National day of Prayer - my comments
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Presidential National Day of Prayer… what is the true purpose?
Presidential National Day of Prayer… what is the true purpose?
I call upon ‘true’ Christians or Believers of Christ to critically evaluate the call for a national day of prayer by the Zimbabwean president before plunging themselves headlong into a Den of Lions. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/11/c_139132111.htm
"As your president, during this very difficult season in which our nation and indeed the world, face the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic; I am humbled to invite you all, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to take time in prayer and fasting as a nation before the Almighty God, to seek his mercy, wisdom, help and healing to overcome this deadly pandemic," Mnangagwa said at a press conference Thursday.He said he will lead the national day of prayer and fasting at State House, with the nation following the event on national television and other online platforms.Mnangagwa said citizens should participate in this event as families and in small groups not exceeding 50 people while observing precautions to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.
While the call seems to be noble on the surface, it screams of helplessness and desperation, and may not necessarily reflect sincere surrender to the will of God. If Zimbabwe was well Governed, with fairness, equality, dedication, and full protection of the citizenry’s rights, it is most unlikely that this is the sort of person who would take this route. I say this based on established historic facts, including leading government machinery in the killing of many Ndebele people during the gukurahundi. We all know that no true forgiveness has been sought, responsibility not taken, compensation not paid and justice not served. There are many other unGodly acts that have been done which I need not mention. Under his presidency (regardless of how he got it), Zimbabweans have continued to be neglected, starved, hunted down, abducted, tortured, raped, murdered and many falsely imprisoned. Now that the economy has literally collapsed beyond recovery due to looting, theft, misappropriation, misuse, neglect, and corruption.... leaving nothing for his cronies to steal except donations, there is a sudden realisation that prayer might help? Let’s go into the bible to seek some wisdom concerning this matter.
Fact 1
The bible encourages us to pray … even in times of trouble. James 5:13, Psalm 4:1
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Fact 2
Prayer is not for times of trouble alone. Seek the Lord always 1 Chronicles 16:11; Pray continually (without ceasing) 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Be devoted Colossians 4:2
11 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
17 pray without ceasing,
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Fact 3
Prayer has its preconditions otherwise its a wasted effort, and may offend God…
Be righteous - (be right in the eyes of God) .. Mat 5:20; Love God with all your, heart, soul and mind and also love your neighbour as yourself Matthew 22:37-40; Follow the commandments 1 John 3:22
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
Be forgiving (in sincerity not acting!). if you cannot forgive those that trespass against you, God has no forgiveness to offer you.. Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Be sincere in your motives (don’t ask for things that you intend to spend on your lusts) - James 4:2-3
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Believe .. Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Be Thankful Colossians 4:2
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Allow yourself to be led by the holy spirit Romans 8:26-27; Do not grieve the holy spirit (there is no forgiveness for that!) Ephesians 4:29-31
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Ephesians 4:29–31 (NKJV)
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Fact 4
God does not listen to, or answer prayers that do not fulfil the preconditions described above;
He is far from the wicked Proverbs 15:29, Proverbs 15:8
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
He listens to those who call him in truth Psalm 145:18
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
Caution to believers:
Caution 1 - do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Caution 2
Do the people that call you to prayer fulfil the pre-conditions of prayer as discussed above? it is important to be alert in case you find yourself partaking in satanic rituals and devilish schemes that intend to dupe the un-elect.
Caution 3
Paul, in 1 Timothy 2:1-2, writing to Timothy, advices him to ‘Pray for all Men’, including the rulers, that there be peace. This is a continual duty of all well meaning believers, and should not be confused with ‘national calls for prayer’. It is meant to ask God to allow conditions of peace, in which the Gospel can thrive and reach all who need it.
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
I pray that the holy spirit will impart for you, the wisdom to discern what is truly right to undertake in that moment, and as you are being led in prayer by an individual that clearly lacks evidence of rightousness, the spirit of darkness should fail to find an opening in your hearts. This I ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.