Political scientists say, power vacuums lead to conflicts and redistribution of power and authority – and I would like to add this is true for both the visible and the invisible world. We need to be watchful and alert at this time. 

First and foremost, every political power vacuum is a “spiritual vacuum” that originates from a lack of prayer and the church’s loss of spiritual authority. In recent years, we have witnessed liberal thought first questioning Biblical values in the church, and then virtually eradicating them. Part of it was a downplaying of the Biblical world view of heaven and hell, as well as the rejection of the Biblical idea of a supernatural spiritual world, in which we, as Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, are struggling against “principalities, authorities, and powers”. 

The movie “Star Wars” portrays the ancientbattle between “good” and “evil”, and man caught up in the middle. He has some idea of the invisible world, put into words in the famous “Star Wars blessing”, “May the force be with you!” This is to say, there is someone out there looking after us somehow. We know who that is! This force has a name! It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who has come into the world to conquer the powers of darkness!

The term “power” in today’s use includes aspects such as rule, force, violence, sway, strong influence, as well as governmental power. We end up with a political “power vacuum”, if an expected and appointed leadership is not exercised over an extended period of time. Is it possible that the tedious process of the present government formation in Germany can be traced back to Christians in the church rejecting their spiritual responsibility, refusing to exercise their spiritual authority in prayer? I am convinced a nation’s blessing is determined on the knees of the intercessors. And even if there is a decision for a new government this month, this does by no means solve the question of the power vacuum.

Power vacuums lead to conflicts and redistribution of power and authority. We urgently need to rediscover the prayer found in 2Chr 7:14 and make it part of our lives, “If my people, who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” 

Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His strength.”