Turning the Tide - Part 3 — Charles Stanley

Marriage and the Foundation of the Home

And then, of course, one other thing at this point, as far as this tide is concerned, is we've decided to remove God's Word concerning marriage. The very foundation of a nation is its homes, and a home is not two men married together or two women married together.

It is a husband and a wife. The Bible is crystal clear. So, you see, if you want to have a society that is rampant, with wickedness, you have to get rid of the Word of God. And so, we've decided, or trying to decide, some people are, that we do not want the biblical view of marriage.

Disasters, Social Disorder, and Government Control

And then, of course, if you think about all the disasters we've had, and according to the statistics, 400 increase in disasters in the last 20 years in our country, 5 each year since 1960, and these big disasters cost us 5 of our economy.

Think about what Katrina cost, and think about what the oil disaster is costing us. Remember this, that socialistic nations allow catastrophes, or sometimes create them, in order to gain control and then tax you to fix it.

God's Sovereignty Over National Calamity

It's very clear. Am I saying that's what's happening? No, but I'm just saying that's the way socialism operates. And so, somebody says, well, now, God doesn't have anything to do with these disasters.

Well, let's see if that's true. Listen to this verse. If I shut up the heavens, that's God speaking, so that there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, it's very clear, God does send punishment upon the nations for some reason.

Humility, Repentance, and National Healing

Then he says, if I do that, this is the way you turn the tide. And what is that? He says, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wickedness, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

You say, well, then, what are you saying? I'm saying the tide that is in, that is thickening and moving fast, the only thing that's going to turn it around is for the people of God to do what? Humble ourselves before him, which means what?

It simply means that you and I are willing to acknowledge our total dependence upon him, that we are unworthy of his forgiveness, but we cry out for it. When he says that we're to seek his face, it means that we're to intently come to him, asking for him to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, and acknowledging the fact that he and he alone can do it.

When the Bible speaks about turning from our wicked ways, it means repenting of our sin. And the Bible says, judgment begins at the house of God. We're not expecting lost people to do all of this, because this is the work of the people of God.

The Church's Responsibility for National Direction

It is our responsibility. A lot of where we are is because of our apathy. We haven't prayed for these men who are making decisions as we ought. We've taken what we have for granted. He says we're to humble ourselves, seek his face, turn from our wicked ways, and pray, cry out to God to do what?

To change us and to change our nation. Do you believe God answers prayer? Let me ask you a question. Do you want this nation to keep going where it's going, or do you want us to get back on track? Well, then here's the question, and I'm issuing this charge to this congregation, but I want all of you who are watching and listening to listen carefully.

A 140-Day Call to Prayer for the Nation

I want to challenge you to join me in praying for this nation, specifically, however God leads you to do it, for a brief period of time, every single day, for 140 days, 20 weeks, praying for God to change the direction of this tide, open the eyes of the people in this nation, open the eyes of the church to recognize our responsibility, and open our own eyes to realize how God has answered your prayers many times in the past.

How God has answered prayers corporately, and for a whole nation at its very beginning, and still is answering prayer today for people who genuinely believe that Almighty God still hears and answers prayer.

I'm asking you to join me. Now, listen carefully. If you are willing to say today, I will join you, Pastor, in praying for this nation every single day for 140 days, 20 weeks, and let's see what God will do for America.

Please do not stand if you don't mean it. But if you do, I would ask you to stand. Now, for all of you who are watching and listening, if you will join us in this prayer for 20 weeks, 140 days, would you let us know that?

That will encourage all of us. And just in touch at dot org, O-R-G, and all you have to put is yes. Just say yes. I believe there are enough people who are willing to pray and pray diligently that God can turn the tide in this nation.

Righteous Living as the Fruit of Effective Prayer

But listen now, those prayers have to be backed up with righteousness, that is a godly life. Walking in obedience to God. And you've said you're willing to pray if you want those prayers to be effective, life-changing, nation-altering.

He will do it if we will trust Him and pray and remember that it is not only for us, but it is for our children, our grandchildren, and the generations to come. There has never been a nation like these United States, the very foundation of this republic.

Never been a nation like this. It was a new experiment when it started. We do not want it to fail or to fall or to be destroyed. And Father, you have seen all of us standing. You see in the homes all across this nation where people are standing or making a decision or will send a message, yes, I will pray with you.

Closing Prayer for America and Future Generations

I pray that thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people will take this message to heart and commit themselves to pray for this nation. We thank you, Father, for your grace and love and mercy toward us.

And we pray the Holy Spirit will remind each of us every single day that we stood in the house of God or we stood in their homes and we said yes to you, Father. We love our nation, and we are praying that you will change the tide, and we ask this in Jesus' name, amen.