"CODE RED"
Let us Intercede
For America
God addressed
Israel in the following famous passage but the timeless principle
is apropos to believers in America ...
If I shut up the heavens so
that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the
land, or if I send pestilence among My people,
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves
and pray, and seek My face and turn from
their wicked ways,
then I will hear
from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land. (2Chr 7:13, 14)
J. Barton Payne writes that "This great verse, the best
known in all Chronicles, expresses as does no other in Scripture
God’s requirement for national blessing, whether in Solomon’s
land, in Ezra’s, or in our own. Those who believe must forsake
their sins, turn from the life that is centered in self, and yield
to God’s word and will. Then, and only then, will heaven send
revival."
May God grant His children
grace to plead for a Spirit driven, God glorifying, Word centered,
Christ exalting revival of the Body of Christ in America.
First of all, then, I urge
that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made
on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in
order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness
and dignity. (1Ti 2:1,2)
Our Heavenly Father
desires to hear His children cry out with "fasting, sackcloth and
ashes" (Da 9:3), reflecting not the external appearance of our
bodies, but more accurately the internal condition of our hearts -
sinful (Da 9:5 - "we" not "they"!), rejecting His Holy Word
(Da 9:6-"we"), shameful (Da 9:8-"us"), contrite, and
broken (Ps 51:17), over our national rejection of God's righteous
and holy Name...
Daniel's prayer (Da
9:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) is
an excellent "template" for all saints to emulate as we begin to
intercede with a sense of urgency for
America and especially for God's Name and reputation considering
that the world thinks of us as a "Christian nation" and we once
called ourselves "One Nation Under God"!
Matthew Henry's comments
on Lev 26:40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 (directed first to Israel but
applicable to any nation that rejects Him)
Among the Israelites, persons
were not always prosperous or afflicted according to their
obedience or disobedience. But national prosperity was the
effect of national obedience, and national judgments
were brought on by national wickedness. Israel was under a
peculiar covenant.
National wickedness will end
in the ruin of any people,
especially where the Word of God and the light of the Gospel are
enjoyed.
Sooner or later, sin will be
the ruin, as well as the reproach, of every people.
Oh that, being humbled for
our sins,
we might avert the rising storm before it bursts upon us!
(Note: Henry's comments
were published in 1706 and national revival, the
First Great Awakening,
occurred in the 1730's and 1740's! Brethren, there is hope because
there is a "God of hope"! Ro 15:13)
God grant that we may, in this
our day,
consider the things which belong to our eternal peace.
Righteousness exalts a
nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
Proverbs 14:34
My (Our) soul cleaves
to the dust;
Revive
me (us) according to Thy word.
