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Prayer and it's devine deliverance. Why Prayer?
In 2004 evangelicals were castigated for attempting to dedicate Dominica to God. Opposition politicians accused the leaders/pastors of the Dominica Association of Evangelical Churches (DAEC) of cozying up to the Labour big wigs. A few stayed away in protest. RCC’s Bishop Gabriel Malzaire publicly encouraged his parishioners to boycott the ecumenical service which was held at the Botanic Gardens in Roseau on April 8. Of course, the more discerning members of the church discounted their prelate’s edict and attended in droves. Generally though, those who disputed and objected to the dedication accused evangelicals of harboring some hidden agenda or otherwise wallowing in an exercise in futility.
Notwithstanding the debate, Dominica was officially dedicated to God on April 8, 2004. Nothing (apart from a low-keyed first anniversary celebration) was heard about the matter thereafter, well until. The fourth anniversary celebration of the national repentance and dedication of Dominica to God and more particularly certain pronouncements/proclamations made at the prayer concert on the night of April 8, 2009, seemed to have angered certain elements in the society. More of the same old rhetoric and accusations were hurled at evangelicals. Most of the gripe and rancor centered around two statements.
Pastor Bill Michael Daniel, Bishop of the Pentecostal Churches of Dominica and President of the DAEC appealed to the Prime Minister to “declare April 8th as a National Day of Prayer and a public holiday.” Also, Bishop Daniel suggested that Dominica’s economic recovery was due in large measure to its dedication to the Lord. “We have never doubted,” he said “that the decision to dedicate Dominica was God driven, God ordained and God sanctioned. It was not long after that, the day of April 8th 2004, that waves upon waves of God’s blessings began pounding the shores of Dominica. The tide began changing. This is not a fairy tale; every honest thinking Dominican can attest to this change.”
For some strange reason, these statements provoked a rather virulent strain of tongue-lashing from certain persons in the media. MC Carthy’s Marie comments appearing in DominicaNewsOnline is a case in point. Spewing insults at the men of God he writes, “what these illiterate nincompoops calling themselves pastors want is to gain complete control over the government so that they can dictate the complete agenda for all of us.” He states categorically, “there should be [no] national day of prayer.” With regards to the suggestion that the dedication might have had something to do with our recovery, MC Carthy continued his tirade; “Imagine these preachers actually claim that Dominica’s fiscal deficit disappeared because they had a poorly organized piece of theatre in the gardens on Holy Thursday in 2004…Swinburne Lestrade and the other economists and civil servants many hours of hard work proceeded by many years of education was entirely useless in getting the government’s finances back in order”. Calling the National Day of Prayer “just another stupid idea” and prayer a “ridiculous charade,” MC Carthy concluded “we cannot pray ourselves out of poverty. We can only work ourselves into prosperity and no amount of praying, which is just a vile attempt to curry up favour with God is going to get us prosperous.”
Of course, history, the Bible as well as our personal experiences tell us otherwise. God answers prayer and does intervene in the affairs of nations. History is replete with compelling evidence of how God changed the course of entire nations and communities in response to the prayers of his saints. Nations, multiplied millions of times more prosperous than we are observe a national day of prayer. Most people believe in the power of prayer and can trace the hand of God in their lives. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read these words: “if my people, who are called by my name, will 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.” Solomon, one of the greatest and wisest Kings of Israel declared “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people (Pro 14:34).”
Any casual study of the history of the nation of Israel bears witness to the truthfulness and accuracy of these promises. Israel’s greatest prosperity was realized when God-fearing Kings and governments turned the nation and hearts of the people to God. The nation enjoyed its longest period of unbroken glory and prosperity during the reign of David and Solomon. No wonder the Bible describes David “a man after his own heart (1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22).” Once the nation strayed too far from its spiritual moorings, as happened during the latter days of Solomon’s tenure, the nation slid into corruption, depression and captivity.
Mc Mary is a Mad Head. How can you not attribute things like dat to God. When he fall sick i wonder who he does ask for health? Thats the problem with those fellas that think they make it in life.. Me self i am a devoted Man of God, and it does realy burn me when I hear people coming out with dem kinda nonesense. Mary need to thank God that he still breathing.
It is clear to me that the Pastors who claim that we experienced a period of recovery in 2004, have absolutely no clue about government economic performance. Did the pastors forget that in 2004 we were told by the PM and other members of his gang, that they had 700 million dollars in the bank ready to do business, however the first budget after elections of 2005 was just in the region of 390 million dollars. We have since seen our productive capacity diminish as this DLP government supervised the destruction of the banana industry. Agriculture production is at an all time low and diminishing. Crime and violence is on the rise, while we experience record unemployment with poverty approaching 39%. I can understand that the economy of the church may have done well since the PM gave thousands to the church to repair churches which were broken down as a result of earthquakes, but to say that the economy has improved is a lie from the pit of hell. When last did public servants get an increase in pay? We are seeing boldface corruption while the pastors remain silent. Time would not permit me to detail the corruption taking place since the so-called dedication in 2004.
God has made provision for us to rededicate our lives and worship Him once a week. These pastors and Bishops have chosen to disobey God;s commandment. They continue to disregard and disrespect God;s Holy Sabbath day that, according to the scriptures He blessed and sanctified for the special purpose of worship to Him. These false prophets must know that there will be consequences for trampling God;s Holy Sabbath Day underfoot.
The Prophet Ezekiel Says;Her Pastors have violated my Law, they show no difference between the clean and the unclean, they have hid their eyes from my Sabbath, I am profane among them. In the book of Hebrews we learn that if Jesus had changed the Sabbath day, He would tell us of the new day, but because there was no change, there remaineth the keeping of the Sabbath. We are told by Isaiah says that those who are expecting to go to heaven must be prepared to keep the seventh day Sabbath in heaven. The scripture says that it was Jesus s habit to keep the Sabbath day. If the masses who follow these false prophets must begin to read the bible for themselves they will see how evil and deceptive these false prophets are. We have enough Holy days to rededicate our lives and worship our Lord. There are 52 Sabbaths in a year.
Maybe Donald would care to show us where in the New Testament did any apostle wtite to the church instructing or reminding anyone to observe seventh day sabbath as a prerequisite for going to heaven.Can he show any instance in the book of the Acts of the Apostles which gives us a window into the live and pattern of the early church, where any group of already-baptised believers are observed congregating on or observing a saturday sabbath?Has he by the way read Colossians 2:16?
Luke 4: 16 It was Jesus custom (habbit) to keep the sabbath
Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2
Luke 23:54-56 Even in His death his followers obeyed the sabbath commandment
Act 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
Act 13:15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Act 13:27, Act13:44
Act 15:21, Act 16:13, Act 17:2
Hebrews 4:1-11
Isaiah 66:22-23 & Isaiah 58:13
If these scriptures don't convince you nothing will my brother. May God bless you
Colossians 2:16 must be read in conjunction with Deut 31:26. You must also note that the ten commandments were written by God Himself twice. The ceremonial laws which includes social and religious practices including the sanctuary service were written by Moses. This is an important distinction, since when Jesus died on the cross. the Lamb of God was slain bringing an end to the sacrificial system where lambs had to be sacrificed for sins. It was His blood that counted. According to Deut 31:26 it was those laws that were to be a WITNESS AGAINST THE PEOPLE. In Colossions 2:16 the scripture confirms that the death of Yahshua did away with the sacrificial system that was a WITNESS AGAINST THE PEOPLE.
To honestly understand this discourse, you must read Colossions 2:14-16 Deut 31:24-26 and Exodus 31:18 , Exodus 40:20
Keep studying my brother, and Yahweh will reveal to you things which have been hidden from you to keep you in the bondage of sin.
Donald i really do pity you.In all this your blitz of sabbath keeping scriptures. you fail to realise like so many sabbath keeping works for salvation believers like yourself that not ONE of all these references have any references to people who were already believers in Messiah.the persons Paul ministered to for several sabbath days were Jewish proselytes-converts to Judaism who had not yet come to the knowledge of the Saviour.to reach them with the Gospel of the Kingdom Paul had to meet them where and at the time they publicly congregated.I will not continue this arguement with you except to instruct you that your rabid disrespect for the Leader of the Nation whether or not the allegations are true grossly violates the very same commandments you want to instruct the whole world in. So my friend read the following scriptures and consider the exchange between you and I finalised.Exodus.22:28,Ecclesiastes.10:20;Acts.23:5;Jude 8,9.Youcould also look at Titus.3:1,2.9.A TRUE BELIEVER WILL RESPECT NATIONAL LEADERS.
( re you assumption that I am still in the bondage of sin,there is no need to for respond to anyone who has not yet come under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit).
I have never cursed my leader or any other. I just call sin and corruption by their rightful names. Are you too referring to Skerrit as a God? just asking, no offense. so much for the scriptures that you quoted. Are you saying that evil and sinful leaders must just be allowed to do what they want with the poor unsuspecting masses, and we have no right to point out their proven evil deeds. What then was the purpose of the prophets who were sent to warn and rebuke sinful leaders? Did John the Baptiste remain silent when the leaders committed sin? did Elijah remain silent when Ahab and Jezebel were leading the children of God astray? Did the prophet Nathan remain silent when David committed murder and adultery? Wasn’t it Jesus himself who referred to the Jewish leaders as hypocrites? Have you ever read the book of Daniel? it has a lot to do with prophets speaking against corrupt and sinful leaders. The prophet Jeremiah was jailed for speaking against the sinful practices of the leaders of the day. By the way do you know what a curse is? I call sin by its rightful name.
I noticed your inability to dispute the relevance of God’s 4th commandment, choosing rather to talk about something that you have limited understanding while running away from the discussion like a little coward. This is not cursing you, it is just calling it as it is. 1Jn 3:4. Thanks for your pity. In your state of compassion consider Hebrews chapter 4 and Isa chapter 66:22-24, then fight with God or change what is written. Didn’t Jesus say if you love me keep my commandments? Thanks again for your pity. You have again proven to me that it is impossible to justify your position on the sabbath using the scriptures. Your response reminds me of how PM Skerrit spokesmen resort to petty, unrelated and incoherent responses when they are factually challenged on the issues. Rest In Peace.
Be a true disciple, read and deligently study the following list of texts, then you will be able to challenge those who are on the mission to keep you in ignorance. May God bless you.
Matt 12:8
Luke 4:16
Luke 23:54-56
Mark 1:21
Act 13: 14, 27, 44
Acts 15:21
Act 17:2
Act 18:4
Heb 4:1-11
Jas 2:10
Isa 58:13
Isa 66:22-24…………
etc, etc. etc. among many other texts. If these are not clear New Testament instructions by way of example and precept to keep observing the Sabbath, then keep disregarding Gods Holy Day. What God Blesses is forever blest.