One Nation Under God

Tomorrow we will mark the 246th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America.

It all began when a document was read and signed. A document which said:

In Congress, July 4, 1776, The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.

The Declaration of Independence went on to address the 27 specific grievances the people of those 13 states had with the King of Great Britain:

A document that said:

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

A document that declared:

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States

A document that ended with:

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of this nation, a document that refers to God 4 different times:

The God who, they declared, gives this country equal station with Great Britain and other powers of the earth.

The God who CREATED humanity.

A God to whom they appealed for morally correct thinking and acting as they made this separation from Great Britain.

The God on whom they declared a firm reliance for protection and provision in the difficult task that lay ahead.

Where is that nation today?

That nation who began its existence looking to God?

Rick Allen, AG National Men’s Ministry Director says:

There’s no question. America is sick and needs an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Recent events… paint a very hopeless picture for the future.

But God is not through with America!

… it saddens us to hear some Christians say America as a nation is beyond redemption. We’re not called to fix America as a nation. We’re called to reach America’s people!

I would suggest that if the church (that’s us!) would rise up and prayerfully, effectively (that means Holy Spirit anointing!) and boldly reach America’s people with the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ THAT will fix America as a nation.

Let’s think about the people of this nation and our nation in light of our text this morning:

Text: Psalm 33:6-12

Psalm 33:6–12 (NLT) The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 7 He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. 8 Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of Him. 9 For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command. 10 The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 11 But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken. 12 What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people He has chosen as His inheritance.

In the light of our text, as we think about the United States of America, and even more so, on the PEOPLE of this country, we need to remember 4 things this morning:

First, that God created all things.

Vs. 6 tells us He spoke the planets and stars into existence.

Though it is not mentioned in this text, we know He created humanity.

Genesis 2:7 (NLT) Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Isaiah 64:8 (NLT) And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.

Like that last scripture says:

He is the potter.

We are the clay.

Not the other way around.

God says in:

Isaiah 29:16 (NASB95) You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made would say to its maker, “He did not make me”; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, “He has no understanding”?

Isaiah 29:16 (NLT) How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and He is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?

As individuals AND as a nation we have gotten things turned around

We have become fools

Psalm 14:1 (NASB95) The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

We are under judgement from God because we as individuals and as a nation have decided that WE know better than the One who created us.

May God grant us grace to understand reality.

Reality is: Psalm 100:3 (NASB95) Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; …

Second, that He controls it all

May God help us realize another reality:

God is in control.

We see that in verses 7, 9, 10 and 11

We sang it, God is in Control, do we believe it?

Do we believe what we read in this passage?

That He speaks and it happens (vs.9).

Yes, ALL the moving parts of creation.

Isaiah 40:26 (NASB95) Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

He guides US as individuals.

And He also guides the nations.

Indeed, God is in control!

We do well to fear Him.

Vs. 8 says ...

Instead of fearing, reverencing, standing in awe of the God who made it all.

The God who controls it all.

We are awestruck by media stars, athletes. politicians.

We get more chills watching a computer animated movie with fictional characters exercising fictional powers than we do the living God.

No wonder this nation is going down the toilet!

Fearing God, worshipping Him alone, being in awe of Him — THAT is wisdom!

Job 28:28 (NASB95) “And to man [God] said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

Psalm 111:10 (NASB95) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Proverbs 1:7 (NASB95) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 (NASB95) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 15:33 (NASB95) The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

Proverbs 14:27 (NASB95) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 19:23 (NASB95) The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

Church, may WE return to a fear of the Lord.

THEN we can lead the lost to do so.

THEN we can lead a nation to do so.

God will bless the Nation Who Chooses Him

When a person understands that he or she is not a self-made person, but that they have a Creator.

When they understand God controls it all.

When a person has a proper understanding of God — a proper reverent fear of Him, we will choose Him.

We will choose to surrender to Him.

We will choose to serve Him.

Then, and only then do we experience the blessings of God.

We have got this all turned around.

We think blessings come and then we reverence God.

NO!

It is when we FIRST choose to repent of our sins and surrender to His leading that the blessings come.

It is when we first choose Him, that we are blessed.

It is true of individuals, it is true of nations.

We must come to the same place Peter did in:

John 6:67–69 (NLT) [after giving some hard teachings] 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

Lord, You alone have the words that give eternal life.

Of course I’m going to follow You!

Will YOU choose Him?

So, the question stands for us as individuals and for us as a nation:

Will we choose God or will we reject Him?

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit leads to to accept Jesus by:

Repenting, turning away from your sins

Surrendering control of your life to Him.

Prayer for the nation.

Gather around the flag.