Monday, July 13, 2009

God Has Blessed America

I have seen the bumper stickers while traveling down the highways of this land.
I have seen the signs in store windows and at churches in various parts of this country.
We all proclaim that "God bless America".
My question today is "why?"
Why would God bless us when we turn away from Him?
We proclaim ourselves to be a Christian nation and yet we do so by lip service only.
The complete council of the Word of God is not being taught in our churches. I struggle with this as I find myself, at times, wanting to teach something that will "tickle" the ears and make me look good. Such things come from my flesh and is not the leading of the Holy Spirit. God forgive me! More than this teaching of the complete council of the Word of God, we need to become a people that lives to obey and walk in His ways.

Our country today and in years past, has been under the leadership of men who give lip service to our spiritual heritage. Who use the phrase "Christian" with a vague, non descriptive definition of that word. They do so to get elected. They march under the pledge that our religious belief's should be a private thing. How can something that is life changing be private and kept put aside like some token or souvenir? These men and women want to govern and change the direction of this nation to remake America into their own image and agenda.

In the book of Jeremiah we read of a religious reform that swept the nation of Judah.
Under King Josiah ( II Chronicles 34) he led a reformation to return Judah to the ways of King David. The problem with reform is that it is merely an outward form of obedience. The heart is not involved. There is no change to the heart. No conviction. No repentance. It merely follows the idea of "We can be good." We have proven over and over that we are incapable of being good. Revival takes place when the heart is involved. When the Holy Spirit brings conviction and repentance. Then and only then can true change be brought to the land.

It begins with the house of God or, in this case, the professing Body of Christ.
When a nation falls, it starts with the religious teaching and up bringing of the people.
What kind of people is the church producing? Are they ablaze for the word of God? or are they shallow in their understanding of God? Do we have people mature in the faith, warriors for prayer.....or do we still have nurseries full of spiritual babies?

We have sought the easy way, the easy path for too long. We have sought the popular path in order to entice the world into our sanctuaries only to find out that we are influenced by them rather than the other way around.

Seven times in chapter 3 God refers to Judah as "backsliding". Do you know what backsliding means? We have an idea but what I found in Scripture is different than what I thought it meant.
It refers to the idea of a cow being loaded into a wagon or cart. The cow puts down their front legs and stiffens them to keep from going into the wagon. Willful disobedience and rebellion--bracing ourselves to keep from doing what God desires of us. This can come in many forms...as simple as excusing our need for reading and studying the word of God, to keeping silent when God lays it on our hearts to speak to someone or minister to them. We dig our heels in to keep from moving in obedience to God's Word.

America needs more than a Reformation. It needs revival. We need, as His people, to confess our sins (not very popular), repent and turn to God. Simple as that.
Are we willing to?
I am. I am so tired of dry, dead services where we are simply going through the motions.
Come Holy Spirit!
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Father God, have mercy on us as we come back to you!

God on you today.......
mb

2 comments:

RODRIGUEZ said...

good word. I wonder something... is it like in the days of Abraham when he petitioned God to spare a city for a handful of righteous men? Would God hold back for the sake of a few people who truely loved him.......?

Greene Street Letters said...

Yes! It is the remnant that draws the heart of God. Just as the Levites stood between the tabernacle and the people when Israel was going through the wilderness wanderings, it is the remnant of believers today who stand between God's judgment and the people. Oh that we repent and turn to God!
mb

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