A Nation's Only Hope

Turn your Bibles to the book Romans 13:1-2; 4-6

Title: A Nation’s Only Hope

Theme: Leaders who are God Ordained to be a Blessing

Introduction: The Word of God tells us a lot about governmental authority. Many people, Christians and non-Christians, have become discouraged in what they are seeing in the political process. Many are convincing themselves that it is not worth the trouble to participate in one of the greatest freedoms that God can give a nation, the opportunity of voting for political leaders.

Proposition: I would propose to you that regardless of what you hear and how you feel, God’s Word is to have the final say in your participation in the political process. Our response toward governmental rule will make the difference between receiving the Lord’s blessings on our wonderful country or experiencing the chastisements of God.

Romans 13:1-2, 4-6 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For he is God’s servant to do you good. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:1-6) Pray!

Interrogative Sentence: What does God’s Word say about government and what should be the goal for a nation that desires the blessings of God upon her people?

Transitional Sentence: The first question that must be answered is “Why does a nation that had founding fathers who feared God have laws that openly allow things to go on that are clearly against God’s Word?” Ezekiel 20:25 gives us the answer, God said to Ezekiel speaking about the people of God who rebelled against Him by not following His decrees and were not careful to keep His laws. The Lord Almighty says, “I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not live by…” (Ezekiel 20:25)

We all must understand that back in the time of laying a foundation for this nation there were men who knew Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. How many no one knows.

The foundation of this country is clearly spelled out in the words of William Bradford who became governor of the Plymouth Colony as he described the mission of the Pilgrims. Mr. Bradford said, “They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying a good foundation… for the advancement of the gospel of Christ in the remote parts of the world…”

It is very evident that the men who God used to lay the foundation of this nation were men who had a fear of the Lord. Listen to these quotations from our founding fathers and other national leaders. Men like George Washington who said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

In his farewell speech of 1796 Mr. Washington said, “Of all habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. …Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” George Washington was also a man of prayer who could grasp the heart of God. He prayed, “Direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit… Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.”

The third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson said, “God …gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis… …I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” Thomas Jefferson knew the need of a nation to walk in reverence before God and to live with a Biblical understanding of what it means to live in the fear of the Lord.

One of America’s Revolutionary leaders, Patrick Henry said, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

We know this to be true because of the heart that was reflected in men who signed the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. John Witherspoon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence said, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the Cross of Christ.” Alexander Hamilton, signer of the Constitution said, “I have a tender reliance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am a sinner. I look to Him for mercy.”