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Proverbs 14:34 – Sins That Toppled America – Bible study

Proverbs 14:34 – Sins That Toppled America – Bible study

Proverbs 14:34 The Three Sins That Toppled America The Bible expresses in a single statement a truth which will either ground a nation or grind it. If a nation will do righteously, right by God, God will ground that nation with a foundation that is firm and unmovable. But if a nation turns to sin, God will grind it in His sieve of justice until there is nothing left. Many previous generations chose to do right and be blessed by God. Sadly, in Americas most recent days, her generations have chosen to do wrong and, I believe, are running the risk of being grinded by God. Lets consider some truths this morning: I. The History of America. A. People today argue that government should be devoid of God and religion. 1. They say that is what our founding fathers wanted and what our constitution requires. 2. They lie. B. Three areas of American history will prove this country was founded as a Christian nation. 1. Our historical documents. a. Case in point – The second paragraph of the most important document ever devised by the human mind, starts "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." That document is the Declaration of Independence. It was penned primarily by Thomas Jefferson and approved by the delegates of the 13 colonies on July 4, 1776. That was 240 years ago. It was written to declare our nations independence from Great Britain. In short, it is Americas birth certificate. Notice the reference to the Creator. The very document which declares this nations right to exist does so based on three undeniable gifts of God, our Creator. How then can we say God has no place in our government? in our schools? in our country? b. The Mayflower Compact, 1620. The Mayflower being the ship used to bring colonists to America. Second Paragraph – "Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith." c. The first Amendment to the Constitution, 1791, the individual state declarations of Delaware, Texas, and others, the multiple rulings of the United States Supreme Court from beginning until the 1960s. d. "One Nation, under God" was added to Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. e. "In God We Trust" was added to our currency July 30, 1956. https://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx 2. Our historical buildings The Supreme Court On the outside East Pediment is a marble relief of Moses holding tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Engraved on the oak doors at the entrance of the Court Chamber are the Roman numerals I through X, and above the heads of the Justices is a carved marble relief with a large stone tablet containing I through X (each set of numerals represents the 10 commandments The Capitol Building where our Congress meets: All of the eight large paintings in the Rotunda present aspects of our Christian history. A few include: The Landing of ColumbusColumbus said he was convinced to sail because it was the Lord who put into my mind and that the Gospel must still be preached to so many lands. The Baptism of Pocahontas. The Departure of the Pilgrims from Hollandshows the Pilgrims observing a day of prayer and fasting. William Brewster is holding an open Bible upon which is written: The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God With Us is written on the ships sail. In God We Trust, our national motto, is inscribed in letters of gold behind the Speakers rostrum in the House Chamber. Also in this chamber, above the central Gallery door, is a marble relief of Moses, the greatest of 23 noted law-givers (and the only one full-faced). In 1867 the House Chamber was the meeting place for the largest Church congregation in America. This was not unusual for Churches had been meeting in the Capitol from its beginning. The Prayer Room contains an open Bible sitting on an altar in front of a stained window showing Washington in earnest prayer. Behind him is etched the first verse of Psalm 16, Preserve me, O God, for in Thee do I put my trust. The National Archives A bronze design on the floor of the Rotunda contains the Ten Commandments with Senate and Justice to the right of them, which symbolizes that our legal system has its origin in Gods law Washington Monument On top of the tallest structure in Washington a message goes forth. Engraved upon the aluminum capstone on the top of this 555 foot monument is Laus Deo, Praise be to God. Inside the structure are carved tribute blocks with many Godly messages: Holiness to the Lord, Search the Scriptures, The memory of the just is blessed, May Heaven to this union continue its beneficence, In God We Trust, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. The White House An inscription by the first President to inhabit the White House, John Adams, is cut into the marble facing of the State Dining Room fireplace. It reads: I pray Heaven to Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and on All that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof. http://providencefoundation.com/?page_id=1962 3. Read the speeches and the writings of our early leaders. a. Note their prayers, listen to their counsel, follow their advice. b. They will point you to God, to the Bible, to religion, over and over again. C. America, be reminded. A nation which serves God, God will ground. A nation which serves sin, God will grind. II. The sins of America A. In the last century, America has turned vehemently away from righteousness and toward sin. 1. In America, one can scarily name a sin which is not practiced and glorifieddrunkenness, sexual promiscuity, materialism, violence, sodomy, witchcraft, blasphemythe list is endless. 2. A man goes to the doctor with a long term cough. The doctor should not give cough medicine. He should investigate. He knows the cough is not the sickness but the symptom. B. What is Americas real problem? 1. Rebellion a. What is rebellion (1) Rebellion is refusing to submit to, to obey, to follow. (2) Before one can refuse to obey, they must know what to do. (3) You can be wrong or ignorant, but to be rebellious, you must be going against something or someone you know. b. We have talked about the rebellion of an individual before. (1) Rebellion for an individual is a serious sin. 1Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (2) It is far worse when it affects a whole nation. (3) Israel suffered from rebellion. 1Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. c. How has rebellion spread to our nation? (1) There is a touch of rebellion in all of us. (2) Rebellious hearts flock together. (3) Our national rebellion against God started gaining momentum in academic circles in the early 1900s, moved to political circles in the late 1900s, and by the turn of the new century had engulfed our homes. (4) The rebellious spirit only needs a leader to ignite. Our President pour gasoline on that fire when he stated shortly after taking office that American is no longer a Christian nation, then he spend his administrations making it so. (5) Say what you will about the techniques of McCarthyism of the 1950s, but time has proven Senator Joseph McCarthys fear was correct! America has been rotted and turned from God from within! 2. Ignorance (1) Once a generation rebels against what they know, the subsequent generation may then "never know" the truth that was rebelled against. They will be ignorant. Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his masters crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. (2) The subsequent generations are not as guilty of rebellion as they are of ignorance. (3) Whoever said, "What you dont know wont hurt you" lied. Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (4) America today is ignorant (a) of sin (b) of God (c) of judgment (d) of salvation 3. Substitution – America, like Israel, has substituted God for little gods. Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Judges 10:13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. (1) Man worships man – HUMANISM. When we insists on our rights, our happiness, our philosophy we are substituting ourselves for God. (2) Man worships money and possessions – MATERIALISM. (3) Man worships another god or a religion – IDOLATRY. III. The Cure for America A. Isaiah and Jeremiah lived at some of the lowest points in Jewish history. 1. Isaiah lived as the northern kingdom was being destroyed and Jeremiah lived as the southern kingdom was. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Jer 3:12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD. 2. As close to total destruction as these nations were, yet God still pleads with them to return to Him and He would forgive them! B. Strangely, the remedy for Americas condition does not lie in politics. 1. Some think so. 2. They have pushed for Christian presidents, pro-life presidentsapparently even the Christians gave given up on that. 3. We have had several administrations of these type of presidents and even had a republican majority in the House and Senate (which was considered to be the more Biblically-oriented political party). 4. What did it get us? Sins have continued to increase. a. Abortion wasnt stopped or even slowed. b. Homosexuality was not even condemned. c. Prayer and the Bible are still effectively outlawed in anything the government is involved with. 5. Why? Because the cure is not in politics or America as a whole. C. The cure is in the church (Gods people). 2Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 1. Billy Sunday said, "What the world needs is not more men but a better brand." 2. He also said, "What the church needs is not a lot of new members but a lot of the old members made new." 3. If the America would be what it should be, the church must have revival. IV. The Promise of America A. Earlier, I read a portion of 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." B. Our birth certificate promised every American three gifts: LIFE, LIBERTY, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. C. Do you realize those are the same gifts Jesus offered? 1. Life John 10:10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 2. Liberty (freedom) John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 3. Happiness John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.