On the 2016 Election. And Peace.
I don’t really like to blog about politics. This website is about the unseen realm, quantum physics, and spirituality. However, there is certainly a component of the political race this year that goes beyond just the natural. So, I thought I’d share these thoughts.
I believe that God wants us to really learn about His peace this year. About its quality. Its depth. Its power. As they say, two things you never discuss is religion and politics. That’s because so many respond with vitriol if you don’t think the way they do. But what better environment to learn peace than the 2016 election cycle? Wow! If we can learn to be at peace this year, then we’ve made some great personal progress!
My Aunt Betty recently referred me to the story in 2 Chronicles 20 in reference to the 2016 election. When I read it, I really felt that it was a prophetic message for the people of America during these next few months as we face what could be a crucial, pivotal point in our nation’s history. I began to elaborate on that revelation, and here is the result:
In the story in 2 Chronicles, a great army was assembling itself against King Jehoshaphat.
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
Likewise, many Christians in this country have been passionately seeking God’s will and his intervention in the broken political system in America. We realize we are at war, we realize the consequences are great, and we know that only God has the answers.
Then Jehoshaphat prayed a powerful prayer:
“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
This sounds quite similar to the prayers that have been offered on behalf of our country.
“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Perhaps the church has been misguided in its desire to “get along” with society during the past 100 years or so, but it’s bitten us badly as we have systematically lost influence in the major nerve centers in our country, what some call the Seven Mountains of Culture. The world system is repaying the Christian Faith with persecution, suspicion, threats and the decline of influence. There is certainly a vast army attacking us. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
“Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel…’Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’“
We must remember that the direction that history is taking is ultimately guided by God, and His desires will ultimately come to pass. We would do best to cooperate with Him because it’s not our battle, it’s His! We can actually take comfort in that fact, and say to one another along with Jahaziel, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Jahaziel continued:
“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”
We will not have to fight the political battle that is before us. No matter who wins in November, the battle belongs to the Lord. But we still have to do something! It’s not like we just lie on the couch with a bag of chips on our belly. God expects us to “Go out and face them.” We do our duty. We discuss things hospitably, even if we disagree with one another vehemently, we honestly consider other viewpoints, we pray, we seek the still, small voice of the Spirit of God, we vote, and THEN God can move. A rudder cannot move a ship unless it’s moving. Let’s move out in faith, and God will guide us if we allow Him.
Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
Our praise and our worship will be our foundation and our guiding force these next six months until the election. The Word says that we enter his gates with thanksgiving, and we enter his courts with praise (Psalm 100:4). It will be crucial for us as the Body of Christ on earth to enter into throne-room worship during this political battle. I don’t believe we all have to agree with each other on who to vote for. God will guide us as we lay down our pre-conceptions and personal agendas and trust Him to guide us. The important thing is that we worship Him together IN UNITY.
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”
No matter what happens in November this year, we will be successful. God is not going to let this world go fallow, and His word will not come back void. We speak His will with our prayers, and those words have power and authority in the spiritual realm to accomplish His work in the earth. We only need to “have faith in the Lord your God.”
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
This confirms the need to put praise and worship at the forefront of our political thoughts and ambitions. We thank the Lord for ALL THINGS (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And here’s what happens when we put praise and worship first:
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.
Those who do not belong in places of leadership in this country will “destroy” one another. I believe we will start to see this happen soon. Those who are not supposed to be contenders will fall away, they will bicker so vehemently among themselves that they will defeat one another without us having to lift a finger.
So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
I really believe that the Lord is telling us that this victory in November will be sweet, and we will come away with more than we ever expected. Can we expect God to do great things for His kingdom this election cycle? Are you faithful enough to believe that God’s will cannot be thwarted, and he will accomplish what He plans?
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day. Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.
I believe there will be rejoicing during this election cycle, if not when our new president is chosen, then at least during the first few years of the new administration. I believe that God has heard the prayers of millions of American Christians who, though they may not even know how or what to pray for, nevertheless their hearts have moved the powers of heaven. We must remember to remain thankful for whatever the outcome, because we know God is in control!
The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Rest on every side. Peace. The fear of God falling on other nations. Has this not been part of our national heritage? This country may not have been founded as a “Christian” nation, but a nation such as ours that is free and prosperous (as we once were) can be a phenomenally powerful force for the Kingdom of God throughout the world.
Let us trust God in faith, bring the fruits of praise and worship before His throne, and expect the greatest things to happen this year.