by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
Powerful Delusions
2 Thessalonians warns of a time when “The man of lawlessness [we be] revealed.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) The Apostle Paul tells us “…the secret power of lawlessness is already at work…” (2 Thessalonians 2:7) This is happening because “…all the ways wickedness deceives, [is deceiving] those who are perishing..” (2 Thessalonians 2:10) People are perishing because “…they refused to believe the truth and be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10) Paul writes, “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, so they may believe the lie, in order that all may be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
A prototype, in regards to people who have governmental authority, “is an individual that exhibits the essential features of a later type.” (Mish, F. C. (2003). Preface. Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.) Like the man of lawlessness who will arise and deceive the whole world, there are governmental officials who have an ungodly agenda, yet present an appearance of good social order. Delusion becomes all who do not fully embrace the truths of God’s word. These people are intrigued with political leaders who have a worldly social agenda that embraces humanistic views.
The Apostle Paul wrote “a powerful delusion” (πλάνη plánē) meaning, “A wondering out of the right way, …seduction to error, false opinion. (Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.) The practical application is, “to cause someone to hold a wrong view and thus be mistaken.” (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 364–366). New York: United Bible Societies.)
An honest look at our American history is proof that this delusion is at work. Daniel Webster served as U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Secretary of State. He was known as the “Defender of the Constitution.” He believed “it was the people’s right to establish qualifications for their elected officials.” The qualification, “profession of belief in the Christian religion.” (Source: Daniel Webster, The Writings and Speeches of Daniel Webster, (Boston: Little, Brown, & Company, 1903), Vol. III, pp. 3-7.) Today, as in the last several elections, there is a desire of most in America to elect officials who will enable them to live freely to make un-Godly choices, officials who will seduce them into error and embrace a mistaken view of the purpose for which our founding father’s intended this nation to be for God.
Shockingly, many embrace the delusion, “Woman’s choice over the right of life to the unborn.” Amazingly, people will support disrespect to others in a candidate, as long as that candidate appears to support their views. There is little concern over the fact of unrepentant immorality in government, as long the immoral person achieves the agenda of those who refuse God’s truth. There is strong endorsement for any leader who makes the things that break the heart of God look good and the things that please the Lord look bad.
The only way to overcome any deceptions today and the coming powerful delusion – is to fully surrender your spiritual heart to Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
Urgent Call for Intercessors
1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
The apostle Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy regarding the last days saying, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” (2 Timothy 3:1) The Apostle Paul is being led of the Holy Spirit to take the Body of Christ to the high level of intercession for those they love and for those in authority. The truths found in this portion of Scripture guide the children of God to a very effective form of public worship, an act of worship that comes from a heart that has learned the joy of both singing the praises of God and grasping the truths of worship in spirit and truth through prayer.
The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write “I urge” (parakaleo) to indicate the urgency of the need of prayer. This Greek word means to admonish or call someone to do something. It is like a mother looking out and seeing her two year old standing in the middle of a four lane highway. Because her hands are full with a baby and packages from the store, she calls out for someone to intervene.
Dr. Ralph Earle points out that Paul is giving Timothy instructions on public worship in today’s text. The Holy Spirit wants you to grasp this truth: our president and our country have great needs. Pastors are to call out for someone with ears to hear and a heart to obey to urgently pray.
Over the next several weeks we will be teaching on how American Christians can Biblically respond to Paul’s exhortation to urgently intercede for this great nation. Pastor Terry L Laughlin will be teaching Biblically on what, how and who Christians are to pray for. Most importantly, you will learn what can be accomplished if the Children of God walk in obedience in interceding for our leaders and this nation. Make Plans To: Learn How to Offer National Prayers Become Intercessors for America!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
National Prayer Warrior
1 Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
The first step in becoming a pleasing prayer warrior is to grasp the truths of four keys words regarding prayer in today’s key text.
The first word is “request” (deesis) giving us the application of presenting a special need or the intense needs of others by making the supplications with a sense of urgency. In keeping with our theme, it was the intense prayers offered up to the Lord for protection of our president when he was being flown around the USA in Air Force One, while our nation was being attacked on 9/11/2001.
The second word is “prayers” (proseuche) meaning to become a house of prayer. This is literally a house of prayer with set times to pray and involved in seasons of prayer. Compare this to a house that has everything set in place, everything being done in proper dependable order.
The third word is “intercessions” (enteuxis) and as it is used in 1 Timothy 2:1 it means praying according to God’s will (Zodhiates) and standing in the gap before God on behalf of others seeking His mercy and grace for them. In keeping with our theme today, it’s praying that God would bring America to repentance, God would put His protective hand around our president as He did King David, and that the Lord would give him wisdom.
The fourth word is “thanksgiving” (eucharista) meaning prayers that express thankfulness to God for hearing our prayers of faith in anticipation that He is going to work out all things for His glory and purposes.
Christianity Today had a quote from Karl Barth that should cause all Christians to grasp the power that is possible in offering prayers girded in these truths, “To clasp hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”
With These Truths in Your Hear You Can Offer National Prayers. Become Intercessors for America!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
National Foundation
Expressing Fear of the Lord
A nation with a firm foundation has Christians who have the heart of the Psalmist who wrote, “Teach me your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11) A nation that has a healthy foundation has Christians who fear the Lord and see acts of obedience to the Lord as a delight, not a burden. Psalm 112:1 says, “Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who find great delight in His commands.”
The foundation of this county is clearly spelled out in the words of her Founding Fathers. William Bradford who became governor of the Plymouth Colony describes the mission of the Pilgrims, “They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying a good foundation… for the advancement of the gospel of Christ in the remote parts for the world…” This is the heart beat of the “Great Commission.”
It is very evident that the men who God used to lay the foundation of this nation were men who had a fear of the Lord, men who knew God’s Word and hungered to achieve His will. George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” In his farewell speech of 1796 he said, “Of all habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. …Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” Thomas Jefferson said, “God… gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only basis… …I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”
We all must understand that back in the time of the laying a foundation for this nation, there were men who claimed to be God fearing and were not, just like it was in the time God was building and establishing the nation Israel.” However, there was that remnant whom truly feared the Lord, God honored them and did a mighty work through them. Jesus taught that their will only be a remnant today as well. (Matthew 7:14) Reverently Fear the Lord!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
Knowledge of God’s Word
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.”
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.
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. 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.
Medicine for America is Statesmen Who Know and Love God’s Word
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
A Vigilant Nation Lives In a Healthy Fear of the Lord
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)
The obvious question is, What is fear of the Lord? The fear of the Lord ranges from terror, (Daniel 5:6) to an awe or reverence (Malachi 2:5) which induces love or worship rather than terror. This is the very awe that every God fearing man should have before the Lord if he is going to be among the remnant that is going to be used of the Lord to maintain a lasting foundation for America. Solomon writes about the practical application of this fear, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) True Christianity produces a fear that induces a love for keeping the Lord’s commands and laws. Deuteronomy 5:29 says, “Oh that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that it might go well for them and their children.” Moses, led of the Holy Spirit writes just how a person can walk in reverent fear, “Assemble the people-men, women, and children, and the aliens living in the towns, so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 31:12)
2 Chronicles 26 records the reign of King Uzziah and we see he was a man who can accept instructions from a man of God named Zechariah. The Bible says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 26:4) Uzziah prospered in civilian and battle pursuits, including building and farming projects. He became a great military leader regaining land taken by hostile nations and he was able to hold off enemy attacks. Uzziah’s reign as king underscored the connection between a king’s and nation’s success with walking in fear of the Lord.
A vigilant nation has men, women and children who fear the Lord!
Recent Comments