Changing The Course Of A Nation

Reflections: We all acknowledge that God has great plans for America; however, our country may need to walk through some very hard things in the days ahead. I pray this message will give you insight about how, together, we can seek God to change the course of our nation:

Time is running out for America. Our country has been on the path of self-destruction for decades and is now on the verge of complete moral and economic collapse, with threats of attacks and war as well. Our nation hangs in the balance, and as God’s people we must take action now before it’s too late.

We have pushed God and His righteous ways out of our government, our classrooms and our culture. Even many churches have watered down truth, while hidden sin continues to be exposed in the pulpits and pews. Is it any wonder that God has been lifting His hand from our nation?

Let us turn to God’s Word in 2 Chronicles 7: 14 and check out what God requires of a nation …

Introduction: Chapter 7 is about the dedication of the new temple Solomon had built in Jerusalem. But, it follows chapter 6, which includes a lengthy prayer by Solomon beseeching God to hear the nation when they sin if they turn back to God and repent. After all the ceremony, which took place over several days, God appeared to Solomon at night (7: 12) and responded to his prayer.

Looking at this context we see that God’s oft-quoted "I will hear from heaven" must be qualified with the very next verse, His ears being "attentive to prayer made in this place" [that is, the Temple]. Not prayers in America, but Jerusalem. And if one sees how important the context and setting is here then it is much easier to follow the application: the "land" spoken of which God, upon prayer and repentance, promised to heal was Israel, not America.

The whole point is that this promise was made to the only nation on the Earth that had (past tense) a national covenant with God: Israel. And, thus, the only nation that could ever have expected corporate healing per this promise is Israel. America has nothing to do with this promise. America, as a nation, has no right to this promise. American Christians have no need for it.

But what about the Principle? Surely, someone might object, there must be some application for us? Yes. One is that God is faithful in all His promises. Even in those situations that don’t apply to us.

But one principle we cannot draw out from this passage is that we are able to pull a nation out of a moral nosedive, or into a "national revival", by the spiritual exertions of a Christian minority, however sincere. That is the promise not given. We have the proof of this in Ezekiel 14: 13 – 20.

What can we do?

If we will listen, we will hear God’s cry for the soul of this nation. The problems of this country are deeply rooted, and if we want real change, then we must go to the root of the problem.

We need a deep cleansing and work of God’s Spirit, beginning with the pulpits of America—the spiritual leaders of our land.

It’s been said that as the pulpits go, so goes the church, and as the church goes, so goes the nation. It’s true—before we will see a true great awakening, the church must lead the way in genuine repentance and engage in daily "nation-changing" prayer on a massive scale.

How do we begin prayer that will change the course of our nation?

First, the biblical solution is God’s people coming to Him humbly in unity, repentance and prayer (see 2 Chronicles 7: 14; Acts 2). This needs to happen church wide, with the pulpits of America leading the way.

Prayer that changes a nation must be:

1. Pure: We must not pray with hidden sin, for it is the prayers of the righteous that accomplish much. 2 Timothy 2: 22 says: "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. Flee from sin, pursue goodness. Righteousness - whatever is just, holy, and innocent. Faith - fidelity both to God and man, improving that grace by which thy soul may be saved, and faithfully discharging the duties of thy office, that He may save the souls of others. Charity - love to God and man. Peace among all the members of the Church, and as far as possible with all men; but especially among those who invoke the Lord out of a pure desire to glorify his name.