Author: John Page 128 of 166

John 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

As President-elect Abraham Lincoln was on the verge of leaving his hometown of Springfield, Illinois for Washington DC in 1861, he spoke the following words in what is now known as his Farewell Address:

“My friends — No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe every thing. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”

Lincoln’s words from the Springfield Great Western Railroad Depot directly mirror John 15:5. He recognized that with the Lord he would not fail; indeed, with God he would bring forth much fruit. He also recognized that without the Lord he could not succeed; indeed, without God he could do nothing. Lincoln recognized that the same was true for George Washington as well. The same is true for us and for our leaders today.

Specially, the same is true for the 114^th Congress that begins their legislative term this week. As they leave their hometowns to converge upon Washington DC, they must heed the Biblical wisdom recited by Lincoln as he began his first term. In order to thrive, they must develop and maintain a constant connection to Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE 114^th CONGRESS TO ABIDE IN CHRIST. After all, our nation needs them to bear much fruit.

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

As we approach another year, and find our nation continuing to drift away from its Bible-based foundation, it is easy to be troubled. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see around us in our secular culture. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see in government. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see in entertainment. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see in the courts. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see in our schools. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see in our communities. It is easy for Christians to be troubled by what we see in the media.

Yet, there are reasons to be encouraged. Even in recent days, we have seen victories coming from the voting booths. We have seen victories coming from the courts. Most importantly, we have the ultimate of reasons to be encouraged and not to be troubled. God is still the Lord. Jesus is still the Saviour. If we fully believe in their power and love, then going into 2015 we may be dismayed by our culture but should not be troubled.

AS WE ENTER 2015, PLEASE PRAY FOR BELIEF THAT RELIEVES THE TROUBLE OF OUR HEARTS. Have a blessed New Year!

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Please see this previous post for General Washington’s address to his troops in the waning hours of 1776:
https://prayatlunch.us/engage-anew/

Psalm 84:12 “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.”

As a theme for the PLUS ministry in 2014, and as a personal focus throughout the year, it is fitting to end the year the way I began it – with an emphasis on trust.

American Christians should desire the Lord’s blessings. Furthermore, we should humbly expect to be overwhelmed by His blessings. We should desire and humbly expect spiritual blessings. We should desire and humbly expect temporal blessings. We should desire and humbly expect relational blessings. We should desire and humbly expect familial blessings. We should desire and humbly expect vocational blessings. We should desire and humbly expect communal blessings. We should desire and humbly expect national blessings.

We should desire and humbly expect blessings of all magnitudes. We should desire and humbly expect blessings in all areas.

We should desire and humbly expect blessings throughout our lives. We should desire and humbly expect blessings throughout the year.

There is only One to whom we should turn to bring these desires and expectations to fruition. There is only One in whom we should place our trust. PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS IN 2015 WOULD DISCOVER THE BLESSINGS OF A PROPERLY PLACED TRUST. The Lord of hosts stands ready to meet our desires and humble expectations.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Please see these previous posts on the 2014 PLUS ministry focus on trust:
https://prayatlunch.us/all-thine-heart/
https://prayatlunch.us/unsearchable/

Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

American culture is trending towards eliminating Jesus from all consideration. We are told that our ‘tolerant’ society no longer has room for Him. We are making no room for Him in our governments, in our schools, in our communities, and in our courtrooms. Some who call themselves Christians have even made no room for Him in their families and in their churches.

Making no room for Jesus is not new. In fact, throughout His life Jesus found that there was no room for Him. There was no room for Him as He was born on that Bethlehem night – “there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). There was no room for Him among the Jews – “his own received Him not” (John 1:11). There was no room for Him among His neighbors – “no prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4:24). There was no room for Him among His family and friends – “a prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4). There was no room for Him as the crowd chanted “crucify him, crucify him” (Luke 23:21).

Yet, in spite of a society that had no room for Jesus, he made a monumental impact – an impact that influenced His society then; our society now; and eternity past, present, and future. He made an impact regardless of the lack of room society had afforded Him; He made an impact because of the truths contained in the mere mention of His name. That name has the same power today to make an impact, which is why it is so hated by the world.

Society may make no room for your testimony. Society may make no room for your witness. Yet, each can make a great impact regardless of whether the world will afford you room for either.

PLEASE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD MAKE ROOM IN YOUR LIFE FOR JESUS, AND THAT YOUR WITNESS AND TESTIMONY WOULD IMPACT OUR WORLD. The name of Jesus has amazing power, regardless of whether the world makes room for it. Have a blessed Christmas!

ADMIN NOTE:

Please continue to share the PLUS ministry with others to magnify its impact. More than ever, we need to make room for Jesus in this land. Also, in order to receive an email of each PLUS post, please input your email address in the lower right corner of https://prayatlunch.us

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

It is appropriate for Christians to joyously celebrate Jesus’ birth, the amazing anniversary of ‘God with us.’ He arrived humbly on that Bethlehem night to be with us. Our amazing Saviour – Emmanuel – was born into our sin-filled world that first Christmas Day to redeem those who put their full faith in Him. What a marvelous gift to humanity!

While it is amazing that upon His birth He was ‘God with us,’ it is equally miraculous that God is with us today. He is with us when we pray; He is with us when we witness; He is with us when we work; He is with us when we study; He is with us when we fellowship; He is with us when we minister; He is with us when we labor. He is with us when we stumble, struggle, and succeed.

He is with us as we strive against the secular forces of American culture. He is with us even as we find it more difficult to recognize the nation’s Christian foundation. Emmanuel, as His name suggests, is with us always.

PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD CLING TO GOD’S CONTINUOUS PRESENCE. God is with us, and Jesus’ birth should remind us not just of that miraculous day in Bethlehem, but of His miraculous daily presence. Both give us hope, even in the darkest of circumstances.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Please see this previous post for President Reagan’s 1981 Christmas Eve message: https://prayatlunch.us/made-flesh/
Please see this previous post for thoughts on the humility of our Saviour’s birth: https://prayatlunch.us/likeness-of-men/