We all have heard plenty about blue chip companies grasping the groans of financial death.  Bailouts requests and now, Chapter 11 pleadings have become the vogue words of the day. Truly these are end-time days.

Not only are the businesses of the world feeling the steel grip of the anti-christ reaching for total control, the evil one is also targeting every child of God with relentless trials and tribulations.  Can you remember of a time worse than this one? 

As everything around us spirals out of control, there is but one resource left for us as we await His soon return: MERCY!

Mercy is our “Chapter 11”!   Mercy is designed to bring us RELIEF from undue pressure while we regroup our thin-spread strength for the final battle!

As a missionary on one of the cutting edges of worldwide Apostolic outreach (pray for Brazil!), I am astonished at the intensity of the fray!  Over these last few days (weeks?... or is it longer than that…), the attacks have been coming from EVERY SIDE!  With increasing concentration!  And I am not alone… many friends have expressed the same DESPERATE fight for victory.

Yes, I know: we are assured the victory… in the end.  The big question is “will I have the strength to make it to the end?”. 

Maybe it is not your case (Praise the Lord!), but these last few days my physical strength to pray has run out BEFORE I can pray about all of my tremendous needs!  The burden of prayer concerning situation #1 saps my time and strength (intercessory prayer!) before I can move on to situation #2 of equal importance!  That is when I NEED to cry out for a supernatural INTERVENTION in my life. 

It is time to plead CHAPTER 11:  MERCY!

A layman’s meaning of Chapter 11 would be “legal protection from creditors and financial obligation while a recovery plan is implemented”.  Our chapter 11 is called MERCY. And Mercy in my vocabulary means: “You take over, Lord!”.

The blind man by the dusty road in Jericho is a perfect example.  His situation was completely beyond his control.  Maybe he slowly lost his sight over years of fading light.  Or, who knows, a knock to the head blinded him instantly as a teenager.  Perhaps be was born blind.  But one thing for sure… his options were running out!  Worse than that (I can imagine)… he was in the process of filing personal bankruptcy!  Never to hope again!   He NEVER would see again.

Then Jesus came to town! 

“MERCY!!!” “Have MERCY ON ME!”. 

Notice… Mr. Jericho was looking for relief from his spiritual creditors (the crowd and so many other hecklers).  He did not ask for healing first… he asked for MERCY first!  Relieve me!  Take over!  I am so desperate that I cannot even pray a decent prayer.  MERCY! 

God KNOWS your situation.  He is listening carefully to hear you if you plead Chapter 11 (MERCY!).  When He hears that grasping word (MERCY!)… “I can’t go any farther”, then he will surely step in and grant you MERCY.

Like with the blind man, He may ask you what your most pressing need is… or, he may just intervene and “TAKE OVER”!  It does really matter…God will provide the protection you need to recover and regroup for the next phase of the battle.