Many spoke of a “great reprieve” season when President Donald J. Trump was elected. They said that due to the prayers of the righteous, God had given the church in America more time to get people saved, set free, healed and delivered. He had given us more time to awaken those who had been deceived. More time to lay hands on the sick and see them healed.
As I have written from the start, it has never been about Donald J. Trump. Although many like to critique, criticize and analyze his every move, this really isn’t what God is concerned about at all. What happened in 2016 was a direct response to the prayers of the righteous here in America and beyond. It was a last-minute reprieve. A period where God was willing to show His mercy, His grace, His love, and give us a just little more time.
The time was given not only to the American people but more so, to the American church. Our mandate was simple: Do not act like it’s business as usual! God wanted us to repent as a nation and as a body. To begin to lead the culture again in accordance with the truth of the Word of God. To stand for righteousness and to push back against the demonic agenda we were under so we could change the trajectory in which this nation was headed.
At that time, we had seen decades of moral decline, a prolonged anti-God/anti-Christianity movement and a death culture that continued to celebrate the murder of our most innocent societal members: our babies! Has any of this changed? How much longer do we have now? Did we do all that God wanted of us in this time—or did we act as if it were business as usual? That then begs the question: Will this reprieve season be extended? Will God again give us some more time?
God is giving words to the prophets. Some are speaking of possible calamity and of great tribulations that we could soon see in America. Their message is either we repent now, or we could see a time unlike we have ever seen in our history. Others are speaking of a coming revival, a great awakening and a powerful move of God.
Could these two different visions actually coincide? Could we see both tribulation and revival at the same time? Absolutely. In fact, often in times of great despair, people turn back to God as their source of true hope. He is the only one that provides real peace in a time of disparity–-a peace that surpasses all understanding.
I believe the prophets are hearing correctly. I believe we are being shown how to pray. It is my prayer that we can have more time. God will respond to the prayers of the saints, but we first must repent and be sincere in fulfilling our mission as the body of Christ. We must be willing to fast and pray. We must be willing to speak the truth and push back in this spiritual battle we are in as a country and church. We must be the “head and not the tail” and lead this nation to repentance and back to Jesus Christ.
I was asked a question last night that caught me off guard. I was in a circle of strong Christian believers and friends—some were even in the ministry. One of the people asked, “would it just be easier to let Joe Biden win … so it finally all stops?” I sat back for a few minutes and let that question really sink in. It dawned on me that people are feeling weary. Christians have felt the constant onslaught of attack over these last four years, maybe more than ever in our lifetime.
It’s really unavoidable for a true follower of Christ not to be engaged right now. If we stand for God’s Word and care about our country’s future, our freedoms and our liberties, we simply have to be involved. We have to speak the truth and combat the constant lies and propaganda that are hitting Americans like a barrage every single day. Many people are confused. Others are feeling overwhelmed. The church is the only real antidote to the disinformation and spiritual assault that’s being waged on us all. If we don’t speak up, who will? We cannot run from this one. Having discernment is key.
The attempted plan of division by the enemy is nothing less than one of the biggest spiritual battles and assignments we have seen in this generation. It is multifaceted, complex, planned, funded and far-reaching. It has caused families, churches, businesses and friends to have to pick a side—righteousness or compromise. Light or darkness.
Because of these things, we are seeing enhanced polarization. It is certainly spiritual in nature. That’s why we can’t just give in or give up. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. We know how to fight this battle, as it is outlined in the Bible for those who seek to understand. God is separating the sheep from the goats.
Are we willing to denounce our core beliefs as believers? We cannot. That’s why we are drawn into this battle no matter what. We can’t sit on the sidelines, as culture is simply not allowing that of us anymore. It’s come to our work. It’s come to our businesses. It’s come to our homes. And it will only get more intense as time moves on.
As Christians will have to openly confess our faith—as we should—or capitulate into this new cancel culture box with the crowd. They call it the “new norms.” Group think will be systematically forced on us, and we will have to push back. People will remember if we go to church or not. They will ask us where we stand on the key issues and beliefs. “Are you a Christian?” they will ask.
Christians have always been at the center of this culture war, even when we weren’t intentionally engaged in it. It has come to us. It is now on our doorstep. Sincere pastors, who have set their flocks up for success, have spoken of a time such as this all the way back to the original church founders. Now it is here, and things are happening rapidly.
Would it be easier to let Joe Biden (or the final Democrat candidate they put in if they replace him) win? The answer is a big no! What Joe Biden represents is a party platform that is now openly hostile to America, the Constitution and the vision of our Founding Fathers. More alarming though is their desire to silence Christians and the church. Look at what is happening in California, where the Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom recently pushed to stop Christians from even having worship during their church services. It’s almost unfathomable to think this is happening here in America.
From issues like after-birth abortion (all abortion) to the protection of religious liberties and freedoms, this isn’t a Democrat vs. Republican battle—this is now one of light versus darkness, and yes, we must choose a side. We are seeing a push for lawlessness and destabilization. They want to defund police departments. In protests, they shout “No justice, no wall, no USA at all”. They want to rewrite history. They think biblical Christianity is “hateful.” They have lit churches on fire and destroyed businesses and property all around our country in the tune of tens of millions in damage.
Ronald Reagan once said, “We can have peace this second if we surrender. Admittedly there is a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson in history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face—that their policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight and surrender. If we continue to accommodate, continue to back and retreat, eventually, we have to face the final demand—the ultimatum. And what then?”
Reagan was right. If we let Joe Biden or any Democrat regain control of the White House in 2020, we will never again see the America we have known and loved our entire lives.
We are at a crossroads—a defining moment in time. Will God extend this reprieve? If not, we could be thrust into a new era of socialism/communism in the United States. In this scenario, our nation would be unrecognizable within less than a decade. People like Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be leading the new Democrat Party and administration into a Marxist revolution right here in America. We cannot allow this to happen.
This is the time for the body of Christ to rise up. This is the time to be awake, sober-minded and vigilant. This is the time to be bold.
President Donald J. Trump stands in between freedom and communism here in the United States. It is the prayers of the righteous that God will respond to. We must become a praying nation, and more importantly, a praying church.
Whether we get an extension on this reprieve is entirely up to us. We cannot sit this one out. Jesus Christ is the answer to America’s deep division. The church must lead. Divided we fall, but united we stand. {eoa}
Follow Pastor Todd Coconato on Facebook @RealToddCoconato
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