Author: John Page 3 of 159

John 15:1-4 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abdie in me.

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.”

President-elect Abraham Lincoln provides us a powerful perspective through his farewell remarks in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois in 1861 as he departed to become our nation’s sixteenth president:

“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.”

From the Springfield Great Western Railroad Depot, Lincoln’s carefully-selected and Biblically-informed words directly mirror John 15:5. This perspective was true for him in 1861, and the same is also true for us and for our leaders today. Jesus reveals the ultimate dichotomy of impact – bearing much fruit or doing nothing: “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Specially, the same is true for President-elect Donald J. Trump who begins his next term in the coming days. As the members of President Trump’s leadership team leave their hometowns to converge upon Washington, D.C., 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, while being constantly commended through our prayers.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR NEW GOVERNMENT TO ABIDE IN CHRIST AS WE FAITHFULLY COMMEND THEM THROUGH OUR PRAYERS TO OUR ALMIGHTY GOD. Our nation desperately needs our leaders to bear much fruit.

II Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Job 23:12 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

A month ago, the Wall Street Journal published an article boldly claiming that “sales of Bibles are booming.” Indeed, the data indicates that they are, with a 22 percent increase in sales in 2024 as compared with 2023.

People are looking for something that the world does not offer, and are turning to God’s Word to find it. Christians should be poised to help parlay that interest into the life-changing truth for which the lost are searching.

Worry and anxiety are on the rise. Concerns about the economy and our chaotic world events are overflowing. People are searching for something that is truthful, reliable, and hopeful. They are right to turn to the ultimate source of truth, reliability, and hope.

The scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction – what to believe, what to not believe, how to avoid wrong, and how to do right. It gives us the pathway and roadmap to maturity, and the furnishing to serve faithfully and attractively.

It is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path, and more nourishment than our necessary food.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO BE QUICK TO PROVIDE THE ANSWER TO A QUESTIONING AND SEARCHING WORLD. “I felt something was missing” is on the lips of people all around us. God’s Word and God’s Truth are what they are looking for and what they need.

ADMIN: Please see the following article referenced in this post:

https://www.wsj.com/business/media/sales-of-bibles-are-booming-fueled-by-first-time-buyers-and-new-versions-d402460e?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1

II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”

Psalm 27:8 “When thou sadist, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.”

Psalm 105:4 “Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.”

I Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”

The 119^th Congress started their term yesterday at this tenuous time in our nation’s history. Their lawmaking activities have an oversized impact on the direction of this nation and our well-being. Yet, there is an ever-present physical reminder of their responsibility to the ultimate authority as they deliberate in the House of Representatives chamber.

As the Speaker of the House presides over the law-making activities of the lower chamber, he directly faces a depiction of the law giver – Moses – who looks down on Him and the legislative body from the upper portion of the opposite wall. In many ways, the frontal depiction of Moses is a representation of the face of God.

Seeking God’s face is a fundamental component of national revival and healing as described in II Chronicles 7:14. We aren’t just to seek His face temporarily nor occasionally. We are to seek it evermore and continually.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE 119^TH CONGRESS TO DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES WELL AND FAITHFULLY. As they make laws, may they be ever mindful of the One who gave the law. As they do and as we hold them accountable, may we all seek His face evermore and continually.

Romans 8:31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Psalm 31:15 “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.”

Matthew 16:17-18 “And Jesus answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The London Company established James Fort, also known as Jamestown, as the first permanent settlement in the New World. A rotation of guards was a necessary feature of the outpost, and their vigilance was required for the safety and security of the population. At each changing of the guard, they recited the following prayer:

“We know, O Lord, we have the devil and all the gates of Hell against us, but if Thou O Lord be on our side, we care not who be against us. And seeing by Thy motion and work in our hearts, we have left our warm nests at home, and put our lives into Thy hands, principally to honor Thy name and advance the Kingdom of Thy Son, Lord give us leave to commit our lives into Thy hands, Amen.”

These guards were wise to acknowledge the pressing and pervasive threat of the devil and the gates of Hell. Yet, they were astute in relying on the protection of the Lord whose presence would be the deciding factor in their success or failure. They had bravely and faithfully left the safety of home to put their lives into His hands in order to honor His name and advance the Kingdom of Christ.

As Christians in America stand watch today, we would be wise to acknowledge the pressing and pervasive threat of the devil and the gates of Hell. Yet, we must be astute to rely on the protection of the Lord whose presence will be the deciding factor in our success or failure. We must bravely and faithfully leave our comforts and put our lives into His hands in order to honor His name and advance the Kingdom of Christ.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO STAND WATCH FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN OUR SOCIETY WITH COURAGE, FAITH AND VIGILANCE. He is the deciding factor in our success or failure.

ADMIN: The James Fort prayer is described in “The Power of Faith” by Woodi Ishmael.

Luke 2:10-14 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Philippians 4:6-8 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Isaiah 9:2 “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1944 Christmas proclamation included the following:

“The Christmas spirit lives tonight in the bitter cold of the front lines in Europe and in the heat of the jungles and swamps of Burma and the Pacific islands. Even the roar of our bombers and fighters in the air and the guns of our ships at sea will not drown out the messages of Christmas which come to the hearts of our fighting men.”

In the midst of the chaos of World War II that was raging around the planet, President Roosevelt stressed the piercing peace of God and the prevailing power of His presence. His Spirit existed on the front lines, amidst the drowning sound of conflict, and in the beating hearts of personnel in the heat of battle. His Spirit lived on for them regardless of location or circumstance, even when surrounded by an environment of chaos and turmoil.

His Spirit does the same for us today, regardless of our location or circumstance, even when surrounded by an environment of chaos and turmoil. Fear not! Instead, embrace the gift of His good tidings of great joy. He freely offers the peace of God, which passes all understanding, and manifests a great light in the darkness.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD ALLOW THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TO COMFORT AND CONSUME US DURING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON. The Christmas Spirit lives as we serve on the front lines for Him.