The Dangers of Praying for our Leaders

The Dangers of Praying for President Trump or Prime Minister Johnson – or any Government or Political Leader in USA, UK and Canada

Dear Intercessors:  

Steve Aceto, who you have often heard me speak of, called and said, “Do not write another word about prayer for President Trump, until you have read this book!  It is The Age of Secularization by Italian Catholic philosopher Augusto Del Noce.  I promptly ordered the book and started to read it.

This book was written as a penetrating social, ideological and theological analysis of the student movements of the 1960’s, but it is also relevant to many of the issues of today.

Frankly, it is a difficult book to read, so I was most grateful when one evening Steve dropped by my house with the book.  He had read the chapter that I had also been working through, about the rise of fascism embodied in Mussolini.  We saw some striking parallels between the populist movement that is embodied in President Donald J. Trump with the movements that were embodied in Mussolini in the 1930’s (as well as Nazism in Hitler).

 There are also uncanny connections to the Radical Left and the Democratic party’s apparent promotion of the agenda of Marxism under the guise of “Democratic Socialism,” Intersectionality, etc.   

But my focus was on Trump and the call that I and many others have had to pray for him.  (I have written a soon-to-be published book about the prayer battle around the 2016 election.)  So, I was most attentive to the warnings that Steve may have for me and other intercessors of the dangers of praying for Trump.  These may be especially pertinent as we are mobilizing for what will no doubt be an extended prayer battle concerning the move by the Democrats to impeach Trump.  We will need all the help we can get to not be deceived, but to pray according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

  We are also engaged in similar battles in the UK around Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the battle for the British exit from the EU.

A Word of Wisdom and Caution from Steve Aceto:  Praying Psalm 72:11,12 over President Donald J. Trump and Government Leaders

 So let all kings bow down before him, and all nations serve him.  For he rescues the needy crying for help, also the poor and the one with no helper.    Psalm 72:11-12 TLV 

We rightly pray for Donald Trump as for all in authority.  We also pray rightly Psalm 72 over Donald Trump, that his spirit would be bent to the Holy Spirit’s desire for all nations to come to the knowledge of the truth.  In other words, we pray “Bend Donald Trump” just as Rees Howells prayed “Bend Hitler,”[1] not for similarities with a national dictator, but because as intercessors we seek and exalt and desire the manifestation of the movement of the Holy Spirit over the nations, over all other movements. 

We pray that the soul of Donald Trump will not be sifted beyond what he can endure by any adversary because like Peter, Donald Trump’s soul appears to be in play, and on that outcome will stand the spiritual rise and fall of many souls as well as his own.

But we need not pray for Donald Trump as an anointed one who will deliver the needy Evangelical Christian when he cries.  There is only one anointed for that, and it is not Donald Trump.

Considering the dictators Mussolini and Hitler, Christians and well-meaning others in Europe during the 1920’s and 1930’s were seduced by the notion that the dictators would protect and uphold traditional values against the radical left.  The greater seduction was the notion of many in those days that the dictators, however distasteful, were open to influence by Christians and others who they allowed near, which caused people to drop their guard or even put on brown or black shirts thinking their good influence would prevail.  But the greatest seduction, which opened the door to all others, was misdirected hope which denies faith.

The dictators were indeed open to influence, but now we know the influence which prevailed in Europe was beyond tragic.  No one of us today should think we are smarter than the Europeans were then. 

Think about what happened during the last 40 years since Ronald Reagan invited Evangelical Christians to the Republican Party table.  During that time, while Evangelicals celebrated the occasional ballot box victory as being ultimately consequential, homosexuality and opposition to homosexuality have essentially traded places as behaviors considered deviant or normal. The abortion industry thrived, the radical anti-God left ideology seduced every level of American society, and in many cases the church failed to reach out with the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.  

21st Century American Evangelical Christians, thinking their newly discovered political influence was real, have been deceived in a way that is no different than the Europeans who pinned their hopes on influence with 20th century dictators. 

How best to avoid this error in considering Donald Trump begins with focusing our prayers and hopes on discerning the manifest move of God through Scripture and aligning our churches and ourselves with that move, and nothing more or less than that move. ” –Submitted by Steve Aceto on October 3:

My word to this is Amen!  So how do we pray according to I Timothy 2:1-2 for our government leaders without being deceived?  This question is especially urgent when our “place of intercession” includes praying that God’s Kingdom plans will be fulfilled through President Trump, the Trump administration, and the Republican controlled Senate.  We also intercede for exposing the arising ideology of Marxism encroaching into the Democratic controlled House.  

How do we do this without being deceived as those Europeans were in the 20s’ and 30s’ in aligning themselves with the dictators and Satan’s agendas?   Or those Evangelicals were in the 70s’ who had a place at the political table and won some electoral victories but failed to pray in a culture transforming wave of the Holy Spirit?

As we seek to answer these questions, it is critically important for cooperating with the Holy Spirit in advancing the Kingdom of God that we are asking the right questions.  In these present controversies and the frenetic drive by the radical left of the Democratic party for impeachment, we must ask the key discernment question suggested by Steve Aceto: “What is the Devil reacting to that the Holy Spirit is doing?” 

In other words, the key to discernment will be not asking, “What is the Devil doing?  But rather ”What is God doing?” The basis for this discernment principle according to Steve is: “The fact is that the enemy is not creative and cannot create, the enemy can only react to what God is doing, and that reaction is the source of all the noise.  But we, made in the image of the Heavenly Father, are his friends and partners in what our Father is doing.  Come Holy Spirit!”   This nature of Satan is confirmed in the Genesis story where the serpent tempting Eve is described as crafty and cunning rather than creative. (Gen 3:1)

I am convinced that God is doing a kingdom work through the particular array of national and global political and religious actors on the world stage at this particular epoch. This is of strategic importance to the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  We can deduce this from the near hysteria of Satan’s reactions through the media in the political parties to the presidency of Donald J. Trump, and the actions and words that he has spoken.  These confusing and striking reactions are also reflected in the controversies in the UK over the British exit from the European Union, and the confusion and division after the elections in Israel.

(The reference to  the “noise” as the result of the enemies’ reaction that Steve spoke of points to another concept of discernment based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. These rules are intended to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit or of evil spirits (called good and bad angels) in the individual person.  However, they may apply to movements in society that are either consistent with or opposed to God’s Kingdom purposes.  The concept of “noise” comes in when there is a clashing of two movements—one consistent with God’s kingdom purposes, the other with Satan’s purposes.  The “noise” right now in America, the UK and Israel all strongly confirm that this clash is taking place.)[2]

So, what is the Holy Spirit doing that Satan is reacting to?   Here are some points of tentative discernment, important for knowing how to pray.  They are not in order of importance, but rather what I see taking place.  These seem to boil down to the three advancing fronts of the Kingdom of God.

1. Naming and exposing the demonic strongholds that are blocking the advancing Kingdom of God—Socialism/Communism, Globalism, and Islamic jihad against the USA and Israel.

The Holy Spirit is moving to bring into the light the demonic strongholds that are threatening the advancement of the Kingdom of God and religious freedom – this is taking place through Trump’s formal speeches at the UN in 2018 and 2019 and other forums.   For instance, in the UN General Assembly speech, Trump named the following demonic strongholds: 

1) Socialism and Communism: “It’s the wrecker of nations and destroyer of societies.” 

2) Globalism is destroying national boundaries through open borders that destroys a nation’s culture, values and unique national history. “The future does not belong to globalists.”   

3) Radical Islam especially as embodied in Iran: “They conduct ritual chants of “Death to America” and traffic in monstrous anti-Semitism.  Last year the country’s Supreme Leader stated, ‘Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor…that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible, and it will happen.’  America will never tolerate such anti-Semitic hate.” 

4) Naming China as a resurgent threat of communism and to free and fair trade. “In 2001, China was admitted to the World Trade Organization.  Our leaders then argued that this decision would compel China to liberalize its economy and strengthen protections to provide things that were unacceptable to us, and for private property and for the rule of law.  Two decades later, this theory has been tested and proven completely wrong.”

One of my prayer directions from before the election was for the Lord to raise up political and spiritual leaders in the UK and USA who, “Can accurately assess and name the enemy.”[3]    This is essential for having the right battle strategies and weapons of our warfare.  

Our call is to pray that this piercing the cloaking will continue so that we may do the work of prayer that the strongholds may be overcome.  Our role is similar to that of Rees Howells who was called to expose and to “bend” the dictators (Mussolini and Hitler) to conform to God’s will, who were being used by Satan to destroy the Church, block the advance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations,  and the return of the Jewish people to their homeland.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is “bending” Trump to conform to His intentions in this area of leadership.   And doing so not just with words, but with decisive actions.

This “bending” of Trump and other national political leaders toward fulfilling God’s will may actually take place through a diversity of means.  What are these means?   A study of how God “moved” King Cyrus to issue the decree that the temple in Jerusalem would be rebuilt seems to be a case study in God bending a world leader to accomplish His will.  (2 Chronicles 36:22-23 NET.) Without going into all the details it seems that intercessors may be called to first be one of those means God uses to fulfill His purposes.  We see the Biblical precedent in how the people of Israel had cried out to God during their exile in Babylon. 

But we also need to pray for the means God may choose to answer our prayers.  Among these means:

• Directly though visions, dreams, stirrings within their own hearts.
• Through messengers sent by God who will be empowered to speak prophetic words to the leader.   (Know for a fact that God is sending anointed people to speak to Trump.  We must pray for them to be anointed and to be given divine favor to speak into Trump’s decision-making process.  In this we must pray that those deceived by Satan will be prevented from having access or influence on Trump.    The same may be said for Boris Johnson who according to some of our British intercessors is a much harder case than Trump. )
• Through wise Godly advisors who have access to the leaders. 
• Through “providential” circumstances that force the leader’s hand to be in accord God’s kingdom plans.
• Others ways? 

How is Satan responding? Satan is doing everything possible to divert attention from this exposing work that Trump is doing.  For instance, the extraordinary words of the 2019 UN General Assembly speech and the speech upholding religious freedom were completely drowned out by the babble caused by Speaker Pelosi launching the impeachment probe.  The attempt to remove Trump from office any way possible is to prevent him from naming these evils and having the power of the presidency to do something about them.

2. The second major move of the Holy Spirit has to do with the fulfillment of the end time prophecies concerning Israel and the Jewish people.

The Holy Spirit is bringing the Jewish people back to the land of Israel and to faith in Jesus—Yeshua the Messiah.  Over the last 150 years there have been more Jews coming to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, while keeping their Jewish identity, than at any other time since the beginning of the Church.   We are seeing the fulfillment of many prophecies.  One of these is:

Jeremiah 3:16-18 TLV It will be in those days when you multiply and become fruitful in the land.” It is a declaration of Adonai. “They will no longer talk about the ark of the covenant of Adonai, nor will it come to mind or be remembered. Neither will it be missed or another one made again.  (17)  At that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of Adonai and all the nations will gather into it, to Jerusalem, in the Name of Adonai. No longer will they walk according to the stubbornness of their evil heart.  (18)  In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel. They will come together out of the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance.” 

This is taking place in an amazing way right now!   It includes President Trump’s positive actions toward Israel, such as moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem.    ((https://discernwith.us/four-signs-the-end-times-are-close-even-at-the-door)  

Our role is praying for this movement to continue and to be protected.

What is the Devil doing?

Satan is stirring up hatred of Israel and of Jews not just from their traditional enemies of the Islamic nations, but also in the United Kingdom and in the United States with the rise of anti-Semitism through the Radical Left, the Radical Right, and Islam. Most disturbing is the takeover of the Democratic Party by the Radical Left who carry with them a hatred of God and all those of biblical faith.  

3, There is a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit taking place, restoring biblical faith in America as well as in Canada and in the United Kingdom.

The Lord is sending an outpouring of the Holy Spirit bringing true faith in Jesus Christ, which is the only way to have true Judeo-Christian values and morality. These values are the foundation for our society and democratic government.  This is consistent with what George Washington said in his farewell address: “And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”[4]  

It is these Judeo-Christian values that have provided for the form of government in which there are checks and balances and where the federal government is prohibited from establishing a national religion or infringing upon the right of the people to freely practice their faith.    These provide the space for free associations in which there is the freedom for the Church of Jesus Christ to carry out its evangelistic and society-transforming mission.

Our role as intercessors is to pray for this movement of the Holy Spirit and for political leaders to be “bent” toward fulfilling God’s intentions which I believe in America consist of upholding our Constitution with its form of government with checks and balances intended to protect our God given rights.

 In Britain I believe we are called to pray for the similar movement of the Holy Spirit renewing the Church of Jesus Christ, re-evangelizing the nation, and taking the Gospel especially to Muslims living in the UK.   On the cultural front it is praying that politicians will be bent toward what I believe are God’s intentions of restoring sovereignty to the British people and upholding traditions of representative government.

What Satan is doing.  He is doing everything possible to replace our Judeo-Christian/power of reason values with another system of values most likely some amalgam of anti-God, Marxist  collectivism (and in the UK, Islamic values)  that remove the First and Second Amendments that provide for freedom of speech, religion, assembly and the right to defend oneself against tyranny.   The net effect will be to constrain the expression of faith and morality from the public square, and if possible, from the human heart.  

Please be praying into this and let us focus on what God is doing.  I am sure it is much more than what I have listed here, but at least this is a start.

This is critical as the Lord calls us into this battle that is looming before us.  Let’s prepare for a long battle!  I suspect it will be as intense, most likely worse, than the battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.   With the impeachment process, follow the guidance that Steve Aceto offers:  Pray Psalm 72:11 over Donald Trump, that his spirit would be bent to the Holy Spirit’s desire for all nations to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I am most grateful to all of you who have shared your wisdom and discernment with us as I have attempted to provide accurate discernment in these complex issues. Thank you!

In Christ,

Brad Long

P.S Send any guidance you have and let’s prepare for this spiritual battle which is raging on both sides of the pond.

---

[1] This was in 1938 during the Munich Crisis.   

[2] It would be a diversion to fully develop this here. But it is based on the “Seventh Rule: In those who go on from good to better, the good Angel touches such soul sweetly, lightly and gently, like a drop of water which enters into a sponge; and the evil touches it sharply and with noise and disquiet, as when the drop of water falls on the stone. 

And the above-said spirits touch in a contrary way those who go on from bad to worse.   The reason of this is that the disposition of the soul is contrary or like to the said Angels. Because, when it is contrary, they enter perceptibly with clatter and noise; and when it is like, they enter with silence as into their own home, through the open door.”( https://aleteia.org/2018/07/31/here-are-st-ignatius-8-rules-for-the-discernment-of-spirits/)   The incredible noise of resulting from  Satan working through human agents demonstrate clearly that the movements manifesting in Trump, the British Exit, and the election in Israel are clashing with contrary movements.  To determine which are consistent with the Kingdom of God we must depend upon biblical revelation of God’s nature and intentions for humanity.

[3] For all four of these which I believe President  Trump despite massive demonic and human opposition is fulfilling go to:  https://discernwith.us/why-we-need-to-pray-for-president-trump    The other three are as follows:  2) Can gather a broad coalition based on mutual interest that is needed to defeat the enemy and retake that which has been lost,  3) Are warriors and/or can bring on the warriors who understand the tactics of the enemy and can fight and win. 4) Understand that the struggle we are in is both human AND spiritual.   And know that the battle will only be won through God’s help and through incorporating God’s people, especially the intercessors, into the strategy for victory.  I believe that not perfectly of course but better than the alternative would have, Trump  is actually fulfilling all four of these criteria. 

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_Farewell_Address#Religion,_morality_and_education