Very lengthy, but worth the read...if you are interested in owning one of these flags please contact me or call the number listed at the bottom of this post. Very powerful message. Appeal to Heaven Are you concerned about the direction our nation is heading? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the issues of unemployment, huge debt and the financial woes of our nation, school shootings, political party divisions that have polarized our people, not to mention the decreasing importance of God’s presence in our government and even in our families? If any of this touches your heart, then we have a way to respond. This is a movement that hopefully moves throughout our nation. It has the ability to move beyond the divisive walls of Democrat vs. Republican and liberal vs. conservative, and to awaken within the people of our nation the desire to have God lead us in all things. We pray that this movement will also give us chances to start conversations with those who are lost so that we might introduce them to the loving salvation of Jesus. There is nothing to join, except to join every other Christian in prayer for the healing of our nation, and to display your desire to bring God back into every aspect of life within these United States. The way we are displaying that desire is through the flying and displaying of a flag, a flag that dates back to the very beginning of our history as a nation. This flag is known as the “Appeal to Heaven” flag. It is also known as the “Appeal to God” flag, the Pine Tree flag, the Liberty Tree flag, and the George Washington Cruisers flag. While its origin is uncertain (and various stories exist), it was one of the first, if not the first, of flags to become popular to those of the American Revolution. First created during or perhaps before 1775, it was used by the New England colonies, especially Massachusetts, and the naval ships and soldiers under General George Washington’s command. This flag symbolically spoke the prayers of those who knew that the only way this nation would be able to stand against the empire of Great Britain and be victorious in winning her freedom, was if her people made an appeal to heaven and received that victory from God. Its symbols are simple: The pine tree is a symbol of the hardiness of the people of the colonies, especially those in the northern colonies, and of God’s everlasting covenant and the everlasting life He offers us in Christ Jesus. In the Old Testament there is an evergreen tree, called a Tamarisk tree, mentioned in Genesis 21:33. Abraham planted one at Beersheba as a sign of his desire to be in eternal covenant with the everlasting God. So in this Pine Tree flag we call upon the Everlasting God in prayer asking for blessing, favor, help, and direction for our nation, just as the colonists did during the Revolutionary War. The words, “An Appeal to Heaven”, were words written by the philosopher of the 1600’s John Locke, who greatly influenced the thinking of our colonial fore-fathers. Locke, spoke of this appeal to heaven stating that when one is oppressed by evil and the oppressor will not listen, nor will anyone else, then one must appeal to heaven. In other words, one’s hope rests only in God. In the case of those who were fighting in the Revolutionary War, they were appealing to God in their cause for freedom knowing that the only way they would ever know freedom was if God ordained it. To come against a well-trained British army with untrained colonists was a true David vs. Goliath scenario. When General Washington knelt in prayer at Valley Forge praying for his men whose feet were leaving bloody foot prints in the snow, he knew that only an appeal to heaven and a blessing from God could bring them victory. That flag, no doubt, was flying close by. So as we look at our country today, we believe we must return to the thoughts of our founding fathers. We are praying for an awakening in this nation, and so we too call upon the Everlasting God, making our appeal to heaven, knowing that only His divine wisdom and the uniting love of Jesus our Lord and Savior will bring us the answers we need to solve our many problems. We can, once again, be “One nation under God”, a nation of purity, justice, courage, and strength through our Creator, and a light to the nations of our world. Displaying this flag testifies to our mutual love of God in Jesus Christ, and our desire to invite Him in to rule over our nation, our schools, businesses, government and families, asking for His mercy, grace, love, and guidance. As we see our flags flying, we can also use them as reminders to take time to pray daily that God’s Holy Spirit would move powerfully through our nation and unite us as His people. Our founding fathers and mothers had it right. They knew who to turn to in times of great trial and peril. Now we must show that same wisdom. Remember God’s promise in II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Believe in this promise and join all your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in praying for our nation. May our prayers reflect our desire to repent for the sins of this and past generations calling upon God to heal our land and to unite us in the love of Jesus. We must move beyond the divisive walls of Democrat, Republican, Independent, Liberal, and Conservative, and humbly pray, offering our full dependence on the Lord, knowing that He has all the answers we need. Fly the “Appeal to Heaven” flag and let us together pray for the spiritual awakening our nation needs, and may God bless America. Amen If you have questions about any of this information or about the origins of this movement of prayer for our nation, please feel free to contact the First United Methodist Church of New Carlisle, Ohio at 937-845-8435
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 21:30:55 +0000
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