THE WORD


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THE WORD

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The Preaching Ministry of Ashley River Baptist Church

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Back to the Future: Foundations of Hope for Our Nation’s Future Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. ~Psalm 33:12 1. America was first settled by people who were looking for religious freedom. “In the name of God, amen. Having undertaken for the glory of God and for the advancement of the Christian faith, do solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, covenant and combine ourselves together.” ~Mayflower Compact “Whereas we all came into these parts with one and the same end and aim, namely to advance the kingdom of our lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel in purity and peace.” ~New England Confederation Constitution 2. America was protected and directed by God from the very start. 3. America was founded by men who acknowledged God's supreme rule over man. “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” ~Declaration of Independence “We therefore, the representatives of the United States of America in general congress assembled appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude of our intentions.” “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.” “The rights of the colonies as Christians may best be understood by reading and studying the teachings of Jesus Christ, the head of the Christian church, which are found to be clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament.” ~Samuel Adams “From the time of the Declaration of Independence, the American people were bound by the laws of God and the laws of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which they all acknowledge as the root of their conduct.” ~John Quincy Adams

4. America's government is patterned after biblical principles. “For the LORD is our judge, [that’s judicial], the LORD is our lawgiver, [that’s legislative], the LORD is our king; [that’s executive] it is he who will save us.” ~Isaiah 33:22 “You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.” ~Ezra 7:24 5. American law guarantees our religious freedom. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…” ~First Amendment of the American Constitution …not to protect the government or our culture from Christian influence but to protect the church from governmental influence and interference. 6. As Americans, we are free to practice and to proclaim our faith. “Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based on and must include the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible for it to be otherwise. To this extent, our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian” ~Richmond v. Moore, Supreme Court, 1883 The Promise: BLESSED BLESSED: envious desire; happy; to walk or go straight “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.” ~Psalm 119:1 God’s blessing…His joy, favor, provision and protection …is conditional upon the nation humbly submitting to the one true God in complete service, trust and obedience, following His ways and commands blamelessly.

Now more than ever, Christians must urgently pray, be discerning and rise up to select those leaders who personally hold fast in faithful obedient submission to God, His commands and His values and leaders who will lead this nation in accordance with those Godly principles and values that we might be the nation He is willing to bless!