Author: John Page 135 of 166

Isaiah 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

Francis Scott Key’s poem, inspired by the sight of the American flag waving over Fort McHenry after intense bombing, was almost immediately distributed to the public.  The first printing was made on September 17th, 1814, with the first publication a few days later.  What is lesser known today is that this poem and our current National Anthem contains not just one, but four stanzas.  Indeed, the fourth stanza poignantly reminds us of the pervasive faithfulness of our founders:

“Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Time and again, we have been a “heaven-rescued land.”  As our founders did, we must recognize that “the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation” is worthy of our praise.  Above all, we must embrace the motto that “In God is our trust.”  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICANS WOULD RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO FULLY TRUST IN THE ONE WHO HAS EVERLASTING STRENGTH.  Perfect peace awaits those who do.

Isaiah 26:1-2 “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.  Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.”

On the morning of September 14th, 1814, those who woke up in the city of Baltimore were unsure of what they would see as they looked toward Fort McHenry.  That fort, and its strategic position that played a pivotal role in keeping the British out of Baltimore’s inner harbor, had been under heavy attack for over 24 hours from the guns of powerful British warships.  As Baltimore’s citizens awoke on that morning, engulfed in a battle for national survival only 25 years removed from birth under the Constitution, they saw a beautiful sight.  The American flag was waving over Fort McHenry, and while the soldiers therein were battle weary they had not been defeated.

Francis Scott Key, imprisoned during those days on a British warship, saw the same glorious sight on that tumultuous morning.  The flag waving over Fort McHenry inspired him to pen the words of our National Anthem.  Those patriots, trusting in the Lord and in the nation’s Biblical foundation, prevailed on that day.

America had won an important battle, and the strong city of Baltimore remained in American hands.  Our fledgling nation paid a heavy price during the War of 1812 that ended only a few months later, but it had withstood a major test of its Christ-based resiliency.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICA, BY TRUSTING FULLY IN THE LORD, WOULD REMAIN THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.  May we never wake up some morning to find that our Christ-based foundation has disappeared, no longer waving as a sign and the source of our resiliency.

Galatians 1:23-24 “But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.  And they glorified God in me.”

It is easy to despair when we hear stories of persecution.  Whether in our land or on some foreign field, institutionalized intolerance seems insurmountable.  In the face of such situations, we feel powerless.  In many cases, we are.  Fortunately God is not, and our powerlessness should drive us to Him in prayer.

One of the most notable persecutors of the church in the First Century was Saul.  Yet, through the Lord’s power the strictest persecutor became the strongest preacher to God’s glory.  The one who once destroyed the faith became dedicated to the faith.  The one who persecuted others for their faith eventually was persecuted by others for that same faith.

God can turn around any situation, and whether it is persecution at home or abroad, He is the one to whom we should turn.  PLEASE PRAY FOR GOD TO MIRACULOUSLY ELIMINATE SITUATIONS OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN OUR WORLD AND IN OUR LAND.  The things in times past will not necessarily dictate the future when God is involved.

I Corinthians 12:26 “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

As I make observations during my first month in Washington DC and before I begin a series of posts related to the upcoming election, one thought has struck me about the state of Christianity in our world today.  We are under attack.  Whether it is across the globe or around the block, the name of our Saviour is increasingly unwelcome.

In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).  With wording that brings to mind the Free Exercise Clause of our Constitution’s Bill of Rights, Article 18 of the UDHR states:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

In practice, however, these rights are far from universal; they are at risk even in the United States.  In over 40 countries, Christians are actively persecuted by their governments.  While Christians in Syria and Iraq are currently in the news, over 100 million fellow believers worldwide face regular and severe opposition because of their faith in Christ.  While we are rightfully concerned about the increasing intolerance of Christianity in our country, these brothers and sisters in Christ are truly suffering and deserve our prayers.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FOR THEIR FAITH.  Through our prayerful support, we should suffer alongside them.  We should also urge our government to support them via the universal declaration that is so frequently ignored, while not forgetting to abide by such rights at home.

I Timothy 5:17-18 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.  And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

As America needs pastors who preach sound doctrine with longsuffering, we must encourage them to continue doing so.  They should be encouraged by our words of support, our generosity, and our faithfulness.  They should be encouraged by our attendance and our notes of appreciation.  They should be encouraged by our faithful prayers.

We should pray for their faithfulness.  We should pray for their wisdom.  We should pray for their longevity.  We should pray for their well-being.  We should pray for their families.  We should pray for their passion.  We should pray for their leadership.  We should pray for their doctrine.  We should pray for their determination to overcome challenges.

Faithful pastors are worthy of our double honour as they labour in the Word and in doctrine.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD ENCOURAGE FAITHFUL PASTORS AS THEY PREACH THE WORD TO A NEEDY NATION.  If we are to have hope that national transformation will start from the pulpits of our church houses, then we need those pulpits filled with men who are as encouraged as they are determined to make an impact for Christ.