America: A Time To Stand

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• We live in a great if not the greatest nation to exist in the human history.

• The way the country gained its’ independence from one of the most powerful nations at the time lead by a man who lost many battles as the commander of the Continental Army it has to make one wonder how?

• How could the fledgling nation overcome insurmountable odds to become a free nation?

• It took people who understood it was it was time to stand.

• Taxation without representation, among other things caused our founding fathers to stand up to the tyranny of Britain.

• They were willing to suffer the loss of life, property and their person freedom to stand up of principles later articulated in the Declaration of Independence and later the Constitution and the Bill of Needs err, the Bill of Rights!

• Even though we had people willing to take a stand and fight for freedom, is that in itself enough to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds that faced them as they stepped up to fight?

• I think not. It is not only the willingness to stand but it is also who you stand with that matters!

• John Adams (SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE; JUDGE; DIPLOMAT; ONE OF TWO SIGNERS OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS; SECOND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES) states in a letter to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813:

• The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.

• John Quincy Adams, in An Oration Delivered Before the Inhabitants of the Town of Newburyport at Their Request on the Sixty-First Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1837 stated:

• In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.

• I can feed you quotes ALL day long, but let’s get to where we are going today.

• I really hate to say this but as great as our nation has been, we are in trouble, mounting debt, a sharp decline in morality, according to statistics from the CDC 40.8% of children are now born to unmarried women.

• Rising prison populations, the continued destruction of the family by a government who is trying to take the place of the father.

• We have ILLEGAL immigration issues; we have a Supreme Court who seems to be getting away from the rule of law to trying to win popularity contests.

• It breaks my heart; I could go on and on.

• SO we have issues, what do we do about it? If you like where we are headed, it is easy, do nothing, keep electing the same folks who helped create the mess.

• To me that is not acceptable, I am thankful the founding fathers saw fit to take a stand, and today is the day for you to stand.

• We are going to look at Psalm 119:41-48. We do not know the author of this Psalm though some would suggest the author to be Ezra.

• Coincidences between the language of the text and the history of Ezra's time hint that this great scribe may have been the writer. Old Testament Survey Series, The - The Old Testament Survey Series – The Wisdom Literature and Psalms.

• In this Psalm I see a call to action. If you feel we are heading down the path to ruin, it is time for you to do something; sitting on the sidelines will no longer cut it.

• I pray we will all be stirred to action!

• Let’s begin with verses 41-43!

• SLIDE #2

• Psalm 119:41–43 (ESV) 41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; 42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

America now is…

I. A time to stand up to society. (41-43)

• The Psalmist begins this section of the lengthy Psalm be talking about the love of God.

• The Psalmist in is inviting God’s love to come to him along with inviting the promised salvation.

• The Psalmist is longing for deliverance!

• Now he takes the thought to the next level, the Psalmist wants to be able to bear witness to the great love God has to others.