HOW TO PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT
15 Biblical Ways to Intercede for Bill Clinton & America

Most prayers pertaining to "political" issues and to "political" leaders offered in today's evangelical churches (those churches where such prayers are offered at all) depart widely from those modeled in Scripture and offered by the lively Church throughout history. Our pulpits are largely to blame.

Twelve prominent evangelical leaders emerged from a 1993 White House breakfast to announce that the new President was a man of "deep religious faith" (National & International Religion Report, 11/15/93). One attendee, the pastor of an 8,000-member California church, told his congregation, "I know that I was talking to a brother in Christ" (National Review, 2/94).

Shortly after the 1992 election, in a bulletin that received wide attention, a North Carolina minister wrote of a colleague's "prophetic dream" in which he was told God "appointed" President Clinton and would "put His Spirit upon him." He would become "the best President since Dwight Eisenhower." IF Christians would pray.

Early this year, following six years of Clinton scandals, a group of pastors and itinerant ministers held a convention in Colorado billed (by its organizers) as "a gathering of prophets." The prophets declared that God is "mad at the Church" for criticizing rather than praying more fervently for Bill Clinton. Had we prayed harder, they said, "things that happened to him and by him may not have occurred." They then predicted judgments upon America, some of which were implicitly or explicitly linked to the Church's failure to pray for Clinton.

Many Christian observers would argue (not without irony) that Bill Clinton may be the most prayed-for President in the history of the United States and that it is not a lack of prayer for Clinton that has led to God's present judgments. Rather, it is the Church's spiritual condition (backsliding; worldliness; apathy; ignorance of sound Biblical doctrine; inordinate tolerance of sin; lack of Biblical love; lack of moral judgment, etc.). It is the Church's condition that was responsible for Clinton's election and re-election and for the unprecedented defense of the President by numerous preachers and "prophets." Many church leaders and pastors have called for appropriate prayer for our President. Yet it is also true that VERY FEW HAVE TAUGHT BIBLICAL, CONSISTENT, LOGICAL GUIDELINES FOR DOING SO.

Many Christians believe it may be blasphemy to pray "blessings" over Clinton, given his known record and agenda. Analytical Christians do not find Clinton's "political policies" just distasteful, they see them as undermining the very moral foundations of the nation. Clinton has filled the land with things God hates -- "abominations" (Lev 18:22; 20:13; Pr 12:22; 16:12; 17:15; Jer 32:34-35) and "detestable practices" (Jer 16:18; Ez 5:11) which literally "defile the land" (Lev 18:24-28; 20:3; Nu 36:31-34).

Clinton's championing of the practice of wholesale abortion is shrugged off by some as a "political matter," but for Bible-believing Christians it is nothing less than mass murder, a holocaust that cannot be overlooked. God promises to punish harshly peoples guilty or tolerant of "shedding of innocent blood" in their midst (Lev 20:1-5; Dt 19:10-13; Pr 24:11-12). God says He will never pardon this "abomination," but will demand retribution for it (Gen 9:6; 2 Sam 12:9-10, 13-14; 2 Kg 24:2-4; Pr 6:17; Ps 106:37-38).

Neither is government approval of homosexuality a "political matter" Christians can overlook. Yet, President Clinton is dedicated to the "homosexual agenda." Just before this Alert went to press, he asked Congress to extend federal "hate crime" laws to include offenses based on sexual orientation, gender and disability. This means that, for example, if a person is accused of assault against a homosexual anywhere in America and is suspected of harboring prejudice toward homosexuals (believing that God condemns homosexuality may qualify), he will not be only subject to investigation, prosecution and punishment under state and local laws. He will also be subject to FBI investigation, Justice Department prosecution, federal fines and federal imprisonment for what amounts in reality to a "thought crime."

Clinton also announced a federal initiative to develop middle-school curricula to combat "intolerance," a euphemism for brainwashing children against a biblical view of homosexuality.

Bible believers throughout history have also understood that God will not long tolerate any society that approves the practice of sodomy. God warns nations which so "defile" the land, that the land, itself, will literally "vomit" them out (Gen 18:20-21; 19:24-25; Lev 18:22, 28; Rom 1:18-20, 26-27, 32).

Abortion and homosexuality are not the only matters about which Christians are and should be concerned. God repeatedly promises to bless nations that obey Him and to curse those that do not. Thus, every national issue about which Scripture speaks should be a matter of concern and prayer for Christians.

For example, in the Shema (Dt 6:4-9 the foremost confession of Biblical faith for the Jews), God commands, "You shall teach them [God's laws] diligently to your children" Providing a godly education for our children is central to the faith of Bible-believing Christians (Eph 6:4). Yet President Clinton seeks to impose further humanistic, anti-Christian federal control over all education and to further promote immoral sex education (especially homosexuality and abortion), evolution, socialism, feminism, witchcraft, multiculturalism, radical environmentalism, etc. (fundamentally a comprehensive pagan worldview). Christians should care deeply about such initiatives and pray against them -- fervently.

Those who follow the news closely know that President Clinton has methodically dismantled our national defense system and compromised our national security and sovereignty through illegal treaties and military actions. He approved and initiated plans to invade our privacy, to monitor our families and to store details of our health and wealth on massive national and international databases. The President's pervasive immorality, despite his professions of faith in God and his regular church attendance, naturally perplexes praying believers.

Biblically knowledgeable Christians need to know when and how to support the President through prayer (Ps 149:5-9). Yet, some Christian leaders' calls to pray for the President sound more like Geraldo Rivera and James Carville than the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 5:3-6). A poorly taught, biblically illiterate and apostatized American Church just doesn't know any better.

Many pastors refuse even to mention, much less pray over "political matters." This is spiritual treason, given that our political leaders are leading the nation into the very pit of hell itself. Lacking spiritual leadership, God's people do not know how to pray for our leaders and for important national issues. Sincere Christians, if they know how, will pray faithfully and effectively for the President. But poor teaching and the false prophecies of well-intentioned but misguided Christians have created much of the present confusion.

God's alert people have always prayed powerful, relevant prayers. Prayers recorded in Scripture are not sentimental, superficial or otherworldly. Nor are they limited to prayers of blessing. Sometimes profound in their simplicity, they display knowledge of Scripture and of current affairs. Biblical pray-ers engaged the history of their day and paved the way for God's justice, judgment, mercy, salvation, revival and reformation. The Bible's prophets uttered compelling prophecies and prophetic prayers about the rise, fall and judgment of earthly leaders. David's "imprecatory" Psalms (e.g., Ps 35; 69; 109) are profoundly out of step with today's often-anemic prayers. The Apostle Paul commanded believers to be "strong in the Lord," equipped for offensive and defensive spiritual warfare with "the rulers of the darkness of this world," and "spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:10-20 - these Scriptures, while often used, are almost always over-spiritualized). Who is praying such prayers today?

The prayers of the early church produced fearless, bold preaching that turned the world upside down (Acts 4:24-31; 17:6). Those prayers would be thought "too judgmental" today - they might soon even be labeled "hate crimes," even by church leaders!

Today, "political correctness" in many churches would prohibit such Scriptural prayers. Is it any wonder the Church has become so irrelevant?

The Apostle Paul's commands to Timothy and instructions to the Romans provide powerful guides to help us pray for the President and other government leaders:

• Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:1-2);
  
  
• For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil (Rom 13:3-4).

1)    Pray that the President and his family will find SALVATION in Christ.

Many are confused, having been told the President is an evangelical Christian. The Scripture teaches, "By their fruits you shall know them" (Mt 7:20; Pr 20:11). If the President is truly saved, his personal life and his official promises, policies, orders, directives, legislative proposals, treaties, initiatives, proclamations, etc., will reflect it. If the President has truly been born-again, then his obsessive advocacy of abortion and homosexuality, and his practice of adultery, are grounds for excommunication from the Church (Rom 1:24-27, 1 Cor 5:1-13). God wants us to pray for all men, including even ungodly rulers (1 Tim 1:15). Yet we must never confuse the call to pray as a call to abandon our responsibility to resist such leaders, especially in a democratic republic (1 Kg 18:13, 17-18; Neh 4:14; 13:8,11; Ps 94:16; Pr 24:8; Dan 11:32; Mt 3:7-8; 14:4; Tim 5:8).

2)    Pray that the President will receive WISDOM from the Lord.

"Wisdom," says the Scripture, "is the principle thing." Solomon prayed for wisdom and God gave him much more. Wisdom will cause and enable the President to lead America into "right paths" (Pr 4:7, 11). It will preserve him from foolish and sinful behavior that will disgrace him and compromise our nation's security (Pr 5:1-23). It will steer him away from wickedness (Pr 8:5-9). Wisdom will cause the president to FEAR GOD (Dt 10:12, 2 Sam 23:3, 2 Chr 19:6-9) and to HATE EVIL(Pr 8:13). It will cause him to HATE PRIDE and ARROGANCE(Pr 8:13; 9:10). God-given wisdom will cause the President to conduct himself and his administration with Biblical JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUDGMENT (Pr 8:15, 20). Wisdom will bring him HUMILITY (Pr 15:33).

3)    Pray God will send TRUE PROPHETS to call the President to REPENT.

Evangelical leaders who fawn over Clinton and defend his "faith" are giving him cover and reinforcing his self-deception. Our modern prophets' failure to Biblically admonish the President may lead him and America to hell (Ez 3:17-19). Advantage seekers and false prophets have flattered kings and dictators in every age (2 Chr 3:18:3-7; Is 30:9-13). Such are neither servants nor friends (Pr 24:24-25; 27:5-6; 2 Tim 4:2-5). Godly fruit (private behavior and public policies) will flow from a heart regenerated by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (Mk 7:18-23; 12:34-37). We must ask God to send prophets like Nathan who will say to the President unambiguously, "Thou art the man" (2 Sam 12:7-13). John the Baptist stands as an example among the prophets who spoke un-compromising truth at the cost of their lives (Mt 14:3-12; Mk 6:26-29). Through the centuries, God's prophetic people have poured out their lifeblood for faithfully delivering prophetic biblical truth. With such heroic martyrs having gone before us, can we shrink from praying in agreement with prophetic truths as they pertain to our President, even in our private prayers? Only prophetic prayer will pave the way for true prophets to courageously call the President to true repentance (see 1 Sam 2:7; 2 Sam 24:11-25; 1 Kg 11:29; 14:7-16; 16:7, 12-13; 22:4-38; 2 Kg 17:13-14; 20:14; 2 Chr 12:5; 24:19; Is 1:22-24; Jer 23:22, 28-29; Ez 22:27; Zep 3:3; Mt 14:2-4; Lk 13:32).

4)    Pray that God will give the President GODLY COUNSELORS.

The President has surrounded himself with socialistic thinkers, abortion advocates and homosexuals. Clinton is the first President in history to have intentionally recruited homosexuals for top slots in his administration. Like King Rehoboam, he also chose a large number of very young counselors who are loyal, but who lack essential experience and wisdom. Pray that God will send him genuine Godly counselors from whom he will hear and receive wise counsel (1 Kg 12:6-16; Ps 101:7; Pr 12:15; 14:12, 15-16; 16:18; 17:4; 20:8; 29:12).

5)    Pray that the President will KEEP HIS OATHS.

The Presidential oath is a president's sacred covenant with both God and the American people. President Clinton, one hand on the Bible, the other uplifted to God, swore he would "faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and . . . preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

To swear an oath to God, but fail to keep it, puts a man in great danger; to swear an oath to God, but not even mean it, puts a man in very, very grave danger (Pr 19:5; Ecc 5:4-5).

The Presidency has lost a great deal under this President, not just because of his infamous perjuries, impeachment and Senate acquittal, but because of his continuing defiance of the Constitution he swore to uphold. His violations have not been minor matters of overlooked compliance, but rather purposeful recalcitrance against the established meaning of the "Supreme Law of the Land."

Clinton has issued many Executive Orders (EOs) and Presidential Decision Directives (PDDs) which directly violate the Constitution. For example, the bizarre EO 13083 expropriated the powers of the individual states, transferring them to the Office of the President and to federal agencies. Fortunately it was withdrawn by the administration before it could be prohibited by an impending vote of Congress. His Executive Order 13107 arrogates to himself power to begin implementing international treaties the Senate has not yet ratified.

Clinton's utter disregard for the law and Constitution has become the symbol of his presidency. The Administration's recently-foiled "Know Your Customer" plan would have required banks to analyze and monitor their customers' finances and to report any "irregular" deposits or expenditures to the federal government. It was withdrawn only because more than 300,000 citizens protested in writing -- but the fact that it was even attempted speaks volumes (see Dt 23:21; Nu 30:2; Ecc 5:4-7; Ez 17:16-19; Heb 6:16-17).

Implicit in the Presidential oath is absolute loyalty to the United States and to the interests of the American people. Yet, President Clinton has often sacrificed American interests in his drive to build a global economic system. Advancement of an internationalist agenda is the only constant in Clinton foreign policy. Clinton has greatly enhanced the power of the UN. By entangling the US in disadvantageous economic and military treaties, he has aided our sworn enemies and the developing World Order.

When President Clinton ordered the bombing of the sovereign nation of Yugoslavia, he was not doing so in response to an aggressive attack by America's enemies, nor to rescue Americans whose lives were in immediate peril. In the Constitution our Founding Fathers sought to guarantee that America would never enter a foreign war without careful consideration and definitive resolution by Congress. Yet, to date Congress has neither passed a "Declaration of War" nor taken action to restrain the President. If our Congressmen fail to assert their authority to hold the President accountable to the Constitution on this grave matter, they will equally be in contempt of their oaths to defend the Constitution.

6)    Pray that the President will LOVE TRUTH & HATE LIES.

Senator Robert Kerry of Nebraska, a member of President Clinton's own party, said the President "is an unusually good liar." This character flaw in a President does not portend well for peace, Godliness, reverence and truth in society. We must pray continually that God will move upon Bill Clinton to keep him honest and expose his lies (Ps 40:4; Pr 19:5; 29:12; is 9:14-16; 28:15-18; Jer 9:3-9; Jer 23:14).

Though Congress failed to hold the President accountable for criminal perjury (lying under oath) before the Starr grand jury, Judge Susan Webber Wright held him in "contempt of court" for giving "false, misleading and evasive answers that were designed to obstruct the judicial process" in the Paula Jones case. Wright required Clinton to pay Jones' legal fees and court expenses (aggravated by his lies), and referred the case to an Arkansas committee which may suspend or revoke Clinton's license to practice law.

God hates "lying lips" and calls us to "hate and abhor" lying (Pr 6:19; 13:5; Ps 119:163). He gives a terrifying warning to those who refuse to receive a "love for the truth" (2 Thes 2:8-12; Rev 22:14-15).

7)    Pray the President will CONFESS & REPENT of his sins against America.

John the Baptist and the apostles called for specific public confession and restitution as conditions for forgiveness, in keeping with the Law (Ex 22:1-9; Lev 6:1-5; Mt 3:6-8; 10:32-33; Lk 19:8-9; Rom 10:9-10; Jas 5:16). John emphasized the need for restitution. The President feigned repentance when he said, "I have sinned," but he has consistently refused to name his sins (1 Sam 15:24-26; Cor 7:10; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22-23). America and the Church must repent, too, for their complicity with his sins (his reelection, Senate acquittal, approval polls, etc). God's curse affects us all.

8)    Pray the President will not hinder the PREACHING OF BIBLE TRUTH.

God calls us to pray for our leaders so that the Gospel may reach as many people as possible. For people to be reached, the Gospel must be preached (Rom 10:14). The Lord calls for the preaching of Bible truth, not just to save souls, but because it is His word to mankind, pertaining to every sphere of life and impacting upon the happiness, morals, peace and safety of the entire nation. Our leaders can choose to encourage and support, or chill and obstruct, the Gospel enterprise.

Clinton, for example, fostered passage of the FACE Act, which effectively ended the preaching and teaching of the Gospel at abortion clinics, except by the most courageous and committed pro-life preachers. The IRS's removal of the Church at Pierce Creek's tax exempt status, for speaking out against Clinton, dissuades others from doing likewise. The FEC's $1 million fine levied against the Christian Action Network -- for publicly comparing Clinton's policies with Scripture -- is chilling to any preacher who desires to preach Scripture as it applies to real life. What happened in these cases is a wake up call to every preacher in America. If it can happen to one, it can and eventually will happen to every preacher in America who chooses to preach on controversial and/or politically incorrect topics.

Furthermore, the use of government agencies to preach false gospels, in direct competition with and in condemnation of Biblical truth, hinders the preaching of the true Gospel. For instance, the "official" preaching of "tolerance" toward homosexuality in the public schools is a direct challenge to the Biblical warning against those who practice or approve of homosexuality (Rom 1:32). Any government, which officially advocates the preaching of lies, will not long tolerate the preaching of truth.

God commands us to pray for our leaders for the sake of Godliness and reverence (the true fear of God in society). Paul's instruction to Timothy to pray for kings (1 Tim 2:1-2) was for the sake of the Church, the success of the Gospel, and the advance of the Kingdom in every human sphere. The personal affirmation, blessing and comfort of the King and his family were not in view in this Scripture (1 Kg 22:10-11, 13; 23:3, 21, 24; Mt 24:35; Acts 4:18-20; 5:40-42; Rom 1:16; 10:14; 2 Tim 4:2-5; Rev 6:9).

9)    Pray the President will DEFEND CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

The Clinton administration has harassed, arrested, jailed, and fined many Christian activists. It has sought to annul the tax-exempt status of churches and Christian groups. Some churches and ministries have been bankrupted or otherwise silenced. Pro-life groups have been specifically targeted. The "hate crimes" legislation backed by the White House ("Unavoidable Issues" above) will be used to make "hate criminals" of preachers who publicly condemn the practice of sodomy. By crossing these thresholds, our government has officially declared "evil good and good evil," paving the way for the wholesale persecution of the Church in America.

The President's commitment to religious liberty seems to extend only to liberal religious groups --modernist Christians, liberal Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, New-Agers -- but not to conservative Christians and Jews. Clinton says his "only enemy is right-wing religious fundamentalism" (Salon Magazine, 2/1/99). Instead of confession, repentance and restitution, his administration has shown only continued contempt toward the families of members of the religious cult who were killed in the Waco holocaust.

On the world scene, Clinton has bullied Israel, legitimized Palestinian terrorist Yasser Arafat, and hurried-up the once unthinkable, soon-to-be-announced Palestinian state. He has snubbed conservative Jews in the US and Israel. Despite many pleas to help, he has refused to act in Sudan where Islamic troops have systematically murdered over 2 ½ million Christians and where they continue daily to murder, rape, mutilate and enslave whole villages of Christians. (Pr 28:15; Ps 72:1-4; Jer 22:3-5; Acts 9:1-4; Rom 13:4)

10)    Pray the President will promote GODLINESS & REVERENCE in America.

God promises to bless nations that obey Him and curse nations that forsake him (Ps 9:17; Dt 8:18-20). A ruler's heart condition, personal standards, actions and policies all contribute to Godliness or ungodliness in society; either to the exaltation of and obedience to God or to irreverence and disobedience. The history of the kings of Judah and Israel are a study of this indisputable truth. (See I Kg 14:16; 15:34; 16:2-4, 12-13, 25-26; 21:20-23; 22:51-53; 2 Kg 3:2-3; 10:29-31; 13:2-3; 14:23-24; 15:8-9, 23-24; 27-28; 2 Kg 21:11-12, 16; note the repeated words "made Israel to sin." See also 1 Cor 5:11).

11)    Pray that the President will EXECUTE & ADMINISTER JUSTICE.

The administration of law and justice, God's chief purpose for civil government, has been one of the Clinton Administration's worst failings (Romans 13:1-7). The Clinton Justice Department has spent more time, energy and money thwarting justice, punishing religious groups, promoting abortion, and protecting the President from justice, than administering justice itself. Whitewatergate, Travelgate, Filegate, Fostergate, Monicagate and now Chinagate have kept Attorney General Janet Reno busy defending the President. The Justice Department has conducted two nationwide inquisitions into the pro-life movement while federal agents have served as bodyguards for abortionists and as security guards for abortion clinics. The President's has budgeted taxpayer dollars to finance the buttressing of private abortion clinics with new security features and equipment. This will make them fortresses capable of maintaining a continuous flow of innocent blood, with a minimum of disruption or bother from legitimate pro-life protestors.

The President has also helped redefine American justice to mean, "special rights for certain groups." God-given and Constitutionally-guaranteed individual rights have been replaced with politically correct, government-rationed rights for favored groups, homosexuals being the preeminent, new favored class.

The Clinton model (and of his colleagues, e.g., Susan McDougal) of contempt for the judicial process, if mimicked by others, would spell chaos and "the end" for our civil and criminal justice systems. In addition to his legacy as the first elected President to be both impeached and to be acquitted, he is the first to be held in contempt of court for repeatedly lying under oath (see #6 above). While praying for the President to administer justice, we must pray for him to repair the injustices he has already committed.

Colonial preachers paved the way for American independence by preaching and teaching the Lordship of Christ, the biblical limitations and limits of human civil government and a biblical understanding of righteous-ness, justice and truth. Ministers who preach unlimited, uncritical submission to kings prepare their people for willing participation in godless tyranny and gross injustice. (Neh 4:14; Eph 5:22-33; Col 3:18-19).

12)    Pray that the President will advance PEACE at Home and Abroad.

The Apostle Paul commanded prayer for kings so that God's people can live peaceable lives. He gave kings the power of the sword to enforce justice at home and to insure the safety of his subjects from outside aggression. While "peace" in a nation is far more than just the absence of war, national security (reasonable safety precautions against the threat of war) is an important aspect of national peace. Freedom from war abroad and civil unrest at home is dependent upon the blessing of God. Right standing with God (i.e., biblical righteousness and Divine protection) is a country's best defense (Lev 26:3, 6-8; Dt 28:1, 10, 13, 15, 20, 25; Pr 16:7).

Peace will only prevail when a country has a sensible, strong national defense. President Teddy Roosevelt's foreign and national defense policies were summed up "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Ronald Reagan's was "Peace through strength."

Yet in six years President Clinton has systematically dismantled the U.S. military, leaving only a shell of a fighting force. While blocking construction of an anti-ballistic missile system, he has left the American mainland vulnerable to a ballistic missile attack. He has sold or given away our most important military secrets to our most threatening world rival, the Red Chinese (while accepting huge campaign contributions from them). Clinton has spread our forces across the globe in a stream of never-ending "peacekeeping missions." By his policies he has effectively issued an open invitation to China, North Korea, and several other "rogue nations," which hate the United States and Israel, to challenge us, and they have.

Meanwhile, at home the Clinton Administration has fanned the flames of racial, religious, ethnic, gender and class divides (which God hates - see Pr 6:19) for cynical political advantage. If we go on this way, America will become even more divided. Can we ever again experience the spirit of our nation's motto, "E Pluribus Unum"? Only if God gives us leaders who truly fear Him. Pray that the President will find grace to promote real peace at home and abroad (see Pr 26:24-26; Ps 120:6-7; 140:1-2; Is 57:19-21).

13)    Pray FOR the President but AGAINST his deeds, which God hates.

This may seem obvious; yet many people see things one-dimensionally and feel they must either support or oppose the president altogether. We may oppose the President generally and oppose his policies specifically and still pray for him personally. We must render respect to him because of his office, even if we cannot respect him because of his behavior and policies (Rom 13:7) We must also have compassion on him and his family because they have been created in the image of God (Gen 1:27; 9:6; Jude 17-24). Each of us stands only by the grace and mercy of God. Our prayers have value only because of the Name and shed blood, the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have no righteousness of our own.

We must learn to be multi-dimensional like our Heavenly Father (Mt 5:44-48; 1 Cor 5:1-5). Called by His Name, we must be seekers of His face. As stewards of His Words, we must be students of them (Old and New Testaments). We must "judge righteous judgments"(very important - see Jn 7:24; Lk 12:56-57), demonstrating God's true character as reflected in His Word and the Person of the Lord Jesus ñ and we must not rely on our own feelings. THIS IS NOT EASY! Yet many people -- businessmen, teachers, accountants, lawyers, policemen, judges -- make "judgments" about people and issues every day. They labor to do what is right, keeping their personal likes and dislikes in check. As Christians under authority, we must do our best to make such dispassionate "righteous judgments" unceasingly (Dt 1:17; Mt 18:18-19; 1 Cor 2:14-15).

God loves righteousness and hates wickedness. He requires us to love what He loves and to hate what He hates (Ps 45:6-7; 139:19-34; 1 Jn 3:14; Heb 1:8-9). God clearly and undeniably hates many of the President's programs and initiatives. We, too, must hate and resist them in prayer and deed. If we fail to do so we trample under foot the blood of Christ and the blood of all history's true prophets (Heb 10:28-31). These men not only prayed, but also confronted the godless deeds of the potentates of their day (Neh 4:14; Ps 149:5-9; see also #3). Our loves and hatreds should not be hidden (e.g., we ought not to privately nurture bitterness); rather, we should pray, preach, resist (using wisdom) and rebuke openly in a constructive way that reflects the character of Christ (Ps 22:22; 26:2-6; 40:9-10; 82:1-2; Pr 27:5-7; Ps 101:3-8).

While opposing our President's policies and agenda, we must somehow keep our hearts tender toward him as a person, with a view toward Christ's redemption, if we are going to pray sincerely and effectively for him. These are not mutually exclusive, as many seem to believe; rather they go hand in hand! It is important to remember that each time Clinton successfully launches another evil initiative, his own "cup" of "iniquity" becomes fuller (Gen 15:16; Ps 73:2-21; Is 1:15; Mt 23:32; Rev 17:4) as does the cup of God's wrath (Ps 75:7-8; Rom 1:18-2:11). He (like each of us) must ultimately give an account to God for his every word, deed and motive. For Christians to pray against the President's evil deeds is not only right, it is a personal kindness to Bill Clinton(Ps 94:20-23; 141:4-5; Pr 9:8; 17:10-11; 21:15; 24:24-25; 27:5-6; Is 1:17; Jer 30:12-15; Ez 3:16-19; Hab 1:12-13; Mt 13:41-42; 23:32-39; Lk 13:27).

14)    Pray for the President's PROTECTION & SAFETY

We who love Jesus must care for and pray daily for the safety of our President and his family. Jesus taught, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Mt 5:44-45).

Paul wrote the Romans, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (Rom 12: 17-19).

15)    Pray for the President in the FEAR OF GOD.

Praying for the President's soul and for his family's safety, while praying against his wrongful acts, will help us to avoid "cursing" the President in our hearts. Some Christians "hate" Clinton with a hatred that falls short of the "perfect" hatred in Scripture (Ps 139:21-24). Scripture warns not to curse a king, even in thought (Ecc 10:20). We are called to "bless" those who persecute us, and to "curse not" (Rom 12:14). While a president may not be a "king," the principle still applies. Jesus did not curse King Herod or Pontius Pilate. We must maintain a dignity befitting subjects, not of Bill Clinton, but of King Jesus.

We must guard our hearts and the words we speak in private and public, to and about others, even words we speak to God in prayer. Some sincere Christians cross the line of propriety, speaking about the President. They lend credibility to those who mistakenly accuse us of being hate-filled fanatics and right-wing conspirators. While passion for truth and principle are badly needed, inappropriate words and attitudes will confuse our hearers and give fuel to our detractors. Bitterness and rancor will never win the day for the cause of Christ! (see 1 Ptr 3:10-17, see also Pr 21:23, 24; Jas 1:26; 3:2-18; Jude 1:9; Ps 131:1-2). Our attitude should be one of trembling and teaching others to tremble at God's word (Is 66:2-5).

AWAKE O PEOPLE OF GOD!!! WE MUST REPENT! Surely the election and reelection of this President, and the things that he has done, are God's remedial judgments upon our land because of our sins and apathy. THE HOUR IS LATE! OUR CHURCHES MUST IMMEDIATELY CALL SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES. We must CRY OUT TO GOD in repentance for our individual sins and for the corporate sins of the Church. We must repent for the Church's ignorance, self-centered indifference, inaction and prayerlessness. We have allowed our country to be overrun by moral revolutionaries. WE MUST PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT! We must also quickly learn how to pray against the initiatives of an administration which seems to be at war with the God of the Bible, His Word, Kingdom and People. We must CRY OUT TO GOD FOR MERCY and beg Him for His SUDDEN SOVEREIGN INTERVENTION.

Heavenly Father, have MERCY upon us, our children, and our children's children. INTERVENE! Move, O God, upon our President. SAVE His soul. Grant him REPENTANCE. STOP his evil initiatives. DELIVER the President, the Church, and the American People from our sins and grant us the collective WISDOM to do right! Forgive our Nation! TEACH each of US TO PRAY for the President and for America, AS YOU WOULD HAVE US TO PRAY!

       In Jesus Name, Amen.