A Call to Repentance: WEEK TWENTY- FOUR

2008-06-23T02:41:00.000-07:00

June 22, 2008

" In returning and rest will you be saved; In quietness and confidence will be your strength." (Is 30:15)

	Introducing our New Blog

Introducing our New Blog

We are pleased to announce that we have now created a separate blog for the Call to Repentance.

This blog will serve as an archive, so that you can capture each week's prayer points, and join with us in moving through these forty weeks of prayer and of fasting together.

The blog begins with Week One, which was published on Sunday, January 13, 2008; and then lists each week's new posting, in sequence.

Feel free to visit this blog as you can, and to point other believers to this resource, too. You can see this blog by going here.

Or if you prefer, you can paste this blog into your own browser, as: http://acalltorepentance1.blogspot.com.

Thank you, and may God bless all of you as you coninue to press in along with us in prayers and in fastings of repentance unto the Lord for our national sins, and for our sins before Him as the church.

In His Love and Service,

Sara C. Ballenger, Founder and President

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners

	INTRODUCTION TO WEEK TWENTY-FOUR

INTRODUCTION TO WEEK TWENTY-FOUR

This week, we continue to press in during WEEK TWENTY-FOUR of our 40 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting, to offer prayers of repentance for the sin in the church, the sin in the nation, and the blessing of Israel.

We now address these areas:

1. SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE FRUIT OF JEZEBEL: (Part Three)

2. SIN IN THE NATION: NATIVE AMERICAN ISSUES (VII)
IN CONGRESS: NATIVE AMERICAN APOLOGY RESOLUTION IN BOTH HOUSES

3. PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL: SECURITY ISSUES

	SIN IN THE CHURCH: FRUIT OF JEZEBEL (Part 3)

REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH:

THE FRUIT OF JEZEBEL (Part Three)

Through Jezebel's manipulation, intimidation, and control the church of Jesus Christ has:

F. FAILED TO PERFECT THE SAINTS

a. 1 Tim. 4:1 -- five fold ministry offices not expected in the church

b. Ezek. 34:1-12 -- woe to leaders who feed themselves and not the flock

c. Rev. 3:14-17 -- church is lukewarm; wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked

G. FAILED TO EMBRACE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST

REJECTED THE MINISTRY OF DELIVERANCE
He came to set the captives free

a. John 14:12 -- failed to learn HOW to do the works of Christ or greater works

b. Mark 16:15-18 -- rejected the POWER OF CHRIST . . . casting out of devils, tongues, laying on of hands

c. Acts 1:8 -- rejected the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

(Source Unknown)

"Father God, as we continue to study this teaching, we thank You for searching our own hearts to see if there be any wicked way within us. We ask You to forgive our sins, as You reveal them to us, and to help us to be transformed more and more into Your image - Christ within, the hope of Glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

	SINS OF THE NATION: NATIVE AMERICAN ISSUES (VII)

REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION:

NATIVE AMERICAN ISSUES (VII):
IN CONGRESS: NATIVE AMERICAN APOLOGY RESOLUTION IN BOTH HOUSES

In light of the atrocities our people have committed against the Native American peoples, we are most encouraged that some in the Senate have taken the lead in working to make an official amends for this tragic episode in America's history. This week, we offer prayers and fastings for the passage of the Native American Apology Resolution, which was reintroduced into the Senate on April 19, 2005 by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). Please pray, too, for its companion bill in the House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK). Let us stand in a prayer of agreement that our Lord will "make a way" for this Resolution to be passed in Congress and sent to the president for his signature.

To find out more about the Native American Apology Resolution, go here.

U.S. SENATOR BROWNBACK REINTRODUCES NATIVE AMERICAN APOLOGY

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback reintroduced legislation to offer an apology from the government of the United States to American Indians. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) cosponsored the legislation.

"This resolution recognizes and honors the importance of Native Americans to this land and to our nation-in the past and today-and offers an official apology to the Native peoples for the poor and painful past choices our government sometimes made to disregard its solemn word," Brownback said. "This is a resolution of apology and a resolution of reconciliation. It is a step toward healing the wounds that have divided us for so long-a potential foundation for a new era of positive relations between Tribal governments and the federal government. It is past time for us to heal our land of division, and bring us together as one people."

The legislation, S.J.Res. 15, commends and honors the Native peoples for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land, and apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on them by citizens of the United States. It also commits to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward a brighter future "where all the people of this land live reconciled as brothers and sisters, and harmoniously steward and protect this land together."

Brownback continued, "The resolution I am introducing today does not dismiss the valiance of our American soldiers who bravely fought for their families in wars between the United States and a number of the Indian Tribes. Nor does this resolution cast all the blame for the various battles on one side or another.

"Martin Luther King once said, 'The end is reconciliation, the end is redemption, the end is the creation of the beloved community.' This resolution is not the end. But perhaps it signals the beginning of the end of division and the faint first light and first fruits of the creation of beloved community."

The resolution of apology does not authorize or serve as a settlement of any claim against the United States and does not resolve many challenges still facing Native peoples, however, it does recognize the negative impact of numerous federal policies on Native peoples and cultures and strives to progress the process of reconciliation. (April 19, 2005)

Updates:

IN THE SENATE: This bill has now been reintroduced again by Senator Brownback (since the last congressional election) as S.J. Res. 4. There is promising news here: S.J. Res.4 has been approved by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar. This means that a vote can be called at any time for passage.

The Native American Apology Resolution now has 12 cosponsors in the Senate; and chances seem favorable for passage.

· Pray for passage of S.J. Res. 4 in the United States Senate, before the end of its business this year.

· "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24)

IN THE HOUSE:

The Native American Apology Resolution has been reintroduced in the house by Congressman Dan Boren (D-OK), as H. J. RES. 68. The bill currently has 35 cosponsors, and is lodged in the House Committee on Natural Resources.

· As we can see, progress on the passage of this Resolution has been much slower in the House than in the Senate. Lift up an AVALANCHE OF INTERCESSION, that H. J. RES. 68 be voted out of committee and then passed by a floor vote yet this year. The time to act is NOW!

· "Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power . . ." (Psalm 110:3)

	PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL: SECURITY ISSUES

PRAYERS FOR ISRAEL:

PRAYER FOR SECURITY

We prayed for the protection of Israel. As the weak leadership has entered into very temporal ceasefire agreements that we would protected and that our enemies would be routed despite the condition of our leadership. We prayed that the Nuclear development of Iran would be curtailed by way of military means, earthquakes or other plans from above. We prayed that we would have the security and faith of Rahav of Jeiricho who could believe in the G-d of Israel even though she had not seen Him work until this point. We prayed for protection upon Jews around the world where ever they reside that they would be protected from the plans of Hezbollah and other anti-Jewish elements that would seek to bring destruction upon them.

"Let all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up." (Psalm 129:5-6)

(Source: Intercessors for Israel)

	Hymn of the Week

LIVING FOR JESUS

[Chisolm version]

" "In Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)

(Editor's note: In days gone by, so many Christians were so happy to be living for Jesus, that there emerged three hymns by that name: "Living for Jesus." This week we feature the hymn that was written by Thomas O. Chisolm in 1917; and put to music by Carl Lowden. "Living for Jesus" has now been translated into 15 different languages.)

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Refrain

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

(For the remaining lyrics, go h ere.)

	A Closing Thought . . .

HOW TO KEEP FROM BEING DECEIVED:

by Derek Prince

Four Safeguards - Protection from Deception

This week: CULTIVATE THE FEAR OF THE LORD (Part One)

Over the past two weeks, we studied two of the four safeguards that Derek Prince cites to protect us from deception:

1. HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE THE LORD

2. RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH

An excerpt from this section follows; Part Two will be published next week. To view this teaching in its entirety, go here.

The third safeguard is to cultivate the fear of the Lord. Many Christians say there is no more fear in the Christian life, but that is not true. Certain kinds of fear are excluded, but not all. I will give you a list of Scriptures that Ruth and I have memorized: at least a dozen different passages about the fear of the Lord. The promises are so exciting that I cannot understand why anybody would not want the fear of the Lord.

Here are some of them:

Psalm 34:11-14:

"Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it."

The implication is that the fear of the Lord will cause God to give you many days of good life. What is the first area that God deals with? The tongue. Keep your tongue from evil . . . your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 19:9:

"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever . . ."

The fear of the Lord will never cease; it endures forever.

Job 28:28:

"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding."

Notice that the primary requirement for wisdom and understanding is not intellectual, it is moral. It is to depart from evil. There are many clever fools around.

Proverbs 19:23 is almost incredible. I can hardly believe it, but it is in the Bible:

"The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil."

How can you turn down a promise like that? Abide in satisfaction. Not be visited with evil. It doesn't necessarily mean you will have an easy life.

[Next week: Part Two]

	Who We Are

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry dedicated to encouraging prayer for our leaders, and for issues involving our national security. We are a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt nonprofit ministry, relying solely upon the gifts of our friends to maintain this work.

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A Call to Repentance 24

A Call to Repentance: WEEK TWENTY- FOUR