A Bankrupt Nation 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
John MacArthur in his book “Can God Bless America” states that “America wants God’s blessing but not God. Our nation has systematically pushed Him out of the national consciousness—rejecting biblical morality, ignoring His Word, and relying on the political and entertainment arenas for moral guidance.” The result is that we have become a bankrupt nation – financially, morally and spiritually. As politicians, economists, and sociologists scramble to find a cure for the nation’s woes, God has provided America with His prescription in His Word.
I. America is Financially Bankrupt
A. Proverbs 11:28 “He that trusts in his riches shall fall...”
B. Standard and Poor’s downgraded America’s long-term AAA credit rating for the first time in American history.
C. The United States national debt has passed $14 trillion. For each dollar spend by the federal government 40 cents is borrowed. The US has a debt that is almost four times the size of its economy. The National Debt has continued to increase an average of $3.95 billion per day since September 28, 2007
D. Forty-four states are currently facing deep budget gaps. Cities across America are faced with economic insolvency.
E. Central Falls, Rhode Island’s poorest city has filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, a scene that likely will be repeated over and over again by many municipalities.
F. Unemployment stands at 9.1%. Some 14 million Americans who looked for a job in July did not find one. This figure does not include people working part- time for economic reasons nor those who did not look for work because of personal reasons or the "discouraged workers" who have given up hope. Including those persons in the unemployment calculation would push the U.S. jobless rate up to 16.1 percent
G. 1 Timothy 6:17 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”
II. America is Morally Bankrupt
A. Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach (a disgrace) to any people.”
B. Alcoholism, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality, school violence, child abuse, pornography, rape, robbery and murder pervade our nation. America is drowning in wickedness and immorality
C. i.e. - Oregon approved legalized physician-assisted suicide in 1994 and reaffirmed the law in 1997, making Oregon the first government in the world to make the practice legal.
D. California law AB1785, requires pro-homosexual tolerance education at all public schools and all grade levels, including Kindergarten. AB1931 provides taxpayer funded grants to take children on field trips to teach them diversity and tolerance of homosexuality.
E. Almost ten years ago, U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan published a disturbing essay entitled "Defining Deviancy Down." In an issue of The New Republic, Commentator Charles Krauthammer wrote that "Moynihan's powerful point is that with the moral deregulation of the 1960s, we have had an explosion of deviancy in family life, criminal behavior and public displays of psychosis. And we have dealt with it in the only way possible: by redefining deviancy down so as to explain away and make 'normal' what a more civilized, ordered and healthy society long ago would have labeled--and long ago did label--deviant." Christian Research Institute letter, December 6, 1993.
F. Isaiah 5:20 “0 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
G. Sin is still sin regardless what label you put on it.
III. America is Spiritually Bankrupt
A. America is incrementally and systematically Rejecting God. America’s moral bankruptcy is symptomatic of its Spiritual Bankruptcy.
• In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled against prayer in our schools. In 1963, they outlawed Bible Readings.
• In Alaska public schools, students were told they could not use the word "Christmas" in school because it had the word "Christ" in it, nor could they have the word in their notebooks, nor exchange Christmas cards or presents, nor display anything with the word "Christmas" on it." William J. Murray, "America Without God," The New American, June 20, 1988, p.19
• Public schools were barred from showing a film about the settlement of Jamestown because the film depicted the erection of a cross at the settlement, despite the historical fact that a cross was erected at the Jamestown settlement. John Eidsmoe, "Christianity and the Constitution" (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987), p. 406
B. America is no longer guided by Christian principles. For the greater part of our society secular humanism has become her god.
C. To believe in the God of the Bible in America today invites the wrath of the media. True Christianity, is ridiculed, vilified, and hated. But if you want to propagate strange gods? America will open her arms. No problem! Take your choice! Whether its Buddha, Hare Krishna, the moon god – Allah, or Al Gores’ earth goddess Gaia as long as it’s not the Lord Jesus Christ feel free to worship.
D. When Governor Perry of Texas, in a non-political prayer rally on Saturday, called for American Christian’s to pray the Protesters gathered outside the arena to condemn the event. One of the protestors include a minister who touted, "The brand of Christianity being offered today is one of fear, and we want to let people know that God loves everyone, not to be afraid,"
E. "As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, so they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins by national calamities." - George Mason, Father of the Bill of Rights
F. America has been blessed by God, but America has forgotten God and will face God’s judgment. While God loves the sinner He hates sin. God may love but He will not tolerate sin nor share His glory with any other.
G. Psalms 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
IV. God’s Reorganizing Plan for a Bankrupt Nation
A. 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.”
B. “If my people, which are called by my name...”
1. While this passage is directed at the nation of Israel, the application can be made to the believer as we are called by the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2. Texas Gov. Rick Perry asked Christians to turn to God for answers to the nation's troubles
C. “...shall humble themselves...”
1. Isaiah 6:5 “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips...”
2. To grow tall spiritually, we must first learn to kneel. - copied
D. “...pray...”
1. Prayer for personal cleansing and revival
2. Psalm 24:3-4 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”
3. Then Intercessory prayer - 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;”
E. “...turn from their wicked ways...”
1. Christians need to return to being the light of the world.
2. Romans 12:2 “...be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed ...”
3. "Repentance means we love our Savior more than we love our sin." --Kent Crockett
4. Jeremiah 18:8 "If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
F. “...then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
1. "If all the sleeping folks will wake up, and all the lukewarm folks will fire up, and all the disgruntled folks will sweeten up, and all the discouraged folks will cheer up, and all the depressed folks will look up, and all the estranged folks will make up, and all the gossiping folks will shut up, and all the dry bones will shake up, and all the true soldiers will stand up, and all the church members will pray up, and if the Savior of all will be lifted up . . . then we can have the greatest renewal this world has ever known." --Richard Cardinal Cushing (Eric S. Ritz, www.Sermons.com as cited in Weekend Encounter 8/20/09)
2. Psalms 145:19 “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.”
