Wednesday, October 31, 2012

DAY 33/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

PRAYER FOR WEST VIRGINIA etc... AND CHRISTIAN RELIEF VOLUNTEERS
In the course of human history, we have read of and even experienced first hand, natural disasters of tremendous proportions. Man has always recovered from these things, to sometimes rebuild even better. From the time of the Great Flood of Noah to the flooded state of New Jersey and lower Manhattan, God has always shine His Grace on those on whom He shines His Grace.

Today, I felt led by the Spirit to pray in two specific directions - for those snowed under in the poor state of West Virginia and the many Christian relief organizations. First of all, nobody (in the national media etc) is talking about or cares much about the poor country folks of West Virginia now buried under two plus feet of snow, with 300,000 or more out of power. But God does. While the focus of the cameras, election campaigners and others are on New Jersey (and it is understandable), an overbearing blizzard on a small poor state, with not much means to handle it, is devastating.

Father in the Name of Jesus, I pray for Your people in West Virginia who have been bookended by  the "storm of the ages" - Sandy - and are now under a massive blanket of snow. Lord, we know most of our brethren there, in the heart of the Bible belt, are not equipped to handle this kind of weather. We know they are now cold, hungry and perhaps disoriented or worse. So Father, I pray You show Your Hands of Mercy and Grace and Compassion to lift them above their circumstances until You can get relief (food, clothing and heat) to them via Your chosen servants or the government. Remind us to pray for those who are hurting and unable to cope with this natural tragedy, as all creation groans in hope that the Savior will rescue us all from this which man has brought upon himself through sin. Have mercy oh God on Your people there....and Lord, not just in West Virginia or New Jersey and New York, but I saw the photos from the extremely poor islands of the Caribbean where there are no media promoting political messages or biases, but people are even in a more hopeless situation with no one to help them. But You can - in Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas and elsewhere, in Jesus' Holy Name, amen.

Secondly, while all the media focus etc has been on what the government can do, and they have their role to play, it is the Christian Relief Organizations of America who ALWAYS step up first to help our fellow man. I have friends who were personally involved in the Southern Baptist Relief even while Katrina was hitting Mississippi and New Orleans in 2005. Now it is these same brothers and sisters and Christ who are staging the biggest relief and volunteer operation, which will surpass anything the political types could do. The other Southern Baptist group - Samaritan's Purse and the BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ORGANIZATION (BGEA) have been criticized by leftist preachers, liberals and others who do not do a thing to help anybody except harp on those who stand up for Biblical Truth (see: ministers attack Franklin). But it is this same Franklin Graham who is leading teams of trucks full of generators, food etc and hundreds of volunteers to help people in Atlantic City and elsewhere while the naysayers insult those who believe in the Truth of the Bible.

So, Father, in the Name of Jesus, I pray for the leaders of the Salvation Army Relief; the entire Southern Baptist Convention and the North American Missions Board (NAMB) and Franklin Graham and the entire BGEA as they lead over a thousand volunteers to do a work, which is larger in scope than the post September 11, 2001 aftermath. I pray for the Graham family, that You protect them from those who claim to be Yours but support the violation of every principle in the Holy Scriptures, while others do the work of helping Your people. I pray for the volunteers who will be risking their health and safety to help others in distress not just in New Jersey, but I pray for the effort in parts of Delaware, North Carolina and especially West Virginia. Father, give the same Grace to those volunteers that You gave the Israelites who walked through the desert for 40 years, yet did not get sick nor did their shoes wear out. I pray You remove ALL stumbling blocks and the many "Tobiahs" and "Sanballats" who reside in the talking head studios and on the ground, who are putting obstacles to goodness, righteousness and mercy. Father, in all of this, may YOUR Name, YOUR HOLY NAME be glorified because there will be no doubt that it is the God of the Bible and His people - all the abovementioned organizations and volunteers - who are bringing hope back to those who have lost everything in this storm, in the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

DAY 32/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

COMFORT THE BROKEN HEARTED
There are many ways one can be involved in one of these extended periods of prayer. Several times this year, I have either led, joined or prayed along with 31 Days of Praying the Names of God; A Fortnight of Prayer for (Religious Freedom); Thirty Days of Prayer for Marriages; Prayer with saints from South Africa and America and now this Forty Days of Prayer for America. Each prayer movement has been grassroots led and completely different.

For this election season, many ministries, from the San Antonio-based Max Lucado and John Hagee to Dave Butts of the National Prayer Committee and others have called for and are executing the Forty Day of Prayer according to a preset format. There are thousands of prayer conference call groups and intercessory groups in the Houses of Prayer nationwide. What may frustrate some about the 40 Days on this blog is that it may appear to follow no organized format and it does not personally attack this or that politician personally, by name or behavior. The reason for that is simple:

1. We are all sinners
2. We are called to be gracious
3. We should be very careful with imprecatory prayers against a certain group or person.

That being said, we do not take this lightly. A year of prayer has made a difference in our lives, at least mine and has covered me when I feel the weakest...and it is the same for any praying believer. At the same time, we do not shy from intercessory confrontation with darkness, evil and any stronghold which goes against the wishes and Perfect Will of God. Therefore today, Day 32 of 40, there is a burning need to pray hard on parallel tracks. There is a confluence of events....and events are prayed about here, which if looked at through the Lens of a Biblical Worldview, and an understanding of these last Days, would/should scare/encourage us. By us, I mean believers....for the majority- it is devastating, because they are unredeemed! These days were spoken of, two thousand years ago and not many have been paying attention.

#1
Our fellow citizens are literally under a wet blanket of judgment (thankfully temporary) of the big storm Sandy which has sat over one fifth of this massive country for two days now. People are literally shaking in high rise apartments in New York city where 120 mph winds are rocking buildings and the streets of Lower Manhattan are now under 10 plus feet of water. Almost no one there, or in coastal regions, or the dear poor folks of West Virginia (facing snow storms now) have lived through even a third of what is now hitting them. How do they persevere through this? Here is an answer:
PSALM 91: Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God
 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
#2
Then for the past few days, Charles Woods, the distraught father of the most talked about late Navy Seal killed in the 9/11/2012 terrorist attack in Bengazi - (Tyrone Woods) has been telling everyone who would hear, what he had heard happened to his now-famous son on that horrible day. Prayer intercessors are caught in a dilemma, in a sense...but we should not be. Several things are in the mix here which are way above our pay grade and while we discuss Religious Liberty and Freedom issues here, as well as the persecution of the church, it is not the goal to get into details of military politics. What is important are people and How the Lord will deal with this.

Therefore, here is what we do: most importantly, we pray for Mr. Charles Woods who lost his hero son - Tyrone - in Bengazi, after rescuing several other people who were under fire from the terrorists.  We pray for his protection, peace of mind and not a long, drawn out he said/she said contre-temps between officials whose stories keep changing. We pray for the Woods family, in our own private prayer time.
Psalm 34:18: The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Revelation 21:4 : He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
John 16:22: So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 14:27-29: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

#3
Finally, we pray for those who have the answers for this man who lost his son and all the other relatives of those whose lives were lost on September 11 of this year. While something does not seem right and there are various stories and levels of untruths from different quarters, God knows the truth to give Mr. Woods and the families closure and comfort. We pray for those in authority in the civilian and military branches on whose shoulders these burdens are on, that they will follow the Lord and speak truth and grace, no matter where the chips fall.  May the Lord and their conscience, as it is with all of us, be their guide.
Psalm 78:72: With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand. 
Matthew 20:26: But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant. 
Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 
Father in the Name of Jesus, I pray all these issues into Your capable Hands as You look down on the pitiful state of man, Your potential best creation. Help us process all of these merging events and their meaning in to us, Your people, as we seek to comprehend more about You and the events of the current time. Assist to proclaim and pronounce the Word of God. Seal that Word in our hearts. Sanctify us by Your Spirit. Empower us in Your Strength. Ordain our footsteps this wonderful day.  Anoint our heads with the Oil of Joy, even in these troubled times, in Jesus' Holy Name, amen!
(image by google)

Monday, October 29, 2012

DAY 31/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

THE COMING STORM

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:4-8 ESV) 

The end is not yet, with the biggest storm in years to hit America, but it will feel like it to those living in the eye of the approaching Frankenstorm Sandy - the "mother of all storms"! The unusually late (in the year) hurricane, combined with a massive cold front from the northwest (as you see in this satellite photo); driving winds; rain; snowfall; cold; knocked out electrical power....and what Jesus calls in the Matthew 24:8 above "the beginning of the birth pains" are happening today and early this week as Sandy slams America on the east coast. By the way, the actual meaning of "birth pains or pangs" is "odin" or severe agony!

When you combine this with earthquakes off Canada over the weekend, Tsunami warnings in Hawaii etc...even if they did not pan out....do people really know what is actually coming towards us?  This sort of natural disaster will be increasing in intensity as events, led by Biblical prophecy, come to a head. Creation has been groaning for the intervention of the Creator ever since sin entered the world. As the sinful, rebellious people refuse to bow to and acknowledge the Savior,  the populace will begin to see some of the "severe agony" that Jesus predicted. There is one thing we know, while Americans are more prepared than others for natural disasters, many will not be able to spiritually or even, psychologically deal with what's happening, the coming storm, if you will. This is so, because there is no peace in hearts, the only peace which can be obtained from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, in the Name of Jesus, we pray right now for our friends, family and fellow citizens in the eye of this massive storm, Sandy. We pray Your Hand of protection for their health, safety and peace of mind. We know there will be discomfort as Creation responds to natural conditions but we we pray that the agony and aftermath will not be too severe. Father, You predicted these days as men and women continue to turn away from You in their daily lives, and cry out to You only when there is a disaster. You know the condition of the heart and are full of compassion, pity, mercy and love for all people. Therefore, we pray that those who are beneficiaries of this Grace from You, will finally turn their hearts and eyes and minds on You, in this country and around the world, and seek the forgiveness and salvation, which come only from You, in the Mighty and Strong Name of Jesus, amen.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

DAY 30/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom....Psalm 51:6

Truth is a precious commodity in today's world. The True Truth, as Francis Schaeffer called it, is even harder to find. On the proverbial see-saw of life, when truth swings downward, the rate of decline increases. And so it is with the world today. If you ask pagans in other parts of the world about America, even now, they would call us a Christian country by wide margins. I know this from speaking to people who travel among the Chinese underground church and in other parts of that buddhist region of the globe.  This is, of course, not entirely true. We live in post-Christian America and indeed, most of western civilization has moved away from the God of the Bible.

That being said, we play the cards we have - and those who follow the Lord, have not just All Truth on our side, but the God of Truth! We already know He demands and requires "Emeth" (The Hebrew word for Truth in the Bible verse above). This same word (emeth) also means Faithfulness, Firmness and dealing righteously. The absence of that is what we are fed daily by media, culture, academia, politicians and America's top leaders. While the lies of today will frustrate the believer, we solve this by coming to the Fount of Every Blessing and Truth and seeking guidance.

The equation from this verse is Truth in the Spiritual Heart (the Innermost Part) which will then equal a wise person in the secret place, where this same spiritual heart resides (united with the Holy Spirit, Who is sent at the positional point of personal Salvation)!!! Yes, the TRUE Christian has that - not those who call themselves that, yet live and support the views of their father, the devil. Therefore, let us use that fact to approach our Heavenly Father, Who giveth to those who are sincere and sincerely seeking after Him. 

Father, I pray now for Truth, first of all, to reside fully in all Your children, in the secret innermost parts, where our spirit is united with Yours. Help us to walk in sync with what You require, Who You are and Whose we are. it. Lord, we see blatant lie after lie after lie from officials in all levels of society - government, education, entertainment and the culture. Yet we see Your modern day "prophets" who are supposed to proclaim the Word, the Truth of the Bible, stay silent - from the undershepherds of the smallest to the largest churches. We see that they care more about filling pews and cleaning carpets than saving the lost, reaching the hurting and calling sin, sin. From the famous preachers of America, to the guy down the street, hardly a one has the heart and boldness of Jeremiah, or Hosea or Ezekiel. The fact that we can name the exceptions is an indictment. Father, we pray today for boldness....for men and women in the land, who will not shy from the Truth but would weigh the consequences of not standing for it. Father, Your Son said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life...and He is - all the time. Help us therefore not to shy from it, but embrace it, as our Savior did. Let us continue to walk in His Light and turn from the darkness of those who deny Him and walk in the darkness of their eternal folly. Bless this day, according to Your Grace, mercy and compassion and give us a fire and passion to continue this journey always, in the Power and Strength of Christ, amen.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

DAY 29/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

AMERICA ON ITS KNEES
Just yesterday, a church in Huntington, Indiana was defaced by a vandal who supported the pro-abortion view. People's cars are getting keyed with political graffitti. There are growing in numbers examples of increasing political and social instability, in the Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free. How did all this happen? When did disagreements, in the democratic and long-standing tradition of debate, became so toxic, that certain people are turning on their peace-loving neighbors? When did men start calling out to decent traditional women only to abuse them in aggressive sexual tones, while giving them a New York city cab salute and drive off, over who is supporting what candidate?

Well, it happened when men looked up and instead of seeing the God of Creation, he saw himself on a pedestal as an idol to be worshipped...as a god unto himself. Here is what the Bible says about some men "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools...(Romans 1:21-22 ESV)


America is now this place, described in Romans 1:18-32. It did not have to be so....and for some, it will be only for a short while, as God will save them from themselves if they repent and put their trust in the Savior - as Lord and Master. For the majority, we pray:

Father, in the Name of Jesus, we have now approached reprobate status as a people...as a people who see riches and power and status and everything this world has, which You in Your Wisdom have condemned - they struggle to attain and hold on to. We, who are stunned by this kind of behavior cry out to You for a restraining Hand to calm everybody down, so that they will take a deep breath, realize what they are doing and correct their course. Father we pray for peace: peace in hearts, minds and souls....peace in communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes and people. We pray for those who are losing their collective minds, because their hope is built on nothing less than grabbing all the largess and gusto in this fleeting life that they can...while Your children's hopes are built on nothing less than Jesus' Blood and Righteousness. They, who are being lost, labor under the foolish lie that he who dies with the most toys wins, while Your people store up treasure in heaven, yet pay the price here on earth. We pray for those with lost eyes to be opened if they can and for their hearts to be turned towards You, that they may be saved, before it is too late for them. We ask and intercede on their behalf, in The Mighty Name of Jesus, amen.


(image by google)

Friday, October 26, 2012

DAY 28/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

AMERICA ON ITS KNEES
VOTE THE BIBLE....
GOD WILL HOLD CHRISTIANS TO ACCOUNT

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7
As Christians, we are called to follow what the Scripture prescribes in this verse above, period. Rather than follow the "chariots and horses" (or the powerful things and people of this world"). We follow God and Him alone! There is now a controversy concerning an ad which the world's greatest evangelist, and the greatest preacher of the last century - the Reverend Billy Graham - put out last week, which implored real Christians to vote Biblical values in the November 6, 2012 elections.

In that ad, pictured here, Dr. Graham stated what is obvious - Biblical values are supreme over all. During any elections - from Mayor to Governor or Senator, core beliefs are the key determinant. If a person is a shareholder in a corporation, what the Corporation's CEO believes and who they support with your investment dollars are equally as important. When the new CEO of JCPenney (and former Apple executive) Johnson decided that Hollywood values were more important than traditional family values, JCPenney stock and sales fell, well, into penny stock range. A Christian would not support (or should not) adulterous politicians or church leaders etc, and therefore, now, the burden is on the believer to do so again, not because a preacher or some Christian activist said so, but because God will hold everyone to account for every action. This is true if we rent or support movies which violate His Law, or vote for anyone, regardless of political background. I have written in candidates before, because neither candidate in a past election, was pro-life or pro-family. The following passage confirms what those of us who let our conscience be our guide, powered by the Word of God, already know:

He (God) will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 
There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Romans 2:6-13 ESV)

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, thank You for giving us the Instruction Manual for Life, in Your Holy and Precious Scriptures as THE Guidebook for our lives....in every way, for every question, for every angle is covered by it, if we would just open our eyes. Father, I let my conscience, guided by principles imputed to us, at the point of Salvation, when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of us, guide me in life daily. Therefore, I let the Spirit tell now, how I should think about voting. The Giver of All Truth, the Counselor, the Paraclete, is our Friend, our Guide, our Counselor and YOUR Representative. I repent of anything I have done in the past contrary to Your Truth to support politicians etc, prior to 2006, who did not follow Your principles. While we may personally like or dislike a particular candidate's views, let us always realize that You, oh God, especially in these evil times, will "repay" or hold us to account for the choices we make in elections; or at the stores or anywhere for that matter. Help us to fear You, rather than fear men. Help us to respect all people from all walks of life, to love and pray for them, even if we are complete opposites in views and standing in Christ. But also help us to stand on the Word of God, on Biblical Truth and never waver because we love Truth, and Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life and it is in His Name I pray, amen. 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

DAY 27/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

AMERICA ON ITS KNEES
THE WAY OF THE BIBLE 
The very fact that the God Who created this unfathomable universe KNOWS each of His children intimately...and the fact that He knows our thoughts, actions, feelings, emotions and intentions - should drive us to want to journey through life according to His roadmap - The Bible.

The Word of God is amazingly precise; orderly as well as convicting to the man or woman of God who seeks a more meaningful life and walk with the Savior! This is what a Biblical worldview is all about - knowing the basis of all our Faith and how life it out daily, in a corrupt and perverse generation. The Biblical worldview affects everything we do - from the cars we purchase, to the books we read and the music we listen to, as well as the movies/tv shows we watch. I don't need to say that someone, who claims to be saved and sanctified by the Saving Sacrifice on the Cross of Christ, has NO business spending the Lord's money (i.e. our after-tithe take home pay) on things like Harry Potter; Twilight, Fifty Shades of...whatever or Lady Gaga, Katy Perry or other such Hollywood entertainment.

So, does this extend to voting according to Bible principles? In the past, regardless of party many followers of Christ, including me, have refused to vote to any candidate who does not support the life of the Unborn. Is this the right way to go? Check back tomorrow.

Father in the Name of Jesus, You have given us Life. You have given us the complete Word. You have given us Your Great Son- my God and my King Jesus. You expect us to learn more about You. You expect us to walk and talk with You daily. You expect us to die to self daily so we can see through the Eyes of Christ. You expect more of us than from those who are perishing from walking blindly, by their own choice, even though they have the same opportunity and privilege to hear the Gospel that we did. Lord give us revelation tonight that tomorrow and in the coming hours, days and weeks ahead that we may apply the Biblical worldview to all that we do and act accordingly, knowing that we are accountable for all that we do, in the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.


(image by google)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

DAY 26/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

AMERICA ON ITS KNEES

The Christian Faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we ARE seen...not that we know all the answers, but that we are known! (the Reformed Reader).

Wow! That blows me away and should you as well! Think about that for a second as we pray together:
Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, what an amazing, puzzling, super-sized mystery this thing called Faith, which YOU have imputed to us, really is! When I think of all You have, should, could and would have done, from eternity past to now, in this vast unfathomable universe, yet YOU looked down on a miserable soul like ME, a pulled me out of the muck and mire to save and sanctify and set me on the course You have selected, it just floors me! I am on my figurative face just thinking how unworthy I am to be even thought of in the same sentence as the King - Jesus, when I deserve so much worse...when we, as a perverse and corrupt generation of citizens, deserve eternal punishment. Yet, when I am never stronger than when I am on my knees. I am never more effective than on my face. I am never more successful advancing the Kingdom than when I decrease and You increase! What manner of love and Grace is this??!!! You see ME??! YOU...SEE ME!!! A wretch like me? A people like us - who are in the biggest mess, man has created! Not just that, Abba Father, but YOU KNOW ME!  You confirmed that in Psalm 139 and when You told my brother and prophet Jeremiah that You knew him in the womb before he was born!  That alone has me humbled, and small before You and yet in wondrous marvel at the sheer joy...and all the words I can't think of, about being in Your Holy Presence, because YOUR Wonderful Son Jesus, saved me in July of 1988! Praise God! Thank You, Jesus, and it is in Your precious Name I pray, amen

(image by google)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

DAY 25/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

AMERICA IN THE BALANCE
FAITH IS POWER
"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.... Mark 11:23

Just a thought for this day as continue this day to pray in Faith - FAITH IS POWER! Faith does the impossible for us because with God, ALL things are possible! Faith is having the belief system that because of His omnipotent attribute and the authority He has imputed to us at the point of Salvation, we too can operate in that realm....as children of God (John 1:12)!

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I accept and embrace all Your have given me in Your magnificent Grace and Compassion. Thank You for giving me the dunamis, the power and authority to claim my inheritance in Christ as a true son (or daughter), because of complete faith, trust and belief that whatever I pray for, will be so - because You said so! This is true now as we continue to pray this day for the restoration of our families and communities and country and for a new dispensation of Grace, for such a time as this, in the Name above all Names - Jesus, amen and amen.


Monday, October 22, 2012

DAY 24/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

         AMERICA OFF BALANCE, PART 5
BIG GOD - SIMPLE FAITH 
Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." (Luke 7:9)

This is quite an amazing story for the believer. Jesus had just encountered a Roman centurion, who would have been one of the most hated men in occupied Israel of 2000 years ago. The Romans were known worshippers of pagan and non-existent gods, but the mere fact that this centurion knew the Power and Possibilities of the great Jewish "rabbi: - Jesus, and proceeded to practice it, is stunning in an of itself!

America once had that kind of Faith. Historian David Barton can come up with all kinds of quotes of famous people who saw the goodness and success of the United States, and attributed all of it to our faith in God and His Son Jesus. We had the simple Faith and Trust of a child seeking the guidance and Hand of his/her master. Yet, somewhere in the last 50 years of decadent moral and social decay, we have forgotten the sincere spontaneity and simplicity of having the same kind of Trust which the Roman captain had as he stood before our Christ.

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, we stand before You right now, chastened for having hastened a falling away from Your Truth and Your Peace which passeth all understanding. Father, in years gone by, we depended on You for direction and even our very lives in hope and the confidence that, You, my God and King, will hear us from heaven and shine Your Face upon us. We have not only gone off the rails but too many of our people serve other gods and idols and are now teaching Your younger children, that all paths lead to the same place - when You said differently in Your Word!!!!

Yes, Lord, I pray for a major correction in such evil pluralistic thinking and a return to righteousness through the realization among us that we need to be more like the Roman Centurion, who saw Your Power! No doubt, this man had seen the miracles and works of Christ and knew not just the Power in His Word and action, but the possibility of being in His Presence. He knew it is not only possible for Jesus to heal in Person, but the Roman captain had simple and complete trust that Jesus just had to say so - and it came into being!  Lord, we know that VERY SAME power is available today. We ask, in Faith and Trust, and belief in its happen, that Jesus will once again say the Word, and this country will be healed. We ask in humility and with not a bit of doubt, that He can do what He once did....and has done for almost 2000 years now - heal. We asking for healing in the troubled soul of America right now, to become right with You in all things, in the Name of Christ our Lord, amen.

(image by google)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

DAY 23/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

         AMERICA OFF BALANCE, PART 4
PRAYING IN HUMILITY
When God helps us in our doubts and fears, and restores us to rightful fellowship with Him - if we are truly His - the response should be complete and total humility.  We see in the Bible that God resists the Proud, but gives Grace to the Humble ( Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).  It behooves the praying Christian to not only remember this but to operate in this paradigm forever! 

The world will not get the Grace we receive until it gets rid of the pride which brought the downfall of Satan before Creation. This is important to note as we just passed the midway point, during this crucial time for the destiny of this country, and as we pray not just FOR our Families, Children, Community and Nation, but against the propagation of evil and anything anathema to the Word of the Lord.

I love what EM Bounds said about Humility (in prayer) at three different times:
Humility is realizing our unworthiness....(it is) the feeling and declaring of ourselves as sinners because we ARE sinners.
Humility springs from a lowly estimate of ourselves and (what we thing we) are deserving (of).
Humility holds in its keeping, the VERY life of Prayer. Neither Pride or Vanity can pray!

Father, Abba Father, God of the Universe, in the Name of Jesus, You Who gives Grace to the Humble and turn Your Head away from the evil prideful things of this world and those who promote them, I cry out to You on behalf of those who are not able, through lack of understanding and/or obedience, to humble themselves before You to seek Your Face in holiness and righteousness. One, may they come to a realization that pride is vanity and all perdition begins and ends because of it. May they come to a realization that we must be like our Humble Savior, Who was born in a lowly cold, dark and dirty cave in Bethlehem....Who never had a home or place to sleep during those three years of ministry....Whose possessions were those He wore....Who, even though He was and is the King, came riding into Jerusalem as we behold Him riding on a donkey. What Humility! Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Help us to be more like Him, more Christlike, as we seek Your attention in our hour of need, in these dark days...the days which for sure are only about the material and temporal, but which have significant meaning for the type of people and nation our families grow up in; or in which we minister the Gospel to others who see only the natural and NOT the Supernatural things of God, our Father. Lord, we know what Pride can bring - all kinds of disaster - if we buy into all the things the world, the flesh and the devil try to sell, so now, touch our hearts, minds, body and soul for Jesus and therefore, for others, as we pray for a future of peace, less anxiety and more Faith and Trust, on behalf of our families and friends, in Jesus' Holy Name, amen and amen!

(image courtesy Beinspirashion.com)

Saturday, October 20, 2012

DAY 22/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA


AMERICA OFF BALANCE, PART 3
BELIEVE OR NOT
Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." Mark 9:24

We have been hitting the current weak state of American Christianity pretty hard for a while, as part of the reason inside the church looks like the outside. It is also the reason why people come to church, sing "Just As I am" and then leave just as they were.

The bottom line is Faith. We, who are called by His Name (i.e. Christians) either believe Him or not.  We either believe EVERY Word He said, or we believe none of it. We can't be half in. In fact, if we are half in, we're 100% OUT!!! Yes! Here is what Jesus said about those like that, in Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."

Father, in the Name of Jesus,  You have called us to be Your children, we who have repented and but our trust in the Savior as our Lord and Master. Lord we all have doubts and fears and even anxiety about this or that, and especially these days, about our own children's future. But Lord, help us in these times, to stand strong in our Faith in You. We have all the Grace and Indwelling on Your Spirit we are going to get. So Lord, give us the wisdom to recognize, prioritize and then exercise that Truth, which brings understanding and ultimately sweet victory in Jesus! Those who are wise will arise and shine, but those who are doubting all the time or weak in their faith or seeking...Lord help us to reach out to them. Help us to love them to Jesus. If some still refuse to be fully submitted to Thee, my God and my King, help their unbelief and let them know the danger of walking or attempting to walk in two different worlds - Yours and the other one. Thank You for Faith, for the ability to believe and the distinct calling to follow Jesus, and it is in the Name of the Christ I  pray, amen.

(image by google)



Friday, October 19, 2012

DAY 21/40 DAYS OF PRAYER

AMERICA OFF BALANCE, PART 2
WE NEED A JONAH IN NINEVEH MOMENT!
Our lovely and extremely polite neighbors to the North - Canada - is in just a perilous spiritual shape as we are here in the United States. The good news, that even with the entire North American continent off balance, all of this can be corrected. Just like the ancient biblical city of Nineveh (now called Mosul, Iraq), we too can be delivered - practical atheists and true believers.

Ninevah in the time of Jonah was an evil and mean city, which all the Jews hated. It was as Iran is today. Yet, God sent the disobedient and racist prophet Jonah, who was a saved man, by the way, to preach Repentance and the Good news to them. Every one from the King of Nineveh turned from evil and were spared/saved from Judgment by God.

We pick up the story here from (Jonah 3 ESV)

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Heavenly Father, we thank Thee that Thou are a merciful, kind, loving and compassionate God Who does not give us what we deserve, but gives us Grace instead. Help us now to grasp the meaning of what happened in Nineveh when the entire city/state heard the Word of the Lord, realized their sins; were cut to the very core and sat down in sackcloth and ashes at the sheer magnitude of it.

Father, our sins have risen to Your Holy Presence and they are a foul odor to Thee. We have broken every one of Your commandments and think nothing of it. We allow the world to dilute, distract and disgrace Your message and say nothing about it. We go along merrily thinking it will all work out in the end, when Your Word says differently. Send from among us, men like Jonah or Billy Sunday or David Wilkerson or Billy Graham, who will speak bluntly and touch hearts that many will be convicted like the great people of Nineveh in this passage from Jonah 3. Lord, I noticed the King was the first one to realize his people's sins against you and led the prayer and fasting in Repentance. 


We don't have leaders of courage, conviction and boldness in any arena, including the church. So, raise up Godly leaders from among the people, men who will lead a movement of God, who will inspire a people to turn to You, not through glitz and Pepsodent smiles on the TV or smooth talk, but men who will follow You explicitly like the King of Nineveh. Father, we lift up our hearts, our hands and our hard heads to be touched by You and softened by the Grace and Love of Your dear Son, and it is in His Name, the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.

(image by google - thegospelmatters.com)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

DAY 20/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

AMERICA OFF BALANCE
Part 1
If you asked the majority of Americans, they will all call themselves Christians. That is only because it is the decent thing to do. Even those who blaspheme God and deny the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior and would never darken the church door unless it was for a wedding or a funeral, want to be considered Christians. Most of them are decent, hardworking citizens who would not harm a fly. They use the title or word "Christian" to define themselves, as if it were a label (like conservative or liberal).

They are the nice librarians in our towns. They are the little old ladies picking up prescriptions at Walgreens. They are the guys down at the mechanic shop changing our oil. They are even the newspaper reporter in most small town dailies. They are the politicians from the lowest to the highest office who find God and Flag a few months before November every two or four years. These elected (or wanna-be-elected) people even show up in inner-city pulpits preaching things which are not in the bible, like "social gospel" and class warfare, but which sound good to the people whose votes are the only thing they care about every election season. You get the picture. This is America now, and has been this way for over 100 years.

To evangelists like my friends and I, this is the worse mission field to be in, yet this is the one God has called us to! If it were easy, it would be worth nothing! Trying to show, in love, the Truth to folks who hardly even honor God with their mouths and whose hearts are far from Him, is like the camel going through the eye of a needle. Yet, we press on, pray on and pray UP, for them. We know the Truth of the Gospel and the cost to those who reject it and do not want others to go to eternal punishment in hell. Yet day after day, year after year, people make the wrong choice for their eternal souls. Spiritual confusion reigns on purpose, because of stupid seminaries pumping out pastors who have no passion for the lost, prayer or evangelism and the counter act from the Culture, which is willing to let those guys slide out of seminaries and live ineffective lives managing something called churches - from the ineffective rocking and rolling megachurch to the 40 member one in the nearby strip-mall. We are a nation of practical atheism.

America's practical atheism is practiced year round except at Christmas and Easter, where not even then, do people catch the true meaning of these things. By the way, practical atheism, in short, describe people who say they believe in God and live as if He does not exists. Over the next several days, we will get into what it means to be the opposite as we pray for a people who are both giving up and losing their Religious Liberty, without even knowing it! This is how the enemy operated from the moment man was created and how he will destroy the people of God.

So Father, in the Name of Jesus, from the time Eve believed the lie of the serpent until the end of time, mankind has rebelled against You and yet claimed to be honoring You. And then, like ancient Israel, we have disregarded Your Law, Your Word and Your Son, and worshiped the idols of wealth, prosperity, self and celebrity, while claiming to be Your people - Christians. You sent the prophet Jeremiah to preach against the false prophets and kings who kept secret pagan idols close to them, knowing You are the Real and Only and jealous God You are. 

Father, we pray for those who are making the same mistakes today, in every level of society in our towns, cities and states. We pray for governors and doormen; for cab drivers and cashiers; for teachers and cooks; for politicians and crooks; for car salesmen or lawyers or even preachers ....all of those who have ignored Your Word and are letting the most precious thing in life ever - the Salvation of many and the freedom to worship You - slip away. Just as Jehoiakin and others blindly followed the devil and let Nebuchadrezzar II run over Jerusalem (according to Your plan to punish the sins of Judah), America is in the balance now - not just by the people who threaten the preaching and teaching and the freeing power of the Gospel of Grace, but by those who sit idly by, letting it happen. We pray those people up to You, that they will obey You and have a Nebuchadrezzar moment which will give them the choice to change and look up to You, knowing that the alternative is devastating. 

Father, we cry out for mercy, compassion and forgiveness....forgive those of us who also stood by, including me, and watched some of it happen....no more, oh God, as we see the Day coming, no more will we stand around but will get going to reach as many as possible, while there is still life and breath in our bodies and it is in the Mighty Name of Jesus, we lift this up to You, amen.


(image by google)

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

DAY 19/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

TYNDALE PERSECUTED AGAIN - 500 YEARS LATER!
PART 2

Jesus said in John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The word Tribulation comes from the Latin word "tribulare" which means to face distress,  suffering and/or persecution. Jesus knew all about persecution and hate, affliction and evil from the evil religious men of Jerusalem, 2000 years ago. Since they executed Him on the Cross and everyone of His Disciples, except John, all true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ have faced some form of persecution over the almost 2000 years since Calvary. 

What happened to William Tyndale is not unique. The governing authorities wanted to keep the hoi-polloi in the dark about just how liberating and full of Grace the True Gospel of Christ was and is. To maintain their wrongfully acquired stranglehold over the souls of millions, they had to force their will and withhold the Scriptures from the people by adding rule on rule, rule on rule, a little here, a lot over there, a tradition here, a ritual over there....until church became what Christ IS NOT! Church became a burden and a force as oppressing as the state. William Tyndale was executed and burnt at the stake in 1536 and the only crime he committed was to translate the Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek, so that anyone could read it!

Fast forward to 2012. Tyndale House are the great worldwide publishers of the Bible from Carol Stream, Illinois. They publish the popular New Living Translation of the Bible, which is quoted as much as Crossway's English Standard Version in this blog, almost daily. Tyndale also publishes numerous well known Christian books and authors like Randy Alcorn and Coach Tony Dungy.

This past year, the publishers of the Bible - Tyndale - the Word of God - has been ordered by the state, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to start paying for the contraceptives of its employees as part of their health insurance package. What is even more ungodly in this mandate, is the order to cover pre-abortion pills in this contraception package! This is not some third world country doing this - this is the United States of America, which was founded on Religious Liberty! Caesar is now telling Christian employers to obey Caesar rather than God, according to the brief being filed in court by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

The ACLJ said “Thus, the Mandate presents all Christian employers with a stark choice: obey Caesar, or obey Christ.”....The HHS Mandate, by requiring people of faith to provide abortion-pill coverage, “imposes a substantial burden on [their] free exercise of religion by coercing [them] to choose between conducting their business in accordance with their religious beliefs or paying substantial penalties to the government." They also said "Both the Constitution and federal law, through the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), prohibit the government from infringing upon that most sacred right of religious liberty that we have all been endowed with by our Creator".

More will be written and discussed about this as more and more Christian leaders speak up against this unconstitutional mandate, from a government which claims to be run by Christians. Tomorrow we will examine what a real Christian is and how we should pray for leaders of any country, including those who violate God's Word, His Statutes and commands. 

Father in the Strong and Mighty Name of Jesus, we thank You that YOU and YOU alone oh God, are the Judge of all the earth. You run the only Supreme Court in Heaven, which will have the final say on all the affairs of man, from creation to the end of time. I thank You that You gave us Grace and Mercy and Compassion, which never falls because Great is Thy Faithfulness to us, from everlasting to everlasting. Thou and Thou alone are worthy of all praise, not Caesar or any system of man devised as corruptly as the institutions of man - from the church that killed all the prophets and saints to those who persecute Your saints in countries around the world, in these last days. We pray for those who are telling publishers of Your Word, that they must pay for pills that could potentially end the precious life You create or else, in direct violation of Religious Conscience and the Word of God. We pray for their salvation and for a change of heart, at higher levels,  knowing that You judge righteously and mercifully, according to our deeds and our standing in Christ. Thank You, and bless Your Holy Name, oh Commander of God's Courtroom, in Jesus' Name, amen.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DAY 18/40 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR AMERICA

TYNDALE PERSECUTED AGAIN - 500 YEARS LATER!
PART 1
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10 ESV)
If you have ever seen, read or known of a New Testament in English, you have seen the work of the great William Tyndale! Tyndale grew up in the dark ages of 15th Century England where the poor masses knew nothing of the richness of the Word of God, except what the Roman church wanted them to hear at Sunday mass. It was a time when the institutional Roman church and its hierarchy were supreme to the Christ Himself Whom they said they honored.

It was against this backdrop that Tyndale knew the Lord had called him to translate the Word from Hebrew and Greek into the common man's language. Like Luther, Tyndale had been convicted by the Book of Romans unto Salvation and argued incessantly, until the church authorities....just like the pharisees before them....decided he must be stopped!  Translating the Bible into English was against the Law and the Church edicts. But time and progress were beginning to leave those people behind. The great Reformer Martin Luther was already making use of the Printing Press and Tyndale found willing friends on the European continent to which he escaped and kept on the run, while printing copies of the Bible in English!

In this shortened description of the Work of Tyndale, we see some of the great names of western civilization - Cardinal Woolsey; Thomas More and Henry VIII - all conspiring to shut down the spread of the Gospel to God's people, in order to protect their corrupt institutional interests. Yet, even though they persecuted, then burnt Tyndale at the stake for the cooked up crime of heresy at the young age of 42, these people could not stop the work begun by Tyndale. God wanted His Word taken to the people and used Tyndale's associates to accomplish it.

Tyndale's last words, before the executioner strangled him for saying them were "Lord, open the eyes of the King of England"! So said, so done. King Henry the Eight had the first complete bible in English - the GREAT BIBLE - translated, using most of Tyndale's scholarship, so that it could be read in English across England! This Tyndale influenced and based Bible, was the fuel of the Reformation and the Geneva Bible. Then later on, the evil King James of England realized he could not stop these translations anymore. He too eventually authorized what we call the Authorized King James Version (KJV) of the Bible in 1604. When it was completely translated into the English language of the time, it became known as the 1611 Authorized KJV.

It was the vision, obedience, boldness and determination to follow the true interpretation of the Scriptures, by William Tyndale, which led to what we read today in our English translations! This burning desire to see souls saved and God's Word shared by the farmer at the plow; the blacksmith or the banker is what should consume us. This pure desire, from a man who literally took up a fiery Cross and followed Christ, eventually cost him his life. Tyndale was persecuted for the Cause of Christ.

Today in America, the Name of Tyndale, the Great Bible publishers of America, is again under persecution.


Father, Heavenly Father, we thank You for men like Wycliffe, Tyndale and others who risked life, limb, freedom and family to accomplish the Acts 1:8 mission You sent them on, by refusing to back down from the proclamation of the Word of God. We thank You for giving these men, especially Tyndale, the boldness and courage to translate the pure, literal Word of God, all 66 Books, into English, which now is part of the Bible which we read today. Thank You for the Word Who became Flesh. Thank You for He, Who was in the Beginning as the Word and for His Sacrifice for us, that we may become Your sons and daughters in Eternity, in His Name, the Name of Jesus, I pray, amen.
Tomorrow:  Part 2: Tyndale suffers in 2012!

Monday, October 15, 2012

DAY 17 - CAN PRAYER SAVE AMERICA?

I know exactly what some folks are thinking - "Is this a workshop on prayer? Aren't we supposed to be praying to stop the decline of the dollar, or to stop abortion in America or this or that candidate? Why all of this, day after day?" Good question!!!

For me, being many years as an intercessor and moving "onward" as a Christian soldier, marching as to war, with the Cross of Jesus, moving on before, I know exactly what it takes for my prayer to be heard by the Lord. It is not running out there, without the proper foundation, "binding up this or that demon" or "casting those five demons" into the pit or wishing evil on those with whom we disagree. That is a recipe for personal disaster, especially if that kind of intercessor is not walking in the Light and/or leaves his/her family's flank exposed to hits from the enemy!!! I have seen that too many times in the prayer movement. The result is that many of our saints burn out after a few quixotic forays into spiritual warfare, as I just described.

The only way, is to know to Whom we're praying; why we are praying and what sort of weapon, with which to show up on the battlefield! We last looked into claiming the inheritance and power (from John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name"). We claim this by praying in Faith. This is important for Heaven to hear. Faith crowns our relationship with Jesus, the God Man Who is our Savior. So therefore, starting this week, we get into the heat of the battle. 


Starting tomorrow, we address the issue of Religious Liberty, and the war against it, here in the US and elsewhere. So Father, in the Name of Jesus, thank You for giving us this Day which You have made and we completely rejoice in the Fact that You have empowered us with Your Authority, as children of God, to represent You, to worship You and to come to You with our petitions and requests for any issue on our earth. Our desire is to glorify Your Name by helping others through our actions, good works and prayers and to pray for Your intervention in these things which have been corrupting our nation or Your work - whether it is some politician telling a church body in America they have to pay for abortive pills or some murderous outfit like Marie Stopes starting abortion clinics in Belfast or the decadence on our TV screens - Lord we live to serve and obey You and thank You that You hear us, when we approach the Throne of Grace in the Spirit of Holiness, Faith and Trust and we ask this in the Strong and Mighty Name of Jesus, amen and amen.