Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Nov. 4, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
WILL GOD BLESS AMERICA?
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Leviticus 18:22-30
Text: Leviticus 18:28
Leviticus 18:28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
Introduction: I believe that any American with any sense at all, and surely any CHRISTIAN American, would testify with certainty that God certain HAS blessed America.
Our country is in great trouble. For all of the brave talk of our president and congressional leaders, and I do thank God for them, we are suffering under the attacks of our enemies like never before. Our enemies, whom President Bush calls the “evil ones” because they are indeed evil but who are also hard to identify, are striking us on our homeland through vicious, cowardly, terrorist attacks.
I have never seen so many flags and other patriotic signs on display as I see today. Flags are displayed outside houses, on walls, on doors, and on automobiles. I’m wearing a new red, white, and blue tie today, and I’ve seen others wearing them.
I also have never heard the words, “God Bless America,” as often as I have heard them in the last couple of months. The president is repeating them. Other officials are repeating them. The song, “God Bless America,” has been sung more often at public events than it is even sung at July 4, our nation’s birthday.
Americans are asking God to bless America? Will He bless America? That is the subject for this morning’s message: WILL GOD BLESS AMERICA?
As far as I know, America is not mentioned anywhere in the word of God. Some think that there are some prophecies in Daniel that are about America, but I cannot dogmatically say that.
However, there are some general principles that are found in the word of God that are requirements for God’s blessings to rest upon a nation. Let me give you for of them this morning, and perhaps we all will have a better idea of whether or not our country will continue to enjoy the blessings of God.
I. IF SEEKING GOD IS RENEWED GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA
Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
A. If America seeks God, that God must be the CHOSEN God
- Americans must make a decision as to whether they are going to choose God or their own pleasure, plans, and profit.
- I knocked on the doors of nearly 100 homes yesterday. One man did not even let me say a word as he worked in his yard and saw me approach. He just said, “I’m not interested!” I tried to be kind, but I wanted to shout at him, “I represent the Lord God Almighty! In these days of our country’s peril, are you not interested in HIM?“
B. If America seeks God, that God must be the CORRECT God
- Contrary to what the Pope or anyone else might say, the god of the Muslims is not the God who has blessed America.
C. If America seeks God, that God must be the CHRISTIAN God
- You can’t honor God the Father unless you honor God the Son!
II. IF THE SCRIPTURES ARE FOLLOWED GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA
Jeremiah 18:7-8 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson had to back off and apologize for their initial statements after the attack upon New York and Washington, DC, but they were correct, I believe, when they said that it appeared that God had lifted up His hand of PROTECTION from our land as a result of our rejection of His word and righteous principles.
We must return to the Bible and change our mind about
A. Morals in America
- Nationally we have legalized, normalized, and made acceptable practices which are sinful and harmful:
- Strong drink
- Gambling – Casinos, lotteries
- Pornography – Magazines, movies, television, Internet, books, billboards
B. Murder in America
- One of the things that God hates is “hands that shed innocent blood” (Prov. 6:16-17).
- Numbers 35:33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
- Our land has been polluted by the blood of unborn children, who are being murdered legally now in our country at the rate of 1.5 million per year, and over 40 million since our corrupt court declared it legal in 1973!
C. Marriage in America
- Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
- We have got to get away from this custom of “shacking up” and living together out of wedlock. God calls it whoredom and adultery!
- We have got to realize that people of the same sex are not qualified to marry! Their relationship is an abomination to God, according to Lev. 18:22!
III. IF SOUL-WINNING CONTINUES GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA
Genesis 18:23-26 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
God’s people are compared to salt in the world:
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
A. Salt seasons and flavors
B. Salt salves and heals
C. Salt saves and preserves
Let’s win more politicians and future politicians to the Lord!
Let’s win more teachers and future teachers to the Lord!
Let’s win more policemen and future policemen to the Lord!
IV. IF THE SAINTS TURN TO THE LORD GOD WILL BLESS AMERICA
2 Chronicles 7:14 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.