Stronghold Beliefs Part 6 Series

Stronghold Beliefs Part 6

Scriptures: Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; Matthew 4:1-10

This past week, in the United States of America, we celebrated the Fourth of July holiday. The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day or July 4th, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence officially broke all political ties between the American colonies and Great Britain and set forth the ideas and principles behind a just and fair government. The Constitution outlined how this government would function.

The men drafting both documents for the most part were Christians. The Constitution begins with the language “Blessings of Liberty” in the preamble and ends with the words “in the Year of our Lord….” If you focus on the word “our” at the end, which all of the signers agreed to use, it implies that they were Christians. They were men of faith, some more than others, and they were men who knew the power of prayer. For example, history records an incident when the Constitutional Convention was finding itself stalling, and the members of the convention were arguing to the point that it was nearly coming to blows. Benjamin Franklin requested a break and called for prayer at a time when it was much needed. In his request, Franklin stated, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” He was referencing what is recorded in Matthew 10:29.

George Washington presided as president over the Constitutional Convention and was sworn in as our first president. He took the oath of office that is written in Article One, Section Two of the Constitution and added the words “so help me God.” When he left office after two terms he said this in his farewell speech: “Of all dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” John Adams, the second President of the United States, said, “Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.” (Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.)

Lastly I want you to hear something that Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, said as a warning and which we are seeing lived out in the United States today. He said, “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath. Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; that a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event.” (Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.) Did that statement give you chills or make the hairs on your neck stand up when you think about the current state of these United States of America? As a nation we no longer have the conviction that our liberties are a gift from God. And by the way, does anyone know what the official motto of the United States is? It is found on our currency. It is “In God We Trust.” Interesting uh?

Our first three presidents were Christians. They believed in God. They believed in the Bible and believed it was God’s word. The Bible at that time was probably the most important book in America. In fact, on September 12, 1782, after the war was over and America was no longer under British rule, as an act of Congress, the Holy Bible was the first English language Bible printed in America to be circulated for use in schools and would be one of many acts of Congress promoting the Bible and Bible Societies. An early school text book called the New England Primer contained Bible scripture and was ordered to be reprinted by three of the founding fathers, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Noah Webster. They all considered this book essential for children to have in school and it was used until the 1930’s. I want you to keep this little bit of American history in your minds as I go into part six of my series on Stronghold Beliefs.