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12th
January 2012
Combating
Crime Through Prayer
 In
the first two months of 2011, St. Lucians sat
riveted to their seats as, night after night,
newscasters reported on the mayhem and deaths
of many young people around the island from
all walks of life.
This barrage of murders impacted everyone. Politicians,
youth leaders, social workers, human rights
activists, talk show hosts, everyone began to
talk about it and ask the all important question
of the day, “What can we do to stop the
crime?” Then we played the blaming- game.
This one blaming that one, and that one blaming
this one for the increase in crime. Everybody,
as the adage goes, ‘adding their two cents
to it’. No one seemed to have the answer.
People were afraid to walk the city streets
at night and certain places were avoided even
during the day.
It was against this backdrop that Rev. Benedict
Jn. Baptiste, better known as, Pastor Ben, decided
to, in his words, “Use the weapon that
he used in the 1990’s”- the weapon
of prayer.
The Bible in 1Timothy 2:1-3 exhorts us to pray
so we can live in peace, godliness and honesty-
“I exhort you therefore, that, first of
all supplications, prayers, intercessions and
giving of thanks, be made for all men. For kings,
and for all that are in authority: that we may
lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and honesty. For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Saviour.”
In March 2011, the, “Prayer For The Nation”
rally was established and the “National
Prayer Warrior’s Squad” was launched.
To date, we have approximately 100 registered
warriors, and at every monthly rally at least
50 faithful warriors regularly participate.
James 5: 16 reinforces the Power of Prayer.
“ The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.”Earnest prayer produces
supernatural results. We have authority in the
earth to declare God’s judgments (Gen.
1:28; Ps. 115:15-16). Adam and Eve, may have
fallen into sin, but we have been restored to
our high place in God, through the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ. It is up to us to enforce that
authority. Our authority and dominion must be
activated through fervent, earnest prayer. (Ps.
8:4-6; 115:16; Luke 10:19; Eph. 2:2)
As the popular quote goes, “The true test
of a prophet is, what he says will come to pass”
or in layman’s terms, “The proof
is in the pudding” In March of 2011, we
launched a full scale prayer, warfare attack
against evil in the land, our nation St. Lucia.
We stood in the gap and interceded, we strategized
and declared stability and protection over the
land.
Just as God used words (the spirit of His mouth)
to bring the world back into order and alignment
according to His original design and plan, so
too, must we effectively use anointed words
to destroy the works of the enemy.
2 Thes. 2:8, says that Satan will be consumed
with the spirit of God’s mouth (Words),
and destroyed by the brightness of His coming
(The anointing).
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We made the start,
and very soon after the Deputy Commissioner
of Police initiated, “Operation Restore
Confidence” and the battle was on. Peace
soon reigned once again in Castries. The climax
of our year of Prayer Warfare came when the
statistics were given at the end of the year-
2010 Forty-eight homicides, and 2011 Thirty-
eight. Can you imagine what this year 2012
will be like when citizens of St. Lucia come
together to Pray for the Nation? When as the
Army of the Lord, we move around St. Lucia,
from community to community, praying every
month?
Only a few are called to be Bishops, Pastors,
Ministers or Deacons, but, ALL of us are called
to pray. I beseech you to become a part of
a new revolution: The Reformation Revolution
sought ecclesiastical change, The French revolution
sought political change, The Marxist revolution
sought economic change,
The Nazi revolution sought ethnic change,
The Civil Rights revolution sought social
change, but,
The Jesus revolution seeks to provoke life
change, from the inside out, a movement that
gives people the opportunity to change for
the better… forever, affected through
prayer.
Let us remember, that on November 28, 2011,
we elected into power a new Government. The
Lord has given us the mandate to pray for
those in authority. Our Prime Minister, Ministers,
Senators and Opposition members need our prayers.
Even now during the first few days of 2012,
we were once again rocked with the news of
murder in St. Lucia. Another four young men
cut down in the prime of their lives. This
time however, a well known television personality
sought the thoughts of Pastor Ben, inviting
him to come on the show, “Hot Button
Issue” to discuss the problem of crime
that was rearing its head again. From the
many calls made to the show that night, maybe
one can deduce that now people are recognizing
the need for spiritual answers to this scourge
of crime. We cannot afford to dwindle, we
must persevere with prayer. 2 Cor. 5:7, “For
we walk by Faith, not by Sight”. In
light of our faith we believe that we will
reduce the crime rate in St. Lucia once again
in 2012, through effective, strategic, warfare
prayer.
It’s your time now, sign up to be a
member of the National Prayer Warrior’s
Squad, by contacting the prayer warrior coordinator
at 7171707/ 4546375 or email: sluprayersquad1234@hotmail.com
You are invited to join us as we, Pray For
The Nation on Friday January 13th at the Castries
City Hall from 6:30pm, and every month thereafter.
Ummm… combating crime through prayer.
Do you have a better idea?
Please
comment respectfully and responsibly as we reserve
the right to remove any comment we consider
inappropriate. Refrain from personal attacks
and using any offensive language.
Discuss
Story
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