October Surprise:
How to Get the Right Man in Office during Election Time
by Erik Magnusson
Member of Belmont Baptist Church of Conyers, Georgia
It seems that nobody cares who wins the elections anymore, until it gets down to the last month or two before the vote. Then, everyone gets nervous, and everyone wants to pray. Unfortunately, by that time, the good candidates have already been weeded out in the primaries, and you are often left with a choice between "the lesser of two evils."
Even so, a mediocre candidate is always better than a bad candidate, so there is no reason why we should not continue to pray. We should pray during the entire Election Season, if not all year long, every year, so that the better candidate of the two, will win, or rather, so that the candidates who will do more harm than good, will somehow be exposed for who they are, and as a result, the public will choose the better of the two.
We should never forget that election time is not only for the office of President, but for Governors, Representatives, Senators, City Councilmen, County Commissioners, Mayors, and hundreds of other officials throughout the country, all of whom will affect different aspects of our lives, sooner or later, or at least, our society. Moreover, most of these will appoint people to serve in positions that will also, in turn, affect our lives in the same way. The next President, for example, will appoint a replacement for every Supreme Court Justice that retires during his term in office, and several of such are due to retire shortly. Your freedom of speech, therefore, is always at stake during Election Time at any level, your right to bear arms, your freedom of religious expression, and--as liberal candidate go out of their way to give an ever-increasing role to the United Nations for the government of our country--perhaps even your own nation's sovereignty is at stake, now more than ever. Keep in mind that you will likely become aware of only half of the decisions that your elected official will make; the other half will be done behind closed doors; some will be written into law now, but only to take effect in ten years, when it is far too late to do anything about them.
Fortunately there is a secret formula for prayer that appears in the Bible, whereby we are guaranteed that God will move the hearts of the people to put the right man into office now, and every time that we follow the conditions laid forth in that promise. It is a highly-misunderstood promise, and as a result, everyone wants to quote it, but nobody knows just how to put it into practice. The good news is that, if you are one of those people, today is the day that you will likely understand that promise for the first time in your life. Consequently, you will be able to put it into practice, and if you do, God Himself, promises that you will see results.
It all has to do with the promise of God that says this:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chr 7.14)
Cognizant of the fact that most of us are already tired and weary of hearing this passage quoted, I promise to show you something entirely new about it, and to leave the rest alone. I would like to call your attention to only one thing in this passage today, and that is the tiny little phrase, "humble themselves."
Everybody knows what "humbling" is, in the usual sense, so the last thing that we need is a reminder for the obvious. Moreover, we think we know what it means, and we think we have put it into practice, and yet, all the while, we do not seem to see any results in our society, so we are left believing that it is just one of those promises that we will never understand.
However, I would like to point out that, in this context, the term "humble themselves" is not used in the usual sense. It is not referring to an attitude, but rather to an action; it is not speaking of how we should feel, but of what we should do; it is not speaking of humility as a character quality, but of the practice of afflicting one's own flesh, to the point that our spirit can pray in a more effective way, so that we can, in turn, see better answers to prayer. In short, the phrase is speaking of good, old-fashioned fasting. The following Biblical passages help prove the point.
"But as for me...I humbled my soul with fasting.." (Sal 35.13)
"...I wept and humbled my soul with fasting..."(Sal 69.10)
In other words, to humble oneself with fasting is simply to afflict one's ordinary, unproductive carnal nature, by denying it the very thing that gives it all its vitality: food. Now, this is not to suggest that we continue to drink coffee and fruit juices, as this can defeat the whole purpose of denying ourselves of food; what good is it to abstain from a bowl of fruit, if we intend to put it all into a blender with water and drink it anyway? No. By "fasting" we mean to abstain from all food, and from all drink other than ordinary water.
By fasting, one chastises his flesh by forcing it to submit to the dictates of one's own spirit. The Apostle Paul did this kind of thing routinely:
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection... (1Co 9.27)
By humbling ourselves with fasting, God begins to take our prayers much more seriously, in part because we are praying more according to the desires of our spirit, and not those of our flesh. We put ourselves into a state of greater seriousness, sensibility, and into a condition in which we are better able to be led by the Spirit of God throughout the prayer and even in our daily walk. Greater obedience means greater rewards, including answers to our prayers on behalf of the Elections.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1Jn 3.22)
While all of this may not be the best theological explanation as to why fasting helps us get results, the point should be clear that God expects us to fast, and most especially, in time of personal or national crisis.
Consequently, with this new understanding concerning just what is meant by "humbling ourselves," we could probably paraphrase the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in the following way:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall afflict their own flesh by means of fasting, (while also praying, seeking my face, and turning from whatever sinful habits they may have acquired until now), then I will hear from heaven, and (will not only forgive their sin, but) will answer their prayers, and, to the degree that they seek me in this way, I will begin to turn their nation around, little by little, seeing to it for example, that, more and more, the right men are elected to office, every time the people go to the polls."
The secret to getting the right man in office, then, is to seek God's face by means of fasting, and not merely by prayer; by fasting, and not merely by faith; by fasting, and not merely by "quoting the promises of God."
The Lord Himself has told us that there are times when the prayer of faith will not be enough.
And Jesus said unto them...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Mt 17.20-21)
Jesus told us that, while He walked the earth, his disciples would not fast much, but that, after His departure, they whould all have somewhat of a routine of fasting, as part of their spiritual life.
And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (Lk. 5.34-35)
Fasting is not just something that Christians do during Election Time. Daniel the Prophet had wisdom to know that God expected believers to fast in time of any personal crisis, as well.
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: (Dn 9.3)
Hannah gave us another example. She was just a simple woman, the wife of a priest, but was unable to have children. She discovered that, if she sought the Lord while afflicting her soul with fasting, she would be in a position of humility by which God could not help but to do the impossible and to answer her prayer. He gave her a son, Samuel, who turned out to be one of the greatest prophets in history.
"...the Lord had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord...she wept and did not eat. (1Sam 1.6-7)
The Apostle Paul was no stranger to the practice of fasting, either, but rather attributed much of his spiritual success to the practice, and, of course, to God's mercy.
"...But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings" (2 Co 6.1-5)
"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck...in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often..." (2 Cor 11.25-27)
Queen Esther was no theologian, but she knew that God expected His people to fast in time of national crisis, as well as during a personal crisis.
And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. (Est 4.3)
Keep in mind that these Biblical examples are not from great spiritual superheroes with powers that extended beyond those that we have within our own ordinary human reach; these were real people. Some of them were as simple as an 84-year-old elderly widow named Anna.
"And there was one Anna, a prophetess...And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers, night and day..." (Lk. 2.36-38)
Now then, stop for a moment, and compare your own spiritual life with that of little old Anna. Are you living up to her good example? Is it too much for God to ask you to do what a little elderly widow did regularly, two thousand years ago? How does your own ministry compare with hers? You may have a tremendous Sunday-school class to teach, or great skill with preaching, but let's not forget that God was so impressed with Anna's simple ministry, that he had it recorded in the Bible for all posterity to read and admire.
Has it ever bothered you, that verses like the following, never seem to have any relevance to your own spiritual walk?
"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting..." (1Co 7.5)
Passages like that one consist of simple marriage counseling, folks. God has called all of us to have a routine of fasting; young and old; the leaders as well as the followers.
Pastors, when was the last time you called a fast in your church during a pivotal moment in the nation's history, such as Election Time, during the trial of a case before the Supreme Court, or during a time of war? How badly must the nation go into debt, and the level of crime rise, and the land itself suffer, before we realize that our congregation needs to fast?
"Gird yourselves and lament, you priests; Wail, you who minister before the altar; Come, lie all night in sackcloth, You who minister to my God; For the grain offering and the drink offering Are withheld from the house of your God. Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord." (Jl 1.13-14)
Woe to the Christian people who live outside of the United States, who will not make any personal sacrifice during Election Time, because they think that American elections and the subsequent political decisions made therein, will only affect those who live inside America. They do not see the far-reaching consequences of America's influence around the world on every aspect of human society--from the style of music to be heard on their own radio, to the kind of proposals brought before their own legislative assemblies. Their own governments read our headlines and often say to themselves, "but if the United States approves of that, maybe we ought to do it here in our own country, too; they've been right on so many things, you know..."
So, if anyone is going to humble himself with fasting, in order to pray for America in such a way that he will see results, that person has got to be you.
"Well, I understand that some people should fast," you may say, "but I don't have that kind of calling and ministry. Maybe if God told me personally to begin fasting, I would, but, until He does..."
If that is how you feel, then hear the exhortation straight from the horse's mouth:
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:" (Joel 2.12)
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen [saith the Lord]: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?...Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In." (Is 58.6-12)
Notice that the time of fasting should include some degree of sacrifice, of affliction, some weeping with tears, some recognition of your own responsibility for the condition that our country is in; for the many years that you let go by without doing anything at all, other than cast your vote.
Just how often should you fast, and when, and for how long?
Well, first of all, it is certainly a bit late in the year already, but there is no time like the present to begin any good habit. Do not wait until November; start this week.
As for the length, a typical fast lasts one day.
As for how often you should fast, consider the Biblical examples:
Paul said, "...in fastings often..." (2Co 11.27)
Anna served God "with fastings and prayers night and day." (Lk 2.36-38)
Surely Anna did not fast every day of her life, but it would seem that she fasted at least once a week, judging from what the text says. Once a month is certainly not much, based on these texts and others.
You could choose the one day when the least is expected of you from your boss or family, as I have. Don't think that you cannot cook a meal while fasting, as thousands of housewives around the world have given testimony to the fact that it can easily be done (and I have done it myself). Don't think that you cannot go to work on a day while fasting, as many more thousands have also proven otherwise, including myself. In fact, taking a brief jog during your fast can do wonders, to raise your energy levels for another few hours, to keep you awake and alert during the entirety of your fast.
On the other hand, by fasting on Sundays, you also have the freedom to take a nap in the afternoons, after church, to recover some of your energy, if you choose not to do any exercises.
In any case, do not believe the lie of the Devil, that by fasting in obedience to God, you will suffer some medical consequences. Occasionally you may experience a mild headache, but often you will only experience some drowsiness. Use your meal time to pray.
In conclusion, while I am well aware that politics alone will never solve America's problems, politics in the hands of a godly people, can achieve great things. Our goal is to get godly people into office, little by little, so that politics can take its proper role. It all begins with your willingness and mine, to humble ourselves with fasting as we seek God in prayer.
Please be so wise as to send this message to as many Christian people as you can, as soon as possible, so that thousands of people can receive the exhortation and begin fasting with what little time we have left.
Pastors, are you looking for a sermon to share with your congregation this Sunday morning? Feel free to use this entire article as a base for your outline, without any obligation to acknowledge the source. Motivate your people. Fight the good fight with us all, but be prepared to give your people a good example, too.
Blessings be upon you, as you do.
Sincerely yours,
Erik Magnusson
Member of Belmont Baptist Church of Conyers, Georgia
Missionary to Venezuela
