PLUS

I Timothy 2:1-6 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

On April 23^rd, 1789 President-elect George Washington arrived in New York City in preparation for his inauguration as our nation’s first President under the U.S. Constitution a week later. On that same day, the New York Daily Advertiser published the following announcement:

“On the morning of the day on which our illustrious President will be invested with his office, the bells will ring at nine o’clock, when the people may go up to the house of God and in a solemn manner commit the new government, with its important train of consequences, to the holy protection and blessing of the Most High.”

In 1789, America stood on the brink of history. As the Constitutional-based government was forming, the world was watching their experiment in liberty. After a long-fought battle against the world’s superpower, the new nation had stumbled under the Articles of Confederation.

Much was riding on the outcome, and the subsequent train of consequences demanded an inauguration and a new government that was bathed in prayer. The population recognized the critical need to commit their leaders, their government, and their nation to the holy protection and blessings of the Most High.

We should consider this year no less important. We stand on the brink of history and the world is watching to determine whether this continued experiment in liberty will survive. We have recently stumbled, and much rides on the success of our way forward. The subsequent train of consequences demands that every day be bathed in prayer. We must recognize the critical need to commit our leaders, our government and our nation to the holy protection and blessing of the Most High.

PLEASE BATHE OUR LEADERS, OUR GOVERNMENT, AND OUR NATION IN DAILY PRAYER. An important train of consequences follows each decision, and our solemn prayers stand as the preeminent thing that can truly make a difference.

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.