The time period of 40 days has great significance in the Bible, figuring into the lives of Jesus, Jonah and Hosea, among others.
The world is in the middle of an important 40-day period of its own, says American Pastors Network (APN, americanpastorsnetwork.net
“This week, through Oct.1, is the National Week of Repentance, and these 40 days between the eclipse watched by much of North America and Sept. 30 have great significance,” Rohrer said. “These 40 days are a time for prayer, especially in the wake of many natural disasters and unrest. Periods like these were also common in the Bible, where God gave his people warnings and implored them to repent.
“So we must ask, ‘What should be happening in our country?'” Rohrer continued. “‘How should the American people be responding?’ We can tie these important questions to everything we see happening in our world—from hurricanes to earthquakes. God is indeed trying to get our attention. And everything fits within the context of taking heed of this warning, repenting and getting right with God. The American Pastors Network’s urgent message is: ‘Wake up, church!’ Do we understand? Are we hearing and is it leading to repentance?”
Rohrer added that pastors especially should be encouraging their people to listen to God’s message, ask “What are you saying, God?” and get on their knees to repent.
“The verse 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)—’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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land’—was used widely during the presidential election of 2016,” Rohrer said. “But now, many have forgotten. The post-election message was that our nation had a short period of time—a small window of opportunity—to steer the ship right. What will the church do in that window? Go back to sleep or further engage? These past few weeks have been a very tangible wake-up call. We must look up and understand, and know that what happens in this country hinges on the people of God. Are they hearing, are they watching and are they responding?”
Rohrer and his fellow hosts of APN’s radio ministry, “Stand in the Gap Today,” which airs on 425 stations nationwide, have been addressing these timely headlines and their tie to biblical times.
“In Isaiah Chapter 5, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed judgment on the Jerusalem of his day,” Rohrer said on a recent “Stand in the Gap” program. “Could his words be the final words of judgment on America of our day? His message was one of final judgment. No more warnings. No more time. God said, I’ll destroy your nation because you’ve rejected my commands and despised My holy name. Therefore, My fearsome anger will come against you and no nation will stand against Me. In that day, Israel deserved God’s judgment. We in America should look in the mirror and consider our sins in light of Israel then: materialism; apathy; ignorance; moral relativism; addictions of all types; bribery and corruption; rampant dishonesty. Is not God clearly warning our nation?”
“Stand in the Gap Today” is co-hosted by Rohrer, along with Dave Kistler, president of the North Carolina Pastors Network (NCPN, www.ncpastors.net),and Gary Dull, executive director of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN, www.papastors.net); find a station here or listen online at www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net by clicking on the orange “Listen Live” button on the right-hand side of the website daily at noon ET. Read more about the American Pastors Network and its “Stand in the Gap” radio ministry here.
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