, they will not depart from it”. (Pb 22:6) We all want them to flourish but who determines the way they should go that allows them to flourish? Parents, teachers, church leaders, media, and governments are all involved with the training of children. But many Christians and others do not like the way both state and commonwealth governments are passing laws which are directing children in directions they do not want them to go. Most parents feel their role is foundational. They are the ones who should be able to provide a stable home and sensitive parenting when much effort is needed to meet their children’s needs.
Unfortunately, both parents often need to work to provide enough income to buy their homes as well as feed and clothe their children. This makes it harder for their children to have quality time with them. So many parents need to send their very young children to day care centres. These promise to do what the parents would like to do and nurture their children‘s emotional, physical & intellectual needs. It is the bond that children develop with those who give them care which helps to create the basis of future relationships. It also helps to prevent them taking up negative habits, feeling lonely, becoming stubborn, restless, or unable to focus. Later, as overworked parents they may be unaware of some of the activities their children are engaged in.
It is so important that children know their parents love them unconditionally and support them thus creating a bond where children come to confide in their parents in stressful, scary, and frustrating situations. The role we expect teachers to play is to teach children about reading, writing, science, mathematics, and English, etc. while coping with their different learning needs and, hopefully, relating closely with their parents. As a result of curricula created by governments children are also being taught about such things as gender fluidity, the nature of social justice, notions of sex, or history as seen through the positive or negative lens of colonialism. Some of these could be identified as spiritual strongholds. We are told that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.( 2 Cor 10:2-5) We know that in Christ, divine power exists to demolish strongholds such as the distress felt by those whose gender identity differs from their sex. The children who experience this need the loving, genuine care of their parents. It is great if this is an unconditional love that they have for their children that grows and remains rock solid enabling them to come alongside them to see them as others and God sees them.
Let’s pray:
* That parents are willing to let their children be independent, and, like the father of the Prodigal son, let them go, but always welcome them back and never, never give up praying for them and seeing them as capable individuals based on a firm foundation.
* Thanking God that Channel 7 has produced the controversial program “Breaking the Silence: The Reality of De-Transitioning” that uncovers the damage being visited on confused kids and challenges the powers of both the governments and the medical profession.
* Using the weapons of our warfare that God has given us that are not carnal but mighty for pulling down strongholds (2 Cor 10:4) which are causing so much untold harm, particularly within the minds of children and teenagers.
Exposing the Evil Spirits most Affecting our Nation Today
What are the most prevalent evil spirits operating in Australia today. Over the next few weeks, we will expose and pray into 5 specific evil spirits that are inflicting themselves upon Australia. However, firstly let us remember that the Holy Spirit is by far the most powerful and influential Spirit operating in Australia today and our aim is always to ensure He has pre-eminence in our individual and corporate life as a people and as a Nation. We must never forget that He is the One True God, who alone is wise. He is God Most High, and He sits above the circle of the earth and unfearful of His enemies. Satan is only a created being, with limited strength, but our God has all power in Heaven and earth. This week let us pray to expose the spirit of Jezebel.
Contrary to some opinions, the spirit of Jezebel is not manifested as a woman wearing a red dress. The operation of Jezebel is not limited to women at all. It impacts both women and men equally. Jezebel is a spirit who works to counteract the work of God the Holy Spirit. Its modus operandi is to first seduce people with false prophecy, then it leads them into rebellion against God, and His wisdom. It then pulls them into sexual sin. Afterward it leads them to its ultimate objective of the occult and finally worship of Satan. Please do not engage in spiritual warfare against Jezebel on your own but rather pray as suggested below for God to deal with it in all its forms wherever it manifests.
Please pray:
* That Jezebel in all its forms will be exposed and that as Christians we would be strengthened to take a stand in Christ to resist its influence in our own lives but also throughout society.
* That Christians would ensure that their relationship with God is strong and that they would be able to resist being drawn into Jezebel’s orbit of influence.
* That God would not only expose but weaken and destroy the influence of Jezebel in every part of the Body of Christ and the nation as a whole.
Bold Move Against Gender Reassignment for Minors
Senator Alex Antic has introduced a bill calling for a blanket ban on all gender reassignment treatments and surgeries for people under the age of 18. The ban would include the use of damaging, development-stunting puberty-blockers. Senator Antic’s move is a response to growing community concern regarding the rapid surge in young people embarking on gender transitions. Shockingly, 3yr old children are being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The decisions to change gender seem often to be driven by social need rather than by legitimate medical need. In 2014 puberty-blockers were prescribed to 5 young Australians but in 2019 the number skyrocketed to 624. This is a deeply troubling trend which is worsened by the growing number of people who regret their decisions. If passed, Senator Antic’s Bill will stop health practitioners from providing interventions aimed at changing a minor’s biological sex as determined by sex organs, chromosomes and endogenous profiles, and would be a big step towards protecting our young people from life-changing decisions they may later regret.
Please pray:
“Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation.” Romans 8:1-2 MSG
* Pray that Senator Alex Antic’s Bill is passed. Pray for him, thanking God for his courage and commitment. Ask God to protect him.
* Pray that health practitioners involved in providing gender reassignment treatments to children under 18 become convicted of the damage they are doing.
* Pray for this generation who are under 18 years old. Many live under a “continuous, low-lying black cloud”. Pray that Jesus Christ would break through this darkness and reveal Himself to these young people and change their lives.
Praying for Issues in the News
* The release of many hardened criminals from our Immigration detention system following a High Court ruling that they cannot be detained indefinitely and should be released, has released a spirit of fear into many in our nation including the victims of those being released. Please pray that our government will be able to produce a strategy that would keep all Australians safe whilst adhering to the intent of the High Court ruling. Pray that God would surround those being released protecting them from re-offending and protecting the public from attack or negative interaction with the released detainees.
* The tension within the Australian community related to the crisis in Gaza is having serious negative consequences on race relations within our own country. With almost daily threats being aimed at Jewish people any unfortunate overstepping of the mark by even one person could result in violence breaking out between the Jewish and Arab communities here in Australia. Pray that political and community leaders in Australia will make every effort to reduce the tension by ceasing to make incendiary comments about the conflict itself or people on the other side of the conflict. Pray for peace to be restored in every part of our nation and of course in Israel itself.
Praying for Others
This week let us pray for the Horn of Africa. Military officer, Asmar lost his job after his boss discovered Christian material on his laptop. Please pray for God’s provision for Asmar and his children.
Source: Australian Prayer Network
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