Time For Another Defining Moment

"I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side."– President Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War

July 4, 1776 there were 56 men who decided that freedom was worth dying for. They came to a defining moment in their lives and it became a defining moment in the history of the US and the world. Because of their defining moment five signers of the Declaration of Independence were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to defend the fledging new country.

Twenty four of the signers of the Declaration of Independance were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well death would be the cost if captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
This isn't meant to be a dissertation on our history. It's a simple sermon that I hope is truly a message from God. Secondly, I'm not nominating all of our founding fathers for sainthood. But with that being said let me say this: there is a lot of revisionist today that are totally ignoring or distorting the faith of our Founding Fathers. A lot of these men were motivated by their faith in Jesus.
John Witherspoon was an ordained minister and authored several books of sermons, as well as editing America's first family Bible in 1791.

Charles Thomson served as Secretary of Congress and was a Biblical scholar. He helped edit the first American translation of the Greek Septuagint into English.

Charles Carroll, the last of the fifty-six signers to pass away at the age of 95 in 1832, wrote out his declaration of faith at the age of eighty-nine.

On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for my salvation, and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts.

Another Founding Father, Benjamin Rush, is considered the "Father of American Medicine." He personally trained three thousand medical students. Dr. Rush also founded "The First Day Society" which was the precursor to the Sunday School movement, as well as founding America's first Bible society. It was Benjamin Rush who said the Constitution was "as much the work of Divine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testament were the effects of divine power."

Francis Hopkinson was a church music director and edited one of the first hymnals printed in America in 1767. He also set 150 psalms to music.

Roger Sherman is the only Founding Father to sign all four of America's Founding documents: the Articles of Association in 1774, the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Articles of Confederation in 1778, and the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Roger Sherman was also a theologian. He wrote a personal creed that was adopted by his church:

I believe that there is one only living and true God, existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation from God, and a complete rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.

I could share story after story, but the bottom line is this: many of our Founding Fathers were motivated by their Faith in Jesus Christ. They wrote sermons and creeds and hymns. They founded Bible Societies and Sunday Schools. They served God's purposes faithfully and completely in their lifetime.

And all their labor, plus the labor and sacrifice of so many others who have gone before us but may never be mentioned in the annuals of American history, or in the books of Church history from the last 233 years, but all of them bring us…..you and I to a place in which we must have our own defining moment!

For the last 30 years, the Church in America has bought into the premise that there is one political party to vote for and one certain candidate we should believe in…and that mentality has directed us away from total trust in God!

GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR US TO PLACE MORE EMPHASIS, TRUST, RELIANCE AND DEPENDENCE ON ANYTHING OTHER THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE ETERNAL WORD OF GOD AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!! (anytime you mix religion and politics together, all you get is more politics)

While these may be perilous days, troublesome days…uncertain days…I have more faith and confidence and Biblical hope today than I have had in the 31 years I have preached this Gospel!

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus words will never pass away!!!!

All the turmoil…all the political spin…all the lies and all the fear and the fraud is God removing His hand of protection to awaken us to the realization that we need our own defining moment!

What is going to be your defining moment?

On Sunday July 5th, Christian leaders from across the denominational spectrum will lead their congregations in at least 5 minutes of repentance and special prayer for our nation. Not a prayer for a change in political party; but prayer that the Church of Jesus Christ will once again humble herself and pray and seek HIS face and turn from our wicked ways; then HE will hear from heaven, He will forgive our sin and He will heal our land!

As we humble ourselves during our July 4th celebrations today and tomorrow, may this be our defining moment for a turn around to righteousness!