Is Prayerlessness the worst sin?

It was P. T. Forsyth that said, “Prayerlessness is the worst sin, because it bespeaks as nothing else does, that root of all sin: ‘For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him’ ” (Rom. 1:21). Do you agree with him?

I am not sure that I do (blasphemy of the Holy Spirit makes sense to me), but what I do know is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ does not rely upon the power of prayer nearly as much as we should. There is power in prayer beyond our earthly means. There is power to cure sickness, change hearts (starting with mine), defeat the forces of evil, and most importantly to communion with the Lord of all Creation, the Ancient of Days.

What keeps you from praying? Is it business, laziness, distractions, or a lack of perceived connection with God? Too often we try to rely on our own strength and wisdom to accomplish the tasks before us. I admit I am not strong enough or wise enough to accomplish all that is before me. Perhaps that is first step in the right direction.

If we are to be the Church as seen in the New Testament we are going to follow the example of the early Church and be a people of prayer.

Here the texts for this week:

June 17, 2013            1 Chron 9:3–10:14, John 18:24–38, Ps 74:title–6, Prov 15:11–12

June 18, 2013            1 Chron 11–12, John 18:39–19:16, Ps 74:7–13, Prov 15:13–15

June 19, 2013            1 Chron 13–15, John 19:17–42, Ps 74:14–23, Prov 15:16–18

June 20, 2013            1 Chron 16–17, John 20:1–18, Ps 75, Prov 15:19–20

June 21, 2013            1 Chron 18–21, John 20:19–31, Ps 76:title–4, Prov 15:21–22

June 22, 2013            1 Chron 22–23, John 21, Ps 76:5–12, Prov 15:23–25

June 23, 2013            1 Chron 24–25, Acts 1, Ps 77:title–5, Prov 15:26–27

One Nation Under God

Today is Flag Day. I realize this may not mean too much to many in our country, but I was indoctrinated with patriotism by drill sergeants at Fort Benning in the summer of 1996 and it has really stuck with me. This is the day that President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into the law the "words under God" be added to the pledge. 

The story of how this came to be I find a bit fascinating and inspiring. Eisenhower went to church on February 7 at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C. and heard a sermon from George M. Docherty. It was Lincoln Day and on that day Eisenhower was seated in the same pew that Abraham Lincoln had regularly occupied in that church as President. In that sermon Docherty stated:

There was something missing in the pledge, and that which was missing was the characteristics and definitive factor in the American way of life. Indeed apart from the mention of the phrase, the United States of America, it could be the pledge of any republic. In fact, I could hear little Muscovites repeat a similar pledge to their hammer and sickle flag in Moscow with equal solemnity. 

The preacher argued that the American pledge as it then existed could just have been recited by citizens from any country, even those from communistic nations that hated God. Obviously this sermon had a great impact on several that were there. The next day U. S. Rep. Charles Oakman from Michigan introduced a Joint Resolution (H. J. Res 371) to add the words "Under God" into the pledge, explaining:

Mr. Speaker, I think Mr. Docherty hit the nail squarely on the head. One of the most fundamental differences between us and the Communists is our belief in God. 

Two days later, on February 10th, Senator Homer Ferguson from Michigan introduced the Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. 126), explaining to the Senate:

Our nation is founded on a fundamental belief in God, and the first and most important reason for the existence of our government is to protect the God-given rights of our citizens. . . . Indeed, Mr. President, over one of the doorways to this very Chamber inscribed in the marble are the words “In God We Trust.” Unless those words amount to more than a carving in stone, our country will never be able to defend itself. 

These resolutions were passed, and on June 14, 1954 (Flag Day), President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law, officially adding the words "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance, telling the nation:

From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning. . . . In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource, in peace or in war. 

I often wonder if what I preach makes any real difference in the lives of those that hear it, much less upon the whole culture in which we live. I know that any authority I have comes directly from the Word of God and it does have power. Nevertheless, this story gives me hope that from the pulpit major changes in culture can happen. This one single sermon appears to have had a tremendous impact. Let us consider today the words "under God." 

(I did not cite anything here, if you want sources I can give them to you just ask, I find most people don't)

As Iron Sharpens Iron

This past week we talked about how we can stand strong with the help of family and friends. It got me thinking today about what is a real friend. I began reading in Proverbs and it has a lot to say about friendship. 

I read that Ben Franklin formed a support group of very brilliant people and called it "My most ingenious friends" group. That group got together and they would write papers and discuss them, discuss questions, help each other in their careers & goals., They met every Friday night for 40 years. Franklin was accomplishing things in his 80’s and 90’s. Why? He had a support group that kept him growing.

Thomas Edison had a support group called "My mastermind alliance". He put people with a similar life mission together and that group in a six year period came up with over 300 patented inventions. They were averaging one minor invention every 6 weeks, and one major invention every 6 months. 

David surrounded himself with his "mighty." Paul always had trusted people around him as he served the Lord. We all need trusted friends around us. 

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Are you the type of friend that helps others to be the best they can be? Do you have people around you that do the same? 

Here are the texts for several days. 

June 08, 2013            2 Kings 19–20, John 12:23–50, Ps 71:8–17, Prov 14:24–26

June 09, 2013            2 Kings 21:1–23:25, John 13:1–20, Ps 71:18–24, Prov 14:27–28

June 10, 2013            2 Kings 23:26–25:30, John 13:21–14:4, Ps 72:1–5, Prov 14:29–30

June 11, 2013            1 Chron 1, John 14:5–31, Ps 72:6–11, Prov 14:31–32

June 12, 2013            1 Chron 2, John 15:1–17, Ps 72:12–20, Prov 14:33–35

June 13, 2013            1 Chron 3–4, John 15:18–16:15, Ps 73:1–6, Prov 15:1–3

June 14, 2013            1 Chron 5:1–6:30, John 16:16–33, Ps 73:7–12, Prov 15:4–5

June 15, 2013            1 Chron 6:31–81, John 17, Ps 73:13–19, Prov 15:6–7

June 16, 2013            1 Chron 7:1–9:2, John 18:1–23, Ps 73:20–28, Prov 15:8–10

June 17, 2013            1 Chron 9:3–10:14, John 18:24–38, Ps 74:1–6, Prov 15:11–12