What Can You Do to Heal Our Country?
2Ch 7:14 "If my people, which are called
by my name, shall 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."
This doesn't need a political rally.
Not a revival meeting. Not any organization at all. It doesn't need
the cooperation of Mormons, JW's, heretics of
any stripe, but is open to all men and women, boys and girls, of all
colors. If you are a heretic, you can still do it, and your unbelieving
prayers will not hurt any body, but God might graciously convert you,
especially if you pray and read the Bible. You do not even need to leave
your house. It is doable, personal, and private. Mt 6:6
"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in
secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee
openly." Nobody will become famous or make any money or sell any
books, but the effect on our nation could be enormous.
It is a call to those "called by God's
name" or "Christians," those who have been baptized in the name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No one needs to wait for someone else
or for somebody to "organize" it. We need to pray that God will
move by His spirit upon the hearts of God's people across the land, wherever
they might be.
It is a four point program for the healing of
America and everyone of the people "called by
God's name" can take part. Here are the four points of the program.
1. Humble yourself. Get off your
high horse. Admit that you don't know nearly what you need to know.
America is in bad spiritual condition. The churches are a mess, thinking
gain is godliness. Education is in a shambles. Almost 50 percent of
babies are born out of wedlock. National, State, and individual debt are
approaching catastrophe, violence and murder fill the land. Open
corruption is found at every level of government and corporate and personal
life. Pornography runs amok. Your life and the life of your
kids and your relatives are probably a mess or are fast heading that way.
Humble yourself. Fast and pray and get serious about God. We have nothing
to boast about before the world.
2. Pray. Get serious about
prayer. Make a list of a few things and people to earnestly pray about
every day. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Jesus is the only savior of men and
prayers must be made to the Father through Him. Whatsoever we ask
according to his will will be heard and
answered. Pray earnestly that God will reveal His truth to you as you do
this third point:
3. Seek the face of God: read the
Bible for the knowledge and presence of God can be found no place else.
America will not be saved by political action or at the voting booth, as
necessary as these are for a free people. We see the face of Jesus as in
a glass when we read the Bible in faith. Many who claim the name of
Christ have never read the Bible through even once. The greatest danger
that America faces is the terrible ignorance that the man and woman in the pew
have of Scripture and the prayerlessness that comes from it. Remember to
be patient, for God has no pleasure in fools and will only give His grace and
mercy to those who diligently seek Him.
4. Turn from your wicked ways. Here are
the Ten Commandments. Read what you need to repent of, for sin is
transgression of the law of God. These are all personal and committed by
individuals. Hence, each can be repented of individually. You do
not need to wait for someone else, for a great revival, or for somebody to
organize it, or for some famous preacher. The first thing you need to
diligently repent of is what comes into your mind when you get down to pray, for God is faithful. What is on your
conscience is the first thing to be dealt with. Ps 130:4 But there is
forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."
Perhaps you and I should make lists,
confronting our sins, asking God for forgiveness and strength to overcome them,
getting serious about the worship of God and godly living. If we sincerely do these things, one by one in our homes, when we
drive our cars [turn off the radio and players], when we have a few idle
moments. If we give ourselves to them, we have the promise of God
that He will:
1. Hear from heaven, the true center of
the world's government;
2. Forgive our sins--how they cry out
to heaven, but He will FORGIVE them!
3. Heal our land.
Every Christian, no matter how old or young,
how backslidden and compromised, no matter how feeble in their understanding
and faith--every one of us can be a part of this. Everyone who is serious
about the future of our country should be serious about this.
Is it a worthy motive for us to pray for the
healing of our country? Yes, because of the work of missions, the worship
of God on our Sabbath days, the education of our children, the restraint of sin
and lawlessness, deliverance from natural disasters and plague, and a great
many other things. God would not have called us in that great text quoted
above if He would not move us to pray for our land. Remember, if
only ten righteous souls had been found in Sodom, God would have delivered the
city. It is not in vain to repent and pray, for God delights in answering
prayer and forgiving sins.
I for one, am praying that God will touch the
hearts, beginning with me, softening our hearts and moving us to heed this
great invitation, promise, and exhortation of the Word of God.
God bless you every one! Amen and
Amen.
--by Bud Powell on Saturday, September 4,
2010 at 12:30am
