Forty Days of Prayer for Our Country- Day 23
Today we go back to Dr. Jim Denison and one of his recent essays on culture and truth. This is an exerpt.
Scripture:
Thought for the day:
Are we witnessing the demise of America's church?
Will the American church exist in 100 years? You know about our nation's atheists and agnostics. Now we have "ignostics," people who are ignorant of basic biblical truths. Fewer than half of Americans can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible; only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount; only one half can name even one of the Gospels.
We have "apatheists," those who are apathetic about spirituality. Some 46 percent of Americans say they never wonder whether they will go to heaven; 44 percent spend no time seeking "eternal wisdom." And we have "exitists"—almost 60 percent of young people ages 15-29 have left active church involvement. If their children follow their example, what will happen to American Christianity? This decline is not only among mainline denominations: Southern Baptist Convention membership will fall nearly 50 percent by 2050 if current trends continue.
Will [this come] true in America? It will if we don't think it can. It will if we trust our buildings and clergy more than our Lord. It will if we don't pray passionately for the spiritual awakening we so desperately need. How can the Holy Spirit use unholy vessels? How can a holy God bless an unholy people?
What is the Spirit saying to your heart?
Dr. Jim Denison
Are we witnessing the demise of America's church?
Will the American church exist in 100 years? You know about our nation's atheists and agnostics. Now we have "ignostics," people who are ignorant of basic biblical truths. Fewer than half of Americans can identify Genesis as the first book of the Bible; only one third know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount; only one half can name even one of the Gospels.
We have "apatheists," those who are apathetic about spirituality. Some 46 percent of Americans say they never wonder whether they will go to heaven; 44 percent spend no time seeking "eternal wisdom." And we have "exitists"—almost 60 percent of young people ages 15-29 have left active church involvement. If their children follow their example, what will happen to American Christianity? This decline is not only among mainline denominations: Southern Baptist Convention membership will fall nearly 50 percent by 2050 if current trends continue.
Will [this come] true in America? It will if we don't think it can. It will if we trust our buildings and clergy more than our Lord. It will if we don't pray passionately for the spiritual awakening we so desperately need. How can the Holy Spirit use unholy vessels? How can a holy God bless an unholy people?
What is the Spirit saying to your heart?
Dr. Jim Denison
Prayer:
Lord, you have told us that you will build your church. What has happened to us that we are not seeing that truth in our country? Show us how we can be a church that you bless and that you grow. A church that is truly yours and one that will advance upon the gates of hell. In Jesus name, Amen.
Lord, you have told us that you will build your church. What has happened to us that we are not seeing that truth in our country? Show us how we can be a church that you bless and that you grow. A church that is truly yours and one that will advance upon the gates of hell. In Jesus name, Amen.
Prayer Points for Today:
- Pray for the church in America, that there would be a spiritual awakening in our day, amoung us.
- Pray for our church, that we would grow and reach more and more with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Ask God to use us to change our community, our state and our country.
- Pray for our church, that we would grow and reach more and more with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Ask God to use us to change our community, our state and our country.
Memory Verse for the Week:
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3
Challenge for Today:
Continue to pray for early voting - voters and poll workers.
Continue to pray for early voting - voters and poll workers.
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