Sermon Illustrations

National Foundation

Expressing Fear of the Lord

A nation with a firm foundation has Christians who have the heart of the Psalmist who wrote, “Teach me your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11) A nation that has a healthy foundation has Christians who fear the Lord and see acts of obedience to the Lord as a delight, not a burden. Psalm 112:1 says, “Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who find great delight in His commands.”

The foundation of this county is clearly spelled out in the words of her Founding Fathers. William Bradford who became governor of the Plymouth Colony describes the mission of the Pilgrims, “They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying a good foundation… for the advancement of the gospel of Christ in the remote parts for the world…” This is the heart beat of the “Great Commission.”

It is very evident that the men who God used to lay the foundation of this nation were men who had a fear of the Lord, men who knew God’s Word and hungered to achieve His will. George Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” In his farewell speech of 1796 he said, “Of all habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. …Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” Thomas Jefferson said, “God… gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only basis… …I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

We all must understand that back in the time of the laying a foundation for this nation, there were men who claimed to be God fearing and were not, just like it was in the time God was building and establishing the nation Israel.” However, there was that remnant whom truly feared the Lord, God honored them and did a mighty work through them. Jesus taught that their will only be a remnant today as well. (Matthew 7:14)

Reverently Fear the Lord!

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