How to Build & Pray for a Nation
Published on 5 December 2007 in CountriesSource: Providence Foundation
Providence Foundation
Framework for "Building and Praying for a Nation"
Powerpoint Presentation
Presenters:
Stephen McDowell and Mark Beliles
Providence Foundation
PO Box 6759
Charlottesville, VA 22906
(434) 978-4535
www.providencefoundation.com
How to Build and Pray for Nations (basic elements) - Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
God’s Purpose for Man, the Family, Church, and Civil Government
I Jesus commissioned us to disciple the nations (Matt. 28:18-20)
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, ... teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
A. What is a Christian nation?
1. A Christian nation is one built upon the principles of God’s word, and infused with the presence of God (Deut. 4:5-8).
2. The fruit of such a nation is liberty, both internal and external, personal and civil (2 Cor. 3:17, Prov. 29:18).
B. Discipling nations begins in the heart
But, we also need to love God with all our mind. (Mark 12:30)
We need to think like He thinks
We need a Biblical worldview - The Truth Project
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
II What is needed to disciple the nations?
A. Prayer - bringing God’s grace and presence to man and society.
B. Education - bringing God’s truth to the mind.
C. Action - infusing God’s truth and presence in society.
III Key Civil Teachings of Jesus necessary for the discipling of nations
A. Jurisdictional authority (Matthew 22:17-21; Mark 12:14-17)
“Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
IV Life Testimonies
A. William Penn
Converted at age 21 under the influence of Quaker preacher Thomas Loe, Penn had many crosses to bear in his life
B. Sir William Penn
Admiral Penn disinherited his son when he refused to leave the Quakers.
C. Newgate Prison
Penn was imprisoned in 1668 for writing “The Sandy Foundation Shaken. ”
D. William Penn
“I was committed the beginning of December, and was not discharged till the Fall of the Leaf following; wanting about fourteen days of nine months.
“As I saw very few, so I saw them but seldom, except my own Father and Dr. Stillingfleet, the present Bishop of Worcester. The one came as my relation, the other at the Kings command to endeavour my change of judgment.
“But as I told him, and he told the King that the Tower was the worst argument in the world to convince me; for whoever was in the wrong, those who used force for Religion could never be in the right.”
E. Penn in the Tower of London
“My prison shall be my grave before I will budge a jot; for I owe my conscience to no mortal man.”
F. No Cross No Crown
William Penn wrote his most famous book, No Cross, No Crown, while imprisoned in the Tower of London.
V “Christ’s Cross is Christ’s way to Christ’s Crown.”
A. Trial of 1670
Penn was imprisoned for preaching in the streets of London and went to trial in September, 1670.
B. Penn’s trial
C. Jesus teaching on Jurisdictional authority (Matthew 22:17-21)
“Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
To whom has God commissioned to do what?
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
VI The Biblical Conception of Society
A. One Authority -- GOD - Man
B. Many Jurisdictions -- Family - Church - State
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
VII Purpose and Responsibilities of Individuals and Divine Institutions
A. The Individual’s Purpose and Responsibilities:
1. Worship – “Love the Lord your God.” (Luke 10:27, Deut. 6:5, Mk. 12:30)
* Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever
a. Personal prayer, Bible reading/study/ meditation
b. Assemble with other believers
c. Sabbath observance
2. Charity – “Love your neighbor.” (Luke 10:27, Lev. 19:9-18, Mt. 25:35-36)
* The Golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
a. Assist the needy and show mercy
b. Speak the truth – evangelism, exhortation, edification
c. Involvement in society/government (conversion of institutions)
3. Work – “as [you love] yourself” (Lk. 10:27; Gen. 1:26-28, Gen. 2:15)
* That man is God’s creation and made in God’s image is the foundation for self-worth, self-preservation, human dignity, and work. Our calling or work is the means of fulfilling the cultural mandate of being fruitful and subduing the earth.
a. Provide for self and family – individuals will start businesses and create wealth
b. Bless the nations – occurs as individuals provide needed goods and services
VIII Purpose and Responsibilities of Individuals and Divine Institutions
A. The Individual’s Purpose and Responsibilities
B. The Family’s Purpose and Responsibilities
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
IX The Family’s Purpose and Responsibilities
A. Dominion and Procreation (Gen. 1:28, 1 Tim. 5:10,14)
* Be fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth.
a. Pro-life – sanctity of life (Gen. 9:6)
b. Children – a blessing (Ps. 127:3-5)
B. Education (Deut. 6:6-7)
* “You shall teach your sons”
a. Fit children to fulfill their individual purposes and responsibilities (Pr. 22:6)
b. Build Godly character (Gen. 18:19)
c. Train in a Biblical world-view (Ps. 78:5)
d. Discipline as well as instruction (Eph. 6:4)
C. Health and Welfare
* Practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13), especially for those of your own household.
a. Preventative health care – proper exercise, nutrition, sanitation
We are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:17; 6:17; 2 Cor. 6:16) and should seek to take care of ourselves and those in our charge. God is concerned with sanitation (Deut. 23:12-13; Num. 19:11-22), with what we eat (1 Cor. 6:12-20; Phil. 3:18-19), and with how we take care of our bodies (1 Tim. 4:7-8 tells us that bodily discipline is of profit, but only for a temporal time, while we are in the body).
b. Taking care of the sick, elderly, orphan, widow (1 Tim. 5:4,8,10,16; Deut. 15:7,8,11; Deut. 14:28-29)
c. Saving and investing for your retirement and your posterity (2 Cor. 12:14, Pr. 19:14, Deut. 21:17)
X Purpose and Responsibilities of Individuals and Divine Institutions
1. The Family’s Purpose and Responsibilities
2. The Individual’s Purpose and Responsibilities
3. The Church’s Purpose and Responsibilities
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
XI The Church’s Purpose and Responsibilities
A The church prepares people to govern society (to rule, Ps. 8:6), and to fulfill the redemption and creation commissions.
1. Regular instruction of members in Biblical truth for every sphere of life
a. Sunday preaching, regular classes, and other educational means (Mt. 28:18-20, 2 Tim. 3:16-17)
b. Includes starting schools and colleges
2. Administer Sacraments and Church Discipline (1 Cor. 5:8-13; 11:23-25; Mt. 18:15-17)
a. Corporate worship and sacrifice (Gen. 4:3-5,26)
b. Baptism and Lord’s Supper (communion)
c. Excommunication
3. Discipling, equipping, and organizing believers (Eph. 4:11-12,16; Titus 3:8,14)
a. Equipping the saints for the work of service, enabling them to fulfill their divine occupation or calling.
b. Providing coordination and support for individuals and families to work in voluntary union with others to fulfill their purpose
c. Pastors are to be role models of what the church teaches in their personal conduct and through their involvement in society.
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
XII Purpose and Responsibilities of Individuals and Divine Institutions
1. The Individual’s Purpose and Responsibilities
2. The Family’s Purpose and Responsibilities
3. The Church’s Purpose and Responsibilities
4. The Civil Government’s (State’s) Purpose and Responsibilities
XIII The Civil Government’s (State’s) Purpose and Responsibilities
1. Protect the righteous, i.e. law-abiding citizens (Rom. 13:3-4, 1 Pet. 2:13-14)
a. Protection of life, liberty, and property from domestic and foreign lawbreakers. Governments are to secure God-given inalienable rights (Ex. 20:13, Ex. 21:16, Ex. 20:15)
b. Government coordinates civilian police for order and army for defense.
c. Protection of rights from government abuse as well, via decentralized government, separation of powers, election of representatives
2. Punish the evil doer, i.e. criminal (Ex. 20:13; 21:12; 22:2)
a. Set up constitution with just laws and penalties
b. Impartial judges and fair trial to establish justice
3. Administer God’s justice
a. Civil leaders are ministers of God for good (Rom. 13:4).
b. They are to judge for God in matters under their jurisdiction.
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
XIV God gives the means to each institution to enforce its authority.
1. Family — rod (Pr. 13:24; Pr. 22:15; Pr. 23:13-14; Pr. 29:15, 17; Heb. 12:7)
2. Church — excommunication (Mt. 18:15-18; 1 Tim 1:20; Tit. 3:10; 1 Cor. 5:11)
3. State — sword (Rom. 13:4; Gen. 9:6)
XV Tyranny is the fruit of usurpation of authority.
1. Modern state education
2. The welfare state
XVI Other civil teachings of Jesus needed to disciple nations include:
1. Civil government is a divinely ordained institution with limited powers (Gen. 9:6; Jn. 19:11; Rom. 13:1)
XVII What relationship should there be between church and state?
* As institutions, the church, state, and family must be separated.
* But God cannot be separated from government, anymore than he can be from the family or the church. They are all divine institutions.
XVIII Fundamental truths:
1. All nations are built upon some religion.
2. Who is the source of law in a society?
*The source of law in a society is the god of that society
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
XIX A Biblical relationship of God and government:
* Government and laws should be built upon God’s higher law
“Happy is he who keeps the law.”
* Rulers should be Christian and uphold God’s law
XX John Jay, first Supreme Court chief Justice
“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
XXI Other civil teachings of Jesus needed to disciple nations include:
1. Civil government is a divinely ordained institution with limited powers (Gen. 9:6; Jn. 19:11; Rom. 13:1)
2. Government is to serve all men equally
3. Individuals have inherent value
4. Government is due the taxes and services of its citizens
5. Social change is to be gradual and democratic, from the internal to the external
6. Mosaic law is applicable today
7. Political and legal means can be used to achieve social justice
8. Governmental injustice is to be resisted through protest, flight, and force in self-defense
9. Military strength can be used to maintain peace
Pray for a Nation to adopt these basic building blocks.
XXII Education is a key element in discipling the nations.
* Biblical education is a means of bringing God’s kingdom on earth.
* Present-day state education is the means of bringing man’s kingdom on earth.
* Biblical or Kingdom education must be restored
XXIII Appropriate action will follow prayer and education
As we are filled with the presence and Word of God, and are taught a Biblical worldview, we will know where and how to act to bring about the discipling of our nation. This action will effect all spheres of life.
XXIV The price we must pay to disciple the nations is great.
* We must take up our cross.
* If we bear the cross we will obtain the crown.
XXV William Penn
Since Penn gladly bore the cross, he also received a crown.
XXVI Penn was reconciled with his father.
“Son, William, let nothing in this world tempt you to wrong your conscience.”
Memorial Tablet in the Sessions House on the Site of Old Bailey, London
On review “the Court … established ‘The Right of Juries’ to give their Verdict according to their convictions.”
The Avalon Project 
at Yale Law School
Charter for the Province of Pennsylvania-1681 (1)
[Charles the Second by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith &c To our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Chancellor Heneage Lord Finch our Chancellor of England greeting Wee will and comand you that under our Great Seale of England remaining in your Custody you cause our Letters to be made Forth patents in form following] (2)
READ MORE
William Penn's Treaty with the Indians
"Christ's Cross is Christ's Way to Christ's Crown"
Other Resources
Book Description
How do we go about liberating the nations? By infusing into them the principles contained in the Bible. History has shown that the most free and prosperous nations have been those that most accurately applied the principles of Christianity in every sphere of life. Learn Biblical priciples of education, government, economics, law and family life. Examine the role of the church, the family, the media, and civil government in a nation, and learn what you can do to bring Godly reform. This book is being used by thousands of people in scores of countries.
Fundamentals of a Biblical Worldviews
World Changing Leadership
Liberating the Nations another link
Mission, Goals, and Work of Providence Foundation
Stephen McDowell, President and co-founder of the Providence Foundation, has traveled to 40 states and 15 nations in six continents, teaching tens of thousands of people from about 100 different countries. He has consulted with numerous government officials, assisted in writing political documents, aided in establishing political parties, and helped start a number of private schools as well as classes on godly reformation. He has authored and co-authored several books and videos, and written scores of articles for various publications.
Mark Beliles, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Providence Foundation, has lectured throughout the U.S. and in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He has authored and co-authored several books, trained many Christian leaders for the ministry, and helped establish churches in America and other nations. Mark has been the convener of a number of symposiums and is director of the annual Governor Jefferson's Thanksgiving Festival. He is presently the pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.
