We Still Need To Pray For The Captives To Be Set Free

“Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
⁸ Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you shall call, and the Lord will answastinger;
    you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
¹⁰ if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
¹¹ And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.
¹² And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in." Isaiah 58:6-12 ESV

    I wonder if sometimes, we are just a naive people. Perhaps we think people are basically good unless they are put in a bad environment. We fail, so many times, to see that 'every inclination of man is evil'. Being in a civilized society helps us to live, well, civilized. If we weren't civilized, we would probably kill each other. Maybe we wouldn't even have been born because everyone would have killed each other by the time we came along (or would have come along)! 

   What we don't realize, or maybe we just don't want to believe it, but, child abductions, child abuse, sex trade victims, black market kidnappings, Satanic Ritual Abuse, abortion, rape, spousal abuse, and a host of many other things are rampant in our society. The problem behind all of these things is simply that they remain 'hidden'. 

   The problem is that society doesn't have the means of detecting child abuse or finding people that are held hostage by a captor. We need to take this subject seriously though, for many, many people are affected by it. Many more down the road will also be affected by these crimes. 

   One reason why this kind of criminal activity is high, is because it is easy to keep it hidden. Take for example, the three women who were found in a house in Cleveland, Ohio, who were held there as hostages for ten years. No one really knew what was going on. But, when we pray, look what God can do. He can "bring to light those things which are hidden." Think about how grateful these women are today. Did you catch the one who was too ashamed to look at the camera, but as she knew the cameras were on her, she gave a big thumbs up to show her appreciation. 

   Do you realize how many people walking around us today, are like the man who kidnapped these women? Don't look at appearances. They will fool you. There are probably scores of men, and even women who carry out these kinds of activities. They are beyond being ashamed. They have been so damaged in their lives, by people who have abused them, that they don't even know which end is up anymore (I am not saying that they aren't accountable. They will stand before God and be judged for their sins, as will everyone else). Many of them are perverted because someone who was perverted destroyed them. This cycle will continue to go on, unless God intervenes and breaks it.

   God was showing His mercy to these three Cleveland women. I believe those who are His are praying for those held captive. The reason people continue to do this kind of criminal activity, is because there is no fear of God in their eyes. There is no fear of God, partly because they can sin and get away with it. A big reason they get away with it is because we have not been praying for that. 

  We live in a land of prosperity and God has blessed us with so much, but instead of being faithful with what He has given us, we spend it on ourselves and want (and expect) more. This is what happened with the Israelites throughout History. They pulled away from God. They sinned. They reaped the terrible consequences of their sins. They repented and turned back to God. God blessed them. They prospered. Then they forgot God again. They sinned. They reaped the terrible consequences of their sins again. This cycle happened over and over again. This is what happens when we have too much. It will never be enough and we will always want more. Then we forget God. Then people suffer. We suffer. Terrible crimes are committed and the criminals get away with it. It's all part of the territory of being selfish. We can't have God's blessings and be selfish. Either we will serve God, or we will serve ourselves. We can't do both.

   Part of our response to hidden acts of crime, should be to pray and seek God. We should humble ourselves before God, once again. God created us for a relationship with Him. We try everything else, but this one. But what does the Bible say? When we truly turn to God, the chains will be broken. The darkness will be exposed to the light. People will be set free. The power of the Cross will be available to people. People will worship God instead of living for crime. People will see something greater than themselves to give their lives for. 

   This is why it is time to pray for the church in America. It is time to pray for our country. We need to pray for the hidden works of darkness to be exposed. We need the fear of God restored to our country. Those who are being held captive right now, will thank you one day for praying.