It’s June, and that signifies that in every single place you switch, you will be confronted with LGBTQ+ flags and banners and memes and displays.
But fairly than get frustrated by this constant, in your face display, let’s turn it right into a call for prayer.
That’s why I posted on June 3, “Every time you see a Pride flag or display this month, let it’s a reminder to hope for the mercy of God to the touch all those that discover as LGBTQ+ and for them to experience the identical repentance and forgiveness and transformation that you might have received as a follower of Jesus.”
Prayer is our biggest spiritual weapon and essentially the most powerful expression of our love. Prayer prevails. As S. D. Gordon said, “Prayer is striking the winning blow. Service is gathering up the outcomes.”
It was praying Christians who helped bring me into God’s family once I was a 16-year-old, rebellious, proud, heroin-shooting, LSD-using, Jewish, hippie rock drummer.
It was their prayers that brought the conviction of the Spirit into my life, revealing the depths of my sin (I actually thought I used to be person!). And it was their prayers that helped open my eyes to the reality of the Gospel.
God truly answers prayer!
Think back to the early Church.
Saul of Tarsus, a spiritual Jewish man, was violently persecuting Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus). Then he had a radical, life-changing encounter with the risen Savior. Christians worldwide know him because the apostle Paul, author of just about half of the New Testament books.
What led to his radical transformation?
The Lord’s words within the Sermon on the Mount provide a key:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I let you know, love your enemies and pray for many who persecute you, that chances are you’ll be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the nice, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45)
This is how we respond. This is how we fight back.
We overcome evil with good.
We overcome hatred with love.
We overcome lies with truth.
We overcome the ability of the flesh with the ability of the Spirit.
And fairly than engage in a mudslinging battle with our enemies, or, God forbid, a violent response to violence, we love our enemies and pray for many who persecute us. (I’m not saying that we do not get entangled politically or that, if an invading army attacks us we do not fight back. I’m focusing here on spiritual principles in coping with our ideological adversaries.)
Surely that is what these early believers did with their arch nemesis Saul, of whom Acts records that he approved of the killing of the Messianic Jew Stephen (Acts 8:1). Acts also states that, “Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to accommodate, he dragged off each men and girls and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:3)
Surely Saul became a chief goal of their prayers, and surely, as God heard their cries, He answered dramatically. As Saul/Paul later wrote,
“Even though I used to be once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I used to be shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, together with the religion and love which can be in Christ Jesus. . . . But for that very reason I used to be shown mercy in order that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience for example for many who would imagine in him and receive everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:13-14, 16)
I encourage you to take the time to look at a tremendous documentary produced by American Family Studios titled In His Image. (Trust me on this. You might be really blessed whenever you watch.)
I had the privilege of hosting this powerful film, which not only features great, practical, theological discussion on the meaning of female and male and of God’s plan for humanity. It also features powerful testimonies from ex-gays and ex-trans individuals, two of whom had trans-related surgeries prior to now.
That’s how committed they were to transitioning, and that is how radically God intervened of their lives.
I’d especially draw your attention to the story of Laura Beth Perry (now happily married, and officially Laura Perry Smalts), since prayer played a significant role in her own salvation and transformation, as you will see whenever you watch In His Image.
Let this even be an encouragement to each member of the family, friend, and loved one in all someone who identifies as somewhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. As you proceed to point out them Christlike love and kindness, always remember the ability of prayer.
We really do serve a prayer answering God, and while He won’t infringe on our freedom of selection, He really does know the right way to change hearts and minds.
So, each time you see that Pride flag or a Pride meme, use it as a reminder to hope for an outpouring of God’s transforming, saving mercy on all those that fly under that hijacked rainbow.
It is time for a beautiful harvest of souls!
May the churches be able to receive them with love and truth.
