[Blogger's note: after a crazy busy month, I'm back to posting, but once again have a backlog of sermon messages to post. I'm going to begin by posting the most recent one first, due to the holiday and a very timely message. And as always, glory be to God for this and all messages.]
Offertory scripture:
Colossians: we have been delivered from the power of darkness
Parallels between US independence from oppression by England, and our independence from sin and darkness vis Jesus’ blood. God wants you free and blessed. From everything that is darkness.
Total independence from everything of the world: your employer, the government, etc.
Sermon message:
245 years ago, the world changed for the better. (July 4, 1776)
We will be “Free and United”.
The diaries of those who were there—the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution—they had preachers come in periodically to preach the word of God. They had the preachers come in because they knew they needed the word of God to help guide them. They knew they needed God Himself to help them. They officially agreed on July 2nd to declare independence. But they made it public on July 4th. They also made copies of the Declaration of Independence to the preachers.
“We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men were created, (by God) and created equal.”
The founding fathers relied on these two passages as they were making their documents:
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. - Proverbs 14:34 https://biblegateway.com/passage?search=Prov.14.34&version=NKJV
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%207:24-25&version=NKJV
Writing the Declaration of Independence took courage.
Let’s consider John Adams: first Vice President, second President.
“Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people. This document can only work for a moral and a religious people.”
The founding fathers believed that God was directing everything. They believed also that the constitution worked for moral people and people of faith.
God is not trying to divide us; he is trying to bring us together. But we need to love one another. As Christians we need to be setting this example.
What really matters is God’s opinion. We may have differences of opinion. But we can learn to love each other through the disagreement.
Point #1: God wants us to walk in love.
Jesus’s commandment:
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2012:30-31&version=NKJV
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2013:34&version=NKJV
The result and payoff:
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2013:35&version=NKJV
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:7-12&version=NKJV
Point #2: God rewards us when we walk in love and not strife
He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 19:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2019:17&version=NKJV
A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Proverbs 19:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2019:19&version=NKJV
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=3%20John%201:2&version=NKJV
Part of your soul prospering is for us to walk in love and forgive and take pity on them.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%201:17&version=NKJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Jeremiah%2029:11&version=NKJV
Point #3: division and strife have consequences
In marriage:
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:7&version=NKJV
In community:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:8-9&version=NKJV
This is how America will be and stay great.
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2018:19-20&version=NKJV
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
James 3:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%203:14-16&version=NKJV
Point #4: walking in love is wise
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%203:17-18&version=NKJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%205:22-23&version=NKJV
Point #5: blessings follow unity
Walking in love and compassion is paramount in marriage and in any relationship.
The founding fathers’ declaration:
“We’re independent of England but we are still dependent on God and on one another.”
Psalm 133, a song of ascents. Not just physically (in elevation) but also spiritually and emotionally. Talking about how precious unity is to God.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%20133:1-3&version=NKJV
There is an internal war going on in our country, among churches and among pastors. But to stop this internal war, we need to walk in love, have love and compassion on one another, and to be in unity with one another, especially with others in the community of faith.
John 13:34 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2013:34&version=NKJV
The result and payoff:
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2013:35&version=NKJV
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
1 John 4:7-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%204:7-12&version=NKJV
Point #2: God rewards us when we walk in love and not strife
He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
Proverbs 19:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2019:17&version=NKJV
A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
Proverbs 19:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2019:19&version=NKJV
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=3%20John%201:2&version=NKJV
Part of your soul prospering is for us to walk in love and forgive and take pity on them.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%201:17&version=NKJV
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Jeremiah%2029:11&version=NKJV
Point #3: division and strife have consequences
In marriage:
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
1 Peter 3:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:7&version=NKJV
In community:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Peter%203:8-9&version=NKJV
This is how America will be and stay great.
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2018:19-20&version=NKJV
But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
James 3:14-16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%203:14-16&version=NKJV
Point #4: walking in love is wise
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=James%203:17-18&version=NKJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%205:22-23&version=NKJV
Point #5: blessings follow unity
Walking in love and compassion is paramount in marriage and in any relationship.
The founding fathers’ declaration:
“We’re independent of England but we are still dependent on God and on one another.”
Psalm 133, a song of ascents. Not just physically (in elevation) but also spiritually and emotionally. Talking about how precious unity is to God.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%20133:1-3&version=NKJV
There is an internal war going on in our country, among churches and among pastors. But to stop this internal war, we need to walk in love, have love and compassion on one another, and to be in unity with one another, especially with others in the community of faith.
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