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By Pastor Charles Simpson

Psalm 11 raises an important question: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). The verse prior tells us that the righteous are under attack. So, not only are the foundations removed, but those who stand up on those foundations are being attacked. So what will the righteous do? Verse 5 tells us that the Lord tests the righteous and verse 7 tells us that He is watching the righteous: “His eye is now upon us.”

Here in the United States, the last half of the Twentieth Century witnessed the erosion of our cultural and even Church foundations. Rejecting biblical truth, reinterpreting the Constitution, banning prayer and Bible reading in schools, making abortion legal, removing barriers against homosexuality and now transgenderism, are just a few of the changes that many of us have witnessed. And if you still hold to the foundational truths, you have become the target of hostility and even violence. We are entering a new season; what will we do?

Some churches and constituents will “go with the flow” and be evangelized by the secular culture. Some will fight against the culture, often with attitudes that do not reflect Christ. Some will just hide and hope for better days or the next election. Each person will have to decide how to respond.

What is Our Foundation?
I love the old hymns “Christ the Solid Rock” and “Rock of Ages.” These hymns and others remind us of the “Sermon on the Mount” which Jesus concluded with the example of two men; one built his house on the sand, the other built his on the rock. We know the result of each. Both faced a storm, but the house on the rock stood while the other was washed away.

Jesus reminded His hearers and us, that those who heard His words and did not obey them would be like a house on the sand. Those who heard His words and did them would be like the house on the rock. For Israel, the storm came in 70 A.D. and many were destroyed. Is a storm coming to us? If so, what must we do?

I suggest that we study His words in Matthew chapters 5-7. His words were, and ARE THE ROCK. He is the Rock that is speaking to us. I also suggest reading the book of Acts to see how His disciples came to understand and do what He said. The disciples came to understand that their hope was not in politics or religion; it was in Christ and following His guidance (see First Corinthians 3:11).

It is impossible to adequately summarize the Sermon on the Mount, but I’d like to point out some of what Jesus said. Bear in mind, this is how we are to behave in preparation for the storms of life and in the storms.

Matthew 5:1-12 tells us the attitudes, mindsets, and behaviors that He will bless such as humility, grief over the storm, discipline of strength, hunger for righteousness, and enduring persecution with joy. He says that if we keep a pure heart we will see God. Amazing! We urgently need to see the God Who sees us.

Here is some of His other guidance: Don’t seek revenge; give more than required; love your neighbor and your enemies; don’t worry about your life; don’t condemn others; keep on asking and knocking on “God’s door.” You will be known by your fruit (what you produce and do), and build on the ROCK. I will add, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). What is the kingdom of God? I will let the Apostle Paul answer that critical question. It is more than a hope for the coming millennium.

The Kingdom Of God
The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14:17, “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Bear in mind that the Kingdom—with its righteousness, peace and joy—is in the Holy Spirit. Yes, He is the same Holy Spirit that anointed and led Jesus; and, the same Holy Spirit that filled the disciples at Pentecost. In the Holy Spirit is righteousness, peace and joy. It is and will be the Holy Spirit that takes us to the Rock and gets us through the storm with RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, and JOY!

Kingdom Righteousness
Let me be clear that righteousness comes by faith in Jesus and His righteousness, not our own. That being true, the Holy Spirit within us produces the righteousness of Jesus in our lives. Righteousness is a morally upright life—a right relationship to God and man. It is having the law of God written in our hearts (see Jeremiah 31:33-34; Romans 2:15). Faith in Jesus means that we obey what the Holy Spirit is telling us and what He has told us to do in Holy Scriptures.

I am glad for the historical, Orthodox creeds, but real faith takes doctrine into daily life. Doctrine is more than theory; it is our way of living. The mere reciting of a creed will not prepare us for life’s storms, but obedience will. It is our obedience and way of living that will be tested (see First Corinthians 3:9-17). Hebrews 11 is the great chapter on faith and it records what they did that the writer says “obtained a good report.” James tells us that faith without works is dead (see James 2:14-26). Why? Because lip service to faith will not prepare us for the future. Isaiah warns against drawing near to God with our lips when our heart is far from God (see Isaiah 29:13). Obedience comes from the heart.

Though I am deeply grateful for the grace and mercy of God, and I am personally indebted, there is often too much presumption and relying on “cheap grace.” It seems there is often too much dead, not living, faith. That produces a false righteousness or self-righteousness. True faith obeys. Yes, through faith we are counted righteous and through faith and grace we produce righteous acts. It is both our faith and acts that are being and will be tested in the storm.

We do not want to be like the mythical Rip Van Winkle who slept through the revolution and woke up twenty years later in a world he did not recognize. That is happening to many Christians now. Righteousness is a right relationship to God, family, and neighbor which prepares us for what is ahead (see Exodus 20:1-17). So, the government of God is righteous, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Can we have all of that in the midst of the storm? The answer is yes!

Kingdom Peace
There are many things that help us to have peace, such as focusing on the positive, counting our blessings, mental discipline, and avoiding conflict. But that is not what Kingdom peace is. Kingdom peace is the peace of God or peace that is God’s own peace. Imagine God’s own peace! God’s peace is not worked up, it comes down as we surrender to His reign in our lives. The direct evidence of complete trust and obedience is peace.

My dad used to say that “anxiety is a mild case of atheism.” Anxiety cannot change the future, but it ruins the present. True peace is not circumstantial. It can be received on the mountain top or in the valley, in poverty or wealth (see Philippians 4:11.) It is the peace that supasses our comprehension (see Philippians 4:7). It is divine and divinely given; it is a gift from God. I love the hymn lyric that says, “When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay” (from “Christ the Solid Rock”). And there is another song that I love and used to sing with my friend John Duke,who is now with the Lord, “Peace, peace, wonderful peace, coming down from the Father above.”

Can we have God’s own peace in the midst of this storm? Absolutely, if we will ask, then trust Him with all our hearts, and do not lean on our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5). When we receive His peace, then we are ready to receive something more and really wonderful!

Kingdom Joy
I love joy and I hope that we all do. But joy is difficult to fake. It is deeper than the brain because it is unexplainable; it is God’s own joy! His joy is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 28:7). Yes, that is true especially in difficult times. God laughs at what He sees ahead that we don’t see yet (see Psalm 2:4; 37:13). But He gives us a touch of His laughter so we can laugh with Him if we trust Him.

Many years ago, Psalm 126 became my personal Psalm: “Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful shouting. Then they said among the nations, the Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad.” The Psalm goes on to say, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.” What a great promise!

Joy is our strength for the preparation and our reward for the labor. It keeps us steady in the storm and mystifies our enemies. It is contagious to others and encouraging. Horace and Ann Vinson have been my dear friends for 55 years. They have been through a lot as we face age together. When we fellowship, there is a lot of laughter and joy, even as we face our age. Joy helps us get on through life. Real joy is always just below the surface and down in the belly, ready to break out in roaring laughter. I find it difficult to write this for wanting to laugh out loud! Praise God for His joy!

Jesus said that we could have joy, even in persecution (see Luke 6:22-23). Paul and Silas rejoiced after being beaten and put in prison. Their joy brought the jailor to Jesus, and then the jailor rejoiced! Joy is the sign of victory and is most contagious.

The Unshakable Kingdom
Yes, foundations are being tested. We are in a storm, but there is a firm foundation that is vital! His kingdom is unshakable (see Hebrews 12:28). I believe God loves us and as our heavenly Father; He tests us and disciplines us in order to mature us and prepare us for whatever is ahead. “Love” that does not prepare us is not love at all.

I encourage us all to draw near to Him with our hearts and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Remember, the kingdom with its righteousness, peace, and joy, is in the Holy Spirit. By God’s grace, wisdom and strength, let’s meet at the Rock!

In Him,
Charles Simpson

Article by my brother, Dr. John Parish

WISDOM FOR DAILY LIVING

“Wrong Proposition =Wrong Conclusion”

Proposition: The moon is made out of green cheese. Corollary truth: The moon reflects the light of the sun. Conclusion: Therefore the moon gives off a green light. Observation Reality: The moon gives off a yellow light. Where did we go wrong? The original proposition was wrong–the moon is NOT made out of green cheese.

Proposition: New Testament Prophets are the same as Old Testament Prophets. Corollary truth: Old Testament Prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit and wrote Old Testament Scriptures, and were held accountable to be 100% accurate. Conclusion: Therefore New Testament Prophets are moved on by the Holy Spirit to the level of speaking the word of God equal to New Testament Scriptures, and must be held to 100% accuracy. What is wrong with this picture? There are no more Old Testament Prophets! According to Jesus Christ, John the Baptist was the last one. “For all the Prophets and the law prophesied until John.” Matthew 11:13 There are New Testament Prophets, but they do not write scriptures. The New Testament was written by Apostles, not prophets. New Testament Prophets do not prophesy with the same 100% accuracy, “Thus saith the Lord.” And are not held to that same level of accountability. New Testament Prophets, along with the other ministry gifts, are given for the perfection (maturing) of the church, for the edification of its members, until the body comes into the unity of the faith.(See Ephesians 4:11-15) New Testament prophets do not speak “Thus saith the Lord”. New Testament prophets must be willing to be judged by others. (Can you imagine Moses, Isaiah, or Daniel having to be judged?) “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” (I Corinthians 14:29-32) “Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:20-21). Holding fast to the good means not holding fast to that which is not good. New Testament prophecy must be judged. New Testament prophecy is a great blessing to the church. “But he who prophesies speaks unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort.” (I Corinthians 14:3). But Old Testament Scriptures that were speaking to Old Testament people about Old Testament prophets do NOT apply to New Testament Prophets. Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord does nothing unless He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7) (“…Believe His prophets and you shall prosper.” (II Chronicles 20:20) Wonderful scriptures that apply to Old Testament prophets. So why is this so important that we distinguish between Old and New Testament Prophets? We are seeing Prophets doubling down on some prophecies by saying they gave a “Thus saith the Lord”. They are saying things like “God said it, and God cannot lie!” God cannot lie, but if it doesn’t come to pass, God didn’t say it! A New Testament Prophet said it! Taking every word of a New Testament prophet as God’s Word equal to the scripture is where the mistake is being made. Bro. Kenneth Hagin taught this distinction between Old Testament and New Testament Prophets. I wish we had listened to him!

Not everything in life is equally important. Some things are more important than others. This is true about what we think and believe. Nowhere is it more important than what we believe about God and spiritual things. However, sometimes the way we believe and talk would not cause one to know that we believe this.

For your consideration, I suggest we give some thought to the following:

Core or Central Beliefs

God – Jesus.

Salvation by grace.

Resurrection.

Authority of Scripture.

These are things that we see as foundational to a belief in God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and His great salvation provided to us through the Cross. If one does not believe these things, there is room for doubt about salvation.

Secondary Beliefs

Gifts of the Spirit.

Water Baptism.

Miracles.

While we believe each of these things, and think they are very important we do not see them as necessary for salvation through the blood of Jesus.

Tertiary

Creation.

Escatology.

Who wrote Hebrews or Isaiah.

Political beliefs.

Again, we may believe all these have importance in our lives, but they are not things that should divide us in the Body of Christ. Yet, as in the Corinthian Church, many such beliefs were allowed to divide that church because of their spiritual immaturity. And I fear that it is happening now in the Body of Christ in our day!

So, what can we do about it?

Lay aside, as much as possible, our preconceived ideas of God, His Word, etc., and begin to read and study it as if we were reading it for the first time. Establish a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Spend some time and get to know Him from His ministry on earth from the four Gospels. See how He did things during His ministry. Then go through the books of Acts and see how the early church responded to His word to them. Spend some time in prayer fellowshipping with Him daily.

Let’s get beyond what separates us through an emphasis on the lesser things and put emphasis on the greater truths that can unite us as the Body of Christ. We can put whatever emphasis in our local church as we feel so led, but we can go beyond the things that divide us to work with other believers who may believe some things differently than we do for the sake of the world around us.

In our pastors’ prayer group in Louisville, we have ministers who hold different beliefs on the secondary or tertiary issues but believe the core truths of the Bible, therefore, we are able to work together in a broad sense. And, this can work in each local church as well,

For example, in the local congregation, you may have someone who has a very conservative take on political issues and someone else sees the same issues from a more liberal viewpoint. Yet, they can worship in the same church in peace if each of them sees their views as less important than the central beliefs the church holds. But the moment someone puts their political, or any other belief as necessary for fellowship, then division has set in which can have tremendous negative effects on the whole congregation.

Something to think about!

When Jesus will return is a topic that has been discussed for centuries. There are varied beliefs about this subject with different ones being in vogue at different times. What I would like to do with this short article is give some definitions of terms that might help us get a better idea about what we individually believe about His return.

DEFINITIONS

Rapture – comes from the Greek word harpadzo meaning to catch or snatch away found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

Revelation – comes from the Greek word parousia meaning coming, presence, or revelation found in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 (and other places).

Millenium – means 1000 as in 1000 years found in Revelation 20:2.

Pre-millenial – before the millenium.

Post – millenial – after the millenium.

A – millenial – no millenium.

Tribulation – period of time when great trouble is coming on the earth. Some say it will be 3 1/2 years while others say 7 years. More about this later.

Wrath of God – when God will pour out His wrath on the ungodly at some point before the Millenium. This period of time is thought to last 3 1/2 years.

VIEWS

Premillennial

At various times and places throughout the centuries, one of these views has been the predominant one. At the present time, in evangelical circles, the premillennial belief seems to be the one most people hold onto. This belief says that Jesus at some point is coming back before the millenium. Some believe in a secret rapture that may occur at any time before any further end-time events occur. Some people believe He is coming before the tribulation & wrath of God, while others believe while He is coming back before the millenium but either in the middle of the seven years or at the end of the seven years.

The most common of these theories is that Jesus will come in a secret rapture, then the tribulation will occur, followed by the wrath of God, then His parousia when He sets up His kingdom.

This belief says that regardless of when Jesus comes again He will set up His earthly kingdom in its fullest expression for all eternity.

This is a fairly modern belief having been emphasized since about 1827 by John Darby and made more common by the C.I.Scofield study bible.

Postmillennial

This view was more prominent in countries and times where Christians suffered persecution. However, in many places it is gaining once again as an important view point.

The major tenet is that Jesus will return after the Millenium. At which time He will establish His kingdom.

A millennial.

Many liturgical churches hold to this viewpoint. Its basic belief is that there is no literal millennium. Statements of Scripture that might be taken as literal should be understood as figurative. That God at some point will establish His kingdom in ways we do not yet understand.

While I believe these topics are good discussions to have, I do not believe they should be used to break fellowship over because none of us have the final answer on any of it!

Where am I in all this? I would identify with being premillennial, either mid-tribulation but am leaning toward the post-wrath of God position. I have often said I am basically a pan-millennialist meaning I believe everything is going to “pan” out as the Father wants it!

At this time of year, many of us make a new year’s resolution. It is often about losing weight, being a better person, getting out of debt, buying a house or car, etc. Too often those resolutions only last a few days and the person goes back to behaving like they always have. Is there a better way to make important changes in our life? I suggest there is.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language says a resolution means “a fixed purpose or determination of mind, as a resolution to reform our lives.” This sounds like a good definition, however, the problem is not with the definition but the lack of commitment to do what is resolved to be done! Many of us change our mind as often as we change our clothes!

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says to commit means, “with the reciprocal pronoun, to commit one’s self, is to do some act, or make some declaration, which may bind the person in honor, good faith, or consistency, to pursue a certain course of conduct, or to adhere to the tenor of that declaration.”

Years ago, there was a saying, “my word is my bond,” that was taken seriously in business transactions and life in general. However, it appears to me that many in our day have long ago forsaken such actions. To them, their word means very little so when it comes to making a resolution or telling a friend that they will do a certain thing, they feel very little need to actually carry through on what they said.

When Webster says that in making a commitment one is binding himself in honor and good faith to pursue a course of action to adhere to what he said, it is more than words but a strong determination to carry out what he said. And here is where the ‘rubber meets the road.’ When resolutions fail, it is most often that we merely said words, and have not made a commitment to actually carry it out.

So, how can we make a resolution that is actually kept? Give some quality thought to it before you make it. Are you willing to carry through on it regardless of the cost? When you make the resolution known to others, are you putting your honor on the line and become willing for them to hold you accountable for it? If so, you will probably keep it. If not, it may be broken in a matter of a few days.

Our Christianity should positively affect every area of our life, our words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Because we often do not allow it to do so, our witness to others is adversely affected.

I am glad that many of the laws and principles incorporated in the founding of the United States of America were based on Biblical truth. But that alone does not make us a Christian nation, either then or now.

It concerns me that both then and now many of us confess to being Christian but fail to live the lifestyle one would expect from such a declaration.

THINGS THAT SUGGEST WE HAVE MUCH ROOM TO GROW

1. Greed for finances and things it will allow us to possess to the detriment of advancing the Kingdom of God.
2. Failure to grasp basic truths of the New Testament such as, loving the Lord supremely and our neighbor as ourselves.
3. Placing customs above Scriptural mandates, such as Christmas and the way it is celebrated which has nothing to do with the incarnation of Jesus. OR Easter which has nothing to do with rabbits, eggs, etc. but the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
4. Preaching a watered-down version of the Gospel to win the world which is powerless to do so.
5. Misusing Scripture to soothe our conscious when the Holy Spirit convicts us of our waywardness from the plain statements of the Word of God.

SO, WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT THESE THINGS?

1. Read, study, and meditate in the Scriptures – specifically the New Testament.
2. Work on renewing our mind to New Testament promises.
3. Declare in prayer that we humble ourselves before the Lord and seek His face and direction.
4. Recognize that the church is not a building but an organism that needs to gather in small and large groups for worship, instruction, fellowship, and ministry.
5. Realize that we are not of the world system but have been sent by Jesus into the world to proclaim His Kingdom.

At least, that is the way I see it!

We hear much said about prophets related to the recent presidential election. Some good, and some bad but very few people are neutral on the subject. The word “prophet” is used 477 times in the Bible. The writers of the Gospels generally spoke highly of and often quoted the prophets of the Mosaic Covenant. Jesus Himself often quoted something the prophets had said.

Prophets nor any other ministry gift is perfect in its operation because they flow through flawed individuals who are in various stages of maturity. Because of that, we find warnings given in Scripture about how to relate to or receive from the prophetic ministry (Matthew 7:15-20, Matthew 24:4-5,11,24).

Some of the things we can use to determine the truthfulness of what they are saying include:

Does what they say come to pass?

What fruit is their ministry producing?

Are they attempting to draw followers after themselves instead of pointing them to Jesus and His Body?

Where and to whom are they submitted. Do they have a home church where they are committed?

JESUS SET PROPHETS & MINISTRY GIFTS INTO THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 12:28 says, “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 says, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

SOME OBSERVATIONS

Jesus set these ministry gifts into the Body therefore they are needed and the Church must have them to do its ministry.

They are needed for the church to mature.

They aid each member in finding and fulfilling their personal calling and ministry.

They help bring stability in the church when winds of adversity blow.

They speak the truth in love which enables believers to become more Christlike.

Their ministries disciple individual believers to fulfill their function in the church so it grows to be and do all that the Father desires.

One of the reasons we have anemic churches is that some of the ministries Jesus placed in the church are not allowed to function in divine order. Every person has a place in the Body of Christ and a calling to fulfill. If they are taught how to recognize it and do it, the whole church will be blessed and will fulfill its ministry.

All of us know there is something greater outside of ourselves. We want to know about it. What is it? How does it work? or Who is it? We have often heard that there is a void inside of us that can only be filled or satisfied with this supernatural being that we call GOD. We wonder what does He think about this world situation? Can He speak to me? How can I learn to hear His voice if He does speak?

THE BIBLE IS HIS NUMBER ONE WAY TO SPEAK

It is composed of history, poetry, law, and prophecy. It is divided into two covenants or testaments; Old & New. The New Covenant or Testament is the one we live under now.

John the Baptist or baptizer came on the scene to announce the coming of Messiah Jesus. Luke 16:16 says, “The law and the prophets were until John, since that time the Kingdom is preached.” The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) tell us of Jesus’ earthly ministry and His work on the Cross, His teachings about His present and future kingdom, and His ascension back to Heaven.

The other books in the New Testament, many of them written by the Apostle Paul, teach us how we are to live in this present age. And part of that teaching instructs us about learning to hear the voice of God.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO HEAR HIM SPEAK THROUGH HIS WORD

We need to read the Bible. There are many different ways we can do that. Reading through the Bible in a year is a good way to start doing it. Study topics referred to in the Bible is also a good way. A good reference Bible is helpful in studying as is a Bible concordance & dictionary. I encourage each of us to read, re-read, meditate in, and personally apply it to our lives by obeying what it says.

A good truth from the Bible that is applicable to all of us is knowing who we are in Christ and who He is in us. I encourage each of us to start in Romans chapter one and read through Revelation chapter one to discover what has been provided for us. We will find that He has provided 168 things that we possess and are in Christ. Then we should memorize & meditate in these Scriptures until our mind is renewed (Romans 12:2) to that truth and becomes engrafted (James 1:21) into our soul. As we do that, we will hear God speaking to us personally on various levels. This is a life-long process of being renewed in our minds and learning to hear Him speak to us!

Solomon said about 3000 years ago in Proverbs 24:7, “For as he thinks in his heart so is he…”

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.”

The power of our thoughts is immense! I am reading a book by a Christian psychiatrist Daniel Amen called Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (Kindle version) that I think is very good along this line. I have given some quotes below.

“Did you know…every time you have a thought, your brain releases chemicals? That’s how our brains work. You have a thought your brain releases chemicals, an electrical transmission goes across your brain and you become aware of what you are thinking. Thoughts are real and they have a direct impact on how you feel and how you behave.

“Every time you have a mad thought, an unkind thought, a sad thought, or a cranky thought, your brain releases negative chemicals that activate your limbic system and make your mind and body feel bad. Think about the last time you were mad. How did you feel physically? When most people are mad, their muscles get tense, their heart beats faster, their hands start to sweat, and they may even begin to feel a little dizzy. Your body reacts to every negative thought you have.

“Every time you have a good thought, a happy thought, a hopeful thought, or a kind thought, your brain releases chemicals that make your body feel good. Think about the last time you had a really happy thought. What did you feel inside your body? When most people are happy their muscles relax, their heartbeat and breath slow. Your body reacts to your good thought.

“Your body reacts to every thought you have! We know this from polygraphs or lie detector tests. Almost immediately, the body reacts to your thoughts, whether you say anything or not. Now, the opposite is also true.

“Thoughts are very powerful! They can make your mind and body feel good or they can make you feel bad Every cell in your body is affected by every thought you have. That is why when people get emotionally upset they often develop physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches. If you can think about a good thing, you will feel better.”

This reminds us of the need to renew our minds to think only things that are aligned with Scripture. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Over the years, I have heard many people reference this passage when praying for America. Usually, they put a strong emphasis on the phrase ‘if my people’ as if YHWH was talking about America.

WHO WAS GOD TALKING TO IN THIS PASSAGE?

The context tells us that this was when Solomon was dedicating the Temple. After it had been accomplished the Lord appeared to Solomon and, among other things, gave him this promise. So the first application was to Israel. But as is true with many of the promises of God, there can be other applications.

Does it apply to America? It certainly can, but because it can does not mean that we should think of ourselves as having a ‘favored nation’ standing before God simply because we are America! And this is how I have heard it used many times. It appears to me that it can be applied to anyone who meets the conditions mentioned herein.

THE CONDITIONS

“If my people who are called by my name…” Anyone who has a genuine relationship with the Lord.

“…will humble themselves…” Place themselves secondary to the Lord.

“…and pray…” Intercede on behalf of someone beyond themselves.

“…and seek my face…” To discern His will, fellowship with Him.

“…and turn from their wicked ways…” Repent. Follow His ways.

“Then…” Now they have a relationship and fellowship with Him and He can begin to do things for and in them.

“…I will hear from heaven…” Old Testament people basically assumed that YHWH dwelt in heaven. We know under the New Covenant that Jesus lives in us.

“…and forgive their sins…” Self-explanatory.

“…and heal their land.” This seems to imply that He will heal, deliver, and make right all that is wrong. Perhaps it has both present and future manifestations.

So, should we use this passage when praying for our country today? Yes. But do so with the understanding that as Americans we are not something special with God more than other nationalities. All who KNOW the Lord and have made Him their Lord can claim these promises continually.