Some Christians, hopefully a minuscule minority, are swift to proclaim the California fires as God’s judgement of California: a mere precursor to the San Andreas fault rupture, which precedes the New Madrid continental split.
Naturally, there’s reasonable cause for decreeing judgement. For example, Californication epitomizes California sounds that poke God in the eye: California Girls to California Gurls & California Dreamin’ to Hotel California.
St. Anna the Prophetess, Rembrandt Van Rijn.
Luke depicts Anna as a pious prophetess whose advanced age & honorable behavior usher in the new covenant.
As a prophetic intercessor, Anna received her prayer points from God.
Anna was in the temple, a place where a body of believers, a church gathers together.
Anna was not a prayer warrior; she was an intercessor.
Anna’s assignment was to pray for the birthing of the Messiah.
Anna prayed for Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary.
But if they are true prophets and if the word of the Lord is really spoken by them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are [still] left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon.
Jeremiah 27:18 AMPC
True prophets are intercessors.
An intercessor comes before God to stand in the shoes of the suffering person. Lord we have sinned. An intercessor bends their knees. As if they themselves have sinned. An intercessor meets with God, at a set, appointed time, at a set appointed place: with a purpose. To mediate with God for someone.
And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
Therefore have I poured out My indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their own way have I repaid [by bringing it] upon their own heads, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 22:30-31 AMPC
God is looking for one, true intercessor.
Are you the one, to stand in the gap, that God is looking for?
ON THE third day [of the fast] Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the royal or inner court of the king’s palace opposite his [throne room]. The king was sitting on his throne, facing the main entrance of the palace.
And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.
Esther 5:1-3 AMPC
Esther petitioned the King for her people. Are you willing to petition God for your people?
Are you prepared to fast & pray, as you petition God?
For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his house after him to keep the way of the Lord and to do what is just and righteous, so that the Lord may bring Abraham what He has promised him.
And the Lord said, Because the shriek [of the sins] of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is exceedingly grievous,
I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether [as vilely and wickedly] as is the cry of it which has come to Me; and if not, I will know.
Now the [two] men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.
And Abraham came close and said, Will You destroy the righteous (those upright and in right standing with God) together with the wicked?
Suppose there are in the city fifty righteous; will You destroy the place and not spare it for [the sake of] the fifty righteous in it?
Far be it from You to do such a thing—to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as do the wicked! Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth execute judgment and do righteously?
And the Lord said, If I find in the city of Sodom fifty righteous (upright and in right standing with God), I will spare the whole place for their sake.
Abraham answered, Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord.
If five of the fifty righteous should be lacking—will You destroy the whole city for lack of five? He said, If I find forty-five, I will not destroy it.
And [Abraham] spoke to Him yet again, and said, Suppose [only] forty shall be found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.
Then [Abraham] said to Him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak [again]. Suppose [only] thirty shall be found there. And He answered, I will not do it if I find thirty there.
And [Abraham] said, Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak [again] to the Lord. Suppose [only] twenty shall be found there. And [the Lord] replied, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again only this once. Suppose ten [righteous people] shall be found there. And [the Lord] said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
And the Lord went His way when He had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
Genesis 18:19-32 AMPC
God shared with Abraham about the coming judgement of Sodom. Abraham’s heart was so overflowing with mercy & love for the people of Sodom, that he interceded for God to change his mind.
Will God change his mind, because of you?
MOREOVER, THE Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the East Gate of the Lord’s house, which faces east. And behold, at the door of the gateway there were twenty-five men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
Then [the Spirit] said to me, Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city,
Who say, [The time] is not near to build houses; this city is the boiling pot and we are the flesh.
Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man!
And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, Speak. Say, Thus says the Lord: This is what you thought, O house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your mind.
You have multiplied your slain in this city and you have filled its streets with the slain.
Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in your midst; they are the flesh and this city is the boiling pot, but you shall be brought forth out of the midst of it.
You have feared the sword, and I will bring a sword upon you, says the Lord God.
And I will bring you forth out of the midst of it and deliver you into the hands of foreigners and execute judgments among you.
You shall fall by the sword; I will judge and punish you [before your neighbors] at the border or outside the land of Israel, and you shall know (understand and realize) that I am the Lord.
This city shall not be your boiling pot, neither shall you be the flesh in the midst of it; I will judge you at the border or outside of Israel;
And you shall know (understand and realize) that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.
And while I was prophesying, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down upon my face and cried with a loud voice, Ah, Lord God! Will You make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?
Ezekiel 11:1-13 AMPC
Ezekiel received a revelation from God about God’s impending judgement of Israel. He pleaded with God on behalf of Israel.
Then the sanctuary of God in heaven was thrown open, and the ark of His covenant was seen standing inside in His sanctuary; and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings (blasts, mutterings), peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a terrific hailstorm.
Revelations 11:19 AMPC
And another angel came and stood over the altar. He had a golden censer, and he was given very much incense (fragrant spices and gums which exhale perfume when burned), that he might mingle it with the prayers of all the people of God (the saints) upon the golden altar before the throne.
And the smoke of the incense (the perfume) arose in the presence of God, with the prayers of the people of God (the saints), from the hand of the angel.
Revelations 8:3-4 AMPC
Prayers arise, before the presence of God.
Your prayers arise in the presence of God.
Are you willing to intercede & pray for California?
intercessor
/ˈɪntəˌsɛsə,ˌɪntəˈsɛsə/
noun
noun: intercessor; plural noun: intercessors
a person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer.
"they rejected the notion that an intercessor was needed to appeal to God"
synonyms: mediator, moderator, go-between, negotiator, middleman, intermediary, intervenor, interceder, arbitrator, arbiter; More
conciliator, reconciler, broker, honest broker, petitioner, supplicant, liaison officer, peacemaker
"they act as priests, intercessors between the people and the gods"
The heart of God is to redeem.
Mercy triumphs over judgement.
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.
James 2:13 AMP