Patriotic Christians #1
Pray for Our Nation
Theme: As Christians, we can be patriotic and support our country. One important way that we can support our country is pray for our country. I will outline seven areas to pray, one for each day of the week.
Introduction
Over the next few weeks, I want us to think patriotically.
<10) What’s Red, White, Blue, And Green? A ...
By Samuel Fulkerson
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One time, children were asked to submit their funniest one line patriotic jokes to a contest. Here the top 10:
10) What’s red, white, blue, and green? A patriotic turtle! From Jessica, age 7, Abilene, TX
9) What did one flag say to the other flag? Nothing. It just waved! From Eloise, age 9, Charlottesville, VA
8) Why did Paul Revere ride his horse from Boston to Lexington? Because the horse was too heavy to carry! From Betty, age 9, CT
7) How is a healthy person like the United States? They both have good constitutions! From Tom P., age 8, KY
6) What dance was very popular in 1776? Indepen-dance! From Rachel, age 8, Long Beach, CA
5) What would you get if you crossed George Washington with cattle feed? The Fodder of Our Country! From Marie K., age 12, Dallas, TX
4) Teacher: “Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?” Student: “On the bottom!” From Christy, age 14, Denver, CO
3) Did you hear the one about the Liberty Bell? Yeah, it cracked me up! From Tom P., age 8, KY
2) What did King George think of the American colonists? He thought they were revolting! From Scott, age 11, Colorado
1) Do they have a 4th of July in England? Yes. That’s how they get from the 3rd to the 5th. From Big Al, a grownup, Frankfort, KY.
Over the next few weeks, I also want us to think Godly.
<It Is Impossible To Rightly Govern The World … (part 1)
By Michael Catt
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President George Washington said "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
Patrick Henry said "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here."
Later President James Madison said "We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
Fact of the matter is that our country, regardless of the current historical revisionist teachings in our colleges and schools, has its roots firmly grounded upon the Christian religious beliefs of its founders.
Christianity And Patriotism Became The Way Of The ...
From Illustration Unlimited
By Michael McCartney
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Christianity and patriotism have much in common. It is significant to note that: Our patriotic hymn, “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” was written by a Baptist clergyman, Samuel Francis Smith.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy.
The words, “In God We Trust,” carried on all of our coins, are traced to the efforts of the Rev. W. R. Watkinson of Ridleyville, Pennsylvania. His letter of concern, addressed to the Hon. S. P. Chase, was dated November 13, 1861. Seven days later Mr. Chase wrote to James Pollock, Director of the U.S. Mint saying: “No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. Will you cause a device to be prepared without delay with a motto expressing in the finest and tersest words possible, this national recognition.”
The president of the College of New Jersey, the Reverend John Witherspoon, was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. He is often overlooked in our history books. John Witherspoon had a far-reaching influence on democracy. He had personally taught several of the signers of the document. Nine of the signers were graduates of the little college over which he presided at Princeton. When he took up his pen to put his name to the document, Witherspoon declared, “There is a tide in the affairs of men, a spark. We perceive it now before us. To hesitate is to consent to our own slavery. That noble instrument upon the table, that insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this very morning by every pen in this house. He that will not respond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into effect its provisions, is unworthy of the name of free man. For my own part, of property I have some; of reputation, more. That reputation is staked, that property is pledged on the issue of this contest; and although these gray hairs must soon descend into the sepulcher, I would infinitely rather that they descend thither by the hand of the executioner than desert at this crisis the sacred cause of my country.”
Can we be a Christian and a patriot? Absolutely.
We are starting a series of sermons designed hopefully to get us thinking as we are heading into national, state, and local elections. I want to help us frame our patriotism within our faith.
This week and next week, I want challenge us to prayer — praying for our country and then our leaders.
From there, we will talk about Godly respect for our leaders and those in authority, regardless of political opinions.
We will talk about understanding priorities and allegiances.
We will wrap up this series by talking about doing our civic duty as Christians — going to the polls and voting.
Understand that my goal is not be political — dabbling in politics. My goal is to be Biblical.
And so, as we start this morning, now more than ever before, Americans need to be more united on our knees. Not in protest, mind you. But in prayer.
We need to pray for our country — for our people across this great land.
So this morning, I have seven things to pray for our country, one for each day of this week. These will not include our leaders as that will be our thoughts next week.
1. First, we need to pray for humility.
We read these words in 2 Chronicles 7:
14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7, NLT)
These words written by Ezra the Priest are just as timely today as they were back then.
<It Is Impossible To Rightly Govern The World … (continued)
By Michael Catt
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Baptist Evangelist Vance Havner wrote: “There is a striking parallel between the condition of the country and the church. As the Constitution means little to Americans today, so too the Bible means little to the average church member. Church members generally are as ignorant of the Bible as are Americans of the Constitution. Too many people within our borders are Americans in name but un-American in their hearts and anti-American in their conduct. The church has a corresponding ailment, Christians in name, but in reality are only once -born children of Adam. The American spirit is sadly eroded today by distrust, by corruption in high places, by moral decay. It won’t be restored merely by flag-wavings and drum-beatings and Fourth of July speeches. It may not be possible to raise a new crop of patriots in such shallow soil. It may take disaster to make us realize what we had. There is also a Christian spirit in the church that has that need. When in the nation and in the church we humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land.”
It takes a humble heart to surrender to God, confessing our sins, repenting of our ways, and starting anew with God.
And Vance is right. Look at how the children of this generation have grown up. They are a result of the choices made by their parents.
Consider the wisdom of Proverbs 22:
4 True humility and fear of the Lord
lead to riches, honor, and long life.
5 Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous
road;
whoever values life will avoid it.
6 Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not
leave it.
(Proverbs 22, NLT)
There is too much pride and arrogance in our nation today.
We live in a world today where some feel entitled. That sense of entitlement — that mindset of “I deserve this because of this or that” — is nothing more than pride. And because I am entitled to what you have, I am going to steal from you. I am going to take what you have. I am going to get what is rightfully mine.
A very dangerous way of living. A very arrogant way of living.
We are in a world today where some of our countrymen are so arrogant they feel that they do not have to obey the laws.
We need to pray for humility. A true understanding of our position in life and in God’s creation.
Our country needs to realize that we are the created not the Creator.
We need a proper sense of identity.
All things are from God and whether we like it or not, we are and always will be dependent upon God’s merciful hand.
We need to be teaching our children these ways of humility.
2. We need to pray that we will seek God and come out of the darkness.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4
6 … God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4, NLT)
We need to seek the light — Seek God — come out of the darkness.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you, (Matthew 6, NKJV) Jesus says.
Seek God and His righteousness. Seek God’s enlightenment. It is God who will bring us out of darkness when we surrender our lives to the light.
God has given us this light that we need to be shining around the world.
<Charles Swindoll Gives Us Some Interesting Advice ...
By Michael McCartney
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Charles Swindoll gives us some interesting advice when he states:
When you live in darkness, you not only have no ray of light, you don’t even know where home is. That is the way it is for the majority in the world. Some folks are born, raised, and die in cultures that have never seen their first flashlight of hope. Imagine it! When the truth of that hits me, I find myself a little impatient with Christians who do nothing but shine lights for themselves. They even have what we might call flashlight parties where they just shine the light on each other. Lots of light! Too much light to be hoarded! Jesus says to shine for the world. Shine your light into the darkness; that’s where it is really needed. Spend less time in your own little well-lighted all Christian world and more time there in the darkness!
We have a responsibility not only pray that the light will shine, but to take the light into the darkness.
When writing about the coming Messiah, Isaiah wrote:
2 The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep
darkness,
a light will shine.
(Isaiah 9, NLT)
The light of Jesus will light even the darkest places. A light will shine, the prophet says. And the light did shine.
It is the light of God — Jesus — that will bring folks out of the darkness.
Paul reminds us that all of us at one time were in darkness. Consider what he wrote in Colossians 1:
12 … He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Colossians 1, NLT)
We need to remember that we once were in darkness too. But after seeing the light, we were forgiven. We were brought out of the kingdom of darkness and made part of the Kingdom of God.
We need to pray for forgiveness and have genuine repentance in our country. We need to pray that our country will seek God first, and follow the light out of the darkness.
3. We need to pray that God will help us let go of our anger.
<On Anger
By SermonCentral
(From a sermon by George Dillahunty, "Anger - A Satanic Foothold!" 1/14/2009)
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Indian political and spiritual leader, Gandhi (1869 - 1948), once said, “Man should forget his anger before he lies down to sleep.”
The Roman emperor, soldier, and stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121 - 180), once said, "How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it."
American journalist, Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (1842 - 1914), once said, "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret."
Chinese thinker and philosopher, Confucius (551 B.C - 479 B.C.), once said, "When anger rises, think of the consequences."
American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882), once said, "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
English playwright and poet, William Congreve (1670 - 1729), once said, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned."
Anger is not good for us or our country.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4, NLT)
The devil certainly has gained a foothold on our country. Look around. Our world is angry. We are fighting amongst ourselves. We are angry with each other. We speak harsh words against each other. People destroy others’ property out of anger.
It’s one thing to have a righteous indignation toward sin. It’s something completely different to be filled with rage and anger.
Rage and anger destroys as we have seen in the cities around our nation.
It’s time to pray for forgiveness. It’s time to pray for kindness. It’s time to pray that God will help us let go of the anger before the devil completely destroys our nation.
4. Which leads into our next topic: we need to pray that we will love each other.
Consider the words of Paul in a very familiar passage:
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13, NLT)
What if we began acting in the way of love toward each other.
What if we let go of the anger and instead followed the way of love.
We need to pray for love in our country. We need to pray that our countrymen will love each other and love God.
We need to stop the hurting.
We need to stop the pain.
We need to start loving.
We need to start healing.
Love will overcome the differences. Love will overcome the hurt. Love will overcome the divisions.
5. We need to pray for unity.
United we stand. Divided we fall.
<Who Said "United We Stand Divided We Fall"? https://quotes.yourdictionary.com/articles/who-said-united-we-stand-divided-we-fall.html YourDictionary. LoveToKnow.>
A phrase almost as old as time has been traced back to the Greek story teller Aesop, who lived during the 6th Century B.C. Most people know him for the fables that have been handed down through time in his name.
In The Four Oxen and the Lion, a lion used to prowl about a field in which four oxen used to dwell. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to warn another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in the separate corner of the field.
Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Although not specifically quoted, Aesop’s fable The Bundle of Sticks the concept is still there. The fable concludes:
"My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."
Although his sentiment can be found in two of his fables, Aesop was certainly not the last one to use this quote. It has endured for thousands of years and remains an important life lesson to learn.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:
25 … Jesus … said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12, NKJV)
From music to literature, the phrase has been quoted many more times.
In America, we have often shortened it to simply “united we stand”.
But today, we are far from united. We are so divided today that if we continue on this path, it will lead to desolation and destruction. Our country will crumble from within.
We are all Americans, regardless of background, ethnicity, race, color, or any other way the devil tries to divide us.
We are Christians first, as our citizenship is in Heaven. We are Americans next.
We need to pray for unity.
6. We need to pray that the fear of God will drive our actions.
Proverbs 15:33 reminds us that:
33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of
wisdom,
And before honor is humility.
(Proverbs 15:33)
What does that mean?
Moses said:
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. (Deuteronomy 6, NIV)
A righteous respect.
A keeping of God’s laws and commands.
God is a Holy God. Yes He is forgiving. But God is also just. Breaking of His commands leads to death.
Our actions in our personal lives, in our church, in our community, in our country should first start with wisdom — considering what we are doing in light of God’s word.
Fear of the Lord involves keeping the commands and decrees God has given to us.
Fear of the Lord should cause us to tremble when we break God’s commands.
Fear of the Lord produces wisdom — right choices — when we trust God.
Remember, God holds all judgment and one day all will be judged based on our actions in this life.
7. Finally, we need to pray that God’s will is done in our country.
It’s something that we often say just in passing, without much thought or consideration. If it’s God’s will may this or that be done.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray:
9 …Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6, NKJV)
It’s more than lip service. It’s more than just saying those words.
It’s about living a life in full surrender to God.
Really, praying that God’s will is done is the culmination of all of the things we’ve mentioned to this point:
Humility
Repentance
Love
Unity
Having a holy fear of God
It’s realizing that we are not in control. All things are in God’s hands.
It’s a surrender to the majesty and power of God. Asking God to come into our world. Asking God to take charge. Asking God do what He thinks is best.
I can say with certainty that there are few things today in our country that are in line with God’s will.
We need a turn around. We need a humbling. We need surrender.
Conclusion
As Christians, we need to pray for our country. We need to pray for each other.
The prayer of Isaiah for the Israelites is just as appropriate today as it was back then.
1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and
come down,
that the mountains would tremble before
you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze
and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to
your enemies
and cause the nations to quake before
you!
3 For when you did awesome things that
we did not expect,
you came down, and the mountains
trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for
him.
5 You come to the help of those who gladly
do right,
who remember your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them,
you were angry.
How then can we be saved?
6 All of us have become like one who is
unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy
rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us
away.
7 No one calls on your name
or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have given us over to[b] our sins.
8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
9 Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look on us, we pray,
for we are all your people.
(Isaiah 64, NIV)
This week, these are seven things that we can pray on behalf of our beloved country.
But these prayers would be lost if we didn’t include ourselves in these prayers.
These are ways that we as Christians can be better examples, be better Americans, be better followers of the Almighty God.
It starts with us getting our lives right with God.
It starts with submitting our lives to the power and control of God — the maker, the creator of all.
He surrendered His life for us. We must surrender ours to Him.
