Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Memorial Day - a day that was set aside to remember those who fought for our freedom, has become a day where the loftiest thought of many is to hope the beer holds out!
Memorial Day - Remember the Maine!
Remember the Alamo
Remember Pearl Harbor!
Remember the Pueblo!
54-40 or bust!
With increasing frequency, we might also remember Bobby Baker, Billy Sol Estes; Remember Adam Clayton Powell, Mills, Hayes. Remember the Air force Academy scandal of West Point a few years ago.
Remember recent exposures of graft in government, and graft in business!
Remember violence in the streets and defiance of the law all over our country.
(As you can see, this sermon was originated MANY years ago. Things have doubled and redoubled since then.
While we are not naïve enough to think that the colonies were peopled by faultless saints - We must remember that duty to God was foremost in the thoughts of those who lead in the founding of our nation.
I Did this dedication to God flow from leaders to the people or the opposite?
Ans. Hos 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
2. As in Israel, our national decay began with a religious decay!
Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
It is no accident that the decline of our nation’s morals coincides with the popular reception of infidel “theology” and the proliferation of Christ-denying sects.
3. The seeds of ruin of any civilization take root and are nourished in its own moral corruption -Greece and Rome are not alone in this!
II What can we as individuals do about it?
A. We can give up and let everything go - OR
B. We can remember that a nation is only the sum of its citizens and live and act accordingly.
1. Remember the search for righteous men to hold off judgment from Sodom? (Gen 18:23-32)
C. Remember there is only one source of true righteousness.
1. Self righteousness leads to hypocrisy; therefore
Phil 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Self righteousness makes man attempt to justify his sins; true righteousness makes us acknowledge and forsake them.
2. True righteousness is - - - actions that please God, based upon the right motivation - Faith
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
I Did this dedication to God flow from leaders to the people or the opposite?
Ans. Hos 4:9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
2. As in Israel, our national decay began with a religious decay!
Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
It is no accident that the decline of our nation’s morals coincides with the popular reception of infidel “theology” and the proliferation of Christ-denying sects.
3. The seeds of ruin of any civilization take root and are nourished in its own moral corruption -Greece and Rome are not alone in this!
II What can we as individuals do about it?
A. We can give up and let everything go - OR
B. We can remember that a nation is only the sum of its citizens and live and act accordingly.
1. Remember the search for righteous men to hold off judgment from Sodom? (Gen 18:23-32)
C. Remember there is only one source of true righteousness.
1. Self righteousness leads to hypocrisy; therefore
Phil 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Self righteousness makes man attempt to justify his sins; true righteousness makes us acknowledge and forsake them.
2. True righteousness is - - - actions that please God, based upon the right motivation - Faith
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
III Our churches can exert a great influence on our nation!
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
How? NOT by marching in protests and defying laws, but by true obedience to God’s word!
How? NOT by marching in protests and defying laws, but by true obedience to God’s word!
II Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.
God desires Spiritual Fruit, not religious nuts!
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
