R1644A A Christian Response to a Nations Crisis

Scott has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton about a Christian response to a national crisis. The fact that we are in a crisis situation should take us to prayer.

Take us to God's word more than ever, but does it today Dr. Don Wilton begins a two-part series in the book of second Chronicles beginning in chapter 20.

To help us understand what we can do, how we can respond even though our nation is in crisis. Perhaps you're dealing with a personal crisis right now you need to know where here for you to pray with you and for you anytime. Our phone number is 866899 were just the number down store and yourself love to speak with you. Pray would you connect with 98668999673 or online@twonline.org TW online.org and now Dr. Don Wilton Holy Spirit. You're welcome in this place. You all gone without you.

With nothing. We come into your presence on this most beautiful day in our nation on this magnificent day of celebration. But we come to worship you as God's sovereignty in all your ways. For without you. Oh God, we all nothing and we see you everywhere, and we worship you today.

In Jesus name we pray together. Amen. Happy fourth everyone.

It is just wonderful to be together like this on a beautiful day of celebration together I went on my twitter handle this morning which I don't used to often and thought what can I say to the thousands of people who follow me, and this is what I say it from my memory. I don't have it in front of me.

I said celebrate America by worshiping the God who gave it all to us celebrate America by worshiping God who gave it all to us. I want to speak to you on a very critical subject today I Christian response to a nation in crisis and I'm going to pray that the Lord will speak to your heart as God is put this word in my heart from his word. So I'm going to invite you to open your Bibles to second Chronicles chapter 20.

So you need to get your Bibles. It's very important for you very critically important. It is vitally important that if you are a believer and you trust Jesus as your Savior that you understand where our authority comes from the church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord. There is no other. When you and I have questions. We have only one place to go and that is to the word of God, that by the spirit of God, God would help us to know how to respond to a nation in crisis.

God will help us to respond to the difficulties that we have in life.

He will help us respond to the family issues that we face draw financial crises God through his word and by his spirit will help us to know what to do when we lose our job yesterday. A very good friend of mine 80 pain suffered a stroke. We are praying for 80 he's such a wonderful man coached for so many years.

Precious man. What we do in a crisis, as believers, God through his word by his spirit.

He gives our prayer and he on Szell prayer one to read to you about a nation in crisis in second Chronicles and the 20th chapter. This is an amazing story and it parallels America second Chronicles chapter 20 and I'm going to begin in verse five then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in front of the new courtyard and this is what he said Lord God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven. You about all the kingdoms of the nations power and might, are in your hand, and no one can withstand you allow God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendents of Abraham, your friend, I have lived in it and I have both unit a century for your name, saying if calamity comes upon us, whether the sold of judgment or playing a famine we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your name and we will cry out to you in our distress and you will hear us and save us right now. You're a man from Amon Moab, and Mount Syria whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are replaying us by coming to drive us out of the position you gave us as an inheritance. Allow God, will you not judge them for we have no power. The faceless boss on me that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. So all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones stood there before the Lord in the spirit of the Lord came upon your head zero son of Zechariah, the son of the not the son of Geo, the son of Matt and I leave Iraq descendent of a set as he stood in the assembly and he said listen King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem. This is what God says to you, do not be afraid or discouraged because of this lost Army for the battle is not yours but God's tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up the parts of zoos and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the desert of drill.

You will not have to fight this battle but take up your positions. Stand firm, and see the deliverance the Lord your God will give you. Do not be afraid.

Do not be discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you. So Jehoshaphat bound with these face to the ground and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down worship for the I the Lord brought that word upon allophones please forgive the interruption will be back in just a moment. This doctor then dives in the specific Scriptures and helps us understand how we can apply them crisis we face together as a nation know that we're connecting you with resources, 24 hours a day on our website TE WR online.org is the place set apart why you're there, sign up for the daily Encouraging Word email from Dr. Don that's TE W on line.org. It's also the place will discover wonderful resources like this resource pressing forward skilling on enjoy life.

Are you thinking about getting on. We cannot afford it. I'm the Christian journey much is at stake this month. Dr. will then have to special resources to send you for your gift that supports The Encouraging Word. You will receive Dr. Wilson's inspiring message harassing phone away along with courageous faith by Dr. Charles Emily. Both of these ministry resources will help fortify your faith to stay the course on the Christian journey, 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 and request pressing forward in the bonus courageous faith. Thank you for supporting The Encouraging Word cannot fail our mission. Without you again. Please know that we're here for you not only to connect with those resources but to pray for you are phone numbers 866-899-WORD it's a vital 24 hours a day 866-899-WORD 9673 or connect with this keyboard keyboard and TE WR online.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton. Two things I'd like you to know about me if I can be personal for just a minute number one I'm an American citizen. I know some of you look at me and say, surely not because you will talk so funny being in them being in America for 44 years. I'm an adopted son. I don't say this to impress you. They tell me I'm too old. That's what they say and I don't say this lightly, but he found nation did face a crisis.

There was a coal to arms. You have a tough time stopping me from going. I would put on the uniform where those Stars & Stripes I'd go anyway find any enemy when I think of men and women who have shed their blood. The freedom that I enjoy today. Probably the greatest human human privilege I've ever had in my life. I know I speak for my wife. My oldest son is older than 40. He was born in America but I'm so grateful to the Lord for my country. This nation from sea to shining sea. Second thing I want to tell you about. I'm not only an American citizen, but far more importantly, I'm a Christian man, I'm a Christian man who is an American citizen. You might say to me today will what you mean you are Christian I'm not a Christian man because I'm an American citizen. I'm a Christian man because I gave my heart and life to the Lord Jesus. I was born in sin.

My sin condemned me. The Bible says there is none that with good all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and I was born in Adam I was destined to die and I spent far too long, searching for peace gave my life to Jesus and I repented of my sin. He came into my heart and forgive gave me.

I certainly never was and never will be perfect, but I will tell you that I'm a Christian man. What does that mean it means that God is my King. He's my Lord, I have to accept that and believe that when I trusted him. The Bible says if you confess that Jesus is Lord Jesus is Lord, not the prime minister, the White House, some you going to be rattled by this, not the American flag, not the British flag, not the South African flag you can face that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead you be saved Christ as my King. He sovereign I'm governed by my Christian faith and that closes me to be the best citizen I can possibly be.

I hope I hope I really do hope that I have contributed that have given back far more than this country's ever given me.

I hope I've pulled my life into young people told them to be good citizens to work hard to enjoy life to behave will to be productive in this great land but I'm governed in every way by the fact that I'm a Christian man I see my beloved nation through the eyes of God. I don't see my nation through the eyes of man.

We cannot do it. The Bible tells us how I as a Christian man. You as a Christian person woman young person.

How I you and I who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ should respond to the crises of life and this July 4. I'm being very specific to a nation in crisis. So I'm going to pose three questions related to America to contextualize this as we all ask God what he would say to us as God. This nation founded under God. Three questions Christian on one who always who are we, America will that question is Onset. When we go back to the Declaration of Independence.

We don't have time to do a history lesson. We would hope that most of us who love the Lord Jesus you are American citizens. We we understand that you have to go back to the Declaration of Independence fourth of July 1776.

Historians tell us, is not of us were there that there were 56 delegates at that second Congress, Continental Congress, and it's very interesting when you study the declaration of independence. It was designed for three groups of people.

The declaration of Al Declaration of Independence was designed with three groups of people to get it to listen to what our founding fathers recite. First of all, to the king of England and I use that he was a monarch, but he controlled the control of America or the American people at that stage. The second with the colonists themselves. This incredibly brave group of pilgrims. These people who first landed that forged that paved the way that came here in order to establish what you and I enjoy today, and the third group was the wound. It was designed that the world would know that we are Americans and I do not want to put words in anybody in the Declaration of Independence. It was we all a very unique people. We comprise of everyone black people why people immigrants we we are a nation of immigrants. We comprise of man and woman and get this get this world are you listening all people, all people are created equal weighted they get that from our founding fathers that all people are created they got that from God, Creator, the word of God.

All people are created equal. And so it is the goal of the Declaration of Independence was essentially threefold number one to rally everyone around the manifestoes of the fundamental foundation upon which we stand as a nation number two to create the space. The living area, whereby we the people might carry out what we declare in our independence.

This right to freedom.

The freedom to worship together freedom to work together but it thirdly was established as a goal to to establish the fundamental foundation upon which we do what we do.

So there was a threefold goal in the Declaration of Independence to rally everyone to create something and then to establish something and essentially essentially the Declaration of Independence was an announcement was an announcement that carried an explanation to Great Britain that we were declaring ourselves to be exactly what the Declaration of Independence stated that we would be question number one. Who are we that soon we all so yes question number two. Where are we well there are many different perspectives on I'm speaking to you as a Christian man where all well I'm going to tell you just to places where I believe we are today on this July 4 number one we are extremely blessed. We all amazingly blessed. You might say to me pasta you being terribly militant, but I can say these things because I'm an adopted son. I always get deeply disturbed when people come and are adopted and then criticize and demean, demolish, break down the very fabric of what we need to clean be true these in alienable truths to the point at which I say will why did you bother to come here to begin with.

Go back from whence you came that we are as American. So we were blessed people yesterday I went to a beautiful place. Highlands, North Carolina going in my emoticon when we met my brother up. Played golf with him and it is just beautiful. My brother Mario and I we been so close. My older brother was visiting his family up in Maryland couldn't join us and I hadn't seen my brother in a year and 1/2 because of COBIT and all the things and we just love each other and we not any played golf but we walked up on those mountains and took pictures of you know, the two of us stood there, arm in arm. We talked a lot about from whence we came because we were children together. You know, we ran around in Africa together. We we understand from whence we came in here and I was standing arm in arm. I actually took a picture of it and posted it on Instagram. It meant so much to me. Just me and my brother and the two of us looking out across Highlands. That area is magnificent. Just beautiful and we looked at each other and said how bliss could we be to live here being a landlocked. This so we got onto the question where are we have to begin with.

We are blessed.

I hope you know that today look at us look at our church. The good, the food we eat. Just think about today.

All the lakes and the boats in the grooves in the barbecue. The flags and the fireworks folks you don't get this. In some parts of the world. You understand that America is why everybody wants to come here with list but I will say to you, for your aunts. That question honestly not any bliss but will also under attack. What happened here, to Jehoshaphat, the very people they gave license to took license and they were people out to destroy Judah and Jerusalem, Israel.

There are people out to destroy this country that are on a mission.

They will use any means at their disposal. So how do we as Christian community respond, so I'm going to be very specific with you today. There are many sided anti-Christian attacks being launched on the fabric of this nation, under God, indeed, that is the question how do we as a Christian community respond one of the most powerful ways is to be on our knees, interceding with and for one another, know that we love to pray with you right now, we stand ready to connect with you.

Perhaps even today in the ministry of Dr. Don Wilton's teaching the questions questions that you'd like to pursue answers for. Would love to discover them together in God's Encouraging Word if you call us at 866899 word that's 866-899-WORD 9673 and as we been studying the word together, perhaps more than just what you want to hear from our teacher and pastor would open yourselves to the question he wants to ask you next. Thank you for listening to the screen, such enjoy sharing God's word like isn't it amazing how you can hear God speak through his word by his right now I'm going to Austin you give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. This would wanted to pray this prayer with me right there. God, I know that I miss and I need Jesus. I need to be forgiven of myself. I confess my sin to you, and I receive into my my life in Jesus name, my friend, if you prayed that prayer God not any. He's also Dupree the Bible say is they that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be say I want to connect. You can visit us W online W online.org or you can call us at 866-899-9673. Okay you want me to give that again.

You might want to write it down. Make note of it and number 866-899-9673 let's connect because we got a lot of growing together. I believe that some of you gave your life to Jesus Christ, praying along with Dr. Will two moments ago. Perhaps only rededicated your life. Either way, welcome to the family of God. Welcome home to a relationship that can grow no matter what our national crisis is, this is an individual decision and if you would like us to pray with you and for you. Call us at 86688668999673 if you gave your life to Jesus Christ to rededicate your life to Christ. Dr. Wilton has free resources he once you have right now. You can also leave us on our website@tewonline.org that's tewonline.org thank you so much for your prayerful and financial support of the encouraging