Supernatural History of America Session 2 Why does God intervene in the affairs of men?
We don't know completely how God intervenes in the affairs of men, but we see a great deal of evidence for it.
Why does God intervene in the affairs of men?
God s purposes are revealed in scripture
Spread the Gospel Mark 16:15 (NKJV) 15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Return the Jews to Israel Jeremiah 30:3 (NKJV) 3 For behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah, says the Lord. And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Prove that man is not perfectible Galatians 2:16 (NKJV) 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
God s Purpose for America Spread the Gospel Return the Jews to Israel Prove that man is not perfectible
Revival and Revolution http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/june/ame rican-revivals-key-to-shaping-us-history/
George Washington The Indispensable Man born February 22, 1732 died December 14, 1799
Faith of George Washington Episcopalian Regularly attended church Exhibited Christian virtues Observed at prayer and devotions
The First Great Awakening 1730s-1740s emphasized personal salvation Evangelical preachers Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield led revivals Developed democratic thought, precurser to American Revolution
August 20, 1778 The Hand of providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.
Speech to the Delaware chiefs May 12, 1779 You do well to wish to learn our arts and our ways of life and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.
Evidence of Providence Early defeats led to eventual victories Exhibited an aura which engendered trust Seemed invincible in war and peace
Nephew and Private Secretary 1827 Robert Lewis said that he had accidentally witnessed his private devotions in his library both morning and evening; that on those occasions he had seen him in a kneeling posture with a Bible open before him, and that he believed such to have been his daily practice.
Invincible His physical appearance was complemented by an aura, not merely of strength, but of invincibility. His immunity to gunfire seemed almost supernatural. Early in his career a treacherous guide fired at him from point-blank range and missed. Once he rode between two columns of his own men who were firing at one another by mistake and struck up their guns with his sword the musket balls whizzed harmlessly by his head. Time and time again during the Revolutionary War musket balls tore his clothes, knocked off his hat, shredded his cape, horses were killed under him, but he was never touched. What mortal could refuse to entrust his life to a man whom God obviously favored? What country could refuse to do so?
George Washington dodges bullets Over 40 years of military service Three wars: French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, and the Quasi- War with France Three armies: British provincial militia, the Continental Army, and the United States Army He was never even grazed by a bullet
George Washington dodges bullets Braddock s defeat at Battle of the Monongahela July 9, 1755 Washington had two horses shot out from under him and four bullet holes in his coat
September 11, 1777 at Brandywine Captain Patrick Ferguson, a 33-yearold Scotsman reputed to be the finest shot in the British army, took aim at Washington.
Caught in an ambush He shouted to the American officer, who was riding a bay horse. The American looked his way for a moment, and turned to ride on. Ferguson called again, this time leveling his rifle toward the officer. The American glanced back before slowly cantering away.
Lost the battle, won the war A day later, after he had been seriously wounded himself, Ferguson learned that the American officer he let ride off was most likely General George Washington. "I could have lodged half a dozen balls in or about him, before he was out of my reach," Ferguson recalled, "but it was not pleasant to fire at the back of an unoffending individual, who was acquitting himself very coolly of his duty so I let him alone."
Providentially protected A century later the American historian Lyman C. Draper wrote: "How slight, oftentimes, are the incidents which seem to give direction to the most momentous concerns of the human race. This singular impulse of Ferguson illustrates, in a forcible manner, the over-ruling hand of Providence in directing the operation of a man's mind when he himself is least of all aware of it."
The Indispensable Man First in war First in peace First in the hearts of His countrymen
Indispensable to Founding and Success of America Led the Continental Army for 8 years and won the War for Independence Served as President of Constitutional Convention in 1787 Unanimously elected first President of the United States twice 1789-96
First Inaugural Address He specifies our founding principles. It was imperative, he said, that the foundation of our national policy be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality, there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exists an indissoluable union between virtue and happiness; [and] that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right; the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered, as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment intrusted to the hands of the American people.
America has fulfilled her purpose Spread the Gospel Return the Jews to Israel Prove that man is not perfectible
What Can We Do? 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Washington s Prayer Today some scholars write doubtfully about the first president's faith. But a Quaker named Isaac Potts who lived near Valley Forge saw George Washington's faith up close during that cruel winter that almost froze the general's colonial army to death during the Revolution. "I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods, and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone," Potts wrote. "He was at prayer to the God of the armies of heaven, beseeching Him to interpose with His divine aid, and for the cause of the country and of humanity, and for the whole world." "Such a prayer I never heard from the lips of man...we never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington," Potts, who was anti-war like most Quakers, continued.
Ben Franklin s Prayer At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the delegates fought and bickered so bitterly, the convention almost broke up. But then Ben Franklin stood and began to preach. "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men," the aging founding father reportedly said. "And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" Then Franklin beseeched them to pray together at the start of every day. After that, an atmosphere of peace and reconciliation came upon the founders. And they were able to proceed, and to finish their job of hammering out the American Constitution and Bill of Rights -- and in a context of prayer.
MAYDAY Prayer Initiative MAYDAY! MAYDAY! is an international distress call that signals a lifethreatening emergency. And it is also the call to cry out that Anne Graham Lotz issued for May 15-May 23 of this year. These are the nine days between the Day of the Ascension of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost that have Biblically and traditionally been days of prayer and fasting for an outpouring of God s Spirit. Anne asked Christians world-wide to pray one hour each day for 9 days, May 15-23. Although this event is now over, we encourage Christians to continue to pray these prayers and continue crying out! To learn more about MAYDAY! MAYDAY! read Anne s blog post, Is God s Judgment Coming?, watch her video imploring us that NOW is the time to cry out to the Lord, and watch Joel Rosenberg s message, Respond to the Truth.
MAYDAY Prayer Initiative http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/2015/05/12/waiti ng-for-us-to-cry-out/
MAYDAY! by SONICFLOOd God blessed a land that s free From sea to shining sea Blessed is a nation Whose God is the Lord But turning from Your face We ve chosen our own way Only to find ourselves, Drowning in distress
Have we gone too far away To find our way back to You? We are your people Called by your name Running back to You We re running back to You Forgive our sin Heal our land
Running back to You We re running back to You Into Your arms once again Forgive us of our sin, Jesus We see our blood stained hands Brought guilt upon this land The cries of children We chose to ignore
And then we banned Your Name We have ourselves to blame Our pride of sin is on parade Have we gone too far away To find our way back to you? We embrace the lies as truth We have lost our way We are calling out to You, May Day! May Day! May Day! May Day! By Heil & Porter