Fasting and prayer April 25th -30th Please read!!!
PLEASE READ THIS AND POST IT EVERYWHERE

Concerned Citizens For
Repentance In America
http://www.i-star.com/users/parbar/ccra.html

Fasting And Prayer - April 25th - 30th, 2007

If you listen to the liberal news media and the liberals in Washington D.C. you will be lead to believe that God, the Bible, prayer, Jesus Christ and so on have NEVER been a part of our government and that they are "violation" of the constitution which they say prevents the mixture of church and state.

Now, the truth is that the constitution say NOTHING about avoiding such mixture, that was taken from a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut in 1802. The association was concerned that Congress might choose one religion as a "state" denomination and President Jefferson assured them in his letter that no such action would take place as the constitution says that congress should *'"make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state.''' That is where this infamous statement comes from NOT FROM THE CONSTITUTION.


Thus the attack against prayer or mentioning God or Jesus Christ or having a Chaplain pray before sessions is nothing more than a vicious and ungodly attack of the liberals in our news media and in Washington, D.C.

Two of our Presidents, John Adams and Abraham Lincoln, believed that in their day America was turning its back on God (my, what they would think if their were alive today) and called for a day of fasting and prayer. Below is a few excerpts from the addresses they made in reference as to why they believed we needed to have a day of prayer and fasting.


President John Adams - March 7th, 1799

President Adams called upon Americans to fast and pray for their nation for he believed that we had committed many offenses against "the most high God." He implored the people to confess these sins, to repent of their condition. His plea was that the nation would recognize that our "licentiousness" and "impiety" were offensive to God and had become "ruinous to mankind." In his proclamation he desired that God would show us that "righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people", quoting Proverbs 14:34.

He then proclaimed April the 25th as a day of fasting and prayer and advised all that they refrain from "secular occupation, and devote the time to the sacred duties of religion in public and in private." Certainly if President John Adams felt a sense of urgency in 1799 you can be certain that in the last 208 years mankind has not become more spiritual in nature. Can you imagine what he would think if he where to step in our our century? He no doubt would call for a month of fasting and prayer!

This by NO means covers the entire proclamation of this president, but if you wish to know more you can look up the information for yourself. I only quoted what I did so that you can see that America was founded on Christian principles and many of our forefathers believed in God and the Bible and they were a part of their everyday living and certainly a part of the governmental affairs.

President Abraham Lincoln - March 30th, 1863

Sixty-four years later President Abraham Lincoln surveyed the scene in America and he was certain that there was a need for a day of prayer and fasting. He began to consider all that was taking place and remarked, "may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people." In other words President Lincoln felt that God was punishing us through the Civil War! Imagine the audicty! Why if you suggest that any calamity in America might be the punishment of God you get all kinds of people calling you a hate monger or a religious zealot.

He continues in his remarks about the sinful condition of America (think on that, this was 1863 and he thought we were sinful and wicked at that time) and says, "But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own." My, that sound like the spirit and attitude of America in 2007!

He goes on to say many other things, but let me leave you with his suggestion to this nation in 1863. "It behooves us then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemecy and forgiveness." Where upon he then declared the 30th day of April 1863 to be set aside as a day of fasting and prayer. As with President Adams he urged folks to set aside their secular indulgence and find a place either private or public (churches) that they might keep "the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion."

Hence we of Concerned Citizens For Repentance In America beseech you to set aside at least one day between the 25th to the 30th of April 2007 for fasting an prayer. Here are a few suggestions from Evangelist Dr. Samuel Gipp: (P.S. I've added a thought or two which appears in blue type.)


Fast - Eat nothing from midnight to midnight. You don't have to do what I do. Fast however you wish but fast on April 25th (or any of the other days). If you cannot do all the days do whatever you can and the same goes for the hours. Do what you can!
Pray - Pray specifically for God's mercy on America. Ask Him to pardon our nation. That saves us from His wrath but gains Him nothing. So, also prayer for Him to send the Holy Spirit upon to revive our nation. He would get something from that. (See Daniel 9:1-20 for a model prayer. Yes I know Daniel did not get what he prayed but that did not stop him from praying - did it?)
Repent - You say, "From What? I don't know...you do! Maybe it's a secret sin. Maybe it would be a change to godly values. Maybe it's time to quit playing. Maybe it would be surrender to live for the Lord. Certainly we all have things in our lives that have caused us to grow cold spiritually (Revelation 3:14-22). See also Psalm 19:12 and 90:8.

I think this is a fantastic idea. I know many would not agree with me but we must remember:

Romans 8:13
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live

Psalm 69:10
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
69:11
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

Prayer, sackcloth, and fasting are a dedication to the Lord of the rejection of the power over the flesh in our lives. Every single one of us at some time every day just about give in to the flesh's desires, not according to need, but according to convenience.

You think we don't have an issue with gluttony in this country?

God help us, we should fast more. But here is how we should do it:

Matt 6:16
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6:17
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
6:18
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Is not the Lord worth a little discomfort? God help us.....

Love in Christ,

Jim

Amen Jim. Thanks for your thoughts. God bless.