A Victory Through Prayer

While many of the results of Tuesday's election are disheartening concerning the battle for life, traditional (biblical) marriage won a great victory even in California. This victory had to be in response to the focused, fervent prayers of God's people. The call for prayer was organized by a group called The Call. Please let me share a post from their blog during the 40-day fast.

One of John Wesley’s disciples was William Wilberforce. At first, he thought he would go into the clergy, but he was led to go into politics. God needs altar builders in every area of life. With the passion and support of Wesley, his spiritual father, Wilberforce used the power of God to change society in England and end slavery there. Wilberforce was greatly influenced by Wesley, who was then 88 and close to dying. Wesley’s last written communication was to Wilberforce: "Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils, but if God be for you who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? Oh, be not weary of well doing. Go on in the name of God, and in the power of His might, till even American slavery, the vilest that ever saw the sun, shall vanish away before it. That He that has guided you from your youth may continue to strengthen you in this and all things, is the prayer of, Dear Sir, Your affectionate servant, John Wesley." A few days later, Wesley died, giving to Wilberforce his mantle for revival that would end slavery in England. Slavery was ended in Britain by 1833, throughout the empire, and that began to stir the debate about slavery in the southern part of America.” Can abortion end in America? Yes, if God can find a generation of Wilberforce’s. God chose, from the time of the Creation, to work on earth through humans, not independent of them. He always has and always will, even at the cost of becoming one. Though God is sovereign and all-powerful, Scripture clearly tells us that He limited Himself, concerning the affairs of earth, to working through human beings.

Dutch Sheets, 10/10/2008

http://thecall.com/Groups/1000034243/TheCall/Get_Involved/Facedown_40/Facedown_40.aspx

The kings of the earth ...

Psalm 2: 1-3

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine 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 bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

I just read a rundown of the election.

Not only did Barack Obama win, but 5 ballot measures went against life. Some of the votes were close. Some of them weren't. From parental notification before abortion to assisted suicide, the death merchants and their apologists had their way.

The heathen are raging, the American people are imagining all manner of vain things, the world leaders are establishing themselves, and state and party leaders are plotting together. They're plotting to throw off all restraint and eliminate the inconvenient from their lives.

And they're not really plotting against the opposing party or against unborn babies or elderly people or against us.

They're plotting against Almighty God and against His Christ.

And God's not worried about it.

Psalm 2 continues like this:

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Jesus was not defeated by Barack Obama, NARAL, Pelosi, and all the rest. He is not retiring from the field of battle. He will utterly defeat them all.

And we don't have to wait until Armageddon for that victory.

It didn't take Armageddon to bring down slavery in the Western world.

It didn't take Armageddon to bring down the brutal Nazi regime.

It didn't take Armageddon to bring down the powerful and brutal Soviet empire.

And it won't take Armageddon to bring down the abortion industry. But it will take the prayers of God's people. We don't always know God's will, but we know that injustice is always contrary to God's will. When we, if we are abiding in Christ, pray in Jesus' name, in God's will, He hears.

He heard the Hebrew children in Egypt. He heard the cries of the slaves in our land. He heard the believers in the Soviet Union and the Communist Block. Most of us are old enough to remember that one!

And God's promises to hear our prayers are not empty. It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

We would see our God dash in pieces the forces of evil. So let us fast and pray.

Intoxicated Post-Abortion Woman Loses it at 40 Days Vigil

My wife and I were part of a small group from our church in front of the local abortion facility the other night as we participated in the 40 Days for Life national vigil. It was around 10:30 PM, and we were just finishing a hymn we were singing when a car pulled up and two young women jumped out.

The smell of alcohol preceding them gave away their condition, and made their initial claim of support for our cause seem doubtful at best. The more intoxicated of the two, Laurie, did most of the talking and asked, "So why do you think it's not OK to kill babies? And what about if someone has been raped?" (I don't understand why pro-abortion people think that "hard cases," such as rape, justify murder--or that these questions will stump pro-life advocates.)

But Laurie wasn't interested in answers. She continued, her voice rising as she told us that ten years earlier, at sixteen, she was raped and had an abortion at this facility. When she had her abortion, she drove past protesters with signs showing the reality of abortion. She said the abortion was a horrible experience, and that we had no right to stand out there and tell people not to do it. We had no right to show pictures of dead babies.

By this time she was screaming profanity in my face and saying it just made her want to punch someone in the face. I was trying to determine if she was going to get violent when a muscular young man--probably her boyfriend--jumped out of the back seat, physically restrained her and carried her back toward the car.

Both Laurie and her less tipsy companion, who was driving, had a few more choice words about how we didn't have the love of Jesus, and how we had no right to judge people or to tell them not to kill their babies. But apparently they had a right to scream profanity at us. Then they drove away.

In their intoxicated state they weren't making much sense, but they also didn't bother with the typical pro-abortion euphemisms. Just how do you answer the question, "What's wrong with killing babies?" Indeed, it needs no answer, as everyone knows what is wrong with it. Laurie obviously did. And even her drunkenness provided no escape from her guilty conscience. May God lead her to repentance.

About fifteen minutes later a different car approached and deliberately ran over several of the white crosses lining the road. I don't know if the driver of the second car was Laurie. (Perhaps the license plate number will reveal that.)

This morning a woman brought her teenage daughter to the crisis pregnancy center, looking for the abortion clinic where they had an appointment. When the mother realized she was not at the abortion clinic, they left immediately (but did accept some pro-life literature).

Where will that girl be in ten years? Screaming profanity through a guilt-ridden alcoholic haze at the very people who want to offer her help?

May God deliver us.


--
Wesley Wilson is the President of Let Her Live, a nonprofit dedicated to saving babies by showing the beauty and value of life to women considering abortion. Please learn more about the Let Her Live pro-life billboard campaign. Donations are tax deductible.

McCain and Obama Statements on Abortion (from Baptist Press)

Michael Foust, assistant editor of Baptist Press, has compiled statements from Senators McCain and Obama relating to various issues including abortion here.

BARACK OBAMA

-- What Obama thinks about Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion (taken from his website): "Barack Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case" (BarackObama.com).

-- What Obama thought about the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the federal ban on partial-birth abortion: "I strongly disagree with today's Supreme Court ruling, which dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women. As Justice Ginsburg emphasized in her dissenting opinion, this ruling signals an alarming willingness on the part of the conservative majority to disregard its prior rulings respecting a woman's medical concerns and the very personal decisions between a doctor and patient. I am extremely concerned that this ruling will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman's right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade, which is established federal law and a matter of equal rights for women" (Obama campaign statement, April 18, 2007).

-- Obama answering at what point “does a baby get human rights?”: "I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is above my pay grade. But let me just speak more generally about the issue of abortion, because this is something obviously the country wrestles with. One thing that I'm absolutely convinced of is that there is a moral and ethical element to this issue. And so I think anybody who tries to deny the moral difficulties and gravity of the abortion issue, I think, is not paying attention" (Saddleback presidential forum, Aug. 16, 2008).

-- What Obama says about how his administration would approach the abortion issue: "I've made it ... clear that I will never back down from making sure that women have their reproductive rights here in this country. That's what's at stake in this election" (New York fundraiser, July 10, 2008). "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act (a bill that would overturn abortion restrictions and guarantee that abortion remains legal, even if Roe is overturned)" (Speech to Planned Parenthood, July 17, 2007).

-- What Obama thinks about John McCain's views on abortion: "Sen. McCain has made it abundantly clear that he wants to appoint justices like [Supreme Court Justices John] Roberts and [Samuel] Alito and that he hopes to see Roe overturned. I was proud to get Planned Parenthood's endorsement [this summer], but I have to say that when you look who's got a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood, and you've got another candidate [McCain] with a zero percent rating from Planned Parenthood, then it's not really a nail-biter [in deciding whom to support]. I stand by my votes against confirming Justices [John] Roberts and [Samuel] Alito" (Speech, July 10, 2008).

JOHN MCCAIN

-- What McCain thinks about Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion (taken from his website): "John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat" (JohnMcCain.com).

-- What McCain thought about the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a federal ban on partial-birth abortion: "Today's Supreme Court ruling is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life and integrity of the judiciary. The ruling ensures that an unacceptable and unjustifiable practice will not be carried out on our innocent children. It also clearly speaks to the importance of nominating and confirming strict constructionist judges who interpret the law as it is written, and do not usurp the authority of Congress and state legislatures. As we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life" (McCain campaign statement, April 18, 2008).

-- McCain answering at what point “does a baby get human rights?”: "At the moment of conception." (Saddleback presidential forum, Aug. 16, 2008).

-- What McCain says about how his administration would approach the abortion issue: "I have a 25-year pro-life record in the Congress [and] in the Senate. And as president of the United States, I will be a pro-life president. And this presidency will have pro-life policies.... That's my commitment to you" (Saddleback presidential forum, Aug. 16, 2008).

-- What McCain thinks about Barack Obama's views on abortion: "In 2002, Congress unanimously passed a federal law to require medical care for babies who survive abortions -- living, breathing babies whom Sen. Obama described as, quote, 'previable.' This merciful law was called the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Illinois had a version of the same law, and Barack Obama voted against it. At Saddleback, he assured a reporter that he'd have voted 'yes' on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Even though the language of both the state and federal bills was identical, Senator Obama said people were, quote, 'lying' about his record. When that record was later produced, he dropped the subject but didn't withdraw the slander. And now even Senator Obama's campaign has conceded that his claims and accusations were false.... His extreme advocacy in favor of partial birth abortion and his refusal to provide medical care for babies surviving abortion should be of grave concern to reasonable people of goodwill on both sides of this issue" (John McCain weekly radio address, Aug. 23, 2008).

Abortion and God's Forgiveness

"Will God forgive me if I have an abortion?" It's a question many women have. I didn't realize how common a question it is until I wrote about this subject last time. Perhaps you are thinking about an abortion or already had one and are wondering about this. If so, please keep reading, and I think you'll find your answer.

If you are asking this question, you already know that God views abortion as a sin--as murder in fact. So the question is, what is God's criteria for forgiveness of a sin? Or more simply: What do I need to do to be forgiven?

In a word, Repent. To repent is to change your mind about your actions so completely that you change your actions. Part of that is being sorry for what you've done. Not just sorry for the circumstances that you feel forced you into doing it, but sorry that you did it, regardless of the circumstances.

Some people will think about a sin (abortion or something else), decide that they will repent the next day, and go ahead and do it. Perhaps the next day they tell God, "I shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me." And they think every time they want to commit that sin they can do it, and then just smooth things over with God. That isn't repentance. And God does not forgive someone who hasn't truly repented.

So if you are thinking about having an abortion, you will either come to deeply regret it, or you will never be forgiven. That mixture of relief and guilt you may feel is not repentance. You have not repented until you come to the place where, if you were in the same situation, you would not commit the sin that you did.

If you already had an abortion and you are sorry that you ever did it, and you wish you could undo it, and you have committed that you will never do it again--in other words, if you have repented of the sin--you are ready to find God's forgiveness and healing.

But let me warn you. God doesn't want to forgive just one sin and still have to punish you for all of the others. He wants to forgive you for all of them. And for that, you have to be willing to give up all of your sins. You don't come to the bargaining table with God. You have to surrender everything.

Imagine God as a king with subjects. Someone has led an insurrection against him, and he is going to punish the rebels. If a rebel comes to him and says, "I'm sorry about one crime I committed, but I'm not sorry about all of the rest," the king won't have much mercy on him. But perhaps the rebel comes to him and says, "I'm ashamed of everything I did. I can't make it up to you. I have nothing to give you to repay the damages. But I submit to you now, and I'll do anything you tell me now." Then the king forgives him, and adopts him as his own child, and gives him an inheritance in his kingdom.

God wants complete repentance and a complete submission to Him. In return, He forgives completely. He never brings your rebellion up to you again. He chooses to forget it, and treats you as if you had never rebelled. He gives you peace instead of guilt. He heals your broken heart. He assures you of His love for you. He gives you help to do what you ought to do when you feel like giving up. He promises that He will never leave you. He adopts you as His child and gives you a supportive family of His other children. He guarantees that no power or circumstance, including death itself, can ever rob you of your relationship as His child.

Some people try to prove their repentance by punishing themselves. They think that if they cause enough pain to themselves, God will be more likely to forgive them. They may cut themselves or develop an eating disorder. That's trying to pay for our own sin and satisfy God on our terms. Rather than submitting to God and accepting His free forgiveness, that's telling God you don't need Him. It's a sign of continued rebellion.

Whatever your situation, just submit to God and obey Him. Enjoy His forgiveness, and allow Him to heal you.


Wesley Wilson is the President of Let Her Live, a nonprofit dedicated to saving babies by showing the beauty and value of life to women considering abortion. Please learn more about the Let Her Live pro-life billboard campaign. Donations are tax deductible.