Pastor's Pulpit

Happy 4th of July to everyone! We had a wonderful day Sunday, as we celebrated, " I Love America Sunday." I am not sure of the exact number of visitors with us Sunday, but I believe it was about 30, with about 10 -15 being first time visitors. Bro. Ben Webb from Mt. Airy was with us, and many of his family were present in the morning service. He preached a fine message on " Ye must be born again." There were several decisions at the altar, but I regret to say that no one was saved. Many of these visiting were lost, but at least they heard the Gospel and the seed has been sown, so pray that the lost will eventually be saved.
We had a good service on Sunday night, with some visitors present again. We closed out our day with a new members fellowship, welcoming our two newest members. Here is the message preached in the evening service.

" What makes America Great? "

Ps. 11:3, Ps. 33:12, Prov. 14:32
Text vs. " Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. " Prov. 11:34

It is a historical fact, that America was founded as a Christian nation guided by the principles of the Bible for the purpose of glorifying God, winning the lost, and providing a nation where all may worship the Lord freely.
I believe every Christian realizes that God has blessed America. Even with all of its faults, problems, and ills - America is still great, and America will continue to be blessed if we will acknowledge and honor God!
I am proud to be an American. I don't apologize for flying the stars and stripes. I'm for showing patriotism. I don't think you are right with God if you are un-American. God has truly blessed us, and made America a great nation. What makes America great?
It's not necessarily America's natural resources, or natural beauty that makes her great. It's not our government with its constitution and bill of rights. Thank God for the laws and principles to guide us - but these alone do not make our nation great. No, there are some things that are attributed to God, God's Word, and God's people. I believe these are the true reasons why America is great. What are they?

I. A people to whom sin is a shame. ( Prov. 14:34 )

There was a day that as a nation, sin and evil was frowned upon. God has not changed His mind in regard to sin, He does not excuse sin. His judgment of sin on Calvary gives us an idea of His thoughts about sin. Sin grieves the heart of God. Sin is what put our Saviour on the Cross. As a nation we have sinned against a holy God! If God continues to bless America, then America must look at her guilt. If our children, grandchildren and great-grand children are going to have an America like we had, we're going to have to be a nation that comes back to God, and we must first recognize our guilt.
1. America is guilty of ingratitude. ( Rom. 1:21 ) " Because that, when they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful..." America has been blessed from the bounty of God and has been full. ( Deut. 8:10 ) We should be thankful to God for all that He has given us. Those pilgrims knelt on that first Thanksgiving day and thanked Almighty God for His provision, protection, presence and peace.
2. America is guilty of indifference. We have lost our compassion for the spiritual needs of others. We care for people when tragedy strikes, but the average American could care less about people's spiritual needs.
3. We are guilty of iniquity. ( Isa. 1:4 ) " Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity... " The Bible says because iniquity abounds, the love of many has waxed cold. Sin is on the rampage in
America. We have turned from God, His word - we have allowed every perversion under the sun to be committed. We need revival, a revival of righteousness! We need to realize the further America gets away form God, the more sin comes in. God will judge us if we don't come to Him and repent. It is revival or ruin. What made America great? A people to whom sin is a shame.

II. Christians who believe and live the same. ( Ps. 11:3 )

The foundations are being destroyed. I know we want to blame the homosexuals, the drug traffic, the liquor crowd, the pornography industry - these elements are destroying the foundation of righteousness in our great land, but the reason our foundations are crumbling today, is because we, the church of Jesus Christ have become silent. Someone has said: " All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good people do nothing. " God Almighty has blessed America because America was founded upon biblical principles and its original laws are based on the Bible. ( Ps.33:12 )
- We need some Christians who believe the Word of God and live according to the Word of God. The Bible says, " Judgment must begin in the house of God..." Our churches are no stronger than our homes. There are many Christians homes that are falling apart. No prayer, no Bible, no church, and no time for God. We live in a day of 50% divorce rate. Many Christian homes are numbered in that percentage. There are books written on the family, marriage, and child-rearing, yet we neglect the greatest book of all on the home - The Bible. The blueprint for our faith and for our family is the Bible. We need to return to the Word of God for help.
- Christians have compromised - living a double std. One way at church- another way at home, on the job. We are not making an impact on our society. We need to return to the old paths. ( Jer. 6:15-17 ) The nation Israel had become so wicked, they no longer could blush at sin. God said, " Ask for the old paths..." We need to return to the old paths of separation, surrender, and soul winning. We need some old fashion ways for a new age.

III. Pulpits with preaching aflame. ( Heb. 1:7 )

" And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. "
Preaching - Spirit-anointed, fiery preaching from pulpits aflame, will get the job done! II Tim. 4:1-4, Paul said " Preach the Word!..." not teach, not a sermonette by a preacherette, but old fashion, leather-lung, strong, hard sin-killing, devil-chasing, barn-storming, window-rattlin' preaching! Amen!
I'm not talking about a pink-lemonade lecture, to appease the listeners or a milk toast message that tickles the ears or entertain the intellectual, or soothing soft-spoken spineless sayings that serenade the sleepy. Preaching is what gave this nation its conscience. In days gone by there were great men like Jonathan Edwards, who preached " Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. " Even though his delivery was simply read word for word, when the message was over, people we screaming for mercy and holding on to the columns of the church for fear of falling into the flames of hell! Preaching like George Whitfield, who could be heard audibly for over a mile by Benjamin Franklin. John Wesley who stirred revival fires across the colonies and set men to praying. These men created a spiritual awakening in the land by Spirit filled preaching. DL Moody, R A Torry, Charles Finney and others were used of God by mighty prayer and preaching.
The Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville came to America to discover the secret of her greatness - here is what he found in his own words:
" I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors..., in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
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 America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great! " We need more preaching in America! What makes America great?

IV. Churches that lift up His name.

Jesus said, " ...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." ( Matt. 16:18 ) Everything built upon the church will have God's promise of blessing. He is building the church. It is alive and well. ( Ps. 127:1) Churches must preach Jesus Christ. " But we preach Christ crucified..." We must lift up His name. ( Phil. 2:9-11 ) Acts 4;12 says there is no other name under heaven why by men must be saved. Salvation is in Christ alone. We must glorify Him.
Today the church has compromised with the world. We must not surrender our faith. Jude 3, tells us to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered. We are not to be contentious, but contend for the faith of the gospel. If America remains great, it will be because of churches that keep lifting up the name of Jesus Christ. May Gethsemane Independent Baptist be that kind of church. May we keep doing that until the Lord returns. Amen!
Thank God for America. America is a great nation, and it will remain great so long as there is:
1. A people to whom sin is a shame.
2. Christians who believe and live the same.
3. Pulpits with preaching aflame.
4. Churches that lift up His name.
Amen and amen!

God bless America!
Pastor Taylor