A Clean Heart
Monday, July 26, 2010, 11:54 AM
America's greatness has not been because of technological advancement or medical discovery. America's greatness is not because of powerful and influential leaders, nor is it because of great presidents, even though we have had a few. I thank God for the memory of President Ronald Reagan--a godly man, with a godly vision. He inspired America to greatness. Former President Bush is a man who is not ashamed to come out and simply say, "I am a Christian--born again, with Jesus in my heart."QUOTES:
George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
Here's an interesting bit of information: In 1836, the State of North Carolina said in their Constitution, "No person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Christian religion, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit."
Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, and it was ratified and signed by representatives of the 13 original colonies at the meeting of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. These patriots and proud Americans, in this document, recognized that God, our Creator, is the One who has given us life, liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness. God works in the hearts of men.
Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts"
Our nation and its greatness is because of men and women who had a heart for God.
QUOTE:
John Quincy Adams said, "The highest glory of the American revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”
John Quincy Adams knew what we know, and that is, that God blesses a nation: Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." And, on the other hand, let me add; God curses a nation who turns away form Him: Psalm 9:17, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
Paul wrote in Titus 3:5, that salvation is "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (KJV)
The reason America is losing her greatness is because the majority of her citizens no longer understand nor practice the Christian faith. Most have forgotten what made this country great. It is a relationship with God through Christ.
QUOTE: President Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart."
Rev. Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer. Rev. Wright had it "right" when he said, "Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free."
That's exactly what people need. That's why David said in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." If we ever expect to see God, then we must have a clean heart. Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
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