James Fraser prayed the prayer of faith for the Lisu, asking for a breakthrough amongst the Lisu people (see previous article for details of that).
In that prayer, he specifically asked for families, not just for numbers of new Christians.
In his diary, he gave his reasons for that – see below.
Is that relevant to us in our generation? Is there a principle to which we need to pay attention today?
Fraser wrote:
“Perhaps you will wonder why I say families. It is because only when the responsible members of any particular family turn to God that the household’s idolatrous implements may be removed, and until that is done the real commitment has not been made. A definite committal of some kind is of the first importance amongst these people.
If a man turns to God but shrinks from burning the bridge behind him by discarding his idolatrous utensils, he will as likely as not slip back into his old life. But if he once removes all idolatry from his home, you may feel fairly certain of him afterwards. It is seldom that a man who takes this step reverts to demon worship again. Strong as is the hold demonolatry has upon these people, one such blow seems to break its power forever.
When these tribespeople turn to the Lord ‘en famille’, it does not necessarily mean that every member of the family is wholehearted about the matter – indeed, this is seldom the case – but it does mean that the responsible members of the family turn from Satan to God with a definiteness otherwise lacking.
When accordingly I speak about so many Christian families, I mean families where those responsible have removed all vestige of demonolatry from the home. Much of course remains to be done after this, but you feel that you have in a sense already landed your fish when this step has been taken and you thank God for the haul.
In some cases, a younger member of the family will turn Christian while the others hold back. He cannot then tamper with the household demonolatry. He may be quite sincere, and of course you receive him, but, as I say, such converts are apt to be unstable.”
(Source: Mountain Rain, a biography of James O. Fraser by Eileen Fraser Crossman).
Is there the equivalent of “household idolatrous implements” in your and my life. What do we need to do about it?
2 Timothy 1:12. states: “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” This reflects Paul’s confidence that God is able to guard whatever is entrusted to Him until the day of Christ’s return or the final day of judgment and reward.
