So, in college, I knew a friend that was bipolar with rapid cycling. As far as I know he was never on medication, but about every three days, he would struggle with depression. And somehow, I think I’ve developed what I call, ”Saturday Blues,” It’s not magical, I don’t know if it’s spiritual, but I’m almost certain it’s tied to my illness.
And maybe pastors and people like Elijah (whom I am not nearly a man of God as they).
Okay, first, Elijah. Elijah went toe to toe with the false prophets of Baal at the command of Yah-weh. He performed a miracle, and people repented of Baal worship (for a season), and slew the 400 prophets of Baal. Then Jezebel sends him a death threat by a messenger. He doesn’t pray or stick around. He flees to Mt. Horeb. Now Mt. Horeb was the mountain on which Moses saw God’s back. He is still in tune with God though. He passes on the fire, the earthquake, and mighty wind. When he hears the still small voice (that confirms what was said to him before), he wraps his mantle around his face (presumably to not look at God directly), and talks with God.
“Ahh, Lord, I have served you faithfully. They have killed all your prophets and servants with the sword, and I alone am left!”
Don’t we all feel like that. Like the whole spiritual conflict is all dependent on us? We do. It does nott though. God is working through 100s of millions, maybe as many as a billion people to accomplish His will and purpose throughout the world. The best the Enemy can do through His children is to slay God’s people. It looks like a victory, but it’s really just an express ticket to the throne room of Majesty.
Now, today, I started feeling sorry for myself. Wait, no, let’s back up a bit. I judged my neighbor, several times. It was wicked, and I repented of it. Then, I started feeling sorry for myself. “Poor Kelly, no wife, no kids, no real life,” What a crock of sh*t. Most people with my illness can’t even ask for a life as good as mine. As a caveat, I was in line next to a person like myself, who was having a rough day (maybe it is a Saturday thing). At the end of It I just prayed ,”Lord, send me the help I need,” As in, please send me an angel to help me fight these demons (internal or external). And whether it’s the Holy Spirit, or divine tag team, God helps me whenever I pray that.
Satan doesn’t send in enough forces to have a fair fight. He knows he won’t win. So he sends a handful of his biggest baddest demons to oppress your Sunday school leader, pastor, deacon, spiritual man or woman of God. I’m not asking prayers for myself in the same category, although if believers would pray for me that would be awesome. But pray for your spiritual leaders, pastors, Sunday school teachers, deacons. Because Saturday is the day they are most vulnerable. After a spiritual victory like Elijah, maybe a family comes to know Jesus. Someone gets baptized, or several. Maybe there was a miracle or God work mightily in a congregant’s life. Satan says, ”Uh oh, I’m losing turf,” so he picks his biggest baddest demons and sends them after godly souls on his hit list. I am not saying that happens to me. I am saying that you say a prayer for your pastor/deacon/whomever that God would protect and defend them and their family and everything they have, all around. That he would hedge them and all they have with His divine protection, a patrol of angels, etc.
We are on Satan’s turf. We are on a mission to search and rescue. And we are running out of time. Either we die or Jesus returns. I’ll be honest. Although I have read the Great Commission over and over, I don’t actively seek to disciple new believers. And I am pleading with God to change me, maybe retrain me, I don’t know, that I would help fulfill the Great Commision.
Pray for your leaders, your family, yourself, pray Psalm 92 for yourself and your family daily. Find the prayers Paul prays for believers in the New Testament. We’re not saying ‘name and claim them’, we’re saying pray those prayers for yourself and your family. We’re not perfect like Jesus. So we pray for ourselves first, and then our family. We make sure the power line is connected through us, and then intercede.