Will God Bless America

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(No Transcript)
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Will God BlessAmerica?
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Habakkuk 11-4
1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2
O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not
hear? Even cry out to You, Violence! And You
will not save. 3 Why do You show me iniquity, and
cause me to see trouble? For plundering and
violence are before me there is strife, and
contention arises. 4 Therefore the law is
powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the
wicked surround the righteous therefore perverse
judgment proceeds.
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Prophet Questions Gods Delay

• Why didnt God judge Judah for evil?
• Violence, iniquity perverseness present
• Law not respected, justice perverted
• Wicked allowed advantage over righteous
• Rightly understood these things cause judgment
• God promised from start to judge nation if became
  unfaithful (Deut. 27 28).
• When evil continues, judgment is certain, but the
  timing is not.

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Habakkuk 15-11
5 Look among the nations and watchbe utterly
astounded! For I will work a work in your days
which you would not believe, though it were
told you. 6 For indeed I am raising up the
Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which
marches through the breadth of the earth, to
possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
7 They are terrible and dreadful their judgment
and their dignity proceed from themselves.
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Habakkuk 15-11
8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards,
and more fierce than evening wolves. Their
chargers charge ahead their cavalry comes from
afar they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.
9 They all come for violence their faces are
set like the east wind. They gather captives like
sand. 10 They scoff at kings, and princes are
scorned by them. They deride every stronghold,
for they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. 11
Then his mind changes, and he transgresses he
commits offense, ascribing this power to his god.
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God Reveals His Work in Judging

• God was already acting to bring Chaldeans
• Babylonians were a bitter hasty nation
• Known for their ruthlessness destruction
• Would come for violence, plunder captives
• Military might was overwhelming to Judah
• God knew His work would not be understood by
  prophet or others (15)
• Yet God knew it was the proper action to
  accomplish His purposes.

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Habakkuk 112-17
12 Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God,
my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have
appointed them for judgment O Rock, You have
marked them for correction. 13 You are of purer
eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on
wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal
treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the
wicked devours a person more righteous than he?
14 Why do You make men like fish of the sea,
like creeping things that have no ruler over
them?
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Habakkuk 112-17
15 They take up all of them with a hook, they
catch them in their net, and gather them in their
dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn
incense to their dragnet Because by them their
share is sumptuous and their food plentiful. 17
Shall they therefore empty their net, and
continue to slay nations without pity?
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Prophet Questions Gods Choices

• Prophet understood Gods character
• God is from everlasting (eternal, not finite)
• God is holy, pure takes no pleasure in evil
• Gods power is absolute certain in its effect
• Question Why does God choose a nation more
  wicked to judge Judah (113)?
• God doesnt answer that question

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Nations Exalted by Righteousness

• Proverbs show need for righteousness in nation
• Prov. 1434 Righteousness exalts nation
• Prov. 1111 City exalted by the upright
• Prov. 1612 Throne established by righteous
• Prov. 255 Throne established as wicked removed
• Prov. 282 Understanding knowledge prolong
• People leaders both must be righteous

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Nations Judged for Wickedness

• Verified in Gods dealings throughout time
• Dan. 428-33 - Dealing with Nebuchadnezzar
• Dan. 517-31 - Dealing with Belshazzar
• Prophecies against nations filled with examples
• Judah Israel both destroyed because of evil
• Principle remains true today just as in the past.
  God gave government a place (Rom. 131-4)
• If government fails in this, God will judge.

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Brings The Question To Our Minds...
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Will God BlessAmerica?
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Points to Help Answer Question

• We all hope and pray for Gods blessing
• Must remember blessing not assured by...
• Our desires, our prayers or our thoughts of right
• The relative goodness of nation by comparison
• Wickedness of enemies faced by this nation
• Recognize the demands of privilege...
• God demands more of those given more
• God judges more harshly those who first call on
  Him then depart from righteousness
• Safety is found in righteousness, not power

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If God Continues to Bless America...

• We must return to upholding righteousness
• Growing tolerance of sin must be reversed
• Must seek righteousness over material wealth
• Justice must be served evil must be punished
• We must use our blessings to serve God
• Material wealth must go to His cause, not self
• Freedom must be used to serve, not to feed lust

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Will You Become A Christian?
Hear the Gospel (Rom. 1017) Believe in Jesus
as the Son of God (Mark 1616) Repent of Your
Sins (Acts 1730) Confess Jesus as Lord (Romans
109-10) Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins
(Acts 238) Live Faithfully until You Die (Rev.
210)