“I want to know that the Holy Spirit is stronger than the devil in the Nazi system. This is the battle of the ages, and victory here means victory for millions of people.” –Rees Howells
(Grubb 274)
Today as millions of people are locked in slavery called human trafficking, we can lean back in history to glean from a great intercessor, Rees Howells. The above quote came during a war for hearts and souls during great oppression, not only from Hitler, but also Stalin and Mussolini. Howells faith had been tested. His wife shared with Leonard Ravenhill the following.
“Many talk of my husband’s buying this place with a shilling (fourteen cents) in his pocket. What they forget is that he prayed twelve hours a day for eleven months to know the mind of God.” Brethren, that’s discipline!” (Ravenhill)
Just like us, Howells faith was built over time. Little by little, incident upon incident, this can be our story too. In the area of finances, this is his son’s recollection.
“Unless you can prove God to answer in an emergency and in a test case, it is nothing but talk in a very big way. The ‘old man’ can sound very convincing but he does not see his folly. You can never exercise real faith for £100 unless you’ve had £50, nor for £50 unless you’ve proved God for £20, nor for £10 unless you’ve proved God for £5. You only give mental assent and imagine these things, unless you have had an experience with God in the impossible. Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” (Maton, “Samuel, Son and Successor” 73)
As intercessors for millions of souls caught today like in the days of WWII, Papa God is building our trust. Wherever we are in our faith journey, we know there is more and as we simply take the next step in obedience, the more will come. As the Holy Spirit encourages with the 5, the 10, the 50, we learn to believe. Faith becomes evidence of the unseen realm.The promises of God take on a reality that nothing can steal from us because we have personally seen His hand work on our behalf.
It’s no accident when prayers have gone up for traffickers to turn from evil, who then give back to the anti-trafficking efforts. One former trafficker in a nearby state has set up a program to train churches in the area of pornography and traffic prevention. He also has a program for buyers bail and fines to pay for the healing of survivors.
Another example of answered prayer is the recent super bowl prayers which resulted in over 129 arrests and of those 39 were felonies. God is hearing and will use our prayers to bring change. We simply stay the course He sets and abide in Him. He will show us what to pray and when to pray it.
The other day a lady prayed in the spirit at the foot of the bed of a girl who had just exited ‘the life.’ Vomiting, dehydration, and increased bp indicated the stress her body was experiencing as she detoxed from 4 different drugs. What should have taken a few days was cut short by a suddenly. After over an hour of prayer, the girl popped awake, hungry and thirsty. She got up, got dressed and asked to go outside. This awakening had God’s handprint all over it. He can and will do the unexpected and miraculous work.
Key to our intercession is knowing the heart of our Papa. Lana Vawser released a word on March 20, 2023 that’s fitting. She heard God saying, “I have treasures in stillness awaiting you.” I believe many of those treasures are our spiritual children. They have been in darkness, but will see a glorious light. (Isa. 45:3) As we wait on Him, watch with him, as we learn to linger and soak in His presence, not eager to rush, He will reveal His heart.
Moses received a face to face encounter with God in Ex. 33:11. God wants to show us His glory. Will we wait and watch with no agenda other than seeking Him? This abiding place will reveal His heart and we will then know exactly what to pray and decree.
Faith, obedience, and abiding will turn the tide on our present day war in the arena of our children and the devil’s attempt to suffocate God’s plans for their lives. Your prayers are powerful. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. Keep abiding. Much fruit will remain because you did so.
Now is the best time to test the Bible in wars, because we are in one ourselves. Rees Howells (Grubb, 280)
Rees Howells: How One Man’s Faith Prevailed During Global Crisis — Justice House of Prayer DC