French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
And America is beginning to cease to be great. We have as a whole declared our independence from God and our dependence on man.
Tomorrow is July 4th, the day that we celebrate when our country declared independence from the overbearing rule of England. Due to oppression, non-representation, and other offenses we said we were not gonna take it any more.
Sadly today as already said we are not declaring independence from an overbearing power mad country. We are instead declaring our independence from God.
But we are the ones who misrepresent. We are the ones that are not fulfilling our obligations before this supreme ruler. And very like the nation of Israel in Hosea’s time we are headed down the road to a recall.
Why do items get recalled?
What has caused God to give a recall notice?
.
Read Hosea 4.1-19
I. The Symptoms (Reasons for recall)
A) There is no (not working according to design)
1) Faithfulness or loyalty (kindness)
a) To God
faithfulness ’emeth –This word carries the idea of decent responsible relations between one person and another. (With the slow removal of God is it any wonder there is road rage, or any other type of rage? Our relationships with man are reflective of our relationship with God)
We are to have as a Christian society faithfulness and loyalty to the God who formed and founded us!
The declaration of Independence begins and ends with God. (our unalienable rights come from Him, and the signers of the Declaration of Independence placed their faith in His protection)
b) To man
It is only in Christianity that life and liberty of others matter.
In any other religion, or organization of society life means nothing. (we have seen this with our societies declaration of independence from God (abortion))
Prov 3.27 My devotion this morning
“Do not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in you power to do it.”
It is in Christianity alone that we treat others as we want to be treated. And love our neighbors as ourselves.
1) That is one reason for Patrick Henry’s statement
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!
How sad a commentary that there is no knowledge of God in the land!!
2) Knowledge of God in the land (Hosea 4.1, 4.6)
a) Prov 1.7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
b) No knowledge of God in the Land – no fear of God.
1) There is an ingnorance in our country today of the founding of this great nation by the supreme power of god.
2) John Quincy Adams (our 6th President)
The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: that it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.
3) The great Glory of This country is to make God known!!!
Sadly instead of faithfulness and loyalty and knowledge of our supreme commander and Judge
B) There is
1) Swearing
2) Lying
3) murder
4) stealing
5) adultery (all these break out)
6) A dependence on man (self) and not God.
A) Idolatry
II. The Solution (Hosea 14.1 Return, O Israel to the Lord Your God)
A) Return O America to the Lord your God.
1) Or be rejected as a priest of God. (Hosea 4.6)
2) 1 Peter 2.9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
3) Mayflower compact. They set voyage and I quote. For “an advancement of the Christian faith.”
4) If we are rejected as priests it is because our nation has rejected God.
B) Return to His Rule (1 Chronicles 7.14)
(we are a people called by His name.)
1) If we reject God we reject His blessings (Psalm 33.12 read)
2) If we reject God we accept His cursings.
C) Return to His Blessings
1) What do we stand to loose?
· We stand to loose the blessings of God as a nation
· His Presence, Porsperity, Protection, and Provision
2) What do stand to gain if we don’t return?
a) Cursing.
W A Crisswell
We need a great turning to God. But a nation cannot turn, if I do not turn. The nation is made up of its people. And,
If I do not turn, the nation cannot turn.
If I do not repent, the nation does not repent.
If I do not believe, the nation cannot believe.
If I do not confess, the nation cannot confess.
If I do not accept the Lord, the nation cannot accept the Lord.
If I am not baptized, the nation is not baptized.
And if I am not saved, the nation is not saved.
It must begin, our deliverance must begin, our salvation must begin in us.
Conclusion:
The greatness of American rests on the people of America. If we accept God and return to Him it will be great.
Let us not be recalled and be dismantled and destroyed as a nation. Instead let us turn to the God who has so richly blessed us. But as Dr Crisswell said that turning must begin with one. A nation is made up of its people. Are you the one that will spark spiritual revival. Are you the one that God has fore ordained to turn the nation back to His grace.
Many revivals in America have started with just one person kneeling to pray.
America needs to be revived today
Revived to the way and knowledge of God.
Are you the one that will start it?
Are you the one that on bended knee yielded to God the recall notice of God will be retracted?
It just takes one.
