INDEPENDENCE DAY

Acts 4:24-31

LET’S CELEBRATE!

INDENDENCE DAY(FREEDOM FROM… )

OR

IN DEPENDENCE DAY(RELIANCE UPON… )

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

PSALM 33:12

“BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD.”

QUESTION:WHY HAS AMERICA BEEN SO BLESSED?

PROVERBS 14:34 “RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A

NATION, BUT SIN IS A DISGRACE TO ANY PEOPLE.”

I. AMERICAS FOUNDATION

“MAY HEAVEN TO THIS UNION CONTINUE ITS BENEFICENCE.”

“IN GOD WE TRUST”

“LAUS DEO” (PRAISE BE TO GOD)

“Holiness to the Lord” Ex. 28:26“Search the Scriptures” Jn. 5:39

“The memory of the Just is blessed” Prov. 10:7

THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT(IN DEPENDENCE)

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

(IN DEPENDENCE)

“We here, highly resolve that… this nation UNDER GOD… shall not perish from the earth.”

“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” Psalm 19:9

“One day every valley shall be exalted and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh see it together.” Isaiah 40:4,5

THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL(IN DEPENDENCE)

“GOD WHO GAVE US LIFE, GAVE US LIBERTY. CAN THE LIBERTIES OF A NATION BE SECURE WHEN WE HAVE

REMOVED THE CONVICTION THAT THESE LIBERTIES ARE A GIFT FROM GOD?

INDEED, I TREMBLE FOR MY COUNTRY WHEN I REFLECT THAT GOD IS JUST, THAT HIS JUSTICE CANNOT SLEEP FOREVER….”

“WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR....”

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT INDEPENDENCE AND IN

DEPENDENCE?

“Thus says the LORD, cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes but will live in stony places in the wilderness a land of salt without inhabitant.”

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8

GOD’S PLAN FOR BOTH MAN AND NATIONS“I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU”, DECLARES THE LORD, “PLANS FOR BLESSING AND NOT FOR CALAMITY, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.” Jeremiah 29:11

THE KEY: LIVE IN DEPENDENCE UPON GOD!

II. AMERICAS DIRECTION

10 SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT CHANGED AMERICA1925 – Evolution 1980 – 10 Commandments

1948 – Religion 1987 – Evolution

1962 – Prayer 1989 – Nativity Scenes

1963 – Bible Reading 1992 – Graduation Prayers

1973 – Abortion 2015 – Gay Marriage

III. AMERICAS HOPEGOD’S PROMISE

“IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND. NOW MY EYES SHALL BE OPEN AND MY EARS ATTENTIVE TO THE PRAYER OFFERED IN THIS PLACE.”

II Chronicles 7:14-15

IT’S TIME TO PRAY“And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, ‘O LORD, it is You who did make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant did say,

why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples devise futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD, and against His Christ.’ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel.” (Acts 4:24-27)

IT’S TIME TO PRAY! (Cont.)“… (gathered against Jesus) to do what ever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined (predetermined) to occur. And now Lord, take note of their threats (to us) and grant that Thy bond servants may speak Thy word with all confidence, while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus.”

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE – WHEN WE PRAY:

WE PRAY TO THE GOD WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE!

“O LORD GOD, it is you who did make the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 4:24)

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE – WHEN WE PRAY:

WE PRAY TO THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

“You said, ‘why did the Gentiles rage and the people devise futile things?’ The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.” Acts 4:25,26

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE – WHEN WE PRAY:

WE PRAY TO THE GOD WHO USES HIS CIRCUMSTANCES TO ADVANCE HIS CAUSE!

“For truly in this city (Jerusalem) there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel TO DO WHAT YOU PURPOSED TO OCCUR.” Acts 4:27,28

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE – WHEN WE PRAY:

WE PRAY TO THE GOD WHO DOES MIRACLES TODAY THROUGH THE NAME OF JESUS, HIS SON!

“…while you extend your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy Holy Servant, Jesus.”

Acts 4:30

PRAYER MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE – WHEN WE PRAY:

WE PRAY TO THE GOD WHO HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS AND HELPS US IN OUR TIME OF NEED!

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit began to speak the Word of God with boldness”

Acts 4:31

THAT’S WHY: INDEPENDENCE DAY must also be IN DEPENDENCE DAY

for only then can we say:

IN GOD WE TRUST!

CONCLUSION