National Day of Prayer
National Day of Prayer
Just because carnal men make a day and call it “A Day of Prayer”, it does not carry any weight with Almighty God. Prayer for America? Really? What, pray for bigger, better and more, prosperity galore? Today I feel much like Jeremiah in chapter 20 verse 9, a “burning fire shut up in my bones.”
Today national leaders will spout out meaningless heresies and blasphemies against a God they hate and to some god that does not even exist. If we want prayer, then where are the men and women who pray, seriously pray, in the early morning hours and late night hours crying out to be holy? Where are the prayers for the millions upon millions who are suffering for the namesake of Christ today? Where are the prayers today that cry out for us as individuals and as a nation to be made holy in God’s sight?
Pray for America? My prayers for America are simple: to have the millstone of God’s own hand pressed upon our very noses so that we would see sin for what it is and come to the true knowledge of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. I pray that the nation acknowledges her sin, casts out all the child and sex slavery, stops every lying, deceiving, self-indulging politian, stops the drug trade to which the government secretly makes billions, stops the extortion, corruptions, murders and conspiracies against her own people, stops the killing of millions upon millions of unborn. And even more so, I pray that the Lord Himself removes every false prophet, preacher, teacher, evangelist, priest who stands in pulpits across the nation, and even the world, who are masking themselves under the name of Christ and has done nothing than to deceive, rob and damn souls and hurt people because of their lying tongue and deceptive religion. All of the so-called “christian” media, whether it is TV, Radio or print, who begs for money and refuses to speak the whole council of God can be removed as well.
Pray for America, really? As the late Leonard Ravenhill has said, “We will either labor in prayer, or pray in labor camps.” Unfortunately, the later appears to be rapidly coming true.
“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
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Blessings in Christ.
The Place I Find Myself
The Place I Find Myself
This post may be one of real relevance in my life today. Over the last year I have spoken to and received emails from sincere Christians who have been burdened down by weights of many kinds. With the oppression of Satan waging such war on the children of God (Eph. 6:12), and this to varying degrees, from severe physical persecutions to the constant bombardment of pressure from the surrounding sin-filled culture to the repetitious cycle of doubt, worry and despair, no matter the season we are in, we must remember that hardship and persecution is a promise to those who “desire to live godly in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:12). As I talk with people and think of my own failures and short comings, I cannot help but to think upon the truths of Christ, the economy of God’s creation and my place in this time blot of eternity.
From Gods holiness flow all of His attributes – those very specifics about God that gives us a glimpse and a reference to His nature and character. In the midst of His incredible attributes we find His economy, His ways, and His very providence. In this I begin to find my detailed place in such a privileged life and His requirements of me.
In God’s omniscience, He knew just how far I would run in my self-exalting and sin-loving life. In God’s omnipotence, He poured the power of His Son’s Gospel unto my very soul. Through the propitiation of His Son, Jesus the Christ, He made His grace take on life inside of my darkened heart. For His grace appeared and shone forth bringing me salvation and training me to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions that controlled my life (Titus 2:11-14). God’s omnipresence became a very real power from which continually flows truth and life. For where can I go to flee from Him (Psalm 139:7-16) and if I were able to do such, why would I want to? He no longer was strife burning as a poison unto my soul, but He became a joy and all consuming fire of truth, life, peace, love and in expressible power. He put within me His Spirit and created in me a new heart (Ezekiel 36:22-32) – a heart that now lives to Him (Romans 6:11) and for Him, feels His pain and has had His laws written upon my conscious (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
From here I go to ponder all the stars that He has created, many more times numerous than the sands of all the sea shores combined. God not only knows the names of every star, but He created them all out of mere nothing. Even more so astonishing, and for many truly inconceivable, on one planet alone, He knows the number of every hair on every head of the trillions of people who ever lived (Matthew 10:30).
So in the midst of God’s providence and economy I find myself here and I ask Him, “What is it you require of me oh Lord?”
And His answer continues to come back, “Simply believe and trust upon My Son, love the Lord Your God, love others as yourself.”
I then ask of Him, “How shall I live? How shall I do such a thing as this?”
His reply, “By faith my son, by faith.”
I can’t help but then ask, “But what shall I do as I trust in You? How shall I live in You? How do I ‘carry-out’ the hope that is in me (1 Peter 3:15)?”
His reply, “Put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13), do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with Me (Micah 6:8), lose the bonds of wickedness, undo the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6[58:3-59:2]), boast only in knowing Me (Jeremiah 9:23-25) and never think of yourself more highly than you ought (Romans 12:3). Never, never, never forget, I work all things to the good, to the very image of My Son, to those who are called by Me and love Me (Romans 8:28-29). Now, be renewed of your mind (Romans 12:2) and present your entire body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, for this is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). For the only worship I receive is that which is in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Above all, love, for I am love.”
Beloved, in God’s economy and our place on this earth and in this time, let the love of God dwell in Christ Jesus and let His riches abound in you. May we realize His love for us to such a degree that we understand that He disciplines us because He loves us (Hebrews 12:3-17). If we truly understand this, we will sacrificially love the brethren and pray for those who persecute us and are wayward from Christ.
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:8-10
Beloved, what is your place in God’s economy? Here you may find your rest, your joy, your peace and your everlasting comfort.
Peace and blessings,
Jeremy Strang
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Simply the Gospel
Simply the Gospel
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Grace for the Weak and Tender
Grace for the Weak and Tender
“He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick.” Matthew 12:20
What is weaker than the bruised reed–or the smoldering wick?
A reed that grows in the marsh–let even a wild duck land upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it, and it is bruised and broken; every wind that flits across the river–moves it to and fro. You can conceive of nothing more frail or brittle, or whose existence is more in jeopardy, than a bruised reed.
Then look at the smoldering wick–what is it? It has a spark within it, it is true–but it is almost smothered; an infant’s breath might blow it out; nothing has a more precarious existence than its flame.
Weak things are here described–yet Jesus says of them, “I will not break a bruised reed; I will not put out a smoldering wick.” Some of God’s children are made strong to do mighty works for Him; God has His Samsons here and there–who can pull up Gaza’s gates, and carry them to the top of the hill; He has a few mighties who are lion-like men. But the majority of His people are a timid, trembling race. They are like starlings, frightened at every passer-by. They are a little fearful flock. If temptation comes–they are captured like birds in a snare. If trial threatens–they are ready to faint. Their frail skiff is tossed up and down by every wave; they drift along like a sea bird on the crest of the billows–weak things, without strength, without wisdom, without foresight.
Yet, as weak as they are–and because they are so weak–they have this promise made specially to them! Herein is grace and graciousness! Herein is love and loving-kindness! How it reveals the compassion of Jesus to us–so gentle, tender, considerate! We need never shrink back from His touch. We need never fear a harsh word from Him–though He might well chide us for our weakness. Bruised reeds shall have no blows from Him, and the smoldering wick no damping frowns!
- C. H. Spurgeon
