Author: John Page 73 of 166

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:  that whether I come and see you or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

In July of 1932, 20,000 World War I veterans gathered in Washington DC to demand the immediate payment of delayed bonuses from their service during the Great War.  These veterans set up a community of tents and huts in two locations in our nation’s capital, the first in a location on Pennsylvania Avenue to the east of the Capitol, and the second in an open space on the southeast side of the river at a place called Anacostia Flats.

On July 28^th, 1932, General Douglas MacArthur accompanied by Major Dwight D. Eisenhower and Major George C. Patton assembled military forces to move against these veterans who were not much different than themselves in order to remove them from our nation’s capital.  They did so with great violence and strife.  Soldiers on horseback and armed with sabers stabbed those in their way.  Infantry forces armed with tear gas and torches dispersed the crowd and burned their lodgings to the ground.  Tanks rolled against these unarmed veterans, crushing their remaining huts and shacks.  It was a military rout, with current military members dismantling and destroying those heroes who had fought so valiantly only a generation before.  It was a dark day for America when there were plenty of real enemies that should have been the focus of our forces.

Far too often, Christians move against other Christians who aren’t much different than themselves, sometimes with great violence and strife.  We metaphorically stab those in our way.  We disperse the crowds and burn their lodgings to the ground.  Our tanks roll against our unarmed veterans, crushing them.  Each time this happens, it is a dark day for the cause of Christ when there are plenty of real enemies that should be the focus of our forces.

PLEASE PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA IN ORDER TO PROPERLY OPPOSE OUR REAL ADVERSARY.  We must strive together for the faith of the gospel!

II Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”

I Corinthians 4:7 “For who maketh thee to differ from another?  And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?  Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

This past week, I was honored, humbled and blessed to pin on the rank of Brigadier General.  Though I had been selected for promotion several months ago, this week was finally the time to enact the promotion based on the starting of a new job with greater levels of responsibility.  I have to admit, looking over at the single star on each shoulder still takes my breath away.

Throughout this season of promotion, the two Bible verses above continued to ring through my head. I am not sufficient of myself.  My sufficiency is fully from God. Everything I have, I received from Him. I must never glory in myself and instead must only glory in Him.  The moment I forget these important truths is the moment that I shift into the status of an eroding life that lacks potency and sufficiency.

The same is true for our churches.  We are not sufficient of ourselves.  Our sufficiency is fully from God.  Everything we have, we received from Him.  We must never glory in ourselves and instead must only glory in Him.  The moment we forget these important truths is the moment that we shift into the status of an eroding institution that lacks potency and sufficiency.

The same is also true for us as a nation.  We are not sufficient of ourselves.  Our sufficiency is fully from God.  Everything we have, we received from Him.  We must never glory in ourselves and instead must only glory in Him.  The moment we forget these important truths is the moment that we shift into the status of an eroding nation that lacks potency and sufficiency.

PLEASE PRAY THAT WE HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S CENTRALITY IN ALL THAT WE HAVE.  We must not accept lives, institutions, and a nation that lack potency and sufficiency.

II Timothy 2:3-4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

In the same General Order in which General Washington directed the reading of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Army (see previous post), he ordered the following:

“The Honorable Continental Congress having been pleased to allow a Chaplain to each Regiment, with the pay of Thirty-three Dollars and one third per month – The Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains accordingly; persons of good Characters and exemplary lives – To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises: The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger—The General hopes and trusts, that every officer, and man, will endeavour so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.”

General Washington knew that God must be involved if the American revolutionary cause was going to be successful, and that Christian leaders were necessary to direct our soldiers towards the Lord.

Washington knew that God must be involved for success in any endeavor.  After all, “the blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary.”  As an addition, Washington provided an important qualifier – the necessity of God’s protection and blessing is “especially so in times of public distress and danger.”

Public distress and danger succinctly describe our current domestic and international environments. Our context demands our compliance. We are to turn to God.  We are to live and act as becomes a Christian Solider. The defense of our dearest Rights and Liberties depends upon our faithfulness.

PLEASE PRAY FAITHFULLY AND FERVENTLY FOR NATIONAL BLESSINGS AND PROTECTION IN A DISTRESSED AND DANGEROUS WORLD.  Especially so, in the midst of confusion and conflict!

See a related thought in this previous post:  https://prayatlunch.us/a-christian-soldier/

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound”

On July 9^th, 1776, General George Washington ordered that the newly-signed Declaration of Independence be read to the American Continental Army.  On that evening on their parade grounds in New York City with the British Army closing in on them, 30,000 American soldiers heard those words proclaiming liberty and announcing separation from tyranny.

General Washington’s rationale for doing so was clearly described in his General Order from that day:

“The General hopes this important Event will serve as a fresh incentive to every officer, and soldier, to act with Fidelity and Courage, as knowing that now the peace and safety of his Country depends (under God) solely on the success of our arms: And that he is now in the service of a State, possessed of sufficient power to reward his merit, and advance him to the highest Honors of a free Country.”

Indeed, this proclamation had its intended impact.  Even on that same evening, a large statue of King George III was torn down in New York City and melted into bullets to add to the revolutionary arsenal.  Though it was several years before victory was ultimately achieved, the spark of freedom that was lit on that evening caused the sacred fires of liberty to burn within the hearts of every soldier warming their passions throughout the conflict.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SACRED FIRE OF LIBERTY TO BURN WITHIN YOU AS WE SERVE OUR NATION AND OUR SAVIOR. Like our forefathers, may we proclaim liberty to the captives in bondage around us while fighting our every battle with fidelity and courage.

I Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:  and he delighteth in his way.”

Edmund Burke, the conservative British politician of the 18^thCentury and long term Member of Parliament, is often credited with the following: “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”  Regardless of who said this powerful and thought-provoking quote, it lists two things that are necessary to stop the triumphing of evil:

• We need good men
• We need them to act to counter evil

On this Father’s Day weekend, may we recognize the importance of being good men, acting against evil, cultivating good men, and prompting them to act against evil.

God directs us to watch – to diligently seek out the battles in which we are to engage.  He commands us to stand fast in faith – to act in an unwavering way in support of Biblical principles.  He orders us to quit like men – to live as Godly men in all ways and in all areas of our lives.  He encourages us to be strong.

Burke also reminds us of the following:

“When leaders chose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service.  They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.”

Our steps are to be ordered by God, not by the dictates of popular society.  If we let culture order our steps instead, then we will be of no service to Him nor to our fellow man.    We will be flatterers and instruments instead of legislators and guides.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIAN MEN TO BE GOOD AND USEFUL.  If America is to have a hopeful future, we must be the good men that God intends for us to be and to act for Him against the evil around us.  American males – Quit You Like Men!

NOTE:  I will be taking the next two weeks off of posting to enjoy a much needed vacation.  Please keep praying daily and fervently for our nation and our leaders!