by Terry Laughlin | Apr 20, 2016 | Patriotism
Medicine for America
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.”
The term “chosen people” which used to apply only to Israel now in this dispensation of grace is applied to all both Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles. The term “belonging to God” is literally “obtaining or preserving” a people called to do service unto the King of kings. The ultimate price paid upon the Cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ purchased for God a people who will give praise to Him, do good works for the glory of Christ and enables Christians to offer their bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:15-16; Romans 12:1)
These “peculiar people” are obedient to the exhortation of the Apostle Paul, “I urge… that prayer, intercession …be made for kings and all those in authority…” (1 Timothy 2:14) True Christians are a chosen people, called by the Name of the Lord that 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. All true servants of the Lord in their relationship with God and Christ Jesus are to be consecrated to the Lord’s work of prayer. Medicine for America begins with a peculiar people, Christians who will intercede on behalf of the glory of Christ and God’s will to be done in this nation.
“Are you one of God’s Peculiar People?”
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
As a Christians Banner
Psalm 20:5 says, “May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!” The word banner (דָּגַל dāg̱al) is a verb meaning to carry a flag, a standard, a banner: to distinguish. It indicates the display of a symbol of loyalty and commitment to the Lord for His victories. God’s people are to show their loyalty to the Lord by raising their flags (banners) in His name. (Expositors Bible Commentary; Matthew Henry Commentary)
Countries design and display flags, not just to have something to fly in the air but to make a particular statement. Much time and money is invested in the design of a flag. Everyone who sees a flag displayed should know from that symbol just what the country stands for. Many Americans display flags outside their homes to show national loyalty, cultural pride, or affiliation with specific interest groups and organizations.
The American flag was designed as a banner to celebrate America’s freedom, but also stands as an icon of world diplomacy. (Flags and Their Importance, United States Flag Store) The Word English Dictionary says that to fly the flag “is to represent or show support for one’s country, an organization, etc.”
On June 14th, 1777 the Continental Congress passed a resolution, “The flag of the United States will be thirteen stripes, alternating red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, which will represent a new constellation.” (Journals of the Continental Congress, Vol. VIII, p. 464, June 14, 1777) “Since that time, generations of Americans have celebrated the flag as a symbol of our God-given freedoms, as well as being a God-blessed nation. In every American military campaign, the flag has been a symbol of our freedom.” (David Barton, The Real Story Behind Old Glory – 06-11-2012)
You might be interested in some U. S. flag facts, “The National Flag Day Foundation holds an annual observance for Flag Day on the second Sunday in June. The program includes a ceremonial raising of the flag, recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance with singing of the National Anthem. The week of June 14 is designated as ‘National Flag Week.’ During National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of the week. The flag should also be on all government buildings” (Wikipedia, Flag Day) The Pledge of Allegiance spoken during the ceremony says, “I pledge alliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” (Celebrating America’s Freedom, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) The national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner is sung at the annual ceremony as well. In the 4th stanza are these words, “Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” (National Anthem – United States Of America Anthem Text Lyrics / Metro-lyrics)
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
God’s Voting Guide
It is that time when Americans are given the opportunity (and responsibility) to vote for those who hold public offices. This privilege is given to us by God for it is He who raised this form of government in our country through our Founding Fathers. Many of them had a reverent fear of the Lord. George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” Romans 13:1 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
The Lord had called forth a great leader, Moses, to deliver His people from the hand of Pharaoh who had held God’s people in bondage. After their deliverance and 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… such as [believes] there is a God above them, whose eye is upon them, to whom they are accountable….”
At this critical time America needs men and women who will rule this nation in the fear of God. 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 the following: “When you become entitled to exercise the right to voting for public offices let it 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…”
God’s voting guide directs you to vote for persons 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) The Lord God desires that we elect persons that will stand firmly on what is right and true according to God’s Word…men and women who publicly confess Him and long to make decisions according to His will. Vote to please Him!
The God who created the universe and raised up America has from the time of the prophet Samuel given the people of God the privilege to choose their leaders. (1 Samuel 8) The Bible also warns and records the bad things that came upon the people because a unrighteous leader came to governmental power. The Word of God also teaches the blessing that came upon the people because a man who fears the Lord came into a place of leadership. (1 and 2 Kings) The Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, …From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all of mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live upon the earth.” (Psalm 33:12-14)
God has always raised up possible rulers: Those who serve themselves, taking from the people of God (1 Samuel 8) or rulers who rule in the true fear of the Lord. Which one will you vote for?
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
God Rules 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.”
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.”
Psalms 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.”
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 national leaders, “Americans do not consider ourselves 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.)
Americans need to become wise – they need to do the hard work of study, find out what our founding father truly believed. Take God at His Word, repent, turn to Christ and beseech God to intervene for our nation once again.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
To Christians:
Are You Fireworks or Eternal Flames?
There’s something magical about those brilliant colors exploding against the dark sky. But there’s a problem with fireworks. They don’t last. They go up, burst brightly, make some noise and disappear even as the “oohs and ahs” fade away. The same is true of many of the “fireworks” experiences in our lives. We fight and struggle for things that seem beautiful and alluring, but after we get them, their appeal disappears, just like fireworks. Maybe it’s a shiny new car or speedboat. Maybe it’s a big, impressive house. It might even be a promotion at work or a prestigious career.
So many of the things of this world are like fireworks. They promise happiness and fulfillment but can’t deliver. TV commercials play on our emotions, making us believe that if we drive a certain kind of SUV or clean our floors with their super-efficient mop, we’ll be happy at last. More often than not, all we feel is disillusioned.
If you’ve had enough of these “fireworks” experiences and the letdowns that follow, I challenge you to pursue the only thing in life that doesn’t disappoint: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The astounding thing about loving God is that it actually gets better every day. Once you give your heart to Jesus, you’ll have joy and contentment that lasts into eternity, and you’ll never want to go back to “fireworks” experiences again. Pursue being an “eternal flame” Christian.
It was a torridly hot afternoon on July 3, 1938, when former Union and Confederate soldiers met to dedicate the “Peace Eternal in a Nation United” memorial on the Gettysburg, PA battlefield during the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the battle. President Franklin D. Roosevelt lit the eternal flame.
Probably the most well-known in the U.S., the eternal flame to commemorate President Kennedy in the United States lighted in 1963, was the first time in the world that an individual person was given such an honor.
Eternal flames exist nature as well, as by-products of natural gas deposits leaking through the ground.So, the question is raised: Are you a “fireworks” Christian, burning brightly, quickly, when emotions are high, but fizzling out as quickly when trials and temptations come? Or are you an “eternal flame” Christian that walks faithfully with God every day, all the days of your life as an authentic “light of the world?” (Matthew 5: 14)
“The Father … does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all He created.” (James 1:-17-18)
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
Beseeching for a Spiritual Awakening
Unlike the spiritual and political leaders of Israel, a nation that is vigilant has Christians and leaders who are not blinded by their sin. People who have a Biblical understanding about the heart of mankind find joy in what the prophet Joel wrote, “Even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning… Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (Joel 2:12-13)
The phrase, “Return to the Lord your God” was well known to Israel and is illuminated in the heart of the born again Christian. This phrase testifies to a conventional relationship between God and mankind whom have come to God in Christ’s name in a heart of repentance. True repentance leads a people and a nation to enjoying the graciousness and compassion of the Lord, which enables a vigilant nation to rest in the abounding love of God.
A vigilant nation has leaders like Abraham Lincoln who designated Thursday, April 30, 1863 as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. He wrote, “It is the duty of nations as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth announced in Holy Scriptures and proven in all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. The awful calamity of the Civil War that now desolates the land may be but punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to bring us to a needful national reformation as a whole people. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity to pray and too proud to pray to the God who made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves, before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and prayer for clemency and forgiveness.”
Americans Become Vigilant
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