Godly Guidance For Our Nation

Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV)

13 “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
    the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
    broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

In these verses, we hear the prophet Jeremiah telling Israel that they have forsaken the Lord and have tried doing things on their own.

This reminds me, as Christians, that we have to rely and trust in the Lord. He doesn't forsake us and we cannot forsake him and try to do life on our own.  

As we face an election year with all the turmoil and attacks, both in the media and by terrorists, I have to wonder, as we view America and its leaders, have we forsaken God? Are we trying to establish laws and policies on our own, without any input from God? Is this the reason why we, as a nation, are divided or in fragments? What do we, as a nation, look forward to?  Could it be found in Jeremiah 2:19 (NIV)?  Are we going to reap what we have sowed as a nation?  

I am not a doomsday person, but as I read the scriptures, I am reminded of the trouble our nation is in and the trouble that could be avoided.  We, as Christians, need to have an attitude of repentance and pray for God's mercy on our country and pray for Godly guidance for our leaders.  

Jeremiah 2:19 (NIV)

19 Your wickedness will punish you;
    your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realize
    how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
    and have no awe of me,”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

Common Sense; the Reprobate Mind

I have heard comments like this far too many times:

• "How could they think like that?"
• "That is not even common sense."

Maybe you have said something like that, or heard something close to it. Possibly when a politician or ruling authority makes a decision or ruling. IAnd even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;". In the margin of my bible it has a definition for "reprobate".  It says, "a mind void of judgment".  Or, we might say, common sense. 

n my bible reading the other day,  I was reminded of a verse.  Romans 1:28 KJV, "

In the first chapter of Romans we see how Paul writes that the people did not like to retain God in their knowledge and God gave them over to a reprobate mind.  Could that be the reason why we see such crazy decisions (or judgments) that lack common sense from leaders?  We have become a nation that does not honor God, or have just given lip service, certainly not worship to.  And now we have leaders and generations that have not honored God, but rather turned their back on Him.  And we have reaped a culture that is described in Romans 1:29-32. 

Romans 1:29-32    King James Version (KJV)

²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹ Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

 

This is not a doomsday message.  I still believe in the grace of God.  Judgment will begin at the house of God, but it will also visit our nation as well. 

 

1 Peter 4:17   King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

21 Seconds to Change Your World by Mark Batterson; A Book Review

The Lord's Prayer

Sometimes prayer is difficult for us to do.  But it really is easy if we would follow the instructions of Jesus found in Matthew 6: 9-13. 

In the book "21 Seconds to Change Your World" by Mark Rutland, you are shown just how easy it is to pray The Lord's Prayer for your life.  And if you consistently practice praying this prayer, you will find that God will answer this prayer and work in your life.  I, for one, do this every morning and can see that God is working in my life for His good.

Mark Rutland uses the King James Version (KJV) and points out this little twist that I enjoyed. 

Matthew 6:10 KJV, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Matthew 6:10 NIV, "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Most modern versions translate this verse like in the NIV.  But notice the difference in the KJV, "in earth" and the NIV, "on earth". 

Mark Rutland points out that we were made out of the earth.  So when we pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth" , we are praying for God's will to be done "in" us.  Maybe a technical point, but I like it. 

The other thing that I have learned through this prayer is the phrase "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."  I was filling in for a church last summer for 8 weeks and I heard a woman use the phrase, "I do not want my soul captured in sin."  I had never heard that phrase before and now I use it almost daily when I say this prayer.  I also use what I have learned from John Piper when I come to this phrase as well.  I pray that my joy would come from fellowship with Jesus, His Word, and the Holy Spirit.  So, I would encourage you to try this prayer and watch it change your life. 

Moving On - "Who Is This"

Song of Solomon 8:5  (KJV)

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

This verse comes to my mind as I watch a pastor friend leave a church he has pastored for 8 years to take another church across the country. I know he will do well, but the church he left now must choose a new pastor. I live in a town where it seems like on every corner there is a church and a chicken restaurant. And most of these churches are large churches, this particular church is approximately  100 to 130 and has carved out a nice niche in the community. All the while, it makes the hire of the new pastor so important. Whether or not the new pastor can build on what has already been done so the community will be able to say, "Who is this?".  Or if the church makes the wrong hire the community will say, "Who was that?".  You say, surely this could not happen but I reminded you of 1 Samuel 16: 6-7.  

1 Samuel 16:6-7New International Version (NIV)

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”  7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

 Remember it is the heart that matters, not the outward appearance and credentials.   Somewhere out there, there is a "David" that has been forgotten about.   

1 Samuel 16:11-13New International Version (NIV)

11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” 12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”  13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

So my prayer for this church is that God's will be done for this church, so the community will be able to rise up and say, "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning up on her beloved?".

"The Three Heavens" by John Hagee; a book review

I just finished the book "The Three Heavens Angels, Demons and What Lies Ahead" by John Hagee.  I was expecting to hear how Pastor John Hagee would interpret the bible's view of heaven and his personal view of heaven, which he did in this book.  I was not expecting Pastor Hagee to describe some personal experiences of spiritual warfare he has encountered in his ministry.  It was refreshing and eye-opening as Pastor Hagee explained some of his personal encounters of spiritual battles.  It was refreshing in the sense that it reminded me of how serious spiritual warfare really is.  It was eye-opening in the idea that we must be careful of what we allow in our lives that can be an open door for demonic spirits to attack or influence us.  I have heard these things before, but these were great reminders for me, especially in the hour we are living in. 

"The Three Heavens" by John Hagee

This book not only reminded me of the spiritual battle we are all involved in, but it also encouraged me with the fact that our home is in heaven.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  (Phil 3:20) It is a reminder that Jesus is preparing a place for us. (John 14:1-3) And that one day we shall see Jesus face to face. (1 John 3:2-3)

“I shall rise from the dead…I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines. I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began…No man ever saw God and lived. And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die.”

                                                                                    JohnDonne