The War Mode (Frangipane message: intercessors must face the bully)

Ministries of Francis Frangipane ^ | 8/13/04 | Francis Frangipane

[Paul_B]

The War Mode

Francis Frangipane I was seventeen years old, a senior in high school, and was slouching into my desk when a student easily twice my size entered the room. Suddenly he saw me, and in a storm of spit and fire, burst toward where I was sitting. I was unaware of any reason he would be upset with me, so I wasn't prepared when he grabbed me by my neck, picked me up and began rearranging my facial features.

It seemed that a prankster had written a derogatory remark about him on the inside cover of his notebook and then signed my name to it. Obviously, there was more going on in the Big Guy's life than anyone was aware of. Whatever other frustrations had been accumulating in his heart, his immediate goal was to release his fury on the last offender, which he was sure was me.

I should also mention that I was 5' 9" tall and my peak weight was 135 pounds. So, I had logically grown to become a person who, by nature, would turn the other cheek if it meant avoiding an outright fight. Of course, the turning of my cheek was not born of character, but cowardice. My quest for peace with potential enemies was the result of my fear of being hurt. In fact, I had developed some clever ways to avoid confrontation with violent souls and still appear relatively cool among my friends.

However, it does not matter what one's philosophy is concerning conflict when you are actually in a fight with an angry giant. Big Guy wasn't looking to talk, he was looking for blood. I was in a fight, and the sole awareness that flooded my mind was that I would have to fight back, even if I still got beat up.

Big Guy had just pushed me through several rows of desks and was coming toward me again when I finally realized he was not going to stop. If this assault was going to end, it was because I put my whole heart into fighting back. Once I accepted the situation as it was, something amazing happened inside me. Instead of my fear getting worse, it actually left me. The energy that was being dissipated through terror and concern about being hurt was recycled and was now enlisted for my defense. Unexpectedly, I discovered another dimension of my soul: the war mode.

Frankly, I didn't even know I had a war mode, but when Big Guy reached down to pick me up for "round two," my fight instincts clicked into action. It had been easy for him to throw me around when I wasn't resisting. Now, I sprang upward with a punch that landed squarely on his nose and he fell back a step. I hit him again two or three times and then jumped on him while he was off balance, knocking him to the ground. It's possible he stumbled over a chair and my punch had nothing to do with his fall, but it didn't matter. When his back hit the floor, there was a 135 pound Sicilian on top of him.

By now, students were pulling me off him. He had blood pouring from his nose and I was being called a bully by his friends. When the teacher entered the room, it plainly looked like I was the aggressor and Big Guy was the poor victim, cowering beneath my relentless assault. I nearly didn't graduate because of the incident, but I didn't care. Something inside of me had grown up and changed. I found the war mode. I still didn't look for a fight, but I wasn't afraid anymore.

Islamic Terrorism Why am I telling you this story? Because since 9-11-01, Islamic terrorists have been bullying nations throughout the Middle East and beyond. Even the USA was intimidated and afraid to retaliate against repeated attacks against our nation. Radical Muslims had stormed into our consciousness time and time again, grabbed us by the heart and threw us and many other nations against the wall. For years we accepted their tactics and let appeasement guide our actions. Our prayer was hardly more than a whimper: "Please make them leave us alone." We defined victory, not as defeating our foe, but by not being hurt too bad.

But Islamic terrorism didn't go away. The spirit of terror hovered over us; it wormed its way into the thought-life of nations, taunting and threatening even predominantly Muslim cultures. Even when there was no evidence of approaching terrorism, the specter of terror stretched its spiritual presence into the dreams and desires of the nations. We were convinced that Islamic terrorism would forever be a part of our world. In the secret recesses of our collective memory, we acknowledged the Muslims sought world domination, but we couldn't openly come to terms with this reality. We were told that their fury was rooted in poverty or the exploitation of the Arabs by the West. The truth was that there is a primeval vision guiding the actions of radical Islam: to conquer the world for Allah.

The terrorists were worse than bullies; they represented the very worst kind of humanity. They were evil and religious. Their unholy quest was to reduce the world to the size of their shriveled, miserable souls. But I thank God for President George W. Bush. He stood up to the fear, to the intimidation and the challenge of radical Islam. Nations that were held hostage to the threats of terrorism were finally going to be freed. He looked Islam in the face and separated the common and honorable from the terrible, and went after the terrible. Additionally, the American President said plainly that any nation that used terrorism, or harbored or supported terrorists, would themselves become a target for international justice and even war led by the USA.

The President, along with Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK, as well as the leaders of approximately sixty other nations went after the Islamists. Proud men and women in the armed forces drew upon the courage of these national leaders and took courage themselves, first in the assault of Afghanistan and then into Iraq. In spite of the relentless fear mongering of the liberal press, in less than three months the war in Afghanistan was won, the Taliban and Al Qaeda humiliated, killed or scattered.

President Bush, with the international Coalition of the Willing, then confronted Saddam Hussein. This was the dictator who rewarded Palestinian suicide bombers for their carnage and death against Israel, giving each terrorist's family $30,000. Saddam was a state sponsor of terrorism. President Bush pleaded with the U.N. to take firm action against Hussein and stop their endless appeasement with the Iraqi bully. This was the dictator who fashioned himself the next great Nebuchadnezzar; the madman attacked Iran, Kuwait and his own Kurdish people, leaving millions of people dead and maimed. Did Saddam have weapons of mass destruction? Yes. The mind of Saddam Hussein was itself a weapon of mass destruction. It was the will of God that Saddam's government be removed from power.

With another coalition of over 40 nations, President Bush and Tony Blair led the war against Iraq. The first stage of this offensive was over in less than two months. However, enforcing peace has been costly. Remember, Iraq is the area on earth where Lucifer first slithered up to Eve in the Garden of Eden. It was also from this region that ancient Babylon was first planted, and then spread its influence into the rest of the world. One might say that Iraq holds a unique place for the devil. It's his childhood home.

Where We Come In Those who know me, know I am a man compelled by mercy. When I make a decision that involves people, I choose to err on the side of mercy. Thus, be assured that I am not an advocate of physical war. However, I am not a coward either. We must not confuse false peace, which is the result of compromise born of fear, with real peace, which comes from winning the fight against evil.

Today, many are weary with world events. Part of this weariness is because hearts are divided: we are to maintain a peacetime mentality during a time of war. Indeed, the energy to deal with today's battles comes from recognizing today's conflicts, facing them head on, and finding the resources to overcome in the strength of God. Since 9-11, our souls have secretly longed to return to 9-10. Yet, we cannot hide in the past. We are at war and our role as Christians is to stand up and pray for our leaders, support our troops and intercede for mercy to fall upon the Muslim people. We must also follow through in spiritual warfare, praying aggressively against terrorism and the demons that drive terrorists to fulfill evil.

In the grand scheme of things, the Bible tells us there is even a legitimate "time for war" (Ecc 3:9). This time is now. The sooner we switch to the war mode, the faster we will tap into the moral strength to defeat personal oppression. Self-pity and passivity will diminish; we will find God's grace to prevail. Beloved, it is conceivable that we will experience one or more major terrorist attacks in the near future. I am not resigned to this possibility; I am aggressively praying against it. However, if it happens, if I am knocked down by the suddenness of the assault, I will quickly stand back up. I will rise with the attitude of one who has entered the war mode.

"The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies" (Isaiah 42:13).

Note: Beginning September 24th through November 2nd, 2004, thousands of churches and ministries will be engaged in 40 days of prayer and fasting (see Intercessors For America's Website for more info. www.40daysusa.org).

[Paul_B]

This is this week's mailing from FF.

[Paul_B]

Folks, here's a message for intercessors. TYMBI. - Paul

[Kitty Mittens]

Thank you, Paul, for the Ping! This article has inspired me to pray more against the terrorists!

I will also increase my prayer to our King during the 40 days of prayer & fasting.

God bless you, brother!

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

Thanks for posting this.

I need to resubscribe to him now that I have my new email.

[alpha-8-25-02]

thankyou for the ping paul.
bt the grace of God,the vessels of His mercy and the trophies of His grace,will be vigiliant in terminating known evil.
my prayers for a godly president and the defenders of freedom.
GODSPEED!