Will You Pray in Secret This Week?
Derek Melton urges believers to engage in secret prayer for national leaders to foster a moral revival in the nation.
Derek Melton emphasizes the importance of prayer for the leadership of a nation, highlighting the consequences of moral decay within a government and the need for repentance and mercy. He urges believers to be like watchmen and prayer warriors, spending time in secret prayer for the nation's leaders instead of criticizing them. Drawing from biblical examples like King Saul and Noah's sons, he stresses the significance of covering our leaders in prayer and refraining from mocking or bringing shame upon them.
Text
Proverbs 28:2 (TLB)
When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.
With the National Day of Prayer being this past Thursday we must remember the condition of our nation and bring petitions before the Throne of Grace that we might receive mercy instead of the judgment we deserve. This nation is in need of watchmen, prayer warriors that will spend time on their knees in the secret of their closet instead of the courthouse pavilion. This passage of text tells us that a government will topple easily when the people of such government abide in moral rot. Why? Judgment! When repentance is offered and rejected judgment is all that remains. Habakkuk the Prophet cried out in prayer for God to remember mercy in His wrath!
In such an hour as this we must offer an unending stream of prayer for the leadership of our nation. Our President is in need of our prayers. Prayer for wisdom to make the choices that God would have him make concerning the moral climate of America. This nation can be turned back to Jesus Christ but not without prayer! We all know the famous text in second Chronicles chapter seven that declares the healing balm of God upon a nation when that nation repents and prays. It is true, our nation's moral climate has degraded beyond measure in the last century but she has not fallen too far for God to rescue her from her rot.
If the average American would spend as much time in prayer for our nation's leadership as they spend speaking against them we would experience national revival. It is easier to point our finger at the mistakes instead of pouring out our hearts to God for them. Yet the Scriptures clearly forbid this. It is no secret that King Saul was a wicked king that had fallen away from the standards of Truth he once adhered to. Yet David would not speak against him. The Scriptures say: "touch not God's anointed". Even though Saul was trying to kill David he would not speak against Saul.
Again, in the Old Testament we know the story of Noah becoming a husbandman. He planted a vineyard and became drunken on the wine. The Scriptures record that in his drunkenness Noah was naked within his tent and Ham his son saw the nakedness of his father and he told his brothers. Shem and Japheth the other sons walked backwards into the tent with a garment to cover the shame of their father's nakedness and they did not look upon his nakedness.
God honored Shem and Japheth for covering their father's nakedness but Americans have Ham's mentality. We want to laugh and mock the shame of our nation's leaders when they fall away from God. We tell jokes that bring more and more shame to our leaders and therefore we displease God. We forward these filthy jokes to all of our friends in the Internet further revealing the shame of the nakedness of our nation's fathers. Where are the Shems and Japheths? Who will cover the shame of their nakedness and not look upon it with their own faces? We must pray for our leaders continually and when we pray for them we are really praying for ourselves for they rule over us!
We must ask God to stir our hearts to pray for our nation's leadership. Time in prayer in the secret place will certainly bring openly answered prayer. I pray that our national day of prayer was more than an external outward vigil. I pray that sincere Christians worldwide devoted time to the Lord in secret prayer on this observance of national prayer day.
Secret prayer moves God but secret prayer is not easy. It offers no reward from Man, no praises from Man yet it yields answers from God. As more and more sincere Believers pray in secret God will openly reward and our nation will turn, the moral climate will change and this nation will be a better place to live for all of us. Will you pray in secret this week?
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of prayer for national leadership - The consequences of moral rot in a nation - The need for watchmen and prayer warriors
- II points: - The call to pray for wisdom for our leaders - The potential for national revival through prayer - The contrast between criticism and prayer
- III points: - Biblical examples of honoring leaders despite their flaws - The story of Noah and the response of his sons - The need to cover the shame of our leaders
- IV points: - The significance of secret prayer - The challenge of praying in secret - The promise of God's response to secret prayer
Key Quotes
“When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.” — Derek Melton
“If the average American would spend as much time in prayer for our nation's leadership as they spend speaking against them we would experience national revival.” — Derek Melton
“Secret prayer moves God but secret prayer is not easy.” — Derek Melton
Application Points
- Dedicate time this week to pray for the leaders of our nation in secret.
- Avoid speaking negatively about leaders and instead focus on lifting them up in prayer.
- Reflect on biblical examples of honoring leaders and apply that mindset in our daily lives.