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Archive for September, 2012

Prayers for the Nation

Posted in Uncategorized on September 29, 2012|

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

Thousands have gathered together in Philadelphia for the “America for Jesus” rally.  Thousands of Christians have come together to pray for the nation and the upcoming election.  Many are spending the next forty days fasting and praying for the nation.  Prayer is the life source of the believer.  It is our connection with God and it is vital that we pray and never cease to pray.  However, we can’t stop there.  We have to act and do what God has called us to do.

Many feel that our nation has become morally depraved and that we are headed for destruction.  Our government has failed us and many feel that this country is headed in the wrong direction.  The things that are contrary to God seem to be taking precedence in this nation of ours – sin abounds.  The people are hurting and crying out for help.  So they are looking toward this election to determine who is best to lead our nation which is one of the reasons for this rally and 40 days of prayer.

The church needs to understand that our government does not have the answers and we are the ones called to turn this nation toward God.  We have to see America as a land that is ripe for the harvest; to see the people as Jesus saw them “like sheep without a shepherd.”  So really our prayer should be to ask God to send more workers out to the harvest field.  Also, those of us that know God should answer God’s call of whom He shall send and go out as Jesus instructed us.

The tragedy of these 40 days of prayer is if we walk away at the end of the time and return to business as usual -back to our pews and pulpits.  Far too long the church has remained silent over the years.  Truthfully if our nation is becoming depraved then we have failed to live and teach the people by example because it is righteousness that exalts a nation and it is our duty to walk in righteousness.

So as we pray let us prepare ourselves for the work that lies ahead.  We can’t continue to sit in our pews and pulpits judging the nation and the people lording over them and dismissing the lost.  We need to have the compassion that Jesus had and seek to help and shepherd the people of this nation.

I refuse to believe that our nation is headed to destruction or moral depravity.  We are better than that.  We cannot give up on the people of this nation and we have to seek and go after those that are lost.  It is our mandate and the commission that Jesus gave every believer to go and make disciples of everyone.  It is God’s desire that none should perish and all should come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

It is my prayer and hope that this rally and this time of prayer will result in the greatest harvest our nation has seen.  It will happen in our nation and other nations as well.  We will see the greatest revival and soul harvest the world has ever seen.  Our best days are still ahead of us.  The United States of America is our inheritance and every nation that we declare.

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The Prophet and the King

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on September 10, 2012|

22 For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.” 1 Samuel 12: 22-25

Samuel was called and appointed by God to be the prophet over Israel.  At the time Israel had no king because God acted as Israel’s king.  However, Israel told Samuel that his sons were not like him and they wanted a king.  God granted them their wish and gave them a king but told Samuel that Israel had did an evil thing and rejected God as their king.  Samuel appoints Saul as the king over Israel and reminds Israel that what they have done was evil in God’s eyes but that God would not reject them since Israel was His own.  As Samuel addressed Israel he noted that he did not want to sin against the Lord and said that he would fulfill his role as prophet and pray for Israel and continue to teach them the way of what was good and right. 

In the Old Testament we see how the prophet and the king operated over Israel.  The kings of the OT ruled over Israel but it was the prophet of God that would tell the kings and the people what God was saying.  Often times the kings would call the prophet when they did not know what to do in a situation like war or when they had a problem they couldn’t solve.  So the prophet would be the one to come to the king with solutions from God and let them know what God was saying.  The prophet also spoke to the people to remind them of God and to follow after His ways.  The prophet of God was pure before the Lord because it was often times the prophet that would act as the high priest for Israel before the Lord.

Today we do not have a king but we do have a President and many others who govern us.  Often we look to our leaders to be the one that lead the nations in regards to upholding the law and morality.  However, the church is supposed to play the role of the prophet.  We are to be the one that has our ear to God and tell the people what God is saying.  Like Samuel our responsibility is to pray and teach the people what is good and right.  We can’t rely on the government to do that nor does God expect the government to do so.

In the bible it was the prophets that God relied on to return the people back to God.  Also, the kings relied on these prophets for wisdom and direction when trouble came their way.  It is the same today we should be in a position that our government leaders come to the church for wisdom and guidance.  No matter who the king was God always had a role and positioned His prophets to speak to the king and to pray and go before God to learn the will and purpose of God.

The church more than ever needs to understand her role as the prophet in regards to our nations’ governments.  We are the ones that pray for the leaders and the people.  We are to be the examples the people follow.  When the nation is facing problems we are to go before God and get answers and solutions.  We do not need to be in the king’s position to have influence and power.  We have that through Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings but we must steward well the job given to us.  We must fulfill our role like Samuel because we must give an account to God on what He has entrusted us with.  A nation is a reflection of the righteousness or wickedness of God’s people.

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