Well-placed Hope

ILLUST: War of 1812 intervention

Praying for people who don’t want it, or who don’t believe they need it. -

Acts 26:18 NASB95

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

READ: Psalm 20 - a Prayer for the king

“May the Lord answer you in distress”

Are our leaders even calling on Him in order for Him to answer?

Prayer in our days

1) Pray that the Lord protects our nation

Physically - so that we can serve Him openly (NOT so you can have an easy life of Freedom)

Spiritually - with the blessing that come with connection to God (peace, joy)

Our leaders are NOT following the Lord

So we pray for them? YES

Ultimately, our prayer is for God to protect, deliver, and bless

Psalm 20, they pray for their king, their leader

David - he actually does lead in prayer

Our leaders do not

OK, so then what

REM - last week, Fathers, teach your children, they may grow up to lead others

Our leaders were not taught to lead spiritually

Some history:

John Winthrop (first gov. of Mass. Bay Colony)

“I do resolve first to give myself - my life, my wits, my health - to the service of my God and Savior, by giving Himself for me and to me, deserves whatsoever I am or can be, to be at His commandment and for His glory.”

George Washington

“…Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit.”

1776 vote in Philadelphia

Samuel Adams: “We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient.”

Benjamin Franklin, not a Christian, even called for daily prayer.

They prayed - God answered

I believe the prayers of millions of Christians led to the SCOTUS decision

Do we pray?

We don’t need a theocracy (meaning, state-mandated religion), but we need leaders seeking God’s blessing and guidance

2) Be Assured - He hears our prayers

Problem: Our nation is confident in our own strength

when the economy is good

when the military is strong

When these areas fail us (by our standards), we worry

Like Israel of OT, we tend to trust in “chariots” and “horses” and our allies

We, USA, now lead the world in this way of thinking, here and now, prosperity and security in stuff

The Lord hears our prayers, and also the lack of them

TRUTH - if our reliance would be on God - we’d realize true strength

Exodus from Egypt

Jericho walls

Modern examples exist

Europe

America - Revolutionary War, War of 1812

Nations who seek GOD’s freedom will receive it

Nations who forget God - will be overwhelmed by tyranny (unjust governmental power)

USA on this path

Nations forgetting God deserve what they get from the ruler of this world, Satan

Nations remembering God when it’s convenient may be left to their own devices

Such as in Romans 1:28

Romans 1:28 NASB95

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

3) So we pray - Psalm 21

The church must hold fast to the Word, stand up and speak up for Christ

We must pray for leaders to lead in godly ways

And if our rulers are not leading this way, then we raise up godly leaders

We must pray, expecting God to protect us, knowing that when He does, we, in response, will serve Him (not relax on the couch and feel good about the good ol’ USA)

Challenge - skip the news tonight, this week, turn off the TV, get in the Word

And when the Lord does answer, does deliver

We pray thanks for His deliverance!

Times like these - we may ask

God, what do I do?

God has blessed us, what is our response?

10 Lepers example - Luke 17:11-19 -

Are we the nine, or the one?

And the one - he was a SAMARITAN

All were healed - physically

ONE accepted spiritual healing as well

The LORD offers help to everyone, healing, hope

He even helps those who hate Him, reject Him, deny Him

In hopes they will see and recognize His goodness

We must thank God for past victories

The USA is no accident, no convenient coincidence

God has helped this nation to we can serve Him

Our days may be numbered, ‘cause we (church) are not doing that

Sure, blame the communists, the socialists, etc.

How about we look in the mirror and own our part

God’s Blessings should lead to our thankfulness

Victory through God’s strength

Answered prayer

Tangible blessings - job, finances, health, friends, family

Life - length of days

Glory given to God - even when “good” things occur

God’s very real presence

Finally - Future Victories

We should trust God to keep our nation strong

So that we can continue to be used to point to Him

(Assumptions: we do trust Him, and we respond by surrender to Him)

So that we can sing His praise, His might!

The LORD is exalted (glorified, praised)

Past victory

Present victory

Future victory

Note - our leaders:

We don’t respect them or value them, so we don’t pray for them. How about...

Acts 26:18 NASB95

to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

OR....We think too highly of them, and we are crushed when they disappoint us, not living up to our expectations. How about praying for them to simply rely on the LORD?

Psalm 21:7 NASB95

For the king trusts in the Lord, And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.

As for Us...How about we follow Christ?

Respect and value Him

Think very highly of Him

He will NEVER disappoint

The successes of our leaders and people come from us, faithfully praying and and consistently serving the LORD

SCOTUS? Could very well be.

God is certainly pleased when we side with His Word

Now, the enemy will fight harder, differently

BRING IT! My faith is not in our chariots, our horses, other nations

My faith is in the LORD!

The enemy’s fight is not with me, but with the LORD OF HOSTS

The enemy has already lost

So who do you follow? Should be a no-brainer.