"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (Revelation 3:17, NIV)
Here I am in the last quarter of the month in the Book of Revelation. There is not a better description of the United States of America. This is the fiftieth anniversary of the rejection of the Bible in American schools. A people who take prayer and Bible reading out of their schools, a people who have murdered more people than Hitler and Stalin, a people who are, as Charles Colson said, "christianized versions of what they already were," and, yes, even a people who talk utter dependency upon God then act as though it is utter dependency on them, well, just look, read, or hear the news; it says it all.
But the sin and chaos is not just America's. "Please pray for the many Christians being killed in this country." This is the daily prayer focus for September 5 from Open Doors With Brother Andrew. The country? North Korea. Another indication of global deterioration is the fact that Iraq has moved from #9 on the worst persecutors of the Church to #4. This is, as Billy Graham once described it, "Planet in Rebellion." This is the result of man's embrace of the lie in the Garden and throughout human history, and, this is modern history, current events, if you will. God is not doing this. Man is doing this to himself. It is time to stop blaming God for the condition of the Earth and for all of us to take the responsibility, much as Daniel did, for the sins of our nations, indeed the world.
The only "remedy" is Jesus Christ and man's total submission to Jesus Christ as King, Lord, Savior. Now this sounds absolutely preposterous to know-it-all humanity; but it is Truth. I said to Sarah the other day that I was just so overwhelmed in praying for the global situation. I said I could run up and down the streets, preaching, handing out tracks, grabbing people, pleading with them, fly all over the world to every people group. But I was reminded by Jesus that the greatest "ministry," the greatest service which His Followers have is to pray the last part of our text for our communities, our nations, the world; therefore, Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that the whole earth will realize and confess just how, "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked," we are. I ask that we will have some insight into what you commanded the Laodicean Church, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." I pray continually, "For the sake of Your sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." Amen.
Here I am in the last quarter of the month in the Book of Revelation. There is not a better description of the United States of America. This is the fiftieth anniversary of the rejection of the Bible in American schools. A people who take prayer and Bible reading out of their schools, a people who have murdered more people than Hitler and Stalin, a people who are, as Charles Colson said, "christianized versions of what they already were," and, yes, even a people who talk utter dependency upon God then act as though it is utter dependency on them, well, just look, read, or hear the news; it says it all.
But the sin and chaos is not just America's. "Please pray for the many Christians being killed in this country." This is the daily prayer focus for September 5 from Open Doors With Brother Andrew. The country? North Korea. Another indication of global deterioration is the fact that Iraq has moved from #9 on the worst persecutors of the Church to #4. This is, as Billy Graham once described it, "Planet in Rebellion." This is the result of man's embrace of the lie in the Garden and throughout human history, and, this is modern history, current events, if you will. God is not doing this. Man is doing this to himself. It is time to stop blaming God for the condition of the Earth and for all of us to take the responsibility, much as Daniel did, for the sins of our nations, indeed the world.
The only "remedy" is Jesus Christ and man's total submission to Jesus Christ as King, Lord, Savior. Now this sounds absolutely preposterous to know-it-all humanity; but it is Truth. I said to Sarah the other day that I was just so overwhelmed in praying for the global situation. I said I could run up and down the streets, preaching, handing out tracks, grabbing people, pleading with them, fly all over the world to every people group. But I was reminded by Jesus that the greatest "ministry," the greatest service which His Followers have is to pray the last part of our text for our communities, our nations, the world; therefore, Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that the whole earth will realize and confess just how, "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked," we are. I ask that we will have some insight into what you commanded the Laodicean Church, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." I pray continually, "For the sake of Your sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
