A Scriptural Framework for AAIAAI would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts with the 2011 International Prayer weekend held between April 30th and May 01st. Another successful prayer day for all abused, networked and trafficked children. We offer you an insight into the AAI organisation and our scriptural foundation and biblical framework of the Madeleine Prayer Circle.
As we capture the heart of our Heavenly Father, we are deeply moved by His mercy and compassion for the plight of the brokenhearted, the marginalized and the poor, (or ‘poor in spirit’ as in Matthew 5:1).
We particularly see His grief and concern for the orphans and widows, (those who are most vulnerable and defenseless in our society).
James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble...”
Isaiah 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise”.
Over and over, we are exhorted and challenged in scriptures to reach out to and defend the poor. Who are the most poor and victimized in our society? Is it not these little ones who are exploited and abused!
Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.”
Proverbs 14:21 “He who despises his neighbour sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he”… 31 “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honours Him has mercy on the needy”.
Proverbs 21:13 “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard”.
Isaiah 58:6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen:...7 is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?”
Proverbs 28:27 “He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses”.
Galatians 2:10 “They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do”.
In fact, in Isaiah 61:1 – 3, we read about the heart and ministry of the Messiah. "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (This is affirmed by Jesus in Luke 4:18).
In verse 2 we read of God’s wrath and indignation against those cause His little ones to stumble. Luke 17:2 "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones”. The day of His reckoning is fast approaching and in Revelation we read that God is not deaf to the cries of His children. Rev 6:10 “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed”.
In the mean time we, the Body of Christ, are called to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14 – 16), to stand in the gap and lay down our lives for our little brothers and sisters as exhorted in 1 Jn. 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”.
Many believers around the world have been afraid to take a stand, but the scriptures teach us to not act out of fear, but OUT OF LOVE!! 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love”. Further, 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”.
Firstly, Jesus has given us authority over all the power of the enemy. Jesus said ALL, not some! Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you”. Secondly, He tells us not to fear man. Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”.
Let us, like our brothers, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, "take our stand and fight for what we believe in!"
