Romans 11:2-3 (NKJV)

“…Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, ‘Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?’”

Elijah was in a bad situation. He felt betrayed by Israel and was grieved by her apostasy. Israel had gone prostituting with the gods of Baal and had served the purposes of Satan, even destroying the altars of the God of Israel. And beyond that, they had gone ahead and killed God’s messengers so as to silence the voice of the Lord in the land. Elijah was grieved by what he saw Israel doing and he pleaded with God, “against Israel.”

And this we must not do. Although the Church seems to wax stronger in unrighteousness and in romancing the world, it is never our place to plead with God against her. As put by NLT, “Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel.” As intercessors for the Church, complaining to God is not what the Church needs. God knows the weaknesses and failures of the Church. What we are called to do is to plead for God’s mercy upon the Church, and not to plead against the Church. Too many of us are pleading and complaining against the Church, but let’s stop that evil habit. As prophets of God, let’s speak healing and restoration, and let’s preach truth and righteousness. This is the solution.

“Lord, forgive me for complaining against the Church rather than praying for her. May my lips henceforth speak healing and restoration, in Jesus name. Amen.”