INTRODUCTION
Jul 4, 2013 we celebrate 237 years of Independence from British rule
We came to this country, not for freedom of speech, but freedom of religion!
What we wanted in our independence was the freedom to worship God without interference from the government
We are very blessed to live in a country that still, even in the midst of all ungodliness, considers itself “ONE NATION UNDER GOD”
My message today is AMERICA: GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE
We have freedom today, not because of war, not because of a “Declaration of Independence”
But because we serve a God that has shed His grace on us as a nation
I want us to see today that we are free because of (1) God’s Grace and (2) God’s Mercy
Read passage / Pray
We are so blessed today to be called an American…our nation was founded on the principles of God’s Word
And we are a nation today, said to be a Christian nation, because of…
1. God’s Grace
The word “grace” is found in the KJ Bible 159 times
In the Old and New Testament is means the same thing
Grace literally means God’s unmerited, unearned favor on sin ridden humanity
God Shed his grace, his unmerited, unearned favor on America some 237 years ago and He is still shedding it upon us today
Grace is receiving from God what we don’t deserve
Turn to Eph 2:4-9
I don’t know why…I can’t explain it…but God, even today, is as vs 7 says “in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
As much as we have sinned and rebelled…God still gives us grace everyday in America
Even when we have stiffened our necks…shook our fist in defiance…and then cried out for forgiveness…He hears and still forgives and gives us favor
This is nothing new, turn to Neh 9:25-31
God gave us a land in America…rich land…full of goods…trees in abundance
A prosperous land…a land flowing of milk and honey
A land that everyone desires to come to and make a go at their life
And even today…just like back in this day in Nehemiah’s time…our nation has rebelled and turned away from God
And look what it says in vs 28 “…yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven…and delivered them
Today we live in a world that was not much different from Noah’s day
Gen 6:5 says “Then the Lord saw that wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Gen 6:6 says “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”
Men were rebelling against God…committing every kind of perversion known to mankind
But, there was one man that was said in Gen 6:9 who “walked with God”
Gen 6:8 says, “Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord”
God did not have to have favor but He found one man that was living for Him and spared him and his family
God does not have to have favor or grace on America but He does because of men 237 years ago and still men and women today who walk with God
This country we call America was founded by men who found favor with God (grace) not because of anything they did but because THEY WALKED WITH GOD LIKE NOAH DID
Listen to some of these Godly men’s last will and testaments:
Samuel Adams (Signer of Dec of Indep) “First of all…I rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ for the pardon of all my sins.”
Patrick Henry – “This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family which leaves them poor…but my Jesus that I serve can give them an inheritance which will indeed make them rich.”
John Quincy Adams “My hopes of a future life are all founded upon the Gospel of Christ and I cannot quibble away my Godly heritage…”
George Washington “You will do well to leave above all else…the religion of Jesus Christ.”
Jacob Broom (Signer of Constit to his son) “Don’t forget to be a Christian…”
God has shed his grace on America today because it was founded by men who did as Noah and walked with God
He did not have to show His grace…but He did and I am so glad He did
We need to remember this 4th of July to thank God for His unmerited, undeserved grace today on us and our country and that He hasn’t given up on us yet
TRANS: You cannot really talk about God’s grace without also looking at…
2. God’s Mercy
If grace is receiving what we don’t deserve, then what is mercy?
The word mercy is found in the KJ bible 261 times
Mercy literally means “compassion or love”
Mercy then is NOT receiving what we do deserve
Mercy is God’s compassion on sin ridden humanity…we deserve to be cast into the eternal lake of fire forever
But God had compassion on us
Rom 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death but the gift (mercy or compassion) of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God’s mercy is so great that Paul tells us in Rom 5:8 “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Titus 3:5 says “Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us”
Daniel 9:18 “We do not make a request of you because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercies.”
Our text Lam 3:22 “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions (mercy) fail not.”
Exodus 33:19 (KJV)
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
God did not have to show mercy to America…and looking at our current situation and the rebellious people
We deserve to perish like Sodom and Gomorrah or like those in Noah’s day
But Isa 1:9 says “Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom…and Gomorrah.”
You and I are the remnant today, not because of who we are, not because we live in America
But because God had mercy on us and saved us…because He had compassion on us
And His mercies are new every morning as it says in Lam 3:23
As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember to thank God for his MERCY, His compassion for our nation and for us that is new every morning
CONCLUSION
As we are still a nation that God has chosen to show mercy and grace towards…the question still comes to mind…WHY?
I believe Paul has that answer for us in 1 Tim 1:12-16 (turn there)
Vs 16 is the key “However for this reason, I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
1 Tim. 1:16 (NLT)
But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
America has been shown the mercy and grace of God and now expects for us to be the example for others who would believe
What a tremendous responsibility and yet what a humbling responsibility as a Christian living in America
I pray we all are willing to be a living example of God’s mercy and grace and others can see it in us and will believe.
May we live our lives so that others can see AMERICA: GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE!!!
Pray / Invitation
