It reminded me of the dilemma New York faced in the 2000 World Series. Mets vs. Yankees. You would root for New York in any other circumstance but this caused the city to divide a bit. Nothing serious but it was unclear except for die hard fans how to pray. Ever wonder about that? Every time there is a major athletic competition - you KNOW both sides are praying hard as is every 'believing" fan and even some atheists and which team has God's ear? How does a city or a nation stand under the division of well intentioned loyalties?
One thing is clear, as a whole, we all love this nation. As believers, we all love and desire God. Toward the morning light as Tuesday dawned, there were a few tokens God threw our way. A.) That this election was inexorably tied into Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech and we were living out the proclamation of that speech. On that note, there was nothing sweeter than watching thousands upon thousands of Americans weeping in joy over the graces of redemption and watching Jesse Jackson weep will be burned in my memory forever. B.) That David prayed and fasted for the child he and Bathsheba had conceived illegitimately until the bitter end and when the child died, he rose, washed himself and ate. Soon after, the Lord gave him Solomon and the House of Prayer was built through him. C.) That the prayer focus on the whole needed to focus on the church and Israel and not on the "world" per se; that she would stand in the identity of Isaiah 60 and shine in the days to come- that she would reveal and reflect Jesus.
The issues facing the church the day before and of and even after the election are still the same. The good news is that an entire generation was polarized in prayer. Now you may wonder why I would think that's good news, so here's my explanation. For those who prayed for John McCain's election because of the areas that concerned you regarding the welfare of America and God's perspective, you are now in this deep enough to understand that prayer must increase and there is no slacking. President Obama needs every bit of love, grace, protection and wisdom he can get to choose well for the United States. For those of you who prayed for Barack Obama because of the areas that concerned you regarding the welfare of America and God's perspective, you already care for him enough to be in agreement with the fact that he needs every bit of love, grace, protection and wisdom he can get to choose well for the United States and are already trained to pray hard for him. Excellent. Now, the church can come together in agreement. Now, we can agree over biblical mandates and love on the Church, Israel and the United States in complete agreement.
I ran across the devotional by Spurgeon below and thought: the church has been in the same battle for centuries and the Lord trains our hands for war through each generation. Truth be told, we don't like having to be the ones who are responsible for stewarding the land and would really like to take some time off regularly from it. It's the story of every generation - except ... maybe this one. I believe that THIS is a praying generation and we pray "Awake, oh sleeper. Rise up from the dead and Christ will give you life." Ephesians 5:14 It would be nice to leave it in someone else's hands and turn our attentions to our comforts. But . . . here we are, being trained to reign with Christ and we have a wonderful husband in Him. Let's worship Him. Let's pray with Him and lets love on each other while it is still day.
(http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/6340 - something to discern through)
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "listserv@lists.studylight.org"
To: devotional-spurgeon@lists.studylight.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 3:05:01 AM
Subject: Spurgeon's Morning & Evening devotional for November 5
Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - November 5
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Morning Devotional
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper."
- Isaiah 54:17
This day is notable in English history for two great deliverances wrought
by God for us. On this day the plot of the Papists to destroy our Houses
of Parliament was discovered, 1605.
"While for our princes they prepare
In caverns deep a burning snare,
He shot from heaven a piercing ray,
And the dark treachery brought to day."
And secondly-to-day is the anniversary of the landing of King William III,
at Torbay, by which the hope of Popish ascendancy was quashed, and
religious liberty was secured, 1688.
This day ought to be celebrated, not by the saturnalia of striplings, but
by the songs of saints. Our Puritan forefathers most devoutly made it a
special time of thanksgiving. There is extant a record of the annual
sermons preached by Matthew Henry on this day. Our Protestant feeling, and
our love of liberty, should make us regard its anniversary with holy
gratitude. Let our hearts and lips exclaim, "We have heard with our ears,
and our fathers have told us the wondrous things which thou didst in their
day, and in the old time before them." Thou hast made this nation the home
of the gospel; and when the foe has risen against her, thou hast shielded
her. Help us to offer repeated songs for repeated deliverances.
Grant us more and more a hatred of Antichrist, and hasten on the day of
her entire extinction.
Till then and ever, we believe the promise, "No weapon that is formed
against thee shall prosper.
" Should it not be laid upon the heart of every lover of the gospel of
Jesus on this day to plead for the overturning of false doctrines and the
extension of divine truth? Would it not be well to search our own hearts,
and turn out any of the Popish lumber of self-righteousness which may lie
concealed therein?
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Evening Devotional
"Be thankful unto him, and bless his name."
- Psalm 100:4
Our Lord would have all his people rich in high and happy thoughts
concerning his blessed person. Jesus is not content that his brethren
should think meanly of him; it is his pleasure that his espoused ones
should be delighted with his beauty.
We are not to regard him as a bare necessary, like to bread and water,
but as a luxurious delicacy, as a rare and ravishing delight.
To this end he has revealed himself as the "pearl of great price" in its
peerless beauty, as the "bundle of myrrh" in its refreshing fragrance, as
the "rose of Sharon" in its lasting perfume, as the "lily" in its spotless
purity.
As a help to high thoughts of Christ, remember the estimation that Christ
is had in beyond the skies, where things are measured by the right
standard. Think how God esteems the Only Begotten, his unspeakable gift to
us. Consider what the angels think of him, as they count it their highest
honour to veil their faces at his feet. Consider what the blood-washed
think of him, as day without night they sing his well deserved praises.
High thoughts of Christ will enable us to act consistently with our
relations towards him. The more loftily we see Christ enthroned, and the
more lowly we are when bowing before the foot of the throne, the more
truly shall we be prepared to act our part towards him. Our Lord Jesus
desires us to think well of him, that we may submit cheerfully to his
authority. High thoughts of him increase our love. Love and esteem go
together.
Therefore, believer, think much of your Master's excellencies.
Study him in his primeval glory, before he took upon himself your nature!
Think of the mighty love which drew him from his throne to die upon the
cross! Admire him as he conquers all the powers of hell! See him risen,
crowned, glorified! Bow before him as the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the
mighty God, for only thus will your love to him be what it should.
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