In the night the Spirit of my God stirred my mind with thoughts of how a man of God ought to counsel not only his president, but also the American nation at this “changing of the guard” in Washington DC. Doubtless this is a time of numerous international anxieties along with very deep domestic ailments that if not handled well could certainly promote, if not insure the plummeting of this society in to social-economic darkness that would be nothing short of devilish in nature. Along with my seven points of advise I suggest to you America, and to you Mr. President, that you study to emulate both the spirit and the character of two of our past American presidents who as Christians stood in their generations as pillars, and national fathers: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both of whom were seen to demonstrate little or no hesitancy to speak of, and conduct their personal and official affairs according to the faith of Jesus Christ. I hereby firstly offer a few quotations taken from Peter Marshall and David Manuel's book, The Light and the Glory, pages 284 and 285, originally quoting from George Washington's personal prayer book titled, Daily Sacrifice.
- Let my heart, therefore, gracious God, be so affected with the glory and majesty of Thine honor that I may not do mine own works, but wait on Thee, and discharge those weighty duties which Thou requirest of me.....
- O most glorious God....I acknowledge and confess my faults; in the weak and imperfect performance of the duties of this day. I have called on Thee for pardon and forgiveness of sins, but so coldly and carelessly that my prayers are become my sin and I stand in need of pardon. I have heard Thy holy word, but with such deadness of spirit that I have been an unprofitable and forgetful hearer....But, O God, who art rich in mercy and plenteous in redemption, mark not, I beseech Thee, what I have done amiss; remember that I am but dust, and remit my transgressions, negligences and ignorances, and cover them all with the absolute obedience of thy dear Son, that those sacrifices (of sin, praise and thanksgiving) which I offered may be accepted by Thee, in and for the sacrifices of Jesus Christ offered upon the cross for me.
- Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit...daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.
- Thou gavest Thy Son to die for me; and hast given me assurance of salvation, upon my repentance and sincerely endeavoring to conform my life to His holy precepts and example.
I submit these quotations in lieu of portions of more famous addresses of George Washington such as his inaugural or farewell addresses, because these so obviously show the devotion to God that was the guiding and propelling factor throughout his life.
In Lincoln-Selected Speeches and Writings, (a compilation of Abraham Lincoln's speeches and writings with an introduction by Gore Vidal) these quotations can be found which express the deep Christian faith that abode in Abraham Lincoln.
- Taken as a portion of a letter written to his brother near the time of their Father's death. (January 12th, 1851) “...I sincerely hope father may yet recover his health; but at all events tell him to remember to call upon, and confide in, our great, and good, and merciful Maker; who will not turn away from him in any extremity. He notes the fall of sparrow, and numbers the hairs of our heads; and He will not forget the dying man, who puts his trust in Him...”
- Taken from his first inaugural address. (March 4th, 1861) “Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust, in the best way, all our present difficulty.”
- Taken from a message to Congress. (March 6th, 1862) “In full view of my great responsibility to my God, and to my country, I earnestly beg the attention of Congress and the people to the subject.”
- Taken from his second Inaugural address.(March 4th, 1865) “It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which , having continued though His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope—fervently do we pray—that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether”.”
America, and Mr. President Obama, do not these words testify to us that the two men who formed them although each in his time serving as chief executive and commander in chief had no shame and hesitancy in their admittance to the existence of, and their allegiance to the God of heaven via the Christian faith. I suggest to you that the way of true greatness and success is found down this path and no other. Respectfully now sir, and respectfully America, here are seven principles of guidance and operation that if followed will work to promote honor, prosperity and security, and if abandoned will promote ruin, dishonor and God's judgment upon either man or nation.
- Read and obey God's word (God's laws, and the writings of the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles) and be a man of prayer and worship. (be filled with the Holy Spirit)
----Speaking of the kings of Israel (Duet. 17:18-19) Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levities. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.
----A Psalms of David the king of ancient Israel (Psalms 18: 1-3) I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.
----The words of Jesus the Son of God. (John 15:5) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. - For true success a Leader must surround himself with godly men and men of talent.
----Men of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
----Men of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
----Men of talent and skill (Proverbs 22:29) Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
----Removal of wicked men (Proverbs 25:5) Take away the wicked from before the king and his throne will be established in righteousness. - A leader of men and nations must surround himself with true prophets and wise men.
----Gad the prophet to David before he was king in Israel (1 Samuel 22:5) Now the prophet Gad said to David, “do not stay in the stronghold; depart, and go to the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.
----Nathan the prophet to David the king (2 Samuel 7:5) Go tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord: “Would you build........”
----Gad the prophet to David the king (2 Samuel 24:11-12) Now when David rose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, “Go and tell David, Thus saith the Lord: I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.”
----Wise counselors (Proverbs 24:3-7) Though wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.A wise man is strong, yes a man of knowledge increases strength; For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. - A leader must conduct himself as a father figure, offering instruction, correction, encouragement and comfort which springs forth from the Spirit of God. This nation of people no longer can afford to nurture the confusion that promotes the lie that we did not spring forth by means of the Christian faith, and must be continually instructed that only the salvation of Jesus can pick us up out of the mire we are in. The last thing this nation needs are individuals that are to weak kneed, and self centered to possess courage to throw off this damnable heresy that men came from apes. This perversion of truth which is known as humanism effects the whole of our people, enticing men to throw off godly restraint, polluting their minds to the reality that all will give account for their life's actions on that last day. Therefore the vices of adultery, divorce, fornication, every sort of lewd and perverse behavior, pornography, drug and alcohol abuse, homosexuality, the torrent of feministic doctrines, abortion, 50% taxes for many, murder on our streets, have become very common place in the fabric of our society. The which will destroy us as a people if we do not repent.
----David was a father to the people, therefore he was termed “a man after God's own heart”.
----The Apostle Paul's example (1 Thes. 2:11-12) As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his children. That you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
----By Solomon's example (1 Kings 4:32) He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.
----Jesus builds His kingdom this way. (Matthew 9:35-36) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no Shepard. - A Leader must remember that appointment is from the Lord and that every soul of man will be held accountable for what has been entrusted into his hands, and to those given more power there will be a greater accounting of what they did with that power.
----It is God who promotes and then shall judge (Psalms 75:6-7) For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another.
----Again, it is God who promotes (1 Samuel 2:6-10) The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and He hath set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From Heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.
----Nebuchadnezzar learned it the hard way (Dan 4: 34-37) And at the end of time I, Nebuchadnezzar, (at the end of the time alloted to him to repent from is arrogance before he was judged and lost his mind and lived like an animal crawling on all four eating grass, and sleeping in the field) lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. NO one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” At the same time my reason returned to me and for the glory of my kingdom my house of splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
----It was God who appointed David as king in Israel (2 Samuel 12:7-8) Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: “I appointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping , and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been to little, I also would have given you much more! - Know that the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of God and His Christ, and that all that that stand in rebellion to this will be mercilessly crush. Therefore, there is no room for a man to do his own thing.
----Daniel prophesied it (Daniel 2: 44-45) And in the days of these kings the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to the people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.
----The Psalmist understood God's authority (Ps. 2:1-12) Why do the nations rage, and the people of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and His anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure, “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to me, You are my Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
----Jesus promised it (Revelations 2: 26-27) And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels. - Don't cut any deals that compromise God's laws and purpose. Do your give and take within the framework of obedience to God.
----Saul lost a kingdom because of compromise (1 Samuel 15: 22-23) So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”
----A prophet lost his life because of compromise (1 Kings 13:21 and 24) And he cried out to he man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you.-----When he was gone a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse.
----Paul said it would be common place in the last times (1 Timothy 4:1-2) Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.
----The early apostles refused to cut a deal to make their life easier (Acts 5:29) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather then men.”
----Jesus commands a life without compromise (Luke 14: 34-35) Salt is good; but if the salt has lot its favor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
So Mr. President and America I believe the most reasonable way to conclude this article is to suggest that these points of wisdom, as well as the testimony of the lives of both Washington and Lincoln can be summed up in this one Bible verse. (Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14) Let us hear the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
An American Watchman,
Greg DeHart
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