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First of All… Pray for Our Freedoms
Each January, after we smile and wish ourselves another “Happy New Year!,” many of us look about pensively and view the “free-world” of the West in rapid decline.
Consequently, each January, we would do well to remind ourselves of our year-long first-of-all calling to protect those freedoms.
Especially in America, “the last bastion of freedom,” our freedoms are fleeting. Every seam that unites us as "one nation under God" appears to be coming undone. History teaches us, that once a country forsakes its sense of national identity, a nation-wide unraveling is often not far behind.
Morally, economically, spiritually—our country is losing its way. And tragically, most good men and women who could provide leadership are either confused on the underlying issues, bound up in their own affairs, or simply afraid of becoming a political target. Our common enemy, on the other hand, is focused, well funded and well staffed.
Who can come to our aid in these troubled times?
When governments threaten the believers’ freedoms, Scripture tells us this: we are the men and women called to arise. We are to respond by prayer in the spirit.
II Timothy informs us that all believers share one, basic, vital responsibility to their country. And that is to intercede for their freedoms, so the Word can continue to be reach out.
II Timothy 2: I-3: [emphasis added]
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.
Under the grindstone of Big Government, the lowly citizen feels powerless to affect change. Yet—as a Son of God with Power—we have Christ’s authority to engage in the fight for freedom.
In truth, our spiritual influence over Satan's kingdom is so impactful, so significant, that the Apostle Paul exhorts us: make prayer the absolute "first of all" thing we do.
Certainly, there are countless things God would have you do in life. Yet, as He reveals here, there is no greater priority than prayer.
Why? Because, when we pray in the spirit, trusting God, His power is released to do precisely what He needs it to do. Prayer can be even more influential than running for political office and ‘setting the world on fire,’ as influential as that could be. But instead, by prayer, God’s fire is ignited!
Let’s examine this verse further.
For whom are we to pray?
"For kings, and for all that are in authority".
Why are we to pray for these governmental authorities?
"That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
It’s not enough to pray for the candidate we favor to win the election.
Of greater importance, we are to pray to restrain our governments from hindering God’s work, and us. This is Paul’s main thrust. Or, to put it bluntly—we pray that our governments will stay out of our lives—and our children’s lives—leaving us free on this earth. I say, “our children’s lives,” because if our children do not pray, we should pray in their stead. That’s something we can do for them and the other believing saints today.
Ephesians 6:18:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
We and our loved ones are just passing through Satan's kingdom. Yet, we are to consider ourselves ‘protected property’—God’s property! Specially set apart and sanctified, we are in this world but not of this world. As God's people, we are promised the Father's protection and prosperity. That is His Word’s guarantee.
Nevertheless, praying without faith, God’s promises can only sporadically come to pass. Lowering one’s shield of faith invites Satan’s attacks (Ephesians 6).
Prayer is the weapon we wield. It stands to reason, if God tells us His priority is our vigilance in prayer, then God’s priority must be to answer those prayers!
James 5:14, 15:
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Unsurprisingly, our greatest tool to protect our countries, our peoples, our families—is “the prayer of faith”! Of course, not a “beggars’ prayer” with weak-willed words, but with faith-filled boldness – standing on our Christ-bought authority with great expectation. As Jesus prescribes in Mark 11:23, speak to the problem.
We have the authority as men and women of God to command the protection and success for God's servants in today’s world. If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.
In the eyes of the watchmen, freedom stands at a crossroads in history, while America drifts listlessly toward the rocky crags. Freedoms hard-fought for are easily lost, and even more difficult to regain.
In these critical times, each of us shoulder a burden of responsibility. Our first-of-all responsibility to unborn generations is to pray—with believing confidence—for God to keep His promise: that God's people and their children “may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.”
-- Steve Sann
allbusiness7711@gmail.com
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Comments
Try this link:
https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen
Have you watched The Chosen? It's in your phone app store. It's just about God, Jesus and people. You might like it.
In my opinion, religious activists influenced by invisible conspiracy theories fighting invisible enemies are also a threat. Look at historical examples to see it in action. Look at how some of you were treated by The Way as further examples.
I prefer the sweet freedom FROM all religion and separation of church and state. Christianity IS a religion and also a huge $business$ that pays no taxes. Sweet deal for them.
Thankfully, there are many Christian organizations that are fighting for our freedoms from many different angles.
If anyone is interested, please consider Understanding The Threat and their Into Action training. For more info go to
https://understandingthethreat.com/
Laurie, that postcard from The Way is about 25 years too late. I encouraged them along these lines ages ago and wrote a letter to then President Rosalie Rivenbark about this and other suggestions I had. As any businessman knows, one of the best sources of new business is to solicit previous customers. Duh! LOL. Anyway, they kicked us out right after I wrote that letter. I'm CERTAIN I will never receive an invitation back.
In my opinion they will never have a resurgence. Too little too late. Maybe they need to keep acting like a 501 c3 nonprofit to satisfy the IRS. I wish them well. I hope they are able to fill up the cornfields once again. LOL.
PS - who sends out postcards anymore? Ha ha.
Hi Steve, God's more than abundant blessings to you in Christ. What has become increasing disturbing to me is the vast number of believers who have become right wing extremists, NRA supporters, election deniers and proponents of fake news. It has become challenging to be likeminded and to live the greatness of the mystery when they refuse to listen to reason. Racism and misogyny have no place in the grace administration for we are all one in Christ and have the same measure of faith. Has anyone received a post card from the Way International stating, "Time to come home?" on the front and, "Home is where the Word lives. Come and see. It's a new day at The Way." on the back? My husband Kevin Coggins and I both received post cards. Peace and love, Laurie
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the good Word! In this past week God has been reminding me from many sources to get back into the habit of praying for our country, the policies, the people, the plans, and doing it IN DETAIL. Looking back on when I did that consistently, I see that God really did change things. He can't "interfere" unless He has our invitation.
Blessings to you,
Rosann
The issue I have with this is I no longer believe that the Bible is God's Word. I believe it's a good book with some nice principles to live by and even teach children. But so do other books, holy or otherwise? To start with, there are no original texts as we were first taught in PFAL. It goes downhill from there over the centuries. The vast information we have today was not possible to find in 1974 or I might have chosen my "unbelief" much sooner. If you wish to attach a label to me, go ahead and choose Deist I suppose. I am certainly not a Christian. I believe in God but that's as far as I care to take it. Here are some of the many reasons behind my unbelief:
https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/reasons-humanists-rej...
That being said I respect a person's right to their beliefs even if they have no scientific, genealogical or archaeological proof. And more importantly, as long as they are not trying to mandate their belief on me or trying to create a culture that forces others to live by their belief as religions (including Christianity) have tried to do for centuries. I think some churches serve good a purpose and help people. But so do other non-religious groups. I read somewhere that one of the signs that a group is a cult is how they handle dissention. Do they allow a member to disagree with its beliefs?
It's clear that Christianity is shrinking in America while one of the fastest growing movements is "nones" or no religion at all. (I am among that group.) To think that the "free world is in decline" because of a lack of religion or a lack of "weaponized prayer" is a bit shallow in my opinion. Maybe the opposite is true.
Non-religious countries experience greater economic growth
Disclaimers:
1.) I mean no offense to those who believe otherwise.
2.) I admit could be wrong (but I don't believe I am).
3.) This is my choice at this time in my life.
God bless the world!
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