Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: "Voices From the Past"

Theme: America's Foundational Truths

Series: Patriotic

Introduction: It is that time of the year when we take time to celebrate our nation's independence.

For those who have ears to hear, there is a patriotic whisper in the air, speaking the heartbeat of our founding fathers, which reflect their revenant fear of the Lord.

Proposition: I would propose to you there are voices from the past, voices spoken clearly by the founding fathers of the United States of America.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what are those voices saying?

Could those foundational truths be birthed forth by the influence of the Word of God?

What influence should their words have on us today?

The foundation of this country is clearly spelled out in the words of William Bradford who became governor of the Plymouth Colony as he described the mission of the Pilgrims.

Mr. Bradford said, “They cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying a good foundation… for the advancement of the gospel of Christ in the remote parts of the world…” (Founding Fathers Quotes, The Mayflower Compact - authored by William Bradford, 1620)

It is very evident that the men whom God used to lay the foundation of this nation were men who had a fear of the Lord.

Consider these quotations from our founding fathers and other national leaders.

George Washington once said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

(Famous Quotations, According to 580 websites, George Washington Stated; Wikipedia)

In his farewell speech in 1796, Mr. Washington said, “Of all habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.

(America's Providential History, Page 179) …Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

(Wall-Builders, David Barton, George Washington's Farewell Address) George Washington was also a man of prayer who could grasp the heart of God.

He prayed, “Direct my thoughts, words and work.

Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by thy Holy Spirit… Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.”

(Spiritual Life, CBN - Monday Morning Prayer)

Thomas Jefferson, The third president of the United States, said, “God …gave us liberty.

And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis…I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

(The Jefferson Monticello - Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII) Thomas Jefferson knew the need of a nation to walk in reverence before God and to live with a Biblical understanding of what it means to live in the fear of the Lord.

The Psalmist understood this truth as well.

He writes, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His Heritage!

The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from there He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who forms the hearts of them all, Who considers everything they do."

(Psalm 33:12-15)

King David illustrates to us the providence of God.

(Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Ps 33:12).

Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) America needs to take to heart what our founding fathers knew to be an absolute truth: "The counsel of the Lord is greater than the counsel of men.

Christians know that as a nation or as individuals, they have actually inherited His mighty plan.

Therefore, they are blessed with His protection, guidance and provision."

(Knight, G. A. F. (2001).

Psalms (Vol. 1, p. 161).

Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.)

When a nation and His people walk in obedience there is an unspeakable joy (Ross, A. P. (1985).

Psalms.

In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.),

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 819).

Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.) because they have cooperated with God.

(MacDonald, W. (1995).

Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments.

(A.

Farstad, Ed.) (p.

596).

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.) Exodus 19:5 gives us a clear promise: "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine."

Transitional Sentence: Thus far we have heard some powerful voices from the past, truths from founding fathers of this nation and Biblical promises.

The prophet Isaiah has a truth that affects all the nations on earth.

He writes, "The Lord has bared His Holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God." (Isaiah 52:10) Luke also wrote, "And all the people will see God's salvation."

(Luke 3:6)

God's deliverance of Israel, in the past and in the future, will cause all nations to acknowledge the Lord.

Luke writes about a time when God's people will enjoy His salvation now, and about a time to come when everyone will see God's salvation, the reality of His work in mankind's soul and life.

(Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Is 52:10); Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.; Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996).

Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol.

7, p. 497).

Peabody, MA: Hendrickson) The Bible says, "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God." (Romans 14:11)

"Salvation" (Hebrew.

yēša‘; Greek.

sōtēria) here is "God's way of providing people deliverance from the bondage of sin and spiritual death.

This includes revelation of God's plan to save the human race."

(Tyndale Bible Dictionary; Easton, M. G. (1893).

In Easton’s Bible dictionary.

New York: Harper & Brothers)

John Quincy Adams knew these truths, "The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith.

Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth..." (Life of John Quincy Adams, W.H. Seward, editor (Auburn, NY; Derby, Miller & Company, 1849), p.248)

Transitional Sentence: Voices from the past speak of the hope for every nation to learn about God's Salvation.

These voices speak of the benefits of the name of the Lord as well.

Proverbs 18:10 says, "The Name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to and are safe."

The Bible says, "May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion." (Psalm 20:2) Psalm 91:4 says, "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield..."

Here is the God of sufficiency for His children.

Christians find rest when they become weary and they find refuge when they are being pursued by the flesh, the world and the devil.

As they diligently seek His will for them through the counsel of His Word, they enjoy His attributes, have authority under His titles, embrace His covenant and cling to His promises.

(Henry, M. (1994).

Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p.

995).

Peabody: Hendrickson; Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Pr 18:10).

Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.; Garrett, D. A. (1993).

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol.

14, p. 165).

Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)

Corrie ten Boom understood this truth: "When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight.

When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through your whole life.

When Jesus leads you through your life, He brings you safely home."

— Corrie ten Boom (Morgan, R. J. (2000).

Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed., p. 381).

Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Samuel Adams understood this truth: "Let us secure His favor and He will lead us through the journey of this life..." (Letter of Delegates to Congress: August 16, 1776 - December 31, 1776, Paul H. Smith, editor (Washington DC: Library of Congress, 1079), Vol. 5, pp.

669-670, Samuel Adams to Elizabeth Adams on December 26, 1776)

Transitional Sentence: Voices from the past tell us to run to the Lord; He will keep us safe as long as we are in the center of His will.

Voices from the past urge us to intercession to the Lord. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

Does America need to repent?

Let us consider the loud, ignorant voice of today as well as voices of the past.

Before that, Let us first consider the definition of ignorance: "Lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact" (Dictionary.com)

You might have heard people say that America is no longer a Christian nation; you might have even thought this yourself.

It’s easy to see why one would think or say such a viewpoint, but let’s consider what history tells us about the birth of our nation and whether such a claim is merited or not.

As we have already learned, the Christian faith has influenced many of our founding fathers, even so far back as the settling of Plymouth in 1620.

Despite that, claims that America no longer being a Christian nation persist.