Meditation on Haiti and Victorious Discipleship

Hello to All:

It has been a while since my last post. My focus has been on preparing for what will hopefully and prayerfully be, the first of numerous trips to Haiti. The Lord our God has placed on my heart and the heart of my beloved wife, a growing burden for the people of Haiti. The team that I am traveling with, has joined in a mutual, weekly devotional, as part of our preparation. The first week (now ending) was for Psalm 2:7-8. There was a mutual recognition that Haiti does belong to Jesus Christ and a focus of prayer for redemption, restoration and a mass return to our Lord. Moved by the Spirit of God, I wrote the following; and now share it with you in the context of the potentials of "Victorious Discipleship in Jesus Christ."

As I have been meditating upon and praying over the devotional for this week, the Lord our God has impressed a number of things upon my heart; and the Spirit of God compels me to share them with you. If the Spirit of God affirms these things, in your own heart, and you are compelled to share them with the rest of the team, you are certainly free to do so.

I am in agreement with your focus "on the Lord's heart for Haiti." The text clearly affirms that Haiti and all of creation belongs to Jesus Christ. Your expressed desire that we pray for "redemption, restoration and a mass return to the Lord," are also justified, not only by this text, but also by the whole of God's Word. Christ died that we all might live. But, there is a context of judgement surrounding verses 7 and 8, that needs to be considered, as we prepare to respond to God's call for us to go to Haiti with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Verse 5 speaks of the "wrath" of God. Verse 9 speaks of the "rod of iron" (the rod of judgement). Verses 10 and 11 call the kings to be "wise" and to "fear" the Lord. Verse 12 calls us to the "Son;" and reminds us that rejecting the "Son" (Jesus Christ), will cause "his wrath" to be "kindled." Verse 12 finishes with: "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (KJV).

Haiti has a long history, on a national level, of rejecting Jesus Christ. The kings of Haiti have failed to "kiss the Son" (see verse 12). In 1791, all the people of Haiti agreed to serve Satan, in exchange for their freedom from the French. A slave revolt in 1804 created the first black republic in the world. Voodooism came into being and Satan has ruled Haiti with bloodshed, violence and poverty. The government of Haiti, re-dedicated the nation to voodooism in 1991.

It is written at Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (KJV). We face these powers in all places of the earth. But, there are places where these "powers" are more concentrated and consequently: very powerful. In Daniel chapter 10, we find Daniel in prayer, for a period exceeding three weeks, as he was seeking understanding of a certain thing. On the 24th day, Daniel receives a messenger sent by God to bring him understanding. The messenger explains (see verses 12 and 13), that on the first day he was sent to Daniel, but he was delayed by the "prince of the kingdom of Persia." This "prince" was so powerful, that "Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help" him. This "prince," that was able to delay God's messenger, must be rightly understood as one of the "powers" that Paul spoke of in the Ephesians text. Demonic powers are often related to geographical locations. Haiti, because of its history, is clearly ruled by such "powers." To think otherwise, would be to deny the testimony of the Scriptures.

When we travel to Haiti, we must be prepared for such battles. The only way to be prepared is to be totally given over to Jesus Christ. If our house is not clean, we will not be able to stand against the demonic powers that rule Haiti. Our cry must ever be: "God be merciful to me a sinner." Our focus must ever be: "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Our hope must be: "Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." Until next time my beloved brethren, In Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus