The media is biased.

On September 17, 1787, Benjamin Franklin wanted to give a short speech to the Constitutional Convention prior to the signing of the final draft of the Constitution. Too weak to actually give the speech himself, he had fellow Pennsylvanian James Wilson deliver the speech. He said, in part:

Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other.

What type of government are we left with when the elections are over? That depends on who we are as a people. Do we elect people who will control our lives because we are no longer capable of controlling ourselves?

Not only did Franklin have a large part to play in the framing of the Constitution, he also was one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence. Let us not forget this part of it:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Do we still value life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? If so, we must be willing to fight for it. We cannot remain on the sidelines and watch the systematic overthrow of our Constitution and all the principles for which it stands.

Anyone political leader who contends that freedom and opportunity is dependent upon his or her governing control is a liar. In the words of John Locke:

“To properly understand political power and trace its origins, we must consider the state that all people are in naturally. That is a state of perfect freedom of acting and disposing of their own possessions and persons as they think fit within the bounds of the law of nature. People in this state do not have to ask permission to act or depend on the will of others to arrange matters on their behalf. The natural state is also one of equality in which all power and jurisdiction is reciprocal and no one has more than another. It is evident that all human beings – as creatures belonging to the same species and rank and born indiscriminately with all the same natural advantages and faculties – are equal amongst themselves. They have no relationship of subordination or subjection unless God (the lord and master of them all) had clearly set one person above another and conferred on him an undoubted right to dominion and sovereignty.” ( Two Treatises On Government: A Translation Into Modern English, ISR/Google Books, 2009, page 70)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  (2 Corinthians 3:17)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Embracing the truth is the beginning of freedom. Denying the truth is freedom’s first casualty. We are a nation under God empowered by God to govern ourselves under His purposes, power, and protection. There is no United States of America without Him.

What a year it was. There was another housing crises and much concern about taxes. The central government was taking control of just about everything, including religious observances. It was a difficult year indeed. However, this particular year has had a profound effect on not just one nation, but the whole world. You could say that this year has changed the world forever. It is the year in which this prophecy was fulfilled:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

The ruler of the known world was Emperor Augustus. Yet all the political or military leaders, though important, are ultimately quite insignificant. They cannot dispel the darkness that surrounds us.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. (Isaiah (9:2-4)

Jesus is leading His people out of darkness into to light. Are we following Him? What about our nation? Will the prophecy that was given to Israel also be fulfilled for America?

His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:7)

When Jesus returns He will fully consummate His authority on the earth. In the meantime, will we as a people embrace His rule in our hearts? Will we embrace His principles of government which He gave to our forefathers? We do not know the answer. We need to pray that those who have had their hearts stirred will continue to seek His light. We need to pray for leaders who will follow after God’s heart.

The Christian faith encompasses much more than our current political situation.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)

The nativity of our Lord is still taking place on this earth. As we can see, little changes from year to year. For the Christian believer, however, all things are being made new. Even in the enslaved societies of today people are able to live in freedom from the power of sin with joy in their hearts. This world is a difficult one no matter where we live. Our best choice for each one of us is to seek the Prince of Peace. Our best choice is to seek the Counselor for direction and hope. Our best choice is to turn our hearts over to Him so that He may continually transform us into His likeness. Let us walk as children of the Light and become light bearers in this dark world.

Not so long ago people were saying that competence matters more than character in government. They were wrong. Everything is based on character. Our system of government is based on the character and nature of our God. If we are looking for the right political leaders for this nation we must begin and end with prayer. The political system is too corrupt now. Only God can save us.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  (Matthew 6:24)

One Friday continually takes from us and the other Friday gives us life – for an eternity.

The picture above is a reenactment of the first landing at Cape Henry by the English settlers who later established the Jamestown colony. At the Cape that they first came ashore and offered thanksgiving to God for their safe passage. Here they also made a covenant with God and dedicated this new land for purpose of spreading the Gospel. God spoke to us there several years ago that He wanted to renew His covenant with America. That has been our prayer and mission ever since.

We began this blog with the story of Cape Henry and the special covenant made there. This Thanksgiving Day we reflect upon that covenant. We are reminded of all the blessings which God has bestowed upon us because of the covenant. America was meant to be a missionary nation as was Israel. The question that remains is this: Will we follow through on the covenant commitment which our early settlers made with God? Our forefathers understood the covenant and operated under its authority and provisions.

Let us remember this day to give God the thanks and praise for all He has done for us and our nation. May our prayers be that we will return to Him, our first love, and the calling He has place upon us. That calling is still to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by Word and example.

Thank you for joining us in prayer this day for our nation and its people. May God bless you and your family with His joy and peace. May He keep you safe in your travels and may each family member and friend be under His divine health and protection.

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’ (Numbers 6:24-26)

A modern understanding of this newspeak might be political correctness. Surely, we see much of that today in our politics and media. Nonetheless, today’s newspeak goes far beyond political correctness and is far more sinister. It even invades our churches. Yet it did not come in overnight. It has been continually seeping in over an extended period of time. Let us examine it, shall we?

In a parent teacher conference a certain mother did not like the way I grade her daughters report card. She said that I had not made a positive confession over her daughter and, thus, was handicapping her spiritually. I tried to explain to her that the word “confession” meat telling the truth. She was not interested in that. She was only interested in improving the grade of her daughter without her daughter having to make any more effort. God alone would make the effort if we said the right incantation. In other words – we should use witchcraft.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  (1 John 1:8-10)

Christians will sometime say: “I am believing for” whatever they might want. Does our believing make God believe the same thing for us? God is not bound by our thoughts.

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  (Isaiah 55:9)

You ask and don’t receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure.  (James 4:3)

True confession is agreeing with God. True belief is acting on our agreement with Him. Believing is keeping covenant with God. A little sarcasm from James might be in order:

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!  (James 2:19)

What about the word “election.” In a democracy we like to believe that we have free elections. Free elections should mean free choices. Nevertheless, election for many Christians does not mean free choice. In may very well mean the opposite for them. The theology is that God has chosen certain people for salvation. He has elected them they are called His elect. He has predestined certain people to be saved from damnation. If so, then logically He has also predestined other people for damnation. How diabolical is that?

Is this thinking scriptural? He might be construed to be that way if we read God’s Word the way Satan wants us to read it. We know that Satan quoted scripture to Jesus in the wilderness to tempt Him. Of course, he took the scripture out of context. He twisted the scripture as he twists everything else.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  (Matthew 4:5-7)

What does the word election mean in the context of scripture? We may start by what it does not mean. It does not mean that God’s mercy is arbitrary:

For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.  (Romans 11:32)

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)

The biblical interpretation of God’s election is that the children of Israel were chosen or elected by God as He promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. Israel was chosen to by a nation of priests and to be a missionary nation in accordance with God’s purpose. They were chosen as instruments for the purpose of saving the whole world, not for excluding other peoples and nations.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  (1 Peter 2:9-10)

“And now the LORD says,
Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him,
So that Israel is gathered to Him
(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD,
And My God shall be My strength),
Indeed He says,
‘ It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’”  (Isaiah 49:5-6)

Let us remove this newspeak from the Church. It is nothing more than Satan’s lies.

Deliver us Lord from the way of sin and death. Give us discernment so that we might not judge amiss. Let the words of our mouth ad the meditations of our hearts be always acceptable unto you, for you alone are our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.

Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the portico and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17)

Why is there a need for reformation in the Church today? The leadership has strayed from the way and followed their own devices. God is restoring His Church and He will not stop until His work is finished. One question remains: Will the leadership listen and repent?

Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. ( Jeremiah 3:14-15)

How has the leadership gone wrong? Many of today’s churches emphasize prosperity as a well of selling their particular brand of the Gospel. Jesus promised believers an abundant life in the Kingdom of God which means righteousness, peace, and joy. Churches have emphasized a kingdom of financial prosperity. Jesus cautioned against this kingdom in His sermon on the mount:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  (Matthew 6:24)

Many churches today emphasize signs and wonders. Leaders will go to any length to produce them because they think the signs and wonders are proof that God is with them. Jesus cautioned against this kingdom as well:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (Matthew 24:24)

Then there are the overly cautious church leaders and self-proclaimed experts who proclaim that the days of healings and miracles are over. This flies in the face of the New Testament teachings and the clear evidence we see everyday when we open our eyes.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

See New Reformation.

You who practice deceit,
your tongue plots destruction;
it is like a sharpened razor.
You love evil rather than good,
falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!  (Psalm 52:2-4)

Edmund Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters’ Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all. In a democracy the free press is essential to the maintenance of a sound government. In a government of the people, by the people, and for the people the people need to be kept informed.

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.  (Hosea 4:6)

Woe to the news media in this nation. You are against the people and thus the hand of God is against you. You will pay the price and you will not escape.

“Cursed is anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”  (Deuteronomy 27:18)

This message will not be heeded by the media because the news media will not take correction.

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.  (Proverbs 10:17)

This message is for the American people.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.  (1 John 2:26-27)

Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:7-8)

Seek the truth. Do not fall for purposeful falsehood, political correctness, or misleading distortions. Spiritual discernment is needed. This discernment must come from God. It does not spring forth natively from our minds. Jesus said:

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:31-32)

Intercessory prayer is the opening of the door. It is the key that leads to true revival. We must walk through that door in order to complete the revival. God will do His part but He is counting on us to do ours.

What happened in the case of Ezra? He had found that the Israelites who were rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem had intermarried with pagans which was against God’s Law. In our last post we spoke of the pattern of Ezra’s intercessory prayer. His ministry did not stop with the prayer:

While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law. Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”  (Ezra 10:1-4)

A great awakening is taking place now within the American people. This is the result of God’s revelations. He is exposing the lies and bringing the people back to their spiritual roots. Nevertheless, a great obstacle stands in the way of true revival. It is the leadership of this country- in the government, in education, and even in our churches. When Ezra examined the list of those Israelites who had intermarried he found that a large percentage of them were priests and levites. These were the leaders who were supposed to be looking out for the well-being of the nation.

Now the American people must respond to the revelations of God. It was not so long ago that we as a people said that it was more important for our leaders to be “competent” than moral. What will we do now? Under the leadership of Ezra the people of Israel repented. They changed their way of thinking. They put away their pagan wives and they returned to their heritage in God. Because they did the work of rebuilding the temple and the nation continued and eventually was completed. What will we do as a people of God?

Notice how he prayed for the people:

“I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.

“But now, for a brief moment, the LORD our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place^[a] in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. ⁹ Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

“But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’

“What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. ¹⁴ Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? ¹⁵ LORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.”  (Ezra 9:6-13)

Notice that Ezra did not judge the people. Rather, he identified with them even though he was not guilty. He humbled himself before God and prayed for the corporate sins of the people. We need intercessors in America to follow his example and immediately pray for our nation.