Pastor Peter Mason - May 26, 2019
Our Nation’s Strength
Our Nation’s Strength
On Memorial Day, we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
The strength of a nation is nothing more than the “The fear of LORD.”
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
Benjamin Franklin
“Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
John Adams
“Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of moral and religious
obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?”
George Washington’s Farewell Address
I. What is wisdom?
a. Wisdom is God-centered action.
b. Wisdom looks at all of life through the lens of God’s will.
c. Wisdom is knowledge applied.
d. Wisdom is personified in Christ.
II. “The fear of the LORD” is strength for a nation.
a. The fear of the LORD is humble reverence before a holy God recognizing Him as creator, judge and redeemer.
“The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
And humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33).
i. He is Creator
1. “The fear of the LORD prolongs life” (Proverbs 10:27).
ii. He is Holy
1. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
And knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Proverbs
iii. He is Judge
1. “Fear the LORD and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).
2. “Fear the LORD is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13).
iv. He is Savior
1. “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death”
(Proverbs 14:27).
2. “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil” (Proverbs 16:6).
b. “What should I do?” can only be answered by, “Why do I live?”
III. God’s prophets spoke to the nations.
a. Isaiah
b. Jonah
c. Micah
IV. God’s people serve in pagan nations.
a. Joseph
b. Daniel
c. Peter
V. God’s people are citizens of earth and citizens of heaven.
a. “My son, fear the LORD and the king
And do not join those who do otherwise
For disaster will arise suddenly from them,
And who knows the ruin that will come from them both.”
(Proverbs 24:21-22, see Romans 13:1-7).
b. Transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col. 1:13).
c. Obey a higher Law based on the character of God (1 Peter 2:13-15, Acts 4:19-20).
d. “Humble themselves and pray” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
i. Pray
ii. Practice
iii. Proclaim
iv. Participate
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”
Thomas Jefferson