August 2019
Pursuit of Power
The intrigue of mankind has caused it to make many great discoveries in the earth but among the greatest is that of the atom that has promoted use for both good and evil. Still a mystery to some is the question of what great power created the atom. Surely a greater power than the atom must have created it. Search for such power has driven men to far shores, extraordinary and dangerous efforts seeking a way to harness such power for advantage over other men. Explorers have dived into the unknown and gone to the ends of the earth to find out how things work. They seek an elusive power that is above them and that they have no ability to control. Men throughout history have sought and claimed the power of an unknown god while some have dared to take on divinity for themselves. Search for power has driven some men mad as they have sought to manipulate power for personal advantage. Great power still beacons man because he knows he has a potential for greatness. But greatness without discipline is very destructive as has been proven through the power of the atom.
Exposure of Illicit Power
The news media in America is reporting at this hour on abusive power by men who have position, influence and wealth above average and who use it to engage in illegal and lascivious acts against the most vulnerable in our society. These men are discovering too that their undisciplined desires have the ability to disrupt their position of power. And while they should be held accountable for their actions; their position, wealth and power provides them a shield and means of escape from being held accountable to those they consider beneath their status. Their attempt of a god-like cover of their actions assumes that there is no God watching and measuring their deeds. The media has unveiled for us the illicit sexual exploitation by the hierarchy of the Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, and Mormon churches. From the Bernie Madoff and Enron financial debacles to those of present day business leaders, we have seen business leaders corrupt with power and wealth exceed the boundaries of decency and morality. American government leaders are being exposed daily for corrupt use of government power for personal advancement. Men of corrupt minds have not only been found to cause unwilling women to submit to their undisciplined sexual desires but the Jeffrey Epstein prosecution reveals that they have gone on to organize hidden groups of the rich and famous where they cause innocent children to submit their deprave desires. Corruption is so pervasive until these leaders are establishing their own exploits as normal while casting off the guardrails of integrity and truth on which the nation set as its standard. World history is replete with stories of great military, religious and civil leaders who ruled the world and yet it all tumbled down through abuse of power. Biblical Moses warned tribes of Israel that if they disobeyed God their sins would find them out (Nu. 32:23). In the New Testament, Matthew tells us that when one is cleansed of evil but goes back into sin, the repercussions of evil reaped is seven times worse than before(Mt. 12:45). America is seeing a depravity in leadership because God is exposing it and because America is now imitating the type of sinful autocrats who ruled over peasants in Europe. America should be moving forward, not backward. The accumulation of wealth in business, religion and government has caused callousness toward everyday citizens who have little recourse against tyrannical rule, reminisce of European rule over peasants.
Foundation of American Power
The colonists to America and their forefathers had seen tyrannical abuse played out in their lives and were sick of the oppression of overlords who pillaged the poor to fuel their extravagance. They sought a better life in the New World away from the ruthless power of European kings and kingdoms. They realized that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Like most things, power can be used for good or evil. Some European religious believers had caught a glimpse of true greatness in their encounter with God and were willing to pursue it at all cost. (Ps. 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.) They risked their lives to pursue something greater than the corrupt power of their nation. They imagined a life where God reigned and where a liberty and freedom they had never experienced could be enjoyed. While enlightened with this pursuit, they penned these words:
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”
The United States of America was established with very noble ideas derived from scriptural convictions and oppressive European experiences. They had seen the ability of even Christian governments ruled by totalitarian leaders corrupt the very best of intentions by greed. They, therefore, thought to bind themselves to an agreement where citizens could rise up in protest, denounce and remove corrupt leaders. It must have been beyond their imagination to foresee a time where a free people would strive to return to the sick society they had fled. The sorrow of our nation of America is that having found the comfort of this nation, few men will peril their lives like the original colonists who risked life and limb to resist corruption and pursue righteousness at all costs. Americans believe they have an inherited right to a life of ease, freedom and wealth because their forefathers fought for it, yet Christianity and the law both make us aware of those who would subvert the rights and privileges of others for their own benefits.
Corrupt Power
While men of power in the nation use their position, wealth and authority to overwhelm the rights of everyday citizens, it is true that both the American legal system and Christianity grant liberties to the individual citizen to protest solo or with others and remove corrupt leaders. The legal system authorizes it and the bible compels it. The only question that remains is whether or not Americans still have the will to fight against evil. It appears the seeking of gold has corrupted even the most disciplined mind. America above every other nation has the tools necessary to insist on truth and integrity in its government, church and business communities; and we must not allow men of power to suppress that right. God will stand with us if we stand with Him. Our nation has the witness of corruption in other nations, people and times throughout history as a lesson to avoid the same destructive path. No other nation has had the opportunity, liberty and knowledge that Americans possess to maintain its freedom as a people.
With a wealth of advantages, Americans have, nevertheless, slipped back into the worse sins of their European predecessors. That is why the Europeans can look on America with such disdain, because there is no excuse for falling into the same sins. Britain had already fought wars for the right to be Christian, welcomed ethnic groups and had denounced slavery. Their great sin was aristocracy, maintaining wealth and privilege for only the few, is the current snare of American elites.
There has always been a temptation and problem of strong and powerful leaders abusing the most vulnerable but the American establishment of democracy for the exercise true liberty and faith in Christ was supposed to change that. God allowed European peasants to catch a vision of Him, liberty, and a place of freedom but it has quickly been returned to the mire of the past oppression. Without discipline, a close relationship and adherence to the Lord, freedom turns into lasciviousness. We saw it displayed at the foot of the Mount Sinai when Moses went up to commune with God. As soon as Moses was gone, the children began to play and choose other gods. And now that America has chosen to push God to the background, to serve money and pleasure rather than God, the leaders have decided to give the people a new god and rules like Aaron did for the children of Israel. But God, who is in covenant with the people of America through signed declarations and prayers, will have the last word. God directed Prophet Elijah to denounce the false god called Baal who the people had set up as their new god (1Ki 18). In a test of truth, God was proven All-powerful and all the false prophets were humiliated and killed. Baal was an ancient god of the biblical Canaanites. This false god was thought to be a god of fertility and the people offered gifts to Baal to prosper in areas of lack. They did animal and human sacrifice to prosper rather than depending on God for their supply. Much like today, people are sinning and choosing to serve other gods because they want things God has not yet given them. The Israelites would choose a false god or gods to satisfy their greed for things and even Christians today are choosing a god of wealth and material things over the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. The name of this new god is called prosperity; new name, same god. The new Aarons have set up gods to please the people’s lust. It’s an old story with a familiar ending. A lot of lives were lost before the people of Israel returned to the True God. Christ has come so that every individual can be a child of God and inherit the wealth of Father God, their King (Jo. 3:16). We can expect God to pull down the foundation of lies in America that has tried to take the place of truth and we can expect God to pull down the false god of money that America has become ensnared with. God has not changed His First Commandment that we should have no other God but Him or bow down to worship other gods. How long will it take and how many lives will be lost before America returns to her God?
Encouragement to Stay the Course
It is important for America to remember:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Heb 12:6-7 (KJV)
It is our lust for things God has not yet given us that tempts us to exceed the boundaries of God’s provision but if we obey and wait on the Lord’s timing we can have His favor and those things too. May God’s mercy and compassion remain with our nation until we willingly return to His grace!
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Ps. 33:12)
Truth and Life Ministries of Christ with Apostle Joyce Reba Payne 