| May 3, 2007 will be set aside as the National Day | | | | this relationship. 4.) Repentance. We must ask His |
| of Prayer. Millions of people will join under the | | | | forgiveness for our sin. Sin in man's natural state |
| banner of "America, Unite in Prayer". These | | | | and will keep him eternaly separated from God. |
| prayers go out on behalf of the nation and the | | | | Only through Christ can we come to the Lord in |
| issues taking place all around the world. There's no | | | | prayer. |
| limit as to where these people will gather. The | | | | Israel continually followed their lusts. They turned |
| main theme for prayer will be for freedom to | | | | away from their loving Father over and over |
| worship, democracy and liberty around the world, | | | | again. All throughout their history, God handed |
| and the ongoing threat of nuclear warfare. All of | | | | them over to her enemies. He never took His |
| these subjects are very real and also a very real | | | | eyes off of her, but He did take His hand away. |
| threat to our world as we know it. Unless we | | | | Our nation seems to echo this behavior. We are |
| unite together in agreement in the precious name | | | | turning to false idols, we are passive when it |
| of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God can't | | | | comes to hating what God hates. We seem to sit |
| and won't intervene on our behalf. Prayer is not | | | | idoly by and allow His name to be removed from |
| to be a chore. It was given as a priviledge for | | | | the courtrooms, the schools and are content to |
| believers. Prayer, when done according to God's | | | | do so. I can't help but believe that unless we |
| will, is a God-given faith that when done without | | | | come together and seek His face for the healing |
| doubt, God will move in mighty ways. God's | | | | of this world, He will let us do what we think is |
| power is unmeasurable and is unleashed in the | | | | right in our own eyes, just as He did in the book |
| lives of believers. Fruit comes forth from one | | | | of Judges. The results of this backfired on the |
| who knows this. A person who doubts God, will | | | | people then and they will do so again. |
| not produce good fruit, thus showing their | | | | "But if you turn away and forsake My statutes |
| conversion to be false. Jesus used the fig tree as | | | | and My commandments which I have set before |
| an example to this. In the book of Matthew, | | | | you, and go and serve other gods and worship |
| chapter 21 Jesus was returning from the city. | | | | them, then I will uproot you from My land which I |
| Being hungry, He saw a fig tree and went over to | | | | have given you, and this house which I have |
| it so He could eat the fruit of it. But when He | | | | consecrated for My name I will cast out of My |
| found nothing on it, He cursed it. In other words, | | | | sight and I will make it a proverb and a byword |
| if you don't produce good fruit, He has no need | | | | among all peoples." 2 Chronicles 21:19,20 |
| of you. Christ expects all His children to produce | | | | For every action there is a reaction. God is spelling |
| good fruit, this is our Christian faith. Prayers | | | | out the consequences for our disobedience. Should |
| produce good fruit when asked in this faith. | | | | we not expect these consequences if we |
| "Now in the morning, when He was returning to | | | | continue to turn away? Can we afford to be |
| the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree | | | | stubborn? Please review the four things that God |
| by the road, He came to it and found nothing on | | | | is expecting from us in order to hear and answer |
| it except leaves only; and He said to it, 'No longer | | | | our prayers. If these four things are followed, |
| shall there ever be any fruit from you.' And at | | | | God promises to do a mighty work in this land. He |
| once the fig tree withered." Matthew 21:18,19 | | | | loves His people, He wants a relationship with us |
| The apostles were simply amazed by this. They | | | | and He wants us to know Him intimately. The |
| didn't see that Jesus was showing them what | | | | only thing keeping us from Him is an attitude of |
| faith can do. The fig tree is often symbolized | | | | ingratitude. |
| throughout Scripture as Israel. In this case, this | | | | This year, our prayers can make a difference in |
| tree represented Israel's spiritual fruitlessness and | | | | the future of this earth. Our lives depend on it. As |
| God's judgment on her. We can see this today as | | | | we come together in prayer on May 3rd, we |
| God's judgment on earthly fruitlessness when | | | | need to keep several requests in mind. First, we |
| people reject His Messiah. This act on Jesus' part | | | | must seek God's wisdom for the war in Iraq, |
| was a lesson and not an act of frustration. I can | | | | Afghanistan and elsewhere. We must put aside |
| only assume that since God never changes, this | | | | our personal opinions and differences concerning |
| lesson should still be in force. The apostles asked | | | | this. Let's seek God's direction for all those who |
| Jesus how the tree could wither so quickly. He | | | | are put in harm's way. This will result in the safety |
| replied with an answer that is still true today. | | | | of our homes, communities and our country. |
| "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly I | | | | Please remember that a house divided cannot |
| say to you, if you have faith and no doubt, you | | | | stand. We as intercessory prayer warriors must |
| will not only do what was done to the fig tree, | | | | also ask God's direction for the integrity of our |
| but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken | | | | nation's leaders. These people hold our future in |
| up and cast into the sea' it will happen. And all | | | | their hands. Who's hands do you want them to be |
| things you ask in prayer, believing, you will | | | | in? Peace is the underlying theme of our prayers |
| receive." Matthew 21:21,22 | | | | but more importantly is that God will be exalted |
| While He spoke figuratively, some people expect | | | | throughout this mighty nation. If we expect God |
| to literally see mountains moved. God can do | | | | to bless the United States, we must first bless |
| whatever He sees fit to do, it just doesn't always | | | | Him! God loves the praises of His people. If we |
| line up with what we expect. The lesson to learn | | | | can do this and mean it, we will begin to see God |
| here is all prayers are answered in true faith. | | | | move in mighty ways to repair this planet for His |
| Doubt will cancel it out. We must walk by | | | | good. Do you think this is worth your time and |
| faith...not sight. | | | | effort? As I lift these prayers up to the Almighty |
| The scriptural basis for this year's observance is | | | | Father Who is in control, I will also include that He |
| taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people who | | | | blesses you as well. |
| are called by My name humble themselves and | | | | "For where two or three have gathered together |
| pray and seek My face and turn from their | | | | in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew |
| wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will | | | | 18:20 |
| forgive their sin and will heal their land." | | | | The Jewish tradition was at least 10 men were |
| In this passage, God has several conditions for | | | | required in order to constitute a synagogue or |
| Israel in order to gain His forgiveness. 1.) Humility. | | | | even to hold public prayer. But Jesus has |
| We must first and foremost humble ourselves | | | | promised to be present in the midst of even a |
| before the Lord. Pride has no place in His | | | | smaller group. The two or three witnesses which |
| presence. 2.) Prayer. Prayer is our online | | | | gather in His name is for the purpose of discipline. |
| connection with the God Most High. He hears our | | | | This year, may we discipline ourselves to come |
| prayers through Christ Who intercedes on our | | | | into agreement with those of like minds to lift our |
| behalf. When we pray in the will of God, these | | | | nation and this world's future before the Lord. All |
| prayers are not only heard, but also answered! 3.) | | | | praise, honor, and glory belong to Him! |
| Longing for God. God desires for us to want Him | | | | "The supreme need in every hour of difficulty is a |
| more than anything else. He created us for a | | | | vision of God" ~ G.C. |
| relationship with Him. It's Satan's job to estrange | | | | |