|
" . . . proclaim liberty throughout all the land
to all its inhabitants."
---Leviticus 25:10
At the close of the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia in 1787, a Mrs. Powel anxiously
awaited the results. As Benjamin Franklin
emerged from the hall she asked him directly:
"Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a
monarchy?" "A republic, if you can keep it,"
responded Franklin.
While much talk and clamor in this election year
is about "democracy," a representational
Republic is what our Founders envisioned and
established. Noah Webster, in his 1828 "American
Dictionary of the English Language," defined
Republic as: "a commonwealth; a state in which
the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in
representatives elected by the people. It
differs from a democracy or democratic state, in
which the people exercise the powers of
sovereignty in person."
Some of our Founders actually "feared"
democracies. In a 1788 speech, Alexander
Hamilton stated: "The ancient democracies in
which the people themselves deliberated never
possessed one good feature of government. Their
very character was tyranny; their figure
deformity." Another time Hamilton declared:
"Real liberty is never found in
the extremes of democracy."
". . . where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty."
---2 Corinthians 3:17
__________________________
__________________________
Join us on July 4
for First Friday Prayer and Fasting
PRAYER FOCUS
NATIONAL REPENTANCE
Offer thanksgiving for the recent court ruling
permitting the public display of the Ten
Commandments in Everett, WA. Intercede that
increased preaching and positive media attention
be given to the Ten Commandments. Intercede for
a restoration of this "moral backbone" and of
biblical ethics in America. Intercede for an
increased outpouring of the Holy Spirit to
"convict the world of sin, righteousness and
judgment," and "to guide us into all truth." (Jn
16:8-13)
" . . . When he comes, he will convict the world
of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and
judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not
believe in me; in regard to righteousness,
because I am going to the Father, where you can
see me no longer; and in regard to judgment,
because the prince of this world now stands
condemned.
"I have much more to say to you, more than you
can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth,
comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will
not speak on his own; he will speak only what he
hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
. ." - John 16:8-13
"ALL IN AUTHORITY"
Intercede as the Lord leads for President Bush,
Vice President Cheney, the Cabinet and
Administration, Congress, and Supreme Court.
Pray for your governor, lieutenant governor,
state attorney general and other state and local
officials. Intercede for men and women in
positions of influence and leadership in the
church, family life, education, the military,
medicine, science, business, media, and
entertainment. (1 Tim 2:2)
PARTY PLATFORMS | ELECTIONS
Affirm the sovereignty of God and the supremacy
of Jesus Christ over all U.S. political parties,
candidates, super delegates, platforms and the
August 25-28 Democratic and September 1-4
Republican nominating conventions. (Col 1:9-20)
Intercede for the drafting of all party platform
planks, that God will anoint and use individuals
to advocate and uphold the sanctity of life,
traditional marriage, and biblical morality.
Intercede that Godly candidates be granted
resources, media attention, and favor with
voters. (1 Tim 2:1-4, 1 Jn 5:14)
MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD
"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed.
. . . They are new every morning. . ."
(Lam 3:22-23) "Let us therefore come boldly to
the throne of grace. . . ." (Heb. 4:16) Offer
thanksgiving that, in Christ, we know the
fullness of God's compassion, mercy, grace, and
liberty. Cry out for mercy upon our land, all in
authority, the lives of the lost and suffering
around us, and our lives and families. Pray that
relatives, loved ones, church members, work
associates, neighbors, friends, adversaries and
enemies will know redemption, freedom, and the
sufficiency of God's grace.
Read the IFA First Friday Newsletter for July
http://www.ifapray.org/NewsletterHTML/IFANL2008/Jul-AugPg1_2008.htm
__________________________
__________________________
Our nation's founding document
declared independence from Great Britain;
but, with equal fervor, dependence upon God.
THE SOURCE OF
LIBERTY
By Charles Colson
When Thomas Jefferson penned the immortal words
of the Declaration of Independence, he
deliberately appealed to the Creator. He
acknowledged an overriding obligation to "Nature
and Nature's God." And he understood that
ordered liberty is not just a subjective
preference, but a divinely ordained condition
for which human beings are designed.
But over the last few decades, legions of
skeptics have mounted a massive assault on these
"self-evident truths." In prestigious law
schools, in the halls of government, and
especially in the Supreme Court, God is often
banished from public conversation. If a public
school teacher were to introduce Jefferson's
ideas and language into the classroom today, she
would likely be called on the carpet.
Our nation's founding document declared
independence from Great Britain; but, with equal
fervor, dependence upon God. Expressing "firm
reliance on the Protection of divine
Providence," the signers committed the American
experiment to their Maker. The spirit of 1776
was one of reverence and trust.
Read more
http://www.informz.net/pfm/archives/archive_623290.html
__________________________
__________________________
pa·tri·ot
A person who loves his country and zealously
guards its welfare and interests with devotion.
(Webster's Dictionary)
DOES PATRIOTISM MATTER?
The Fourth of July is a patriotic holiday but
patriotism has long been viewed with suspicion
or disdain by many of the intelligentsia. As far
back as 1793, prominent British writer William
Godwin called patriotism "high-sounding
nonsense."
France, where pacifism and internationalism were
strongest, became a classic example of how much
it can matter. During the First World War,
France fought on against the German invaders for
four long years, despite having more of its
soldiers killed than all the American soldiers
killed in all the wars in the history of the
United States, put together.
But during the Second World War, France
collapsed after just six weeks of fighting and
surrendered to Nazi Germany. At the bitter
moment of defeat the head of the French
teachers' union was told, "You are partially
responsible for the defeat."
Most Americans today are unaware of how much our
schools have followed in the footsteps of the
French schools of the 1920s and 1930s, or how
much our intellectuals have become citizens of
the world instead of American patriots. Our
media are busy verbally transforming American
combat troops from heroes into victims, just as
the French intelligentsia did-- with the added
twist of calling this "supporting the troops."
Will that matter? Time will tell.
Read more
http://www.ifapray.org/scienceartculture.htm
ISRAEL
NEEDS RAIN DESPERATELY
Lord God Almighty:
- Perform a miracle in this season and replenish
the water supply.
- Give the leadership wisdom to know how to meet
the water needs.
- May the people be responsible in the use of
their water.
- Fill the Sea of Galilee and the aquifers to
normal levels.
- May Israel trust in You and have vision for
their water demands now
and in the future. As You are bringing Your
people back to the land
they need water. (Intercessors for Israel
www.ifij.org)
Israel is currently experiencing its fourth
consecutive year of drought. The drought is so
bad that last winter's rainfall was only 65
percent of the long-term average. Even though
the main pipeline transporting water from the
Sea of Galilee to the rest of the nation was
closed for part of the year, the water level in
the sea has dropped close to the danger line.
Meanwhile, the Jordan River has been reduced to
a comparative trickle.
PRAY FOR THE RETURN OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE
TO THEIR INHERITANCE - ISRAEL
Ask the Lord to continue to fulfill this word:
"It shall come to pass in that day, that the
Lord shall set His hand again the second time to
recover the remnant of His people, which shall
be left . . . He shall set up an ensign for the
nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of
Israel, and gather together the dispersed of
Judah from the four corners of the earth."
(Isaiah 11:11-12)
PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR G8 MEETINGS IN JAPAN
Intercede for President Bush, all in his
administration, and for all working in foreign
policy -especially regarding Israel and the
Middle East.
The issues are as difficult as ever, but the
conditions are likely to be more conducive to
agreement for President Bush as he attends his
eighth and final economic summit meeting of
industrial democracies. The President departs
Washington Saturday for the three-day G8 summit
in northern Japan that begins Monday. The annual
meeting of the Group of Eight industrial nations
comes at a time of economic turmoil in most of
the member nations and of political uncertainty
for many of the national leaders of the group.
Besides meetings with other leaders, the
President will meet with his Russian
counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev. White House
spokeswoman Dana Perino says the two are to
discuss missile defense and Russia joining the
World Trade Organization.
In comments from the White House Wednesday, Mr.
Bush said the summit will address a host of
critical world issues, including energy
supplies, food shortages and climate change. He
said he also will urge the other G-8 nations -
Japan, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Canada
and Italy - to make good on previous pledges of
large-scale international efforts to fight
malaria, AIDS and other deadly diseases. (Voice
of America)
In 2001, at Bush's first meeting of the
exclusive club, the members more or less lived
up to their billing as the leading industrial
democracies. But no more.
China and India are playing increasingly
important roles in the world economy, raising
fresh questions about the relevancy of the Group
of Eight to begin with. The United States
remains the biggest economy in the world,
according to a World Bank calculation of gross
domestic product based on purchasing power, with
Japan in second place. While German ranks third,
India, the most highly populated democracy in
the world, is closing in. (IHT)
MORE ALLIED FORCES KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN
THAN IRAQ IN JUNE
Pray that wisdom and strategy be granted to U.S.
commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. Intercede
for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Afghan
government, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani
(Kurdish), Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
(Shiite Muslim), the Parliament, and all
officials-that a form of good government that is
representative of all Iraqi and Afghan
socio-religious ethnic groups be established and
maintained. Intercede for all troops deployed
and for their families-for protection, good
health and morale. Intercede for all Christians
and churches in both countries. (1 Tim 2:2)
Defense Secretary Robert Gates noted more
international troops had been killed in
Afghanistan than in Iraq in May and June, the
first time that had happened. At least 45
international troops - including at least 27
U.S. forces and 13 British - died in Afghanistan
in June, the deadliest month since the 2001
U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban, according
to an Associated Press count.
In Iraq, at least 31 international soldiers were
killed in June, 29 U.S. troops and one each from
the former Soviet republics of Georgia and
Azerbaijan. There are 144,000 US troops in Iraq
and 4,000 British forces in addition to small
contingents from several other nations.
U.S. Ambassador William Wood said violence rose
because Taliban fighters are increasingly using
terrorist tactics that cause higher tolls, but
there's no indication fighters can hold
territory.
The AP count found some 580 people (in
Afghanistan) died in insurgent violence in June,
including about 440 militants, 34 civilians and
44 Afghan security forces. More than 2,100
people have died in violence this year,
according to the AP count, which is based on
figures from Afghan, NATO and US officials. (AP
7/3/08)
JOINT PRAYER MEETING ACROSS AMERICA
For
Afghanistan & Iraq
Revival in America
Saturday Morning, July 5, 2008
8AM Eastern, 7AM Central, 6AM Mountain, 5AM
Pacific
You are welcome to join us 30 minutes early
(7:30am Eastern / 4:30am Pacific)
FOR AN IMPORTANT TIME OF INTERCESSION:
Our Military in Afghanistan
Use the Conference Call Number & Access Code:
1-712-432-9998 & 526338#
(Alternate Number: 1-712-432-1690 & 399430#)
__________________________
__________________________
CHINESE
EMBRACING THE GOSPEL
IN EVER INCREASING NUMBERS
Today, the Chinese government counts 21 million
Catholics and Protestants -- a 50% increase in
less than 10 years -- though the underground
population is far larger. The World Christian
Database's estimate of 70 million Christians
amounts to 5% of the population, second only to
Buddhists. A growing number of those Christians
are in fact Communist party members.
Christianity is thriving in part because it
offers a moral framework to citizens adrift in
an age of Wild West capitalism that has not only
exacted a heavy toll in corruption and pollution
but also harmed the global image of products
labeled "Made in China." "With economic
development, morality and ethics in China are
degenerating quickly," prayer leader Zhang Wei
told the crowd at a church as worshipers bowed
their heads. "Holy Father, please save the
Chinese people's soul."
Christianity is driving citizens to be more
politically assertive, emboldening them to push
for more freedoms and testing the party's
willingness to adapt. For decades, most of
China's Christians worshiped in secret churches,
known as "house churches," that shunned
attention for fear of arrest on charges such as
"disturbing public order."
The boundaries of what is legal and what is not
are constantly shifting. A new church or Sunday
school, for instance, might be permissible one
day and taboo the next, because local officials
have broad latitude to interpret laws on
religious gatherings.
But much about the future of faith in China is
uncertain, shaped most vividly in bold new
evangelical churches where a preacher and his
flock do not yet know just how far the Communist
Party is prepared to let them grow. (Breaking
Christian News, LA Times, Chicago Tribune
6/28/08)
Read the Christian Persecution page at the IFA
website
http://www.ifapray.org/persecution.html
PRAY FOR SUMMER YOUTH CONFERENCES
Pray that the Lord look with mercy, salvation
and deliverance upon all the youth of your
church and area. Pray they be shielded and
delivered from rebellion, promiscuity,
addictions, alcoholism, depression, despair and
suicide. Pray that all teens struggling with
suicidal thoughts and feelings talk to someone,
and find counseling.
Many denominational and non-denominational youth
conferences, camps and Christian music festivals
are convened each summer. Pray that all youth
attending are graced to come to a saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray for the 250,000
or more Catholic youth gathering July 15-23 in
Sydney, Australia and the hundreds of thousands
gathering in Washington, DC on August 16.
__________________________
__________________________
Summer
eBookstore Specials!
New and recommended - all discounted!
Special sale items and close-outs!
Free offer with summer donation!
PLEASE REMEMBER IFA IN YOUR SUMMER PRAYERS AND
GIVING!
Special
summer offer - these historic volumes free with
any direct donation of $30 or more or any $20
donation added to a book order!
Both of these excellent compilations - "Under
God," soft cover 382 pages, and "Living Under
God," soft cover 263 pages - drawn from a
multitude of historic sources by DC Talk will
renew you in your understanding and appreciation
of America's Judeo-Christian foundations.
Both of these books will be sent free to all who
respond to this eBookstore offer, make a direct
summer contribution of $30 to IFA or add a $20
donation to any order.
Because of the economic recession and escalating
gas, food and electricity costs, contributions
to IFA and many ministries are down. Please
know that IFA needs your support at this time.
You can send a check payable to "IFA," earmarked
"Under God," or a you can easily make a credit
card donation by
clicking here
by using the eBooktore order form or by calling
toll-free 1-800-USA-PRAY (872- 7729). Thanks! |
