Jeremiah 18:6-10 (KJV)
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Judgment has already been pronounced against our country because of our national sins, our national rejection of the Word of God and our national support of those who walk in open defiance of the Word of God. God’s judgment is sure. A nation cannot stand in open defiance of God and not be plucked up. But my search of the word of God reveals this one little passage in the book of Jeremiah that tells us that if a nation will repent, then the certain judgment against it will be cancelled. Rather than recognize that, in all likelihood, America will not repent and be saved, I choose to pray that it will.
All history supports the inevitability that our nation will not repent. Israel kept to its path and went into judgment. I know, I see all of that. But what about Nineveh, a country that went on a national fast of repentance and turned the tide for the country? Yes, I am also aware that eventually Nineveh went back into sin and God’s judgment eventually fell. But at least they received an extension of time. Surely someone was saved and made it into the kingdom of God during that interval. So here is what I choose to do. Rather than wimp out, roll over and allow sin to take us out I am going to use the weapons of warfare that God gave us. Christians, we have great power with God through prayer and intercession. Our role is to hold back the tide of inevitability. Our role is to pray and hold back the tide of judgment, allowing a window through which others will be saved. If only one soul is saved before judgment falls because of our prayer for our nation and its leaders wouldn’t it be worth it? Ministers have to preach, teach and tell the people the truth about the coming judgment. Intercessors have to stand in the gap and make up the hedge. Church, let’s fan the tiny glimmer of hope that is provided in Jeremiah8:8.
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Let’s choose to be an example of holiness, demonstrating to a dying nation and to the world how to escape the coming wrath of God. Let’s you and I hold back the tide of inevitability and cause as many souls to be saved as we can. We can do it through prayer and intercession. And always remember, “Holiness is still right!”
Thanks for the reminder that “if my people are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2Chron 7:14).
Sis Debbie Perrin
Reblogged this on Committed to Preaching the Word of God and commented:
Pray, pray, somebody pray! Judgment has fallen and the horrible outcome for our nation is near.
Alfreda,
I’m with you on this. In fact, I blogged about it, too. If you’d like, you can read what The LORD layed on my heart here: https://bringbread.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/america-is-a-wayward-daughter/
Basically, He challenged me to pray for this nation as a parent prays for a wayward child. That’s powerful prayer. Hope against hope prayer. Shaking the Heavens prayer. Never give up prayer. I’m so encouraged to find that your heart is there too. God Bless you, sister! So glad we found each other through blogging! Colleen