Can America Return To God

I. IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME...

A. There can be no “finger-pointing” when returning to God. He’s talking to us.

B. Judgment always begins at the House of God.

II. ...WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE…

A. It is good to be a proud American as long as we can bow to God.

B. Prayer is never obsolete, outdated or too late.

III. ...AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS...

A. We are notorious for repenting but not turning.

Repentance means to turn.

B. Do we love evil too much to turn from it?

IV. ...THEN I (GOD) WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN...

A. God is waiting to hear from us.

B. God longs for America to return to Him.

V. ...AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND HEAL THEIR LAND…

A. Forgiveness awaits all who will turn.

B. Healing awaits all who turn.

Can America return to God?

If America wants to - YES. Do we want to?

CONCLUSION

God has given us a great blessing in our country. It is a blessing worth preserving through prayer and devotion to God in the face of those who would want to tear it down. Unless we serve God we will live in bondage.

Christianity and patriotism have much in common. It is significant to note that:

Our patriotic hymn "My County, ’Tis of Thee", was written by a Baptist clergyman, Samuel Francis Smith.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy.

The words, "In God We Trust," carried on all of our coins, are traced to the efforts of the Rev. W.R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania. his letter of concern, addressed to the Hon. S.P. Chase, was dated November 13, 1861. Seven days later Mr. Chase wrote to James Pollock, Director of the U.S. Mint as follows:

"No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. Will you cause a device to be prepared without delay with a motto expressing in the finest and tersest words possible, this national recognition."

The president of the College of New Jersey, the Reverend John Witherspoon (Presbyterian) was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence.

He is too much forgotten in our history books: John Witherspoon had a far-reaching influence on democracy. He had personally taught several of the signers of the document, and nine of them were graduates of the little college over which he presided at Princeton.

When he took up his pen to put his name to the document, Witherspoon declared: "There is a tide in the affairs of men, a spark. We perceive it now before us. To hesitate is to consent to our own slavery. That noble instrument upon the table, that insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He that will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy of the name of free man. For my own part, of property I have some; of reputation, more. That reputation is staked, that property is pledged on the issue of this contest; and although these gray hairs must soon descent into the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather they descent thither by the hand of the executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country." (Author unknown)