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Prayer and the End of Abortion
Posted by
James P. McGarvey
,
09 February 2012
·
1169 views
Thanks to the leadership of Respect Life of the Archdiocese of Miami, 40 Days for Life has finally come to Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the abortion capital of the Southeast United States. Thousands more will be praying at 249 additional sites across America and in four other countries.
Why fast and pray for forty days in front of an abortion clinic?
Abortion is first and foremost a spiritual issue. According to Jesus, Satan is a murderer, a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). He "...comes to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10 ESV). Based on these statements, I believe Satan is the architect of abortion. Murder and deception are endemic to the abortion industry, making abortion a Satanic enterprise.
Our first strategy, therefore, in bringing an end to abortion, is prayer.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:11-13 ESV)
Jesus Christ has triumphed over Satan and the demonic forces behind abortion, "...having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:25 NIV)
The Church is the only institution spiritually equipped to engage the Satanic forces behind abortion. Therefore, the Church should lead the effort to end abortion.
Abortion is a gospel issue. The gospel can change the heart of an abortion minded mother to make a life affirming decision. The gospel can change the heart of those who participate and are invested in the abortion industry and those in government protecting state sanctioned killing. The gospel alone provides the hope of forgiveness, healing and restoration for the post-abortive.
Here is our mandate,
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)
Is prayer changing the abortion industry?
Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life Campaign Director, recently reported some of the results of the last seven prayer campaigns:
*15,000+ church congregations have participated in 40 Days for Life campaigns
* Reports document 5,045 lives that have been spared from abortion -- and those are just the ones we know about
* 61 abortion workers have quit their jobs and walked away from the abortion industry
* 21 abortion facilities have completely shut down following local 40 Days for Life campaigns outside their doors
* Women and men have been spared from the effects of abortion, including a lifetime of regrets
* Many people with past abortion experiences have begun post-abortion healing and recovery
The responsibility to end abortion lies with the Church. Jesus promised, “...the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
According to Christian Newswire (02-08-12),
“With 251 locations, this will be the largest springtime 40 Days for Life campaign in history. 40 Days for Life consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, 40 days of constant, peaceful vigil outside abortion centers and Planned Parenthood offices and 40 days of pro-life community outreach.”
If you live in Southeast Florida, you may sign up to pray for an hour (or more) a week - for six weeks in front of Planned Parenthood's abortion clinic in Pembroke Pines or Choice For Women in Miami. If not find an abortion facility in your area. See the list of participating communities and sign up online at: www.40daysforlife.com/location.
Why fast and pray for forty days in front of an abortion clinic?
Abortion is first and foremost a spiritual issue. According to Jesus, Satan is a murderer, a liar and the father of all lies (John 8:44). He "...comes to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10 ESV). Based on these statements, I believe Satan is the architect of abortion. Murder and deception are endemic to the abortion industry, making abortion a Satanic enterprise.
Our first strategy, therefore, in bringing an end to abortion, is prayer.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:11-13 ESV)
Jesus Christ has triumphed over Satan and the demonic forces behind abortion, "...having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Colossians 2:25 NIV)
The Church is the only institution spiritually equipped to engage the Satanic forces behind abortion. Therefore, the Church should lead the effort to end abortion.
Abortion is a gospel issue. The gospel can change the heart of an abortion minded mother to make a life affirming decision. The gospel can change the heart of those who participate and are invested in the abortion industry and those in government protecting state sanctioned killing. The gospel alone provides the hope of forgiveness, healing and restoration for the post-abortive.
Here is our mandate,
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)
Is prayer changing the abortion industry?
Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life Campaign Director, recently reported some of the results of the last seven prayer campaigns:
*15,000+ church congregations have participated in 40 Days for Life campaigns
* Reports document 5,045 lives that have been spared from abortion -- and those are just the ones we know about
* 61 abortion workers have quit their jobs and walked away from the abortion industry
* 21 abortion facilities have completely shut down following local 40 Days for Life campaigns outside their doors
* Women and men have been spared from the effects of abortion, including a lifetime of regrets
* Many people with past abortion experiences have begun post-abortion healing and recovery
The responsibility to end abortion lies with the Church. Jesus promised, “...the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
According to Christian Newswire (02-08-12),
“With 251 locations, this will be the largest springtime 40 Days for Life campaign in history. 40 Days for Life consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, 40 days of constant, peaceful vigil outside abortion centers and Planned Parenthood offices and 40 days of pro-life community outreach.”
If you live in Southeast Florida, you may sign up to pray for an hour (or more) a week - for six weeks in front of Planned Parenthood's abortion clinic in Pembroke Pines or Choice For Women in Miami. If not find an abortion facility in your area. See the list of participating communities and sign up online at: www.40daysforlife.com/location.
