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

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.


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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.

Nothing is Too Hard for God

Our assistant pastor preached an encouraging message entitled "God Can" last Sunday night from the question of the Israelites in Psalm 78:19: "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" The theme of the sermon was that nothing is too hard for God.

That's an important truth to remember as we fight against abortion. Sometimes we despair of ever seeing abortion on demand become illegal in the majority of our states. But nothing is too hard for God, and He is a God who hates child-killing.

Could it be that we have not because we ask not? How much do we labor in prayer against abortion? Sometimes we neglect prayer because it seems so simple. "Anyone can pray, but I want to do something greater for God." But no one who has practiced the discipline of prayer would say that it is easy. Dedicated, fervent prayer his hard work--perhaps the greatest work we can do. Prayer should not be our only work, but little work for God can be accomplished without it.

The battle is the Lord's, and He gives the victory, but it is not without human participation. People spiritualize the account of David and Goliath and talk about how God can kill the giant in your life. God gave David the victory, but David had to face the giant and put all his strength into throwing that fatal stone. God let the giant blaspheme until a man of courage put his life on the line to stand up for righteousness.

My wife and I talked with a friend recently who observed that man's free will must be very important to God. As much as God hates sin, He allows people to practice it while He draws them to the point of repentance. Rather than forcing His will in our lives, He leads us to voluntarily give our wills to Him.

We have an all-powerful, just, holy God who hates sin and injustice. But instead of eradicating it Himself, He usually waits for men and women to yield themselves and perform the actions that He would have them do. He allows us to do His work. What a privilege!

Instead of placing the truth of His Gospel in every heart and mind, God uses human preachers, missionaries, friends and neighbors. Rather than stopping the slave trade or ending abortion by Divine intervention, he leads His people to work against it for decades and stop it that way. The Church is God's tool of choice. Truly, the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.

The movie Amazing Grace has focused attention on the life of the great man of God and British abolitionist William Wilberforce. I'm a little dismayed when I hear people ask, "Where is our Wilberforce?" Don't look for him. Be the Wilberforce! You may not have his position, but you have influence somewhere. Use it.

Wesley Wilson