GOD’S CALL TO AMERICA
2nd Kings 22:15-20
15. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,
16. Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
17. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.
18. But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the Lord, Thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
19. Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.
20. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
Have you ever had the phone to ring at your house and you not answer it?
Perhaps allow the voice recorder to get it?
Or run to look at the caller ID?
I have.
Our answering the call often depends on whom it is calling us, right?
Some may not answer the call when these call:
Telemarketer
Our Job
Bill Collector
Mother-in-law
Indeed, it has a lot to do with who it is whether or not we will answer the call.
In the beginning of this chapter we find where a new King had been put in place. “Josiah”
Josiah sent monies to the people of the house of the Lord to ensure repairs were handled.
There isn’t anything free
Lights we burn are not free
The heat we warm by is not free
That is some of the things that our tithes and offerings help to ensure we have.
Just as Josiah needed monies to keep the Lord’s house going, so does the church.
While these men were there delivering the money, the high Priest found, the book of the law in the house of the Lord. Now it had apparently just been sitting there, collecting dust, not being used.
Doesn’t this sound like a lot of homes today?
If the bible is to be found, often it is sitting somewhere just collecting dust.
Reading God’s Word is helpful as well as needful.
We should reserve a time to read God’s Word everyday.
After they found “The Book of The Law,” they then hurried back and one read it to the King, Josiah.
After having heard God’s Word, Josiah realized that God’s Wrath was upon them. How could Josiah have known God’s Wrath when he didn’t even know God’s Word?
One doesn’t know he is breaking the law unless he knows it is against the law, right?
Folks, it pays to know The-Book!
WE CHRISTIANS REALIZE
A WAKEUP CALL
HAS BEEN MADE FROM GOD THROUGH THE TERRORISM
WE ARE NOW FACED WITH
September 11th, 2001 will live with us forever!
Two of my daughters drew a picture of the Twin-Towers this week and showed it to me.
Truly an awful time for our nation…
There are those who would say that God had nothing to do with such an awful thing. But wait a minute, doesn’t everything have to go through God?
I believe God allowed this to happen to try and “WAKE UP” America. I believe America has been given,
“A WAKE UP CALL.”
America had got to big for God.
No need for God any longer many believe.
Economic Capital of the World
Leading in the research for “Cloning”
America was due a “WAKE UP CALL.”
GOD’S JUDEGEMENT IS UPON AMERICA
I feel that God may be just before possibly devastating this country. Anytime anyone has been to the point they thought they were smarter than God, they have been given a “WAKE UP CALL.”
Satan thought he was smarter than God. And he too was given, "A WAKE UP CALL." God always gives a “WAKE UP CALL” where needed.
TIMES VERY WELL MAY GET WORSE
The recent attacks on WTC and the Pentagon may only be the beginning. God may send a different call to the USA next time. God has more than one way to send us a “WAKE UP CALL.”
Perhaps A Major Earthquake;
Or maybe a Devistating Hurricane;
WILL AMERICA ANSWER THE CALL?
What do you mean, “Answer The Call,” brother Bryant?
Humble herself and repent.
You know what must be sickening to God?
Seeing many of our leaders of this country singing such songs as, “God Bless America” and yet refusing to turn from their wicked ways. Sing songs of blessings from God but put their trust in Might! I call it, “Lip Service.” They say patriotic things such as, “This Great Nation will overcome? They seem to place their trust in things of this world, and not in God.
God is calling on America!
WHAT HAPPENS SHOULD AMERICA MISS THE CALL?
If abortions continue… If gays & lesbians continue to abound… If we continue to rely on our Armed Forces Power & Might… Listen to these verses:
“For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:” (Isaiah 9:18-20)
What happens if America misses the call? I think it is obvious to the believer. In the chapter preceding chapter 22, (chptr. 21) we find where another King reigned before Josiah. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign.(vs. 1)Manasseh “wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.” (vs. 6)Manasseh died and his son took his reign. And his son continued to do evil. Eventually his own servants conspired against him and killed him.
Shortly afterwards, Josiah was named King. Josiah sought all that was right. Josiah had found the Book
Josiah sought to make things right.
CAN ANY OF THIS BE AVOIDED?
Yes! Ever wonder where we might be today should President Bush not have won the election? Like a former King before Josiah’s reign, a former President of this country led in the way of the shadow.
He taught this country many things. (Mostly bad)
How to lie
(I did not inhale.)
(I did not have sexual relations with that woman.)
Allowed homosexuals to serve our country
(supposedly Birthed & Implemented the “Don’t ask / Don’t tell policy in our Armed Forces)
I believe our country needs a leader that not only speaks of God, but who believes & obeys God! We need more Men & Women today to stand up and fight for what is right! Willing to become that “Bad-Guy” that people talk about! The bible says, “Woe unto the man EVERYONE speaks well of.”
When you stand for what is right you are going to be “The-Bad-Guy.”
AMEN! ! ! !
When you say such things as: “A Woman Pastor? PHOOEY!” You’re the Bad-Guy!
When you say such things as: “Taking a sociable drink is Wrong!” You’re the Bad-Guy!
When you say such things as: “The Gay Lifestyle Is Immoral!” You’re the Bad-Guy!
When you say such things as: “Trusting in the Pope will send you to Hell!” You’re the Bad-Guy!
When you say such things as: “N-I-V is a L-I-E!” You’re the Bad-Guy!
When you say such things as: “There is only one True God!” You’re the Bad-Guy!
We need more Men & Women not afraid of being called “The Bad-Guy.”
I believe the fate of our country could very well lie on our nations President, George W. Bush. Could he prove to be a Josiah, I believe we could avoid many more possible tragedies and worse.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Pray for our leader! Prayer is the single most helpful thing’s we can do for one another at anytime.
Peter was miraclously released from prison through the power of prayer.
In the darkness of his cave, David sought his covenant to God in Prayer.
Jabez called on God to bless him & enlarge his coast
Prayer can still change things! It was because of prayer that I’m saved today! Is it too late for America? I don’t think so. Although God’s Call has been dialed upon America. Question is, will she pick it up?
© Rev. James W. Bryant
Saturday, October 20th, 2001 10:04pm
