CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 666

“The Number of Man”

Rev 13:1 (ESV) And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. … And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority… This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

1 John 4:1 (ESV) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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When we crossed the 660th week of this ministry I began to wonder what I would write about in six more weeks. Would I skip over this number like an elevator that does not have a 13th floor? As I sought the Holy Spirit this week about this concert of prayer I began to be aware of the occurrence of the sequential 6 number in daily life.

The indoor/outdoor thermometer one day recorded 66.6 degrees indoors. Do I go and adjust the thermostat to change the temperature? I have heard that some people will purchase a pack of gum at the checkout counter in order to avoid a final total that contains the sequential number six. This is when the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart that this happens because our focus is off target.

It has been said that whom or what you fear is that which controls you. When our behavior is driven by a need to avoid this number we are unnecessarily being controlled by a fear that is derived from an off target focus. If our focus remains on Jesus Christ, and not on the counterfeit antichrist we will not be controlled by fear of an enemy already defeated by Jesus.

We do need to be cognizant of the spiritual battle that does rage on about us and it is our responsibility to daily ‘put on the full armor of God’. However we should not be so intently focused on the enemy that we see ‘demons under doilies’ and blame the enemy for every bad thing that happens to us. If our car breaks down, it may be due to the fact that we have neglected its maintenance. If we are reprimanded on our job, it may be that we deserved it because of our actions. We sin and say that ‘The Devil made me do it’. That is a cop out. The truth of God’s Word is that we sin when we give in to the temptation that stems from our own desire. James 1:14 – each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Six is the number of man. Man was created on the sixth day, and was given six days for labor. Our time from seconds to years is measured in multiples of six. The antichrist, the counterfeit of the One True Christ is of man and his number represents the highest man can become apart from God. The Beast is Satan’s “superman” and he has no power or control over you that you do not give him.

Choose to abide in Christ and make your 24/7 focus in life to be a good steward of all that He has entrusted to you. All that you say and do – do it for His glory and walk in peace, victory and freedom from fear. You need not fear Satan’s superman for ‘he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God