In America...It’s become a political reflex…
At the end of speeches...Debates...
And press conferences…
To close with three familiar words…
"God bless America."...
Whether Republican…Or Democrat…Conservative…
Or liberal…They all say it....
Not because they’re always living by God's Word...
But because they want to give the appearance…
That God is…Somehow…On their side....
And not only on their side…But that He condones…
Or agrees…With whatever it is…That they subscribe to…
But I wonder...Do they really mean it…As a prayer?...
Or is it a presumption?...
Do they…And we…By association…
Believe that we are uniquely…Singly…
Entitled to God's blessing?...
Do we assume that because we’re powerful…
Wealthy…Or patriotic…
That we automatically have God's stamp of approval?...
It’s as if we think God waves our flag…Sings our anthem…
And sits in our voting booths...
But here’s the truth…As quiet as it’s kept…
God is not an American…. God is not a Democrat...
God is not a Republican…
And this is gonna shock you…God is not even Baptist...
Instead…God is Holy…He is divine…He is sovereign…
And He is righteous…
And… In case you didn’t know…
He does not submit…Or ascribe…
To our politics…Or our preferences....
I’ll say it...
"God Is Not an American"...
He is not waving stars and stripes...
From heaven’s throne...
He is not partial to red states...Or blue states...
And He is not sitting in the White House...
Nor is He campaigning for your vote...
O no...
God is not a Democrat...
He doesn’t run on platforms...Crafted by public opinion...
He doesn’t shift positions...
Based on the latest poll numbers...
He doesn’t cater to special interest groups...
Or align with liberal agendas...Just to win favor...
I’ll say it again...
God is not a Republican...
He doesn’t legislate righteousness...Through human law...
He cannot be boxed into conservative...Talking points...
O No...
His commandments were written in stone...
Not on party platforms...
And brace yourself...
God is not even Baptist...
He’s not Methodist...Pentecostal...
Catholic...Or non-denominational...
He doesn’t belong to our denominations...
We belong to His...
Because God…Is Holy...
He’s utterly...Set apart...Perfect...In all His ways...
He is Divine...Without beginning...And...Without end...
He’s not formed by human hands...
He is Sovereign...
Ruling over heaven...And earth...
With absolute...Authority...
He is Righteous...And never wrong...
Never partial...Never corrupt...
Let’s be clear...
God does not submit to our politics…
He defines what is just...He defines what is right...
He defines...Who gets blessed...And who doesn’t...
God does not align with our preferences…
Instead...He demands holiness...
God is not swayed by the left...Or the right...
He sits high...And looks low...
He is not a part of OUR movement...
Instead...We’re supposed to be part...Of His kingdom...
So before we ask...
“IS GOD ON OUR SIDE?”...
We SHOULD ask...
“ARE WE ON GOD'S SIDE?”...
Like Joshua...
Standing before the Commander of the Lord’s army...
We must learn to stop assuming...
That God is somehow obligated to fit into our categories...
Instead...
We must fall on our faces...Take off our sandals...
And recognize the holy ground...Of His presence...
Let’s not reduce God...
To our political identities...Or cultural boundaries...
Let us exalt Him as Lord of all nations...
King of all kings...And the one...And only true...Wise God...
"Don't Reduce God...Exalt Him!!!
Let’s not reduce God…To the color of a flag...
To the name of a party...To the sound of a chant...
To the confines of a culture...
To the image of a man-made agenda...
He is not a mascot for our movements...
He is not a silent partner in our politics...
He is not an accessory to our ideologies...
No...
God is not a reflection of us...
We are called to be the reflection of Him!...
Let’s not shrink the infinite…
To fit the frame of our finite understanding...
Let’s not rebrand the Creator…
To match the opinions...Of His creation...
God transcends every category...
Not just American...
He is the God of every tribe...
Every tongue...And every nation...
Not just conservative...Or progressive...
But eternally righteous...And just...
So let us lift Him high…
As Lord of all nations...
The One who sets kings up...And brings rulers down...
Let us exalt Him…Above red and blue…
Above right and left...
Above what’s popular…Above what’s political...
Let us declare boldly in our lives...And pulpits...
Our God is not a partisan God...He is a Holy God...
He doesn’t take sides...He takes over...
He doesn’t conform...Instead...He transforms....
If we ever find ourselves...Making God look just like us...
It’s a sign we’ve stopped worshiping God…
And started worshiping ourselves...
So today...Let the church rise up...And exalt Him...
Not as a symbol to support our causes...
But as the Sovereign Lord...
Who causes all things...To work together...For His glory...
So…The real question ISN’T…"Is God on our side?"…
No…The real question is…"Are we on God’s side?"...
This is not a political question….
It’s a spiritual one…
It’s not about borders or ballots…
It’s about obedience…And alignment…
Obedience and alignment…With the will of God...
Is God on our side?...
That’s the same question Joshua faced...
As he stood outside the walls of Jericho...
Armed and anxious...And Preparing for a battle...
According to our text...
Suddenly...A divine warrior appeared...
And Joshua...Like many of us...Asked...
Whose side are you on?...Who you for?...
"Are You for us...Or for our adversaries?"...
And the answer came back...Loud and clear...
"Neither...
I come...As a Commander...Of the army...Of the Lord...
See church...
God was saying...In effect...
“I didn’t come to pick sides...I came to take over.”...
“I’m not here...To bless your agenda...
I’m here...To usher in My Kingdom.”...
If we study this magnificent piece of scripture...
We will learn not only that God shows up...
But He Shows Up...Before the Battle...
Joshua 5:13 says...
“Suddenly...
A Man stood opposite him...With His sword drawn…”
Joshua was preparing to lead the Israelites...Into Jericho..
The fortified city...The seemingly...Intimidating obstacle...
But BEFORE the battle...God shows up...
Not to give Joshua a military strategy...
But a spiritual encounter...
God shows up...Not just with plans...But with presence...
Psalm 46:1 assures us that...
“God is our refuge and strength...
A very present help...In times of trouble.”...
So...The Question is...
“Whose Side Are You On?” ...
Joshua wonders...
“Are You for us...Or for our adversaries?”...
Joshua...Like many of us...
Tries to define the moment as “us...VS. them.”...
But God responds with...“No.”...
God isn't for sides...God is for truth...
God is for righteousness...And holiness...
Romans 8:31 says...
“If God is for us...Who can be against us?...
That’s what it says...
But who is the “us”?...
The US is...Only those walking in faithful obedience...
The US is...Only those who walk...And faint not...
The US is...Only those...Who trust...
And leans not on our own understanding...
The Us is...Those of us who...
Worship’s...Before...Warfare...
Joshua fell on his face...And worshiped…” ...
He drops his sword...Stops giving orders....
And Stops strategizing...
He worships...Church...He worships...
See...Worship realigns our priorities...
And reminds us...Who the real Commander is...
Does not Proverbs 3:5–6 say...
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart...
And lean not on your own understanding...
In all your ways...Acknowledge Him...
And He shall direct your paths.”...
Joshua 5:15 gives direction...
“Take your sandal off your foot...
For the place where you stand...Is holy.”...
See church...Victory begins...In a holy place...
And not on a battlefield....
We can’t ask God to bless our plans...
While ignoring His plans...His commandments...
And His instructions...
And The Real Question is...
“WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?”...
And Instead of asking...Whether God is with US...
We must ask...“Are WE with God?”...
Are we on the side of obedience...On the side of humility...
Are we on the side of truth...And justice?...
“WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?”...
Exodus 32:26 Lets us know whose side Moses was on...
“He stood in the entrance of the camp...And said...
‘Whoever is on the Lord’s side...Come to me!’”...
Whose Side...Is God On?...Let the Bible Show You...
Let’s walk through Scripture...
And see exactly...Whose side...God is on...
These are not just stories…
They’re divine reminders...That God honors faithfulness...
Truth...Trust...Righteousness...And obedience...
You remember the Children of Israel...
They got tired of waiting...For the man of God...
To return...With a WORD from God...
You know how church folk are...
Preacher took too long...
So they built a golden calf...And started worshiping it...
So When Moses came down from the mountain...
He didn’t stay silent...
He drew a line in the sand...And asked...
Hey Y’all...“Who is on the Lord’s side?”...
Only the tribe of Levi stepped up...
Ain’t it something how God always has somebody...
Who don’t mind worshipping Him...
They chose faithfulness...Over compromise...
And that’s where God stood...
God sides with reverent worship...Not rebellious religion...
How about Elijah...Standing on Mount Carmel...
He stood alone against 450 prophets of Baal...
He asked the people...
“How long will you waver between two opinions?...
How long you gonna stay on the fence...
How long you have one foot in the church...
And the other foot...In the world...
He demanded...If the Lord is God...Follow Him!”...
Then he called down fire from heaven...
And guess what?...God answered...
Not because Elijah was famous...
But because Elijah was faithful...
Church...God sides with the truth...Not with the crowd...
How about King Jehoshaphat...
He was surrounded by enemies...
But He didn’t panic...Instead...He prayed...
“Lord...We don’t know...What to do...
But our eyes...Are on You.”...
God responded...
“The battle is not yours...It’s Mine.”...
So the people began to sing...And praise...
And before they even lifted a sword...
God defeated their enemies...
He’ll fight your battles...
But you gotta want your battles fought...
God sides with those who trust Him...And praise Him...
Before the victory...Shows up...
How about Daniel...In the Lions’ Den...
A new law said...
Nobody can pray to anyone...But the king...
But Daniel didn’t flinch...He didn’t fret...
He went home...Opened his windows...
And prayed to God...Just like always...
You know the story...
They threw him...In the lions’ den...
But God shut the mouths of the lions...
Because Daniel stood on the side of conviction...
Not comfort...
How about Peter...And the Apostles...
They were told...
Stop preaching...In the name of Jesus.”...
Peter stood up and said...
“We must...Obey God...Rather than men.”
They were arrested…Threatened…And beaten…
But God brought them out...
He brought them out...
Because they chose obedience...Over approval...
God isn’t looking for who’s popular...Powerful...
Or loudest...
He’s looking for who’s faithful...
When you stand on God’s side...He’ll stand on yours...
“If God be for us...Who can be against us?”...
I don’t care if I can’t see it...
If God said it...That settles it...
“God is not a man...That He should lie...
If God opens the door...Can’t nobody shut it...
I’m gonna hold God...To His word...
If I say...God is my Shepherd...Then I shall not want...
If I say...God is fighting my battles...
Then the victory is mine...
If I say...God is my refuge...Then no storm can't shake me.
If I say...God is my rock...My fortress...And my shield...
If I say...God is for me...
Then rejection becomes redirection...
Don’t you know that...
“All things work together for good...
To those who love God…”
If I say...The Lord is my light...And my salvation...
Then whom shall I fear?”...
If God is writing my story...No chapter...Ends in defeat...
For...
“He who has begun a good work in you will complete it…”
If I say...God is with me...In the fire...
Then I’ll come out...Not even smelling like smoke...
So...Whose side...Is God not on?...
He’s not on the side...Of ego...
He’s not the side...Of politics...
He’s not the side of church factions...Or family disputes...
Nope...Nope...Nope...
God is on the side of HOLINESS...
HUMILITY...
And OBEDIENCE...
I know...Whose Side...God Is On...
I wonder...Who’s side...Are You...On...
See church...
I stopped by this morning...To tell somebody…
It pays...To be on God’s side!...
Because when you’re on God’s side...
You don’t need the majority...Just His mercy...
You don’t need a plan...You just need to stand...
You don’t need to have all the answers...Just the faith...
See...When you’re on God’s side…JOY happens!...
Not a happiness that comes and goes...
But joy that stays...It stays...
Because the joy of the Lord...Is your strength!...
When you’re on God’s side…PEACE happens!...
Peace that surpasses...All understanding...
I’m talking about Peace in the storm…
Peace in the pressure…And Peace in the process!...
See...When you’re on God’s side…
VICTORY happens!...
Even if the enemy...Is bigger than you...Bader than you...
When you’re on God’s side… PROTECTION happens!...
He becomes your shield...
Your refuge...And...Your covering…
No weapon formed against you...Shall prosper!...
When you’re on God’s side…PROVISION happens!...
He’ll make a way...Out...Of no way...
When you’re on God’s side…PURPOSE happens!...
Your life has meaning…And Your pain has a reason…
Elder Yancey...I know you can attest...
When you’re on God’s side…FAVOR happens!...
People will bless you...And not know why…
Opportunities...Will chase you down…
Because what God has for you...Is...For YOU!...
When you’re on God’s side…TRANSFORMATION happens!..
You won’t leave...The same way you came…
He’ll clean you up...Pick you up...Turn you around...
And place your feet...On solid ground!...
So I wanna to ask you...One last time...
WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?...
Because if you’re on God’s side…
Then I’ve got good news...He’s...On your side too!...
“If God be for us…WHO can be against us?”...
Shout YEAH...If you're on His side!...
Church...Let me tell you something...And then I’m done...
The world has a slogan...
“Nationwide...Is on your side.”...
But I stopped by...To tell somebody...
I don’t need Nationwide...Cause I’ve got...The Most High...
I’m not covered...By insurance...
I’m covered...By the blood!...
I don’t k now about you...
But...I’m not counting on a company...
I’m trusting in Christ!
Because when you’re on God’s side…
It’s not a slogan...It’s assurance...
It’s not marketing...It’s miraculous...
You don’t just have protection...You got power...
You don’t just have benefits...You have blessing...
You don’t just have a claim...You have a covenant!...
So while Nationwide...Might be on your side…
Heaven-wide...Is fighting your battles...
While Nationwide...Might be on your side…
Kingdom-wide...Is opening your doors...
God Almighty is standing in your corner...
And if God be for you…
Then you can walk through fire...And not get burned!...
If God be for you...
You can stand in storms...And not be moved...
If God be for you...
You can face giants…And watch them fall!...
So I’ll take Jesus...Over a jingle...
I’ll take the Cross...Over a contract...
I’ll take protection...Over a policy...
And I’ll take God’s side...Every single time!
I’ll take God’s side...Through every test...And climb,...
Because His truth is timeless...And His love’s divine!...
I’ll take God’s side...Come storm or sunshine...
He’s the rock I stand on...Strong and fine!...
I’ll take God’s side...No matter the sign...
Because His will is perfect... & His power’s divine!...
I’ll take God’s side...In every rhyme...
Because grace and mercy...Beats the world...Every time!...
I’ll take God’s side...And walk the line...
With faith in His Word...Victory is mine!...
Salvation call...
