Month: April 2015

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

II Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

On occasion I venture away from my normal routine and spend time with the Lord praying for our nation at special locations. Recently, I did so at the Jefferson Memorial. Before my time of prayer, I marveled at several of the Jeffersonian quotes engraved in marble that make the Memorial so poignant. The next few PLUS posts will focus on these quotes and their spiritual and national applications for us today.

The first engraving to consider was from the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson and the Founding Fathers wrote:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men.”

This single sentence contains immeasurable Biblical truth and provides an unshakable reminder of the Christian faith of our founders. These truths include:

• God created man and created us equal
• Our rights are given by God and not by governments
• Our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are gifts from God
• Governments are instituted to secure the rights given by God

Wow! This sentence, enshrined in our founding document, leaves us with much to consider. Our national forgetfulness about these truths leaves us with much for which to pray. PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICA TO RETURN TO THE SELF-EVIDENT BIBLICAL TRUTHS THAT PROMPTED THE FORMATION OF OUR NATION. The only way our rights can be inalienable is if we recognize the One who gives them to us.

NOTE: Please read this prior post for related thoughts: https://prayatlunch.us/self-evident/

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

There are several other aspects of this verse and my experience at Capitol Connection 2015 (http://awakeamericaonline.org/main.html) that continue to resonate with me.

First, it is a reminder that our righteous leaders need our encouragement. As a leader in the Republican Party said during the conference: we can only be as strong on moral issues as Pastors will be from the pulpits on Sunday mornings. Based on his intent, this can be more broadly interpreted to mean the following:

• We need the support of Christians who will stand strong alongside of us
• We cannot make change alone without the righteous standing with us
• We cannot be the only ones who are bucking the trend of secularism

We must vote for them, pray for them, and speak out with them.

Second, it is a reminder that the political and legislative processes matter – they matter a lot:

• Elections matter – we rejoice or mourn based on the character of the ones who are in office.
• Candidates matter – we must foster an environment for the right candidates to emerge so that we have a righteous option come election time.
• Legislative sessions matter – democracy is far more than simply voting once every two years. It demands that we are involved and engaged throughout the year, encouraging those who stand for right and checking those who stand for wrong.
• Prayer matters – every part of the political process must be bathed in prayer, from the cultivation of candidates through the consideration of legislation.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES. If we are not, then we shouldn’t be surprised when what matters in this nation is controlled by those who would oppose us and the cause of Christ.

See this prior post for other thoughts on Proverbs 29:2:  https://prayatlunch.us/an-election-mandate/

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”

This verse has been ringing in my head for the last two weeks since I attended Capitol Connection 2015 (http://awakeamericaonline.org/main.html). We typically linger on the latter part of this verse, but I have been lingering on the beginning part. There is reason for hopeful rejoicing in America.

During this meeting, 17 United States Senators and United States Representatives spoke to us. These men and women in authority took time out of their very busy legislative session to address the crowd of Christians representing each state of the Union. They spoke on the importance of Bible-based principles. They spoke of a need to return to our Christian foundation. They spoke about the need for strong moral stances. They spoke with open Christian testimonies. They spoke quoting the Bible. They spoke of Christ. They lead old time hymns.

They asked for our prayers!

Christ is working in America. In spite of the daunting challenges we are facing, I am convinced that the tide is turning back towards our founding principles. Maybe it is based on the power of prayer. Maybe it is based on a resurgence of conservative principles. Maybe it is based on a backlash against secularism. Maybe it is the result of all three.

Regardless of the reason, our hopeful rejoicing should encourage us and motivate us. It should strengthen our stand for Christ. It should reinforce our determination to pray for our nation and our leaders.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NATION AND ITS LEADERS WITH HOPEFUL REJOICING.   Those in authority have asked us to do so. We must!

Joel 2:12-13 “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

Are American Christians really concerned about the direction of our nation or do we just enjoy complaining about our nation’s drift from Christ within the safety of our social circles? The former would be accompanied by the rending of our hearts. The latter would be accompanied by a public pose akin to the rending of our garments. The former follows the Lord’s commands. The latter reinforces our public piety. The former will bring about revival. The latter will foster conditions that will further our continued drift from Christ.

Our God wants us to invest ourselves in His work in our land. He wants our hearts to pay a modest down payment before He pays off the balance. He wants us to turn to Him with all our hearts, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. If we do so, then He will demonstrate His amazing grace, mercy, patience, and kindness that will change our direction.

IF… THEN. IF we are really concerned, THEN we will act accordingly. IF we act accordingly, THEN the Lord will respond. The formula for nationwide revival is simple. Only one question remains, do we care enough to fulfill the modest conditions contained in His contingent promises? For our nation’s sake, I certainly hope so.

AS A RESPONSE TO OUR NATIONAL CONDITION, PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD REND OUR HEARTS. In a time like this, the rending our garments will simply not do.