As what is written on Psalms 33:12a, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. It's really true, I've heard Rodney Howard Browne elaborated this more. Of course we all know lots of people do not preach or do not know God as the Lord, those people were really on trouble, they could not be blessed and they need more sermons, that's why there were preachers. But then it's still on the people if they want to believe God or not. The word of the Lord is right. we should be happy were blessed because our nation believes on him. God is great!

Yes you're right! Even though there were preachers, it's in us if we believe on God or not. If You want to get sinned or not.

As I believe we are in the "End times" I have to say that I believe God is no longer in the nation blessing business. Even the Bible prophesys that it will get worse in the "end times" before Jesus returns. I'm suspicious of anyone who says "God is bringing a great revival on our nation" because they can't back it up with Scripture. However, it is still our responsibility to try to reach people for the Lord before He returns.

I believe also that we are in the end of time and if there is to be a tribulation period prior to the coming of the Lord we've entered into it
The aids plague will take 30%of the African population in the next few years,and starvation will almost double that.
Blood thirsty rebels and govt. troops kill and murder at will,morality has gone down the toilet over there. Godlessness is unbelievable as Hate in both the African continent and in India east ward to the Chinese and the islands of the Philippines have people possessed to the point that they believe the Christians are responsible for everything bad. I can not verify theis but there are supposed to some Islamic rebels through out asia coastlands that are offering bounties for the heads or skins of Christians
Yet in the middle of this God is moving in mercy and power beyond our comprehension. Men are so hungry for some kind of reality in a live God they will endure all things to serve him. I hear constantly of ministry families that are caned and the men skinned alive,with villagers helping later to those that survived and these people on the streets preaching Jesus to all that will listen.
Iam sorry Chaplain but I do think a move of God is about to break across this land because there are enough people (homeless etc.) ready to accept a revelation of a living Christ. On the Calif. coastline there are continual meetings with thoundsands present and the prayer and praise goes on for days.
It may not follow the traditional definition of revival but the Bible said they that hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.
What ever happens now will culminate in the coming of the Lord. read Matthew 24 the whole chapter and see if you don't think that is coming in the completed column.
m7th
m7th--circle of revival

violetrue20 :

But then it's still on the people if they want to believe God or not. The word of the Lord is right. we should be happy were blessed because our nation believes on him. God is great!

God's word on this matter is true, of course, but it needs a little explaining to those who think that God is a 'Nationalist'. He isn't.

If a nation has leaders who have respect for the truth, are honorable, honest and wise, (in God's eyes, not just their own), then their leadership is 'blessed'.

If the Nation has a predominance of honest, compassionate people who respect God's law, (even if they don't know God), and love their neighbor, then the nation is 'blessed' but the 'blessing' is not because God has singled them out for different treatment to other Nations. It is simply that any nation that behaves that way, from it's leadership right down to it's individual citizens or subjects will reap the material and spiritual benefits which will inevitably result.

If on the other hand a nations leaders are dishonest, corrupt, self serving, oppressive and greedy for power, then their leadership is 'cursed'. This is simply because their example will be followed by the people and the result will eventually be corrosive and divisive, disunity leading inevitably to widespread poverty and ignorance.

So, God does not specifically reward Nations for paying Him lip service, praising Him or making costly sacrifices to Him any more than He 'rewards' individuals, (in this life), for behaving the way they should. Neither does God seem to meet out summary justice to those who behave badly. They are often rewarded for their misdeeds, (in this life).

Jesus behaved perfectly and God said He was well pleased with him, but Jesus was not successful, (as might be measured by this world's standards). His prosperity was entirely 'layed up in heaven where moth and rust could not destroy'. Material blessings are not necessarily from God. They can even come fleetingly from the very opposite quarter.

Regards Chris.

According to Rodney Howard Browne, If we honor and praise God then our nation will be blessed. I definitely agree with him. For if we honor God then God will be in our nation all the way and everything will turn out right. If we have a godly leader, everyone will have godly principles and fear to God. I think that's what matters most.

Leaders who honor God are effective leaders and serve their people well. They can influence their people to follow God with all their heart and soul. Indeed, these nations are blessed. Psychologically speaking, people who obey and follow God are optimistic people, hence they will prosper. There are other bible verses that proves God's grace and blessings to those who loves Him, like the Psalm 33:4-5

What concerns me about this type of thinking is that when disasters come upon our country, whether natural or man made, those who believe this will lose their faith because everything did not turn out "all right" for our nation. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we all have a responsibility to continue what we were called to do and "everything will turn out all right" for us as individuals whether we die or whether the Lord returns because the Bible promises that. The Bible does not promise that God will save our nation. I know there are those who take Old Testament Scriptures directed to the nation of Israel and apply them to the United States (especially 2 Chronicles 7:14) but that just doesn't fly. So do your best in your little corner of the country to make it better but most of all do what God has called you to do personally so when He returns He can say "Well done good and faithful servant".

chaplianbob :

Yes I do so agree with you here.

It is a sobering thought that German soldiers had the words Got mit uns, (God with us), embossed on their belt buckles. It is amazing how much wickedness has been sincerely done in God's name by simply ignoring the teaching of Jesus but claiming "God is on our side".

Remember what the Angel said to Joshua before the battle of Jericho. Joshua said "Are you on our side or theirs."
The angel replied. "No." "But as the commander of the armies of God I come".

God has His own agenda. He does not take sides unless it suits His purposes.

Regards Chris.

We have some great discussion here. Indeed, a nation who honors God as their true God is truly blessed and a happy nation. Just like what Jesus Christ told in the Parable of the Sower in the New Testament, we need to develop strong ground for our faith, and this will not be taken to us. We must do what God has called you to do, and He will give us His blessings.

neelymonn : Hi and welcome to Praize. Hope you enjoy and stay here.

What you say is of course true. Any nation that respects God's views on how we should conduct ourselves will be 'blessed'. The problem occurs when a nation 'assumes' that it's ways are 'Godly' because it is 'religious'.

God does not save nations, (salvation is not dependent on nationality), God saves individuals. If there are enough saved and believing individuals who know and do things God's way, then blessings result.

Nations are definitely not saved by faith. Any blessing that comes from God will be entirely dependent on works.

Any nation whose works are acceptable in God's opinion will be blessed. Any nation whose works do not match up to it's citizens or subjects 'faith' comes under the same condemnation as any other nation whose works are displeasing to The Lord.

Thus it is very important that politicians pursue foreign and domestic policies which are clearly in line with God's will. That is why it is important for believers to vote the ones who they believe will do that or protest by not voting for any of them on the grounds that none of them pursue Godly policies at home or abroad.

Regards Chris.

Chris said:” So, God does not specifically reward Nations for paying Him lip service, praising Him or making costly sacrifices to Him any more than He 'rewards' individuals, (in this life), for behaving the way they should. Neither does God seem to meet out summary justice to those who behave badly. They are often rewarded for their misdeeds, (in this life).
I tend to agree with this.

Chaplainbob said:” I know there are those who take Old Testament Scriptures directed to the nation of Israel and apply them to the United States.”

Yes, sort of an outgrowth of the British Israelism, often. The idea that somehow…Britain and the US (originally settled from GB) are blessed…and often the rationale is that they are somehow the descendants of the ‘lost’ 10 tribes of Israel, and thus DESERVE God’s special blessing.

However, even without that….what bothers me is the utter gullibility of ‘God’s people’. Every US president in my lifetime has ‘played the religion card’ to attract Christian voters….the carefully crafted quotes, photo-ops on the steps of a church after Sunday services, etc….and…EACH TIME….believers fall for the con.
Fundamentalists/Evangelicals (both rc and prot) somehow equate an existing political system with ‘God’s System’. Where did the majority (better than 70%) come from who were all gung-ho to invade Iraq, against all international agreements and laws? A large percentage of them came from the ‘Christian’ community. Now…after triggering utter chaos over there….more than 100,000 dead civilians, (estimates of over 1 million have died from ‘collateral causes’) more than 1.7 million refugees, and another 2-2.75 million internally displaced people….many seem to have changed their minds….but the damage has already been done.

How much of the chaos in Africa has been due to the past imperialist policies of major western nations? How much of the middle east conflict is due primarily to the arbitrary redrawing of boundaries by meddling nations who once thought it their ‘God-given right’ to carve out colonial empires in other parts of the world, sanctioned by their national churches, whether the RCC or the Church of England?

I am extremely sceptical when claims are made that America is a ‘Christian nation’. The good book says, “By their fruits you shall know them”, and IF she was truly a ‘Christian nation….I don’t think, somehow, that her foreign policy would be what it has been, her murder rate would dramatically plummet, and pornography would not be the epidemic it is, not to mention the organized crime and prostitution that is rampant.

The same would hold true for my own country, Canada, though we’ve never been as ‘religious’ overtly as the USA. The good book tells us that ‘The sun shines on the evil AND the good’, and ‘the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike’, and, while there are ‘natural consequences’ for behaviour, both personal AND national, often the ‘eternal’ consequences will only be experienced IN that ‘eternity’.

Just my 1.5 cents worth. (with inflation calculated!)

Blessings,

Maybe only 1.5 cents, but worth more than it's weight in gold.

Right on the button as usual.

Regards Chris.

Excellent point! Faith always comes with works and good deeds. After all, we were given the 10 commandments to follow. For me, a faith without work is dead.

If God’s word is true and right, and if we want to have and live in truth, then we must conform to His word. The problem is that people want to sin and do their own thing. I heard Rodney Howard Browne says if you are going to sin, but you really want the truth and you want to be right with God, then you’ll need to repent and change what you are doing to line up with God’s word. Let's just keep on believing on him. Bless us all.

Very well said and yeah it's true that if we want to be with God then we should do the right things.

Yes in deed Rodney Howard Browne is a great pastor I'd to listen to his sermons.

Yes, he really is and I like this thread because everybody is expressing what they believe in. God speed. :)

Yes In deed because he is a great pastor.

All the words I have read in this thread has a point. Keep holding our faith to God and we will be blessed.

I am proud to be a follower of Rodney Howard Browne.

That's a very good quote form the bible, i totally agree with you.

True! We have our own minds but what's important is, we believe in one God.

I agree with you my friend. We should do what God has called you to do unto your neighbors, and we need to establish a strong ground for our faith so that it will be taken from us when tribulations come to our lives. This was also mentioned by Rodney Howard Browne in one f his sermons.

That's why we should keep our faith on Him no matter what happen, He's our saviour and He will save us in times of deep troubles.