Broken Walls: The Spiritual State of Our Nation, Nehemiah 1 -2
The America of today is NOT the America that we once knew!
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Like God’s people of the old Testament, we have been held captive (seduced) by the world, our flesh and the devil.
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Many of America’s founding fathers were deeply rooted in Christianity, the Word of God, and living faith which ultimately influenced their beliefs and principles.
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“Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior?- that it forms a leading event in the progress of the of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? -that it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?”
-John Quincy Adams
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“The Bible carries with it history of the creation, the fall, and redemption of man, and discloses to him, in the infant born at Bethlehem, the legislator and savior of the world.”
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“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
John Adams
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“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
-George Washington
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Even the Liberty Bell has a biblical tie. These words are inscribed on the bell: “Proclaim Liberty through all the land to all the inhabitants thereof- Leviticus 25:10.”
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“As Andrew Jackson was dying, he looked at the family Bible and said to his doctor, “That book, sir, is the rock on which our Republic rests.”
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“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.”
-Thomas Jefferson
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We are NOT the same people. . . . . . .
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American world view Inventory 2020:
- 29% of American adults rely on religious faith to make moral decisions.
- ++30% depend on other’s opinion, suggestions.
- ++31% make moral decisions strictly on personal feelings/beliefs/experiences.
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Because of moral free-for-all, the majority of Americans today are no longer embracing values of integrity, respect, and the sanctity of life. Our moral landscape has a new unbiblical, seduced mor horizon.
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Gallup Survey June 2021 “Moral Values in America”
- 49% of American adults believe the nation’s morals are in poor condition.
- ++60% believe it will continue to get worse.
- ++ Political hypocrisy and misguidance is #1 driving force for this negative attitude.
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Negative influence of morals (the voices of seducing spirits).
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- Social Media
- ++Television/Movies
- ++Decline in human values & respect.
- ++Lack of ethics.
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Seduction of a Nation:
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God has blessed America but make no mistake, the devil has sought to pervert and seduce those blessings into curses and rebellion.
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- God has blessed us with abundance. . . .
++But our abundance has turned to greed.
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- God has blessed us with freedom. . . . .
++But our freedom has turned to entitlement and ultimately bondage.
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God has blessed us with strength and safety. . . . .
++But that has turned to weakness and broken walls.
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Before you start throwing rocks and placing blame. . . . .
++All of this happened on OUR WATCH!!!!
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What does America (the church) need today?
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- Recovery
++Recognize we have been seduced and held captive.
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- Revival
Admit we have been unfaithful and rebellious to God.
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- Rebuild
Renew our Biblical foundation.
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1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel
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2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.
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3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
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4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:1-4
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1.) Recognize the problem.
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What are walls for?
- ++Protection
- ++Separation
- ++Identification
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Four Broken, Fallen Walls of America
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1. The walls of freedom and defense.
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“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”
-John Curran, 1808 A.D.
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The cycle of a Nation’s brokenness:
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1. Bondage to spiritual faith
++2. Spiritual faith to courage
++3. Courage to liberty
++4. Liberty to abundance
++5. Abundance to selfishness
++6. Selfishness to complacency
++7. Complacency to apathy
++8. Apathy to Dependance.
++9. Dependance back to bondage.
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10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
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11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
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12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
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13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
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14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the blet of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
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15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
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16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
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17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
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18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Ephesians 6:10-18
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- The wall of families and homes.
++Satan knows if he can destroy the home, he can destroy a nation.
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- The walls of morals and decency.
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- The walls of Biblical doctrines and faith.
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2.) Turn to prayer.
Nehemiah 1:4-11
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2. Prayer of contrition.
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4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1:4
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2. Prayer of confession.
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6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.
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7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
Nehemiah 1:6-7
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3. Prayer of confidence.
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8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,
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9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven,m from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’
Nehemiah 1:8-9
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- The prayer of confidence is based on the promises of God.
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- The prayer of confidence realizes that nothing is too hard for God.
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4. Prayer of commitment.
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11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Nehemiah 1:11