“ If ”
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
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.
What's wrong in America, mass shootings & killings, soaring heat, drought, floods, hurricanes, tornados & earthquakes or a bankrupt economy? What's wrong in America?
God out of schools, government, “In God We Trust” out,
God against the law…..
1. Forgetting God.
It's forgetting God by it's interpretation of separation of church and state, it's forgetting God by legalizing same-sex marriage by some of our states, legalized abortion and it's forgetting God by what's being shown on prime time television.
Psalm 33:12 say's, "Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord;".
What's wrong in America, this nation is forgetting God and losing his blessings.
2. Forgetting The Church
It's forgetting the church by letting Sunday become a day of watching sports, going shopping, and sleeping in, anything and everything but church.
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go:".
Don't let Sunday become a day of everything else,
let it be a family day which includes going to church.
3. Forgetting Christian Values
It's forgetting Christian values in our schools, it's forgetting Christian values in our local, state, and national government, and it's forgetting Christian values in our society.
Proverbs 14:34 say's, "Righteousness exalteth a nation:
but sin is a reproach to any people." What's wrong in America, it's forgetting Christian values, God and the Church.
1 John 1:6-10 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Is America A Bankrupt Nation
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
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.
“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 problems, God has provided America with His prescription
for success, 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 $16 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 $4 billion a day since September, 2007...
D. Forty-four states are currently facing bankruptcy.
Cities across America are going broke.
E. Central Falls, Rhode Island filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy.
F. Unemployment stands at 14%. Some 14 million Americans who looked for a job in July did’t find one. This figure doesn’t include people working part- time nor those who didn’t look for work "discouraged workers" who have given up hope. Including those people in the calculation would push the U.S. jobless rate up to 17 percent.
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. 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. God help us.
E. Ten years ago, U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan published an essay entitled "Defining Deviancy Down."
Deviancy (what is morally normal) (Lower Standards)
"Moynihan's 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: (alteration) by redefining deviancy down so as to explain away and make 'normal' what is not…
F. Isaiah 5:20 “0h 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 of what label you put on it.
III. America is Spiritually Bankrupt
A. America is 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."
• 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 in fact erected at the Jamestown settlement.
B. America is no longer guided by Christian principles.
For the greater part of our society, secular humanism
has become her god. Universalism …. Chryslum
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, called for American Christian’s to pray,, the Protesters gathered outside the arena to condemn the event. One of the protestors including a Pastor who shouted, "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,"
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
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."
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...”
C. “...shall humble themselves...”
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.”
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. "Repent, “Love your Savior more than you love sin."
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."
2 Chronicles 7:15-18 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house,
that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes
and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me,
as David thy father walked, and do according to all
that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes
and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne
of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted
with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee
a man to be ruler in Israel.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
If you want God’s blessings you must live His Word.
If you want His promises you must know His Word.
If you want His best you must be obedient to His Word.
Twelve Things Promised Those Who Seek God
1. God will be found (1Chr. 28:9; 2Chr. 15:2; Jer. 29:13).
2. God will hear from heaven (2Chr. 7:14).
3. Forgiveness (2Chr. 7:14)
4. Healing of the land (2Chr. 7:14)
5. Goodness from God (Ezra 8:22)
6. Not want of any good thing (Ps. 34:9-10)
7. Life (Ps. 69:32; Amos 5:4-8)
8. Knowledge (Prov. 28:5)
9. Righteousness (Hos. 10:12)
10. All blessings of life (Mt. 6:33)
11. Finding what is sought (Mt. 7:7-11)
12. Answers to prayer (Heb. 11:6)
Twenty-one Characteristics of Blessed Men ( Ps. 119 )
1. They live undefiled lives (Ps. 119:1).
2. They walk in God's ways (Ps. 119:1,3).
3. They keep God's Word (Ps.119:2,4,8,17,34,57,60,63,69,88,101,106,115).
4. They seek God with the whole heart (Ps. 119:2,10).
5. They do not commit iniquity (Ps. 119:3).
6. They praise God continually (Ps. 119:7,164,171).
7. They enjoy God's Word (Ps. 119:14,16,111).
8. They trust God's Word (Ps. 119:42).
9. They refrain from every evil way (Ps. 119:101).
10. They incline the heart to obey God (Ps. 119:112).
11. They hate vain thoughts (Ps. 119:113).
12. They hate every false way (Ps. 119:128).
13. They hate and abhor lying (Ps. 119:163).
14. They are zealous for God (Ps. 119:113,140).
15. They love the Word of God (Ps. 119:139).
16. They have great peace (Ps. 119:165).
17. They permit nothing to offend them (Ps. 119:165).
18. They preach God's Word (Ps. 119:46,172).
19. They hope in God and His Word (Ps. 119:81,114).
20. They meditate in God's Word (Ps. 119:15,23,48,78,148).
21. They fear God (Ps. 119:38,63,74,120).
Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is William Poovey, and I pastor at Bethel Church in Olar, SC. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a lot of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
William Poovey
