Government bans Name of God in military. Now what?
What This Teaching Is About
Chris Byberg urges viewers to respond to proposed military ceremony prayer restrictions by praying for chaplains to speak with boldness and by building face-to-face relationships with MPs. He also shares how fifteen Ottawa churches welcomed Prime Minister Mark Carney and Diana Fox Carney for conversation and prayer, encouraging believers to keep praying for leaders.
Transcript
Just a couple [music] weeks ago, there was an announcement uh coming from the government that the armed forces was going to ban uh prayers or the use of the word the name God in their ceremonies, which is kind of ridiculous, especially because there's we've had a long history of God being a part of the armed forces. And in fact, in our charter, uh the very first plank in our our charter talks about the supremacy of God. So, this is so counter-Canadian culture, because that's what it is. Because this we we've already established that God's a part of our culture. So, this is counter-Canadian culture. Uh so, this is this is it kind of annoyed me in a big way. >> [snorts] >> Um so,
uh there's a posture we can do. We can we can do this. We can shake our fists. Uh and there are ways of using tools. So, we can contact our MPs and tell them how much we don't like that, because that's important. We can build relationships. This is why it's important you build relationships um so that you have conversations, because like I've said earlier, a face-to-face conversation with your member of parliament is the same as a thousand emails. Okay? So, think of it this way. So, this is important that you have a face-to-face. And they are readily available, and they're in you're probably in your riding right now. It's it's the summertime. They're uh in their
constituencies. There's working. They are working in their constituencies. They're doing the barbecue circuit. They're going to be at fairs. So, make sure you reach out to them at that time and tell them you're concerned about this, because it is anti-Canadian culture that they shut out God. Um but I want to tell you let's talk about how we pray for this. So, we look at chap Acts chapter 4. And we brought this up during the C-9 thing, right? We talk talked about this back in C9 and Acts chapter 4 is really, really significant because it doesn't matter if people shut us down, I'm still going to pray. I'm still still going to preach. I'm still going to do this. And so, let's
look at Acts chapter 4. This is really such a great passage. From verse 29, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." So, we're going to be praying for those chaplains in there that they would speak the word with great boldness. That they would pray with great boldness. Look at this and we'll continue on. "Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant, Jesus." And that's what we want to see. You know, my friend Rabbi Yehuda Glick, he says this, "When we see this kind of persecution, when we see these kind of laws come in where they say you can't do
this, watch that God doesn't Watch for God to perform miracles. He might just want to give you a Hanukkah." And in this case, I think God wants to do something. And I think he wants to perform signs and wonders and miracles right before our eyes, in our military, in our government, right where we are. So, don't be discouraged. Continue to pray. Pray for those chaplains that they would be bold, that they would preach the word. I have a couple of chaplain friends and that's what I'm going to do be doing for them, praying for them and encouraging them that they move in boldness and not be ashamed of the gospel or afraid of the gospel. You know, God hasn't given us a
spirit of fear, but a spirit of of love, and a sound mind. Power, love, and a sound mind, or self-discipline. And uh another thing I want to talk to you about is the tiny things that are happening that are actually kind of big. Um you know, we're asking we're calling on God to demonstrate its power, but a lot of times in our prayers, things move along at the speed of a glacier. It seems like just moving so slow. And God, will anything happen in there? But stay faithful. Romans Romans 15:3 Romans 15:5. This is my favorite part. May the God of endurance and encouragement. And that's where we want to be. We want to be in that place of endurance and that in place of endurance and encouragement
with one another so that we move together and don't be discouraged. So, don't be discouraged in here. I want to share a a really cool story. So, uh just before my birthday on the 25th of July, uh a pastor friend called me and said, "Chris, uh Mark and Diana are coming to my event, which is a an event here in Ottawa with 15 churches gathered together in the on a nice summer Sunday to worship together at a Christian school. So, 15 churches got together in the Prime Minister's writing, and the Prime Minister attended. It was really exciting. So, he called, he says, "They're coming. What do I do?" And I gave them some pointers on how to pray. I wasn't able to attend because I was out of town.
Um they didn't give me a lot of notice, but I was out of town, but I gave him some pointers on how to pray for the Prime Minister. And you know what happened? They end up having a considerable time in conversation with the Prime Minister talking about the word, and [clears throat] they got to pray with him for over 20 minutes. How good is that? So, here's the prayers. Your prayers, they're working. We've been praying for Prime Minister. You know, 1 Timothy 2, pray all kinds of prayers for all those in authority. For kings and those in authority that have a peaceful and godly life. That all men and women would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, these prayers are working and you can see that God is at work even though we see some craziness going on in some of the policies and stuff. He is still working. And I want to encourage you. He is still working and still So, still be praying. Stay on the wall. Don't be discouraged. God is working. He's wants to perform signs and wonders and miracles. And he's also working which feels like at really slow pace, but he's still working. And he's working on the hearts of our Prime Minister and leaders, of your Member of Parliament, my Member of Parliament. He's at work. So, continue to be in prayer. Reach out to your build I I encourage you build a relationship with your
Member of Parliament. I said that in the beginning of this video. Continue to do this. On their birthday, send them a birthday card and tell them that you're praying for them. And if you get a chance to see them face-to-face, tell them that you're praying. It's important. It means a lot to them. Anyway, I'm Chris Byrkt, the director of the National House of Prayer. And we'll see you next time. Keep up the good work. Bye for now. >> [music]
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