Prayer Targets: 'Demand' Prayer, September 9th, Political Conventions, Leo Johnson, Election Prayer
August 29, 2012
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn. Proverbs 29:2
Dear Praying Friends,
E.M. Bounds focused prayer on the Church and the advance of the Gospel. He knew revival in the Church would powerfully impact politics and government. Yet Bounds taught that God "demanded" men to pray for civil government and national affairs.
The people were infatuated by the glory of a kingdom with a human king, and were prepared to reject God as their king... They came to Samuel with the bold request, "Make us a king to judge us like all the nations."... The Lord [said]..."they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Hearken unto the voice of the people..."
"Samuel prayed..." It seemed that in every matter concerning this people...he must pray over it. How much more now when there was to be an entire revolution in the form of government...? National affairs need to be prayed over. Praying men are demanded to carry to God in prayer the affairs of government. Lawmakers, law judges, and law executives need leaders in Israel to pray for them. How much fewer the mistakes if there was more praying done in civil matters? ...
God must show so definitely and plainly His displeasure... that the people might know what a wicked thing they had done, even though God acceded to their request. They must [be made to know that] God still existed and [was involved] with this people, and...the affairs of the government... So he called upon God, and in answer God sent a tremendous storm of thunder and rain, which exceedingly terrified the people, and caused them to acknowledge their great sin in asking for a king... Samuel again prayed... and the thunder and rain ceased (E.M. Bounds, Prayer and Praying Men, Ch. 9).
Men must pray, and put strength and heart into their praying... Praying men are God's agents on earth, the representatives of the government of heaven, set to specific tasks on the earth... They are God's messengers, His watchmen, shepherds, workmen, who need not be ashamed... Christian men and women must primarily be leaders in prayer. No matter how conspicuous they may be in other activities, they fail if they are not conspicuous in prayer. They must give their brain and heart to prayer...
God's work in this world has two basic principles--God's ability to give and man's ability to ask. Failure in either one is fatal to the success of God's work on earth. God's inability to do or to give would put an end to redemption. Man's failure to pray would, just as surely, set a limit to the plan. But God's ability to do and to give has never failed and cannot fail; but man's ability to ask can fail, and often does. Therefore the slow progress which is being made toward the realization of a world won for Christ lies entirely with man's limited asking. There is need for the entire Church of God, on the earth, to [commit] itself to prayer. The Church upon its knees would bring heaven upon the earth (The Weapon of Prayer, Chapter 9, Prayerless Christians).
The propensity of people to backslide and to substitute faith in Almighty God for false hope and change promised by weak, misguided, and incompetent leaders is a sad theme repeated throughout history. "God must show...definitely and plainly His displeasure..." Those with spiritual eyes to see can discern moral and spiritual revolution afoot in America. As the political parties appeal to voters for control of our future, may we pray fervently to God, Who is our Hope and Deliverer!
September 9th iPledge Sunday - Home Groups welcome! Last week, we announced that home groups as well as church groups could sign up to participate in iPledge Sunday. Within hours many hundreds of small groups had signed up. On September 9th, FRC, AFA, and churches across America will host a live 90-minute "Simulcast" to inform, inspire and help Christians make a difference in November. Participants will take the "iPledge": 1) to Pray fervently for the nation and Elections; 2) to Prepare by recruiting two others to register and vote; and 3) to Participate by voting for candidates who will uphold Constitution and Biblical values. Time is short and people are busy. I am asking those who receive this prayer bulletin to recruit one pastor/church/small group to join us. Point friends to iPledgeSunday.org.
- May God infuse everything related to iPledge Sunday - First Baptist Charlotte from where it will be broadcasted, each participating church and home group, the program, the speakers, the prayer leaders, the intercessory prayer team, etc. - with power from on high. May God come on the scene in power as believers across America prepare to exercise their duty to vote for candidates who will advance righteousness in our nation! (1 Chr 12:32-33; Ps 119:126; Jer 4:2-4; 32:39-40; 35:15; Acts 6:7; 12:24; 2 Cor 9:10, 31; Heb 6:14)
Strategic Prayer for the Political Parties - FRC Action President Tony Perkins and the FRC Action Team were in Tampa last week, urging uncompromising support for Life, Faith, Family and Freedom in the 2012 GOP Platform. Experts say the FRC Action team helped keep the platform firmly pro-life v. abortion, pro-adult stem cell v. embryonic stem cell research (sadly, a federal appeals court last week ruled that taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research can continue), pro-marriage v. homosexual civil unions, and more. Tony secured language calling for stricter enforcement of laws against adult pornography. He surprised fellow delegates by proposing platform language calling the DC Council to enact laws to reflect the 2nd Amendment and Supreme Court decisions, supporting citizen's rights to own and bear firearms (in light of the recent shooting at FRC) (Pornography, Adult, Self Protection, Abortion, Stem Cells, Ruling).
- Thank God for every advance of righteousness in every party platform. May God prevent the advance of evil in any national party or platform. May He intervene to advance good and inhibit evil in the GOP and Democratic Party Conventions. "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people!" (Pr 11:19; 14:34; 29:2; Is 5:20; Mt 11:12; 1 Cor 15:57-58; 1 Tim 2:1 ; 1 John 3:7)
Leo Johnson, FRC Shooting - On August 15th, FRC's Building Manager, Leo Johnson, was shot by an intruder, Floyd Lee Corkins II. Corkins, who carried 46 rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches, was angry with FRC "policies." Leo is progressing well. He visited FRC last week, where colleagues expressed profound gratitude for his courage and sacrifice. Doctors expect Leo to regain full movement and feeling in his arm, a miracle given the quantity of bone lost. More surgeries and bone grafts may be required. Corkins pled "not guilty" to four charges last Friday (see Update, Hero, SPLC).
- Please pray that Leo's pain will continue to subside and that doctors will continue to be given wisdom to guide his treatment. Pray for justice and salvation for Corkins, and that SPLC and other groups that have fanned the flames of hate will repent! (Ps 25:18-21a; 103:2-5; Ecc 8:11-12; Mal 4:2; Mt 8:16-17; Lk 18:7-8; Acts 3:19)
Finally, here are more Election Prayer Initiatives to add to your list:
A Call to Prayer for America - October 20th, 2012, On the Washington Mall, West of the Capitol - African Strategic Leadership Prayer Network - www.aslpn.org.
Cry Out America - Awakening America Alliance - has been conducted annually on September 11, since 2001.
PRAY31 - Christian Endeavor International, organized in 1881 to train youth for ministry and mission, is organizing 1 million people of all ages to pray for one month.
David's Tent- From September 25-November 6th, believers from across America will take time to worship God in David's tent to be erected on the Ellipse - the ground just outside the White House's back yard. Focusing all their energies on day and night praise and worship, the Tent will be supporting all the prayer efforts and prayer meetings across the nation.
Thank you for praying!