John Gimenez: Combatting America's P.H.A.R.A.O.H.
In 1980 Bishop John Gimenez heard the voice of the Lord. The Lord challenged John to call America to fast and pray for the healing of America. John's obedient response resulted in the first Washington for Jesus rally, where nearly a million Americans met on the Capitol Mall to cry out before the Lord.
Since that first event, John has answered the Lord's call to rally the Church and the nation in both the 1988 and 1990 Washington for Jesus rallies. In addition, the America for Jesus organization founded by John has staged over 200 rallies in cities across America. These events have had one theme: unifying American believers to repent and petition the Lord on behalf of this nation.
On October 22, 2004, America for Jesus will host another event on the Mall. Unity and repentance among Christians will still be a key theme, but John feels an increased urgency for this event unlike those he's lead before.
The House Is On Fire!
From John's Internet letter to believers, he writes: "If ever there has been a stench of death and destruction in our land, it is now! We, as the body of Christ, should be appalled by Satan's obvious activities with which we have been confronted in these last months. It is time that we recognize the urgency of the hour. We have been placed as watchmen on the walls and we must sound the alarm to warn of the great dangers that we are now facing. If we do not take a stand now, then shame on us, and pity on the generations that are to follow. Our nation is in trouble, and what the enemy has proposed is total destruction and he will start with the Church."
John identifies what he calls America's own P.H.A.R.A.O.H: Pornography, Homosexuality, Abortion, Racism, Addictions, Occultism, and HIV/AIDS. This P.H.A.R.A.O.H. symbolizes the triumph of evil in the United States today. His personal plea is that Christians of all faiths will fast and pray for the dethroning of these evil spirits. John says that while we have soldiers fighting in other lands to protect our freedom, Christians must be willing to defend our faith with humble prayer and fasting.
Faith Initiatives and Election Years
John points to the election of Ronald Reagan as one result of the first Washington for Jesus rally. He points out that Jimmy Carter was in office when the rally took place in April 1980. John's committee invited President Carter to participate. Carter's response was that he was reluctant to align himself with such an overtly religious group, and though he did not disagree with them, there would be no public embracing of their movement. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, not yet president, called the Washington for Jesus group to say that he was wholeheartedly behind their prayer initiative and would support it as he was able. John says Reagan was elected not because Carter wasn't a Christian (he is!), but because God chose the man who would listen to what the Lord was saying and doing in the land.
John suggests that this same factor may be what determines the Bush/Kerry outcome in 2004. Who will listen to the Lord? John encourages that the body pray for the men and for their ears to be attuned and their hearts to be willing to listen.
The first rally resulted in a rally in Germany called Berlin for Jesus. This group prayed at the Berlin Wall before Reagan went there to challenge Mr. Gorbechov. Washington for Jesus had a similar impact in Liberia where conditions improved after prayer and fasting.
John says he knows that this is the healing process and he declares that same-sex marriage is already defeated because there are people praying earnestly.
The Spirit of Haman
John says that from the first event, he never intentionally planned to return to Washington, but every time, God has sent a word, and the need is great in one area or another in this nation. John says the whole system that made our country strong is under fire and could be totally destroyed. John says that a spirit of Haman wrecks havoc in America today. This spirit, he says, is the spirit of the law. Unrighteous lawmakers are taking away the essence of shame from sin. By interpreting and implementing laws without righteousness, sin is not only more palatable, but it is even popular. He sites what he calls 'legal permission' for women to murder babies and men to marry men as abominations that are destroying the very fiber from which America was made. John says that the Scripture denouncing men lying with men goes on to say, "Listen, not men with animals". John says that once we approve of men with men and women with women, what is to stop men from being with animals?
John believes this whole decay comes from the same root that it always has. The enemy is trying to steal the seed of woman. He points out that the enemy was against the seed in Moses' time and certainly in Jesus' time and now with abortion and homosexual union where there is no fruitful multiplication at all.
John believes things are in such decline because we are going to see "a glorious outpouring and a mighty deliverance from God in our day" if we are obedient to follow
. This Scripture says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."John says this verse calls for us to take four steps: We need to humble ourselves, pray, seek, and turn. And God will do three things in return: hear, forgive, and heal. Seven steps in all represent the completion.
Principles from the Prodigal Son Account
John says that for this rally, there is a five-fold purpose that will be evidenced as a result of implementing
. These five "R's" are principles found in the Luke 15 account of the prodigal son:- Revelation- We need a revelation of where we are morally and spiritually.
- Repentance - We all need to repent for what we've done.
- Reconciliation - There needs to be unity in the body. The Church has been divided black/white, Hispanic/white, rich/poor, Republican/Democrat, and so on. As a side note, John believes a key to Bush's re-election is tied up in Hispanic reconciliation because this voting bloc would be large enough to sway the election.
- Restoration - Righteousness and holiness will be restored.
- Revival - This corporate revival will be kicked off with the rejoicing of young people with musicians live at the close of the day.
John urges everyone regardless of age, denomination, and race, that ALL should heed this call of God and fast and pray and wait on the Lord to heal this land. He asks, "If your house is burning, what could be more important?"
