How to Pray For America
Dr. George Bannister
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“How to Pray For America”
Exodus 33:12-23
12 One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’
13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.
16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”
18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
19 The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.
20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.”
21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock.
22 As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
23 Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”
INTRODUCTION:
Video Illustration: “God Bless The USA”
“Man is never so tall as when he kneels before God-never so great as when he humbles himself before God. And the man who kneels to God can stand up to anything”. -Louis H. Evans
“Prayer is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold of God's willingness.” -Phillips Brooks
“The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but un-offered prayer.” -Philip Melanchthon
“Behind every work of God you will always find some kneeling form.” -Dwight L. Moody
I. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BEGIN BY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHERE HER FREEDOM COMES. (Exodus 33:13)
I. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BEGIN BY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHERE HER FREEDOM COMES. (Exodus 33:13)
13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
A. America’s freedom comes from the Lord.
A. America’s freedom comes from the Lord.
1. (2 Corinthians 3:17 )
17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2. (John 8:36 )
36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
B. America’s freedom is dependent upon obeying God.
B. America’s freedom is dependent upon obeying God.
1. (James 1:25 )
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
2. ( John 8:32 )
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
II. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BE MOTIVATED BY THE RECOGNITION THAT SHE HAS DANGEROUS ENEMIES . (Exodus 33:14-15)
II. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BE MOTIVATED BY THE RECOGNITION THAT SHE HAS DANGEROUS ENEMIES . (Exodus 33:14-15)
14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.
A. Sin is an enemy that will destroy America.
A. Sin is an enemy that will destroy America.
1. (Proverbs 14:34)
34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
2. (Judges 2:11-14 )
11 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal.
12 They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.
13 They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.
14 This made the Lord burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them.
B. Prayerlessness is an enemy that will destroy America.
B. Prayerlessness is an enemy that will destroy America.
1. (Ezekiel 22:30-31 )
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.
31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
2. God does nothing but in answer to prayer. -John Wesley
III. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BE ANCHORED IN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CERTAIN THINGS (Exodus 33:16-18)
III. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BE ANCHORED IN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CERTAIN THINGS (Exodus 33:16-18)
16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
17 The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”
18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
A. The will of God being fulfilled in the world of men.
A. The will of God being fulfilled in the world of men.
1. (Matthew 6:9-13 )
9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
B. The Will of God being done in our own lives.
B. The Will of God being done in our own lives.
1. (Psalms 119:45 )
45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
2. (Galatians 5:13 )
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
C. The Choice to return to God in the areas in which we have strayed.
C. The Choice to return to God in the areas in which we have strayed.
1. (Jeremiah 2:21 )
21 But I was the one who planted you, choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best. How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?
2. (Jeremiah 4:1-2 )
1 “O Israel,” says the Lord, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.
2 Then when you swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name.”
3. (Jeremiah 24:7)
7 I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.
D. The Prayer support of those who serve us in leadership of all arenas.
D. The Prayer support of those who serve us in leadership of all arenas.
1. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 )
1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
CONCLUSION:
A clergyman from New York, during a call on President Lincoln at the White House said: "I have not come to ask any favors of you, Mr. President; I have only come to say that the loyal people of the North are sustaining you and will continue to do so. We are giving you all that we have, the lives of our sons as well as our confidence and our prayers. You must know that no boy's father or mother ever kneels in prayer these days without asking God to give you strength and wisdom."
His eyes brimming with tears, Mr. Lincoln replied:
"But for those prayers, I should have faltered and perhaps failed long ago. Tell every father and mother you know to keep on praying, and I will keep on fighting, for I know God is on our side."
As the clergyman started to leave the room, Mr. Lincoln held him by the hands and said: "I suppose I may consider this as sort of a pastoral call?" "Yes," replied the clergyman. "Out in our country," replied Lincoln, "when a parson makes a pastoral call, it was always the custom for the folks to ask him to lead in prayer, and I should like to ask you to pray with me today. Pray that I may have the strength and the wisdom."
The two men knelt side by side, and the clergyman offered the most fervent plea to Almighty God that ever fell from his lips. As they arose, the President clasped his visitor's hand and remarked in a satisfied sort of way: "I feel better."