Wake Up America!

Get a proper Diagnoses

The United States of America is making a transition from one leadership to another and Americans need to get a proper diagnose of the spiritual cancer which has been cursing our nation for decades.

When my late wife, Bonnie K Laughlin was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a type of brain cancer, we were told by a doctor in a near by town that it would be an easy fix with surgery. Our hometown doctor, (Dr. Roy Hartley) told us he did not agree with that diagnoses – so he made arrangements for us to go to Mayo Clinic. A specialist on astrocytoma at Mayo Clinic told us that surgery would be of no use and would cause her to become paralyzed right away, way sooner than the cancer would at its present growing rate. Their proper diagnoses of treatment extended her life, instead of the short life span she would have had if we had followed the wrong diagnoses of treatment.

For the last several elections Christians have been praying for leadership, whom would have a heart for the God’s truth for leading this country. Why, because the Bible says, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage! The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned, He looks out on the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him because we trust in His Holy Name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33:10-22 ESV)

Sadly, Christians have had to live with huge disappointment, still waiting on God to raise up that person to lead America, one who would be like Hezekiah, King of Juda. The Bible says, “He did was right in the eyes of the Lord.” (2 Kings 18:3) In this long period of waiting for a leader who would be like our nation’s founding fathers, ministers of churches are encouraging their congregations with the faith Scriptures. Telling them to keep praying, keep the faith. Too often, pew warmers have allowed themselves to believe they can seek God’s blessings without repentance. Often, they pray asking God to bless this country while missing the need of repentance first. Thus, missing the proper diagnoses of treatment for this nation to get right with God. During the reign of most presidency of this country, the Biblical proclamation is, “They did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” (Judges 3:12; 2 Chronicles 36:9) Instead of enjoying the blessings promised to a nation for obedience, Americans are having to live in the collateral damage of cruses for disobedience. (Deuteronomy 28)

An honest look at the past twenty years of American leadership should bring us to consider just how much wickedness has taken place.

Proper exegeses of God’s Word, especially 1 and 2 Kings is motivating born again theologians to proclaim a New Testament truth found under the preoccupy Warnings from Israel’s History. In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, there is truth which is very applicable for a nation which was raised up by God and has the revelation of Christ Americans have been given for hundreds of years. The Bible says, “…God was not pleased with most of them… Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. They were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10:5-6)

It is time to seek out Bible teachers who can teach accurately what God’s Word says about national leadership. Teachers who can share why we are experiencing the chastisements we have today.

In setting down truths for government of a nation who wants God’s intervention and protection – the book of Deuteronomy teaches about blessings for obedience and cruses for disobedience. The current events here in America place our thoughts on the chastisement of God. One of the cruses is “confusion.”  The Complete Word Study of the Bible, the Strong’s Lexicon and the Dictionary of Biblical Languages teach us the Hebrew word for “confusion” (מְהוּמָה mehûmāh) can be translated as panic, disturbance, turmoil, trouble or vexation. What better words describe what our nation is being chastised with today.

One has to ask, “How much louder does God need to speak? Americans need true preachers to do what preachers are called to do. Proclaim the truths of God’s Word, giving the proper diagnoses of treatment so God may convict our nation of her sins.

Preacher’s Sacrifice

The Ultimate Cost for Our Religious Freedom

The Bible says, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:7-8)

The song sung by Lee Greenwood, “God Bless the USA” has a stanza which fall in-line with the truth proclaim by the author of the Book of Hebrews, “I am proud to be an American. Where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died. Who gave that right to me. And I’d gladly stand up next to you. And defend Her still today. Cause there ain’t no doubt, I love this land. God bless the USA.”

During the time of the Founding Era of laying the foundation of the Declaration of Independence there were mighty men whom the British called “The Black Rope Regiment.” The American clergy who made up that group were courageous and fearless, they boldly proclaim the Word of God as it applied to life, whether spiritual or addressing the issues of the day such as, life in Christ, taxes, education, public policy, good government, or the military. During the Revolutionary War preachers fulfilled their Biblical call to publicly teach what the Bible says and they set the example on how to live out what they believed. Historical writings tell us: “There was a class of clergymen and chaplains in the Revolution whom the British, when they once laid hands on them, treated [the preachers] with the most barbarous severity. Dreading them for the influence – they wielded and hating them for the obstinacy, courage and enthusiasm they infused into the rebels, they violated all the usages of war among civilized nations in order to inflict punishment upon them” (T. Headley, The Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution (New York: Charles Scribner, 1864), p. 58.)

The preachers of the time of the Revolutionary War paid the high cost for their obedience to their call and for living out what they believed. There were great men of God like the Rev. Naphtali Dagget, President of Yale:

  • “When the British approached New Haven to enter private homes, to desecrate property and belongings, Rev. Daggett offered stiff and at times single-handed resistance to the British invasion, standing alone on a hillside, repeatedly firing his rifle down at hundreds of British troops below. [After being] captured, over a period of several hours the British stabbed and pricked Pastor Daggett multiple times with bayonets. Local townspeople secured [Pastor] Daggett release, he never recovered from the wounds, which eventually caused his death.”(National Black Robe Regiment, History of the Black Regiment; William Buell Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit: Trinitarian Congregation, (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1857), p. 482.)
  • When the Rev. James Caldwell offered similar resistance in New Jersey, the British burned the church building he oversaw for the Lord, he and his family were murdered. (B.F. Morris, Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, Developed in the Official and Historical Annals of the Republic (Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1864) p. 350.)
  • The British in their zeal to protect the British Anglican Church, abused, killed or imprisoned many other clergymen. (Daniel Dorchester, Christianity in the United States from the First Settlement Down to the Present Time (New York: Phillips & Hunt, 1888), p. 265.)
  • Those faithful men of the Lord who Biblically guided the people they served “often suffered harsher treatment and more severe penalties than did ordinary imprisoned soldiers.” (T. Headley, The Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution (New York: Charles Scribner, 1864), p. 58.)
  • In the effort of persecuting freedom of religion, the British also burned churches in New York, Virginia and other parts of the country. (Daniel Dorchester, Christianity in the United States from the First Settlement Down to the Present Time (New York: Phillips & Hunt, 1888), p. 266. – p. 267)

America needs clergy who are courageous enough to publicly teach what God’s has to say about the issues of the day, whether it is popular or not. We need mighty Bible teachers who will take their stand, rebuke, correct and guide Americans to understand, “Thus says the Lord.”

National Reflections

Grasping the Faith of Our Founding Fathers

It has been well said, “If we do not know the foundation on which the Founding Fathers laid for this nation, then we as a nation have no understanding on what we are to be today, thus we are a nation that has no clear vision for tomorrow.” (Author Unknown)  In the Book of Judges, we read of a time in Biblical history when the people of God were given their own nation. Those people served God during the lifetime of Joshua and they saw all the great things the Lord had done. Sadly, after Joshua and the whole generation of his time died, “another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done” for His people. The generation after Joshua “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” and served the gods of the people around them. “They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors. They aroused the Lord’s anger.”  (Judges 2: 1-12)

There is a lack of understanding of the Biblical truths on which the Founding Fathers of this nation laid this country’s foundation.  This ignorance erodes the Christian values the Founding Fathers had set for a course for the United States of America. Therefore, God’s elect, Christians, are to be prepared to give a testimony of their belief that it was God who raised up this nation, He has blessed this country and how He will deal with Americans, depending on the choices they make.

There are a lot of historical facts about the beliefs of the men who laid the foundation of this country.  This Fourth of July season is a good time to gain an understanding of the heart of many of the men who signed The Declaration of Independence. Men who knew the Bible says, “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.” (Isaiah 45:5) Many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, had a firm conviction, there is one God and Jesus is the King of kings.  Two signers, John Adams and John Hancock on April 18, 1775 said, “We Recognize No Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus!”

Knowledge of God’s Word: Psalm 22:28 says, “for dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.”  The King James Bible says, “…He is the governor among nations.”   In 1973, The University of Houston, Political Science Department released the results of a ten year study, revealing the sources our Founding Fathers used most frequently in forming our present system of government.   From the pool of nearly 15,000 documents from our founding period, the researchers selected 3,154 documents they considered most significant to our Founding Fathers. The research revealed, our Founding Fathers quoted heavily from three intellectuals, Montesquieu, Blackstone and Locke. The most interesting conclusion from the research, our Founding Fathers were more dependent upon the Bible than they were on these three intellectuals. The Bible was quoted 4 times more than Montesquieu, 16 times more than Blackstone or Locke.  Ninety-four percent of the quotes of the Founding Fathers were based on the Word of God.  Thirty-four percent of those quotes were direct from Scripture and the remaining 60% were taken from quotes where they had used the Bible to arrive at their conclusions.  The Book quoted most often by the Founding Fathers was Deuteronomy.  The great theme of Deuteronomy is “Love and Obey.” Jesus, based His statement “If you love Me, keep My commandments” from the truths found in Deuteronomy. So explicit was the Word of God in the lives of men in this nation’s early years, Charles Finney, the Billy Graham of the 1800’s, came to Jesus Christ by reading “Blackstone’s Commentaries on Law.”  Blackstone unashamedly used Scripture, referring to chapter and verse for every principle of law he cited.  Blackstone’s Commentary on Law, introduced in 1757, became the law textbook for lawyers for 160 years, and the Supreme Court quoted from it to settle cases. It explains:  For Tax Exemption for Churches our Founding Fathers looked to Ezra 7:24. The three branches of government are based on Isaiah 33:22 “For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us” and the separation of powers is based on the Book of Jeremiah. The inscription on the Liberty Bell, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly asked that a portion of Leviticus 25:10 be used. There are a lot more historical truths which prove our Founding Father had good knowledge of God’s Word. (Liberty University Faculty Publications and Presentations, Clarence Holland; Wall-Builders, David Bartan)

Blessed Is The Nation: Psalm 33:12,18 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…  the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him.” A God fearing people can make a powerful difference in God’s dealings with a nation.  The Bible gives us powerful truths worth clinging to, “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” (Psalm 147:11) On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain.  On July 4, the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed.  Four days later, July 08, 1776 – members of Congress took that document and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell rung.  The inscription around the top of the bell, a key truth found in Leviticus 25:10 – “…proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.”  John Adams wrote to his wife in a letter about the day America declared her independence.  He wrote, “This day will be the most memorable time in the history of America. …it will be celebrated by succeeding generations…”  Mr. Adams said, “The general principles the Fathers achieved in independence were the general principles of Christianity.”  The Founding Fathers had a reverent fear of the Lord.  A truth God still honors today. John Adams, concerning Independence Day celebrations said, “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” (Wall-Builders, David Barton) Earlier Court Convictions: The Bible says, “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16: 18-20)   George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” America needs God to restore our Supreme Court system to making decisions like the one made in 1892, “Our laws and our institution must necessarily be based upon and embody the teaching of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and institutions are emphatically Christian. This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making affirmation. We find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth.  These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial utterance that this is a Christian nation.” (Justice Brewer delivered the opinion of the court on February 29, 1892)  In the late 1950’s the former Chief Justice Earl Warren, addressing the annual prayer breakfast of the International Council of Christian Leadership said, “I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book [the Bible] and the Spirit of the Savior [Jesus Christ] have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses.  Whether we look to the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of New England or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or to the Foundational Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present: A Christian land governed by Christian Principles.  I believe the entire Bill of rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under the law, and the reservation of powers to the people.  I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion.” The lack of hunger for God’s Word, the living for self, the influences of this world views, the lack of knowledge of our Founding Father’s efforts to please the Lord in governing this nation has caused many Americans to loose sight, “God Rules Over Nations.”  This fact is seen in declarations made by several of our resent national leaders saying, “Americans do not consider ourselves to be a Christian nation” in attempt at historical revisionism.  Chief Justice William Rehnquist wisely observed, “No amount of repetition of historical error… can make the error true.” (Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U. S. 38, 106-107 (1984), Rehnquist, J.) The Holy Spirit of Christ wants Americans to understand, we are to appoint “judges” (Hebrew- sapat) who have the conviction that they are judging for the Lord. Servants Who Fear God: The Lord had called forth a great leader, Moses. While Moses was judging the disputes of the people, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, gave Moses some very good advice that Americans would do well to heed.  “Select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” (Exodus 18:21)  Matthew Henry in his exposition on Exodus 18:21 wrote, “[Jethro] advised such a model of government… [which believes] there is a God above them, Whose eye is upon them, to Whom they are accountable….”

We need statesmen, not politicians, who are men and women of prayer and who passionately seek God’s wisdom through the written Word of God.  Most of our Founding Fathers had great knowledge of God’s Word and they knew what was to be done.  One of them was Noah Webster. He wrote: “When you become entitled to exercise the right to vote for public offices let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose as rulers men who rule in the fear of God…  The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; if the citizens neglect this duty and place unprincipled men in office the government will soon be corrupted…” It is a necessity that we have leaders who have the Godly character of Hezekiah who “…trusted in the Lord….  He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.” (2 Kings 18:5)  God has always raised up possible rulers: 1.) Those who serve themselves, taking from the people of God (1 Samuel 8) or 2.) Rulers who rule in the true fear of the Lord.  Which one will you vote for?

Separation of Church and State: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…”  (excerpt from Amendment I, U. S. Constitution)   The phrase, “Separation of Church and State” is not in the Constitution nor, according to the Congressional Record, was it ever even mentioned during the framing of that document in 1789. The phrase is not Constitutional at all!  It has been wrenched out of context from a private letter written in 1802, 11 years after the First Amendment was ratified.  There was a widespread rumor going around at the time that one particular denomination was to become the official national religion.  This concerned the other denominations a great deal since some had fled religious persecution by the official church of England.   President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the concerned Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut assuring them that under the Constitution the federal government would not, and indeed could not, establish a national Christian denomination.  In other words, the United States Congress could not legislate that all Americans had to be Lutherans, or Episcopalians, or Baptists, or whatever. The courts, media and special interest groups have convinced the American people that we must have freedom from religion in the public square.  Nothing is further from the truth.  As a nation, we have been increasing the judicial and public approval and practice of shedding innocent blood of the littlest human beings, flaunting all sorts of abominations and sexual sins, forsaking our marriage covenants, calling good evil and evil good, and now pushing even the mention of God’s Holy Name out of public life under the false guise of “Separation of Church and State.” To such a people God’s Word says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13) At this time of history God’s Word says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.  Let him turn to the Lord…” (Isaiah 55: 6, 7a)  The Hebrew word “wicked” (rāšā) is used 264 times, often referring to those who are in the wrong. It is wrong to keep Americans from the historical facts, as a whole, our nation’s Founding Fathers never intended to keep God’s truths from having an influence on the governing of a nation with a motto, “In God we trust.”

Reformation is Called For: Biblically examining the rule of kings who oversaw the nations of Judah and Israel reveals the truth, God blesses obedience and He chastens for disobedience.  2 Chronicles 17-20 reveals God’s view on the reign of Jehoshaphat.  Understanding how God worked in the life of King Jehoshaphat helps us understand how the Lord wants to work in America. Like Jehoshaphat, American government has given into the desires of the wicked, giving them what they want, even though it breaks the heart of the Lord. Just like the “seer, Jehu” was sent to King Jehoshaphat, it is time for modern day teachers of God’s Word to begin to rebuke politicians who help those whom the Bible says live in ways that are displeasing to God.  Sadly, many in leadership claim to know God, but choose to live for the flesh and are lured by a world view.  Watching the TV news and reading the daily newspaper reveals God’s wrath being poured out. (Read Romans 1:18-32)  After the man of God’s rebuke to Jehoshaphat for showing un-biblical love to those who hate the Lord’s truth, the Bible records the fruit of repentance the king showed. He went among the people of the land and told them to return to the Lord.  He appointed judges in the land, told them that they should carefully choose what they do, for they were to be judging for God, not for man.  They were to let the fear of the Lord be in their hearts.  These judges were to warn people not to sin against the Lord, otherwise God’s wrath will be upon them.  (2 Chronicles 19: 1-10)

The questions must be asked, does our education system teach these historical facts? Do you live by the truths laid down by the signers of The Declaration of Independence? Does our government have the same convictions as our Founding Fathers? This Fourth of July, do you live by the general principles of Christianity?  Americans need to become wise – they need to do the hard work of study, find out what our Founding Fathers truly believed.  Take God at His Word, repent, turn to Christ and beseech God to intervene for our nation once again. This July Fourth, take time to thank God for His blessings and chastisements upon the United States of America!

Political Character Matters

Often during elections we hear national leaders claim to have faith in God, yet live a life that is in contradiction to the whole council of God’s Word. In His teachings about false prophets, people who teach false doctrines which are contrary to God’s Word He said, “You will know them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:16,20) These are words of truth that should cause us to examine our lives, the fruit it produces and the very words we speak.

It is amazing, people will allow themselves during the election process to be enamored by leaders who have ability or skills, who are able to communicate and inspire – while purposely ignoring the character of the candidate.  In evaluating character you may start from their past to gain a baseline on what to search for today. In elections it seems candidates employee their critical abilities to analyze others weaknesses, thus, much time and money is spent in tearing others down so as to build themselves up. Politicians who are truly sold out to the Lord are kind and tenderhearted toward each other. (Ephesians 4:32)  When Samuel grew old he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. The Bible says, “they turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.”  (1 Samuel 8:3) The results of their corrupt leadership moved the people to want a king like all the other nations had.  God had Samuel solemnly warn the people – the king who rules over them would not be a blessing to them. And when the people wanted relief from the king they had chosen, they would cry out to God, but He would not answer the people. (1 Samuel 8)

Placing people in governmental leadership who are dishonest, who are controlled by special interest groups and feel that political party rites are more important than the people they serve rites are, the political process become adulterated and corrupt. It is foolish to appoint a fox to watch over the hen house – it equally foolish to appointment a person of low character to watch over the house of governmental rule.  To appoint poor character to leadership positions is like having a King Saul, the people’s choice (1 Samuel 8-9) who was always sorry for the circumstances he and the people of God were in, but never produced the fruit of repentance.

Fortunately character can be strong with out being perfect. King David, the man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22) had many faults, yet he was a leader who showed the fruits of repentance when confronted. America needs people in leadership like King Hezekiah, he confessed the sins of the people, he reintroduced worship to God, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 29)

Napoleon said, “the most dangerous general was one who fought based in fantasy. So it is with a person trying to lead based on fantasy or ignorance of the character of his or her associates.” To vote for a leader of this country based on how they impress you, while ignoring their character is an unwise thing to do. The heart of a leader that please the Lord is that of Solomon, “Now Lord… Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who can govern this great people of yours.” (2 Chronicles 1:10)

Political Character Matters – The character of the person you vote into office, will be a blessings or a curse to the people of the United States of America.

Medicine for America

Truths for the Healing of America

When the medical world takes on the battle of developing medicine for treating a medical disorder, it must consider some things.  What is actually being afflicted?  If it is heart disease, they must understand the heart, its function and its make up.  What keeps the human body healthy?  What causes the human body to become unhealthy?  What cures the disease, and how is the person going to be restored to good health?

For the sake of bringing this train of thought into today’s theme and as we think about the health of this nation, there are things that must be considered.  What is actually being afflicted?  What has caused this nation to become so spiritually unhealthy?  What is the cure for the spiritual decay of America?  What is her restoration process?

“When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD… and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD…, the LORD appeared to him at night and said:  ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.  When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if My people, who are called by My name, will 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 My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”  (2 Chronicles 7:11-15)

I would propose to you that Solomon was a great prototype for all those who desire to govern the people of God. He once said, O LORD my God… I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.  Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.  So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong…”  (1 Kings 3:7-9)

First step to applying medicine for America

The first step to applying medicine for America is to grasp the application of our key text.  Titus 2:14 says, “[Christ] …gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”  The King James Bible says the Lord will purify unto Himself a “peculiar people.” 

“Peculiar people” (periousios) are God’s chosen people in whom He has a special interest. The phrase can be translated as “His treasured people.” (The Complete Word Study of the Bible)

The Holy Spirit so powerfully expounds this truth in 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 

Christians are a chosen people, called by the Name of the Lord and they have authority in Christ’s name to stand before the throne of grace and petition the Lord to bring a spiritual healing for America, but they must petition the Lord on the basis of confession and with a heart of repentance.

He rules right now over nations

Applying medicine for America begins with Christians understanding their position before God as a chosen people.  Christians who the Lord uses to apply medicine to America grasp the fact that He rules right now over nations.   Psalms 22:28 says, “for dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.”  The King James Bibles says, “…He is the governor among nations.”   Romans 13:1 says, “…for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (Romans 13:1

It is God’s will that all of mankind come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:9)   Psalms 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.”  The noun “nation” (haggoyim) is used to mean nations other than just Israel.  The application is that all nations can enjoy the blessings of God only as they allow Him to be Lord. (The Complete Word Study of the Old Testament)

Government is overseen by people.  Therefore, Christians must join together in prayer and beseech the God of heaven to raise up statesmen who have enlightenment on how to Biblically govern a nation with the motto, “In God We Trust.”

The Lord raised up faithful servants from among the Jews to govern the people of God and Christians can pray in confidence that the Lord is fully able to raise up men like Abraham Lincoln who wrote on April 30, 1863, “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures, and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”

God can restore our Supreme Court system to making decisions like the one made in 1892, “Our laws and our institution must necessarily be based upon and embody the teaching of the Redeemer of mankind.  It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and institutions are emphatically Christian.  This is a religious people.  This is historically true.  From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making affirmation.  We find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth.  These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial utterance that this is a Christian nation.” (Justice Brewer delivered the opinion of the court on February 29, 1892)

The fact is America has enjoyed the blessedness of having statesmen who fear God from its early foundation up into the late 1950’s.  The former Chief Justice Earl Warren, addressing the annual prayer breakfast of the International Council of Christian Leadership said, “I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses.  Whether we look to the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of New England or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or to the Foundational Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present: A Christian land governed by Christian Principles.  I believe the entire Bill of rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under the law, and the reservation of powers to the people.  I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion.” (America’s Christian History, the Untold Story, in the introduction)

What is being afflicted upon this nation

Christians can trust in God who is in full control over the government of the world to raise up people with Godly character to once again govern this nation.  However, they must understand what is being afflicted upon this nation.  Deuteronomy 28:1-2 says, If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.  All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.”  Deuteronomy 28:15 says, “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you.”

Daniel Webster wrote, “History is God’s providence in human affairs.”

The Book of Deuteronomy contains promises of blessings or curses.  The effectiveness of a nation is determined by God’s blessings or curses coming upon a nation’s armed forces, economic systems, families and especially whether or not that nation is called by the name of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 28)

Biblically examining the rule of kings who oversaw the nations of Judah and Israel reveals the truth, God blesses obedience and He chastens for disobedience.  Instead of hanging onto this world’s view, Christians can come to understand the Lord’s view of the reign of kings by reading the two Books of Chronicles.  2 Chronicles 17-20 reveals God’s view on the reign of Jehoshaphat.  Understanding how God worked in the life of Jehoshaphat helps us understand how the Lord wants to work in America.

Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. (2 Chronicles 20:31).  The Bible says, “[Jehoshaphat] did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chronicles 20:32)  Holy Spirit illuminated Christians will be praying for an earthly ruler of whom God will say, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”   “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways… [King] David had followed.” (2 Chronicles 17:3)   “His heart was devoted to the Lord… (2 Chronicles 17:6) “The Lord established the kingdom under his control.”  (2 Chronicles 17:5)

Christians who apply the medicine of prayer for America’s healing will ask the Lord for a leader like Jehoshaphat, “In the third year of his reign he sent… five officials out “to teach in the towns of Judah.  With them were…”  nine Levites and “the priest Elishama and Jehoram.  They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.” (2 Chronicles 17:7-9)   “The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat… Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah and had large supplies in the towns of Judah.” (2 Chronicles 17:10,12)

The United States of America enjoy the same blessings that God’s people did because of the Biblical conviction of her Founding Fathers.  The University of Houston, Political Science Department researched the sources our Founding Fathers used most frequently in forming our present system of government.  From the pool of nearly 15,000 documents from our founding period, the researchers selected 3,154 documents they considered most significant to our Founding Fathers.  After 10 years of investigation, the researchers determined that the Founding Fathers quoted heavily from three intellectuals.  They were Montesquieu, Blackstone, and Locke.

However, the most interesting conclusion from the research was that the Founding Fathers were even more dependent upon the Bible than they were these three intellectuals.  The Bible was quoted 4 times more than Montesquieu, 16 times more than Blackstone or Locke.  Ninety-four percent of the quotes of the Founding Fathers were based on the Word of God.  Thirty-four percent of those quotes were direct from Scripture and the remaining 60% were taken from quotes where they had used the Bible to arrive at their conclusions.  The Book quoted most often by the Founding Fathers was Deuteronomy.

The great theme of Deuteronomy is “Love and Obey.” Jesus, based His statement “If you love Me, keep my commandments” from the truths found in Deuteronomy.

The whole teaching of the Book of Deuteronomy is, “obedience is man’s response to God’s love.” (Thru the Bible)  “God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son…” (John 3:16)  Christ came willingly to die for our sins because He loves us.

God working in His absolute sovereignty molded out the design He wanted to govern this nation through our Founding Fathers, thus showing us today how we as a nation should respond to His sacrificial love.

In applying the medicine of prayer for the healing of America, Christians must ask the Lord to raise up statesman who are not ashamed of the Word of God.  So explicit was the Word of God in the lives of men in this nation’s early years, Charles Finney, the Billy Graham of the 1800’s, came to Jesus Christ by reading “Blackstone’s Commentaries on Law.”  He unashamedly used Scripture, referring to chapter and verse for every principle of law he cited.

Simple research reveals further examples on how the foundation of the United States of America was birthed from the Word of God.  For example, the Three Branches of Government came from Isaiah 33:22.  For Tax Exemption for Churches our Founding Fathers looked to Ezra 7:24.  And for the inscription on the Liberty Bell, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly asked that a portion of Leviticus 25:10 be used.

In applying the medicine of prayer for America, Christians must understand that our Founding Fathers had a reverent fear of God, great knowledge of the Word of God and they, like Jehoshaphat, wanted the people in the land to know the Word of the Lord.

Sadly, like all men, Jehoshaphat’s reign had its moments that brought severe consequences to the spiritual, social and political life of Judah.  2 Chronicles 18:1 says, “Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.”

Ahab was that king who had done more to anger the Lord than any other king had done in Israel.  His marriage to Jezebel highlighted the consistent link of Biblical narrative between idolatrous practice and immoral behavior.  Ahab’s skilful foreign policies are interpreted negatively by Biblical writers because of the severe religious consequences of mixing true worship with false worship.  His negative influence had such a drawing effect, Jehoshaphat’s son, who was married to King Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was drawn away from the true worship of God. Not only was Jehoshaphat’s son affected, but his grandson as well.

The Bible says this about Jehoshaphat’s son and grandson, “[They] walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, for [they were] related by marriage to Ahab’s family.” (1 Kings 8:18,27)    Christians who will apply the healing anointment of prayer for America fear the disaster that can come upon their children when their country enters into unholy relationships with wicked leaders, men who do not fear God.

Jehoshaphat was weak and he easily slipped into unholy alliances that compromised His relationship with God.  When he should have learned his lesson, at the end of his reign he allowed himself again to be allied with the family line of Ahab.  Instead of war it was a business deal with the wicked king of Israel, Ahaziah.  They had agreed to make a fleet of trading ships, but the Lord wrecked the ships and the deal fell through. (2 Chronicles 20:35-37)  Jehoshaphat’s alliance in war with King Ahab about cost him his life and put the nation of Judah at great risk, (2 Chronicles 18:30-32)

A Biblical examination of the reign of Jehoshaphat shows us blessings of walking in the will of God as well as the dangers of walking in the flesh and according to the ways of the world.  It is a dangerous thing to join into friendships and society that have views that are not God and Christ-centered.  Our national leaders have too often been on friendly terms with and adopted the world view of the ACLU and the PAW.  Our Biblical-Anemic preaching churches have failed to produce enough men and women who can be statesmen, people of God who are full of the Word as Ezra was.  The Bible says, “Ezra, had devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)

Ezra was a priestly scribe who led major reform when he was sent back to Jerusalem after the Exile in Babylon. Ezra held a place of leadership probably because of his priestly lineage.  His office while under the authority of the King of Persia is unknown but we do know that he used the Word of God, fasting, and prayer to God’s work completed. (Ezra 7:10; 8:21)

I thank the Lord for every Christian statesman we have.  However, they find themselves fighting a great battle because the people of God and the people who live in a country that has a motto, “In God we Trust,” fail to spend time in God’s Word, fasting and prayer before making decisions regarding governmental affairs.  Thus, they find themselves being miss-led by politicians who are fighting over party control, rather than being governed by statesmen who have a reverent fear of God.  Instead of being influenced by the Word of God in making laws and interpreting law, we see politicians being intimidated by that unconstitutional phrase “Separation of Church and State.”  According to our key text today healing for America must start with confession and repentance on these matters.

The two Books of Chronicles reveal to us God’s view on men whom He has chosen to govern a nation.  2 Chronicles 17-20 reveals to us the blessing and chastening of God on the reign of King Jehoshaphat.

Healing for America lays in the ability of leadership to produce the fruit of repentance after being rebuked by men of God.  In 2 Chronicles 19, we read of Jehoshaphat safe return to Jerusalem after being saved by the intervention of God in a battle he was not supposed to be in. (2 Chronicles 18:31)   On his way back he is met by the prophet Jehu and is rebuked,  When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu the seer… went out to meet him and said to the king, ‘Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.  There is, however, some good in you, …you… have set your heart on seeking God.” (2 Chronicles 19:1-3)

Jehoshaphat was a national leader like King David, a man of God willing to produce the fruit of repentance.  After the rebuke of Eliezer and the hand of God coming against him, we read of Jehoshaphat rejecting King Ahaziah’s fresh proposal of uniting in another business venture.

In applying the medicine of prayer for American’s healing, Christians must ask the Lord to enable leaders to produce the fruit of repentance upon the  men of God who deliver the Lord’s Word and who can see the God’s chastening hand.  We need our government, schools, and families to have the heart of Jehoshaphat, produce the fruit of repentance and do what is right.

After returning home Jehoshaphat was concerned that his alliance with wicked Ahab through marriage and war may have enticed the people of Judah to engage in unholy worship of God.  Thus, he sets out a second reformation for the people of Judah.

2 Chronicles 19:4-10 says. “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.  He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.  He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.  Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’  In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.  He gave them these orders: ‘You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the LORD.  In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities–whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances–you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise His wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not sin.’”

The Holy Spirit wants you to grasp that the healing of America also comes when government appoints “judges” (sapat) who have the conviction that they are judging for the Lord.  They will give an accounting of their faithfulness and of their life lived before God.  They can live under His wrath or enjoy His blessings, which will be passed down to the people they govern.  The government must allow places where the people who live in the land can worship the Lord and learn the Word of God, have opportunity to follow His commands, and live by His ordinances.  To inhibit the free exercise of the Christian faith is to sin against God and the people they govern.

Before Christians can apply the medicine of prayer for America they must understand that the governmental process is replete with politicians who think only of party control.  America needs statesmen who have the same convictions of our Founding Fathers.

Christians must understand that the only cure for the spiritual decay of their national government is to trust God to raise up statesmen who have the heart of Jehoshaphat, leaders whom God will say, “they do right in the eyes of the Lord.”  America needs leaders who respond to the Word of the Lord, whether it be a spoken blessing or rebuke. These leaders must produce the fruit of repentance, make proper changes so we can have judges who fear the Lord and make judgments for the Lord rather than for man.  Christians must pray that God would intercede, raise up preachers of the Word of God, allow places where Americans can have the opportunity to hear God’s Word and be given the opportunity to obey the commands of Christ.  Christian must pray for the restoration process of American leadership, churches, and family members.

We are blessed to have a president who prays and calls the people of America to pray.  The President and the leadership of this church are joining with the National Day of Prayer Task Force.  We are asking you to fast and pray as the Holy Spirit of Christ leads you.  The door of the sanctuary of CrossRoads Church will be open.  They have put together wonderful prayer guides, supported with Scripture so you may pray for governmental leaders, schools, communities, churches and families.

Make time to join us this Thursday, May 03, 2007  to humble yourself, confess your sins and the sins of this nation, and to pray to our loving Father who is in absolute control of the governmental affairs of this county.

The Signer’s Declaration

Truths from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

It has been well said, “If we do not know the foundation on which the Founding Fathers laid for this nation, then we as a nation have no understanding on what we are to be today, thus we are a nation that has no clear vision for tomorrow.” (Author Unknown)  There is a lack of understanding of the Biblical truths on which the Founding Fathers of this nation laid our foundation.  That ignorance has enabled this nation’s values to drift off her course for which she was sent.  Therefore, God’s elect are to be prepared to give a testimony on how we believe God has raised up this nation, how He has blessed this country and how He will deal with us, depending on the choices we make.

There is a lot of historical facts about the belief’s of the men who laid down the foundation of this country.  This forth of July season it is good to gain an understanding of the heart of many of the men who signed The Declaration of Independence. Men who knew the Bible says “This is what the Lord says, Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the First and the last; apart from Me there is no God.”  (Isaiah 44:6) Isaiah 45:5 says, “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God.” In regard to Jesus being king, Pilate asked our Lord if He was the King of the Jews? Jesus said, “Yes, it is as you say,” (Luke 23:3)  Many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, had a firm conviction, there is one God and Jesus is the King of kings.  Two signers, John Adams and John Hancock on April 18, 1775 said, “We Recognize No Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus!”

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain.  On July 4, the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed.  Four days later, July 08, 1776 – members of Congress took that document and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell rung.  The inscription around the top of the bell, a key truth found in Leviticus 25:10 – “…proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.”   Compared to many war torn nations, we have independence, freedom and opportunity to pursue dreams.  The turmoil in other nations, their struggles and multiple revolutions, have yet to see the stability and blessings that we have here in America, even considering this nation’s many faults.

John Adams wrote to his wife in a letter about the day America declared her independence.  He wrote, “This day will be the most memorable time in the history of America. …it will be celebrated by succeeding generations…”  Mr. Adams said, “The general principles the Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.”  The Founding Fathers had a reverent fear of the Lord.  A truth God still honors today. John Adams, concerning Independence Day celebrations said, “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” (Wall-Builders, David Barton)

The questions must be asked, Does our school systems teach these historical facts? Do are youth live by the truths laid down by the signers of The Declaration of Independence? Does our government have the same convictions as our Founding Fathers? This fourth of July, Do you live by the general principles of Christianity?