Stand Strong Sampl

Standing for Religious Freedom

In order for a nation to stand strong, men and women of conviction must be willing to stand for religious freedom and “the free exercise thereof” when it is convenient and when it is not. When we do this, we may find a struggle on our hands, yet we’ll also find ourselves working to support the work of God in our nation.

How can we hope to see God at work in our lives and our nation? It is not through our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is not a mere force that influences us. As the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7), and omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10). He is a creator (Psalm 104: 30) who acts in power (1 Corinthians 12:11), gives life (Romans 8:10–11), and strengthens believers (Ephesians 3:16).

A. W. Tozer, a Christian leader who died in the 1960s, wrote, “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” The Holy Spirit serves as the key to the current famine in the family and in the church.

Finally, the course of a nation is based upon the lives of the individual members of each family. If we wish to change our nation, it must begin with a passionate pursuit of the Lord in our own lives. Let’s call out to Him today. James wrote, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (4:7–8 NKJV). This promise is true for your life, the lives of those in your family, and the hearts of those across our nation who long to see God at work in them.