Pastor Bob’s Blog

To anyone who follows my blog, I pray you’ll have a very happy Thanksgiving.

We had a powerful Holy Spirit moment at church on Sunday.  A member of our worship team had gotten revelation as she was preparing to come to church that each time she takes a breath, the Lord is breathing life into her.  Isn’t that awesome?

So as you take a breath, say, “Thank you Lord for giving me breath.”  Feel your heartbeat, and say, “Thank you Lord for my heartbeat.”  Think of the hand that’s covering your heart, and say, “Thank you Lord for my hands.”  Remember the ears that are hearing what you say, and say, “Thank you Lord for my ears.”  Then be aware your mouth is speaking the words you hear, and say, “Thank you Lord for my mouth.”  Your brain is helping you form the words, so say, “Thank you Lord for my brain.”  Your eyes are taking in all around you, so say, “Thank you Lord for my eyes.”  You’re standing on your two feet, so say, “Thank you Lord for my feet.”  If you’re a born-again Spirit-filled believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, say, “Thank you Lord for saving me and for filling me with your Spirit.”

And remember that your breath, your heart, your hands, your ears, your eyes, your mouth, y our brain, and your feet are instruments of worship and of ministry.  So say, “Thank you Lord for letting me minister in Your Name.”

So rejoice – and be thankful!!

Yesterday we witnessed one of the marvels of the American republic.  Although they differ on almost every issue of importance, President Bush and President-Elect Obama met to discuss the orderly, peaceful transfer of power on January 20.  It is one of the blessings the Lord has given us, to hand off authority without bloodshed.

Many evangelical Christians are wary of the president-elect.  Some of his vocal supporters pushed an agenda of unrighteousness, and the positions Mr. Obama took during the campaign seemed to mirror that agenda.

I don’t want to minimize the apparent differences we have with his stated opinions on issues of life and righteousness.  We need to be vigilant.  Yet we must also be mindful that God is still on the throne, and His Word says that the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, and that He turns it (the king’s heart) wherever He wills.  (Proverbs 21:1).

We also must be mindful of this admonition:  “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.”  (Acts 23:5 NKJV).  In that passage, the Apostle Paul had just spoken some strong words to Ananias, not knowing he was the high priest.  The words of Exodus 22:28 leapt to Paul’s lips, just as they should to ours.

Let’s also remember this.  During the years of his ministry, the Apostle Paul was living under the ungodly pagan authority of the Roman empire.  Wickedness in Roman society and among Roman leaders was no less prevalent than it is today.  Yet the Apostle Paul wrote this to the church at Rome, the seat of the empire’s authority:

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  (Romans 13:1 NKJV).

We have marching orders straight from the Word of God:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ESV).

Let us pray that the Lord turn the president-elect’s heart to rule righteously in the fear of the Lord.  Let us pray that he selects godly counselors.  Let us pray that the Lord give the president-elect and his advisors the wisdom of God.  Let us pray that the Lord give this nation and the church peace, quiet, and prosperity, and that we may live godly and honestly without interference from our government.  Let us pray that in the next four years a revival of the gospel sweep this nation, and that many people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

At all times – first of all – let us pray!  And when we pray, let’s pray in faith, not doubting, but believing we receive.  Pray!

“Pay Attention to Me…My system is stronger than ever.”
Don’t pay attention to or make any plans based on what the media says
or what the politicians say. Stand on My Word in John 16. Pay attention to Me.
I [the Holy Spirit] will obey verses 13-15. I will show you things to come. I will
lead you through troubled times. I already have THE plan for you, and it’s very
good. Follow it. It will not only get you through, it will place you in a very high
place—a rich place—a strong place of victory.
You will have to discipline yourself and be diligent to listen to Me. All the
other voices will have a plan, a word, an idea for your future and security.
Don’t listen to Babylon’s system. It has fallen apart. My system is stronger than
ever. My kingdom is flourishing, and THE BLESSING is the place to be.
Keep your eyes on My Word. Listen to it. It will guide you and I will
perform it. Love Me. Love My people as I have loved you. Walk in it. Love never
fails, and neither does My plan.
Be very cautious to stay completely clean from covetousness. First
Timothy 6:10 must live in the forefront of your thinking. If you will do these
things and continue therein, you will come into your wealthy place. A place
lifted up. A place in Me already planned and prepared for you now. Here. Not
heaven—not yet. But it will seem like heaven right in the midst of all the
trouble, and you’ll be able to reach out to untold numbers of suffering people
with the Good News of the gospel.
I’m coming very soon. Sooner than you think. Keep your eyes on Me and
you’ll get the job done.
—Prophecy delivered by Kenneth Copeland
Oct. 19, 2008

Today in church, one of our college-aged members read Proverbs 24:21- 25 (NKJV), scripture on which he had been meditating for several months in the context of next Tuesday’s election:

My son, fear the LORD and the king;

Do not associate with those given to change;

For their calamity will rise suddenly,

And who knows the ruin those two can bring?

These things also belong to the wise:

It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”

Him the people will curse;

Nations will abhor him.

But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,

And a good blessing will come upon them.

Change has been a predominate theme in the presidential campaign.  But the passage above instructs us not to associate with those given to change.  Some other translations of that passage use the word “rebellion” instead of change in verse 21.

I will not tell you how to vote.  I will instruct you to pray, ask God to show you how to vote, and vote in light of scripture.  Are you being asked to vote for, and therefore associate with, a candidate who seeks to change this nation from its Judeo-Christian values?  Are you being asked to vote for a candidate who regards as righteous what God has called wicked?

Unless we are firmly tethered to God, we will drift with the natural flow of this world.  As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, though, we are called not to drift with the current, but to swim against it with all our might.

So pray.  Search scripture.  Vote.  And on Wednesday, no matter who wins, begin fervently fulfilling our privilege and obligation from 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.