Though the primary focus of the Jerusalem Prayer Team is on the nation of Israel, it is impossible to separate the future of the United States from the Jewish state. In fact almost 40 years ago now I wrote a book called Israel: The Key to America’s Survival. The upcoming election is crucial for many reasons, but one of the most important is the impact it will have on the relationship between the US and Israel.
The upcoming election should be a matter of great prayer for God’s people, because the Bible teaches that God is the authority that determines human government. It is vital to the future that our nation continue to stand with and for Israel—and that matters so much, not just for us, but for our children and grandchildren as well. As citizens in a republic, we have the privilege and responsibility of helping to choose our leaders. There are two vital responsibilities every Believer has as we approach the upcoming election.
First, we need to be part of the righteous remnant that can defer God’s wrath against a sinful nation. There is no doubt that, like Sodom, America as a nation has turned our back on God’s declared law. We have leaders boasting of defying morality and decency. We have a culture that is wallowing in sin and rejoicing to do evil. And yet we see from the story of God’s conversation with Abraham that as wicked as Sodom was, if there had been enough righteous people there, the city would have been spared. The Bible teaches that one of the judgments God places on nations is to give them poor and unqualified leaders.
“I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”
—Isaiah 3:4
America needs good leadership, and avoiding the judgment of poor leaders depends on the righteous remnant.
Second, we need to be praying diligently for the outcome of the election, and for whoever is elected as the next president. Paul instructed Timothy,
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
—1 Timothy 2:1-2
The prayers of God’s people for their leaders are a vital part of His plan.
The residents of Sodom had no idea that the good times (like the Roaring 20’s before the Great Depression) were God’s final mercy call before destruction. God judged Sodom, yet Sodom had no Bible. America is the Bible capital of the world, with more houses of worship than any other country. If anyone should know what is going on, we should.
The White House is not the key to revival—the church house is! Jesus resides not in the White House or any other building, but within the Believer. Where are those who weep for America, who grieve for her sins of arrogance? Millions of professing Christians have closed their eyes to what is happening. Terrorist attacks on the United States and her citizens are simply warning shots across the bow of our Ship of State. God wants His children to wake up before it is too late.
It is time—it is past time—for God’s people to stand up and say that we will not sit by silently while the country we love and the freedoms we cherish are taken away. But none of us can win this fight alone. We must join hands and fight before it is too late. Please join with us in fervent and diligent prayer regarding the election of our next president on November 8.