I Pledge Allegiance...

Intro:

This past week, our nation celebrated the 4th of July—a day filled with fireworks, parades, and patriotic pride. But beneath all the celebration lies a sobering reminder of what that day truly represents.

July 4th marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a bold and dangerous step taken by 56 men who, with pen in hand, signed what the British Crown would consider an act of outright treason.

These weren’t wild-eyed rebels or reckless radicals. They were lawyers, farmers, merchants, landowners, ministers, and doctors—most of them well-educated, well-off, and well-respected.

Many had families. Most had wealth. All had a lot to lose. Yet they still pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor—not because they were seeking chaos, but because they believed in something greater than themselves: freedom, justice, and a new beginning.

John Hancock signed his name so large the king wouldn’t need glasses to read it. Ben Franklin famously said, “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”… These men knew exactly what was at stake. And they still signed.

This morning, as we reflect on the courage and commitment of those 56 signers, we're reminded that true allegiance always comes at a cost. They pledged everything they had for the sake of a cause they believed in—a new nation, built on liberty and justice.

In the same way, we as followers of Christ are called to a higher allegiance—one that may also cost us comfort, reputation, or even our lives.

I will let you remain seated for now, but I will have you stand a little later…

But, just like those founding fathers had to make a defining choice—whether to stand with the Crown or risk everything for a new future—we, too, are faced with a choice… and the words of Joshua resound mightily across the ages…

Joshua 24:15 NASB95

15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

and we will talk more about this in a little bit, but first… A little history lesson…

Meat:

I am going to address the Founding Fathers of our great nation as…

1. The Patriots

And no… I am not talking about the Football Team…

A patriot is someone who loves their country deeply, stands for what’s right, and is willing to sacrifice for its good—even if it costs them dearly.

The Patriots I’m referring to were not just politicians signing papers—they were everyday people who made bold decisions. Farmers who left their plows. Merchants who gave up their businesses. Fathers who walked away from their families to go to war.

They stood up against the mightiest empire on the planet, not because they were strong, but because they were convinced that freedom was worth the cost.

And these Patriots…

1.1 Made a Bold Declaration

Once the conflict with England had officially begun, many of the early Americans—these Patriots we’re talking about—stepped forward and boldly declared their allegiance to this new and fragile nation.

One of the loudest voices in those early days was a man named Patrick Henry, a fiery politician from Virginia. He stood before the Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775 and addressed a crowd that, quite frankly, wasn’t all convinced yet. Some of them were still trying to play it safe, hoping maybe this whole issue with Britain would blow over.

But Patrick Henry wasn’t having any of that. He stood up and gave one of the most passionate speeches in American history… and in that speech he said “I know not what course others may take, but as for me (and here is the famous line)—give me liberty, or give me death!”

And shortly after that... that same spirit of boldness swept through the colonies…

Fast forward to July 4, 1776… when 56 men—representing the 13 colonies—signed the boldest declaration of all… The Declaration of Independence…

With that one document, they voted to separate themselves completely from England. They didn’t ask for better treatment or fewer taxes… they just said, “We want nothing less than full and complete freedom.”

And this was no small declaration… These men had just challenged the most powerful empire on the planet—Great Britain. And they did it with no army, no navy, and no professional soldiers.

All they had were groups of local volunteers—citizen-soldiers, farmers, blacksmiths and shopkeepers—banding together with hunting rifles and homemade uniforms.

Meanwhile, the British had the largest navy on earth and one of the most skilled, battle-tested armies in the world—soldiers who were not only highly trained but often ruthless in battle.

They didn’t know what the outcome would be. All they knew was that freedom was worth fighting for… and so they made a bold declaration… …

Because of that declaration… These Patriots

1.2 Paid A High Price

After declaring independence, the American colonies faced a tough road ahead—not just because of the British army, but because the people weren’t fully united.

About one-third of the colonists didn’t care how this conflict ended. They were content with either side winning.

Another third actually supported England and remained loyal to King George.

That meant the fight for freedom was carried mostly by a committed minority… less than one-third of the population at the time.

I was talking to a Pastor friend of mine this week, as I was helping him move, and he said that a few years ago he preached a 4th of July sermon that he entitled “The Cost of Freedom”… I would like to listen or read his notes on it sometime…

Because the most expensive cost of freedom isn’t the million or billion dollar airplanes… its not the cost of the warships or the missiles… … No, the highest price of freedom has always been—and still is—the lives that are given to secure and protect it.

Considering how small America’s population was back then, the number of lives lost in the Revolutionary War was extremely high.

Around 7,200 Americans died in battle, and another 8,200 were wounded.

About 10,000 more died from disease and harsh conditions

On top of that, 6,500 died in prison after being captured,

and 1,400 soldiers simply went missing and were never found.

All together, that’s about 23,700 American lives lost in the fight for independence.

Now, my friend did a lot more math than I am going to do today, but let me try to bring this into perspective…

It is estimated that During the time of the American Revolutionary War, around 1775 to 1783, the population of the 13 American colonies was approximately 2.5 million people.

Remember, out of the 2.5 million people living in the colonies at that time, only about one-third (or 833,000 people) actively supported the war for our independence.

According to Revolutionarywas.us; Of those 833,000 supporters, there were only about 225,000 men serving in the armed forces…

Take that number and divide it by the number of men who lost their lives fighting for our initial Independence… and it comes out to about 10% of the soldiers.

One out of every 10 soldiers paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that we still have today… … its a shame how people today abuse those freedoms and even try to get some of those freedoms taken away, without even considering the High Price that was paid to have them.

Our Patriot fathers made a bold declaration—and THEY PAID A HIGH PRICE…

But I also want you to see that they…

1.3 Reaped A Great Reward

The war that started back in April of 1775 finally came to an end in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The Patriots had made a bold stand… they paid a heavy price… but in the end, they won.

Though the signers of that great declaration paid a high price, many of them later reaped a great reward—

* 2 of the signers became presidents…

* 10 became U.S. congressman…

* 19 became judges…

* 16 became governors…

* dozens of others held other high political offices…

These Patriots— made the declaration; paid the price; and they reaped the reward—freedom, a new land, a new country, and a bright future.

They won their independence and freedom not just for themselves, but for all future Americans.

As we look back at this, I cannot help but see how this parallels with us as Christians… as…

2. Followers of Christ

If you call yourself a follower of Christ… You…

2.1 Need To Declare It!

In other words—don’t keep your faith a secret. Being a Christian isn’t something we’re supposed to hide. It’s not meant to be tucked away in our hearts like some private hobby or weekend activity. No—it’s a bold declaration of allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.

When someone joins the military, they don’t keep it a secret. They wear the uniform. They take the oath. They let the world know whose side they’re on. Well, it ought to be the same with us as believers.

Turn in your Bibles to Joshua 24… … I told you we would come back to it…

Look at v.14… Joshua says…

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!”

If you’ve trusted Christ as your Savior, then stand up and declare it!

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:32

Matthew 10:32 NASB95

32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

If you truly belong to Him, you won’t be ashamed to let others know it.

There are several different ways to make this declaration…

It happens when you speak up about your faith—when you’re not afraid to tell someone, “I’m a Christian… I am a follower of Jesus Christ!”

It happens when you get baptized—that’s a public testimony saying, “I’ve died to the old life, and I’m raised with Christ.”

It also happens… more than you might realize… when you live differently—when your life reflects your loyalty to Jesus in the choices you make, the language you use, the values you hold, the way you treat others, the way you treat your spouse, the way you raise your children, …

It all can be and should be used as a declaration of our relationship with Christ!

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

In other words, the way you live can point people straight to God… Which also means that the way you live can turn people away from God as well…

“ … choose for yourselves today whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

And as we serve the Lord… as we follow Christ… We must be willing to…

2.1 Bear The Cost

It’s one thing to stand up in a church service and say, “I’m all in for Jesus!”—but it’s something else entirely to actually live that out in the real world.

Let’s be honest—talking is easy. We can raise our hands, sing the songs, and say all the right words while sitting in a padded pew. But the real test comes on Monday morning—when life gets hard, when temptation shows up, when people push your buttons, or when standing up for Jesus might cost you something.

You know, on that day when Joshua made his bold declaration, he wasn’t alone—others made the same declaration…

Look at vv. 16-18 of Joshua 24…

Joshua 24:16–18 “16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;

17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed.

18 And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.””

What a great declaration by the Nation of Israel!—But tragically, it didn’t last long. All you have to do is turn the page over to the book of Judges, and you’ll see how God’s people quickly turned away from Him.

Judges 2:11–12 “11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals;

12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger.”

Israel was willing to make the declaration… but they failed to bear the cost.

They said all the right things. They even made a covenant. It was emotional, it was moving, and it sounded great. But here’s the problem:

They didn’t follow through…

They were willing to make a promise, but they weren’t willing to pay the price of obedience.

They wanted the blessings of God without the burden of faithfulness.

They said, yes! “We’ll serve the Lord,”… but when the pressure came… when culture shifted… when idols looked more appealing… they walked away.

And if we are not careful, we can and will fall into the same trap…

It’s easy to say, “Lord, I’ll follow You!” at an altar call… but will you still say that… when the road gets rough?

It’s easy to declare your faith when everyone around you agrees… but what about when you’re the only one taking a stand?

It’s one thing to sing “I have decided to follow Jesus” on Sunday… … It’s another thing to actually follow Him on Monday—when the cost shows up.

The reality is… Following Jesus will cost you something.

It might cost you popularity.

It might cost you comfort.

It might cost you friendships, opportunities, or your own personal plans.

Luke 9:23 NASB95

23 … “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Denying ourselves and daily taking up our cross means - - We’re surrendering our own desires, our own agenda, our pride… every single day.

It’s not a one-time decision—it’s a daily commitment to say, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours.”

It means living for Him even when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, or unpopular.

Luke 14:33 NKJV

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Listen, if He’s not Lord of all, He’s not Lord at all.

He wants your entire life, not just a part of it.

And listen to the words that Paul wrote to a young Pastor, Timothy…

2 Timothy 3:12 NASB95

12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

If you’re serious about living for Him—if you're trying to honor God with your life—you’re going to face opposition. It might be subtle, like being left out or laughed at… or it might be more direct, like losing opportunities or even relationships.

But that’s part of the cost. Paul doesn't sugarcoat it—he says everyone who wants to live a godly life will face some level of persecution. Why?… Because when you live for Christ, your light exposes the darkness, and not everyone is comfortable with that.

But I want you to know... that whatever you face for His name… He sees it... He honors it… and He will reward it.

Followers of Christ will…

2.3 Receive Eternal Rewards

Listen to more of Paul’s words to Timothy…

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul was looking forward to a crown of righteousness—a reward that Jesus Himself will give. And here’s the best part: Paul says it’s not just for him—it’s for anyone who lives with a heart that longs for Jesus and stays faithful to the end.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:42

Matthew 10:42 NASB95

42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Jesus is saying, “I see it all.” You don’t have to be on a stage or in the spotlight for your service to matter… Even something as small as giving a cup of water to someone in His name—He promises it will be rewarded.

That tells us God doesn’t just reward big, public acts of faith—He also honors the small, quiet ones. Nothing done for Jesus ever goes unnoticed.

For those who fight the good fight, those who make the declaration, those who bear the cost of following Christ… they will receive the greatest of all commendations one can receive…

They will hear the words... “Well done, good and faithful servant.”… Oh, what a glorious reward is in store for the faithful followers of Christ…

Closing:

This morning, we’ve looked at the boldness of our Founding Fathers and the call of God on His people—both require allegiance, both require sacrifice, and both offer great reward.

But here’s the question we each must answer for ourselves:

Where does your ultimate allegiance lie?

Just like Joshua stood before the people and said, “Choose this day who you will serve,” that same challenge still echoes today. Not just for a moment in church—but in how we live every single day.

Will you boldly declare your allegiance to Christ?

Will you bear the cost of following Him?

Will you remain faithful, even when it’s not easy?

Our nation is blessed because men and women stood up and pledged their loyalty—some with their lives.

But even greater is the call to stand for Christ and pledge our full allegiance to Him.

Today, we will not have a closing hymn, but I will ask you to stand with me as we go through each of our pledges…

First, to the American Flag

Second, to the Christian Flag

and Third to the Bible.

I’ll have the words up on the screen, just in case you may not remember them all.

And then we will have prayer and be dismissed.