Our Freedom (July 2, 2023)
Sermon Outline for Sunday, July 2, 2023
Pastor Andy Lambert
PASSAGES: Proverbs 14:34; Joshua 23:10; Matthew 5:13; 2 Chronicles 7:14
Proverbs 14:34 ESV ~ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
I think that we as a people, we as a nation, we as a church body take FREEDOM for granted. We are free to worship God how and when we choose, but yet many choose NOT too. Or rather they choose when they are going to. I would like to read our verse one more time as we start this morning.
For the most part, politicians and rulers at every level of government—whether kings, governors, presidents, prime ministers, or officials—seek what will best prosper and exalt their nations. In the end, however, only one factor determines whether a nation rises or falls: righteousness. Nations that follow God’s standards—that are governed by His Holy Word—are great nations. Countries that embrace selfishness and sin over righteousness suffer disgrace and shame. World history repeatedly proves this to be true. The most obvious illustration is Israel. When Israel obeyed and followed God, she became the greatest nation on the face of the earth. But when she forsook God for idols and all manner of sins, she fell. To this day, Israel has yet to be restored to her former glory. And, sadly, Solomon, the king who wrote this proverb, actually set Israel’s decline in motion. This emphasizes the critical importance of individual righteousness and responsibility. Israel had reached her peak of greatness during Solomon’s reign, but then began her downward slide when the king stooped to living in brazen and unrestrained immorality.
This morning, I would like to us take a moment to look at the USA. First, I am PROUD to be an American!!! This is I believe the greatest nation on Earth. We have freedom and liberties that many others only dream about. I do not try to place my citizenship in this nation above my relationship to God or anything like that. But, I want to tell you the reason that I’m so proud to be an American: the reason that I’m so glad to be an American is that I believe the American Dream was placed into the mindset of our Founding Fathers by God Himself. I believe that this is a Heaven-rescued, God-blessed land. However, many of those freedoms and liberties are being taken away slowly one by one and some are being debated in the court system about limiting those freedoms. What can we do to make sure our freedoms remain? PRAYER!!!
When the Pilgrims came and sailed to these shores, they came here to seek religious liberty and freedom. They came because of their Christian faith. Those Mayflowers, in their little cabin, huddled together, wrote out a document that we call The Mayflower Compact, and do you know the way it began? There are the opening words: “In the name of God. Amen.” Now, that’s a pretty good way to open. We generally say “amen” at the end. “In the name of God. Amen.” And then, they told what their purpose was and they stated purpose was: “For the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” That’s why they came to these shores.
A South American president was talking about the great difference between North America and South America, and why North America as we know it has seemed to have been so blessed, and why South America never has become developed, as it could be, because of all the rich natural resources that are there in South America. And, this South American president said, “The difference is this: the people who came to our shores, came here because they were seeking gold. The people who came to your shores came because they were seeking God.” And, that’s what they were seeking. As they came, they were seeking God. And so, our American government that we’re going to show you in just a moment—our Constitution—was born in the heat of a revival, and our government was rooted in a belief in Almighty God.
I like what the Declaration of Independence said; it says, “We hold these truths to be self evident … that all men are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights.” I like that. I’ll tell you why I like it—several reasons. Number one: They said, “We’re not going to argue about this. It’s not up for vote. It’s not up debate. This is self evident.” What is self-evident? “That all men are endowed by their?”—what’s the next word?—“Creator.” I want to ask you something: Did they believe in evolution? “All men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Now, what did they believe? They believed there was a God in the Glory who made man and that God gave man rights. Now, let me tell you something: the government doesn’t give any body any rights; the government has no rights to give. God gives the rights. The government is here to protect those rights. They are God-given rights.
And so, our very nature—the very nature of this land—is rooted in a belief in Almighty God. And, we wrote that Constitution, which I believe is the greatest document outside the Bible ever written. And, in that Constitution is a Bill of Rights. And, in that Bill of Rights, it says that, “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof.” This was never meant to be the separation of God from government; it was meant to be the separation of Church and State. That is, the Church is not to control the State, and the State is not to control the Church. They are, each one, to operate in their own sphere. But, it does not mean that Christians and godly people are not to influence their government.
NOW BACK TO OUR VERSE:
• The Exaltation of a Nation
• Okay, look—the exaltation of a nation. “Righteousness exalteth a nation” (Proverbs 14:34). Now, did you know that this nation is a great nation because of the way that it was born? Our nation, the United States of America, was born in the very fires of a revival: 1740 ’till 1770, the flames of revival swept across the plains, the mountains, the prairies. We call that in Church history “the Great Awakening”—not only in the Church history, but the secular historians are forced to admit that there was a Great Awakening. And, it was out of this awakening that people gained character, and out of this character the Constitution came.
• The government that we have is a reflection of the character of our people. That is a universal truth—that people get the kind of government they deserve. That’s what Alexander Hamilton had to say: “People get the kind of government they deserve.” And so, the government that a people have is the reflection of the character of those people. You see, God ordained three institutions: the home, the Church, and the government. And, all three—the home, the Church, and the government—are but a reflection of the character of those people.
• Now, if the government reflects the character of the people, then you are going to find that the greater the character of the people, the more freedom—the more liberty. The less the character of the people, the less freedom and the less liberty. Another word for character is responsibility, because character is responsibility assumed.
• The Deterioration of a Nation
• But, I want you to see what we’re going to call the “deterioration of a nation”— the humiliation of a nation. If righteousness exalts a nation, surely the opposite is also true—that a lack of righteousness is going to destroy a nation. The Bible says, “Sin is a reproach to any people”(Proverbs 14:34). One translation said that “sin is a ruin to any people.” It is sin that will destroy. I’m afraid of what we are doing to us.
• And, that the greatest threat that America has is God—God. You say, “He’s our only hope.” He is, but He is also our biggest threat. I am afraid of what God Himself is going to do to us if we as a nation do not get turn back to Him. For the Bible says, “Sin is a reproach”—that is, “the ruin”—“[of] any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We are talking about the deterioration of a nation.
• Now, remember our equation? The greater the character, the greater the freedom. The loss of character also equates to the loss of freedom. And, as big government begins to grow, starts to provide for everybody. Many like it but, they fail to understand that the government cannot give any body anything that it doesn’t first take from them. And yet, the government took its part out before it began to give back. And as the government begins to take care of the people, it begins, more and more, to control the people.
• Rejuvenation of a Nation
• Now, the third and final thing I want to say—not only the exaltation of a nation: “Righteousness exalteth a nation” (Proverbs 14:34); not only the deterioration of a nation: “sin is a reproach to any people”(Proverbs 14:34); but the rejuvenation of a nation. I’m a realist and, the greatest reality is God. And, I refuse to say it is too late for America.
• And so, all we need to do is to get back to righteousness, and God will forgive our sins. As God forgives sins for an individual, God forgives sins for a nation. And, there can be a new birth of freedom. We do not need a majority; it is not great numbers that we need. Lenin began his revolution in 1917 with a few thousand. Castro took over Cuba with a band of 80 cutthroats. Jesus began with 12 disciples. And, the Bible says, “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you”(Joshua 23:10)—one man chasing a thousand. One praying Christian is worth more than a thousand of those who do not believe in God.
• How we need to turn to Him in repentance, and faith, and trust Him, and look to Him! We are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). But, Jesus said, “Salt that loses its saltiness is good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men” (Matthew 5:13).
• But, there can be a revival. And, the answer, is not Washington. It is not in the Pentagon. It is not Nashville. It is not in city hall. The answer to America’s problems is in this room. You say, “That’s rhetoric.” That is gospel truth. Our nation was born in a revival. What we have is a Constitution written by people of character for people of character, and that character comes out of a response to God. And, when we get right with God, God is going to hear us. And, 2 Chronicles 7:14 will be just as true as I’m standing here.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV ~ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Pastor Andy Lambert ~ pastorandy@cvcog.church
Call/Text: 205.642.8744 ext 101