Monday, August 30, 2010

Can God Bless America Again?

Have you ever asked this question, 'Can God bless America again?' I have asked it and my initial answer was "Sure, God's hand has always been on this country." But then I started to think through how empty and unsupportive that sounded.
I recently returned from 10 days in country in Haiti. We sensed God's presence there among those living in extreme poverty. We had great, intimate worship and communion at night in an open-air church with bats flying over our heads, 1 cheap guitar, no electricity or running water, 2 solar powered camping lanterns and I felt closer to God than I have for a long time.
So it's not about the country, the location and definitely not what your church building looks like or how you dress for church. So what is it that brings God's blessings? And how can God bless America again?
First of all, we are not a covenant nation like Israel. God has never promised to guarantee our super power status forever.
Secondly, God has promised us as believers that salvation, mercy, forgiveness and spiritual maturity are ours as we remain faithful to God.
The answer to God's blessings for America is not going to come from presidential candidates promising us change or big business bailouts. The answer is not going to come from oil profits, from oppression of the poor, or from building up massive warheads and killing one another for dominance. The answer is not positive thinking messages from the pulpit, or Glenn Beck rallies and Sarah Palin tea parties.
The key to God's blessings begins with the spiritual state of THE CHURCH. Not your church or my church but THE CHURCH. If God is going to ever bless America again, it will not be for the sake of the nation itself. He is not partial to just the red, white, and blue as many may believe. But He is a jealous God who demands holiness from His people because He alone is holy and cannot tolerate sin.
God blesses a nation and has always blessed nations for the sake of His people. If we as the Church are not fulfilling the conditions for divine blessing, there is no hope for the rest of the nation, regardless of what country you live in.
But when The Church is healthy and living fit to receive God's blessings, when we are on our knees in prayer and worship and striving to live a set apart life, the whole nation reaps the benefits of His blessings. Why? Because the truth of the Word of God will be preached with power and with no apology. It will not be to tickle the ears of the complacent and lukewarm. When the Word is proclaimed with power, God will add to His Church and more spiritual blessings are poured out on His people and nations.
In 1 Peter 4:17 we read, "Judgment must begin at the house of God." God is watching his people.
So can God bless America again? I say Yes, but we have a long way to go because The Church must first repent and get back on track before the rest of our nation can reap the benefits of God's blessings.
Are you up to the challenge or are you going to just go for the ride to glory? Are you willing to serve Him with reckless abandon and surrendered hearts, or are you going to coast across the finish line on the draft of those running the race? Are you going to be with and serve the poor and broken or are you satisfied with dropping an occasional dollar in the plate for missions? Are you going to be a witness in word and deed for the Almighty, or do you remain silent because your ticket to heaven is already punched?

3 comments:

  1. hi my name is glen and i remembered i had a blog after 3 months...smiles. hey there brother!

    i do like your summation...we cant rest on our pride and expect it...or look to our past wins or our past sins...there is only the now and where we are heading...

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  2. tried to call Jer today as well...he out of the country?

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  3. Wait, I thought Glenn Beck had all the answers? Oh yea, never mind....that was Jesus. Got confused by the way some christians follow Beck. 1-2 punch.

    Brian - I'm in SD - I'll call ya...

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