CHPP Daily Brief Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net


The Daily Brief Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

Praying the Word of God . . .
in the Will of God . . .
over the Issues of the Day
(Isaiah 55:11)

Friday, Sept. 27, 2013

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill." (Psalm 3:4)

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at chpp@patriot.net, requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers.

WELCOME!


VISIT OUR BLOG!

CHPP's blog includes archives of past editions of all of our alerts, as well as features on praying for the government, Israel, and other key issues.

Come visit us by going here.

 

	The Daily Brief

1. Syria chemical weapons: UN discusses draft resolution - BBC

The UN Security Council has discussed a draft resolution on ridding Syria of chemical weapons after the US and Russia agreed the text. A vote in the 15-member Council could now take place later on Friday, diplomats at the UN in New York said. The agreement breaks a two-and-a-half year deadlock in the UN over Syria.

~Father, we thank You that an agreement has been reached. We ask that there also be verification of compliance with this agreement on the part of Syria. We also ask that the consequences of non-compliance would be spelled out as well. We thank You that You rule the nations of the Earth, and use even their wrath, to praise You.

- "And let none of you think or imagine or devise evil or injury in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, says the Lord." (Zechariah 8:17)


2. World powers say window open for Iran nuclear deal - Times of Israel

The US and its international partners emerged from a meeting with Iran declaring that a "window of opportunity has opened" to peacefully settle their nuclear standoff. But diplomats asked Tehran to come back with a detailed plan of action to reassure the world it is not trying to build an atomic bomb.

~Father, we pray that, again, as with Syria, if any agreement for disarmament is reached, that there be a fail-safe method of verification that Iran is, indeed, destroying said weapons, and not creating more. It is difficult to reason with, and believe, the words of your enemies, so we do ask that safeguards be put in place, if any agreement is reached. We ask this in Your Name, Amen.

- "Why are the nations so angry? Why are the people making useless plans? The kings of the earth prepare to fight, and their leaders make plans together against the Lord, and His Christ." (Acts 4:25; Psalm 2:1-2)


3. Kerry Signs UN Arms Trade Treaty - Civilian Disarmament Advancing - New American

Kerry addressed the world body: "On behalf of President Obama and the United States of America, I am very pleased to have signed this treaty here today. I signed it because President Obama knows that from decades of efforts that at any time that we work with - cooperatively to address the illicit trade in conventional weapons, we make the world a safer place. And this treaty is a significant step in that effort."

~Lord of the nations, we thank You that "illicit trade" in conventional weapons be prevented, but we also ask that this measure will not infringe upon the Constitutional right of Americans to bear arms, will not be affected by this agreement. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

- "But all things should be done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion. (I Corinthians 14:40)


4. White House compares GOP to terrorists as government shutdown nears - Washington Times

Senior White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer on Thursday compared Republican lawmakers to suicide bombers as the showdown over a possible government shutdown intensified. "We are for cutting spending, we are for reforming our tax code, we are for reforming entitlements," Mr. Pfeiffer told CNN's Jake Tapper. "But what we are not for is negotiating with people who have a bomb strapped to their chest."

~Father, we come against spirits of intimidation, control, and anger. We ask that reasonable Congress men and women will come to an agreement without name-calling and threats. We know this is a serious situation, and we pray that both sides will agree to do what is best for the nation and for the people they represent. We pray that cooler heads would prevail, and that we would stop going deeper into debt. Amen.

- "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord."(Isaiah 1:18)


5. Obamacare 'here to stay,' president tells GOP - Washington Examiner

Declaring that the "Affordable Care Act is here to stay," President Obama on Thursday urged Americans to ignore Republican misgivings about his signature legislative achievement just five days before the launch of open enrollment in Obamacare. He warned Thursday he would never allow Republicans to kill or delay his health care law, raising the stakes in a showdown that could shutter the government or trigger a US debt default.

~Lord, we thank You that You are our King, and You are the King of all kings! We bind up spirits of pride and control from our administration, and ask that in its place humility would come, and a dependence on You for wisdom. We thank You that we do not live under a dictatorship, but, instead, give You our worship and attention. We do speak against this evil legislation, called "Obamacare", and ask that it would be changed to be more beneficial to all Americans, and that those who "framed" this law for health insurance, would have to live under it as well. We thank You, Amen.

- "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (I Peter 5:5,6)


6. Republicans demand healthcare law delay for debt rise - BBC

Republicans have said they will only agree to raise the US debt ceiling if the Obama health law is delayed a year. The demand headlines a conservative wish list that the party is set to put forward in negotiations over the federal borrowing limit. President Barack Obama hit back by accusing Republicans of "crazy" scare mongering about the health law.

~Abba, we ask for Your wisdom to be given to all of our Senators and Representatives as they consider these matters before You. We ask that both sides of this debate will use wisdom on both the issue of the healthcare law, and the debt legislation. Human nature seems to procrastinate dealing with issues until the last minute, but that creates an atmosphere of "panic", which we are now seeing in Congress. We pray that even if a "stop-gap" measure would be adopted regarding the deep hole of debt we find ourselves in, that further agreement and legislation will take place without deadlines looming. In Your Name we pray, Amen.

- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self control." (II Timothy 5:7)

	The Middle East in Focus

The Middle East in Focus

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"He is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those with Him are the called and elect and faithful."(Revelation 17:14)


1. Biblical-era town discovered in Galilee - UPI

Archeologists claim to have found the ancient town of Dalmanutha, described in the New Testament as the place Jesus sailed to after multiplying the loaves and fish.


2. Rouhani calls on Israel to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 'without delay' - Jerusalem Post

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday denounced the proliferation, use and stockpiling of nuclear weapons in his first extensive speech on the issue since assuming office.


3. Hamas, Islamic Jihad call for a third intifada - Jerusalem Post

On the eve of PA President Mahmoud Abbas's speech at the UN General Assembly, a number of Palestinian groups called for launching a third intifada against Israel.


4. Top minister accuses Abbas of lying to world in UN address - Times of Israel

After almost a week of leading Israel's United Nations delegation, Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz is preparing to hand over the reins to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hailing Israel's efforts at spoiling Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's "celebrations here."


5. Assad: We could blind Israel in an instant - Jerusalem Post

"We now possess deterrent weapons that are more important and more sophisticated than chemical weapons," Syrian President Bashar Assad told visitors to his palace in Damascus on Thursday.


6. Abbas at the UNGA: Israeli-Palestinian peace means Arab recognition of Israel - Jerusalem Post

Peace between Israel and the Palestinians will result in recognition of Israel from 57 Arab states, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said during his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

	The Persecuted Church

Today's Focus: The Persecuted Church

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." (2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV)


ICC Joins with Area Pastors, Members of Congress to Pray for Saeed Abedini outside White House - The Christian Post

WASHINGTON - Around 100 people including pastors, congressmen and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), joined in prayer and protest in front of the White House for Iranian-born pastor Saeed Abedini, to mark the one-year anniversary of his imprisonment.

"We are here today on a somber moment," Cruz told the crowd. "Pastor Abedini's only crime was professing his Christian faith, following the Great Commission of the Gospel."

Abedini, an Iranian-American pastor, was arrested on Sept. 26, 2012, while building orphanages in Iran. In January, he was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of "planting house churches that are intended to undermine national security."

The protestors gathered in front of the White House because President Barack Obama has yet to issue a statement about pastor Abedini.

"We now have a U.S. citizen, an American, sitting in one of the worst prisons in the world - sitting when he can. . only because of his Christian faith," said Jordan Sekulow, director of policy and international operations for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). He argued that the charges of national security are merely an excuse for arresting this outspoken Christian.

Sekulow also announced that prayer vigils were occurring in approximately 70 U.S. cities and 17 foreign countries. Sekulow added that pastor Abedini's wife, Nagmeh, spoke at the same time, and he noted that renowned evangelist Billy Graham had sent a letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and sponsored an ad in the New York Times requesting for Abedini's release.

Washington, D.C.-area pastors also spoke at the vigil, demanding their fellow pastor's release. L. Frazier White, pastor of Faith Tabernacle DC, emphasized the power of prayer. He acknowledged that he is new to the case, but said that he stands in solidarity with pastor Abedini because he represents the universal Church of Christ.


For more news about the Persecuted Church, and how you can be more involved in intercession for these precious saints, go here.

	ADF Files Obamacare Petition at Supreme Court

ADF Files Obamacare Petition Before Supreme Court


Obamacare is before the U.S. Supreme Court again. On Thursday, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) lawyers filed the first viable petition for Supreme Court review involving Kathleen Sebelius' HHS Mandate, which requires employers to provide abortion-related insurance coverage, even if those employers have a religious objection to abortion.

Section 1001 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or Obamacare) requires all large employers to offer "preventive services" to their employees or face enormous financial penalties. With President Obama's approval, Sebelius issued a regulation that defined preventive services to include access to birth control, including those that cause abortions after conception. The regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) only allows narrow exceptions, such as for churches, but leaves other religion-oriented or religiously-owned employers subject to the regulation.

Over 60 lawsuits have been filed nationwide against this unprecedented government command. Many involve nonprofit entities, such as the University of Notre Dame. But roughly 35 of these lawsuits involve for-profit businesses which are wholly owned by a person or family with a religious belief against abortion, such as devout Christians .

These lawsuits argue both that the HHS Mandate violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment as well as a federal law called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The federal appeals courts have split on whether a religiously-owned business can claim religious-liberty protections and whether requiring people to provide abortion-related services is a substantial burden on religious faith.

In Conestoga Wood Specialties v. Sebelius, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held in its opinion that the company-owned by the Hahn family, who are devout Mennonites-must obey the HHS Mandate even though they believe abortion is immoral, because companies cannot assert religious-liberty rights. In ADF's petition for certiorari, the Hahns' lawyers ask the Supreme Court to reverse the Third Circuit. The petition states, "Petitioners, a Mennonite family and their closely-held, family-run woodworking business, object as a matter of conscience to facilitating certain contraceptives that they believe can destroy human life."

It is almost certain the Supreme Court will take up this issue in the coming year, and Conestoga is the first case to offer an acceptable vehicle for the justices to take up the question. Another such case would have been Hobby Lobby's challenge to the mandate, but Hobby Lobby won before the Tenth Circuit appeals court; the Obama-Holder Justice Department has not asked the High Court to grant review.

This ADF case could well be the next case involving Obama's namesake legislation considered by the Supreme Court, this time raising profound concerns regarding religious liberty impacting millions of Americans, especially observant Christians.

"All Americans, including family business owners, should be free to live and do business according to their faith," ADF Vice President David Cortman-who is lead counsel in the case-told Breitbart News in a statement. "A major aspect of freedom is at stake: If the government can force the Hahns to violate their faith just to engage in their livelihood, then the government can do the same or worse to others."

ADF Senior Counsel Matt Bowman agrees. "The question is whether the government can pick and choose what faith is, who the faithful are, and when and where they can exercise that faith." Bowman, who has argued several of ADF's ten lawsuits nationwide against the HHS Mandate, added as another dimension of this case, "The cost of religious freedom for the Hahn family and many other job creators across the country who face this mandate is severe. The potential for massive fines and lawsuits would cripple their businesses and threaten jobs."

The Obama administration now has 30 days to explain to the Supreme Court why the justices should not take this case and resolve the split between the federal appeals courts. The Court will likely vote in November whether to hear arguments in the case, which, if granted, would occur next spring.

> > > Corrected prayer request:

Please pray that the Supreme Court will, indeed, take this Obamacare case.

- "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people." (Prov. 12:34)

	The Daily Jot

If one can put a 1,000 to flight . . .

[The Obamacare Battle in the Senate]

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tx) has taken a courageous stance against socialist healthcare through a 21 hour filibuster to hold the Senate accountable to the will of the people. While there are some citizens who are for turning America into a socialist enterprise that will ultimately line the pockets of leftists with tax money, some 52% of Americans are against it, according to a recent CBS poll. Now you know if the liberal CBS organization does a poll and it shows over half against something it supports, the skews in the poll are such that far more than 52% are against socialist healthcare. Notwithstanding, we know that Democrats are not listening to the people, but you may be surprised that neither are Republicans.

WorldNetDaily's Garth Kant reports that it appears the Republican leadership is turning a deaf ear to the wishes of the people. For example, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell 's phone lines are closed--saying the public should call back later or visit his website. Arizona Senator John McCain has time to tweet about the "final episode of Broadchurch", but he's not answering the phone from voters either. Kant reports that "Callers to Minority Whip Sen John Cornyn, R-Texas, also got a message saying the line was busy, but at least those callers were sent to voicemail." In other words, these guys will tell you they don't want socialized healthcare, but they don't want to hear your heart on it.

There is an old trick in politics that I remember played over and over again in my 16 years as a political consultant to high level candidates and incumbents. They tell the public what they want to hear. They very craftily schedule a vote on it. They get on record as opposing or supporting the measure, knowing it will fail. Then they write letters and communicate to their constituents that they did the best they could, but in the end those nasty (Democrats) politicians forced the measure on the American people. Nonetheless, they vow to keep fighting on your behalf. All along they really didn't want the measure to succeed, but in the next election they have enough verbiage and votes to make a good television commercial.

The only way to beat this system is through extraordinary action. People must be publicly vocal even to the point of civil disobedience. Senator Cruz has taken the first step. Leviticus 26:8 says, "And five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put then thousand to flight." Deuteronomy 32:30 says, "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had given them up?" Socialized medicine is the gateway to tyranny. Through it, evils such as abortion, euthanasia, promotion of homosexuality to children, intense personal spying and a host of other horrors will be at the government's fingertips. Now is the time for action. Do what your Rock lays on your heart.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!

Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

> > > A Hint from CHPP:

Each senator has offices in his own state for constituent (voters') business. These offices are always located in the State Capitol, but also at other sites as well.

Staffers in those offices are taking calls; or at the very least, the answering machines are working to record your opinions.

Don't give up! Call Information (411), name your state's capitol city, and ask to be connected to the office of "Senator XXX," and let your voice be heard!

	As the CR Turns. . .

As the CR (Continuing Resolution) Turns . . .

The Obamacare Debate in Congress


Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may be asleep, but his chamber is anything but. While the GOP's ironman catches a few winks after his 21-hour ObamaCare beat down, the rest of his colleagues are buzzing around, trying to speed up a vote on the government's short-term budget bill. After some debate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is pushing for a Friday morning showdown on the House's legislation to fund the government and defund the health care law.

While the Senate slogs through the procedural rules, the House is behind closed doors plotting its next move in a political chess match that could have enormous implications for the future of America. For now, both sides seem to be leaning toward a shorter continuing resolution (or CR) that would expire a month earlier than December 15.

To get there, Congress may need to buy some time -- about a week -- to hash out details of a broader plan. "We are not going to vote on a clean CR [that funds ObamaCare]," said Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.). "If we can come to some sort of agreement and do a short-term piece while we are working on language fine. But if not, we're stuck." If the House agrees, both chambers could shake hands on a bridge bill -- a seven-day extension that would give the parties a chance to reprioritize. Unfortunately, the rest of America doesn't have a week to regroup. "ObamaCare starts in four days," Rep. Tom Graves warned.

. . . While customers prepare to be squeezed, conservatives are desperately trying to choke off -- or at least put off -- the law. After this morning's House GOP conference meeting, members seemed even more determined to tie ObamaCare to the debt limit bill. When America's bills come due on October 17, conservatives will offer to authorize those payments in exchange for a one-year delay on ObamaCare. What's more, House leaders seem willing to go to the mat for voters' First Amendment rights. In my and our staff's conversations with members, we've been assured that conscience language and religious protections will included in the House's debt ceiling proposal -- a victory almost two and half years in the making.

While conservatives may disagree on how to spare America from the President's biggest mistake, the important thing is that they agree on the why. At the end of the day, most of the country feels like this Republican senator: "I'm for delay, defund, demolish, destroy, whatever the 'd' is, when it comes to ObamaCare, I'm for."

(Family Research Council; edited)

	Joel Rosenberg's Letter to President Rouhani

Dear President Rouhani, Jesus Christ loves you.
But judgment is coming, the Bible warns in Jeremiah 49:34-39.
Let me explain.

By Joel C. Rosenberg
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013


Dear President Rouhani,

While you are here in the United States, I would like to take a moment to share with you two very important truths:

First, the Bible makes clear that God loves all the people of the world, including the people of Iran.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob loves Persians. Jesus Christ loves you. He loves all Muslims. He wants to forgive you and your people and save you and adopt you and your family into His family to be His children and to go to heaven forever and ever.

The Lord Jesus Christ said, "For God so loves the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).

Anyone who truly repents and receives Christ by faith as Savior and Lord will be saved. "But as many as received Him [Christ], to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)

This is the Gospel, the good news.

Second, the Bible also warns that judgment is coming to the Iranian regime in the last days.

Speaking of "Elam," an ancient name for the nation we know today as Iran, the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "That which came as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying: 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, I am going to break the bow of Elam, the finest of their might. I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four ends of heaven, and will scatter them to all these winds; and there will be no nation to which the outcasts of Elam will not go. So I will shatter Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their lives; and I will bring calamity upon them, even My fierce anger," declares the Lord, "And I will send out the sword after them Until I have consumed them. Then I will set My throne in Elam and destroy out of it king and princes," declares the Lord. "But it will come about in the last days that I will restore the fortunes of Elam," declares the Lord.'" (Jeremiah 49:34-39)

The prophet tells us that there is coming a day when the Lord will have "fierce anger" against "the king and princes" of Iran and "will bring calamity upon them."

When will this judgment come? I cannot say for certain.

But in the name of Jesus Christ, I urge you to take these and all the Scriptures to heart. I implore you embrace God's love, repent of your sins, and receive Christ as Savior and Lord by faith.

More Iranians have left Islam and come to faith in Christ since 1979 than at any time in the last 14 centuries. More than one million Iranian Muslims have become Christians in the last three decades.

I pray that you will become one of them. Time may be short. Do not delay.

"Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the Day of Salvation,'" says the Bible. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

I recently gave an address explaining God's love for the people of Iran, and explaining the prophecy of Jeremiah 49 concerning the people of Elam (Iran). My prayer is that you will take time to listen to it to understand the prophecy and its implications more fully.

My family and I are praying for you, President Rouhani. Many Christians are, as well.

[To read this column -- and/or to listen to the podcast of my recent message explaining God's love for Iran and the prophecies of Jeremiah 49:34-39 -- please go to the blog at either www.joelrosenberg.com, or http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/]

	The Good News Corner

The Good News Corner

100 Days of Prayer with North Korean Church


The North Korean believers have initiated this 100 Days of Prayer, and a South Korean ministry and church, called Doers of The Word Church, have taken this up to spread it out to the nations.

Please go to this link to find out more.

This 100 days calls for families to meet in the common areas of life to worship with the North Korean church. Common areas, as you will see in the video, can be around the dinner table, in a park, restaurant - really anywhere. What would be easy or us to do here will be for the North Koreans possibly instant death - and they are gonna do it anyway. That is what is significant about this 100 days of Prayer. Will you consider joining in, spreading the news and following Hebrews 13:3?

" Remember the prisoners as if chained with them-those who are mistreated-since you yourselves are in the body also." (Hebrews 13:3)

	Worship With Us Today!

Worship With Us Today!

SINGING OVER ME
Kari Jobe

When I waited so long, when my tears were my song
With my hope nearly gone You held me God
To believe in the face of the dry, weary place
When You felt far away You held me God

	Pray for the Harvest!

Pray for the Harvest!

"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)


Every day, in every nation on earth, tens of thousands of men and women are making decisions for Christ. Now, you can monitor this amazing fact online by literally "watching" as these souls are born again into the Kingdom.

Of course, the identities of those who are coming to the Lord are never revealed, but our God knows who they are! Join us as we monitor these "names" daily, praying over each one to be mentored and to grow in his or her faith . . . even in these perilous times. You may visit either or both of the sites below, to pray for fields that are ripe for harvest.

> > > OPTION ONE: AboutJesus.net

Go here!

> > > OPTION TWO: The Great Commission Map!

Go here!