Blessed Or Cursed?

"The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways...The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." 

 Deuteronomy 28:7-25

America was blessed for many years with a military that just could not be beaten! The outcome of every battle was decisive and definitive. There was no doubt as to whether victory was accomplished. One could dare say that great times of divine direction led us to many triumphs. For instance, our victory at Midway turned the tide of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese Navy was never able to recover from the loss of the four carriers that were destroyed there, and the whole battle seems to have been a case of little things causing a big win. In both World Wars, when the US entered things changed! Though many could claim the Korean Conflict as a victory recent news events should make us question that assumption. What changed?

Vietnam was an embarrassment! What was going on in the nation at this time? The Christian values of the nation were in question. Any history student can discuss the upheaval of traditional values held dear for so long in this nation. Rebellion set in the hearts of many and a spirit of lawlessness pervaded the land. 1962 brought the terrible ruling on prayer in public schools which would lead to a long list of litigations against the very values the Founding Fathers held dear! I recently saw a cartoon where a man asked where God was during the awful loss of life during a school shooting. His wife answered, "Oh! Haven't you heard? God is not allowed in our schools anymore." It seems He is no longer allowed any public appearance anywhere! Maybe it is why that even our recent "victories" are still in question?

Do we want to experience a definitive victory again? Deuteronomy 28 reminds us that the success of a nations military is not vested in the sophistication of equipment and training of the services alone. Victory lies in the presence of the Lord and His divine direction and protection! Repentance alone will make us winners again. Adding wretched sin to our ranks will only increase the ineffectiveness of our troops and cause the deaths of many men and women as the presence of the Lord pulls away!

Blessed Or Cursed?

Is America currently under God's judgment? Is the land under a curse similar to those God promised to inflict ancient Israel with if they choose to walk in rebellion to Him? Let's look at these blessings and curses to see if there is any evidence that the Almighty is trying to get our attention. They come from the blessings and curses promised by God which are found in Deuteronomy 28.

"And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field...But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field." Deuteronomy 28:2-3&15-16

Remember the Israelites were to be God's servants and a light to the world. We know clearly from the Babylonian Deportation and Roman Diaspora that God inflicted this nation just as He said. We also know that God is true to His promise to restore as well since the nation of Israel again exists today.

America was once the land blessed by Christ with a huge population of believers. Yet, we have been turning our back on God and the roots of the Christian nation laid by the forefathers of this land. Our cities that once were blessings of commerce to the world are now filled with excessive violence. America is a world leader or in the top ten in many categories of crime.

There are many old accounts of the hills and fields of the nation ringing with prayer and praise as God greatly blessed us in the country as well. From the birth of the camp meetings and brush arbor meetings to mighty outpourings of His Holy Spirit like the one that occurred near Murphy, NC in 1896 when many were filled with the joy of His presence and baptized in the Holy Spirit, America was truly blessed in the country.

Today, we are not safe in the country. Many rural areas have become just as dangerous as the cities. Coincidence? Hype? I guess we will have to continue through the rest of the curses and blessings to find out. As for me, I remember a day when I could ride a bicycle without fear in the city, suburbs, or country. I would not let a child walk across the street unsupervised today. Look at the missing and exploited children posters on the wall the next time you visit a retail store if you can't understand that!

Today's Prophetic Headlines

We have been out of town cleaning our home in Chappells. The laptop does not load the blog as well as I like, so I have not posted in a couple of days. Sadly, the last few days have been a disaster for America. I will soon start a group of messages on Deuteronomy 28 that shows how we parallel the curses brought on Israel for forgetting God. Here is the news from today. JN

America's Fall From Christianity

At West Point, Obama Presses for New World Order to Defeat Al Qaeda One world governance--how prophetic!

Israel, the Middle East and the Coming Prophetic Conflicts

Mideast Affairs: As summer nears, the Gulf is heating up

Obama starts massive US Air-Sea-Marine build-up opposite Iran

PM: Palestinians waging unacceptable economic war

EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. General Warns of Chemical Attacks Against Israel

Abbas Wants NATO Troops in Future State

Syria: Obama has failed in peace efforts and lost influence in Mideast