Here is one comment from the CEO of a major National Christian organisation:
The prayer for Parliament (see below) over 112 years ago reminds us of how far we have fallen in terms of our national Christian consensus.
Revelation 2:5 says:
"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
I am proposing to my Board that for 2014 we mount a major campaign aimed at stimulating prayer and the presentation of the Gospel in personal witness and personal soul winning. May the Lord raise up many 100 fold people across our nation!
I think that it is vital to know of our Christian Heritage because it validates the blessing that we can see was upon our forefathers and which, in spite of the incursions of evil, still abides on us to this day. For The Lord says He will bless to the thousandth generation those that love Him.
Therefore, we need to take on the mantle of our forefathers. They were not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. He is the power of God unto salvation. We need to realise that the major repair job on our culture does not come from asking non-believers to respect our heritage, it comes from praying and proclaiming the Gospel in the here and now.
With a new government looming I feel that God is giving us a new window of opportunity to get on with praying and preaching the Gospel. It alone will change the face of our nation. I feel the new government anticipates that we are in for a change of climate - for good.
Our great opportunity now is to inspire, motivate and equip our people to become hundredfold people after the manner of Mark 4:20-
Mark 4:20 NIV
Prayer & Praise during the Opening of the First Parliament
The Hundredth Psalm was then sung with accompaniment by the orchestra. His Excellency the Governor-General read prayers as follows:
O Lord, our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from Thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth, most heartily we beseech Thee with Thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lord King Edward, and so replenish him with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit that he may always incline to Thy will and walk in Thy way. Endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts, grant him in health and wealth long to live, strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and finally, after this life he may attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Amen. Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech Thee to bless our gracious Queen Alexandra, George Duke of Cornwall and York, the Duchess of Cornwall and York, and all the Royal Family; endue them with Thy Holy Spirit; enrich them with Thy heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to Thine everlasting Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Amen. Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to regard with Thy merciful favour the people of this land, now united in one Commonwealth. We pray for Thy servants the Governor-General, the Governors of the States, and all who are or who shall be associated with them in the administration of their several offices.
We pray Thee at this time to vouchsafe Thy special blessing upon the Federal Parliament now assembling for their first session, and that Thou wouldst be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of Thy glory and to the true welfare of the people of Australia, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who has taught us when we pray to say - Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. - Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all, evermore. - Amen.
