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| America: A Call to Righteousness |
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| Seven days ago we stood in this place, celebrating our anniversary in ministry. We sang songs, praised and worshiped our Lord. We honored the Lord by separating ourselves unto Him. Seven days ago, unfortunately, most of America and many of its born again believers spent a nice Sunday morning sleeping in, going out to brunch, mowing their lawns without giving thought to our Heavenly Father. In so doing, they unconsciously set themselves and the rest of America up for tragedy. |
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| The terrorist attacks on America have been devastating, cruel and inhuman. The sadness and pain are unspeakable. Something our land has not experienced before (with the exception of the attack on our military forces at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941). |
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| You may ask why I made the statement that America set itself up for this. Let me take some time here to explain. |
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| America was founded and established on Biblical principles. One nation under God and only one God over the nation. America is considered a Christian country-bearing the name of Christ on every American. But America has become anything but Christ honoring. Look around you at the entertainment field, business and political practices, and society and its attitudes. Now many “gods” fill the lives of people, from possessions and obsessions to false religion and false teaching. |
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| We have spoken before about people in general. Wonderful, loving, giving, caring people who are going to hell because they have not accepted Christ as their Savior. |
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| America has set itself up by turning her back on God according to Proverbs 13:6. |
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| Now don`t let anyone misunderstand the word righteousness. We are not righteous because we go to church. In fact, we are not righteous by anything that we could ever do. The Word of God explains in II Corinthians 5:21, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” It is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we attain righteousness! |
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| America does a lot of wonderful things. It feeds, comforts, clothes and protects the world, doesn`t it? But that does not make it righteous. Good works alone will not stand the test of fire! |
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| I read an E-mail from Pastor Dan Stratton of Faith Exchange Fellowship. Their ministry was housed in the first building south of World Trade Tower #2. In the midst of all the terror and destruction that surrounded them, every member of that ministry got out safely. They personally lived the words of Psalm 91:7. |
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| That verse is a promise that all America should be living and experiencing! Now many of you may have heard or even said this yourself, “Why did God allow this to happen?” Others (members of the clergy) have been saying, “This is part of God`s sovereignty and we must accept His judgment and His will.” |
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| Let me set you straight RIGHT NOW! God had nothing at all to do with these horrible tragedies. God does not destroy! He gives life, He builds and creates. And God`s judgment of sin is set for an appointed time, and this isn`t it. But it is coming! |
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| To find the culprit who his responsible for theses tragedies will take the FBI time to sort things out. But we know who is responsible for this terrible act. satan. |
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| Who is the thief and destroyer? satan! Destruction and death are satan`s works, not God`s! |
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| satan is ticked off by the fact that we have a President in office who trusts in Jesus Christ as his Savior, who has surrounded himself with godly counsel, and is working on restoring honor to the highest office in the land. satan`s reaction has already been documented in the book of Revelation chapter 12 and verse 12. |
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| This was all satan`s doing, not God's. |
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| God was left out of this situation by the choice of unsaved America. He was prevented from exercising Psalm 91:7 on their behalf because He wasn`t allowed in due to sin and unbelief. |
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| “Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” |
| Proverbs 13:13 |
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| Don`t think that I'm professing that I know all the answers. I don`t! You may say, “What if there were born again Christians trapped in all that destruction?” That is a valid question. The only thing that I can tell you is this; God never removes His protective covering from us. But we (through disobedience, sin, lack of wisdom and lack of faith) can walk out from under it and prevent Him from helping us. We bind the hands of the angels who are there to work on our behalf. Just as we walk out from under the protection of a canopy on a rainy day, we can walk out from under God`s protection when we walk in the flesh. Just think back at any time in your own life when something truly traumatic and devastating occurred. You were probably not walking with God the way you should, even to the point of walking outside of His fellowship. Right? |
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| So what is the answer for America and what steps can she take to answer this call to righteousness? Repent!!! |
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| Now I know that this was written to the church, but it pertains to America as well. You see the first love here is Jesus Christ. America founded on Biblical principles and the love of Jesus Christ has turned away from Him. |
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| The candlestick is America`s place in the world. We are to be God's light revealed |
| to man. America is the mightiest nation the world has ever known, because the Light is in us! |
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| America is called to repent and return to God! That is the first step this country needs to take, REPENT and be saved. Become the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus our Lord! |
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| America needs revival. It needs to revive (wake-up) and come alive. Not walk around dead in trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). It needs to realize that the course of this world (the course of destruction) is authored by the prince of the power of the air (satan), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). |
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| America must have a change of heart. It is time to wake-up. Patriotism is great, volunteer spirit is wonderful, brotherly love is outstanding. But only a life given to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will make the cut. |
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| You see America, you can`t walk around saying I am a Christian if you don`t know the Christ whose Name you are using! You can`t continue to ride on the coat tails of George Washington who made Jesus Lord of his life, and worked at making this one nation under God. You can`t ride the coat tails of George Bush who professes Christ as his Savior. You can`t ride on just knowing the words to “Jesus Loves Me”, or the story of David and Goliath and call yourself a Christian. You America must have a change of heart. |
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| Can you imagine rescue workers digging and digging and finding a person trapped under the rubble, only to have that person reject the help, the salvation if you will, that they are offering. Sound ridiculous? Sure it does, but that is exactly what you are doing when you don`t accept Christ as Savior. You are trapped in sin with no hope of escape. Jesus stretches out His hand to you to save you, and you say no thanks, I reject your help. When you turn to Jesus and accept Him as Savior and leave the life of sin behind you, God will hear you, forgive your sins and heal your land! AMEN? But He is waiting to hear from you! |
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| “Blessed are they which do hunger |
| and thirst after righteousness: |
| for they shall be filled.” |
| Matthew 5:6 |
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| America, this is your call to righteousness. Don`t miss it! |
| Ask Jesus into your heart today. Salvation Prayer |
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