In the Heavenlies

I believe that God's Word is living and active.
I believe that God's Word brings light.
I believe that God's Word is the absolute truth.
I believe that the Word of God will not return void.
I believe that the Holy Scriptures are the authoritative, infallible Word of God.

The Bible contains the principles and proclamation of God's power.  And, there is power when they are read.

Psalm 119 opens up by stating (ESV):
1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
 
Picture this: 84 hours of Bible reading by some 400-500 Christian leaders, entertainers, lawmakers, and influencers.  Streamed live over a dedicated platform.  Originating from the nation's capital in Washington, DC.  

Great American Family, whose streaming platform, Great American Pure Flix, streamed the Bible reading, said in a press release:

Since launching April 19, millions have watched portions of the 84-hour, cover-to-cover Bible reading—held in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary—via Pure Flix or in person. Earlier in the week, a recorded reading by President Donald Trump from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 marked a historic moment—the first time since Ronald Reagan that a sitting president has publicly read the passage.

The press release also noted, "Franklin Graham closed the week with a prayer of salvation, inviting viewers and those in attendance to personally respond to the Gospel and place their faith in Christ, bringing the national reading to a deeply personal and prayerful conclusion."

After reading the Bible with the Samaritan's Purse team earlier in the week, Franklin Graham was also in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner about a half-hour away from Museum of the Bible at the Washington Hilton, where shots were fired during the event, which was attended by President Trump, other Cabinet members, and members of the press.  Graham posted on X: "We are still learning details, but I am grateful to God that the President of the United States is safe and that no innocent people were harmed. It could have been much worse. I’m tremendously thankful for our Secret Service and law enforcement. It was incredible to witness these highly trained experts spring into action to get President @realDonaldTrump, the First Lady, and our nation’s leaders out quickly and efficiently...I thank God that America has such a great leader. Pray for our President."

And, just a note, in 1981, at the same hotel, the Washington Hilton, an attempt was made on President Reagan's life.  Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, who was murdered at a rally on a Utah college campus, was also in attendance, having read Scripture at America Reads the Bible the day before.

I have seen comments online about the occurrence of this mass Bible reading and assassination attempt occurring during the same week. That ballroom was about 30-minutes away from Museum of the Bible in the VERY SAME CITY.  Do you think that the enemy was pleased with Scripture being read over our country?  I say certainly not.  Could the actions of a potential assassin have been part of the enemy's response to America Reads the Bible.  And, consider this: can you imagine if the alleged perpetrator had been successful?  Do you believe that something worse could have been prevented due to prayer and faithful proclamation of Scripture?  Both of those components have been pointed out as contributing factors to the suspect's failure to breach the ballroom and take a single life.

The suspect, by the way, according to the New York Post, "...sent a chilling anti-President Trump manifesto to his family just before opening fire — calling himself the 'Friendly Federal Assassin'..."  The Post said that his "targets were “Administration officials (not including [FBI Director Kash] Patel)… prioritized from highest-ranking to lowest."  He also said: “I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes..." The Post also related this about suspect Cole Allen:

Allen referred to his Christian faith several times in the document within a list of “rebuttals” to imagined objections to his actions. He also made mention of hot-button political issues like the Trump administration’s strikes on Venezuelan drug boats and the detention of illegal migrants.

“Turning the other cheek is for when you yourself are oppressed. I’m not the person raped in a detention camp. I’m not the fisherman executed without trial,” Allen wrote in the deranged document, which a relative provided to police, officials said.

“I’m not a schoolkid blown up, or a child starved, or a teenage girl abused by the many criminals in this administration. Turning the other cheek when *someone else* is oppressed is not Christian behavior; it is complicity in the oppressor’s crimes.”

I don't believe in coincidence, and we are in a period of time, I believe, of intensified spiritual activity.  There was a report of protestors outside the dinner calling for the death of "all of them."  It was reported that the President's motorcade was attacked.  I think that something was going on in the heavenlies last Saturday night.

So, how do we respond?  We need to pray like never before for the leaders of our nation. Not only are there domestic terrorists who are bent on doing violence, but we are involved in military action against a nation that has long brutalized its people under subjection to a violent ideology.  

The work of the enemy is certainly apparent.  But, the enemy himself has been brought under subjection under the feet of Jesus.  The battle is intense, and God's people stand in a position of responsibility to pray and submit to Scripture.  In our churches and in our homes. Each day, we should strive to communicate with Jesus by our prayers and listen to Him communicate with us through His Word and by the illumination of the Spirit in accordance with that Word.