Getting Back To The Basics

Temple Baptist Church - 7-2-2017

Psalm 33:12

Introduction: 

A.  Tuesday will be America’s 241st Birthday.  Our 200th Birthday, in 1976, seems like yesterday and it was a half of a lifetime ago.  Compared to many other nations, America is very young.  Yet, America is the Utopia of the world.  America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

B.  Our nation’s liberty was paid for at great price; our nation’s constitution was written by some of the wisest men on earth.  Our freedom is great, our natural resources are great, our bounty is great, our opportunities are great, our responsibilities are great.

C.  You and I have inherited a nation that was paid for by others.  It is a privilege to be called an American and it is a joy to have been born and lived here.

D.  I fear for our nation this morning.  In my lifetime, I have seen a dramatic shift in the direction that our nation has chosen.  From the “happy days,” the safe days of my youth to a dangerous day, a day that is perilous. 

2 Timothy 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

E.  Our nation was founded by men and their families who left England, Europe, as well as other nations in search of a utopia which was framed in their minds.  They had little but expected much as they came to the “New World” in search of freedom and prosperity.  They carved out for us the greatest nation on the face of the earth.  Righteousness exalteth a nation!  America was once known for its integrity.

F.  We are so blessed and should be so thankful for the sacrifices of these pilgrims!  God bless the memories of those who made these blessings possible for us.  As we honor our parents for bringing us with integrity, may we honor our nation for giving to us what the rest of the world can only long for.

G.  America needs to get back to the basics that made America a great nation!

1.  The Principles Upon Which America Was Founded – Liberty and justice for all. 

a.  Men who could never be free left their homes and families that they might find freedom and liberty on foreign soil.  They bought and paid for our liberty through their foresight and sacrifice.  These are freedoms our Constitution upholds today for its citizens.  Now, let me say that these liberties do not belong to illegal migrants who refuse to honor our laws and come to America in the right way.

b.  We have liberty to worship; liberty of speech; liberty to travel; liberty to personally excel in life; liberty to be all that we can be.  We are free, praise the Lord, we are free!  “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty!”  Never let anyone take our freedom from us or our children.

2.  The Values That Our Forefathers Bore – They were honest and principled. 

a.  They were men of integrity and their word was their bond.  Their values were Bible based, even those who were not saved.  We call it “Old School” but its precepts are anchored deeply in biblical principles.  Our people were honest and hard working with no time for deadbeats.  Welfare, food stamps, etc. are for those who cannot word or have lost their jobs and was only intended to help while they were looking for another one!  No work, no right to eat!

b.  They had character instead of being characters.  They loved their families, their church, and their nation.  They were Americans and they were proud of it.  They stood, removed their hats, and placed their hands over their hearts when the National Anthem was played.

3.  The Courage Of Our Military To Die And Our People To Sacrifice – “Give me liberty or give me death” has been the motto of every American fighting man in all wars. 

a.  Countless millions have served in our nation’s military.  They lay behind the bodies of their dead brothers while the bullets whizzed past their heads and returned fire.  They still join up; they still fight; and they still die.  Their crosses are around the world from Normandy to the South Pacific to North Africa to Arlington National Cemetery where the Tomb of the Unknowns (also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) are engraved with these words:  “HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD.” 

b.  The willingness of our nation to sacrifice – families have sacrificed their sons and daughters; they have sacrificed their moneys and possessions; they have sacrificed their personal desires for the betterment of the nation.  God bless and protect our military and law enforcement!

4.  The Diversity Of America’s People – The greatness of America is in its diversity! 

a.  We are not all the same but we all have the same rights.  We are not all the same but we accept and love those who are not like us.  Diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds and yet united.  We are of every race and every creed; we are from every country on the face of the earth.  We do not look the same or act the same, but we all love the same!  We love America and are willing to both die and live for her.

b.  Immigrants who come to make something of their lives and better out nation are welcome.  Unless you are a native American, your people migrated to America and made it a better place to live.

5.  The Natural Resources That God Gave – God has given to our nation the capability to both be and remain self-sufficient. 

a.  From shore to shore and border to border, our nation is the most beautiful and blessed of all nations.  We are indebted to others because of greed, ignorance, and socialism.

b.  America is truly a nation flowing with milk and honey.  America has the capability to be self-sufficient.  We have all and abound!  We are blessed!

6.  The Benevolence Of America – In natural disasters as well as war and genocide, the United States of America is the first to respond. 

a.  We get relief and medical aid to other countries while other governments are thinking about it.  America gives many times what all the other nations give combined.  God blesses benevolence!  “It is more blessed to give than to receive” has always been America’s motto.

b.  America has become the protector of the world.  Our military has fought for the liberty of nations that could not protect themselves. 

7.  The System Of Government That We Have – America was founded as a republic, not a democracy! 

a.  Three branches of government set up with checks and balances that keep us both safe and directed.  Every two years we have elections to correct the mistakes that we made in the last elections.  Both veto power and the power to overcome veto! 

b.  A democracy is mob rule while a republic protects the rights of all people including minorities.  The men who set up our government had divine foresight.  What a magnificent piece of legislative work our Constitution is!  Wise men made sure that we remain both free and prosperous.

8.  The Love Of America For Israel – “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 

a.  God still blesses those who bless Israel and He still curses those who curse Israel.  To this point, we have stood with God’s covenant people and God has blessed us for it. 

b.  There is a large anti-Semitic movement across this land.  I love Irael and pray for God’s covenant people.  To America I say, “Hang on to Israel’s coat tails, America, hang on!”

9.  The Possibility Of Impossibility – Young man, young lady, you can be anything that you want to be. 

a.  You can be a doctor, a lawyer, a business owner, or any other thing that you wish.  You can excel both in school and the work place.  You can go to college, work in the career of your choice, start your own business, and be the president of the United States of America. 

b.  You are limited only by the limitations that you place on yourself!  Have pride in a right way.  Dream your dreams.  America was built by dreamers.  Dream your dreams, plan your dreams, they work out your dreams.

10.  The God Who Gave Her Birth – America is blessed because “In God We Trust” is still on our money and in the hearts of most. 

a.  The blessed gospel is allowed to be preached and missionaries are being sent around the world.  Psalms 33:12says,  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” 

b.  May God bless our nation!  May we bless God for His blessings upon us!