Thanksliving: Thankful for a Land of Opportunity
Thanksliving • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
In 1587, on the coast of our great state, English settlers made an attempt to have the first English settlement in a new land. A new land of opportunity where a new way of life could be maintained. Mayor John White returned to England get more supplies and manpower. When he returned 3 years later, the colony which he left, including his wife, his child and grandchild, the first English child born in this land, were all vanished. Only the word CROATAN was left carved in a tree. There are lots of theories of what happened to these settlers but nothing is sure of what happened to them.
Fortunately, there were those that followed. Our history books tell us of the founding of Jamestown, Plymouth and the organization of 13 colonies that helped develop these United States. All of these settlers were looking for a land of opportunity. A land where they could be free from tyranny and have the opportunity to practice the freedom of their religion.
In 1787, some 200 hundred years after the Lost Colony, our nations leaders established the Constitution. The Preamble of the Constitution states: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
It goes on to outline the form of government with legislative, executive and judicial branches that have a checks and balances system to make certain of its success as this land of opportunity was established.
Many of you that have served this great nation in one of our branches of military took an oath of enlistment in which the first line says:
I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States
The establishment of our country, its constitution and the men and women who have sworn to defend it prove that we have been given a land and opportunity that is a gift and we should recognize it as so.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
We are fortunate to have such a gift as we do for this land of opportunity. We are so blessed for the opportunities we have. Our forefathers certainly saw the expansion into this land and in this land itself as an opportunity. Again, history tells us that the colonists expanded west into these Appalachian Mountains then to the Mississippi River. By 1850, pioneers had established settlements in Texas, the Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest. With this expansion also came the expansion of Christianity. Many different societies were developed that encouraged Bible study and thousands all over the land came to Christ. There were universities developed to teach men and women in studying God’s word and how to equip people in ministry. However, many of those same institutions now have nothing to do with the advancement of the kingdom of God and now are far from what they were designed to do.
Many would even go on to say that our country is in shambles when it comes to being a land of opportunity as far as being one that glorifies God. I believe however, that this land of the free and home of the brave can still embrace what our God desires. There are precepts and principles throughout God’s word that show us what we need to do and be in order for that to happen. One is found in a simple verse in Proverbs. Listen carefully to as I feel there is a precept there that could change the course of our country.
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Righteousness Defined
Righteousness Defined
Righteousness is mentioned in the Word of God over 500 times. It is given as a standard by God and obtained by you and me through Christ. It means just principles and actions.
It is the state of dong what is required. says righteousness guards the man of integrity.
It is the state of dong what is required. says is guards the man of integrity.
Righteousness guards the man of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Psalm
Your righteousness is everlasting
and your law is true.
How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness.
says that righteousness preserves life.
How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness.
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says that fruit of righteousness is peace and its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
The opposite of righteousness would be unrighteousness. Solomon declares that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” So an unrighteous nation would be a sinful nation. describes such as “one that has forsaken the Lord and turned their backs on the Lord.”
We could easily look at the evening news and come to the conclusion that if we are one time were a righteous nation, we certainly have moved away from being so. Yet, I will suggest that God still has His hand on this country and we still are a land of opportunity for which we must be thankful.
reminds us that ultimately God is the source of our government.
For the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
it is he who will save us.
We have in this verse the three branches of government out country holds, judicial, legislative and executive. It is of my opinion from my studies of God’s Word that we still have a call to righteousness. Look with me at righteousness designated.
Righteousness Designated
Righteousness Designated
The use of the word “exalts” in our text gives purpose and action to righteousness. Exalts means raises to honor and to be high. For our nation to be respected among other nations, we need to be raised in honor.
When we designate righteousness by exalting it, our society is better and it feels the benefits from doing so.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
Proverbs
History has proven that where righteousness prevails, the true greatness of a nation also prevails. It is not the population that makes it great, nor the capability of its military, nor the political or intellectual well being. It is righteousness that exalts a nation and makes it great. What a land of opportunity we have for which to be thankful!
Again, the opposite of righteousness is simply unrighteousness. When unrighteousness is designated, we see from our text today that it is called sin and it disgraces the people. Sometimes we think we don’t need to define sin because it is so obvious and we are familiar with it in Christian terms. But it is important to remember that sin relates to wickedness and is an offence to a moral standard. It is the opposite of what God desires for each of us and for our nation as a whole. Solomon, in the Proverb, says that sin is a disgrace. When something is a disgrace, it is a shame or to use the King James, it is a reproach. In looking up the word reproach, I saw multiple definitions but one word was consistent in all the definitions: Blame.
Sometimes we shift blame around and place it on others. I noticed in my right rear view mirror the other day that there was a hairline crack on that mirror. Three different people have driven that vehicle, including me. I immediately thought, “It is not my fault that this happened.” Have you ever done that?
What about looking at the trouble around our nation with the apparent lack of morality? Have you said: “It is not my fault the government has allowed this to happen.” Ever heard that? Ever been one to shift blame?
I am convinced that as long as I am shifting blame, I am not part of the solution, but I am continuing to be part of the problem. When I take ownership for my part in exhibiting righteousness, I am following the call of God on my life. In doing so, I am choosing to be and do what God has called me to be and do. I am determined. Look closely what happens when righteousness is determined.
“It is not my fault the government has allowed this to happen.” Ever heard that? Ever been one to shift blame?
Righteousness Determined
Righteousness Determined
I am choosing the way of God. God has allowed me to become His righteousness because of what Jesus did for me on the cross.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians
As the righteousness of God, I am practicing just principles and actions. I am acting in a state of doing what is required. I do what says and “I am putting on righteousness as my clothing.” When I got dressed this morning, I carefully chose the suit, the socks, the shoes, the shirt, the tie and even the belt to make sure it was decent and right. I deliberately went through a process to make it happen. It just didn’t happen, it came about as the result of my choices. When I am wearing righteousness as my clothing, I am deliberately putting on a standard that matches up with the standard of God. I am going act as a result of that standard and I am going to react as a result of that standard.
It takes preparation and study. It takes the willingness of my heart. It takes the choices of planting and reaping that which I sow. says it this way:
Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers righteousness on you.
Are you sowing for yourself righteousness? Or are you saying someone else can do it? I am convinced that if you and I sow righteousness then act and react in righteousness, we can change the world in which we live. I heard author and pastor Max Lucado say it this way just this week:
“Change begins when change begins in me.”
When we determine to practice righteousness, it might not be pretty or even without ridicule. However, based on the authority of God’s Word, when we do, it will exalt our nation.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:11-12
Did you catch that? Paul writes to young Timothy to pursue and then to fight the good fight of faith. It is not just going to happen. It takes initiative. It takes drive. It takes work. It takes determination. Here are some steps to take.
First, we have to live intentionally. We have to decide that we are going to be people of God.
Secondly, in order to be a people of God, we must pursue all that He is and desires for us. We have to become students of His Word. We have to spend time with Him in prayer. We have to come alongside with other believers and be sharpened as iron sharpens iron.
Thirdly, we focus on the next step and not fret over the distant steps.
Open the gates
that the righteous nation may enter,
the nation that keeps faith.
The path of the righteous is level;
O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.
Fourthly and last, we must remain in Christ.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
If you and I pursue righteousness, we will make this land of opportunity even greater and we will once again be “One nation under God.” We will be thankful and continue a life of thanksliving!
If you and I pursue righteousness, we will make this land of opportunity even greater and we will once again be “One nation under God.”
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