BY JIMMY MEEKS

We often hear that the best way to respond to a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. And there have been instances where the good guy did come through. But they are few and far between. The truth is, the good guys with guns are seldom in the same place where the bad guys are. Thus, the killer can do his thing with no opposition.

There are over 350 million guns in the United States. Some estimates are as high as 390 million. According to the Washington Post, in January of 2021 over two million guns were sold. The article states that the motivation for the surge in sales is the fear of “violence and political uncertainty.”

Yet still, the violence rages on.

The “good guys” are just not in place to stop the attacks. In the Walmart massacre in El Paso in August of 2019 (23 shot and killed, 23 more injured), several licensed to carry citizens were in the building. Yet none of them were able to confront the killer. Stories like this continue to be told.

“DID YOU KNOW: 90% OF THE TIME A KILLER COMES TO CHURCH, HE SUCCEEDS IN HIS MISSION BEFORE HE IS STOPPED.”

For those who are born-again believers, these acts of senseless violence deeply trouble us (or they should). We are reminded of the words of David in Psalm 11:5 -

“...the Lord hates the man who loves violence.”

And the words of David’s son, Solomon, also bear witness with us;

“…the Lord hates ... hands that shed innocent blood...”

These verses, and many more, clearly reveal God’s attitude toward those who commit unlawful acts of violence.

In our Sheepdog Seminars, I always point out that God has a plan to stop this violence. And that plan is ... YOU. There is no backup plan, no “Plan B.” We who are blood-bought and born again have been tasked with impeding this endless flow of violence that destroys the lives of the innocent.

And as important as it may be to carry our gun when out in public, and to be ready to confront these killers, we have to admit to a certain truth; it’s not working.

We are going to have to utilize another weapon, one that, to my knowledge, no security organization is advocating. You’re not likely to attend any safety seminar that will promote its use.

It - this special weapon - has a history of effectiveness. But it is too often avoided, and the reason for that is the sheer ignorance of God’s people. Hosea the prophet was right; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

This special weapon has the potential to bring calm to the country that we have not known in a long time. It could help thwart the killing of our police officers. As of June 2021, 26 police officers have been killed by gunfire. In all, 146 officers have died in the line of duty. We are on pace for another high number of police deaths.

This weapon of which I speak will be mocked by those outside the faith. And unfortunately, it will be mostly ignored by those who claim to have faith in Jesus. Even among those who promote “church security,” you’re not likely to hear the call for the application of this special weapon. But we need to give it serious consideration, especially since most of our efforts are failing.

Ezra, from the Old Testament book which bears his name, made use of this weapon. It paid off for him. He found himself in a dangerous situation. He was tasked with helping to transport over 5000 Jews back to Jerusalem. It would be a long journey, over 500 miles. The route he would take would put him and his fellow countrymen in harm’s way. The trail was filled with robbers and killers.

Ezra knew he needed security, however, by his own admission, he was too ashamed to ask the king for military assistance. After all, he concluded, since he had told the king God would be with them, surely his God would protect them. Ezra well knew the dangers of the path they would have to take, which, according to Ezra 8:32, included the threat of ambushes.

So Ezra decided to retrieve his “weapon,” and use it against the threats they might face.

And what was this special “weapon?”

Fasting.

Huh?

At first thought, such a tactic seems ridiculous. But Ezra knew that he and his fellow Jews would need something far more superior than military might; they would need God. Ezra understood what King David had written in Psalms 127;

“...unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman (security guards) stays alert in vain.”

Ezra’s choice of weapons paid off. He had solicited the help of God, as opposed to the military resource of the king. And God had not failed him. He records in 8:23 that God was “receptive” to his prayer, which, according to Ezra 8:21, had been accompanied with fasting.

Consider the wonder of this; Ezra transports 5000 Jews back to Jerusalem (800 miles), and in spite of the threats along the way, there is not one report of an act of violence.

I am not advocating that we abandon our guns. I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment, and the right of every citizen to protect himself and those he loves - including his community. When I leave the house, I have a gun on me. I am not a gun fanatic, and my “gun collection” is nothing to show off. I am determined to protect the innocent.

What I am advocating, though, is that we who profess faith in Jesus, need to make use of our “spiritual weapons,” which, according to 2 Corinthians 10, are “mighty through God.”

Does your church safety team make use of this weapon - the weapon of fasting?

Have you gathered them together on occasion and cried out to God in a time of prayer and fasting?
Has it ever dawned on you that doing so may be the very thing that stops a violent act from being committed at your church?

A friend of mine, Kevin, used this special weapon at his church. I don’t know if he still does so, but after hearing me speak about this, he decided that on Sunday mornings he would skip breakfast (fasting), and cry out to God as he made the church ready each Sunday. His pastor learned what he was doing and decided to join him. The last time I spoke with Kevin, he said they have not had one single act of violence!

Could it be that the God of Ezra is just as eager to help us as he was Ezra? If that be true, and I believe it is, perhaps we need to make use of the same weapon Ezra did.

Imagine what could happen if this weapon is as powerful as scripture indicates?

Wouldn’t it be a glorious thing to see violence begin to decrease?
What if our churches, many of whom have experienced violence and disturbances, saw a decline in such senseless incidents?

Let me ask you this; are your people worth it? Are they worth you skipping a meal (fasting) and crying out to God for their protection? And what about the rest of your city? Perhaps once or twice a month you could fast and pray while walking around one of the local schools. Who knows, perhaps doing so will stop a school shooting.

Maybe your men’s group, instead of meeting for breakfast, could gather at the local police department, and fast and pray, asking God to do what Ezra requested; protection from ambushes.

What if your fasting and praying shut down the rioting and looting that is tearing our country down?

One final thought. If you’ve read the gospels, you know that the Lord Jesus was constantly in danger: He had his enemies. After preaching one of his first sermons, Luke 4 tells us that the people were enraged at him. As a matter of fact, they were so angry that they dragged him out of the temple, down the street, and were about to hurl him over the edge of a cliff. His response is very interesting, to say the least;

“But He passed right through the crowd and went on His way.”

Luke 4:30.

HE ...JUST ... WALKED ... AWAY. Unharmed. No injuries. No need for medical attention.

But what I find so interesting is what happened in Jesus’ life prior to this near-death experience; Luke 4 tells us that He spent 40 days in the desert...fasting. Luke 4:14 states that after those 40 days of fasting, he returned “in the power of the Spirit.” That power was from His Father. No devil or disease could conquer it. An angry, violent mob was not even able to withstand it.

Brothers and sisters - don’t we need that kind of power? It seems foolish to believe that we can expect the Power He Possessed while ignoring the Principles He Practiced - that unleashed such power. In other words, if Jesus deemed it necessary to fast, should we not conclude likewise?

I am by no means advocating a 40-day fast as Jesus did. But surely we can skip a meal a time or two a month and cry out to our Father.

Dear God - awaken your sleeping church. Let us see the seriousness of this hour, the threats from the enemy who is determined to steal, kill, and destroy. Let us see the value of the people around us. You have shed your blood for us; help us to “shed” a meal now and then, and cry out to you, confident that the God who heard Ezra - will hear us!

UPCOMING SHEEPDOG SEMINAR FOR CHURCHES -

Bartlesville, Oklahoma - July 17 (Saturday) click here for info