Author: John Page 161 of 166

Thomas Nelson Jr. played a large role in the colonist victory during the American Revolutionary War, and did so while demonstrating a wonderful appreciation of responsibilities over rights.  As a General in the Virginia Militia, Governor of Virginia, member of the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, this man born of privilege selflessly invested his inheritance in the wonderful concepts of a fledgling America.

General Nelson was directly involved in the final siege during the Battle of Yorktown, his hometown.  According to legend, Nelson urged General Washington (or Lafayette in some accounts) to fire artillery on his own home, which at the time was being used as the headquarters of British General Cornwallis.  While this self-sacrificing action combined with other losses experienced during the war caused him financial ruin, his character remained solidly intact.

During a fitting tribute paid to him upon his death, the following was said of this true patriot:

“As a man, a citizen, a legislator, and a patriot, he exhibited a conduct untarnished and undebased by sordid or selfish interest, and strongly marked with the genuine characteristics of true religion, sound benevolence, and liberal policy. Entertaining the most ardent love for civil and religious liberty, he was among the first of that glorious band of patriots whose exertions dashed and defeated the machinations of British tyranny, and gave United America freedom and independent empire.”

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN LEADERS OF TODAY WOULD EXHIBIT CONDUCT UNTARNISHED AND UNDEBASED BY SORDID OR SELFISH INTEREST.

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

American Christians, in line with the culture around us, seem to be adamant about our rights and ambivalent about our responsibilities.  We cling to our rights to live like the world, and ignore our responsibilities to impact the world.  We cling to our rights to be served, and ignore our responsibilities to serve others.  We cling to our rights to spend time on our own priorities, and ignore our responsibilities to invest time in God’s priorities.  We cling to our rights to complain about our country, and ignore our responsibilities to pray for our country.

If Christ had so clung to His rights while walking this earth, would He have ever taken on the responsibility to save us?

Properly appreciated liberty demands precisely applied responsibility.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD SELFLESSLY SHOULDER OUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITIES RATHER THAN SELFISHLY SQUABLING OVER OUR WORLD-WELCOMED RIGHTS.  It is right to liberally pursue our responsibilities while limitedly pursuing our rights.

Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

Several years ago, we were driving down the road listening to Christian hymns.  At some point on the drive, we heard a loud “No!” from the backseat.  Assuming it was a standard sibling spat, we ignored it.  A short while later, we heard the same thing.  This time, we turned around to investigate.  Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, we ignored it again.  The third “No!” finally demanded parental action.  We turned to our oldest daughter, then five years old, and asked what was bothering her.  She responded that it was the song’s fault – an interesting answer.  Indeed, she had been responding to the rhetorical question in the song, Is Anything Too Hard For God? and defiantly answering “No!”

She was right; nothing is too hard for God.  With this firm doctrinal truth in mind, nothing should prevent us from begging the Lord for intervention in our land.  PLEASE PRAY WITH A FIRM SPIRIT OF BELIEF THAT NATIONAL HEALING IS EASILY WITHIN THE LORD’S REACH.  To a spirit of resignation that discounts the Lord’s power, we should firmly say “No!”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

There are a variety of possibilities that would explain the lack of fervent prayer by American Christians for our nation.  Each is unpalatable, and may suggest a vast divide between our prevailing faith and a pleasing faith.

The first possibility speaks volumes about our dismal level of care and concern for our country.  Maybe we have given up regularly praying for America because we do not believe that our nation is worth our prayers.  In this way, we have resigned ourselves to the future being worse than the present and far worse than the past.

The second and third possibilities speak volumes about our meager level of faith in Christ.  Maybe we have given up regularly praying for America because we do not believe that the Lord is powerful enough to change our land.  In this way, we demonstrate an acute lack of belief “that he is,” clinging instead to a lifeless deity.  Alternatively, maybe we have given up regularly praying for America because we do not believe that the Lord cares enough to consider our prayerful petitions.  In this way, we doubt that the Lord is a loving God, discounting Him as a “rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Any of the three possibilities by itself, or any combination thereof, would logically lead to the situation that we find ourselves in as a nation.  PLEASE PRAY FOR A NATIONAL-LEVEL FAITH THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD.  Without such faith, it is impossible to envision our nation returning to the Lord; without such faith, it is impossible to please God.

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

I have PLUSed in 11 states since feeling this call to ministry over four months ago.  I have taken specific time out of every workday during this period to pray for our nation.  The state total would be 12 if you count the time I was able to PLUS on board a B-52 over an additional state (don’t worry, I was not at the controls at the time).  Regardless of the total, I am especially sensitive to the call to prayer when I am traveling.  My hopeful prayer in each state is that the Christians in that state would be the ones whose faithfulness would spur a nationwide revival.

The Lord has ignited American revival in a variety of ways throughout our nation’s history.  It has been spread through pastors and itinerant preachers.  It has been promulgated by businessmen and slaves.  It has originated in rural New England and urban Manhattan.  It has thrived on the frontier and in the cities.  It has crossed the boundaries of states and nations.  It has transcended congregations and denominations.  There is no reason that God cannot do the same today.

Your faithfulness and the faithfulness of Christians in your state may be the next trigger for a nationwide revival.  PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WOULD ALLOW YOU TO BE A PART OF A REVIVAL THAT SWEEPS THE NATION.  It would just take a spark of concentrated faithfulness to ignite such a fabulous blaze.