July 9, 2011

"One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4

In his book "Good Morning Merry Sunshine" Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene chronicles his infant daughter’s first year of life. When little Amanda began crawling he records: “This is something I’m having trouble getting used to. I will be in bed reading a book or watching TV. And I will look down at the foot of the bed and there will be Amanda’s head staring back at me. "Apparently I’ve become one of the objects that fascinate her... It’s so strange. After months of having to go to her, now she is choosing to come to me. I don’t know quite how to react. All I can figure is that she likes the idea of coming in and looking at me. She doesn’t expect anything in return. I’ll return her gaze and in a few minutes she’ll decide she wants to be back in the living room and off she’ll crawl again.”

The simple pleasure of looking at the one you love--what Bob and his daughter enjoyed is what we enjoy each time we worship God and bask in his presence.

"...That I may dwell in the house of the Lord." David was not referring here to the tabernacle, the place where God dwelt in the times preceding Solomon, or the temple built during his son’s reign. These places were not dwellings to be lived in, and neither were they eternal (See Psalm 23:6). David was speaking here of an ongoing and intimate relationship with God where we live in His very presence. Worship is meant to bring us to the throne of God that we might grow in our understanding of Him. This is what Jesus referred to as "eternal life" in John 17:2-3. In providing for us life that would never end, God was giving Himself to us.

If worship doesn’t bring us into the presence of God through His Son, then one of two things has gone wrong: Either we are worshipping the wrong thing or we’re worshipping for the wrong reason.

1. The object of our worship.

The very first commandment given to Israel was to "have no other gods before me (See Exodus 20:3). He alone is to be the One we worship. God is clear on this. Whatever we do, it is to be done to His glory (See 1 Corinthians 10:31).

Application: He is so central to our existence that the most routine things can and should be done to His glory!

2. The motivation for worship.

People seek access to the throne of God for many reasons. Often it is because we want something from Him. There is, however, one motive that seems more right than others--because we want to know Him.

CAIN – Tried to worship with a selfish heart – RELIGION

ABEL – Worshipped in a way that pleased God – RELATIONSHIP

There once was an old woman who unfortunately was gradually losing her memory. Throughout her life, however, this woman had cherished and depended on the Word of God, committing many verses to memory. Her favorite was 2 Timothy 1:12 -- "I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." Confined to a bed in a nursing home, her family knew that she was would never leave it alive. As they  visited, she would quote verses, especially 2 Timothy 1:12. But with the passing of time, even parts of this well-loved verse began to fade. "I know in whom I have believed...he is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him..." Then it was..."what I have entrusted to Him..." A few short days before her death all she could remember was... "entrusted to Him." Finally in her last moments there was only one word left, Him." She whispered it again and again as she stood on the doorstep of heaven. "Him...Him...Him." It was all that was left and it was all that was needed.

He IS the focus of your worship! To seek His face until you enter into His presence AND to learn of Him in the temple (His Spirit).

Do you have a compelling desire to see His face each day?

Do you make it a priority to seek Him in His temple?

July 8, 2011

"You have said, Seek My face. My heart says to You, Your face, Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require."  Psalm 27:8

What are the necessities of your life? What do you absolutely have to have? Can you even name those essentials that you could not be without?

I'll bet if you took the time to figure it out you would find it is a short list.

David, the Psalmist King knew! The one indispensible thing for him was God's presence! He could not - or more accurately - would allow himself to be denied the presence of God.

To "seek God's face" means to come into His presence. The great John Piper frames it this way:

"This happens through “seeking.” Continual seeking. But what does that mean practically? Both the Old and New Testaments say it is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

“Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1–2)

This setting of the mind is the opposite of mental coasting. It is a conscious choice to direct the heart toward God. This is what Paul prays for the church: “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5). It is a conscious effort on our part. But that effort to seek God is a gift from God.

We do not make this mental and emotional effort to seek God because he is lost. That’s why we would seek a coin or a sheep. But God is not lost. Nevertheless, there is always something through which or around which we must go to meet him consciously. This going through or around is what seeking is. He is often hidden. Veiled. We must go through mediators and around obstacles."

Herein is the merging of discipline and desire. The desire to seek God motivates the discipline to schedule time and screen distractions and study the Word until you hear from God and experience His presence.

Understand that there is a sense in which you are never out of the presence of God in terms of His protection and care. But communing with Him and connecting with Him in that intimate spiritual fellowship that your soul craves requires you full focus.

If you have not sought the face of God for awhile, why is that? Is it because of a lack of desire? Has your heart grown cold? Has sin crept into your life? Have you fallen in love with the world?

Or have you become distracted or diverted or discouraged due to the commotion around you? Has your lack of discipline allow the world to smother your schedule and clutter your mind?

Seek His face today!

July 7, 2011

"The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident."  Psalm 27:1-3

It occured to me this morning that this whole Casey Anthony circus serves as a good example of the point I have been trying to make concerning the importance of discipline in worship. Here in these verses the Psalmist demonstrates his discipline by staying focused on the greatness of His God even in the midst of attacks from his enemies. Rather than allowing his attention to be drawn to his problems he keep his spirit directed toward God.

Here we are facing some of the most perilous threats in the history of our nation and perhaps, all of humanity and most of the media devotes hundreds of hours of TV time to following this trial. Why not direct all that time and attention on reporting about the growing instability in the Middle East that are on the verge of war? Why not devote time and attention to our debt crisis that threatens to collapse our economy? Greece in on the brink of economic disaster. So is Portugal and Spain. California just passed a law requiring their schools to add a class teaching gay history. Thousands of innocent people are being by murdered by Mexican drug lords just south of our border and some of it is spilling across into Texas and Arizona and New Mexico.

While all of these serious and substantive matters have potential to destroy nations or even destroy large portions of the earth, what are we focused on? A bizarre soap opera masquerading as a murder trial is where all the time and media attention has been devoted. Why? Because it gets ratings!

So, our media which for two centuries has been entrusted with the task of protecting our republic by keeping the public informed on the relevent issues of our time, has sold its soul and defaulted on its constitutional responsibility for good ratings. This is the modern equivalent of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

That detestable lack of discipline by these "professionals" in the news business has contributed to a culture that majors on the minors while the major issues go underreported. If they were true to their traditional role in serving the public interest they would discipline themselves to focus on the "real" news that affects the daily lives and future of American citizens even if it meant less revenue.

But, in the same way, if you don't discipline your desires to seek after God and His Word and His will, you will also chase after entertainment rather than edifaction and spiritual growth.

Worship happens only when you disicpline your desires to concentrate on what matters most. Worship doesn't happen by accident. Seeking God is a result of learned disciplines that keep us focused on the eternal issues not on entertaining things.

Discipline your desires or your desires with destroy you.

July 6, 2011

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident."  Psalm 27:1-3

This idea that discipline is a vital part of worship is a new thought for me and perhaps to you as well. So, I want to spend more time elaborating on it because I think it has powerful potential to improve your worship.

The Psalmist declares the Lord is his "Light and Salvation" and the Lord is the "strength of his life".  As he glorifies God in that state he also indicts himself. By acknowledging God as his light he also admits that he is darkness. When he commends God as His salvation he implies that he is lost without that salvation. With God he lives in light. Apart from God he dwells in darkness. Believing in God he has salvation but without God he is lost.

Therein is the need for discipline! To enjoy worship and to know God's light and His salvation you must discipline yourself to resist the darkness and come out of your lostness. You will only do that if you choose to believe what His Word says about you and choose to act upon it. That requires a conscious decision that goes against your human nature. That is faith! Faith takes discipline because it is not natural.

Discipline may have taken a negative context in your thinking because it usually is associated with punishment. When you were failed to discipline yourself as a youngster and did something bad, your parents had to do the disciplining for you. That was not pleasant for you or them. But let me give you another way to think of discipline - "discipline is saying no to one thing in order to say yes to something better".

So, if you want to become a better worshipper you must say "no" to your darkness and come to His light! That means putting down the TV remote, or the newspaper or the magazine or the video game control and pick up your Bible. It means saying "no' to the selfish desires and the destructive thoughts and "yes" to His Spirit.

Is your lack of discipline hindering your worship? Are you choosing His light above your darkness? Are you saying "no" to self to say "yes" to His Spirit. What should you pick up in order to worship better? What do you need to put down in order to worship well?

July 5, 2011

“The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident"  Psalms 27:1-3

Since many of the Psalms are written by men who knew how to worship well and how to lead others in worship, it is no surprise that there is much to be learned about what worship is and how it happens. Psalm 27 is one of those Psalms that could serve as a textbook for worshippers.

Sunday I will be preaching on it and commenting on it in this blog all week. If you follow me through this week you will see worship is so much more than four hymns, prayers, Scriptures, an offering and a sermon.

Verses 1 through 3 show a very important but often overlooked aspect of worship. There is a discipline required to worship well. You don't worship in a vacuum. To worship well you have to seek God through the distractions and diversions that life can bring.

David wasn't always a worship-leader or a king but was always a worshipper. He was determined to never allow anything come between him and his God. His single-minded passion to worship his God was the driving force of his life.

We first see the evidence of that discipline when he confronted the giant Philistine, Goliath. While the battle-tested warriors of Saul's army (including King Saul) were quaking in fear over the taunts and threats by the not-so-gentle giant, David was zealous for God. This obscure shepherd boy who came to the camp on a mission from his father, Jesse, but soon took on a mission for his Heavenly Father. When he arrived to deliver the goodies from home to his older brothers, he was grieved to hear the blasphemy from Goliath. Even more troubling to him was the lack of response from God's army. All the others saw a giant threat, David saw a giant target.

In David's world, anything that came between him and his God had to go. Goliath did and Goliath fell. Worship was a big deal to David. For David worship was a way of life. I wasn't something he did, it was something he was. He was not content to live outside the presence of God.

Worship requires discipline because worship requires God's presence. Coming into God's presence demands a determination to fight through the daily diversions and distractions. Sometimes you may feel your way into God's presence but most days you must fight your way there.

For you, your lack of discipline may be that giant! What are you willing to do to win that battle?

July 4, 2011

“remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,”  Ephesians 2:12-14

Today as we celebrate the blessings of freedom for the 235th time, we are soberly and humbly grateful for those who have shed their life-blood on battlefields world-wise to earn and protect our freedom. Since the Revolutionary War, 1.2 millions of our finest young men and women have been lost in wars. Freedom is one of the few things worth dying for because it adds so much to living. The Bible says, “The life is in the blood” and certainly, our lives are blessed because they bled away their life’s blood for us. Be mindful of that at your picnics and fireworks and other festivities.

For those of us who are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are doubly blessed! We have benefited from the blood of brave patriots but even more so from the blood of Jesus! His torturous death on the cross won us spiritual freedom. We are free to enjoy the good life and the better life while looking forward to eternal life!

All because of the blood that was shed! Be very mindful of that today as you celebrate. In the words of the great Andre Crouch song:

The blood that Jesus shed for me,

way back on Calvary;

the blood that gives me strength

from day to day,

it will never lose its power.

It reaches to the highest mountain,

it flows to the lowest valley;

the blood that gives me strength

from day to day,

It will never lose its power.

It soothes my doubts and calms my fears,

and it dries all my tears;

the blood that gives me strength

from day to day,

it will never lose its power.

Freedom isn’t free.

Celebrate it accordingly today.



July 3, 2011

"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you."  Psalm 33

Summer in the Psalms is into week five already! As I prepare for a message appropriate for the Fourth of July week-end I will be dissecting Psalms 33 beginning this morning. So, far this is how I have outlined it and I believe I see a pattern consistent with what motivated the Founding Fathers to develop the greatest nation to grace the face of the earth.

I understand that the immediate context of these verses applies to the nation of Israel but I can see the "big idea" that looks like what America became. See what you think.

I. Because of The Purpose of Our Nation, Vv. 1-3

"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." Psalms 33:1-3

God raised up the nation of Israel to be a people who would worship Him! He raised up a nation of people through whom He could demonstrate His great power and grace. He formed a nation out of whom a Savior could be born.

Many Bible scholars believe this Psalms refers only and directly to the nation of Israel. That may be true, but no serious student of history can deny that one of the driving forces behind the founding of America and then the establishment of the United States was a desire to have a place where the citizens could worship freely.

With the Founders freely acknowledging that rights and freedom devolve from God, how could they then deny their citizens the right to worship freely - or not to worship at all?

God raised up the nation of Israel to be a people who would worship Him! He raised up a nation of people through whom He could demonstrate His great power and grace. He formed a nation out of whom a Savior could be born.

“Many people came to America to search for religious freedom. Their hope was to escape the religious persecution they were facing in their countries. The one thing they did not want to do was to establish a church like the Church of England. The colonists wanted a chance to worship freely and have an opportunity to choose which religion they wanted to take part in. Upon arriving in America (the Pilgrims being the first to arrive in 1620), the journey began for the search of the "perfect" religion that could satisfy the needs of the people.

Many religious groups (such as the Quakers and Puritans) formed the first 13 colonies on the basis of their religious beliefs. Although the plan was to escape persecution, there was actually some amount of persecution happening in the colonies. One example of this persecution would be with the Puritans. The Puritans wanted everyone to worship in the Puritan way. In order to ensure that Puritanism dominated the colonies, nonconformists were fined, banished, whipped, and even imprisoned for not conforming to the way of the Puritans. Eventually this persecution was ended and other religions began to appear.

With the arrival of the Quakers in Pennsylvania in 1656, the path was officially paved for other religions to migrate to the colonies. The Anglicans were already established in most of the colonies and were even part of the group of people that were "persecuted" by the Puritans. However, after the dispersement of the Puritans, the number of other religions in the colonies began to increase. Baptists appeared in a majority of the colonies, Roman Catholics and Protestants organized in Maryland and even some German religions surfaced in a few of the colonies. Later came the Lutherans, who formed in the German communities in Pennsylvania, and the Presbyterians, who even had an appearance in the Massachusetts Proposals of 1705.

Religious diversity had become a dominant part of colonial life. The colonies were a patchwork of religiously diverse communities and, as a result, the population of America increased quickly. People from all over the world wanted the freedom that was found in America and they began to move their homelands to America. Groups such as the Scotch-Irish were among the first to begin that emigration to America. As a result, religious persecution was beginning to diminish and religious freedom began to replace it,” Olmstead, Clifton E. History of Religion in the United States. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1960.

The Founding Fathers (who readily admitted that they were Divinely inspired) understood that freedom of religion was an essential protection that the new government must nurture and protect. True that some Founders believed it for pragmatic reasons, understanding that it was important to the nation if people were united around common values and beliefs, while others believed it because they were believers committed to worshipping God them selves.

But, the desire to worship God freely and fully was a driving force behind the founding of our nation as it was in Biblical days when God’s people longed for the Promised Land.

How important is worship to you?

What if you were not free to worship as you wish?

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...."

 

II. Because of The Principles of Our Nation, Vv. 4-11

"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars, he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Psalms 33:4-11

 

These words were written centuries before the United States of America was ever thought of, so to apply the Psalm directly to our nation is foolish. However, truths and beliefs that are declared are timeless and bear resemblance to the principles upon which our Founders built our great nation.

 

I will highlight some of those for you in this post and I think you will see what I mean.

Two of the foundational principles upon which our great nation was established are mentioned here: righteousness and justice. Righteousness essentially means that we look to God to determine what is right and wrong and justice is the implementation of right and wrong. A sincere wholesale return to righteousness and justice would sure help restore our nation today!

In addition, there are a couple of big concepts mentioned here that were embraced by the Founders and contributed to the greatness of the USA.

 

"For the word of the LORD is right and true"

 

The "word of the Lord" refers to the Ten Commandments. Those commandments were highly regarded by many of the Founders and would form the foundation for our system of justice, morality, and in defining our God-given rights. For example:

 

The first four commandments form the basis for the following rights: The Freedom of Speech, The Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Religion.

Commandments five and seven form the foundation for the Sanctity of marriage and the primacy of the family.

 

The sixth commandment forms the right to life while the ninth suggests the right to justice under the law.

 

And the eighth and tenth commandments are the basis for the right to pursue, possess, and protect private property.

 

A representation of Moses with the Ten Commandments is etched on the wall of the Supreme Court Building in Washington, DC.

A statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments is featured in the rotunda of the Library of Congress.

 

The Ten Commandments are symbolized in the floor of the National Archives Building in Washington , D.C.

Any objective scholarship will show the powerful impact that the Ten Commandments had on the Founders as they forged the foundational documents upon with their new nation would be established. The "Word of the Lord" has proven "right and true" for generations of free Americans over its 235 years of existence.

Little did Moses know the incredible influence of those words God etched on the tablets he carried down from his encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. Several great nations have been built upon their timeless truths.

But Commandments are not kept or carried out by nations, they are observed by people - individuals like you and me. Each time you obey God's commandment and put it into practice you not only benefit yourself but you strengthen your nation! What better way to prove the "Word of the Lord right and true" than to do right and live in His truth? Are you doing that? Will you?

Absolute Truth

Justice Based On Absolute Truth

God As Creator From Whom Rights Devolve

God As Sovereign

The Providence of God

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord….”

 

III. Because of The Protection of Our Nation, Vv. 12-19

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine”.

 

Where should we look for national security in a post-911 world of terrorists who are developing nuclear weapons? Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force, is it realistic to think that trusting God can keep us safe?

 

Think about the Exodus! Think about the Red Sea! Think about Jericho! Think David and Goliath! But more recently, consider this:

Numerous miracles were reported during the famous 1967 war. One such story involved a Catholic journalist who was reporting on the front lines during the war. Ernie Miller had personally met this man in Baton Rouge, LA. The journalist was reporting from the Sinai Desert during the 1967 war. The battle had become very intense and there were numerous casualties. At one point an Israeli soldier was rushed into the medical tent, where the journalist was wiring front line information.

The journalist observed that the soldier was severely wounded. In fact he had been shot in the intestinal area, and his intestines were hanging from his body. He knew it was only a matter of time until the man would die. Yet, the man, who was fully conscience, began praying and saying the various names of God in the Hebrew language. As he prayed he began to talk about God’s ability to heal him and to defeat the enemy armies. To the journalist amazement, the man suddenly screamed, and jumped up from the cot. His intestines were back inside his body and the entire area was healed! The man was jumping and screaming, and ran out of the tent praising God.

The journalist told Ernie, “I am a Catholic and I am suppose to believe in miracles but had never seen one. That day, I saw one with my own eyes that was a true miracle!”

 

This amazing story clearly demonstrates that the “Battle belongs to the Lord!”

 

God did a good job of protecting His nation, Israel when they trusted Him. But Israel maintained an army, too. But I think the big point here is that security comes from the inside out. Like everything else in our world, it is fundamentally a spiritual issue.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalms 46:1-3

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the lord…..”

 

IV. Because of The Promise of Our Nation, Vv. 20-22

“We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.”

 

For the Founding Fathers, the doctrine of the providence of God was inextricably linked to the idea that Jesus Christ was the Creator who decrees law and sustains life. It was these men who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, having acknowledged their “firm reliance on divine Providence.” It was these men who repeatedly passed laws calling for days of national thanksgiving, humiliation, and prayer in response to the work of providence which they specifically defined in their official acts in terms of Jesus Christ and the moving of the Holy Spirit. It was these men who officially recognized the Trinitarian view of providence when they signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783 on behalf of the United States, “In the name of the most holy and undivided Trinity, It having pleased the divine Providence...”

George Washington describes his capture of Boston, 1776:

 

"Upon their discovery of the works next morning, great preparations were made for attacking them; but not being ready before afternoon, and the weather getting very tempestuous, much blood was saved, and a very important blow, to one side or the other, was prevented. That this most remarkable interposition of Providence is for some a wise purpose, I have not a doubt."

In his original draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson had written:

"And for the support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

But Congress amended it to read:

"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." (And they did!)

The Israelites left Egypt and wandered in the desert in their quest for the Promised Land motivated by their hope and desire to establish a nation blessed of God where they could live in peace and prosperity. Their only hope was in their God and in His divine providence.

Likewise, our Founders were constantly cognizant of God's providence and divine intervention on behalf of the colonists against overwhelming odds in their fight for independence. They trusted in:

God Our Foundation - “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield…..”

A nation built on the Word of God, by the will of God, for the worship of God and the work of His Kingdom is built on a firm foundation!

God Our Father – “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name……”

The providence of God is based upon His role as a Father of His people. If we as human fathers are committed to provide for and protect our families, how much more would our Heavenly Father care for us?

God Our Future – “May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.”

Just as God, our Father has provided and protected and blessed us in days gone by there is every reason to trust that He will continue to do so in the coming days if we choose to obey Him and serve Him as we have in the past.

We see that over 235 years ago when the Founders where fighting for their freedom while framing the documents that would shape the new nation, their hopes were pinned fully upon God's power and His providence.

If our great nation is to survive another 235 years, or even 35 years, our hope must be upon our Heavenly Father!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…..”

Alexis DeTocqueville was said, “America is great because America is good. If America ever ceases to be good America will cease to be great.”

Many feel that America is dangerously close to losing its greatness. My primary reason for sharing this message is so you will have a clear understanding of the factors that made her great. If America is to ever recapture her greatness we must understand what needs to happen for that to happen.

There is this notion that America is no better than any other nation in the world. I am sorry – we ARE better! We are better for one reason – Our God Is Better! If that were not true then why would Chris and Wendy go to Croatia? What’s the point if they have nothing better to offer the Croatians?

Nations become great because:

They Have A Great Purpose - What Is the Point of Freedom? Worshipping God!

They Have Great Principles – Righteousness and Justice Based on the Holy Absolute Laws of God.

They Have Great Protection – They trust in God to bless and protect.

The Have A Great Promise – The God Who has led our nation this far and if we remain faithful and obedient he can hope in Him for the future!