“Righteousness Exalts a Nation”

Text: and

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. ().

What joy (Blessed is)for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance. (). Introduction:

Introduction:

I think most of you would agree that it is appropriate from time to time to consider patriotic themes, even from the pulpit. The OT prophets often preached messages of warning and judgment that included national issues. Often times they would address their message to the kings and rulers of the people. Sometimes their message would be a review of national history and how God had worked his will in spite of corrupt leaders. Part of my message today may sound a little like a history lesson. But I know you’ve heard the statement, “that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Sometimes the things we learn from history help us see how far we’ve drifted from our roots as a nation.

Introduction: The United States of America is 228 years old today. That’s a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you look at our history in the context of world history America is really just a “child” among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, Greece all make America’s history seem relatively short. Consider what a brief time we’ve really been here as a nation: When Thomas Jefferson died, Abraham Lincoln was a young man of 17. When Lincoln was assassinated, Woodrow Wilson was a boy of 8. By the time he died Ronald Reagan was a boy of 12. There you have it. The life span of four men can take you all the way back to the beginning of our country, 228 years ago. We are so young. And yet we stand tall among these nations because of the principles on which we were established: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thus begins the Declaration of Independence, which is celebrated in our land today. But we must confess that there are some concerns about the spiritual health of our nation in the days in which we live...

Tuesday, July 4th, America will be 241 years old. That’s a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you look at our history in the context of world history America is really just a “child” among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, Greece all make America’s history seem relatively short. Consider what a brief time we’ve really been here as a nation: When Thomas Jefferson died, Abraham Lincoln was a young man of 17. When Lincoln was assassinated, Woodrow Wilson was a boy of 8. By the time he died Ronald Reagan was a boy of 12. There you have it. The life span of four men can take you all the way back to the beginning of our country, 241 years ago. We are so young. And yet we stand tall among these nations because of the principles on which we were established: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Thus begins the Declaration of Independence, which is celebrated in our land today. But we must confess that there are some concerns about the spiritual health of our nation in the days in which we live...

1. As the Ten Commandments are removed from one public building after another, what remains are blank walls, which are too often being pocked with bullet marks or covered with graffiti. If nothing but a blank wall remains in place of a moral code, sooner or later people are going to write on it whatever they want.

2. We are thus living in a nation in which our conduct is being governed, not by the moral laws of God, but by the popular culture of our times. People assume that it is possible to have morality without God, but the whole underpinning and basis of morality is the existence of God and the principles that He has put into place.

a. In his farewell address to the nation, President George Washington said, “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

b. Historian Will Durant wrote: “There is no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion.”

c. Author and apologist Ravi Zacharias put it more bluntly: “There is nothing in history to match the dire ends to which humanity can be led by following a political and social philosophy that consciously and absolutely excludes God.”

3. We should understand that without the reality of an eternal God there is not ultimate basis for ethics and there are no moral absolutes. Erwin Lutzer offers a graphic picture of what is happening. Imagine a heavy steel beam, suspended high above a chasm by a single cable attached to the middle of the beam. Two men are on opposite ends, and their weight provides the balance needed to keep the bar horizontal. Now suppose that one of them steadies himself enough to pull out a gun and shoot the other one. The result is that they both fall into the chasm. Those who are trying to destroy belief in God cannot do it without destroying themselves.

4. Historian Edward Gibbon, author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire attributed the fall of that Great Empire to:

a. the rapid increase of divorce, the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the base of human society

b. higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace

c. the mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal

d. the building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people

e. the decay of religion---faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people.

5. And if our nation continues to descend into a godless, entertainment—centered moral relativism that holds no fear of God and no reverence for His commands, we will perish as a nation. The blank wall will become a blackboard for the finger of God to write the words of : “You are weighed in the balances and found wanting.” General Omar Bradley said, “America today is running on the momentum of a Godly ancestry, and when that momentum runs down, God help America.”

“So, what?” some will say. But I think the Christian has a far better question, “So, What Do We Do?”

4. And if our nation continues to descend into a godless, entertainment—centered moral relativism that holds no fear of God and no reverence for His commands, we will perish as a nation. The blank wall will become a blackboard for the finger of God to write the words of : “You are weighed in the balances and found wanting.” General Omar Bradley said, “America today is running on the momentum of a Godly ancestry, and when that momentum runs down, God help America.”

We dare not be passive! We dare not be inactive! We dare not just sit by a watch the demise of a great nation! It has been appropriately said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing! We must not do nothing! There are things we can do! There are good things we should do!

We dare not be passive! We dare not be inactive! We dare not just sit by a watch the demise of a great nation! It has been appropriately said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing! We must not do nothing! There are things we can and should do!

I. We Can and should Keep Our Lives Pure

1. We can keep our own lives pure by remaining utterly committed to God and His moral law in our own personal experience. The government can never keep us from exhibiting God’s moral law in our daily behavior. The courts can never keep us from fleshing out the gospel.

1. We can keep our own lives pure by remaining utterly committed to God and His moral law in our own personal experience. The government can never keep us from exhibiting the Ten Commandments in our daily behavior. The courts can never keep us from fleshing out the gospel.

2. Christian behavior is growing increasingly distinct from that of the world around us. Do you remember that great appeal that Paul made to the Philippian church? He urged in that we, “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” And we should remember what Jesus said, “let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” 3. People demonstrate for all sorts of causes and issues. Well, we can demonstrate by our behavior who we are and whose we are. Jesus said that we are to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. He calls upon us to be light and salt in a dark and tasteless world. He calls upon us to make a difference...to bloom where we’re planted...to be a blessing.

2. Christian behavior is growing increasingly distinct from that of the world around us. We can live blameless, holy lives, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation ().

4. 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 aflame 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!”

3. We can demonstrate by our behavior who we are and whose we are. Jesus said that we are to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. He calls upon us to be light and salt in a dark and tasteless world. He calls upon us to make a difference...to bloom where we’re planted...to be a blessing.

I might add that we should not leave it up to our courts to legislate morality; our law enforcement can only do so much to enforce the laws; it’s not up to our education system to teach righteousness; neither is it up to our politicians to enact laws and policies for ethical living. What is needed is for our Churches to take our faith and live it consistently outside the buildings into the streets and marketplaces and shine like lights in a dark world. Morals, ethics, right behavior needs to be taught to our children at a young age so that when they grow up it is natural for them to live what they have learned at home.

3. We can demonstrate by our behavior who we are and whose we are. Jesus said that we are to let our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. He calls upon us to be light and salt in a dark and tasteless world. He calls upon us to make a difference...to bloom where we’re planted...to be a blessing.

II. We Can and should Keep Our Voices Heard

II. We Can Keep Our Voices Heard

1. Christians have civil rights, too. We have freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Students in the public schools have incredible rights when it comes to prayer, Bible study, and equal access for Bible-related events. Often times these things are not utilized and then they are lost.

2. Not long ago at Northern High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, one of the graduating seniors, a Christian, planned to offer an invocation at the graduation ceremony, but a fellow student objected, saying prayer is inappropriate at a public ceremony. The state attorney general’s office informed school officials that graduation prayers violate the constitutional separation of church and state. As a compromise, the Christian student agreed to ask for a 30-second “time for reflection” that did not mention God. The time came for the graduation service, and the student asked for a moment of silence. Suddenly a man in the crowd began to recite the Lord’s Prayer aloud, and instantly virtually everyone in the entire 4,000 member audience, including the students, joined in. It was a spontaneous demonstration of our right of free speech as believers in a pluralistic society.

III. We Can and should Keep Our Prayers Going

Illus. When a stranger came to the Continental Congress and wanted to know which one was George Washington, a friend said, “He is easy to spot. When the Congress begins to pray, Washington will be the tall man who will go to his knees.”

III. We Can and should Keep Our Prayers Going

When Edward Everett Hale was the chaplain of the U. S. Senate, someone asked him if he prayed for the Senators. He said, “No, I look at the Senators, and then pray for the country.”

The Constitution of the United States says nothing about the separation of church and state. That phrase does appear in the Soviet Constitution. Nothing in our history indicates that the government should be independent of moral values or that religious people shouldn’t take an active role in government.

The first official act of the U.S. Congress formed under our Constitution was to select a chaplain. The second act was to authorize the purchase of 20,000 Bibles.

1. As Christians in America we need to pray for spiritual revival in our country. There have been other times in the history of our nation and in the history of other nations in which judgment was delayed by the winds of revival; and it isn’t too late for our nation to experience such an awakening. says, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice with You?”

1. As Christians in America we can pray for spiritual revival in our country. There have been other times in the history of our nation and in the history of other nations in which judgment was delayed by the winds of revival; and it isn’t too late for our nation to experience such an awakening. says, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice with You?”

2. We are urged in Scripture to pray for our leaders. The Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to Timothy, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, and intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and please God our Savior, who wants all me to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” ()

3. And we need to keep our prayers going for those who are serving our country in harm’s way and far away from their families! We need to pray diligently for their safety...for their success...for them to be able to come home.

Illus. There was a good ol’ boy who was being bothered by one of those religious groups that are known for going door to door with their literature. This particular group had been bothering this man quite frequently.

Illus. After his death, Osama bin Laden surprisingly went to the after-life. Upon arriving there he was greeted by George Washington, who proceeded to slap him across the face and yell at him, “How dare you try to destroy the nation I helped conceive!” Patrick Henry approached and punched Osama in the nose and shouted, “You wanted to end our liberties but you failed.” James Madison entered, kicked Osama...and said, “This is why I allowed our government to provide for the common defense!” Thomas Jefferson came in and proceeded to beat Osama many times with a long cane and said, “It was evil men like you that provided me the inspiration to pen the Declaration of Independence!” These beatings and thrashings continued as John Rudolph, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans came in and unleashed their anger on the Muslim terrorist leader.

Now you need to know that this ol’ boy was from the South. He was a country boy. He was a veteran of the Marine Corps having returned home to settle down with his family. He didn’t know what to do about these visitors, so he went to his preacher and said, “How do I get rid of these people?”

As Osama lay bleeding and writhing in unbearable pain an Angel appeared. Bin Laden wept in anguish and said to the Angel, “This is not what I was promised!” The Angel replied, “Yes it is, right down to the number. There are 72.” Osama said, “What are you talking about? I was promised 72 virgins.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” said the Angel, “you misunderstood me. I said there would be 72 Virginians!”

His preacher said, “Well, I know this group. They don’t believe in saluting the flag. They don’t believe in singing the National Anthem. So the next time they come, you just make them pledge allegiance to the flag and sing the National Anthem, and they will go away and leave you alone.”

As Osama lay bleeding and writhing in unbearable pain an Angel appeared. Bin Laden wept in anguish and said to the Angel, “This is not what I was promised!” The Angel replied, “Yes it is, right down to the number. There are 72.” Osama said, “What are you talking about? I was promised 72 virgins.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” said the Angel, “you misunderstood me. I said there would be 72 Virginians!”

Well this ex-marine got upset. He said, “You mean to tell me they will not salute our flag, and they refuse to sing the National Anthem of the country I fought for?” He said, “I’ll take care of them.”

He went out and found the biggest U.S. Flag he could find and put it on the wall in his home. He found a copy of the National Anthem and taught his family every one of the verses. He thought to himself, “I’ll be ready for them next time.”

Well, he looked out one morning, and sure enough here comes a little old lady across the yard with her satchel. He thought to himself, “I’m going to fix you once and for all.”

Before she could even knock on the door he opened it, grabbed her by the arm, brought her inside and said, “Stand right here! I want you to do something before you say a word or open your mouth. First of all we are going to pledge allegiance to the flag.” So here was this ex-marine, his wife and his children, and this little old lady pledging allegiance to the flag. The he said, “Now, you are going to sing the National Anthem with my family, and we’re going to sing all the verses.” They sang all the verses to the National Anthem. She sang right along with them.

That man was so proud of himself. He said, “Now lady, how do you like that?”

She said, “I think it’s wonderful. I love my country just like you do.” She said, “I will be honest with you, I’ve been selling Avon for 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like this!”

Yes, we need to keep right on praying for our country and for those who are serving our country in our armed services.

And we also need to...

IV. We Can Keep Our Focus International

1. It has been suggested that perhaps one of the reasons God allowed the United States of America to come into existence was to help fulfill the Great Commission, to supply the personnel and finances needed for the evangelization of the world. Jesus urged us to pray for workers. The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matt. 9:37,38). 2. We have been sending missionaries since 1812 when Adoniram Judson went to Burma; and partially as a result of that the world today is experiencing the greatest harvest of souls it has ever seen. Now is no time to stop but rather to increase our efforts for the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

1. It has been suggested that perhaps one of the reasons God allowed the United States of America to come into existence was to help fulfill the Great Commission, to supply the personnel and finances needed for the evangelization of the world.

2. We have been sending missionaries since 1812 when Adoniram Judson went to Burma; and partially as a result of that the world today is experiencing the greatest harvest of souls it has ever seen. Now is no time to stop but rather to increase our efforts for the spread of the gospel throughout the world.

Illus. If we are going to be effective in reaching people for Christ we are going to have to start showing people that we really care. Evangelism and missions must be relational in nature. There is no record of Jesus walking up to someone out of the clear blue sky and saying: I am the Messiah and then begin to show his care for them. No, he showed his care for them first and then he revealed himself to them.

Illus. If we are going to be effective in reaching people for Christ we are going

to have to start showing people that we really care. Evangelism and missions

must be relational in nature. There is no record of Jesus walking up to

someone out of the clear blue sky and saying: I am the Messiah and then

begin to show his care for them. No, he showed his care for them first

and then he revealed himself to them.

A story is told about a man who was on a luxury liner and suddenly he falls overboard. He can't swim and in desperation he begins calling for help. Now it just so happens that there were several would be rescuers on deck who witnessed the incident. The first man was a MORALIST. When he saw the man fall overboard he immediately reached into his briefcase and pulled out a book on how to swim. He now tossed it to him and he yelled: “Now brother, you read that and just follow the instructions and you will be alright.”

overboard. He can't swim and in desperation he begins calling for help. Now

it just so happens that there were several would be rescuers on deck who

witnessed the incident. The first man was a MORALIST. When he saw the man

fall overboard he immediately reached into his briefcase and pulled out a

book on how to swim. He now tossed it to him and he yelled: Now brother, you

read that and just follow the instructions and you will be alright.

The man next to him happened to be a IDEALIST. When he saw the man fall overboard he immediately jumped into the water and began swimming all around the drowning man saying: “Now just watch me swim. Do as I do and you will be alright.” The person next to him happened to be a member of the INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH. He looked upon the drowning man's plight with deep concern. He yelled out: “Now, just hold on friend. Help is on the way. We are going to establish a committee and dialogue your problem. And then, if we have come up with the proper financing, we will resolve your dilemma.”

The man next to him happened to be a IDEALIST. When he saw the man fall

overboard he immediately jumped into the water and began swimming all around

the drowning man saying: Now just watch me swim. Do as I do and you will be

alright. The person next to him happened to be a member of the INSTITUTIONAL

CHURCH. He looked upon the drowning man's plight with deep concern. He

yelled out: Now, just hold on friend. Help is on the way. We are going to

establish a committee and dialogue your problem. And then, if we have come

up with the proper financing, we will resolve your dilemma.

The next man on deck happened to be a representative of the school of POSITIVE THINKING. He yelled out to the drowning man: "Friend, this situation is not nearly as bad as you think. Think dry!" The next man on board happened to be a REVIVALIST. By this time the drowning man was going down for the third time and desperately began waving his arm. Seeing that, the revivalist yelled out: “Yes brother, I see that hand, is there another?”

The next man on deck happened to be a representative of the school of

POSITIVE THINKING. He yelled out to the drowning man: "Friend, this

situation is not nearly as bad as you think. Think dry!" The next man on

board happened to be a REVIVALIST. By this time the drowning man was going

down for the third time and desperately began waving his arm. Seeing that,

the revivalist yelled out: Yes brother, I see that hand, is there another?

Is there another? And finally, the last man on deck, was a REALIST. He immediately plunged into the water, at the risk of his own life, and pulled the victim to safety.

immediately plunged into the water, at the risk of his own life, and pulled

the victim to safety.

My friends, the harvest is plentiful, but the WORKERS are few. We need realists in the church willing plunge into the water and go to work.

My friends, the harvest is plentiful, but the WORKERS are few. We need

realists in the church willing plunge into the water and go to work.

3. Jesus commissioned us to take the gospel to all the world...making disciples of all nations...baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...He has not rescinded that order! That’s why we dare not let up in our emphasis of evangelism both here and abroad. It’s been said that if we don’t keep sending and supporting missionaries to take the Gospel around the world that there will come a day when other countries will be sending Christian missionaries to a heathen America.

3. Jesus commissioned us to take the gospel to all the world...making disciples of all nations...baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...He has not rescinded that order!

Conclusion: The ancient words of are still faithful and true: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

You see, the answers to our problems as a nation are clearly defined in God’s Word.

Conclusion: The ancient words of are still faithful and true: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

And, the remedy for sin is found in Jesus Christ! Surely you remember Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost. The people who heard that first Gospel message were “cut to the heart and cried, ‘What shall we do?’” The answer given then is the same answer that is given now, “38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

That’s not my answer. That’s God’s answer. Have you responded?