Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: As we celebrate July 4th, Independence Day for America, I want to remind you of the freedoms and liberties we are afforded, but also of their original purposes.

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.

From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence from Great Britain.

But before the Declaration of Independence, history reveals our godly heritage.

A ship filled with adventurous but desperate religious pilgrims left a land where they were persecuted to find a land where they were free to worship God.

The Christian church was at the center of every new settlement in this new land.

Of the men who signed our Constitution, most were Christians.

Our democracy was founded on Christian principles interwoven with biblical-centered interpretations of moral justice, God-given rights, and abundant opportunities.

Unfortunately, Independence Day has taken on a new meaning in America.

It is still a day celebrating the liberties and freedoms we enjoy in this great land, but it has become a day where many Americans celebrate their liberty to be independent from God and to run down the founding fathers of this great nation and its intended purpose.

In doing so, we have watched this great land become the cesspool of society.

Today I want to remind us of how blessed America was and can be again if we turn back to God!

Text; Psalm 33:12

The writer of this Psalm is thanking God that He has revealed Himself to Israel, called them His own and that he part of this chosen nation.

This scripture is definitely ascribed to Israel alone.

But the word nation is important and needs to be defined.

Nation- a large body of people united by a common descent [nationality], history, culture or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

Therefore, this blessing [Ps.

33:12] can be applied to any nation who chooses to acknowledge the Lord as their God.

Any nation that places itself under the Lord’s authority and governs by His commands will be blessed.

America was once that nation and in hopes that it can be that way again.

1. Freedoms We Possess in America;

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence; We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Freedom- not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or do as one wishes:

The freedom to know truth and follow truth!

John 8:31–32 (NKJV)

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Truth sets one free from sin

Truth emboldens one to follow/serve

This is known as “freedom of religion” and we have the right under God and in our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to practice this freedom without interference from any individual or the government.

Christians who have a fear of a lawsuit have a greater fear of men than they do of God!

All Americans have the freedom to know Christ [truth] and to follow/serve Him!

2. Liberties We have in America;

Liberty- the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, religious or political views: the power or scope to act as one pleases.

In America you can act like a fool if you want too [personally/politically], or you can choose to know truth and use your liberties in Christ/America to make the place we live blessed by God and better for all!

Let me share with you some scriptures about “liberty”

Luke 4:18–19 (NKJV)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Jesus’ mission was to come to His people and declare the Kingdom of God was at hand.

Their Messiah was come.

We hold these same liberties today as christians!

Those who have trusted Christ as Savior are rich in His mercy, whole in heart, free from sin, can now see the light and liberated from our burdens in Him!

No longer do I wonder in darkness of sin, nor am I blinded by the god of this age.

I have been set free from the power of sin in Christ and I have the liberty to share Him with others.

No one can take either from me!

The liberty I have in Christ is not to be used for the sin of the flesh.

God’s grace was not given for me to abound more in sin.

I am to stand firm in the liberty of faith and not to return to my old ways.

No one can make me return to my previous ways of life nor force me to denounce Christ and sin against Him.

My salvation in Christ is not just for me alone, but for others.

I have the God given right and responsibility to serve others in love regardless of what anybody else does or does not do.

Serving others in love is serving others with love [attitude].

We should never use our liberty in Christ to demean others whether they are in the faith or not.

[I get aggravated with people but I’ve had to learn to try and hold my tongue, and defend my faith and not argue it]

The word of God is like a window to our soul.

As we look into the word we see who we were before Christ but also who we have become in Christ.

This liberty we have in Christ should compel us to be active in the ministry of the gospel knowing the judgment to come but also the freedom men can have in the truth of Christ!

The liberty I have in Christ is not for me to judge others in their sin but to extend the mercy of God that was extended to me in Christ!

And if I am not willing to extend God’s mercy, then I need to check and see if I am in it to start with!

Close;

In Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s “Treasury of David” concerning the Psalms, there is a story credited to Edward Calamy about a young boy who was at sea during a dangerous storm.

The passengers were frightened and at their wits’ end, but he was not disturbed at all.

In fact, he was even cheerful.

The others asked how he could be cheerful when they seemed in danger of losing their lives.

He replied that the pilot of the ship was his father, and he knew his father would take care of him.

America is not the same that it was when it was founded over 200 years ago.

Matter of fact it is an America that our founding fathers would not even recognize.

It’s an America that some of you sitting here this morning don’t recognize anymore!

But I believe America is a nation that God blessed in its inception and still cares for because of the remnant of the church that is still fighting the good fight of faith.

How do I know this?

My hope is, that the church, go to our death defending the freedoms and liberties God has given this great land!

All for His Glory!

God Bless America!!!