Hey fellas, have you heard the news?
You know, that Annie's back in town?
It won't take long, just watch and see
How the fellas lay the money down
The style is new, but the face the same,
As it was so long ago,
But from her eyes a different smile
from that of one who knows...
It's funny how human nature doesn't change much over time.
It's always fascinating to read history and see how people dealt with events and put yourselves in their shoes. In chapter 30 of Rees Howells, Intercessor, there is the story of God's leading the people at this school of ministry to seek God for all the nations, that He would send out workers into the harvest. Hitler started moving in Europe in 1936, and this threat of European war became a hinderance to the spreading of the Gospel, so they began to pray against Hitler, that God would "bend" him. They prayed and fasted and prayed some more and saw an amazing answer to prayer. The leaders of Great Britain called for a day of prayer. It was September of 1938 and Hitler was poised to attack England while they were still unprepared for war. His plan was October. But some advisors talked him into signing the Munich pact and war was averted. We know what happened later, but this was a huge event, where Hitler chose not to obey his "inner voice" (which few would argue that it was not an evil spirit or Satan himself) and instead followed the counsel of others around him. Usually he defied their counsel and was proved right by following his voice. This really seemed like an answer to prayer -- an invisible warfare waged by prayers. Amazing.
What was also amazing was how resolutely the people at Howells' school surrendered themselves like bond servants to the Lord. They knew full well what the costs were in surrendering like this, but they did it nonetheless.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at July 25, 2006 10:36 AM