July, 2000

CIRCUMSTANCES
By Marilyn Conrad

Many times circumstances are not as they appear. The enemy tries to make things look much worse than they are because he wants us to believe that our situations are impossible.

Several years ago the Lord taught me a great lesson about how appearances can deceive. The Holy Spirit prompted me to drive to an area nearby and do spiritual warfare and pull down strongholds over that vicinity, strongholds of fornication, adultery, drinking, partying, seduction, allurement, separation and divorce.

I felt directed to a certain lake home, to use it as the catalyst for my prayers. Located in a heavily wooded area that backed up to a lake, the home was protected by large, very tall stockade-type gates and fencing across the front of the property.

Those imposing gates were padlocked, but we could peer between them and see the home and surrounding area. My friend and I began to pray as the Spirit directed us, taking authority over the enemy and pulling down his strongholds. In about an hour we felt a release in our spirits and felt we could leave.

As we turned and started walking away, I had the desire to go to the end of the fence and see how the sides of the property were protected. I made my way under trees and brush to the end of the front fence. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that there was no fencing, whatsoever, on the sides. The gates and fence across the front gave the illusion of a highly protected home, one that was totally barricaded. In truth, anyone could go to the end of the fence and walk onto the property because there was nothing to keep an intruder out. It was all an illusion!

The devil tries to build an illusion of circumstances so big that we feel there is nothing we can do to change things. However, God's Word says nothing is impossible with Him, and He is greater than anything the devil can use against us. As we continue to stand and speak God's Word, circumstances and situations must line up with the Word.

MORE ON CIRCUMSTANCES
By Andrew & Carol Munden, National Directors from Australia

Some of you may feel that your miracle is no closer and perhaps even farther away. Be encouraged: "Whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith." Are you waiting to see some improvement in your situation to convince you that God will heal your marriage? If you need such proof, then you are NOT walking by faith, but by sight. That is the exact opposite of what God calls us to do. "But we live by faith, not by what we see."

Remember that "God’s ways are not our ways" and He tells us to "lean not unto your own understanding." To walk by faith we must cal "what be not as though it is." Faith pleases God and helps us to receive all His blessings.

Faith is an essential part of each miracle, especially of healed marriages, which may take considerable time to occur. Remember that the double-minded man receives nothing. We become double-minded when we entertain negative thoughts and words (ours or others) that open the door for doubt and fear to come and destroy our faith.

Don’t dwell on your circumstances. "Hope deferred truly does make the heart sick." It is far better to nurture our faith with the Work of God. Faith "comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." It is not optional for you to pray God’s Word aloud over your circumstances. It is essential as the air you breathe. Without the word your faith will shrivel up and die.

The battleground for your marriage is in your mind. The people or circumstances in your life are not the problem, it is how you react to them that determines your situation. Satan will fire his lies into your mind (It’s hopeless…You can’t bear it…He or she will never change) and you make the choice whether or not to believe them. Be aware that when you worry you are actually meditating on the enemy’s thoughts. Satan is glorified and empowered more in your life each time you focus on his "truths." That is why God tells us to do the exact opposite, to meditate on "what is pure, lovely, and noble."

Put on your armor, especially the shield of faith, take up the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God, and speak out what God says about you, your spouse, and your circumstances. Circumstances are only temporary and can change—but God and His truth, revealed in the Word, never change.

Scripture References
1 John 5:4, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Isaiah 55:8, Proverbs 3:5,
Romans 4:17, Mark 11: 23-24, Hebrew 11:6, Matthew 13:58,
Proverbs 13:12, Romans 10:17, Philippians 4:8

A Call to Prayer
by Gerry Hiebert
Canadian National Director

Where is our Victory?

Many of us have experienced severe attacks by the enemy this past year; in the areas of health, finances, family problems, no visible progress in our marriages, and in other areas. One area that many have had to deal with is that of standing alone, with no support or encouragement. Indeed, many of you are being actively discouraged by those who are closest; your families, friends, and churches.

If this has been your experience, let me assure you that you are not alone, but Satan would like you to think you are! The problem is often that while we as Christians are one body, we tend to fight our battles alone. An army will not win if each soldier fights alone and takes on the enemy army by themselves. We are in an army that has the victory guaranteed, IF WE FOLLOW THE BATTLE-PLAN OF OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF!

He tells us "Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand" (Lev 26:8) and "The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven" (Duet 28:7).

So why do you feel like the enemy is laughing at you instead of fleeing? It could be because you aren’t a hundred, or even five. It could be because too many of us have been fighting the war all by ourselves.

During the year 2000 I believe that God is moving us as the body of Christ, and as Covenant Keepers in Canada, to a new spiritual plane. I believe that God is calling us to a new level of unity. We are already united in our belief that God honors the covenant of our marriages, but that is not an active unity. A soldier who says he believes in the cause but doesn’t raise his rifle when his comrades are under attack is not in active unity with the rest.

We know that our warfare is not with "flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, and authorities of darkness." (Eph 6:12) Do you know what this means? It means that I don’t have to be standing beside you to fight our common enemy. I don’t have to be in the same city, or even the same province to go to battle for you. In fact, I don’t even have to know your name or need, so long as the One who hears our prayers knows. We can unite by prayer from anywhere, and God promises that when we agree in prayer, He will intervene. (Matt 18:19)

In Eph 6:18, Paul tells us to "always keep on praying for all the saints." One reason we aren’t seeing victory is that we aren’t fighting for each other. We often (selfishly) focus on our own circumstances and problems when we pray. Love must be concerned with the circumstances of others, not self.

Pray for Other Covenant Keepers

I want to ask each of you to take some time, every day, to pray for other Covenant Keepers. If you don’t know any, then ask God to show you how and what to pray. You could pray for all those standing for marital restoration in each state/province, and name the state/provinces. Pray specifically for those who are separated, those who are divorced, those who are still with their spouses, for the children involved, those who live alone, and so on. Each of these circumstances have peculiar issues and difficulties. Pray for all the prodigal spouses who are in "the far country." Pray for the pastors of Covenant Keepers to get revelation regarding covenant so that they might encourage and support. Are you beginning to see how you can fight for those that you have never met? Let’s unite, from sea to sea, in lifting one another before the throne of grace.

Pray for Your Nation

I believe that each of you has responded to a high calling in standing for your marriage, and that God has given you a special grace and insight into His heart to do it. Many of you are already intercessors and prayer warriors, whether you realize it or not. God is calling others of you to a deeper place of prayer, as He is calling me.

Join with others in praying the following for your country, as well as other things which God will surely lay on your heart.

1. Ask God to bring a wave of repentance to wash over the Church, followed by a great revival in the land.

2. Pray for unity among the states/provinces, varying cultural groups, and the broken families in your nation. I believe that our broken marriages are representative of a spirit of division in our countries, and a united nation will be reflected in restored marriages.

3. Pray for wisdom and guidance of your political and religious leaders.

God desires to do great things in these times, but first we must "humble ourselves and pray." Please, be a part of this important move of God. I know that you are special people in His Kingdom, and He "will hear from heaven and forgive your sin and heal your land."

What Will Happen?

Three things will happen when you begin to pray for others in this way.

First, God will hear your prayers and minister to those who are sheltered by the shield of faith that you raise.

Second, God will lighten your burden and move in your life as you intercede on behalf of others.

Third, the principle of sowing and reaping will take effect.

The Word tells us that "A man reaps what he sows." (Gal 6:7) We usually apply this to finances, but it applies in many areas. A farmer who plants corn doesn’t get a crop of beets, and roses never grow from dandelion seeds. We get what we plant. So if you sow prayer for others, I believe that God will raise a crop of others to pray for you! This is just too easy!

So please, begin to bear the burdens of your brothers and sisters in Christ who are believing for the same miracle in their lives that you are believing for in yours. Pray and fast, and if you feel inadequate or lack understanding in these areas, read books that will help and teach you. A number of excellent books available from the Tulsa office are listed in Covenant Comments.

Read Psalm 126 and find the exception to the principle of reaping what you sow.