Going back to the covenants of God
Psalms 33:12
Today on the 4th of July we are celebrating our nation's 245th birthday. 245 years ago the United States was born. A nation based on liberty, responsibility, the Covenants of God and the freedom to become what God intended us to become. The celebration of our nation's birthday is really a celebration of freedom. We have this freedom because others were willing to give there all. You see, we must remember that freedom isn't free. Freedom is very expensive. It has cost some people everything, including their lives. Freedom isn't free, but it is something worth fighting for.
What are we really celebrating today?
The truth of the matter is we were founded on Judeo-Christian ethic found throughout the Bible. We are a God based nation from our very roots. It is safe to say that the Christian faith was involved in just about every aspect of our nation's beginnings.
Christopher Columbus in 1504 wrote his reason for setting forth to discover a new land to be:
"I was led of the Holy Spirit to carry the message of the Gospel to undiscovered lands." Did you know the Pilgrims who came there to Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower. Just as they landed, they formed what is called the Mayflower Compact in 1620. These are the words of the Mayflower Compact: "In the name of God, amen. Having undertaken for the glory of God and for the advancement of the Christian faith, do solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, covenant and combine ourselves together."
23 years later, as more and more people came to the shores and up in New England, the Puritans formed a confederation called The New England Confederation; this was the first written constitution, by people who where meeting together in 1643. The New England Confederation Constitution began: "Whereas we all came into these parts with one and the same end and aim, namely to advance the kingdom of our lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel in purity and peace." America was founded by men and women who acknowledged God's supreme rule over our lives. The Puritans, realizing that they could not worship God the way they wanted to in England ,decided to come to America for the purpose of showing how a nation could prosper it living under the laws of God. As our nation began to take shape the oaths that founders, is clearly seen in the documents that were drafted as each state organized itself.
The Delaware Charter defines the purpose of their Colony, "To further spread the Holy Gospel." The Virginia Charter assured the right of each people to live in "Christian peace" and instructed them to: " spread Christian religion to such people who yet live in ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God." The Rhode Island Compact: "We submit our persons, lives, and estates unto our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Listen to the voice of our founding fathers and here the spiritual commitment in what they say:
George Washington's Personal Prayer Book: Consider these words from his personal prayer book: "Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the lamb and purge my heart by the Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of thy son, Jesus Christ."
John Quincy Adams who would become the 6th President said later in 1821 about the Declaration of Independence. He said: "From the time of the Declaration of Independence, the American people were bound by the laws of God and the laws of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which they all acknowledge as the root of their conduct. We all came together to obey the word of God." - he was also the chairman of the American Bible Society.
Patrick Henry: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or to often that this great nation was founded not but religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Even President Thomas Jefferson in an address to Danbury Baptist: "The 1st amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall, it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.", Jefferson wrote on the front of his Bible these words: "I am a Christian, that is to say a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our Creator and, I hope, to the pure doctrine of Jesus also.
Benjamin Franklin: I've seen a painting of the first Continental Congress. And many of you have heard the story of how they were discussing and they were debating about how the Declaration of Independence would be written. And finally, Ben Franklin stood and said, "Gentlemen, if it is true that not one single petal from any flower falls to the ground without escaping God's attention, will the distress of this nation go unheeded? Let us therefore determine to seek His face." At that suggestion 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence all went to their knees as one man and began to pray and seek the wisdom of God. By the way did you know that out of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence -- 53 of them were professing Christians? Wouldn't it be wonderful today if our congress would go to their knees in prayer, wouldn't it be wonderful today if the Supreme Court, would just get on their knees like our forefathers did and say, "Almighty God, what do you want for this nation?"
In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools."
Do you know where the framers of our nation got the idea of three branches of government?
Remember that we have an Executive Branch, we have a Legislative Branch that makes laws, and we have a Judicial Branch. Isaiah 33:22. "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us." Isaiah 33:22 which refers to God in those same three aspects as our government. "For the Lord is our Judge [that's judicial], our Lawgiver [that's legislative], and our King [that's executive]. It is He who will save us." And when the framers of our government got together and said, "How can we best organize our government?" They looked to the word of God for the wisdom needed and for His righteousness.
Now think of the role the Christian Church and its pastors played in America's early days. A Preacher named Frances Bellemy wrote our "Pledge of Allegiance."
Another Preacher, Samuel Smith wrote the Hymn "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
John Leland another Preacher wrote the introduction of the first Amendment to the Constitution.
Prior to the War Between the States, 90% of all of America's College Presidents were Preachers of the Gospel.
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, William and Mary and Columbia were founded by Christian preachers and church affiliations with the expressed intent to educated youth for Christ.
John Harvard a Pastor in Charlestown, Massachusetts and the man for whom Harvard University was named stated that the purpose of the University was, "That every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main ends of his life and studies: to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom as the foundation of all knowledge and learning, and see that the Lord only giveth wisdom. To let everyone seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek Christ Jesus as Lord and Master." Even Harvard's original seal, which can be seen on the campus today, states these words, "Truth for Christ and the Church."
American's first schoolbook was the "New England Primer." It has the Lord's Prayer on its cover. It taught the alphabet in Theological verse. A. In Adam's fall we sinned all. B. It's Heaven to find, the Bible's mind. C. Christ crucified for sinners died.
The Influence of God upon the founding of our great nation is so evident that no one who was a student of historical accuracy would reasonably deny it. They weren't perfect. They weren't all fundamentalist Christians, but they all to a man acknowledged that God was the supreme ruler over man and over government.
Despite what modern politicians, the contemporary media or the history revisionists say - America was founded not on the concept of freedom to worship any God (Buddha, Allah..etc) but on the freedom to worship Jesus Christ.
AMERICA'S HOPE
-- Return back to the covenants of God like Our Founding Fathers.
Proverbs 14:34 "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance."
He is a real God, the true God, not manmade, imagination or fiction. Because His laws are just and good, and will always tend to promote the public welfare and prosperity; And God we will bless the nation that follows him and stands behind Israel ; and the influence of our faith in Him, will tend to promote virtue, intelligence, purity, and truth, over a land, and thus will promote the welfare of the nation. How can we do this?
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11) Brothers & sisters I am afraid the church has been sleeping and we are unaware the world has changed drastically over the past two decades.
As much as we'd like to go back to the "good old days" when there was a national -Christian standards, we aren't living in those days any more. There was a time when majority of Americans were Christians and those who weren't had a healthy respect for God and the Bible.There was a time you had to be a Christian to hold an office .Those days are gone. In many ways, America reflects whatever happened in Europe. Over a hundred years ago, Christianity was predominate in Europe, but now Europe is a post-Christian secular society. In London there are now more mosques than churches, and many more Muslims attend prayer on Friday than Christians go to church on Sunday. And Europe is a nation where just over 100 years ago the great Welsh revival sweep through Britain and churches were packed. It has happened in Europe and unless we wake up, it will happen here.We are heading down a road we do not want to go.
That's the message Jesus spoke to the church in Sardis. He said, "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent." (Revelation 3:2-3) Jesus is saying we must remember what made our nation a great country and repent and return to those basic Biblical standards. President Woodrow Wilson said: "A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday does not know what it is today." We need to wake up to what's happening right here in America.
We need to wake up and then lift up prayers for America. We should be storming heaven with our petitions for our nation. From the beginning of our nation God has been intervening on our behalf. There were miraculous stories of God's protection during the Revolutionary War, and I'll tell you about a Divine intervention a little later. God was with our troops at Valley Forge, and He was with our men at Normandy.
But some have wondered how long we can depend on God's protection. After 9/11 and the devastation of hurricane Katrina, Billy Graham's daughter, Anne Graham Lotz said: "For years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and his protection if we demand that He leave us alone?" God's Word is clear about His promise to answer prayer when a nation needs healing. He says, "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." (2 Chronicles 7:14) The burden for our nation does not rest on who is in the White House, or the State House, or the Court House but on the people in the Church, The family of faith. It rests on you and on me. We need to cry out to the Lord and pray on behalf of our nation and its leadership. Its time we get on our knees and repent. Not a lay me down to sleep" prayer. Not "God is good God is great let us thank him for our food" kind of prayer. But prayer that lines up with the will of God, prayer that reaches the throne of God, prayer that moves the hand of God. Some things are not done just by praying ,sometime s fasting has to be involved.
Few people take the time to read the verses right after 7:14 It's not nearly as pleasant, because it predicts what happens to a nation that doesn't repent and seek God.
2 Chronicles 7:19 says, "But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you ... then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them ... I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples." That is not just a gesture ,it’s a promise and a warning!
Most Christians are ignorant about the culture in which we are now living. We have used the church just to go to to feel good about ourselves. We want to escape from the big bad world and its influences. Thinking if we go to church on Sunday ,everything will be ok. But that's the wrong approach. Jesus never told us to retreat, He told us to CHARGE into the world and to carry the good news. Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Some Christians have taken this advice to become as mean as snakes and as flighty as doves! But Jesus was telling us to wise up ,and look and see what is happening in our culture without conforming to the culture. Jesus didn't say to become snakes; He said we must become as wise as snakes while remaining as innocent as doves. Daniel Webster said: "God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it." If we're going to guard and defend our liberty, we must understand those forces that are threatening it.
We must WAKE up; go to Gods throne with our prayers; WISE up, and we must be willing to stand up for righteousness and truth in a culture that is becoming more wicked by the day. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." (Philippians 2:15-16) Our world is struggling like never before in moral darkness ,and Jesus has called us to be the light of the world. Our culture is rotten and getting more corrupt and Jesus has called us to be the salt of the earth.
For too long we have been guilty of the sin of silence. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 26 years old with a one-year old daughter when he was called as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He had been raised in a rather affluent African- American family in Atlanta and had attended the finest schools available to him. The city was in turmoil because one of his members, Rosa Parks, had been arrested when she had refused to move to the back of a city bus. He had received a midnight phone call with this message: "We are tired of you and the mess you've caused. If you aren't out of town in three days, we're going to blow your brains out and blow up your house." As Dr. King thought about his one-year old daughter, he was greatly tempted to leave Montgomery and not get involved. But then he asked himself if this was the kind of world he wanted his daughter to grow up in and he decided he would take a stand. Dr. King later said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
As Christians, we need to ask ourselves the same question. Is this the kind of nation we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in? If you think changes are needed, then it's time for us to stop being silent. We must stand up for truth and righteousness because if we don't, nobody else will.
So we cannot afford to be silent. But when you do speak out, you will have people , claiming "Separation of Church & State," and saying: "You don't have a right to speak about public policy and law! Go back to your church, and keep your opinions to your self , and stay there!" And that's exactly what the devil wants—he wants us to be shackled in the sanctuary and the light locked up in the church.
But the last time I checked we as the family of faith are not second class citizens of America. Our voices need to be heard. In fact, the Bible commands it. Jesus said: "You are the salt of the earth... the light of the world!" (Matt. 5:13-16). The Bible says "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" (Ps. 107:2). That's you and that's me. God urged his people: "Shout it aloud! Do not hold back! Raise your voice like a trumpet! Declare to my people their rebellion, and to the house of Jacob their sins" (Isa. 58:1). You find examples throughout the Bible.
Moses petitioned Pharaoh for the liberty of God's people. Nathan confronted King David for his sinful actions as a leader.
Elijah faced off against King Ahab who promoted idolatry and immorality.
Isaiah condemned moral decay in the culture.
Daniel pronounced judgment on King Nebuchadnezzar for promoting idolatry.
John the Baptist pointed out the adultery of King Herod.
We must stand up and let our voices be heard and persuade our government of the eternal and infallible truths of God's word and how these principles apply to the policies and laws of our nation.
We need to stand up for our Biblical beliefs and say: "Killing babies in a mother's womb is wrong!" We need to speak out against the things that are against Gods word: "Redefining marriage to include homosexuals is wrong!" We need to remind those black robed tyrants masquerading as judges in America that we are founded in God, "Taking away our religious heritage is wrong!" We must stand up to our government and say: Enough is enough!
America, wake up! Wake up and rediscover the simple truth, that as long as our motto is: IN GOD IS OUR TRUST, then we will remain a great nation. America needs some modern Paul Reveres. We need to rouse our culture about the dangerous threats we face.
The Liberty bell was not meant to be hidden under the floorboards of a church. A bell is meant to be rung for all to hear. We are called to "Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof!" Jesus said in his first sermon following his temptation in the wilderness: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4: 18-19) A bell does no good if it is not rung. A gospel does no good if it is not proclaimed.
