A Nation Divided

I served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. It was a time of great division in our nation. Angry voices yelled at one another on America’s TV screens, on college campuses, on our streets and in the halls of our government. Riots on college campuses ended in students being killed by National Guard troops – Americans killing Americans. America was at war not only on foreign soil, but within.

Many were saying America would never recover from such hatred and division, that it was an unprecedented time (apparently, they forgot the Civil War, just to mention one other time). Politicians and the political parties, being who they are, were not about to let a crisis go to waste. Instead of working to unite our nation, they saw it as an opportunity to seize power and money. They pointed their fingers at their opponents across the aisle as the source of the problem while assuring us they were the answer. They used fear as a tool widening the divide endeavoring to use it to their advantage. All the while raising large sums of money for their party. All this while thousands of miles away the youth of America were dying in the jungles of Vietnam.

God’s Answer in Times of Turmoil

Many in Christian circles began saying it was the end of times and Jesus was returning (which he of course will at the time set by the Father). Prophetic messages could be heard in the pulpits of many churches. Some pastors and churches took a different course, however. They recognized the source of the trouble in our nation and knew the answer was in a different realm. They heard the heart cry of the Holy Spirit for our nation. Humbling themselves, they cried out to God to heal our land. God always has a remnant reserved for the fulfillment of his will – those who keep their lamps filled with oil, and their hearts tuned to his whisper. They are the reason Satan’s plans for our nation were thwarted during that turbulent period in our history. A great reviving in the Church took place with the Jesus Movement, the Charismatic revival, and the Word of Faith Movement. God’s answer to the work of the enemy was not a natural one, but a spiritual one. God always lays the axe to the root of the problem.

And yet, here we are again. Angry voices are once again shouting at one another. Politicians tell us the other party will destroy our nation while spending over $15 billion just to be elected (take a moment to let that sink in…). America is greatly divided. “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” A quote from the only Savior, Jesus Christ.

Satan heard those words. He knows every word from the mouth of God is true and cannot fail. So, he endeavors to twist it and use it to his advantage. His plan works perfectly until someone awakens to what is truly happening, rises to their feet and puts a stop to it – until the Church picks up the axe of God’s Word and lays it to the root.

Why would America – land of the free and home of the brave, the land of opportunity and beacon of freedom to the entire world – why would America turn on itself? Why would this great nation do such a thing, realizing what such times have cost us before? Why? Because they are deceived and being used by the very source of all evil. “…the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

They are not only driven, but they are being driven. Driven by a spiritual force they are not aware of. Blinded to all sense and sensibility by their rejection of Jesus Christ they have become his easy prey and puppets. Diabolical spiritual forces bent on the destruction of anything and everything that resembles the image of God and his will in the earth are working diligently. They have been around since before man walked the earth. They have a leader, Satan, the red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns, Lucifer, the serpent, the deceiver of the nations. He has one agenda, to drive all who belong to God from the face of the earth; to enslave and dominate mankind; and to shape the earth and all in it into his twisted image.
And he has a plan to accomplish his agenda. What we see taking place in our nation, and Israel, is his plan in action. Some might say it appears to be working, and I would agree – if I did not have inside information. If I did not already know: The rest of the story.

Covenant and Confidence

America was founded on a covenant with God. No other nation on earth can say the same, except for Israel. Israel and America are covenant nations. So, what does that have to do with the outcome of all this? Simply this, America (and Israel) will not be destroyed by Satan’s (or man’s) evil schemes. Though they have and can again suffer for walking away from the will of God. The authority on which I can say that without question or doubt is the Word of God, the character of God and the pattern of God throughout history. God always keeps his covenant. He never forgets a covenant. He keeps his covenant to a thousand generations (that’s a long time).

America, just as Israel, suffers when its cup of disobedience overflows. But it will not be destroyed. God corrects his children and disciplines them that they may learn and mature so they can be blessed and fulfill his purpose in the earth – not to destroy them. Am I concerned about what I am seeing happen? Absolutely. Am I troubled, absolutely not! “Let not your heart be troubled.” My confidence is sure, solid and settled in God. My hope is in Christ alone. Christ’s victory over Satan and all his works at the cross is a finished work.

God laughs at the threats of the enemy. He already knows what he is going to do. He hears the cries of those who are lifting their voices to him in prayer – who in reality are simply crying out for the very things the Spirit of God has stirred their hearts for. In other words they are praying the will of God into our nation. And let me be very clear, God’s will is being done – because he is in charge, not Satan. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

We can prolong our suffering and Satan’s work by our disobedience and complacency. America can spend another night with the frogs, if she chooses to do so by continuing her resistance of God. Or we can put an end to what is happening in our nation. How, you ask? By obedience born out of faith in God and his Word.

Pray. Pray like God is God and his promises are true. Pray like you are a believer.
Act like you are in charge, because we are. Jesus said all authority in heaven and earth are his. Then he delegated that authority to all those who believe in him.
Speak to the mountains that are in the way. Call things that are not as though they are. Fill your mouth with words of faith. And never forget, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation. The gospel destroys sin and all the works of the enemy wherever it is declared and believed. It is the central message of the Church. As a matter of fact, it is the only message of the Church. Without it not a single thing we can preach matters or has any power to help or deliver.

God always has a remnant positioned and ready. It’s easy to recognize them: they are the ones praying for our nation, not just their personal needs and desires; they are the ones declaring Christ’s victory at the cross to this nation; they are the ones who are not moved or intimidated by the threats of the enemy and those who serve him; they are the ones who know victory for the kingdom of God is ahead and sure; they are the ones who have not placed their hope in any person, group, or thing of this earth – their hope is anchored in Christ alone.

The Victory Report

I want to close with a victory report to help put things in perspective. Here is a small snippet of what God is doing in the earth at this present moment: the underground Church in China is growing exponentially; a great revival is taking place in Iran; the Church in India is exploding in growth even in the face of grave persecution; and Africa has more than 734 million Christians despite the desperate efforts of Islamic extremists to stop it.

God is moving greatly in the earth. The Church is expanding into unreached areas as the gospel of Jesus marches forth destroying the works of darkness as it does.

WE ARE WINNING! And we will continue to win until Jesus Christ returns for his Bride.

And that is The Rest of The Story!