Tag Archives: America

January 9, 2016 · 8:13 am

Common Sense 2016

Common Sense cover

 

Two hundred and forty years ago today, Thomas Paine published his forty-eight page pamphlet: Common Sense. One historian wrote about the publication:

“It would be difficult to name any human composition which has had an effect at once so instant, so extended and so lasting. Common Sense was pirated, parodied and imitated, and translated into the language of every country where the new republic had well-wishers. It worked nothing short of miracles and turned Tories into Whigs.” (History of the American Revolution by Sir George Trevelyan, 1905)

Thomas Paine’s main reason for writing his pamphlet was to encourage the American colonists to free themselves from the rule of King George III.

Unlike Paine, it’s my hope and prayer that Common Sense 2016 will help bring America back under the reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords once again.

Amazon description:

Definition of common sense: “The ability to make sound judgments based on known facts. It may be tempered and refined by life’s experiences, but does not require a high degree of sophistication or schooling.”

Is it common sense to keep dusting off 2 Chronicles 7:14 after every national tragedy, like 911 or San Bernardino, even though nothing ever changes?

Is it common sense for evangelicals to claim the 2016 Presidential Election as the most important election in the history of America? Didn’t we utter the same phrase in 2012? And 2008? And 2004? And 2000?

Is it common sense for Christians to keep pointing at the Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Conservatives, Socialists, the President, Senate, House of Representatives, Supreme Court, Gays, Planned Parenthood, and whoever else as being the source of America’s troubles?

Is it common sense for believers to hope that Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Bernie Sanders, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, or whoever can possibly pull our nation back from the brink of destruction?

The common sense answer to all of the above questions is “no.”

So, what is the answer?

Common Sense 2016 is a common sense approach to what is presently happening in America, looking at our past through the lens of the Bible and then into the future through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. The book forces us to take off our rose-colored glasses and accurately discern our times.

The author of Common Sense 2016 is Larry Nevenhoven, who has published ten other Amazon eBooks. It is Nevenhoven’s most urgent call for action to today’s Christians.

74 pages        Author: Larry Nevenhoven        Publisher: LarryWho

Kindle eBook: FREE through January 13, 2016.

Available on Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Apps.

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January 7, 2016 · 10:01 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (1/7/2016)

Although most Christian and conservative leaders declare the 2016 Presidential election as the most important election in the history of America, it is not. In fact, it is almost irrelevant because Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Rand Paul, Former Governor Mike Huckabee, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Bernie Sanders, or whoever cannot make atonement for America’s sin.

Only we believers can make a difference with our nation’s sin, in accordance with −

if my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This familiar verse is quoted over and over again, especially after a tragedy, like San Bernardino, but let’s be honest with each other, okay? We must be doing something wrong because it’s not working very well.

Over the years, we have memorized the words and mouthed lip service to 2 Chronicles 7:14, but have paid little attention to the context of why the Lord spoke His words. If we look at verse 12, we will learn that verse 14 was an answer to Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6:14-42.

In his prayer, King Solomon prayed about the possibilities of Israel being defeated by enemies, overcome by droughts, famines, pestilences, plagues, and sicknesses and asked the Lord to hear. To hear what? Prayers and supplications.

Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Daniel 9:3 NKJ)

In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was He heard because of His reverence. (Hebrews 5:7)

Supplications are desperate, passionate, earnest prayers from the deepest part of our hearts, crying out to God for Him to intervene on our behalves. It usually includes weeping, crying, and fasting − that’s really what the verb “humble” denotes in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

A few times throughout history God has used an individual, such as a Moses, Samuel, or Daniel, or even a small group of people, such as Rees Howells and his college of intercessors during WWII, to stand in the gap to intercede for a nation. Yet at other times, God has required a large percentage of His believers to intercede on a nation’s behalf. The words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 suggest a large percentage of believers, rather than just an individual or a small group.

Now, I am not naive enough to believe we can get a large percentage of American Christians to agree on much of anything, let alone asking us to fast, weep, and cry out to God with heart-felt supplications. We American believers tend to look first to our government, second to a long list of possibilities, and last to God. So, until disasters and tragedies become everyday occurrences, I don’t expect national days of prayer and fasting to be much more than tiny blips on national radar screens with turnouts only large enough to fill small closets.

But then again, maybe God will bring forth a great move of His Spirit on America, right? The greatest outpouring of the Spirit of prayer on America was during the Businessmen’s Prayer Revival of 1857. That prayer revival ended up converting a million people and stirring up another four million believers, which totaled approximately fifteen percent of the nation’s population. But even so, the prayer revival did not stop the Civil War from taking place four years later.

Therefore, if God chooses to send a new revival to America, I’m all for it. Praise God! But I’ve been hearing about a supposed mega-revival coming to America for almost thirty years…and I’m still waiting. Let’s not make the mistake of placing all of our hopes on the “maybes” of wish-ions, but rather, let’s stand on something more concrete, like 2 Chronicles 7:14. (Common Sense 2016 by Larry Nevenhoven, ©2016, Amazon eBook)

My prayer for today:

Lord, I pray that every believer who has an ear will hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to America right now. (Based on Revelation 2:7)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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November 5, 2015 · 10:33 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (11/5/2016)

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“Even the smallest stream believes it’s the one which fills the ocean.” (Country Pastor)

In my thirty years of being a Christian, I’ve been a part of the Charismatic Movement, the Word of Faith Movement, Prophetic Movement, God is Love Movement, Home Church Movement, and now the Hebraic Roots Movement. Each of these movements have helped to restore important truths to the Body of Christ.

Even though the jury is still out on the Hebraic Roots Movement, all of the other movements have had the same flaw in their makeups. Each believed it was the complete answer to all of America’s problems, rather than just being a needed piece of God’s restoration process for His church.

This flaw always ends up in a “We’re right and you’re wrong” attitude among the movements’ members, which no matter how you decorate it, is still pride.

My prayer for today:

Lord, I pray that American believers will all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (Based on Ephesians 4:13)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 29, 2015 · 9:08 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/29/2015)

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The vibrant sounds of Mozart’s Piano Concerto Number Seven swirled through the Beacon Hill mansion’s ballroom. The fifteen females seated around the grand piano, listening to the maestro, had proper Brahmin names like Cabot, Coolidge, Forbes, Lodge, or Shaw. Each traced her ancestry back to the earliest Puritan settlers of Boston. This blueblood lineage insured their invitation to the social tea, no nouveau riche Johnny-come-latelies were among the invitees.

When the pianist completed the piece, he stood and bowed. The women showed their appreciation with warm applause. One of the ladies put her white-gloved hands to her mouth and said, “Oh, I would just do anything to be able to play the piano like that.”

The maestro turned and stared at her. His eyes exploded with fire.

“No you wouldn’t,” he said.

The crowd collectively gasped. All felt sorry for the woman who had been openly rebuked by the man’s insensitive words.

As for the lady, she sat stunned, paralyzed by his harsh eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks. Then, as if she remembered her privileged pedigree, she mouthed three defiant words at the pianist: “Yes, I would.”

“No you wouldn’t,” he said again, leaning over the piano toward the lady.

“Because if you really meant what you said, you would have been willing to give up your youth, your teenage years, and eight to ten hours every day practicing on the piano. You see, there is a price to sit on this bench. I’ve been willing to pay it, and you have not!”

(Excerpt from Deceived Dead and Delivered by Larry Nevenhoven, 2013, Amazon eBook)

My prayer for America:

Lord, raise up American believers that are willing to deny themselves, pick up their crosses daily, and follow You. And Lord, show me how to be one of them.  (Based on Luke 9:23)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 22, 2015 · 8:43 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/22/2015)

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Most people have seen the movie, Titanic, and its fictional love story about a poor boy, Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), and a rich girl, Rose (Kate Winslet), on an ill-fated ocean voyage. The movie won the 1997 Oscar for Best Picture. Its box-office sales of over $1.8 billion rank it as the second most successful movie of all time, behind Avatar.

Hollywood created its own fictional heroes for the movie script, but on April 14, 1912, there were many real heroes. One of them was named John Harper.

John Harper, a thirty-nine year old widower and a Baptist preacher, was traveling to Chicago aboard the R.M.S Titanic on its maiden voyage with his six-year old daughter, Nana. He was scheduled to preach some evangelistic meetings at the Moody Church.

At 11:40 p.m., the Titanic hit an iceberg on the starboard side of the ship. As soon as Harper realized the ship was going to sink, he took his daughter to a lifeboat and placed her aboard. “Nana, I’ll see you again someday,” he said to her.

Then, while flares lit up the sky, he marched up and down the decks yelling, “Women, children, and unsaved into the lifeboats!”

At 2:20 a.m., a rumble arose from deep within the ship as it broke in half. Hundreds of people, including Harper, jumped into the 28-degree (-2 C) water as the Titanic slipped into its watery grave.

As soon as Harper hit the surface, he frantically swam from one person to the next, leading them to Jesus before the people succumbed to the icy waters and hypothermia. He asked one young man who clutched a piece of wood, “Are you saved?” The young man answered that he was not.

Harper tried to convince the young man, but the man refused to listen. Harper took off his life jacket and threw it at the man. “Here then, you need this more than I do,” said Harper as he swam off to other people.

A few minutes later, Harper returned to the man and successfully led him to Christ. Then, Harper attempted to swim to other people, but the icy waters were too much for him. “Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved,” he shouted before he sank under the waters.

Of the 1528 people that went into the icy waters that night, lifeboats rescued only six. One of them was the young man who later recounted how Harper had led him to Christ.

 

Harper wasted no time swimming around in the icy waters talking about his Baptist credentials or the five pillars of Calvinism. He asked one question: “Are you saved?” He acted on what was the most important need at that tragic moment on April 14, 1912. Today, like John Harper, we must focus our efforts on what’s needed now.

Yes, there are those who are crossing their fingers and praying for a national revival. And if the Lord sends one, hallelujah, thank You Jesus, I will join in. But I’ve listened to prophecies about a soon-coming revival, which will wash our nation clean of sin for the last thirty years. It hasn’t arrived as yet. So, do we keep walking down the same path for twenty-five or ten or five more years, hoping for a revival?

Not me! I’m jumping off this path and walking on a new one.

(Excerpt from New Wind Blowing by Larry Nevenhoven, 2013, an Amazon eBook)

My prayer for America today:

Lord, I pray that we believers lay down every one of our plans, our hopes, our dreams, our visions, our prophetic words for America, which have ensnared us, so that we can run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Based on Hebrews 12:1-2)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 15, 2015 · 8:32 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/15/2015)

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The church at Antioch had just finished the meal when an elder, a man with stooped shoulders, pushed back his chair and stood up. He held up his hands for quiet and looked around at the group.

“Brothers and sisters, we have just received some good news from the church in Jerusalem. They’re sending someone to help us,” he said.

Everyone talked at once. The voices of the fifteen believers blended into a loud roar throughout the home’s one-room living area.

A deep booming voice shouted above the clamor, “Who are they sending? One of the apostles, like Peter or John?”

The group all spoke at once, agreeing with the man’s choices, but also giving their opinion on which of the two would be their personal favorites. There was an underlying fervor to see other believers and hear their testimonies.

The elder laughed and shook his head at the commotion. He motioned with his hands, quieting the assembly.

“No – not Peter or John. A man named Barnabas should be arriving in a few days. He’s a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. We will be blessed by his visit.”

Everyone sat quiet for a few moments. No one had heard of Barnabas.

One young believer leaned over to his dark haired wife.

“What do you think Barnabas will say?” he whispered.

 

A week later, Barnabas stood on the deck of the Roman merchant ship as it approached the wharf in Antioch. He saw ships with Italian olive oil being unloaded on one side of the harbor while other ships were being loaded with Syrian grain on another side. A Roman navy trireme sat anchored to a dock with its three tiers of oars out of the water. A cohort of Roman soldiers watched over the dock.

The three hundred mile cruise had been uneventful with no storms and only gentle breezes propelling the ship. But still, Barnabas appeared eager, almost antsy, to step onto dry land once again. He had spent the three-day trip, pacing back and forth on the galley’s deck, oblivious to everything around him. The other passengers smiled when he walked by, thinking an evil spirit tormented him. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

An inner desire consumed Barnabas about knowing a specific truth about the church at Antioch. His continued pleas to the Lord about the issue had been met with silence.

Shouts from the wharf interrupted his thoughts.

“Barnabas! Barnabas! Wave your hands at us so we can see you. We have come from the church to greet you.”

Barnabas saw three men waving at the ship and went to the ship’s fore rail and waved his arms.

“I’m Barnabas! It’s great to see you, my brothers!” he shouted.

After what seemed like hours, Barnabas disembarked and ran to the threesome. He hugged and greeted them. Introductions were made amid the noisy clamor of the docks.

Barnabas could not contain himself any longer. He looked at them, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?”

(Excerpt from Deceived Dead and Delivered by Larry Nevenhoven, 2013, an Amazon eBook)

The above is a fictional story, but it agrees with Acts 8:14-17 and Acts 19:2-6.

So, if the early church needed the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need them now?

My prayer for America today:

Lord, I pray that American believers pursue love with eagerness, but that we also earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy. (Based on 1 Corinthians 14:1 Amplified Version)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 8, 2015 · 1:05 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/8/2015)

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Ananias and Sapphira loved the Lord and were excited about their upcoming ministries. They followed Barnabas’ example by selling a piece of property and then Ananias laid the financial proceeds from the sale at the apostles’ feet. The only difference is that Ananias and Sapphira kept part of the proceeds back for themselves, probably as a “just-in-case” rainy day fund.

The last words Ananias heard before stepping into eternity to meet the Judge were spoken by Peter:

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Ananias died and some young men buried him. Three hours later Sapphira, who missed her husband’s funeral, stopped by the house church. Peter spoke to her and she suffered the same fate as her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (Acts 5:11)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I ask You to help American believers walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit so that our love is genuine and that we abhor evil, holding fast to what is good. (Based on Acts 9:31 and Romans 12:9)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 3, 2015 · 7:49 am

If We Just Ignore Gays, They’ll Go Away, Right? (Part 2)

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For two thousand years, Christians have agreed on at least one thing – we live in the last days. To go along with this belief, each generation of believers has hoped to see with our own eyes Christ arriving from heaven to whisk His bride off to the marriage supper of the Lamb. So far, this has not happened, but my generation remains as optimistic as ever that this will happen soon.

How can we remain so hopeful after all these years of it not happening yet?

The Lord wisely gave us a profound mystery to encourage us: marriage between a man and a woman.

The Apostle Paul describes in Ephesians 5:22-33 how the husband and wife are to mirror Christ and the church. In marriage, the husband is supposed to love his wife like Christ loves His church (or bride) and the wife is to be submissive and loving like Christ’s bride.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. (Ephesians 5:31)

This verse has a natural meaning and a spiritual one. The natural meaning obviously refers to men and women leaving their parents, living together, joining together sexually, physically, financially, and in every way possible to become a inseparable union before God.

The spiritual meaning is that Christ Himself left His Father to come to earth to be the Second Adam, and to bring forth from His body a bride (the church), much like God brought forth Eve from Adam. Then Christ returned to His Father in heaven and will soon return in the fullness of time to hold fast to His bride forever.

There is no doubt that the Apostle Paul is referring to men, women, Christ, and the Church in these verses.

So, who else understands that we live in the last days and wants to pervert this profound mystery?

(Continued in Part 3…if you’re interested, the full series to date can be seen here.)

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October 1, 2015 · 2:00 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/1/2015)

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Around 32 AD, Saul received a commission from the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and began to go to war against Christians. He invaded home churches, dragging men and women off to prison. All of the believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria to avoid the persecution, that is, all except the apostles.

Why didn’t the Apostles flee, too?

Because Luke wrote both books, the storyline from the Book of Luke to the Book of Acts moves almost seamlessly together as if the two books were written as one. Luke records the words of Jesus in the Book of Luke —

“And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

And then —

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Apostles had been beaten, chained up, thrown into prison, and faced death threats before this outbreak of persecution. So, we have to assume that the Lord told the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem as His witnesses. They obeyed, performed their works there, and the Gospel continued to change lives.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, release Your anointed apostles on America’s cities. Send those who have seen You and are able to perform the signs of true apostles so that lives are radically changed in our cities. (Based on 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 2 Corinthians 12:12)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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September 24, 2015 · 9:44 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (9/24/2015)

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The prophet Jeremiah had faithfully prophesied his message of God’s judgment on Judah for over thirty years when a prophet named Hananiah stood up and spoke one day in the Temple –

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD’s house…” (Jeremiah 28:2-3)

Jeremiah answered Hananiah by saying, “Hey, I hope you’re right, but my prophecies of judgment on Judah are in line with the words of the prophets who lived many years before us and who also spoke of wars and disasters and pestilence.”

Hananiah then reiterated his prophetic words about peace and prosperity for Judah.

Jeremiah listened to Hananiah and then walked away, but the Lord sent him back to the Temple where he confronted the prophet –

“Listen, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie…Behold, [the Lord] will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the LORD.” (Jeremiah 28:15-16)

Hananiah died two months later.

Do we see the grace of God in this happening?

You see, when Hananiah died, God revealed to all of Judah which prophet spoke the Lord’s words. Then, the people of Judah had to decide whether they would obey or rebel against the Lord and His words.

Much the same thing is happening in America right now.

There are prophetic voices speaking of God showering our nation with blessings and a great revival while other prophetic voices are speaking of terrible disasters and extreme judgments soon hitting our nation. One of these prophetic groups has to be wrong!

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I ask that You make Yourself clear so that Your people can make decisions on how to prepare themselves for the future. (Based loosely on 1 Corinthians 14:8)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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