THE BATTLEFRONT OF THE 21ST CENTURY
I. HUMAN TRAFFICKING
She weeps bitterly in the night. Her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her all her
friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies. – Lam. 1:2
A. Globalization and the emergence of modern day slavery – In recent times we have begun to witness one of the
most severe consequences of globalization in the seemingly sudden emergence of the industry of Human Trafficking.
This treacherous industry has been called “the dark side of globalization,” and is leaving untold millions of tragic victims
in its wake. Human trafficking is the industrialization of both the sex trade and forced labor, consequently resulting in
the unprecedented commodification of human lives. Of the 27-30 million people currently enslaved in the world today
approximate estimates suggest that an alarming 70 % are sex slaves.
B. Personal call to intercession for Human Trafficking – Earlier this year when this issue was first brought to my
attention I was shocked and horrified by what I heard. As I began to dig a little deeper to find out the truth behind this
industry for myself the brutal reality of what I discovered launched me into intercession with an intensity, desperation,
and urgency I have rarely known.
For the hurt of the daughter of my people I am hurt. I am mourning; astonishment has taken hold of me. – Jer. 8:21
C. The industrialization and prominence of Human Trafficking – The sex industry, previously considered marginal,
has come to occupy a strategic and central position in the development of international capitalism. This process of
industrialization, in both its legal and its illegal forms, generates profits amounting to billions of dollar. For this reason
it is increasingly taking on the guise of an ordinary sector of the economy, and generating mainstream cultural appeal.
1. Government involvement – As Germany prepared for the estimated 3 million fans from around the world to attend
the World Cup in 2006 an estimated 40,000 additional women were trafficked to Germany to be added to the
approximately 400,000 women in their sex industry. Germans accommodated the trade in women by facilitating the
construction of “mega-brothels” and “sex huts,” and cities hosting the games issued special permits for street prostitution,
creating a virtual partnership with brothel owners, pimps, and traffickers.
a. In Thailand the government has promoted the use of their sex slaves as a tourist attraction. Consider this excerpt
from a government-sponsored advertisement, "The one fruit of Thailand more delicious than durian [a local fruit], its
young women." In Cambodia the largest brothels are operated by governmental authorities and in many countries the
network of trafficking extends even to taxicab drivers who aid in capturing escapees, and even in abductions.
2. Brothels on the stock exchange – Austrian businessman and finance expert Dr. Alexander Gerhardlinger is
planning to float Europe's first ever brothel chain on the stock exchange. Shareholders will get special discounts when
they snap up shares in his brothel chain “Golden Time.” Gerhardlinger is owner of the investment firm RB Immo. The
shares will be offered once the group's new brothels in Munich, Innsbruck and Nuremberg are opened, which will give
him enough turnover for the stock exchange listing. He said: "I have had top lawyers, tax experts and even big name
football players get in touch about acquiring shares. They all want to remain anonymous but are convinced the listing
will be a winner." Investment banker Manuel Lorenz said: "Sex often brings enormous returns, there will be a lot of
interest and this offering is sure to be a winner. A brothel share will of course be one that attracts a lot of interest in
any case, and that will benefit sales."
3. Organized crime – Organized crime groups have not neglected their share of the pie in this emerging market
either. It has become the third most profitable industry in organized crime and, according to experts, is on a path to
overtake drugs and arms trafficking as number one. Drugs and arms can only be sold once, but a human life can be
sold over and over again. These groups have established highly organized logistical networks between International
countries and the United States with recruiters, brokers, intermediaries, taxi drivers, and madams. The United Nations
estimates that as many as 4 million women and children are trafficked around the world for purposes of forced
prostitution, labor, and other forms of exploitation every year; meaning every thirty seconds another person
becomes a victim!
4. Trafficking in America – The United States has also fostered the rapid growth of this industry making the U.S.
among the top three destination countries for trafficked woman and children. Relying on research from the Central
Intelligence Agency, the State Department estimates there are at least 50,000 human trafficking victims brought into
the United States each year. Once in the United States, traffickers most often set up shop in California, New York,
Texas and Las Vegas. Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman has a vision to establish “magnificent brothels” in his city.
D. The victims of Human Trafficking – The real story behind this global market is found in the lives of the victims.
Tragically, millions of woman and children have been dehumanized and destroyed, their lives reduced to the value of
a commodity that can be bought, sold, and traded.
1. Captivity – Most victims find themselves captive as the result of illicit means such as: abduction, sold by a family
member, deception, and fraud.
2. Control – Once in bondage, strategies to enforce coercive control over the victims are applied, including: ritual
beatings and torture, forced drug inducement, and the constant threat of violence and murder to themselves and loved
ones. It is a dark method of intimidation used to break victims down and make them complicit. Many victims having been
rescued, while malnourished, diseased, and addicted to drugs, still feel a deep emotional bond and loyalty to their pimp.
3. Exploitation – These trafficked woman and children are then forced into the most exploitive forms of commercial
sex operations including: prostitution, pornography, stripping, live-sex shows, mail-order brides, military prostitution,
and sex tourism.
4. Abortion – Most victims are housed in brothels where madams routinely force the woman to have abortions. It is
not unusual that if a woman or girl has been trafficked for only two to three years that she has endured more than a
dozen abortions at the hands of her traffickers. The story of these victims is unimaginably brutal and sobering.
E. The source of Human Trafficking – Commercial sex exploitation is an industry generated by the unprecedented
expansion of the tourism industry, the internationalization of arranged marriages, the demand for prostitution among
military forces in areas of territorial occupation, and the subsequent economic revenues generated. The International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank have encouraged countries under obligation of debt repayment to develop their
tourism and entertainment industries. In each case the sex trade becomes the centerpiece. Examples include countries
throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
F. Pornography – Underlying these issues is the widespread proliferation and normalization of pornography.
Revelation 9:21 describes a people given over to “murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft” in the end times.
Human Trafficking uniquely embodies all four of these sinful destructive forces. Preaching on this verse, I used to say
that we haven’t yet seen the implications of a generation who has fed their spirit on pornography from a young age.
However, I now believe we are beginning to see the devastating fruit born out of that depth of sexual perversion. Men
who have actively defiled the hard-drive of their soul through habitual intoxication with pornography are beginning to
rise up and demand that their perverted sexual fantasies be fulfilled, and it is coming at the cost of the precious lives
of our young woman and children.
“The wicked prowl on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.” (Ps. 12:8)
II. IHOP’S PROHETIC RESPONSE TO GLOBAL TRAGEDY
A. Justice through intercession – At IHOP our response to this sobering reality has been to partner with Jesus in
intercession in His war against injustice. In His own mission statement Jesus said that God anointed Him to “heal the
broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” His methodology of
addressing issues of injustice begins with intercession. In Luke 18 Jesus said that speedy justice would come in
context to night and day prayer. Since beginning to focus our prayers on this issue in a direct way we have seen
three significant answers to prayer.
1. On Sat., Feb. 3rd my wife Lauren and I had a conversation with two friends who informed us about the horrors
of human trafficking in the sex-slave industry. At the time we were completely unaware of the severity and brutal reality
of this prevalent issue. Two days later on Mon., February 5th, we shared the burden the Lord was beginning to place on
our hearts for this matter in a briefing (with the worship team) before our 8pm intercession meeting. As we discussed
this subject one of the singers spoke up that she had recently had a dream related to this issue the week before. She
said that in the dream she was kidnapped by a foreign man and taken to the home of an American man. Once inside
this home she realized she was in a brothel, and would be forced into a life of prostitution. In the dream she began to
see the babies she would have to abort as a result of this lifestyle. She then heard someone (she believes was Jesus)
singing “Open up the heavens over the weak!” We carried that prayer into the 8pm intercession meeting and it gripped
the entire room. For two hours we cried out for woman and children enslaved by sex traffickers. A day and a half later
a huge child pornography ring was busted, involving over 2,300 child pornographers in 77 countries. Federal police
called the case "a strike against child pornography unprecedented in Austrian criminal history." What was amazing
about this is that in the briefing before the prayer meeting on Monday night we discussed the need for law enforcement
authorities to receive prayer so that doors would be opened for them to make busts. I told how a friend, who was an
undercover DEA agent, described the unexplainable dimension of busts that were made, and the ones that were not
made – there is clearly a spiritual dimension behind criminal activity and law enforcement.
2. The second case of answered prayer came one week after an all night Solemn Assembly in April. We gathered
those on a day schedule to join the NW for a sacred gathering of intercession to focus on Human Trafficking. One week
later an unprecedented bust was made in Kansas City involving 16 locations. The rescued women were brought to
“Hope House” to receive healing and restoration.
3. Most recently, God answered our prayers in a dramatic way, again, one week after an all-night Solemn Assembly.
After focusing much of our prayers on Human Trafficking in Thailand we discovered that just a week after the gathering
a massive and historic piece of legislation was signed in Thailand prohibiting Human Trafficking, providing help to the
victims, training government officials, and launching national awareness and prevention programs.
B. We realize that we are in a war that will not end until the Lord returns. However, we have faith that we can win
many battles through our righteous involvement in God’s war against injustice.
III. THE SPIRITUAL GRAVITY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE END-TIMES
A. The rage of Satan – Human trafficking embodies Satan’s strategy to demonize the earth through theft, sorcery,
sexual immorality, and murder. Oppressors of woman and children in the sex trade industry systematically break down
their victims to bring them into compliance with their agenda through forced drug abuse, severe sexual abuse, and
the threat of murder.
And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. – Rev. 9:21
1. Theft – Human trafficking most commonly begins with some form of abduction.
2. Sorcery – After individuals have been abducted they are usually given drugs. This is one of the first stages in
breaking an individual down. Many become addicted to, and physically dependent on drugs, after having been forced
to take them initially.
3. Sexual Immorality – Human Trafficking is fueled primarily by sexual perversion. Victims suffer severe physical and
sexual abuse.
4. Murders – Most individuals who are trafficked are either murdered or diseased within four years. Either way, they
are murdered either directly or indirectly.
B. The Return of the King – The Bible reveals that perilous times will come in the last days, and that Human
Trafficking will be predominant at the time of the Lord’s return. However, we know that God’s ultimate triumph over
this massive injustice is certain when Jesus returns. In both Revelation 18 and Joel 3 Jesus is seen as releasing
judgment upon the wicked merchants and evil nations who profited from the commodification of human lives.
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargos (merchandise) any
more; 12 cargos of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls and fine linen…and slaves and human lives. –
Rev. 18:11, 13 (NASB)
I will also gather all nations…and I will enter into judgment with them…on account of My people…3 They have cast lots for
My people, have given a boy as payment for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink…7 Behold, I will raise
them out of the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your retaliation upon your own head…. (Joel 3:2-3, 7)
C. The shedding of innocent blood invokes a severe judgment from God. In II Kings, the author gives insight into the
reason God sent the Babylonians to judge Israel.
Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah (Babylonian invasion and Judah’s consequent
deportation), to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done,
4 and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the
Lord would not pardon. – 2 Kings 24:3-4
1. What is startling is that the Lord told Josiah (the king who reigned after Manasseh) that even in the midst of a
national spiritual revival that He was still going to judge the nation because of Manasseh’s sin of shedding innocent blood
(2 Chron. 34:23-28). The Lord beckoned His people throughout their history to return to Him with promises of blessing.
However, in this scenario even when His people returned to Him in repentance the verdict of judgment still loomed
imminent.
2. Right now the blood of millions of victimized woman and children is crying out from the ground. God will not turn
a deaf ear to these cries.
D. Jesus taught that severe judgment would fall upon those who cause children to “stumble.”
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung
around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. – Mark 9:42
1. Jesus was not exaggerating when He made this statement. Those unrepentant souls who abused His children
will face the furious indignation of God’s wrath.
2. Quote from Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this
mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the
bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the
lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the
judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’”
E. During the Millennial Kingdom Jesus will establish justice for the oppressed.
He (Jesus) will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces
the oppressor…12 For He will deliver the needy when He cries…and Him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor
and needy, and will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; and
precious shall be their blood in His sight. – Ps. 72:4, 12-14
IV. PRAYERS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Oh, that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter
of my people! – Jer. 9:1
Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.
Lift up your hands toward Him for the life of your young children… (Lam. 2:19)
For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the Lord viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of
the prisoner, to release those appointed to death. – Ps. 102:19-20
A. Jesus’ invitation into friendship – In the hour of Jesus’ greatest crisis He called His closest friends to pray with
Him (Lk. 22:39-46). His disciples however slept during an hour that called for intercession. This is where much of the
church is at today. Jesus called the apathy related to prayers for justice a “fainting spirit” (Lk. 18:1). We are in a time
of crisis that demands intercession and Jesus is calling for His friends to join Him in prayer.
B. Pray for Justice for the Victims – Human trafficking is an issue of injustice. Injustice is taking away the God given
dignity of an individual to choose and arbitrary abuse based on one’s gender, ethnicity, or social status. In human
trafficking individuals are taken against their will and forced to do things they would never choose to do.
C. Fasting – “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens,
to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6)
D. Pray what one of our singers heard in a dream, that God would “open the heavens over the weak!” This prayer
(in her dream) was in context to praying for women trapped in brothels and forced into prostitution.
E. Pray for Mercy for the oppressors.
F. Pray that God would open up doors for authorities to make busts.
G. Jesus bore the judgment of God for us – plead His precious and royal blood over the nations.
H. Pray that the “throne[s] of iniquity, which devise evil by law” (Ps. 94:20) would be torn down.
I. Weeping is a powerful form of intercession. Jesus said “Blessed are those who mourn.” He Himself was a “man of
sorrows” and was “acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53).
J. Fasting – “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens,
to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” (Isa. 58:6)
K. Holding in the light – Intercession is not always intensely energetic. The Quakers practiced a form of intercession
they called “holding in the light.” They would envision the person they were praying for before the light of God’s glory
and just meditate on that. May we hold these individuals in our hearts and before the throne of God.
V. CONCLUSION
A. We are facing a global crisis in this hour. The Lord really cares about how we respond to this. There are now
more slaves on the earth than at any other time in history. This is an epidemic of historic proportions. Let’s not be
relegated to the sidelines of insignificance while there are millions who desperately need our prayers and help. May
we cry out “day and night” for the release of “speedy justice.” May we ask the Lord if there is any other way He would
like to use us to end this modern day scourge of slavery.
B. It is hard to imagine anything as horrifying as the Trans-Atlantic slave trade 200 years ago. The brutality of
what we are seeing now in modern slavery rivals anything in history. Let’s learn from history and not be silent.