Archive for the 'Join the Movement' Category
Pray Personally and Participate Cooperatively in Thursday’s National Day of Prayer for America
The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 4. Miraculously and sovereignly, in 1952, by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, the National Day of Prayer began. Signed into law by President Harry S. Truman, this national call to pray for America takes place on the first Thursday of each May.
The National Day of Prayer mobilizes unified, public prayer for America. Praying for our nation needs to to become a major movement in our nation daily. United with others, we stand together publicly to pray for our nation.
It is incumbent on each of us who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ the Lord, to lead the way personally and cooperatively. Therefore, please consider these actions.
Pray Personally for America on the National Day of Prayer
The Scriptures call upon us to pray for our nation and the leaders in our nation. Wherever you are located geographically, you can pray personally. We do not need to be spiritually asleep on this day, but alive and actively calling out to the Father for our nation.
You can also determine specific ways to pray for our nation. There are endless ways to pray for America, so ask the Spirit to reveal to you personally how you should pray. Also consider praying for America in these ways:
- Confess and repent of the sins of America
- Unity in America
- President Donald Trump
- Vice-President Mike Pence
- Protection and provision for the families of President Trump and Vice-President Pence
- Cabinet of the President
- Congressional members
- Military personnel
- Law enforcement and all first responders
- Churches and their pastors
- Schools and their leaders
- Spiritual revival in the Church
- Spiritual awakening in America
- Acceleration and completion of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ
These are just suggestions. You can create your own list of ways to pray for America.
Participate Cooperatively in the National Day of Prayer
Praying together in a unified and public way for America is very important to build up your own faith, but it is also important to do so as a testimony before others. Therefore, participate cooperatively this Thursday to pray with other Christ-followers for America.
Thousands of public gatherings will take place on Thursday across America. If you do not know where to go in your community, search here.
If there is not a gathering near you, create one and register with the National Day of Prayer. It is very important to participate with others cooperatively.
Quite honestly, I am surprised at how many spiritual leaders in churches, including pastors, do not participate in a National Day of Prayer experience. Of all years in our nation, we need to stand unified as the body of Christ, calling out together cooperatively, for the sake of our nation.
America needs to experience the next great move of God in this world. I pray our generation will not die before seeing and experiencing the next Great Spiritual Awakening in America.
Yes, the greatest need in the Church in America today is spiritual revival, the manifest presence of God upon His people. Furthermore, the greatest need in America is the next Great Spiritual Awakening.
Pray Personally and Cooperate Collectively
Pray personally and cooperate collectively in some way on Thursday, May 4, on the National Day of Prayer.
I will participate in unified public prayer for America this year in Washington, DC. I have the privilege to assist in this national service being held in Statuary Hall of the United State Capitol Building on Thursday, May 4, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST. You can stream this national service of prayer in this significant location through: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org
Now is the Time to Lead and Pray for America,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
10 Biblical Realities to Consider About Capital Punishment
For the first time since 2005, this past week, the state of Arkansas fulfilled the death penalty. Ledell Lee was found guilty of the 1993 death of 26 year-old Debra Reese of Jacksonville, Arkansas. In 1995, Lee was found guilty of striking Debra Reese three dozen times and strangling her to death. Ledell Lee was the first of eight prisoners on Arkansas’ death row scheduled for execution over an eleven-day period. Ledell Lee’s sentence was carried out and he was pronounced dead on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 11:56 p.m.
10 Biblical Realities to Consider About Capital Punishment
Christians should practice a biblical worldview about life and all the issues we encounter. The only way to do this is to always see issues through biblical lenses that will help us navigate to a biblical conclusion.
I want to keep these ten biblical realities as simple and clear as possible, not just for effective communication, but also to equip you to understand some of what the Bible says about capital punishment. However, this simplicity and clarity does not diminish the enormous complexity of this issue. As we wrestle through this issue, we do so with humility and honesty, not with arrogance or judgment toward anyone.
Here are ten biblical realities to keep in mind as we consider what is right or wrong about capital punishment and the administration of it by those in authority.
1. Every human life is made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27)
2. The Scripture does not permit the taking of any innocent human life. (Exodus 20:13)
3. Perfection in a judicial system is impossible due to our fallen human nature. (Genesis 3; Romans 3:10, 23)
4. According to Scripture, capital punishment is permissible if the evidence about the accused is more than clear, overwhelming, and just. (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:4)
5. The justice system must be equitable and just regardless of race, class, or culture. (Deuteronomy 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:17; Leviticus 19:14)
6. Every person should always be treated with the highest dignity, including those who receive capital punishment, by administering it in the most benevolent way possible. (Genesis 1:27)
7. Eternal salvation is possible for anyone awaiting capital punishment, through their personal repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-13)
8. While closure may be reached emotionally for the victim’s family and friends, it is also a stark reminder that their loved one is gone for the rest of their lives on this earth. (James 4:13-15)
9. The loss is severe, painful, and final for the family who loses their loved one through capital punishment. (James 4:13-15)
10. Prayer for wisdom for those deciding the punishment of those proven guilty is imperative. Additionally, fervent, compassionate prayer should be offered for the families involved in this unfortunate and needless circumstance. (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 25; Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28, Mark 11:25)
Keeping these ten biblical realities in mind may help you as you work through this complex issue. Regardless of where you may end up in and through your thought processes, always remember: Life is a gift from God.
From the womb all the way through death itself, the dignity of human life should be held in the highest and most sacred manner.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.