Craig Clouston

Rise Up!

Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’

Acts 22:21

There was passion in Pastor Joab’s voice as he spoke, “America is a godly Nation, founded on Christian principles.”

I was struck by the fact that this small-statured man had come, or more accurately had been sent by God from Uganda to act as our encourager to, “Rise up against the work the enemy is doing to turn things upside down in this great nation!”

Leafing through the Bible, Joab said, “I return to the opening scripture from 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us everything we need…’ In other words…God is anxious to provide power to every follower of Jesus who will stand in faith, those who believe He will empower you, to use you to fight against the darkness that invades your country.”

I was struck by the truth that this Ugandan pastor was working on the mission field. We were those in desperate need of the truth! The U.S.! That realization had a profound impact.

Twenty minutes later, Pastor Joab concluded his message, “Jeremiah 2, verses nine through twelve speak of a nation trading the Glory of God for worthless idols. America must rise up against the blind allegiance of those who worship idols, and bring back the Glory of God!”

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We, you and I, followers of Jesus Christ, have this Glory within. We have the privilege and responsibility, regardless of current or future persecution, to release that Glory among the people of this great Nation.
One man can turn the hearts of an entire generation back to God if their heart is turned toward God and His purposes and direction. God is calling His people, those who are called by His Name!
Paul, in today’s text, was sent among the Gentiles to carry the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ. The Hebrew translation of Gentile is Pagan. Don’t you find it ironic that God would send a believer from a pagan country to encourage a nation founded on Christian principles to rise up?
Isn’t it time to take a stand, and turn the tide of what the enemy is trying to force on America?

Prayer

“Give me the courage to rise up and battle the darkness, Lord Jesus. Use me to turn the tide in the battle for America. Amen.”