God Bless America?

The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)

Hundreds of politicians give speeches everyday ending with "May God Bless America!" This once fervent prayer has become just another closing line in a political speech. It's standard--it's expected--it's meaningless. Why would God bless America? He has said He would bless those who bless Israel, yet our firm support of God's chosen people is crumbling before our very eyes. We do not honor God by our words or actions, and we daily pass laws that demonstrate that the heart of this country is far from Him. America is no longer the Good Samaritan, providing help to the helpless and oppressed while everyone else looks away. Political calculations stand in the way of compassion. As Christians, are we powerless to change this? Our sin is greater than that of the politicians, for we have neglected to stand up for God in our culture. God has said, "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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." May God forgive America. May God forgive us.

 

The Peace of Jerusalem

"The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV)

Who is standing up for God's chosen people today? Israel is fighting for her right to exist: defending herself against her enemies--enemies who have stated that their purpose is to destroy The Jewish State. Democratic leaders in Europe have condemned Israel for doing what it needs to do to secure peace against a ruthless enemy--so ruthless that it hides behind it's own civilians to wage war. The government of the United States has always stood with Israel--are we standing with her now? Our leaders say they support Israel on one hand, yet they view them as the aggressor in this conflict with Hamas, an acknowledged terrorist group. My question is, "Where is the Church?" Why is there no outcry from Christian leaders? If no one else stands by Israel, the Church surely should! Have we bought into the news media's version of the truth? You don't have to dig very deep to discover that there is bias there. Are we afraid to align ourselves with what is right, even if it is unpopular? Even if we might be persecuted for our stand? Many American Christians think they are immune to persecution, but persecution is coming. WAKE UP! Do we fear God or man? Will we bless Israel or curse her?

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure." Psalm 122:6

 

Blessing or Curse?

"The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV)

God says a lot in these three little verses. First of all, it is God who gave the land to Israel and promised to make them into a great nation. Do we believe this? There are many today who question Israel's right to defend their land and people against those whose aim is to destroy the Jewish State. Secondly, there is a predetermined outcome for those who bless or curse Israel. Genesis 12:3 brings up more questions than answers. Our nation has always supported God's chosen people and has been greatly blessed in doing so. Is that about to change? Will God remove His hand of blessing on America? Will She be cursed for aligning herself with Israel's enemies? What about those of us who call ourselves "Christian"? Are we standing up for Israel in this current crisis? Will we be "blessed" or "cursed" according to our response? If we remain silent, what does that say to the rest of the world? The alarm is going off. It's time to wake up!

 

What to Fear

"The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe." Isaiah 8:11-14 (NLT)

In these days, we can find much to fear--an increasingly unstable world, chemical and nuclear weapons in the hands of evil men, uncertain financial markets, the threat of terrorism. The world is looking for whatever will bring them peace. Will we react as the world does or will we take these words of Isaiah to heart. Don't think like the rest of the world thinks--don't fear what the rest of the world fears. Make God holy in your life--fear Him and He will keep you safe.

 

The Proper Perspective

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff."

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing...

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." Isaiah 40:21-27, 28 (NIV)

 

Rejected?

"For the LORD has rejected his people, the descendants of Jacob, because they have filled their land with practices from the East and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do. They have made alliances with pagans. Israel is full of silver and gold; there is no end to its treasures. Their land is full of warhorses; there is no end to its chariots. Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands.

So now they will be humbled, and all will be brought low—do not forgive them.

Crawl into caves in the rocks. Hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the glory of his majesty. Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment. For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. Isaiah 2:6-12 (NLT)

Has God rejected America? We once called ourselves "One Nation Under God". He rejected Israel for the very things we see in our country today. We are rich and powerful, we have made alliances with pagan nations and even allow practices from the east (yoga, for example) in our churches! We idolize greed, prestige, and entertainment. Will God not judge us by the same standards He applied to His own people?

Urgent Call to Prayer

Dear Friends,

I praise God that He has given this message to Anne Graham Lotz to remind people everywhere that we must humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways so that God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). This is an urgent message that we must take seriously. Please pray, wherever you are, that God will bring a great awakening, not just to America, but to every nation. Nothing is too difficult for Him!

http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/events/urgent-call-to-prayer/?utm_source=2014-06-21+Prayer+Alert+-+Urgent+Prayer+Request+from+Anne+Graham-Lotz&utm_campaign=Prayer+Alert+2014-06-21&utm_medium=email