Greetings friend,

This Sunday we continue our study called “Scandalous” from the Book of Hosea. As you may know, the Nation of Israel had pulled away from God and the vows they had made centuries earlier after leaving Egypt in route to the Promised Land. They had taken on many of the traits and practices of their pagan neighbors and had left The Lord on the sidelines of their daily lives. Many times throughout these years God would send prophets to warn them of a coming judgement but Israel would not listen, much less obey the word of the Lord. They wanted to experience life without God. Be careful what you ask for… When the patience of God finally ran out, Israel would pay a high price as their enemies came – wiping out many thousands of Israelites, and taking many more as slaves back to their Assyrian homeland. God had warned them, but they would not listen.

Does this story sound familiar? It definitely does to me. America was founded on many spiritual truths taken right off the pages of our Bibles; our laws, our guarantees of freedoms, the right to worship God, and many more Biblical precepts which are found in God’s Word. But America, and many churches, have drifted far away from those biblical moorings which insured God’s blessings on our country, and on us as individuals.

We read, time and time again, what happens to a nation that drifts away from God and turns its back on His truth. The many stories of fallen nations and empires bears this truth out; “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

I think we all know and sense that America is at the precipice of a great and terrible judgement if we fail to Repent and Return as a people, a church, and a nation. In view of this, God has placed a heavy weight on my heart to do just that BEFORE the coming election which, I believe, will have consequences on us, our children, and grandchildren for decades to come. America has drifted away, and now it’s up to us to pray her back into the safe harbor of God’s protection, provision, and purpose before it’s too late. In Hosea, Israel failed to hear and respond to God’s warnings. Let’s do better by understanding the times in which we live, diagnose how we got to where we are, and respond with God’s cure both for our nation, and for ourselves and our forever-family. If we fail to obey God’s Word – the Cure – then we will have no one to blame but ourselves when we fall.

So, what can we do to return our nation to God? With the elections so close at hand, I’m asking you, personally, to begin praying.

Pray for:

Christians (you and me) to repent over any sins which have a stronghold in our lives; any passivity in our walks with God, any secret sins, and any refusal to Love God, Love people, and any reservations we might harbor about making disciples. There is no room for arguments here where God has already spoken.

Pray for President Biden’s salvation. Pray for VP Harris’ salvation. Pray for congress-people and judges, and anyone else in authority over us, to come to Christ. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. This is not optional for Christ-followers. Pray for our rulers, despite how they carry out their rule.

Pray for the wounds and division in our country. That we may be, more and more, united under the banner of love through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And Pray that we might return to our Biblical foundations as a nation.

THEN…

Sunday, October 27th @ 10am, I’m calling ALL BELIEVERS together for a Solemn Day of Prayer and Repentance for America. Mark your calendars! We will come together in one worship service as God’s People – The Church – to call upon the only name that saves – Jesus – and present our Heavenly Father with our prayers and petitions. We will read God’s Holy and Life Changing WORD together, and we will worship Him in Spirit and truth. Afterwards, we will exercise our responsibility to vote Biblically on November 5th, and we will exercise our faith by leaving the outcome in His hands. I hope you will make every effort to come in-person to this very important day in history, and invite some friends.

May the Lord bless you, and may we bless the Lord!

Pastor Ben