JOB-CREATION WEAKENS, BUT UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN        

September saw the U.S. economy add just 148,000 jobs, significantly worse than expected, according to a report delayed more than two weeks by the government shutdown.

The unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 7.2 percent, the lowest since November 2008, as the labor-force participation rate held near 35-year lows, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Private payroll creation stood at just 122,000, with state and local governments adding 28,000 positions and the federal government cutting by 6,000.

 

Prayer focus: The late evangelist Mordecai Ham is credited with saying, "I read the newspaper to learn what man plans to do; then I read my Bible to learn what God intends to do." Christians may be joyful and give thanks in dark national circumstances, including disappointing reports. Why? How? For the same reason Apostles Paul and Silas were "praying and singing hymns to God" in a dungeon in Philippi after the jailer "put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks" (Acts 16:24-25). They knew they were in God's will and in God's hands. For this reason, while our beloved nation faces nearly unprecedented challenges-and unremitting prayer and intercession are as sorely needed as ever in U.S. history-still IFA's position is and will be to introduce these Informer alerts with encouragement. May our hearts be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to Almighty God. We know His mercies are new every morning, and we are assured His purposes are firm and will prevail until all are fulfilled. We pray, then, to please the Lord. 


Shall we intercede then specifically for the U.S. economy, for more jobs for the unemployed and those suffering economic deprivation? Yes, because intercessory prayer is God's will; and while intercessors pray with long-range faith and rarely see immediate results in praying for national resurgence, God still seeks faithful believers to "stand in the gap" and, by doing so, to avert judgment. In Ezekiel's day, God lamented that none was found. In our own day, thankfully, there are many faithful saints who still pray. Thus, there is hope for revival that will turn a nation (its leaders and people) to the Lord in repentance and to seek the former ways of "In God We Trust."   

 

"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one..." (Ezekiel 22:30)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah" (Psalm 46:1-3)

"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7)

   

NO SCHOOL, NO JOB, NO FUTURE        

Almost 6 million young people are neither in school nor working, according to a study released Monday.

That's almost 15 percent of those aged 16 to 24 who have neither desk nor job, according to The Opportunity Nation coalition, which wrote the report.

Other studies have shown that idle young adults are missing out on a window to build skills they will need later in life or use the knowledge they acquired in college. Without those experiences, they are less likely to command higher salaries and more likely to be an economic drain on their communities.

 

Prayer focus: This article describes a symptom, not a cause. America, even before the U.S. was formed, is unique among the nations of the world. It was established with recognition of the true and living God as its source of life and purpose, the One to whom all men and women owed allegiance and were accountable. The Puritans were pious people, coming to these shores for religious freedom and with the purpose of establishing a nation of God-fearing citizens. When such a nation rejects biblical roots, as the U.S. has done, setting aside allegiance to God as Creator and Sustainer of life, it does not remain in a neutral "safe zone" without consequences. The downward spiral results in a state of nihilism, which can be defined as the belief that traditional morals, ideas, and beliefs have no worth or value and that society's political and social institutions are to be ignored or destroyed. God's message of hope is "Repent and come to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and purpose." The world system says, "We need more money to make these dropouts wards of the state." The only way to change the world view is to reach the hearts of people who have lost their way and purpose. Let us pray for our nation's youth accordingly and that Christian parents will lead their children to know and rely on God from earliest years.

 

"If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed." (Proverbs 29:18, The Message)

"How can [youth] cleanse [their] way? By taking heed according to Your word. 'With my whole heart I have sought You....Let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You ...
Lord! Teach me Your statutes.'" (Psalm 119: 9-12)

   

KEEPING SPEECH FREE ON THE INTERNET      

For Americans, freedom of speech has always been among our most cherished freedoms. Why? Because free speech and a free press provide a guardrail for all of our other freedoms. Free speech keeps us informed and connected, and it lets us hold our government accountable. Our commitment to free speech is the envy and example of the world. Yet, each generation faces a renewed struggle to preserve that freedom. Today, we're seeing that struggle, especially in our government's attempts to censor the Internet.

 

Prayer focus: This article is clear. Free people should enjoy free speech. When that freedom is interfered with or stifled by government, a country is on its way to a form of enslavement. In an early letter, Thomas Jefferson wrote: "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." True, this is not Scripture; but consider God's own forbearance in such matters. He allows profane and godless men to rail against Him and His laws and still withholds immediate judgment, allowing time for repentance and for scoffers to seek forgiveness. We suggest a two-fold prayer focus: first, a restraint of increasing government control that could lead to suppression in defiance of the Constitution. And second, that the Church, while enjoying free expression, will use such freedom to preach the Gospel without dilution to seek human approval. Also, God-given religious freedom of expression is being curtailed among U.S. military chaplains, and Christians must stand in prayer and protest against such restrictions.

 

"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)

"For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 'W
ho committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." (1 Peter 2:21-23)

   

FRANCE BERATES US OVER SPYING CLAIMS     

French President Francois Hollande has expressed "deep disapproval" over claims the US National Security Agency secretly tapped phone calls in France.

In a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama, he said this was "unacceptable between friends and allies", demanding an explanation.


The White House said the claims "raise legitimate questions."


The NSA spied on 70.3 million phone calls in France between 10 December 2012 and 8 January 2013, it is claimed.
 

 

Prayer focus: Under the heading, "Pray for America," a comment from
The American Patriot's Bible on intercession for our nation, though very basic, may be a helpful reminder. This is especially fitting when our weekly prayer alert has strong political overtones and implications, such as this intrusion into France's national sovereignty. The prayer comment: "As believers, it is our responsibility to pray for America-always, not just in times of national crisis. Without diminishing the importance of the Supreme Court or the Congress or the president, they are not the source of our future or our hope. Only God and the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of citizens can sustain the strength and the future of this nation." With our call to pray for the country's leadership, we are also instructed to include "the giving of thanks" for government, even where there is room to criticize. Why? So that "we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." Let us continue to pray for God's mercy and for a national awakening toward righteous government.

 

"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 Timothy 2:1-4)  

 

SEQUESTRATION STILL MATTERS

Lurking behind the government shutdown and debt limit battle is the sequester. That's the Frankenstein-like budget-cutting monster Congress created in 2011.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) wants to change the sequester law as part of a deal to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling.

Are Democrats moving the goal post to take advantage of public outrage at Republicans for their disastrous effort to defund President Obama's health-care law?

 

Prayer Focus: By now, all alert citizens, Christians or not, must be painfully aware that the U.S. Congress-both the House and the Senate, along with the Executive branch-is and has been caught up in a power struggle that has less to do with governing toward common goals set out in our Constitution than it has to do with the question among the political parties: "Who is winning?"  Citizens enjoy no assurance that the national debt is being managed with equity. The writer of this article is turning the spotlight on our severe national divisions. And to that end, we encourage much intercession for a break in all that divides our country-for nationwide healing; for a turning to the Lord; for God's salvation to visit both the White House and the Congress; for national repentance; for leaders' hearts to be changed, whereby the goal in decisions is, "What is best for the nation?" Please pray accordingly.

 

"But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: 'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.'" (Matthew 12:25)

 

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov. 14:34)