Category Archive Our Heritage

ByGatekeepers Association

Wise Men or Fools to Rule? We Choose!

64bcc67e-d748-4f9c-9e86-d02e8ad99c78The Republic of the Israelites, an Example to the American States,
by Samuel Langdon, Concord, New Hampshire, 1788

There is a remarkable paragraph in the sacred writings, which may he very well accommodated to my present purpose, and merits particular attention. You have it in Deuteronorny, 4:5-8:

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people: for what nation is there so great, which hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, which both statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day.

If I am not mistaken, instead of the twelve tribes of Israel, we may substitute the thirteen states of the American union, and see this application plainly offering itself…

On the people, therefore, of these United States, it depends whether wise men, or fools, good or bad men, shall govern.… Therefore, I will now lift up my voice and cry aloud to the people….

From year to year be careful in the choice of your representatives and the higher powers [offices] of government.

Fix your eyes upon men of good understanding and known honesty; men of knowledge, improved by experience; men who fear God and hate covetousness; who love truth and righteousness, and sincerely wish for the public welfare….

Let not men openly irreligious and immoral become your legislators…. If the legislative body are corrupt, you will soon have bad men for counselors, corrupt judges, unqualified justices, and officers in every department who will dishonor their stations….

Never give countenance to turbulent men, who wish to distinguish themselves and rise to power by forming combinations and exciting insurrections against government….

I call upon you also to support schools in your towns…. It is a debt you owe to your children!

ByGatekeepers Association

You have a responsibility to vote intelligently!

tallmadgematthiasnysmtnBy Matthias Burnet, D.D. Pastor of the First Church in Norwalk.

From a sermon on May 12, 1803.

Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights, and prostrating those institutions which our fathers delivered to you….

And that this happy state of things may continue, look well to the characters and qualifications of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust. In this momentous concern, let the wise counsel of Jethro, tho√ a priest, be your guide.

“Choose ye out from among you able men, such as fear God, men of truth and hating covetousness and set them to rule over you.”

Think not that your interests will be safe in the hands of the weak and ignorant or faithfully managed by the impious, the dissolute and the immoral. Think not that men who acknowledge not the providence of God nor regard his laws, will be uncorrupt in office, firm in defense of the righteous cause against the oppressor, or resolutely oppose the torrent of iniquity. Their own emolument, ease or pleasure, will at any time induce them to connive at injustice and iniquity, or join with the oppressor.

Watch over your liberties and privileges civil and religious with a careful eye!

Remember it is always safer and better for a people, to commit their interests to the care of those whose ability, fidelity and patriotism they have tried and found equal to their trust, than to those whom they have not, even though they may be supposed to be perfectly equal in all these particulars.

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ByGatekeepers Association

We Speak To God In Prayers For Our Leaders

We The People Must Pray For Our Leaders!

(KJV 1900) Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people.

Therefore, We The People must pray for our leaders so that they will make righteous judgments. The favor of the Lord will then be upon us, and our land will truly be a blessed land.

Unfortunately, our political leaders, as well as all those in authority, are being brutally attacked and victimized by an unseen force. A force that knows that if the head is struck, the rest of the body will fall. A force that knows that even if you just injure the head the body will not function as well as it should. A force that also knows that by simply influencing the head you can easily manipulate and control the body. 

Our leaders are mostly ignorant of this attack because this attack is not an attack in the natural. It is an attack from the spiritual realm. It is the realm that is largely ignored or even denied to exist. God’s word tells us,

 Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

These spiritual forces are led by the same one that misled Eve in the garden. He affected her thinking, her command center, and ultimately she fell to his wishes. 

The same is true today but his focus of attack is not only our minds as individuals but the minds of our leaders of government. They attack them to cause them to create legislation to control our society and affect how we live.

Our political leaders are being assaulted by those that are merely seeking or serving for the love of money. How is it that so many public servants become richer than the average citizen? Is it not because of the lure of money that many sell their very souls?

Therefore, our God tells us

1 Ti 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

How can anyone come to know the truth that will make them free if our Government makes laws that hinder our ability to witness the truth to them? How can We The People obtain the favor of God if our government passes laws that declare what God says is sin, is acceptable? Or worse, pass laws that punish those who live according to the righteousness of God  as transgressors. Our God tells us

(KJV 1900) Is 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; That put darkness for light, and light for darkness; That put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Today our government and many governments do just that. We pass laws that make the murder of unborn children acceptable. We also passed laws that violate God’s original intention for marriage and then declare that those who submit to the written word of the Bible are narrow minded. Unfortunately, many of our leaders today have not heard enough of the truth from the Pulpits. Therefore, they pass laws contrary to the laws of God and the founding principles of this nation. 

How do we correct our current course? What are we to do? Psalm 11 tells us to call on our Lord. He still reigns on His throne!

(KJV 1900) Ps 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?  4 The LORD is in his holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.  5 The LORD trieth the righteous: But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.  6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, And an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.

Therefore, he urges us to pray and tells us we will have victory! We must become men and women who will stand in the gap and pray for our land! Our Lord said to us….

 2 Ch 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

It is time, We The People, unite for the common good, repent of our failure to stand for righteousness and pray together for the Lord to bestow his favor upon our land again.

 Pr 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Therefore, let us not become discouraged with the things we see but let us call upon the Lord. 

 Ps 22:28 for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

 Da 2:20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

 Pr 11:4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

So many of our political leaders become rich in the position of being servants to the people. We The People must pray that they come to understand that righteousness is far better than riches.

Dan 9:18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.

We The People must stand together and call on his name!

 Job 12:23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. 24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. 25 They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.

My friend, 

Ps 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

We live in a serious time. We The People, must now raise up a nation of warriors who will unite and pray for our land because the world is coming together to resist the truth of the word of God. We must not wait another day!

 Ps 2:1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 3 “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. …10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Now, join with us as a Gatekeeper Intercessor and let us pray that our leaders recognize the true truth that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom!

Become a Gatekeeper Intercessor

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ByGatekeepers Association

Frederick Douglass – The need for God in government

Frederick_Douglass_c1860sProverbs 14:34

“Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”

“I have one great political idea … That idea is an old one. It is widely and generally assented to; nevertheless, it is very generally trampled upon and disregarded. The best expression of it, I have found in the Bible. It is in substance, “Righteousness exalteth a nation; sin is a reproach to any people” [Proverbs 14:34]. This constitutes my politics – the negative and positive of my politics, and the whole of my politics … I feel it my duty to do all in my power to infuse this idea into the public mind, that it may speedily be recognized and practiced upon by our people.”

Frederick Douglass, “The Frederick Douglass Papers,” John Blassingame, editor (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1982), Vol. 2, p. 397, from a speech delivered at Ithaca, New York, October 14th, 1852.

ByGatekeepers Association

A President’s Words in 1880 about today

440px-James_Abram_Garfield_photo_portrait_seatedNow, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress.  If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption.   If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…

If the next centennial does not find us a great nation… it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.

James A. Garfield

ByGatekeepers Association

A Sermon at the end of the Slave trade in the United States

By Absalom Jones, January 1, 1808

Prominent  Afro-American PastorAbsalom-Jones

The history of the world shows us, that the deliverance of the children of Israel from their bondage, is not the only instance, in which it has pleased God to appear in behalf of oppressed and distressed nations, as the deliverer of the innocent, and of those who call upon his name. He is as unchangeable in his nature and character, as he is in his wisdom and power. The great and blessed event, which we have this day met to celebrate, is a striking proof, that the God of heaven and earth is the same, yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. Yes, my brethren, the nations from which most of us have descended, and the country in which some of us were born, have been visited by the tender mercy of the Common Father of the human race. He has seen the affliction of our countrymen, with an eye of pity. He has seen the wicked arts, by which wars have been fomented among the different tribes of the Africans, in order to procure captives, for the purpose of selling them for slaves. He has seen ships fitted out from different ports in Europe and America, and freighted with trinkets to be exchanged for the bodies and souls of men. He has seen the anguish which has taken place, when parents have been torn from their children, and children from their parents, and conveyed, with their hands and feet bound in fetters, on board of ships prepared to receive them. He has seen them thrust in crowds into the holds of those ships, where many of them have perished from the want of air. He has seen such of them as have escaped from that noxious place of confinement, leap into the ocean; with a faint hope of swimming back to their native shore, or a determination to seek early retreat from their impending misery, in a watery grave. He has seen them exposed for sale, like horses and cattle, upon the wharves; or, like bales of goods, in warehouses of West India and American sea ports. He has seen the pangs of separation between members of the same family. He has seen them driven into the sugar; the rice, and the tobacco fields, and compelled to work–in spite of the habits of ease which they derived from the natural fertility of their own country in the open air, beneath a burning sun, with scarcely as much clothing upon them as modesty required. He has seen them faint beneath the pressure of their labours. He has seen them return to their smoky huts in the evening, with nothing to satisfy their hunger but a scanty allowance of roots; and these, cultivated for themselves, on that day only, which God ordained as a day of rest for man and beast. He has seen the neglect with which their masters have treated their immortal souls; not only in withholding religious instruction from them, but, in some instances, depriving them of access to the  means of obtaining it. He has seen all the different modes of torture, by means of the whip, the screw, the pincers, and the red hot iron, which have been exercised upon their bodies, by inhuman overseers: overseers, did I say? Yes: but not by these only. Our God has seen masters and mistresses, educated in fashionable life, sometimes take the instruments of torture into their own hands, and, deaf to the cries and shrieks of their agonizing slaves, exceed even their overseers in cruelty. Inhuman wretches! though You have been deaf to their cries and shrieks, they have been heard in Heaven. The ears of Jehovah have been constantly open to them: He has heard the prayers that have ascended from the hearts of his people; and he has, as in the case of his ancient and chosen people the Jews, come down to deliver our suffering countrymen from the hands of their oppressors. He came down into the United States, when they declared, in the constitution which they framed in 1788, that the trade in our African fellow-men, should cease in the year 1808: He came down into the British Parliament, when they passed a law to put an end to the same iniquitous trade in May, 1807:  He came down into the Congress of the United States, the last winter, when they passed a similar law, the operation of which commences on this happy day. Dear land of our ancestors! thou shalt no more be stained with the blood of thy children, shed by British and American hands: the ocean shall no more afford a refuge to their bodies, from impending slavery: nor shall the shores of the British West India islands, and of the United States, any more witness the anguish of families, parted for ever by a publick sale. For this signal interposition of the God of mercies, in behalf of our brethren, it becomes us this day to offer up our united thanks. Let the song of angels, which was first heard in the air at the birth of our Saviour, be heard this day in our assembly: Glory to God in the highest, for these first fruits of peace upon earth, and good will to man: O! let us give thanks unto the Lord: let us call upon his name, and make known his deeds among the people. Let us sing psalms unto him and talk of all his wondrous works.

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ByGatekeepers Association

The Violation of God’s Truth:The Reason for the Declaration of Independence

declarationOur Founding Father’s declared:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. – From the Declaration of Independence 1776

The founding fathers built this nation upon fundamental beliefs that they called self-evident truths. Truths, as given by God, that would be readily apparent to any common sense thinking individual.

The first truth was to state that all men have been created equal by God. This implication was based upon the creative process as defined in Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

They proclaimed that it was self-evident and a fundamental truth that these God-given rights were not to be deprived from the individual by anyone other than God Himself.

As a result of this creative process (giving man life), the right to life was extended to all men. They could see by God’s displeasure at Cain (for the murder of his brother) that all human life should be valued as sacred. This right to life, most certainly to our Founding Fathers, would also have been extended to be a right of even an unborn child, whether planned or unplanned, if it were possible for such an unthinkable act to have been done in their day.

It is also clear that God gave Adam the right of choice to eat or not to eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This indicated to them that God also gave man a right to have the freedom to choose his own destiny. In other words, a right to liberty.

Inherent in this liberty to choose, man was given the option to pursue his own course in life or to pursue a course of submission to his God. Thus, giving to man, the right to pursue happiness as he personally saw fit.

From these self-evident truths, the Founding Fathers saw the sole reason for the establishment of government. It was to ensure that those rights given to the individual by God would be protected. They further saw that government was an institution that derived it’s right of existence from the people – who themselves had derived their rights from God.

They, then, took the position that if any government did not respect these fundamental God-given, self-evident truths, it was the right of the people to take steps to change, or if necessary, abolish and reestablish new governments that would.

They felt it was also clear that the existing government had an intent to force them to submit to an absolute authority that would render them as slaves. Thus, depriving them of their God given rights.

They, therefore, felt it was their right and their duty to undertake whatever means necessary to rid themselves of an oppressive government that ignored their God-given rights and undertake what steps they felt necessary to protect those rights.

Therefore, they declared their independence.

Today, we should remember that our government was established to secure our God-given rights. Therefore, it is imperative that we continue to recognize the God that gave us those rights, less again, history repeat itself and there arise a government that will try to deprive us of those rights.

ByGatekeepers Association

Charles Finney Words To All Pastors

Charles Finney’s wrote in his article, “The Decay of Conscience” published in The Independent of New York, Dec. 4, 1873,

“Christ crucified for the sins of the world is the Christ that the people need. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.”

These are the words that inspired the creation of the Gatekeepers Association. They were spoken in 1873 but they are relevant to today.