Author: John Page 99 of 163

Psalm 37:29 “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.”

On March 22, 1775, Connecticut’s Governor Jonathan Trumball proclaimed April 19, 1775 as a day of prayer and fasting. His calling included the following:

“God would graciously pour out His Holy Spirit on us to bring us to a thorough repentance and effectual reformation that our iniquities may not be our ruin; that He would restore, preserve and secure the liberties of this and all the other British American colonies, and make the land a mountain of Holiness, and habitation of righteousness forever.”

Indeed, Massachusetts’ neighbor had committed to pray for liberty on the very day that the revolutionary war began. They prayed for a pouring out of God’s Spirit. They prayed for repentance. They prayed for reformation. They prayed for restoration and preservation. They prayed that this would be a land of holiness and righteousness forever.

Today, may we pray for a pouring out of God’s Spirit. May we pray for repentance. May we pray for reformation. May we pray for restoration and preservation. May we pray that this would be a land of holiness and righteousness forever.

PLEASE PRAY FAITHFULLY FOR THIS LAND! This independent nation started out in prayer. May we faithfully return to a legacy of prayer so that we can dwell in a land of righteousness forever.

Hebrews 10:23-24 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works”

I Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

The first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired by the British on a church lawn in Lexington, Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. The Massachusetts Militia stood their ground on that day facing down 700 British regulars who were enroute to capture supplies and weapons at Concord.

Deacon John Parker boldly led the men to stand their ground under the encouragement of Reverend Jonas Clark whose church lay abeam this first revolutionary battleground. Indeed, these Christian patriots did so boldly. After the confrontation in Lexington on that day, eight colonial men lay dead and ten wounded after the unprovoked British volley of fire. After years of sermons on citizenship and God-given-rights, Clark stated that “I have trained them for this very hour, they would fight, and, if need be, die, too, under the shadow of the house of God!” They did! Reverend Clark went on to say “from this day will be dated the liberty of the world!” Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Concord Hymn echoed these sentiments, declaring the actions at Lexington and Concord as “the shot heard round the world.”

From its beginnings, men and women of faith have had a substantial impact on this nation. They have stood fast without wavering. They have provoked others unto love and good works. They have been an example of the believers in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity. They have left us a monumental legacy to follow. May we not shrink from our historical, cultural, and religious duty in twenty-first century America.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD BOLDLY HOLD FAST FOR CHRIST IN THIS HOUR. May we be Christian patriots who boldly stand our ground. Though the adversary has taken the first shots of the current battle, may our faithful and bold response be heard round the world.

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (that our constitutional rights are being hijacked to provide cover for a progressive agenda) set your alarm (to pray for our nation)!

Nehemiah 2:17-18 “Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.”

Those that met in Halifax, North Carolina in April 1776 weren’t the first to talk about separation and independence. Yet, they were the first to truly do something about it. Someone had to be the first to take this bold step. Without their courageous leadership, others would have been less likely to voice similar calls.   North Carolina sounded the call, and their delegates rose up to build. As a result, others answered the call.

In his day, Nehemiah sounded the call to rise up and build. Those listed in the third chapter of Nehemiah answered the call. Others had probably lamented the condition of Jerusalem. Yet, Nehemiah and these individuals rose up and built. As a result, others answered the call.

What about modern day America are you stewing about while hoping that someone else will take the lead? What am I concerned about in our land while hoping that someone else will take steps to resolve my concerns? We must not wait for someone else. Instead, we must rise up and build. After all, someone needs to be the first to take bold steps before others will also answer the call.

PLEASE PRAY FOR BOLDNESS AND INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE IN SOLVING OUR NATION’S PROBLEMS. We must not expect anyone else to take the lead. We must rise up and build now!

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re ENCOURAGED (by boldness in NC & Miss. in protecting safety & religious liberty) set your alarm (to pray for our nation, NC & MS)!

James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

James 2:20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

On April 12, 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina adopted a resolution now known as the Halifax Resolves. In doing so, the 83 members of this body unanimously approved the first official call for American independence. North Carolinian delegates were now officially empowered to vote for separation from Great Britain at the Continental Congress.

Talking about independence was one thing; approving a resolution that promoted independence was something far greater. Believing that they could achieve separation was one thing; taking active steps towards separation was something far greater. Bemoaning grievances against the British was one thing; signing one’s name to a list of grievances against the British was something far greater. The Fourth Provincial Congress of North Carolina turned their faith into works. Otherwise, the cause of independence in this land would have died before it began.

American Christians are doing a lot of talking, believing, and bemoaning. Yet, we are lacking the active steps to do something about the national problems we face. We are relying on faith without works, and the cause of Christ is dying in this land. What is God calling you to do? Do it! What is God calling you to start? Start it! What is God calling you to lead? Lead it! What should you be praying about? Pray for it! What is concerning you? Don’t expect someone else to do something about it. You do something about it!

PLEASE PRAY THAT CHRISTIANS WOULD TRANSLATE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT OUR NATION INTO ACTION. We need to get to work!

SET YOUR ALARM: If you’re alarmed (by the progressive attacks on North Carolina and Mississippi) set your alarm (to pray for our nation, NC and MS)!

Job 12:23-25 “He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.”

America in the fall of 1857, like today, had been groping in the dark without light. They had been staggering like a drunken man. They had been wandering in the wilderness. Jeremiah Lanphir’s Handbill stated the following:

“HOW OFTEN SHALL I PRAY?
As often as the language of prayer is in my heart; as often as I see my need of help; as often as I feel the power of temptation; as often as I am made sensible of any spiritual declension or feel the aggression of a worldly spirit.
In prayer we leave the business of time for that of eternity, and intercourse with men for intercourse with God.
A day Prayer Meeting is held every Wednesday, from 12 to 1 o’clock, in the Consistory building in the rear of the North Dutch Church, corner of Fulton and William Streets (entrance from Fulton and Ann Streets).
This meeting is intended to give merchants, mechanics, clerks, strangers, and businessmen generally an opportunity to stop and call upon God amid the perplexities incident to their respective avocations. It will continue for one hour; but it is also designed for those who may find it inconvenient to remain more than five or ten minutes, as well as for those who can spare the whole hour.”

The prayer meetings offered the opportunity to focus on the business of eternity. The business of time needed to yield to more pressing matters. Based on the results, the business of eternity was long overdue, greatly needed, and magnificently impactful.

God’s presence is what gave this meeting, and others like it, their power. There was no centralized earthly authority. There was no earthly master plan. There was instead a single meeting, ordained by God, which prompted other meetings to spring up all around the country. God tugged on the hearts of others, laymen and pastors alike, to replicate a focus on the business of eternity.

Maybe God is tugging on your heart to take the lead. Maybe a weekly, lunchtime prayer meeting should start in your church, your community, your home, or your place of business. Maybe people around you would welcome an opportunity to stop and call upon God amid the perplexities incident to their respective avocations. Maybe God can use your example to direct others toward the business of eternity.

PLEASE PRAY WHETHER GOD WOULD HAVE YOU TO START A REGULAR PRAYER MEETING. The business of eternity awaits your initiative and your leadership. The results will be left up to God.

THOUGHT: The attached article is one I came across recently that further indicates the welcoming environment you may find when you offer up the opportunity to pray and receive prayer:
https://www.faithandleadership.com/thomas-rusert-why-i-offer-“free-prayer”-coffee-shop