If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles. 7:14
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Last weekend, we celebrated Canada’s 150th year as a sovereign nation.
Whilst most reveled in the festivities, churches all across Canada came before God in prayers of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession for this great nation.
For such is the inconvenient truth that many in this land have intentionally chosen to abandon; but it is a reality that must never be lost on us - for in this century and a half, all of which that established and defined this realm was done so under the very hand of the Christian God.
The forefathers of this nation understood this reality - as remarkably evidenced in the final verse of the Canadian national anthem – in prophetic expression addressing God, is their prayer of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession for the land.
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion in thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Church, how do we stand on guard for a nation that plainly revered God from her inception?
By believing in God.
We continue to believe what our Christian brethren – the forefathers of this nation - believed.
We continue to believe that God is sovereign in this land.
We continue to believe that we remain His people, who are called by His name.
We continue to humble ourselves, and pray and seek His face.
We continue to turn from our wicked ways.
History has revealed how the church in Canada has sinned against various people groups through actions and inaction. If we profess to be one in the bond of God’s love, we must likewise confess to our collective sins and actively seek reconciliation under the guidance, love and power of the Holy Spirit.
We continue to come before our God in prayer, thanksgiving, supplication and intercession for this great nation.
And then, we continue to believe that God hears us from heaven, and forgives our sin, and that He is healing our land.
Even in the context of Solomon’s dedication of the temple – and by extension, the nation of Israel – to God, were there disbelievers amongst them?
Absolutely!
Given the consistency of humanity’s brokenness and sinfulness, it is not entirely difficult to imagine that even after witnessing the consuming fire and glory of God (Ref: 2 Chronicles 7:1), there was the usual spectrum of disbelievers; from the mildly apathetic, to the stoically opposing.
And yet God’s word to Solomon revealed His ageless and divine predisposition to heal our brokenness, and the brokenness that we have caused to the land we inhabit.
God desires to restore us, and the land that we live in.
And the good news is that it is the faith and repentance of the believers that God regards, rather that the faithlessness and impenitence of the disbelievers, as condition for the restoration of our land.
Praise the Lord! Praise His Holy Name!
May God keep this land glorious, as be the glory that is due solely to Him; and free, as be the freedom from sin’s bondage that all of humanity should embrace due to the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary.
May we stand on guard, abreast our Christian ancestors, till all who comes to this land find in God, that lasting rich reward, which is the eternal life promised unto us by Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
There is hope for this land.
And we are that hope.
May Christ's Salvation and healing come upon the land.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
You are the Ruler Supreme.
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank you for hearing our prayers.
We come before you with humbled hearts.
Father, we acknowledge Your Sovereignty in this land.
We ask that You will continue to watch over the nation and her leaders in Your loving care; and guide us all, Holy Spirit, towards repentance of our wickedness, and revival of our passion for the Salvific love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Help this nation to find in You, Lord Jesus, the gift of eternal life.
May everyone in this land come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and follow You, Lord!
Revive Your Church, O Holy Spirit, that we may passionately fulfill Your great commission to this nation, and all nations.
As we, the Church, stand on guard for this nation, by continuing to believe and placing our lives and destiny in Your hands, we ask that Your peace, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Ref: Philippians 4:7)
O God, may You heal our land.
O God, may You keep our land glorious and free!
We give thanks for Canada, and pray all these in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
Last weekend, we celebrated Canada’s 150th year as a sovereign nation.
Whilst most reveled in the festivities, churches all across Canada came before God in prayers of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession for this great nation.
For such is the inconvenient truth that many in this land have intentionally chosen to abandon; but it is a reality that must never be lost on us - for in this century and a half, all of which that established and defined this realm was done so under the very hand of the Christian God.
The forefathers of this nation understood this reality - as remarkably evidenced in the final verse of the Canadian national anthem – in prophetic expression addressing God, is their prayer of thanksgiving, supplication and intercession for the land.
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion in thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Church, how do we stand on guard for a nation that plainly revered God from her inception?
By believing in God.
We continue to believe what our Christian brethren – the forefathers of this nation - believed.
We continue to believe that God is sovereign in this land.
We continue to believe that we remain His people, who are called by His name.
We continue to humble ourselves, and pray and seek His face.
We continue to turn from our wicked ways.
History has revealed how the church in Canada has sinned against various people groups through actions and inaction. If we profess to be one in the bond of God’s love, we must likewise confess to our collective sins and actively seek reconciliation under the guidance, love and power of the Holy Spirit.
We continue to come before our God in prayer, thanksgiving, supplication and intercession for this great nation.
And then, we continue to believe that God hears us from heaven, and forgives our sin, and that He is healing our land.
Even in the context of Solomon’s dedication of the temple – and by extension, the nation of Israel – to God, were there disbelievers amongst them?
Absolutely!
Given the consistency of humanity’s brokenness and sinfulness, it is not entirely difficult to imagine that even after witnessing the consuming fire and glory of God (Ref: 2 Chronicles 7:1), there was the usual spectrum of disbelievers; from the mildly apathetic, to the stoically opposing.
And yet God’s word to Solomon revealed His ageless and divine predisposition to heal our brokenness, and the brokenness that we have caused to the land we inhabit.
God desires to restore us, and the land that we live in.
And the good news is that it is the faith and repentance of the believers that God regards, rather that the faithlessness and impenitence of the disbelievers, as condition for the restoration of our land.
Praise the Lord! Praise His Holy Name!
May God keep this land glorious, as be the glory that is due solely to Him; and free, as be the freedom from sin’s bondage that all of humanity should embrace due to the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary.
May we stand on guard, abreast our Christian ancestors, till all who comes to this land find in God, that lasting rich reward, which is the eternal life promised unto us by Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
There is hope for this land.
And we are that hope.
May Christ's Salvation and healing come upon the land.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
You are the Ruler Supreme.
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Thank you for hearing our prayers.
We come before you with humbled hearts.
Father, we acknowledge Your Sovereignty in this land.
We ask that You will continue to watch over the nation and her leaders in Your loving care; and guide us all, Holy Spirit, towards repentance of our wickedness, and revival of our passion for the Salvific love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Help this nation to find in You, Lord Jesus, the gift of eternal life.
May everyone in this land come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and follow You, Lord!
Revive Your Church, O Holy Spirit, that we may passionately fulfill Your great commission to this nation, and all nations.
As we, the Church, stand on guard for this nation, by continuing to believe and placing our lives and destiny in Your hands, we ask that Your peace, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Ref: Philippians 4:7)
O God, may You heal our land.
O God, may You keep our land glorious and free!
We give thanks for Canada, and pray all these in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.