Prophetic Insight from Isaiah 1:1-16

Tomorrow America elects our next President. In my lifetime there has never been a presidential election that so divided the church. This division has leaked into families, even marriages, and created a breakdown of unity in the body of Christ. It has become a personal issue that touches every life - even those of the unborn. What does God say about all of this?

God has recently awakened me anew to the Book of Isaiah. In every verse, I hear a new mandate, challenge, or encouragement to the church. If we believe that the future of our nation rests in the hands of one of two men and a Congress that cannot seem to agree, we will live in fear. However, if we realize that God is behind the recent shaking up of our nation's government and economy, we will be moved to cooperate with Him in a greater way than ever before. God wants us to understand what He is doing in this hour. He wants us to participate in this move. To participate fully, we will need to understand what is happening even now.

My husband made a statement from the pulpit yesterday that I believe summarizes what we need to hear. He said that God had spoken to him on Tuesday morning saying that "how the church responds to this election is more important than who is elected into office." This is important because it recognizes the fact that the condition of the nation is directly impacted by the condition of the church. For years, we have believed the opposite. We have gauged our expectations for the church upon what is happening to our nation environmentally, economically, and politically. If the world looked secure, the church had great expectations. If the world looked unstable, the church halted giving, reduced missionary efforts, and began watering down truth to grow their congregations to create a new, false sense of security. We had it wrong for a long time, but no more. God is teaching us...

Too often the Body of Christ forgets the "Head," failing to honor Christ as "Owner" and "Master." We have resisted these titles and focused on the authority He has given us. We need to know the authority He has given, but also the authority HE has. His authority surpasses our own. His power, influence, wisdom, ability,and governmental authority is complete. We do ourselves a disservice when we fail to realize the responsibility our Lord and Master assumes for our provision, protection, and care. With the Titles come responsibility for the church that He gladly receives. This should give us great peace! God IS in control!

Sadly, much of the church today is laden still with iniquities - crooked ways and perspectives produced by sin. Whether the sin was our own or of those who sinned against us, it has resulted in ungodly tendencies of thought and behavior that hinder our spiritual advance. God is ready to bring fresh revelation of His redemption through the cross so that we might be set free. For those who will receive conviction of and deliverance from sin through the blood of Christ, there is an incredible opportunity for growth and freedom.

How can we know the condition of the church? Simply look at the nation surrounding the church. When the Body of Christ is laden with iniquity, corruption, and backsliding; when the church is marred by sick or unhealthy mind-sets and weakness of heart, wounded, bruised, and without genuine shepherds to tend to their needs, the same issues will abound in the nation. When the condition of the elect is deteriorating, the country will inevitably be desolated, cities destroyed, land and wealth taken by "strangers." Whatever God does in the earth, He does for His family. He seeks to add to His family new sons and daughters from the earth, but He brings either blessing or correction according to what His family needs. When His children are alligned in right relationship with Him, His blessing is upon them and their land. When His children are disobedient and contaminated by sin, He corrects them to awaken them to their need of change. Their land feels the correction as well. Again, the condition of the church is directly reflected in the condition of the nation it dwells in.

There is a remnant in every nation that has been strategically positioned by God for this hour. Because of the remnant, God stays His hand of judgment. Because of the remnant's intercession for the land and people, they are spared destruction. This is why we must pray! Sacrificing time, talent, money, and energy isn't enough to bring transformation to America. Sacrifice is futile when it comes from a church filled with crooked ways and thinking, perverted in purpose and identity. The bloodshed of the "Abels" - the innocents murdered by abortion, genocide, and abuse cries out against the church. Why? Because our prayer and stand for rightousness has the power to end it! This is why our prayers go so long unanswered.

There is only one way to turn things around for America - or for any nation. Whatever we want to see in America we must aim to see first in our own lives. Do we want a nation that follows after righteousness? Then WE must live righteousnessly before God. Do we want prayer returned to the schools and government offices of America? Then WE must be people of prayer. Do we want and end of abortion and abuse in our country? Then WE must take a stand against it. If we want God's Voice, Hand, and Heart revealed to America, WE must be ready to be His Voice, His Hand, and His Heart. The church is God's answer to the needs of this nation. Let the church arise!