THAT THE HEATHEN NOT RULE OVER US
“BE STRONG IN THE LORD”
(Eph 6:10)
That the Heathen Not Rule Over Us
( Joel 2:17b))
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
June 6, 2011, Austin, TX---Texas Gov. Rick Perry has invited the nation’s governors to join him in a prayer day to seek God’s guidance to deal with the problems facing America. The day for prayer and fasting is planned for August 6, in Houston and is sponsored by the American Family Association, a Christian advocacy group…
“Given the trials that beset our nation and world, from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism and continued debasement of our culture, I believe it is time to convene the leaders from each of our United States in a day of prayer and fasting, like that described in the book of Joel,” Perry said in a statement…
“We want the presence, power, and person of Christ to fill our nation and turn the hearts of millions to righteousness, peace, and joy in him, the group’s website gives as a mission statement. “We want to see real change across our nation that only our God can perform.”
The Secular Coalition for America issued a statement urging governors not to attend the event.
“The last thing our officials should do in times of national struggle is promote a divisive religious event that proposes no real solutions to our country’s real-world problems,” said Sean Faircloth, executive director of the lobbying organization for secular Americans. “We urge all elected officials to reject Governor Perry’s invitation to attend this explicitly Christian platform for theocratic grandstanding that does nothing to offer substantive solutions to our country’s problems.”
When Apostle Sharon Billins asked me to pray after her reading Joel 2, this past Sunday evening, Joel 2:17 was quickened to my Spirit: “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, spare your people, O Lord, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them; wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God?”
In the United States of America, we have many who are heathen governing this nation. The long line of those who are guilty of moral failure grows week-by-week.
This is in accordance with Joel 2. Last Wednesday night in prayer, I felt the Lord was calling Rick Perry to run for President of the United States. It is a heavy calling. If Rick Perry is the Lord’s chosen vessel, this calling can only be fulfilled with the Lord standing with him and strengthening him
In Governor Perry’s proclamation , he states, “In times of trouble, even those who have been granted power by the people must turn to God in humility for wisdom, mercy and direction. In the spirit of the Book of Joel, chapter 2, Verses 15-16, I urge a solemn gathering of prayer and fasting. As those verses admonish (2:15): “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy feast, call a sacred assembly…Gather the people, and consecrate the assembly…”As Jesus prayed publicly for the benefit of others in John 11: 41-42, so should we express our faith in this way.” (May 23. 2011)
Joel 2:1: “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on My holy Mount (Zion). Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord is coming, it is close at hand.”
The day described in Isa. 2: 12-22, is one in which God will destroy everything that has exalted itself against Him. It was expected that the covenant promises of God would be fulfilled in the day of his coming… At the same time there would be a fearsome rooting out of evil.
The trumpet is the shofar, the ram’s horn used to call the people to battle; to announce an important event; and the presence of the Lord. Here it is used to sound the alarm on Mount Zion. All the inhabitants should tremble realizing that the judgment of God is near.
For American we have to say the judgment of God is here.
In verse 12, the scene shifts: 2:12-13: “Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents of His sentence of evil.”
“Even now” emphasizes that though judgment has already begun, it is not too late to stay God’s hand. Fasting, weeping and mourning are outward accompaniments of true repentance which is a return to the Lord. Tearing of garments was the ordinary expression of mourning but such an outward demonstration is inadequate. It is necessary to rend your heart. The heart represents the centre of the whole man with all his attributes, physical, intellectual and emotional. To rend the heart represents a radical change of mind, the adoption of a different way of looking at all of life. The old patterns are to be destroyed replaced by new attitudes suitable for those through whom God is making himself known to the world.
2:14: “Who knows if He will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?
God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. While he has determined to judge the evil among his people, if they only change their willfully evil ways, He too will change His will and relent from the intended judgment. The character of God here is identical to that declared by the Lord himself on Sinai (Exod. 34: 6-9). Our gracious and steadfastly loving God who revealed himself to Moses will repeatedly forgive wickedness, rebellion and sin., when he is approached by a truly repentant people.
Instead of judgment, the Lord will leave behind a blessing,.
Fulfillment of the promise is fully dependent on the repentance of the people. Once more the command is given” blow the trumpet in Zion. Instead of an alarm, the trumpet is now intended to call a sacred assembly, to declare a holy fast, to gather the people.
The sacred assembly is to include all the people, starting with the elders and including not only the children but even those nursing at the breast. The bridegroom too and his bride are to leave their pre-occupation with each other to join the fasting assembly. As all are included in the judgment of evil, so must all join in the public repentance of the nation.
The priests, identified as those who minister before the Lord and represent the nation before the Lord. To stand between he temple porch and the altar is to stand in front of the ‘holies of holies’ before the very presence of God.
We have already heard declared out of the mouths of the leader of this nation, that we are no longer a Christian nation. That is the same as saying, “Where is their God?” This voice of the heathen rulers is saying the God of our covenant is ineffectual and has abandoned His people, or worse, does not exist.
This voice has already spoken against Governor Perry’s proclamation. This heathen voice is strong in this nation. Who can endure it? With such knowledge, the real question is not “Will God abandon us? As it is how can we not repent?”
If we will repent, then the Lord will be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold I will send your corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be satisfied therewith, and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.
Christian many of the liberal left reproach, mock, and scorn Christians. Many of our governmental and spiritual leaders do not honor and respect the Word of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and Father God. The United States of America is in that state of judgment where, “O Lord we have been given over to reproach and the heathen rule over us and mock us by asking , Where is your God.”
I salute Governor Rick Perry. He as much as anyone know the religious and political debasement in this nation. He knows the risk he is taking and has counted the cost of the persecution. I would say he is a dangerous man to the heathen rulers because he does not care what the media has to say about him or the rulers.
We will pray that he will be strengthened in the super natural power and might that only the Lord Jesus Christ can give him. The Apostle Paul spoke of this supernatural strength several times.
Ephesians 6:10: “Finally be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.”
Paul is saying from this point on, determine to develop your strength in the Lord. In addition, learn to rely on His might to the place where it actually becomes your power.
Romans 4:20: “With respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.
Phil 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
2 Ti. 2:1: “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Acts 9:22: “Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
1 Ti. 1:12: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful.”
2 Ti: 4:17: “But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth.”
Hebrews 11:33-34: “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.”
We don’t hear too much praying for this supernatural strength. The Word of God clearly states that the work of the Kingdom is done by a supernatural strength received through Faith.
We cannot and will not have Kingdom power and might without this grace. Yes, we pray by faith for miracles, signs, wonders, healings, deliverances, souls, grace, mercy and provision. In these days, we must cry out for this strength that the people will repent and turn to the Lord. Until the heart of the people of America turn back to the Lord, we will not have Godly leaders. It is the Word of the Lord that a nation that rebels against the Lord will have heathen rulers.
Eph. 6:24: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible” (New American Standard)
1 Cor. 15: 50-54: “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does corruptible inherit the incorruptible. Behold I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on the incorruptible and this mortal must put on immortality.”
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V. unless other wise noted.
F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary
Quotes from Associated Press & Gabe Gutierrez/KHOU 11 News
Proclamation – Office of the Governor Rick Perry
Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those whom I quoted.