Coffee With The Lord

Given the sad condition of our nation morally and spiritually and the challenges we are facing, it just seems appropriate to feature this adaptation of Daniel 9 as a intercessory prayer guide for our nation this morning… We have an emotionally charged election coming up, unrest and violence in our cities, the scourge of COVID-19, babies killed through “legal” abortions, a polarized nation, flaunted sin, and lukewarm Christians…

This passage was my Bible reading this morning during my time of “Coffee with the Lord.”  It is an intercessory prayer Daniel prayed for his nation at a critical juncture in their history.  Several years ago I adapted it as an intercessory prayer guide for our nation.  I urge you to use it over and over again the next weeks as we enter a very critical period in our nation’s history… and I urge you to make it your prayer TODAY!

An Intercessory Prayer Guide for Our Nation

Adapted from Daniel 9

⁴“O Lord, You are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill Your covenant and keep Your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey Your commands. ⁵ But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against You and scorned your commands and regulations. ⁶ We have refused to listen to Your servants the prophets, who spoke on Your authority to us as a nation – its leaders and its people.

⁷ “Lord, You are in the right; but as You see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us who stand under your judgment.. ⁸ O Lord, we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You. ⁹ But You are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against You. ¹⁰ We have not obeyed You, we have not followed the instructions You gave us through Your servants the prophets. ¹¹ We have all disobeyed Your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to Your voice.

“So now Your promised judgment has been poured down on us because of our sin. ¹² You have kept Your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. ¹³ Every judgment You promised as a result of our sin has come true. Yet we have refused to seek Your mercy by turning from our sins and recognizing Your truth. ¹⁴ Therefore, You, oh Lord have brought upon us the disaster You prepared. Lord You were right to do all of these things, for we did not obey You.

¹⁵ “O Lord our God, You have brought lasting honor to Your name by rescuing Your people over and over again. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. ¹⁶ In view of all Your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn Your furious anger away from our nation and its people. Other nations mock us because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

¹⁷ “O our God, hear Your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For Your own sake, Lord, smile again on us!

¹⁸ “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open Your eyes and see our despair. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of Your mercy.

¹⁹ “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! For Your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for the sake of Your people and our nation!”

(An adaption of the New Living Translation for personal and corporate intercession for our nation)

I am the eldest son in our family – the “firstborn.”  In some cultures (ancient and modern) that brings special position, privilege, power, within the family.  Take it from me… not so much in the Bartel family made up of three sons!  But in ancient culture there were also pressures and production (responsibilities, if your please) to being the “firstborn.”  In this regard the Bible speaks of the rights and responsibilities of the “firstborn” (i.e. the “birthright”).

 Jesus holds the position of elder son – the “firstborn” – in God’s family at several levels!  He is referred to as the “firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29-30)  His special position, privilege, and power are an incredible blessing to all who have been “born again” as “children of God.”  He embraced all of the responsibilities of “firstborn” that bring untold benefit to all of us who are within God’s family!

I read about it his morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” in Hebrews in my Bible…

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.  He was faithful to the one who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house… Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house… But Christ is faithful AS THE SON [the “firstborn” son] OVER GOD’S HOUSE. AND WE ARE HIS HOUSE, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. (From Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV)

So the exhortation and challenge is clear… “Fix your thoughts on Jesus!”… He is our apostle and great high priest – faithful as a Son over God’s household!  Everything we enjoy as children of God flows from His power, position and privilege as the “firstborn”!  He is the one who completely fulfilled – and fulfills – all the responsibilities of the “firstborn” within the family of God that we benefit from! 

Are you on the hunt for an opportunity to dig deeper into the Word? Join Dr. LeRoy Bartel every Tuesday, Beginning September 29, at 3:00 PM CDT as he hosts an online Bible study to study “50 Great Passages of Scripture” with a new perspective. See link below to register for this ZOOM webinar!
Invite a friend (or two) because you will not want to miss this!

https://bit.ly/3mt58w4

The question has been asked several times whether or not this Zoom Webinar will be recorded and available at times other than the 3 p.m. Tuesday live session. The answer is YES, it will be recorded! And since it is interactive in nature it will have great value for personal Bible study.