A Prayer for the President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority

O LORD, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth;

Most hearily we beseech thee, with thy favour to behold and bless THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and all others in authority; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperity long to live; and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

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From The Book of Common Prayer - The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Now This is "Political Rhetoric" That I Like

If you are like me , and you ARE (at least, in some ways), you are probably fed up with what you are hearing these days from politicians hoping to garner your votes.  It seems to me that most, if not all, of the rhetoric, in their commercials or debates, consists of words and phrases that are carefully crafted with the designed intent of psychologically and emotionally manipulating us into casting our vote for them or their pet programs.  Equally disgusting is the way those who are running for office, or promoting a new government regulation, unabashedly slander others, whose opinions on public policy differ from their own.

Assaulted on a daily basis by all of the election year rhetoric, it does my heart good to read this selection from an official document written during the formative years of our nation. No it isn't from a government document. It is a prayer for our elected representatives in congress, as they are in session to deliberate and make important decisions regarding the laws that will affect the lives of the people.

In 1789, the Convention of the newly formed (and Reformed) Protestant Episcopal Church In The United States of America, adopted a Book of Common Prayer that includes this:

A Prayer for Congress.

To be used during their Session.

MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the people of these United States in general, so especially for their Senate and Representatives in Congress assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the good of thy church, the safety, honour, and welfare of thy people;  that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established among us for all generations.  These and all other nesessaries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour.   Amen.

Gratitude

O MOST merciful Father, who of thy gracious goodness hast heard the devout prayers of thy Church, and turned our dearth and scarcity into plenty; We give thee humble thanks for this thy special bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness unto us, that our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The images are from Our Daily Bread. The prayer of thanksgiving is from The Book of Common Prayer.

INTERCESSORS: PRAYING FOR A PERSON'S SALVATION

I don't advertise it, but it is true that I love to pray for people. The kind of prayer request that particularly captures my attention and compels me to approach my Father's throne is when I am asked to pray for some one's salvation. If I am standing on a street corner, and Providence brings a friend up to me asking to pray for so-and-so's salvation, we go to prayer NOW, Matthew 6:5-6 notwithstanding. There is no experience quite like that of asking God to convict a certain one of their sins, and to grant them repentance unto life and faith in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

That brings me to something that happened on face book last night. First, there was a notification that someone  (whom I did not know) "liked" a comment I had made in reference to a quote from Tabletalk Magazine. (The subject was: not compromising the presentation of the Gospel in order to make it more acceptable to sinners.) But there was also a friend request from this same person. As a rule, I quietly ignore friend requests from people whom I do not know. I didn't know why I did it, maybe it was the fact that she was also a fan of Tabletalk Magazine, or perhaps it was the picture of a cute cat that she used as her fb profile picture (I am a sucker for cat photos), but I clicked "accept" without investigating any info about this person.

Within seconds, she responded with a message thanking me for accepting her friend request. We chatted for a few minutes; it was a pleasant conversation about church, being "strong in the Lord" etc. Then signed off.

About an hour later, I decided to look at the posts on my new friend's wall from earlier in the day, and there it was. A request to her "face book buddies" to pray for the salvation of her husband. I immediately did just that, and will continue to do so. So, there was my answer. It wasn't the Tabletalk connection; I've ignored plenty of those. Nor was it the cat photo. Many "face book" users have pics of cats. God was presenting me with an opportunity to pray for the salvation of a precious soul. I am humbled and overwhelmed by the way He plans out these things in our daily lives.

Praise the Lord.

Praying the Scriptures

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Plead with God the Merit and Righteousness of Jesus Christ

The merit and righteousness of my Lord Jesus Christ, which I rely upon as my main plea in my petition for the pardon of sin.

I know that as You are gracious and merciful, so You are the righteous God who loves righteousness, (Psalm 11:7) and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. (Exodus 34:7) I cannot say, “Have patience with me and I will repay You everything,” (Matthew 18:26)  for I have become like one who is unclean, and all my righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. (Isaiah 64:6)  But Jesus Christ has become to me righteousness from God; (1 Corinthians 1:30) being made sin on my behalf, though He knew no sin, so that I might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I have sinned, but I have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for my sins; and not for mine only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

God is the one who justifies, who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is even now at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for me, (Romans 8:33-34) and whose blood speaks better than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

I desire to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ, and as rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having any righteousness of my own, but that which is through faith in Christ. (Philippians 3:7-9)

This is the name by which I, with Your people, will call Him: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:6)  In Him, Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

Remember, O LORD, on David’s behalf, all His affliction; (Psalm 132:1) the Son of David, remember all His offerings and accept His burnt offerings; (Psalm 20:3) and do not turn away the face of Your Anointed, (2 Chronicles 6:42) who by His own blood has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for me. (Hebrews 9:24)

Have not You Yourself displayed Your Son, Christ Jesus, as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for the demonstration of Your righteousness at the present time, so that You would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus? (Romans 3:25-26)  And I now receive the reconciliation. (Romans 5:11).

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This prayer is from the daily email sent from Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. I have selected the New American Standard Bible scripture text, and have chosen to have the prayer written in first person. To subscribe to this daily email click here.                                                            

I AM BORN - AGAIN

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Thirty-seven years ago "today," at 9:00 p.m., I was born again and began to trust Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. The calendar date was actually June 7th, but I have always thought of the first Friday of June as the day.

A co-worker, who was a Christian, and I had had a few conversations about Jesus. She brought a couple of books for me to read (The Late-Great Planet Earth, and In His Steps), and even loaned me her New American Standard Bible, with the provision that I return it to her on Friday so that she would have it for church that Sunday.

I thank the Lord for Dave and Margie Dalmas, and for the members of the womens' prayer group at a Presbyterian church in the city of Orange, California.

I don't know where Dave and Margie are now. Apparently, they have moved since I last contacted them. At that time, they lived in Anaheim. I never met anyone from the womens' prayer group, but unbeknown to me, they had been praying for me for some time, Margie giving them weekly reports on how things were going.

God bless every one who prays for the salvation of people and who share the Gospel.

  

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.
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Urgent (But Not "Anxious") Prayer Request

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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6 (NASB)

Joseph (see previous post) just found out that the funding for the program he is working on is unexpectedly ending. He had been told by his advisor that he would be able to work in the lab until the end of summer.

Let's pray that the Lord will provide a job for him REALLY SOON, and that he will be enabled to complete the paper he is writing in ONE WEEK.

Thank you in advance to all pray-ers who read this blog.

Craig

The Greatest Prayer

"There is a greatest prayer, the greatest that can be offered. It is the substratum of every true prayer. It is the undercurrent in the stream of all Spirit-breathed prayer. Jesus Himself gives it to us in the only form of prayer He left for our use. It is small in size, but mighty in power. Four words - 'Thy will be done.' "

____ S.D. Gordon

Praise God for His Heavenly Splendor and Glory

One of the daily devotionals that I use is Matthew Henry's "Method for Prayer." It is a method of praying that utilizes the language of the Bible, God's Word,  when we offer up to Him our ADORATION, CONFESSION, INTERCESSION, PETITION, AND THANKSGIVING. The program allows me to choose from a few different Bible translations and I can select whether I want to pray in "first person," as in private, or as speaking for a group. Here is today's prayer. For information on how to receive these devotionals by email, or how to obtain the book, click on the green Matthew Henry banner below the comment section. By the way, the scripture text here is from the New American Standard Bible.

I must give to God the praise of that splendor and glory wherein He is pleased to manifest Himself in the upper world.

You have established Your throne in the heavens, (Psalm 103:19) and it is a throne of glory, lofty and exalted; and before You the seraphim cover their faces. (Isaiah 6:1-2) And it is in compassion to Your people that You obscure the face of that throne and spread Your cloud over it. (Job 26:9)

You make Your angels spirits, and Your ministers flames of fire. ( Psalm 104:4) Thousands of thousands of them minister to You, and myriads of myriads stand before You, to do Your pleasure. (Revelation 5:11) They are mighty in strength, and obey the voice of Your word. (Psalm 103:20-21) And I have come by faith and hope and holy love into a spiritual communion with those myriads of angels and the spirits of the righteous made perfect, even to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, in the heavenly Jerusalem. (Hebrews 12:22-23)

A QUESTION ABOUT CALVINISM

Craig,
I have a question for you and Penn about Calvinism that I asked the Calvinist commenters on John Piper's blog about a year ago and never got an answer. (As I think I've mentioned to you, I agree with the Calvinistic emphasis on God's grace but not the determinism.)

During the Great Awakening when George Whitefield and John Wesley preached, many people were saved. Whitefield and Wesley apparently prayed for several hours each day and were very much led by the Holy Spirit while preaching.

This is my question: Were the conversions due to the prayers and Spirit-led preaching, or were there just a disproportionate number of "elect" during that time? That is, did God just choose to soften hearts while these two preached, whereas now He is more inclined to harden hearts when the Gospel is preached? Or is there a correlation between prayer/Spirit-filled preaching and conversions?

The question occurred to me because you said that you have no idea who is elect and who is not. Of course this is true to both Calvinists and Arminians--photosynthesis could be the next Augustine for all we know. But apart from the fact that God is omniscient and has always known who will ultimately be saved, is it carved in stone? We know that Augustine's mother Monica prayed for him far more than most mothers pray for their children, so in my mind that had a lot to do with him being saved. "God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).

Even after I read Piper's blog for several months (and reading Future Grace) it was not at all clear to me what the Calvinistic position is on this question, so I'd be interested in your thoughts. I'd also like Penn's thoughts.
___Anette

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Very good questions.

 First, I will make one clarification of something Anette said. There is a difference between the concept of "determinism" and the Reformed doctrines of "election" and "predestination ." While they are alike in some respects, there is an important difference. Election (and reprobation) proceed from the "eternal decree" of a holy and wise God whose ways are beyond our finding out (Romans 11:33-36). Determinism can be illustrated in the ancient Greek myth of Oedipus Rex. Although Oedipus was foretold by the Oracle at Delphi that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, no amount of care or effort on his part could prevail to avoid the pre-determined outcome. Now, there is no "oracle" involved in the determinism that is inherent in today's materialistic world view, but each event is only the latest effect in a series of impersonal causes. (Some say that it is an infinite series.)

Some people think the Christian doctrine of election and reprobation is just like that, sort of a "you're damned if you do and damned if you don't" situation. This is not the case. It is true that Scripture reveals that there are the elect, individuals whom God has "chosen from the foundation of the world." ( Ephesians 1:4-5 and  2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ) This is a great comfort to those who have trusted Jesus for their salvation and eternal life. But we have been given no advanced knowledge about which people are elect. Therefore, the church is to preach the gospel to everyone, everywhere, calling them to: "come to Jesus, acknowledging your sin and guilt, and trusting him for salvation, and in doing that, you will most assuredly receive forgiveness and eternal life by virtue of Christ crucified for sinners." So, you are damned if you don't, but are certainly not damned if you do come to Jesus the Savior. You are wonderfully saved.

We are getting closer to Anette's questions, but there is something else that needs to be established in order to give context to the answer, and that is How God Brings About Conversion.

God applies His saving grace by the operation of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8) through the word or ministry of reconciliation; (2 Cor. 5:18-19) which is the gospel concerning Christ, by means whereof it has pleased Him to save such as believe (1 Cor. 1:21)...(Canons of Dort III & IV Art. 6)

The means which God has ordained to be the seed of regeneration is the preaching of the gospel. (Isa. 55:10-11; 1 Cor. 1:21; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; Romans 10:13,14,15,16,17)

So, Anette's questions:

Were the conversions due to the prayers and Spirit-led preaching, or were there just a disproportionate number of "elect" during that time? That is, did God just choose to soften hearts while these two preached, whereas now He is more inclined to harden hearts when the Gospel is preached? Or is there a correlation between prayer/Spirit-filled preaching and conversions?

The Calvinist's answer is, "Both." We have seen above that God has ordained preaching as the means of conversion. Also, Christ has taught us in the "Lord's Prayer" what things God is pleased with and will hear. The second petition, "Thy kingdom come" certainly includes praying for the increase of His church through salvation of souls.

Scripture tells those that have come to Christ for salvation (e.g. Wesley and Whitefield's hearers, and Augustine) that God the Father has chosen them in Christ from before the foundation of the world ( Ephesians 1:3-4 ), and that they have been saved and called with a holy calling, not according to their works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to them in Christ Jesus before time began (2 Tim. 1:9). They see that they never could have come to Jesus unless the Father had drawn them (John 6:44).

History shows that there are times and places in which  a greater number of people are being saved than in other times and places. That seems to be happening right now in China and on the African continent.

"...And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48)

Thank God for the Covenant of Grace

Praying the scriptures, from Matthew Henry's  Method for Prayer

For the covenant of grace made with me in Jesus Christ and all the exceedingly great and precious privileges of that covenant, and for the seals of it.

I thank You that in Jesus Christ You have made an everlasting covenant with me, according to the faithful mercies shown to David; (Isaiah 55:3) and that though the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, yet this, Your covenant of peace, will not be shaken. (Isaiah 54:10)

That You have granted to me precious and magnificent promises, so that by them I might become a partaker of the divine nature; (2 Peter 1:4) and that Jesus Christ is the Mediator of this better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

That though You chasten my transgression with the rod and my iniquity with stripes, yet You will not break off Your loving-kindness from me, nor deal falsely in Your faithfulness. Your covenant You will not violate, nor will You alter the utterance of Your lips. (Psalm 89:32-34)

That desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of Your purpose, You have interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, I who have taken refuge might have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before me. (Hebrews 6:17-18)

That baptism is appointed to be a seal of the righteousness which is by faith, as circumcision was; (Romans 4:11) that it assures me of the forgiveness of my sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit; and that this promise is for God’s people and their children. (Acts 2:38-39) And that the cup in the Lord’s Supper is the blood of the covenant, which was poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28)

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Thank God for the Assurance you have of Christ's Second Coming

Thank God for the Assurance you have of Christ's Second Coming

For the assurance we have of His second coming to judge the world.

I bless You that You have fixed a day in which You will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom You have appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. Acts 17:31(NASB)

That in that day the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8(NASB) And He will come to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at among all who have believed; 2 Thessalonians 1:10(NASB) for God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:14(NASB)

That He will then send forth His angels to gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, Matthew 13:41(NASB) and to gather together His elect from the four winds; Matthew 24:31(NASB) and then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matthew 13:43(NASB)

And I then, according to Your promise, am looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells: Lord, grant that, since I look for these things, I may be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless; 2 Peter 3:13-14(NASB) and then Come Lord Jesus, Come quickly! Revelation 22:20(NASB)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

TO ALL INTERCESSORS

Please take take time out from whatever you are doing, and pray for Eddie Eddings' daughter, Tammy Osborn. Details here.

Be still, and know that I am God.

_Psalm 46:10