God Bless America

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-6-2025

Psalm 33:12

 

Introduction:

 

Psalms 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

 

A. This past week was the week of the Fourth of July. 

 

1.  A time of reflection and celebration for having the privilege, the joy, the peace, the prosperity, the protection, to live in the greatest nation on earth!    I believe that God founded this nation 249 years ago with a purpose: to ensure religious freedom, allowing God’s people to carry the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. 

 

2.  We live in the end times and have no country to “pass the torch” of the Gospel to.  It all comes to an end here for the age of the Church.

 

B.  The United States of America is drifting from its moorings and will become one of the nations turned into hell if it forgets God. Let not the voice of God through the Word of God go silent in our day!

 

C. I'd like to read some to you this morning that will help us remember how this nation was born.

 

1.  The Mayflower Compact, the first government, was a document signed aboard the Mayflower on November 21, 1620, by 41 adult male passengers. It established a "civil body politic" for the newly formed Plymouth Colony, aiming to create a government and laws for the common good. The compact was not a constitution, but rather a temporary agreement for self-governance until the colonists could obtain a formal patent or charter.

 

“In the name of God, Amen.  We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith ... having undertaken for the glory of God, and the advancement of the Christian faith ... a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.”

 

2.  In Congress, July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men who pledged their lives and their fortunes to the cause.

 

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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.

 

This was followed by 27 Petitions, indicting the King of England, which I will not take time to read.  The following was the last portion of this great Declaration of Independence.

 

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; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. 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.

 

3.  It was during this time of conflict that Patrick Henry, the fiery politician from Virginia, gave his famous speech before the Virginia Provincial Convention...Here is how he concluded it:

 

"3 million people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the Destiny of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. Battle sir, is not to the strong alone, it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.…. it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery. Our chains are forged. There clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come. I repeat it, sir let it come!…..Gentleman may cry peace, peace, but there is no peace. The war has actually begun! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle?…..Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. Forbid it, almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."

 

D.  We are blessed above all nations.  Kate Smith  introduced America to the song “God Bless America.”  The song was written during WWI, in 1918, by Erving Berlin, and revised by him in 1938, just before WWII.  God has truly blessed America, the United States, is every way.

 

1.  We are blessed with Liberty.  Free to choose our Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

 

a)  Freedom of Movement.  Go where you want; Go when you want; Go with who you want.

 

b)  Freedom of Speech.  Say what you like; Say when you like; Say to whom you like.

 

c)  Freedom of Religion.  Worship Who you like; Worship when you like; Worship where you like; Worship how you like.

 

2.  We are blessed with Wealth.

 

a)  We have Great Provision.  Our cabinets are full of food; Our cities are full of grocery and convenient stores; our land is full of restaurants and Wal*Marts; Our homes are warm, cool, and dry.

 

b)  We have Great Possessions.  Nice Homes; Nice Cars; Nice Toys.

 

c)  We have Great Potential.  You can be what you want to be!  You want to go to college?  Scholarships and loans are available.  You are limited by your ambition and dreams!

 

3.  We are blessed With Peace.

 

a)  National Protection. Global positioning and military posturing.  Our enemies have a hard time reaching us  (We take war to them); Our enemies fear our might  (Attack and you pay);  Our enemies fear our resolve (War and we will not give up).

 

b)  Personal Protection (Law enforcement).  We live in safety; We move in safety; We sleep in safety.

 

4.  We are blessed With The Magnitude of our Resources.  The inward ability to supply all our needs.  Reliance upon self in place of servitude to others.

 

5. The Greatness of our Opportunities.  Opportunities that cross racial, ethnic, and cultural lines.  The American Dream, the Utopia of the World, and we call it home.

 

6.  The Greatness of our Republic.  The Great Experiment.  A nation governed by the people, not the politicians and not the government.  Of the people, by the people, and for the people!

 

E.  Though we have gained so much, we have lost more.  Our great beginning and wonderful goodness are now expected and taken for granted by several generations that are lazy and unappreciative. 

 

1.  America has lost its relationship with the God of Israel.  Psalms 9:17  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

 

2.  America has lost its moral compass.  Proverbs 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

 

3.  America has lost the younger generation.  Proverbs 30:11-14  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.  (12)  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.  (13)  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.  (14)  There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

 

4.  America has lost its appreciation.  1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

5.  America has lost its work ethic.  2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

 

6.  America is losing its personal freedom.  John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

F.  For God to continue to bless America, things must happen.

 

1.  America needs to Remember.  Proverbs 22:28  Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

 

2.  America needs to Reverence God.  Psalms 33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

 

3.  America needs to have a Revival.  Psalms 85:6  Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

 

 

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

By Pastor George Mills

“Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psa 90:1)

 

AMERICA, my home, may forever you be,

The Home of the brave,

And the land of the free.

May tyranny crumble, and turn into dust,

And all weapons against us,

Be turned into rust.

From ocean to ocean, from mountain to plain,

May all hearts be united,

In single refrain,

In seeking the Face of our Great God above,

Who has showered this nation,

With His Wonderful Love.

God is our help in all ages past,

God is our refuge,

From the enemy’s blast.

And may it be known by opposing nations,

That God is our help,

In all generations.

May our Flag ever fly, and may Freedom ring,

And peace and joy,

Fill each heart as we sing,

And give Praises to God, the Builder of nations

And tell of His help,

Through all generations.

War No More

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-26-2024

Isaiah 2:1-4

 

Introduction:  Tomorrow is Memorial Day.  A day set aside to honor the memory of America’s war dead.  May we never forget those who died or were wounded in the fight for freedom and liberty.  May we never forget those who served our nation and continue to do so today.

 

A.  War has always been a way of life for people as there is no freedom or liberty without it!  The Bible says that there is a time for war!

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  3  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  6  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

1.  There are times when it is War or Slavery.

 

2.  There are times when it is Kill or be Killed.

 

B.  It has been estimated that in the last 5,900 years there have been an estimated 14,600 wars and less than 300 years of world peace. The hearts of people worldwide long for peace! People have talked a lot about peace over the centuries, but they have experienced precious little of it.

 

C. This Memorial Day, our nation will once again honor our war dead with the placement of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

 

1.  Our nation’s freedom and propriety have come at great cost!  People nowadays stake these things for granted because they have not had to pay the price for them. 

 

2.  They called the people of WWII the greatest generation.  Those who have paid the ultimate price have always been the greatest generation in their times.  What a tremendous price has been paid for the freedoms that we enjoy today! 

 

3.  These statistics are In all of the American wars, either by our country or within our country, over 41,892,128 men and women have served in wartime with app. 1,190,085 war dead and app. 1,430,290 wounded in action. 

 

4.  That is a tremendous number of young lives who gave their lives and future so that we could live and have a future of freedom, privilege, and joy.  “Live, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

 

5.  Freedom is a privilege, not a right!  There are many in this country who enjoy their freedoms while misusing them.  We do not have the freedom to do wrong in this land.  We do not have the freedom to live here and defame this land.  America has had some sordidness in its history and still is not a perfect land, but it is my country and I say, “Love it or leave it.”

 

6.  Coming to America is a privilege, not a right!  Come to America and be vetted.  Come right or stay where you are.

 

D.  This Memorial Day, we need to remember those in the Bible who gave their lives because of their commitment to God’s Word and Ways. 

 

1.  From the blood of righteous Able, the blood of the prophets who would not bow their knee to Baal, to the blood of God’s Son of died on the cross for the sin of the world, to the Apostles and New Testament saints who gave their lives for Christ’s name sake.  (Hebrews, chapter 11)

 

2.  To the saints throughout the Church Age (50 to 100 million of the) who died to bring to us the Word of God and the Old Paths,

 

3.  To the Christians in our day around the world who die daily for the cause of Christ and the sake of the Gospel.  Christians are persecuted worldwide as the hatred for Christ and His children continues. (Foxes Book of Martyrs; Trail of Blood)

 

4.  But it doesn’t end there as the Tribulation Saints will be martyred!  (Revelation6:9)

 

E.  But now, it’s our turn!  We who love God, love the Son of God our Saviour, love the precious Word of God that we hold in our hands, and try to live a life pleasing to the Lord through separation from the world are now hated because we stand for the Bible which condemns the satanic actions of this present evil world.

 

F.  This Memorial Day, we need to remember those that have gone on before, those who are dying now, and those who will continue to die after our days are done. 

 

President Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."

 

G.  War and Peace are two sides to a revolving door with neither side being open permanently.  War is necessary!  War is a way of life and war is a right thing!  The first mention of war is in Genesis 14:2 and the last in Revelation 19:19.

 

1.  God taught David to War - Psalms 144:1  Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

 

2.  God taught Israel to War - Judges 3:1-2  Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;  16217  Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

 

3.  We must teach our children to war!  Judges 3:1-2  Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;  2  Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;

 

H.  Isaiah is the Bible in miniature. 

 

1.  Sixty-Six chapters which correspond with the sixty-six books of the Bible.  There is a false teaching that the Book of Isaiah had two individual writers: Deutero-Isaiah. 

 

2.  The error of such teaching comes from ignorance of the division in Isaiah.  The first thirty nine chapters correspond with the thirty nine books of the Old Testament.

 

3.  The last twenty seven chapters correspond with the twenty seven chapters of the New Testament.

 

4.  Why this information?  Because in Genesis, chapter 2, we find the end of the six days of creation, and everything created is “very good”.  Isaiah chapter two is prophetic of the Millennium or one thousand years reign of Christ on the throne of David. 

 

5.  In that day, the earth will be much like it was in the beginning of creation.  It is here that we find Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the end of  learning to war. 

 

6.  One day all earthly wars will end except for the Battle of Gog and Magog which God will fight. 

 

Isaiah 2:4  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

 

J.  But, until that blessed day, we will have to continue to wage war.  War, since the fall of man, has been—is – and will be a way of life.

 

1.  Until Then We Will Have To Fight A War With Our National Enemies. 

 

a.  The enemies of peace understand only one thing:  strength!  You cannot negotiate peace from a position of weakness!  As long as sinful man is in control, wars will be fought. 

 

b.  Just before the Rapture of God’s Church, one of the signs of the Lord’s coming are wars and rumours of wars… For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 

 

Exodus 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

 

Psalms 24:8  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

 

Psalms 45:3  Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

 

Revelation 19:11-15  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

2.  Until Then We Will Have To Fight A War With Our Flesh. 

 

a.  Until we get a new body at the coming of the Lord, our old nature will not be eradicated as we will have to continue to dwell in a sinful body! 

 

b.  Our Lord Jesus Christ will deliver us from the body of this death.  At His coming, we shall all be changed and our new body will have no sin.

 

Romans 7:23-25  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  25  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

 

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 

3.  Until Then We Will Have To Fight A War With Satanic Foes.

 

a.  We live in perilous times with our enemy active while the church sleeps!  He devours us while we devour each other. 

 

b.  We are to “withstand” in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  “Withstand” means to take a punch.  Do not think that Satan is either retreating or giving up.  One day, he will be put in the bottomless pit. 

 

c.  One day, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire but—until then—we are in a battle for our very lives.

 

Ephesians 6:12-13  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

 

1 Peter 5:8-9  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

 

4.  Until Then We Will Have To Fight A War For The Faith.

 

a.  The Battle for the Old Paths of our Fathers.

 

b.  The Battle for the Doctrines of the Faith.

 

c.  The Battle for the Word of God.

 

d.  Until He comes, we are commanded to “fight the good fight of faith.”

 

1 Corinthians 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. God’s men have always been fighters!  God’s people have always had to fight! 

 

1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

Jude 3-4  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Conclusion:  God bless the memory of our War Dead.  God bless the memory of our Spiritual War Dead.  God bless America!