A Call to Repentance: WEEK THIRTY

2008-08-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

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Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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A Call to Repentance: WEEK THIRTY

August 3, 2008

"In returning and rest will you be saved;
In quietness and confidence
will be your strength." (Is 30:15)

WORD FOR THE WATCHMEN

Word for the Watchmen

"Every man strap on his sword!" (1 Samuel 25:13, ESV)

These are the clear words of command from David to his band of six hundred men. This is a call to arms, to action, and a call to all the fighting men. We believe this is the call of God today to His Watchmen-Pastors, to take up the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and preach it obediently and courageously. David's men could not doubt the validity and urgency of these orders. Nor can we. They are clear, concise and compelling. Such is the word of the Lord to us at this hour of history. We, His Watchmen-Pastors, must arm ourselves with His Sword, the Word of God. His Word alone will never return void and in the Hands of the Spirit will discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. We must act on His Word; full and faithful obedience is the standard for true spiritual leadership in this our day of battle. And all Watchmen are to answer this command. There must be no vacancies on the wall. Wherever your place, man of God, occupy it well.

Last Tuesday was the 82nd birthday of Dr. J. I. Packer, world-renowned Canadian theologian and Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver. He is an Anglican and a stalwart, unflinching "master- Swordsman" who chose to once again, speak truth regarding the issue of homosexuality. Canada is one of the most oppressive nations regarding criticism of homosexuality. Yet Dr. Packer asserted for the world to hear that there can be no compromise on this issue because God's Word does not compromise the issue. He is still faithfully and, with a loving spirit, wielding God's Sword, regardless of the controversies, conflicts and dangers. And so must we. The truth will allow us no other choice, no other course.

(Source: Tony Perkins, Family Research Council; July 24, 2008)

INTRODUCTION TO WEEK THIRTY

INTRODUCTION TO WEEK THIRTY

This week, we continue to press in during WEEK THIRTY of our 40 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting, to offer prayers of repentance for the sin in the church, the sin in the nation, and the blessing of Israel.

We now address these areas:

1. SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE COMING PERSECUTION

2. SIN IN THE NATION: HOMOSEXUAL ISSUES (Part Five)
Homosexual Activism in All Fifty States

3. PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL: HAMAS STOCKPILES WEAPONS

SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE COMING PERSECUTION

REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH:

THE COMING PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH

The Coming Persecution
By Chuck Colson
7/1/2008

How Same-Sex 'Marriage' Will Harm Christians

It is all about equal rights, the gay "marriage" lobby keeps telling us. We just want the right to marry, like everyone else.

That is what they are telling us. But that is not what they mean. If same-sex "marriage" becomes the law of the land, we can expect massive persecution of the Church.

As my friend Jennifer Roback Morse notes in the National Catholic Register, "Legalizing same- sex 'marriage' is not a stand-alone policy . . . Once governments assert that same-sex unions are the equivalent of marriage, those governments must defend and enforce a whole host of other social changes."

The bad news is these changes affect other liberties we take for granted, such as religious freedom and private property rights. Several recent cases give us a sobering picture of what we can expect if we do not actively embrace-and even promote-same- sex "marriage."

For instance, a Methodist retreat center recently refused to allow two lesbian couples to use a campground pavilion for a civil union ceremony. The state of New Jersey punished the Methodists by revoking the center's tax-exempt status-a vindictive attack on the Methodists' religious liberty.

In Massachusetts, where judges imposed gay marriage a few years ago, Catholic Charities was ordered to accept homosexual couples as candidates for adoption. Rather than comply with an order that would be harmful to children, Catholic Charities closed down its adoption program.

California public schools have been told they must be "gay friendly," as Roback Morse notes. But it will not stop with public schools. Just north of the border in Quebec, the government told a Mennonite school that it must conform to provincial law regarding curriculum-a curriculum that teaches children that homosexuality is a valid lifestyle. How long will it be before the U.S. government goes after private schools?

Even speaking out against homosexuality can get you fired. Crystal Dixon, an associate vice president at the University of Toledo, was fired after writing an opinion piece in the Toledo Free Press in support of traditional marriage . . . Fired-for exercising her First Amendment rights!

Promoters of same-sex "marriage" seem to go out of their way to target Christian businesses and churches. Their goal, it seems, is not the right to "marry," but to punish anyone who disagrees with them.

Clearly, there is a spiritual battle going on here: Christians are under attack because they are a public witness to the fact that a holy God created us male and female, and we will always put obedience to Him and His laws above obedience to any earthly demand for loyalty.

The coming persecution of Christians is one more reason why we need to get involved with efforts to pass laws at the state and federal level defining marriage as a legal relationship between one man and one woman. We must protect, not only genuine marriage, but also many of the freedoms we now take for granted: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom to use private property the way we see fit-all are under threat.

And we must tell our friends and neighbors why gay "marriage" is not just about equality: It is about forcing religious believers to accept the validity of the homosexual lifestyle-or else

· Father God, may we as the Church find the strength to draw a LINE IN THE SAND against these encroachments on the part of homosexual activists, and may we find the COURAGE to speak out against these ills, while there is yet time. The TRUTH, and only the TRUTH, can set us free from the deception we see in our midst in our day. Thank You for hearing our prayer, dear Lord, in Jesus' Name, amen.

· Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3,4)

Please study also all of the Book of Jude.

SINS OF THE NATION: HOMOSEXUAL ISSUES (V)
REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION:

HOMOSEXUAL ISSUES: WEEK FIVE --
Focus Point: Homosexual Activism in All Fifty States

Gay activists reveal plan

Memo shows strategy to legalize 'gay marriage' in every state

If the major homosexual activist groups have their way, there won't be an outbreak of "gay marriage" lawsuits nationwide now that California has legalized such unions -- at least not yet. Nine of the nation's largest homosexual activist organizations have issued a joint six-page statement urging couples not to sue in their home states or in federal court. The reason? Losses in such lawsuits could set the "gay marriage" movement back for years.

The joint document, called "Make Change, Not Lawsuits," was signed by, among others, the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal and the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD). For years the groups have worked together to put forth a unified effort on the issue of "gay marriage" and "gay rights." The statement, though, is the first time they have jointly put their strategy on paper for the entire nation to read.

The document apparently seeks to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2005 when a federal judge in Florida tossed out a lawsuit against the federal Defense of Marriage Act and in Arizona in 2003 when a state appeals court refused to legalize "gay marriage." Neither lawsuit had the backing of major homosexual activist groups.

"The fastest way to win the freedom to marry throughout America is by getting marriage through state courts (to show that fairness requires it) and state legislatures (to show that people support it)," the June 9 statement reads. "We need to start with states where we have the best odds of winning. When we've won in a critical mass of states, we can turn to Congress and the federal courts. At that point, we'll ask that the U.S. government treat all marriages equally. And we'll ask that all states give equal treatment to all marriages and civil unions that are celebrated in other states.

"... But one thing couples shouldn't do is just sue the federal government or, if they are from other states, go sue their home state or their employer to recognize their marriage or open up the health plan. Pushing the federal government before we have a critical mass of states recognizing same-sex relationships or suing in states where the courts aren't ready is likely to get us bad rulings. Bad rulings will make it much more difficult for us to win marriage, and will certainly make it take much longer."

The groups argue it "will take longer to win the right to marry in states where we first lose cases, than it would if we waited" and sued later.

"As society gets more used to gay and lesbian couples being married, it will be easier to win cases in states that look iffy now," the document reads. "In a few years, the cases just won't seem like such a big jump. If we plunge ahead and lose cases in those states now, the courts will have to overrule themselves later to go our way. That usually takes a few years at least, and often much longer. That means it is likely to take longer to get a good decision than it would have taken if we hadn't brought a case early on and lost it."

The U.S. Supreme Court, the statement says, might not be ready to issue a favorable ruling for homosexual activists.

"The history is pretty clear: the U.S. Supreme Court typically does not get too far ahead of either public opinion or the law in the majority of states. For example, few states still had laws requiring segregation or outlawing interracial marriage by the time the Court struck those laws down. Most states had already struck down or repealed their own laws against same-sex intimacy when the Supreme Court invalidated Texas's law. Right now, we need to make gains in both public opinion and state law."

The statement urges same-sex couples to work toward defeating a proposed constitutional marriage amendment in California. "A loss on the initiative in California -- a loss at the hands of voters -- would be particularly damaging to work in other state legislatures and other state courts," the statement says. "That makes the California campaign of prime importance. Marriage in California will transform the national debate on the freedom to marry. It will do that because the decision is well-reasoned constitutional law from the most influential state court in the nation. It will do that because California is an American trendsetter. But marriage in California will do those things only if we can hold onto it."

(Source: Baptist Press)

Reported by: Tennessee Eagle Forum

· Father God, as we see the enemy of our souls rising up against us, all across our once-great nation, we can only come before You, asking for help in time of need. We ask, dear Lord, that You would stop this delusion that is now visiting our people, and is trying to sweep away the very moral foundation of our country.

We ask You to turn the hearts of the people back to you, so that this flood of iniquity can be STOPPED through the Blood of the Lamb. Help us, Lord, we pray, in Jesus' Name, amen.

· 1 Corinthians, chapter 6

9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL: HAMAS STOCKPILES WEAPONS
PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL:

HAMAS STOCKPILES WEAPONS

Hamas Uses Truce to Stock Missiles, Explosives, and Weapons

Four tons of explosives, 50 anti aircraft missiles, and large amounts of weapons as well as ingredients required to manufacture rockets have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip by Hamas since the recent tahdiya or so called truce with Israel went into effect, Yuval Diskin head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) told the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Hamas, he said, is also in control of the vast network of tunnels in Gaza used to smuggle the goods into the narrow strip of land, and the truckloads of cement Israel permitted to be transferred to Gaza, [which] have been used to build bunkers, he said.

During the same meeting, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni spoke of the shaky Gaza cease-fire, telling the cabinet that "Israel needs to respond to truce violations, fire against fire." "Israel's response needs to give the message that we won't accept fire, regardless of which organization it comes from," she said.

Livni also declared that the border crossings used to transfer goods into Gaza should remain closed until a deal concerning the release of Gilad Shalit is sealed.

· Praise God that the work of the enemy is known in specific detail. Pray for the intelligence network to be strong and efficient so that Israel may be ready for every eventuality.

· "But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries." (Exodus 23:22)

(Source: Bridges for Peace)

Studies in Repentance: Life of D.L Moody (1)
"WHY GOD USED D. L. MOODY"

A Semon by R. A. Torrey -- 1923

(1) A FULLY SURRENDERED MAN

To obtain a copy of this booklet, write to:
Sword of the Lord Publishers
P.O. Box 1099
Murfreesboro, TN 37133

The first thing that accounts for God's using D. L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man. Every ounce of that two-hundred-and-eighty - pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God. Now, I am not saying that Mr. Moody was perfect; he was not. If I attempted to, I presume I could point out some defects in his character. It does not occur to me at this moment what they were; but I am confident that I could think of some, if I tried real hard. I have never yet met a perfect man, not one. I have known perfect men in the sense in which the Bible commands us to be perfect, i.e., men who are wholly God's, out and out for God, fully surrendered to God, with no will but God's will; but I have never known a man in whom I could not see some defects, some places where he might have been improved.

No, Mr. Moody was not a faultless man. If he had any flaws in his character, and he had, I presume I was in a position to know them better than almost any other man, because of my very close association with him in the later years of his life; and furthermore, I suppose that in his latter days he opened his heart to me more fully than to anyone else in the world. I think He told me some things that he told no one else. I presume I knew whatever defects there were in his character as well as anybody. But while I recognized such flaws, nevertheless, I know that he was a man who belonged wholly to God.

The first month I was in Chicago, we were having a talk about something upon which we very widely differed, and Mr. Moody turned to me very frankly and very kindly and said in defense of his own position: "Torrey, if I believed that God wanted me to jump out of that window, I would jump." I believe he would. If he thought God wanted him to do anything, he would do it. He belonged wholly, unreservedly, unqualifiedly, entirely, to God.

Henry Varley, a very intimate friend of Mr. Moody in the earlier days of his work, loved to tell how he once said to him: "It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him." I am told that when Mr. Henry Varley said that, Mr. Moody said to himself: "Well, I will be that man." And I, for my part, do not think "it remains to be seen" what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly to Him. I think it has been seen already in D. L. Moody.

If you and I are to be used in our sphere as D. L. Moody was used in his, we must put all that we have and all that we are in the hands of God, for Him to use as He will, to send us where He will, for God to do with us what He will, and we, on our part, to do everything God bids us do.

There are thousands and tens of thousands of men and women in Christian work, brilliant men and women, rarely gifted men and women, men and women who are making great sacrifices, men and women who have put all conscious sin out of their lives, yet who, nevertheless, have stopped short of absolute surrender to God, and therefore have stopped short of fullness of power. But Mr. Moody did not stop short of absolute surrender to God; he was a wholly surrendered man, and if you and I are to be used, you and I must be wholly surrendered men and women.

Next week: (2) A MAN OF PRAYER

A Closing Thought . . .

Repentance . . . and Pockets of Revival

I have long said that the enemy has successfully destroyed any kind of cultural agreement concerning morality in this country. In order to have revival you need repentance, but in order to repent you have to know that you have sinned. The enemy has destroyed our sense of sin. No one is sinner. We're all victims now. So we seek healing for our wounds, but not forgiveness for our sin. There is no cultural agreement concerning morality that forms a baseline for repentance. The surrounding culture has invaded the church and so Christians think nothing of sex before marriage or moving in together before the wedding or living with a boyfriend or a girlfriend. It's not just a spirit. It's a cultural decision now firmly established.

As a result of all this, we will see "lighthouses" emerging, pockets of revival in churches where people really want to see God move and where repentance is a reality, but we will not see a sweeping culture-changing revival. The nation has made its decision and I don't believe it will be unmade. So let the lighthouse churches arise! Cities of refuge in a sea of mud!

Pastor Loren Sandford
New Song Fellowship
Denver, Colorado

Hymn of the Week

ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME!

Words: Edward Perronet (1779)
Music: Oliver Holden (1793)

One of the most dramatic instances of [this hymn's] use was found in the experience of the Rev. E. P. Scott in India. His friends had urged him not to venture near a certain barbarous inland tribe, whom he wished to evangelize. But he went forth with high courage, never wavering in his duty, and trusting in God to protect him. When at last he reached their country among the hills, he came upon a company of these savages. Im mediately they surrounded him, pointing their spears at him with threatening scowls. He had nothing in his hand but his violin; and so, closing his eyes, he began to play and sing, "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." When at last he opened his eyes he expected to be killed instantly. But his life had been spared through the singing of the hymn. Their spears had dropped, and they received him first with curiosity and interest, and then later with eagerness, as he told them the gospel story and won their hearts to the will of Jesus Christ.

ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME!

All hail the power of Jesus' Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel's might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel's might, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel's chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line, whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.

O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!

(Source: www.cyberhymnal.org)

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A Call to Repentance - 30

A Call to Repentance: WEEK THIRTY