HOW CAN AMERICA BE SAVED? (via Intercessors for America)

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)

Pray that our leaders will follow the ways of the Lord and make their decisions based upon fear and reverence of His Word. Pray that we as a nation will not turn our backs to God‘s will and desires. Pray that our leaders will deliver us as a nation from destruction by honoring our Creator and Sovereign who has established us and desires to bless us as a nation.

By Jeff Coors, Executive Chairman of the Board for Intercessors for America

In the back of most Americans‘ minds today are questions about our nation’s future. Can the future of this country be as bright as the past? Have we seen our best days? Does God care about America as a nation? People wonder, “Can America be saved?”

The leadership of IFA has chosen to focus on this question during 2012. God has made it clear that nations are blessed when they follow Him. (“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 33:12) But nations are judged when they turn their backs on Him. (“The wicked will go down to the grave [sheol]. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.” Psalm 9:17 NLT) History is filled with the graves of nations who turned their backs on God, but this same downfall doesn’t have to happen to America.

When God saves a nation it does not mean universal, eternal salvation for all people within the nation. Salvation comes through grace by faith as a personal response to the Holy Spirit‘s work in an individual’s heart. However, the Old Testament does illustrate how God “saves” large groups of people from two outcomes: from His wrath and from outside threats.

In this context, the word “save” is most commonly the Hebrew word “yasha,” which means: to save, be saved, be delivered, to be liberated, to save from moral troubles, or to give victory. It is this concept of being spared from national trouble, and of being secure from growing danger, to which we hope to draw your attention and prayers.

First, God can save groups of people from the wrath they deserve. As we read in Micah 5:15, God says, “I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.” He does hold nations accountable for their collective actions, just as He holds individuals accountable for their personal decisions and actions. Isaiah describes God’s standards of judgment when he writes in 64:5, “You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved (yasha)?”

Jeremiah 5:1 answers this question: “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.” It appears that our God will save a group of people from His wrath based upon the obedience of a few. An incredible measure of mercy!

In the midst of this mercy He still demands a nation’s obedience. Isaiah 45:22 emphasizes that only our Lord can save a nation: “Turn to me and be saved (yasha), all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Mercy comes, and yet complete obedience by all is desired. God saves nations from His wrath and also from outside threats. The Israelites learned this as they fled Egypt: “Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved (yasha) by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.” (Deuteronomy 33:29) God also provided leaders to be used by His hand to save Israel from outside threats: “Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved (yasha) them out of the hands of these raiders.” (Judges 2:16)

As we begin our year, I would encourage you to pray that God would save America. Pray that He would save us from His wrath, which we deserve, drawing us toward obedience as a nation; and that He would save us from our enemies.

January 25, 2012 | Categories: America, Bible, Christianity, Faith, freedom, Future, God, government, liberty, Life, people, Prayer, Religion, Uncategorized, United States | Tags: God, god care, god is the lord, holyspirit, intercessors for america, Israel, jesus, Lord, lord psalm, old-testament, psalm, psalm 33, psalm 9, United States | 2 Comments »