Gods Definition of Nation Building

1
Gods Definition of Nation Building

• Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a
  disgrace to any people.
• (Proverbs 1434)

2
The Empire Built by David
3
After the Sin of Solomons Time
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Why Did Israel Fall?

• In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria
  captured Samaria and carried Israel away into
  exile to Assyria...
• Now this came about because the sons of Israel
  had sinned against the Lord their God and they
  had feared other gods and walked in the customs
  of the nations whom the Lord had driven out
  before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of
  the kings of Israel which they had introduced.
• (2 Kings 176-8)

5
How Did They Become So Sinful?

• When God had torn Israel from the house of
  David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king.
• Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following
  the Lord and made them commit a great sin. The
  sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam
  which he did they did not depart from them. (2
  Kings 1721-22)

6
What is of the Greatest Concern for our Nations
Benefit?

• Defense Policy?
• Economic Issues?
• Tax Increases/Cuts?

• Labor Laws?
• Social Programs?
• Bigger vs. Lesser Government?

7
A Christians First Concern

• Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be
  able to stand firm against the schemes of the
  devil.
• For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
  but against the rulers, against the powers,
  against the world forces of this darkness,
  against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
  heavenly places. (Ephesians 611-12)

8
A Christians First Concern

• Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be
  able to stand firm against the schemes of the
  devil.
• For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
  but against the rulers, against the powers,
  against the world forces of this darkness,
  against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the
  heavenly places. (Ephesians 611-12)

9
What is of the Greatest Concern for our Nations
Benefit?

• Defense Policy?
• Economic Issues?
• Tax Increases/Cuts?

• Labor Laws?
• Social Programs?
• Bigger vs. Lesser Government?

10
What is of the Greatest Concern for our Nations
Benefit?

• Defense Policy?
• Economic Issues?
• Tax Increases/Cuts?

• Labor Laws?
• Social Programs?
• Bigger vs. Lesser Government?

In Gods sight, all of these are secondary to
issues of Righteousness and Morality. As
children of God, we must put on the mind of God
and learn to think as He does.
11
Moral Threats to our Nation

• Abortion
• Acceptance of Homosexuality
• Increasing attempts to re-define Marriage

• The abundance of Immorality in our culture
• Growing push to create and protect rights for
  sinful behavior.

12
But Evil has always existed, regardless of
Government policy!

• True, but that has been the case even under the
  most righteous governments in history (David,
  Josiah).
• God commands governments to punish
  unrighteousness and to avenge evil.

13
The Role of Government(Romans 131 6)

• Every person is to be in subjection to the
  governing authorities. For there is no authority
  except from God, and those which exist are
  established by God...
• Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what
  is good and you will have praise from the same
  for it is a minister of God to you for good.
• But if you do what is evil, be afraid for it
  does not bear the sword for nothing for it is a
  minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on
  the one who practices evil for rulers are
  servants of God, devoting themselves to this very
  thing.

14
But Evil has always existed, regardless of
Government policy!

• True, but that has been the case even under the
  most righteous governments in history (David,
  Josiah).
• God commands governments to punish
  unrighteousness and to avenge evil.
• What happens when a government no longer punishes
  evil, but legalizes and even institutionalizes
  sin?

15
But Evil has always existed, regardless of
Government policy!

• Governments that suppress wickedness help to keep
  sin in check.
• When leaders lose their Moral Compass, sin
  abounds.
• Ungodly leaders lead people astray, earning the
  greater guilt.
• God expects Moral Leadership from Rulers.

16

• Jehoram made high places in the mountains of
  Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to
  play the harlot and led Judah astray. (2
  Chronicles 2111)
• O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray
  And confuse the direction of your paths. (Isaiah
  312)
• Those who guide this people are leading them
  astray And those who are guided by them are
  brought to confusion. (Isaiah 916)
• "My people have become lost sheep Their
  shepherds have led them astray. They have made
  them turn aside on the mountains. (Jer. 506)

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God holds Leaders accountable for the sin of a
nation.

• The people are also guilty, of course, but
  leaders have a specific, God-given responsibility
  to uphold righteousness and punish sin.

18
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a
disgrace to any people.

• As Christians who have a responsibility to be
  Salt in the world, we must make our First stand
  one of Godliness and Righteousness.
• All other issues are secondary.
• God uses military, economic and social means to
  exalt and humble nations, but Righteousness is
  the deciding factor on how these other means are
  used.