Radical

Americans are now searching. They are unsure about what they are looking for but they know that something is missing. Astute politicians and talk show hosts  and church leaders will attempt to exploit this unrest, but will have difficulty figuring out what angle they should take. Others will simply ignore what is happening in the hopes that it will go away. Whatever it is it will not be reported on by the news media. (Journalism is dead in America and the people know it.)

What is America looking for? What is important to them? That is the important question that they are attempting to answer. Part of the answer to this question is the question itself. What is important? What is basic? What is true? Everyone wants to know this? On the day of Jesus’ crucifixion even Pontius Pilate asked: “What is truth?”

The underlying question for America is not about racism though many are still racists. The question is not about capitalism though greed is a driving factor in America, even in its churches. It is not just determining how much government we should have, though some of our leaders want government alone to be the solution for everything. The question is a more radical one.

One of the meanings of the word “radical” means “going to the root or origin.” What is America founded upon? What has been the purpose of America? What has been the meaning of America? Why has America been blessed?

We may ask these questions on the one hand while on the other declare that: “America is not a Christian nation.” Are we able to continue the American experiment while denying our roots – denying our heritage? We may attempt to do so but will God be with us?

Is God important to America? Is He important in our daily lives, in our values and conduct, in our homes and business, and even in our churches and synagogues. If He is not then America as we once knew it may be no more. We must answer the question first for our own lives. Then do so for our churches and synagogues. And then do so for the nation. It is not too late to do so but the day of reckoning is fast approaching.

After 911 many people flocked back to the church. They were seeking answers then. The nation had been rocked by a great tragedy. Unfortunately, the church in America seemed too much like the world. The crises was a wake-up call but it seemed to pass all too quickly. We went back to spending and ignoring what was happening to us and our country.

Our current political and religious leaders will tell you that they have the answer but do not believe them if they are not talking about a truly radical solution. If God is not in the equation, if His Word is not true, if Jesus is not Lord, if we are dividing up the nation of Israel, if we are seeking a world religion and government, and if we are not on our knees before a sovereign God, then America will be lost. Terrible things are going to happen in the world, but America need not be a part of them.

The Winds of Revival

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:8

A revival is blowing. Many will not recognize it. Church leaders are too busy conducting their own programs to notice. But there are some who are aware of this wind. They did not call upon God for the wind. Rather, the intercessors in their church are the ones who called upon God. They confessed their sins and the sins of the nation. And they humbled themselves before God. They did not do so merely to save their church. They called upon God to save their nation. Intercessors, you know who you are even if your pastors do not.

The winds of revival are blowing. For those who perceive this, what you do next is very important. You may not understand what is happening but you do know that something is happening. What you are perceiving is something that you will not be able to control. If you attempt to control it you will lose it.

Why not let God’s revival control you? We are desperately in need of a revival that puts God back in charge of His Church. We should not worry about what God will do. Rather, we should worry about what God will not do.

God’s Prosperity

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

These beautiful words from the Apostle John should encourage us to live a holy life. But Satan is good at twisting the Word of God and confusing the personally ambitious. He began his career on earth with that approach in the Garden of Eden. How else can we account for the notion that financial prosperity is the goal of Christian faith?

If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 1 Cor. 15:19

The early church understood that the Christian faith is not about this lifetime in terms of rewards. The blessings of God in this lifetime had to do with His enabling to help us preach the Gospel. America has been blessed because it was a missionary nation. Can we say that it still is? Why all the emphasis on financial prosperity?

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8

Prosperity carries with it a responsibility. We are blessed to bless others. The world may not see our prosperity in the same light as what is generally accepted as prosperity. But does the world have righteousness, peace, and joy? Do worldly people live in the presence of God? Remember the parable of the rich man who would tear down his barns to build bigger barns so that they could contain all his wealth? What about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? What happens to us when we think only of ourselves and ignore the poor? In fact, Jesus said that we would be judged by how we treat the poor.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:31-40)

Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. We either serve God or Mammon. In the American church we glory in “prosperity” (translated: the love of money or Mammon). God has called us to repent of this perversion and distortion of His Word. And we have not. Judgment is upon us!

The Price of Freedom

“They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. …”

“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

Resolute

This is the face of my father, especially when he was a young boy. As he became older his face filled out but his eyes and expression did not change. I know that look. There is one word that describes it: “resolute.” My father had an ironclad will.

Of course, the actual picture is from an engraving of the face of Pocahontas when she visited England. Her determination was no match for the grave illness she contracted there. Nevertheless, that resolute spirit was necessary to preserve the colony at Jamestown. She had what it took, and she must have imparted that same spirit to the colonists.

Jesus set his face like flint towards Jerusalem. We must do the same towards the rising secular tide in this country. Let us not accept defeat. As Churchill said: “Never give up.” We are called to pray and to repent for this nation, whether we believe we have anything to do with its moral and spiritual decay or not. (We do! The church has been silent too long.) Let us begin to pray. And let us be resolute in our prayers and in our witness.

Sacred Places

Apostle, prophet, and intercessors are called to a place by God to pray and believe. Yet, it is not about the servants of God. What makes a place sacred is the presence of God. We need God. All we can say is that we are attempting to do our duty with faithfulness and discernment.

Sacred places. Cape Henry is such a place. God heard the prayers of those early English settlers. The new land would be a land of missionaries for the Gospel. A marker has been set up to commemorate the covenant these settlers made with God in this case a large cross. The settlers had implanted their own cross at the Cape. But even if there were no markers today Cape Henry would still be a sacred place for our nation. Why? Because God’s presence is still there. One can feel it.

Regrettably, our political leaders have done their best to remove as many religious markers as they can. The Ten Commandments have been removed from court houses. Prayer has been removed from public schools. But God is still with us. It is about God.

Nonetheless, if God were to remove His protective presence from America, what would be the outcome? We have had small glimpses of this happening already. Nothing can happen to America without God’s permission. Do we wish to test His faithfulness all the more? Brothers and sisters, it is time to pray fervently for revival. Without God we have little hope for the future. Let us return to Him. Let the churches lead the way. Let us forget about the church programs and humble ourselves before God, pray, and repent.

Prayer Walking

God has directed us to pray at certain historical and spiritual locations on what may be described the Historic Virginia Peninsula. We have listed these locations on our “Prayer Walking Map.” There are places in your neighborhood where God may be directing you to pray. The important thing is to listen to what He says carefully and then obey Him. Your prayers are significant, especially if you are praying the prayers that the Spirit of God is giving you. You will not only be praying. You will be prophesying.

Pray with God’s Word to you. Take authority over strongholds in your area in the name of Jesus. Before going to pray it is usually a good idea to fast. Take other prayer warriors with you. The prayer of agreement is very powerful. Our founding fathers prayed. God heard their prayer and established a covenant with them for this nation. We, too, must pray that God will renew this great covenant.

Prayer walking is not only strategic. It is also tactical. Jesus needs troops on the ground. We are told to go into the highways and byways and seek out the lost sheep. Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd would leave the ninety-nine sheep and go after the one that was lost. Are we prepared to go out into the neighborhood and workplace with the Gospel?

Please let us hear your testimony of what the Spirit of the Lord is saying and doing.

View Prayer Walking Map

Remembering the Covenant

On the 400th anniversary of the first landing of the English settlers in 1607, some wounded prayer warriors returned to the scene at Cape Henry. As we stood under the commemorative cross God once more reminded us of the covenant that those early settlers made with Him. They had erected a cross on the beach and dedicated the new land for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. God heard their promise and honored it. It is for this promise that God has blessed America.

And we as a nation and as a church have wandered far from our heritage. We preach a prosperity message and not God’s message. His message is: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Where is the Kingdom in America? Where is it in the church? Do we honor God or do we honor ourselves? What is this new false religion? It is called America.

Hello America!

Welcome to our blog. The picture above is a reenactment of the first landing at Cape Henry by the English settlers who later established the Jamestown colony. At the Cape that they first came ashore and offered thanksgiving to God for their safe passage. Here they also made a covenant with God and dedicated this new land for purpose of spreading the Gospel. God gave us prophecy there four years ago that He wanted to renew His covenant with America. That has been our prayer and mission ever since.

The purpose of this blog is to heighten an awareness in the Church to pray for covenant renewal and revival in our land. It is our desire to share with you our passion and prayers and to hear from you as well. America needs our prayers and we need to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Church in America today.

God has also been giving us prophetic messages with regard to how the Church is divided and how He wants to bring it together. The power of agreement greatly enhances our prayers for revival and renewal. We would like to share these prophetic insights with you as well.