Ocotber 9th

1. 
   The Church is called to be a prophetic witness
   

The church is called to be set apart from the world, in the world and not of the world salt and light, a city set on the hill.

We are not called to be Republicans, nor are we called to be Democrats, we are called to be a Voice Crying in the Wilderness:

I. Critical Premises

The church must understand that its prosperity is not be determined by our president, the system of government or the strength of our economy.

The prosperity of the church is solely based upon her engagement with the heart of God, her faithfulness to truth, and the progress of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The power of God displayed through the gospel is the only hope for America. The church needs to recognize that our source of life, strength, and, peace is God alone - not our national government or even the freedoms we hold so dear.

Christianity is not aligned with a political party of system of government. In fact, the only biblical system of Government is a theocracy where God is the leader and the nations are in loving submission to Him. Ultimately, this is our hope: Jesus Christ ruling and reigning over the nations from Jerusalem.

II. What is God up to in all of this?

It may appear that things are spinning completely out of control. We have two deeply flawed candidates, a divided nation with real wounds and challenges, threats from within and without echo the possibility international crisis, protests fill our streets, the national debt exceeds 19 trillion, and terror attacks at home and abroad have become commonplace.

We have two deeply flawed candidates, a divided nation with real wounds and challenges, threats from within and without echo the possibility international crisis, protests fill our streets, the national debt exceeds 19 trillion, and terror attacks at home and abroad have become commonplace. World affairs are at a degree of tension unprecedented in most of our lifetimes.

In light of all of this: I’m convinced that the Sovereign Lord of the Universe is overseeing not only the current election cycle, but also the world events that continue to bring to the surface the issues of men’s heart and to reveal the truth of our current state of affairs.

I believe God has very specific purposes in mind through the events He’s orchestrated. I see two clear ideas:

First, I believe America is experiencing the judgment of God. He is allowing her to have the fullness of her ways just as the Bible describes in Romans (1:28) in order to bring her to her knees. Perversion, Narcissism, Humanism, & Greed have been at the core of human pursuits in our nation and now we have those pursuits embodied in our current candidates.

Contrary to what many may believe, the church does not need to be afraid of God's judgments. His judgments are simply decisions from His throne.

His intentions are always good and His judgments are true and righteous altogether (Psalm 19:9).

When His judgments are in the earth the people learn righteousness (Isa 26:9).

God is judging us that He may redeem us.

Second, I believe He is calling the church to cry out in prayer. The current state of affairs along with the unconscionable state of this election are intended to bring us to our knees.

More than ever before the Church needs to unite in prayer, turn to Him in repentance, and ask God to mercifully release the power of His kingdom in our nation.

Rather than aligning with a human candidate or a political party, this is the hour that we must give our hearts in full allegiance to Jesus.

Because He desires to rid us of the mixture and compromise, in His grace, He is judging us and narrowing our options.

Joe 2:12-17  "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. 14 Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him—A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; 16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. 17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' "

III. Prioritize Prayer

We have a new thematic goal for the next several months as a community: Prioritize Prayer.

This is an hour we need to be spiritually awake, fasting and praying, and seeking the heart of God for His Kingdom to be made manifest in our hearts and the nation.

We are going to have special days of fasting and prayer leading up to the election November 1^st – 7^th. We will get more information to you.

I want to challenge you to look at your schedule and see where you can add extra hours of prayer and fasting over the next 3 months. Early morning, lunch hours, evening hours, as families, individually. This is a time that we need to increase our volume of prayer corporately.