Introduction:

Today we will celebrate this nation’s 245th anniversary. It was President Abraham Lincoln who opened his Gettysburg Address in 1863 with these familiar remarks; “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that “all men are created equal” he concluded that great address with a statement of great hope… that this government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.

Friends, I think you will agree that America is at a critical crossroads. This truth is portrayed in the country singer Toby Keith’s new song, “Happy Birthday America” he wonders if the nation’s best days are behind it, adding, “we’re going to miss you, girl.” “Without the helping hand of God, your days are numbered, my old friend.”

The freedoms we have enjoyed, the prosperity we have gain along with the hope that all can aspire to the American dream is dying on the proverbial vine. This nation that our fore-fathers conceived is in pearl of becoming a completely different nation. I believe in order to understand why we as a nation are losing our greatest here at home and around the world one must know what made America great. Here are just a few quotes of famous men who gave insight to this truth.

It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. – George Washington

Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican form of government, and all the blessings that flow from them, will fall with them.
— Jedidiah Morse, 1761-1826
“We regard the demise of Christianity in America a nightmare “The battle is no longer Jew versus Christian, but Jew and Christian versus secular lawlessness.” Christianity Today 10/93

The author of “Democracy in America” (1835) is quoted in part writing, “I sought for the greatness and genius of America … and it was not there. I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. — Isaiah 5:20

Our forefather established this nation upon the Judeo Christian ethnic. It was their generation that garnished this society with great biblical, godly and spiritual landmarks and artifacts. Over the last 50 years we have experienced a decline in America’s true greatness.

This problem is not just political and cultural but spiritual. Satan hates America…always has because of our strong belief in God and support of Israel. He hates our youth and does not want them grounded in the word and grow up to be godly Christian people. They have been at the center of Satan’s attached against this nation…to raise up an ungodly generation.
God has given us a glimpse of what can happen to a people a nation when we forsake God. In these verses in Deuteronomy 31 God puts His finger on the reason the nation of His children, Israel, would collapse. They would cease to care about the Lord; because of their choosing a pagan way of life. They chose evil over good. Therefore He would remove His blessing and allow them to reap the natural consequences of living their lives without Him. Moses song would be a witness to this. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; Psalms 33

Is there no reason to believe that America finds itself with God’s back turned against them? We are suffering the natural consequences that embroil the life of a nation indifferent to the blessings of God? I love America but I believe for many Americans they are about to lose the American dream. I believe if we follow God’s mandates we can regain our greatness. First…

I. Righteousness:…Exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34
1. The time came when God’s children, Israel, cared so much for paganism that they quit caring for God. The default setting of this generation seems to be “disinterested.” Each new day life seems to automatically go to a “disinterested in God” setting. In this regard, we are not unlike Israel of old (Deut. 31:18-20). America has lost its moral compass and we need to get it back. — Look with me at Hosea 4:1-6

2. We must ask ourselves as a nation, “Are we experience judgment brought upon us due to the spiritual condition of America”? The evidences of rebellion are seen throughout our land today.
For example, in 1970 ‘ there were 200,000 -people in prison in America. Today that number is over 2.5 million. The United States has the largest prison population in the world.
Active shooter incidents in the United States continue to rise in frequency, with new FBI statistics showing the highest average of incidents ever in a two-year period.

Americans has turn toward religious pluralism and various forms of Eastern Worship. Islam is becoming increasingly the fastest growing religion in the world. If current trends continue, Islam will become the most popular world religion sometime in the mid-21st century. Dr. Gibbs in the CLA “Legal Alert” stated, “that certain states do not want Christianity taught in public schools even though Islam and non-Christian religions are often taught under the guise of “cultural subjects.
The battle to maintain the spirit and freedom of America is becoming more and more difficult yet if God’s people will stand against the wiles of the devil we can and are making a difference. I have hope to see parents beginning to see the evil web that has been weaved. Our ntions has gone from God design for home & family to Satan’s perversion.
Psa 33:12 Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

II. Humility: 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. – II Chron. 7:14

1. Humility is a key, because apart from humility, other than for religious practices, we would never even see the need to kneel in prayer before a Holy God! Blessedness comes to people who humble themselves before Almighty God! You won’t pray until you are humble and we won’t have victory until we do pray…pray for the USA. 2 CO. 4:10
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Illustration:
President Abraham Lincoln once said, “We have forgotten the gracious hand, which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us,” he wrote, “And have vainly imagined that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

2. Pride is the opposite of Humility. Pride promotes self, rather than God. It does not desire to serve God before self. Too many Christian are too busy serving self… it is often characterized by selfishness, stubbornness, and worldliness. Isaiah 2:4-8
Illustration: Jonathan Edwards once said,” Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.” … Galatians 6:3

III Repentance: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. …Luke 13:5

1. Folks, true repentance leads to change in our actions and our relationship to God. What is the definition of “repentance”- to turn from our wicked ways. Hebrew Word “Shoob” translates… “to return, to turn back, to turn away.” This word carries with it the thought of turning, both to and away from something. So to repent of something is both turning from sin and turning to God. It is the word most commonly used by OT writers to describe repentance.

3. True Repentance is best defined as a combination of the two: “A sorrow over sin because of how it grieves God and affects others. Broken over his sin, the individual chooses to turn from his sin and turn in his heart to God.” Sorrow over sin godly sorrow because you recognize that it offends a holy God! — Gospel

Conclusion:

We are a nation gone adrift. We have witnessed the evils that has replaced it; the violence drugs and guns. The bitter consequence of this disorder has resulted in the lack of moral truth and an America that may never be the same. The church needs to move from its complacency and pray before we are all singing another song. Don McLean old song from the 70s Bye, bye Miss American Pie and it is as Moses a song as a witness to testify against ourselves.
In April of 2015 Don McLean sold the original 16-page manuscript of the lyrics for $1.2 million. “He said after the sale that his song was not a parody. “It was an indescribable photo of America that I tried to capture in words and music, the end of the American Dream. I notice a verse in the song you might recall it — no angel born in hell could break that Satan’s spell and as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died he was singin’ bye-bye, Miss American pie.