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Thursday, May 3, 2012
Variegated tulips on the grounds of Hotel Hershey.
Listen
to this
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"The Blessing Of Prayer"
"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" (1 Timothy 2:1,2). "If my people, who are called by my Name, will 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" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Today is the National Day Of Prayer here in the USA. All over the country groups will be gathering to pray and for many the focus will be spiritual revival and a return to God's ways. Our country is in desperate need of divine intervention!
Here in Lancaster County we have a very well planned day of prayer with a rally tonight at Lancaster Bible College where David Jeremiah, a veteran pastor, will speak.
Our
encouragement messages go out to believers in many different countries
so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers
regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other
countries
that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in
America. However I genuinely believe this is a very important
day
here in the country where God has providentially ordained that I should
live out my life on this earth. Wherever you may live you should pray
for your country and every point we make today will apply
regardless of your location.
America is in deep trouble and is in need of genuine repentance. Although there is an active remnant of true believers, the vast majority of our population gives little or no attention to God. Our government and court systems increasingly pass laws and policies that will surely lead to persecution for the believers. Our arts and entertainment industry is a cesspool of immorality. Broken marriages and troubled households abound and in recent years a massive effort is being made to drastically redefine the God ordained institution of holy marriage. Violence fills the land. Our educational system has been very successful at breaking down the moral constraints. Brooksyne and I see this brokenness first hand in our ministry to the workplace, but it's evident to anyone who turns on the news or reads a newspaper. I believe one of the greatest evidences of this escalating trouble is spiritual blindness.
I have often pondered the daily verse and committed it to memory many years ago. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple is being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God's Name.
The phrase "My people"
in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people
and their specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive
error
when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God's land in
the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers
foundationally hold heavenly
citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship).
Having said that, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that "My people" today refers to the redeemed in Christ who live throughout the world.
God requires these conditions of His people:
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we come into Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts and
give You praise. We ask you to be merciful to our land because You are
a loving,
forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a
people of
prayer, devotion, and denial of self. We pray for our land
to repent of neglect and
defiance of Your holy commands. In the name of Jesus we come
against the powers of darkness that
seek to engulf the light of Your salvation that brings help, hope, and
forgiveness to sin sick souls and secures their eternal dwelling in
heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we
want to
be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the
harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the
name
of Jesus. Amen.
Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Day Of Prayer Song" Video Arnie McCall
"If My People" Video Men's chorus
"If My People Pray" Video Avalon
"What if My People Pray" Video Casting Crowns
"Jesus Saves" Video Travis Cottrell
"Search Me, Know Me" Video Kathryn Scott
<Previous Message Next Message
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Variegated tulips on the grounds of Hotel Hershey.
Listen
to this
message on
your
audio player."The Blessing Of Prayer"
"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" (1 Timothy 2:1,2). "If my people, who are called by my Name, will 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" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Today is the National Day Of Prayer here in the USA. All over the country groups will be gathering to pray and for many the focus will be spiritual revival and a return to God's ways. Our country is in desperate need of divine intervention!
Here in Lancaster County we have a very well planned day of prayer with a rally tonight at Lancaster Bible College where David Jeremiah, a veteran pastor, will speak.
Our
encouragement messages go out to believers in many different countries
so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers
regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other
countries
that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in
America. However I genuinely believe this is a very important
day
here in the country where God has providentially ordained that I should
live out my life on this earth. Wherever you may live you should pray
for your country and every point we make today will apply
regardless of your location.America is in deep trouble and is in need of genuine repentance. Although there is an active remnant of true believers, the vast majority of our population gives little or no attention to God. Our government and court systems increasingly pass laws and policies that will surely lead to persecution for the believers. Our arts and entertainment industry is a cesspool of immorality. Broken marriages and troubled households abound and in recent years a massive effort is being made to drastically redefine the God ordained institution of holy marriage. Violence fills the land. Our educational system has been very successful at breaking down the moral constraints. Brooksyne and I see this brokenness first hand in our ministry to the workplace, but it's evident to anyone who turns on the news or reads a newspaper. I believe one of the greatest evidences of this escalating trouble is spiritual blindness.
I have often pondered the daily verse and committed it to memory many years ago. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple is being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God's Name.
The phrase "My people"
in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people
and their specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive
error
when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God's land in
the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers
foundationally hold heavenly
citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship). Having said that, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that "My people" today refers to the redeemed in Christ who live throughout the world.
God requires these conditions of His people:
- Humble themselves
- Pray
- Seek My face
- Turn from their wicked ways
- Then will I hear from heaven
- And will forgive their sin
- And will heal their land
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father,
we come into Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts and
give You praise. We ask you to be merciful to our land because You are
a loving,
forgiving God. You have called on us, Your children, to be a
people of
prayer, devotion, and denial of self. We pray for our land
to repent of neglect and
defiance of Your holy commands. In the name of Jesus we come
against the powers of darkness that
seek to engulf the light of Your salvation that brings help, hope, and
forgiveness to sin sick souls and secures their eternal dwelling in
heaven. Help us not to grow weary in our intercession, for we
want to
be faithful in prayer so that, at a future date, we will witness the
harvest of souls. We pray for Your will to be accomplished in the
name
of Jesus. Amen.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Day Of Prayer Song" Video Arnie McCall
"If My People" Video Men's chorus
"If My People Pray" Video Avalon
"What if My People Pray" Video Casting Crowns
"Jesus Saves" Video Travis Cottrell
"Search Me, Know Me" Video Kathryn Scott
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
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