Will God Sue America for Divorce?
As I stand behind this Holy Desk this morning, my heart Aches for the USA that I Gave 20 years of my life defending as a member of the Armed Services.
This is a sermon I never thought I would have to preach, but America has lost her way.
The ungodly people whose voices are being heard are trying their best to
Banish God from public life in America.
Recent events:
• The supreme court rules in favor of “Inadvertent” profanity on
The airways.
• All reference to God removed from the top of the Washington Monument.
• This Blessed Christmas season, the major retailers refuse to allow
The term “Christmas” in their stores so they don’t offend non Christians.
• Teens in one state cannot chew Gum in class, but they can get birth control pills from the school nurse.
The list goes on and on, but the bottom line is simply, that America
Has become a Godless Nation and America has lost her way.
I know how Jeremiah must have felt as he tried to warn the masses.
In his commentary on Jeremiah (Bible Knowledge Commentary pg 1113) Charles Dyer wrote in his introduction:
“Jeremiah was the blazing torch who, along with Ezekiel in Babylon, exposed the darkness of Judah’s sin. He was a weeping prophet to a wayward people”.
Our text this morning is found in Jeremiah Chapter three.
Jer 3:1,4,5,8 (NIV)
"If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he return to her again? Would not the land be completely defiled? But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers— would you now return to me?" declares the LORD.... Have you not just called to me: ‘My Father, my friend from my youth, will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?’ This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can. ... I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries."
Could we not add a caveat this morning that says?
“Because the USA has turned away from God will he not also give her a
Certificate of divorce and send her away because of all her adulteries”?
America has lost it’s way, the American Church has become so much like the world at large the lines are blurred. Programs, Order of Service, “Specials” and the Clock has become more important than the Ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday Morning Praise and Worship has become an entertainment segment of the morning service. Commitment is a word that few Christians understand. Fluffy feel good sermons, Cotton candy theology, and false teaching have invaded the church in America. In the words of one evangelist “Our Churches are preaching little sermonett’s to little Christianett’s”.
Silly arguments over denominational dogmas prevent Christians
From standing together in unity to combat this enemy.
The Presidential Candidates lining up to be our next leader are running to the churches to “put on a show” (Check their Church attendance records for the past 2 years). To many Christians Party affiliation is more important than where the candidate stands on moral issues and basic Christian values.
Hollywood goes out of its way to insult Christians. Yet Christians continue to flock to the Theatre on Sunday afternoon. If Christians
Across America Avoided the theatre for three months Hollywood would feel the pinch where they understand it most; in their wallet.
I recently received an e-mail from a friend. It had an attachment; titled: 27 INDICATIONS THAT WE NEED REVIVAL.
The author is listed as “unknown”. I present it here this morning for the simple reason; it makes sense.
1. When we do not love Him as we once did.
2. When earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than eternal ones.
3. When we would rather watch TV and read secular books and magazines than read the Bible and pray.
4. When we have little or no desire for prayer.
5. When we would rather make money than give money.
6. When our Christianity is joyless and passionless.
7. When we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives.
8. When we make little effort to witness to the lost.
9. when we have time for sports, recreation, and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer.
10. When we do not tremble at the Word of God.
11. When we seldom think thoughts of eternity.
12. When we are more concerned about our jobs and careers than about the Kingdom of Christ and the salvation of the lost.
13.. When Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.
14. When our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular
Philosophies and ungodly lifestyles.
15. When we watch things on TV and movies that we would not show in church.
16. When our prayers lack fervency.
17. When our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.
18. When our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.
19. When we aren’t seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God.
20. When we are bored with worship.
21. When we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks about us.
22. When we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us.
23. When we are unmoved by the thought of our neighbors, business
Associates and acquaintances going to hell.
24. When we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our sin.
25. When we aren’t exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.
26. When the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages and our church.
27. When we are blind to the extent of our need and don’t think we need revival.
Author Unknown.
Many financial analysts are predicting conditions worse than the depression of 1929. But like in the days of Noah everyone laughs and continues on.
Is there an answer to all of this? Of course there is.
• If we take our queue from Nineveh, and repent as a nation.
• If Christians stand together in unity across Denominational lines to
Boycott the Companies and retailers that offend Christians.
• Stay out of Movie theatres for 3 months to protest the filth coming out of Hollywood.
• Pray for our country; add family Bible study, and family meals to your daily routine.
• Support your church.
• Encourage your pastor to not throw in the towel.
In that vein, a couple of year’s back I wrote and article entitled “The Pastor of my church” I include it here today simply because your Pastor needs your encouragement.
The Pastor of My Church
Who is this man that stands behind that Holy Desk every Sunday Morning?
What does he see as he looks out over the congregation? What must he be thinking?
The Pastor of my church wears many hats. He is the CEO of a large corporation and has to deal with all the issues associated with running a business. He has Employees to care for, a Board of Directors (Deacons) to confer with. There is nothing spiritual about Accounts Receivables/Payables but he is responsible to account for every ledger entry. He oversees the Nursery staff to ensure the safety of your Children. He has to prepare for the annual meeting of shareholders (Church Members) answers their endless torrent of questions, and be prepared to give a "State of the Church Address".
The Pastor of My Church is a Maintenance man. When the electrical system goes awry, when the Plumbing backs up, or the Sound System breaks down he is the first one to be called.
The Pastor of My Church is a Hospice Chaplain, when death is near he is on call 24 X 7
He stands at the bedside of the dying to Minister Peace as they begin their journey into eternity. He consoles the grieving family member left behind to deal with the loss.
The Pastor of My Church is my Teacher, my Mentor, my Role Model, and my Friend.
The Pastor of My Church is a Husband, and a Father. He has to fulfill all of his Family duties in the midst of the chaotic schedule.
The Pastor of My Church is our Sheppard one who has been called by God himself to watch over this body of believers. What’s he thinking? He is thinking about his family, he is thinking about you, he is thinking about his Ministry and how he can improve it.
But most of all The Pastor of My Church is a Human Being, under a tremendous amount of pressure in this 21st century Church environment.
It’s a pity that we wait once a year to show him and his family our "Appreciation".
Pray for him everyday, never fail to give him a kind word of encouragement, tell him what a good job he is doing, you would be surprised how far that goes to lighten the burden he is carrying.
PS.
Don’t forget his Wife; she has to Minister to Him in the midst of the storm.
Rev Wayne L. Doyle
October 21, 2004
May you leave here this morning with a renewed commitment to pray for our nation.
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Benediction.
Note: Power point slides available e-mail me at
revwd01@gmail.com
