Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…I have really been looking forward to writing this message for quite some time. There are so many ways I want to approach it, and that is still my biggest challenge, even right now. But I have decided that in the midst of this posting, I am going to embed a website that defines the source of my excitement. It is particularly powerful, and only about ten minutes in length, but I KNOW you will be glad you took the time. Please go to: www.thereturnwebsite.org, click on national and global day of prayer and repentance, then click on “watch announcement.”
The most relevant Scripture to use as a foundation for this message is 2 Chronicles, 7:14, but I want to put it in context before I quote the Scripture. So, (7:11-12) “Solomon just finished building the Temple of the Lord. He completed everything just as he had planned. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. (7:19-21) But if you abandon Me and disobey the laws and commandments I have given you, and if you go and worship other gods, then I will uproot the people of Israel from this land of mine that I have given them. I will reject this Temple I have set apart to honor My name. I will make it a spectacle of contempt among the nations. And though this Temple is impressive now, it will become an appalling sight to all who pass by.” (7:14) BUT, ‘If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins and heal their land.” (There is always a “BUT” between the wake-up call and the period of judgement.)
Let’s look at the parallels between this presentation and our country’s situation right now. Because of Solomon’s prayers, the Lord bestowed a great honor on him and the Israelites by choosing this Temple as His place of sacrifice. Likewise, on the evening of George Washington’s inauguration as our country’s first president, Washington, the Congress and his Cabinet adjourned to St. Paul’s Chapel, and on bended knee, dedicated our country to God. They asked Him to bless our country, and in return, they (and we) would fulfill His purpose of being “that shining light on the hill” by adhering to the Judeo-Christian principles on which our great country was founded. Other than ancient Israel, no other country besides America has been so abundantly blessed.
But, to whom much is given, much is expected. In both cases, the country being blessed was (is) expected to bring honor and glory to God. If that country turned away from His Word and His statutes, the blessings from heaven would stop, and that country could become subject to judgement. That is exactly what happened to ancient Israel when they refused to implement the age-old prophecy: “Repent! Turn from your Sin, and turn to God!” (Acts 3:19) Even after numerous wake-up calls, instead of repenting, they defiantly continued on a path of disobedience, idol worship, and paganism that led to their demise. Now let’s look at America.
America was a country whose founding documents were based on Judeo-Christian principles. Our founding fathers believed that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were inalienable rights endowed by our Creator. Our country was to be an experiment in democracy; we were to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But perhaps most importantly, we were to be a land of the free, and home of the brave. I believe that for the first two hundred years after our founding, we did try to be that “shining light on the hill.” Were we perfect? No! But I also believe that we did represent a force for good as we stood against dark movements that threatened to engulf the world.
So, you might be saying, “That’s well and good, but what happened? How did we get from that image to where we are today?” I will answer that by going back to the pivotal period of the 1960’s. If you remember, the 60”s gave us the Vietnam War and the resulting war protests, rock and roll, Woodstock, a burgeoning drug culture, free love and free sex. The early years of the next decade spawned the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision. By this time, time honored beliefs and traditions were being challenged, and were being eroded. Now add to that mix the introduction of computers, then laptop computers, the www, digital technology, video games, cell phones, smart phones, and social media. Now you have a glimpse of the co-conspirators that have turned our culture upside down. Isaiah 5:20 addressed this scenario: “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that light is dark and dark is light, and bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” That prophetic scripture defines our culture today. Unfortunately, politics have eroded what once was America. To further the liberal progressive agenda that is now on the table, the two biggest obstacles that stand in the way are the Word of God and our founding documents. Consequently, both are in the cross-hairs for an assault.
The Old Testament is a collection of historical events that either resulted in blessings or curses. If a person or country was in line with God’s will, they were blessed; if they were out of line with His will, the result was fire and brimstone, floods, wars, famines, pestilence, or other forms of judgement. But the good news is…God IS LOVE. His very essence is to love, to be merciful, and to forgive. “He doesn’t want to lose even one of His proudest creation” (US!) (2 Peter 3:9) The result? His mercy always trumps His judgement. Therefore, the age-old proclamation: “Repent! Turn from your sins and turn to God!” He wants to give us another chance.
Needless to say, our country has drifted far from both the vision that inspired its founding, and the covenant that was made on bended knee in St. Paul’s Chapel. And even worse, we have expunged God from our midst. Human wisdom has been exalted; God has been discarded. Can you see why God would lift his shield of protection from our country? Jonathan Cahn, Messianic Rabbi and author of “The Harbinger” (and “Harbinger II”) points out that 9/11 was our country’s wake-up call. After a wake-up call, there is a window of time for repentance. After 9/II, there appeared to be a spiritual renewal in our country, but it didn’t last. After about a month, it was business as usual…without repentance. Unfortunately, there can be no revival without repentance.
The reason for the embedded video is to inform you of what is taking place right now. For years there has been an intercessory prayer movement that has been focused on restoring the spiritual and moral values that have been eroded from our culture, and carrying the message of hope and salvation to those who are lost. Sept. 16th was Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year). The next ten days are days of repentance and introspection before Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). This is a day of sacrifice and forgiveness of sin. This is also the day when “The Return” takes place in Washington DC.
Prayer is the only answer to, not only our nation’s problems, but the world’s problems. The crux of the problems are spiritual in nature, so no person or government is the answer. Spiritual problems can only be resolved supernaturally. But the truth is, God does respond to prayer. Think of Abraham’s influence on God when he prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah.
Will you join us for intercessory prayer leading up to September 26th? Consider it an honor to be part of “The Return” movement. James tells us that “the prayers of the righteous avail much”, so this is your invitation to join your Brothers and Sisters in Christ as we call on the Holy Spirit to open the minds and hearts of those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37)
Feel free to respond to this message, and please share it with other social media friends.
May God Bless You abundantly)
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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