Sermon Tone Analysis

“How to Pray For America”

Exodus 33:12-23

INTRODUCTION:

Video Illustration: “God Bless The USA”

“Man is never so tall as when he kneels before God-never so great as when he humbles himself before God.

And the man who kneels to God can stand up to anything”.

-Louis H.

Evans

“Prayer is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold of God's willingness.”

-Phillips Brooks

“The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but un-offered prayer.”

-Philip Melanchthon

“Behind every work of God you will always find some kneeling form.”

-Dwight L. Moody

I. PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BEGIN BY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHERE HER FREEDOM COMES.

(Exodus 33:13)

A. America’s freedom comes from the Lord.

1. (2 Corinthians 3:17 )

2. (John 8:36 )

B. America’s freedom is dependent upon obeying God.

1. (James 1:25 )

2. ( John 8:32 )

II.

PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BE MOTIVATED BY THE RECOGNITION THAT SHE HAS DANGEROUS ENEMIES .

(Exodus 33:14-15)

A. Sin is an enemy that will destroy America.

1. (Proverbs 14:34)

2. (Judges 2:11-14 )

B. Prayerlessness is an enemy that will destroy America.

1. (Ezekiel 22:30-31 )

2. God does nothing but in answer to prayer.

-John Wesley

III.

PRAYING FOR AMERICA MUST BE ANCHORED IN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CERTAIN THINGS (Exodus 33:16-18)

A. The will of God being fulfilled in the world of men.

1. (Matthew 6:9-13 )

B. The Will of God being done in our own lives.

1. (Psalms 119:45 )

2. (Galatians 5:13 )

C. The Choice to return to God in the areas in which we have strayed.

1. (Jeremiah 2:21 )

2. (Jeremiah 4:1-2 )

3. (Jeremiah 24:7)

D. The Prayer support of those who serve us in leadership of all arenas.

1. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 )

CONCLUSION:

A clergyman from New York, during a call on President Lincoln at the White House said: "I have not come to ask any favors of you, Mr. President; I have only come to say that the loyal people of the North are sustaining you and will continue to do so.

We are giving you all that we have, the lives of our sons as well as our confidence and our prayers.

You must know that no boy's father or mother ever kneels in prayer these days without asking God to give you strength and wisdom."

His eyes brimming with tears, Mr. Lincoln replied:

"But for those prayers, I should have faltered and perhaps failed long ago.

Tell every father and mother you know to keep on praying, and I will keep on fighting, for I know God is on our side."

As the clergyman started to leave the room, Mr. Lincoln held him by the hands and said: "I suppose I may consider this as sort of a pastoral call?" "Yes," replied the clergyman.

"Out in our country," replied Lincoln, "when a parson makes a pastoral call, it was always the custom for the folks to ask him to lead in prayer, and I should like to ask you to pray with me today.

Pray that I may have the strength and the wisdom."

The two men knelt side by side, and the clergyman offered the most fervent plea to Almighty God that ever fell from his lips.

As they arose, the President clasped his visitor's hand and remarked in a satisfied sort of way: "I feel better."