Sin Is A Reproach To Any People

SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE

By Pastor Dan Parton
July 4, 2004 Proverbs 14:34: Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Introduction: America needs Jesus, yet America has turned her back on Him! America has turned her back on her one and only hope. I do believe that America can be brought back to God but will be brought back to Him one person at a time.
That is the way things went bad, just one person at a time.
- Governments, schools, courts, and churches all go bad just one person at a time. If America ever returns to God, it will also happen just one person at a time! You may not be able to bring America back to God by yourself, but you can be a part of it and bring part of it back to the Lord!
Today, when I think of America, I am deeply troubled. The Word of God says, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34) It also says, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) This truth is emphasized when we consider the following shocking statistics from the NCPCF, the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families:
- Approximately 1,370,000 abortions occur annually in the U.S.
- 88% of abortions occur during the first 6 to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- Approximately 40 million people in the United States are sexually involved with the Internet.
- Three million of the visitors to adult web sites in September 2000 were age 17 or younger.
- 2.5 billion e-mails per day are pornographic.
- 25% of all search engine requests are pornography related.
- Pornographic sites on the Web generate at least $1 billion per year in revenue.
- 72 million Internet users visit pornography web sites per year.
- Americans spend $10 billion per year on pornography.
- There are 800 million rentals each year of adult videos and DVDs.
- 11,000 adult movies are produced each year.
- The Adult Industry Medical Health Care Foundation, a health-care clinic for porn workers, carries out 600 AIDS and STD tests per month.
- Cable companies brought in revenue of $177 million from sexually explicit pay-per-view programming.
- Median age for the first use of pornography: boys: 11-13; girls: 12-14.
- 9.1 million young people ages 15-24 have contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
- 19 million teens are infected with STDs per year.
- Every day, 8,000 teenagers become infected by a STD.
- 47.78% of families said pornography is a problem in their home.
- 75.5% of surveyed adults said it was okay to visit an adult web site.
- In the 1990's, more than half of the brides had already lived together with a boyfriend.
- 957,200 divorces and 2,355,005 marriages took place in 2000, making the divorce rate 40%.
Americaนs hope lies in Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
* God says He will cause a nation to rise because of righteousness, but sin will cause it to fall.
As I said before, it must be done one person at a time. How can you help bring America back to where she ought to be?
1. Share the Gospel. - 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
- What difference can one individual make in the saving of a nation?
* Ed Kimble won D.L. Moody to Christ.
* Andrew brought Peter to Christ.
* Ben Conrad led me to Jesus.
- Christians are too busy spreading other things:
* Gossip.
* Christian crud.
* Christian manure spreaders.
- Christians need to busy themselves with the business at hand. Let's get the Gospel out!
- Spread the Gospel which produces salt. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13)
- Salt not only adds flavor; it is a preservative. America needs more salt in order to be preserved.
- In the Bible story of Lot and Sodom & Gomorrah, God would have spared these two cities if only there could have been found ten righteous people within their walls. There werenนt even ten that could be found. Lot was a lousy witness!
2. Build a truly Christian home. - Colossians 3:21
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
- Men, lead your families closer to the Lord.
- Wives, build up the man God gave you.
- Children, obey your parents for this is right.
- We have families who are out of control today! Families need to get back in line with the Lord.
- Whatever happened to family altar? A good family altar will alter your family!
- Read the Bible together, pray together, serve the Lord together!
- Today's average Christian family consists of a carnal husband, an unsubmissive wife, and rebellious children! It is nothing short of a God-dishonoring shame that families are the way they are today. Many times, mom drags the kids to church while the dad sits at home and does nothing.
- Build your family for the honor and glory of God.
- The truth is, most of us do not believe the Bible anyway. After all, you only truly believe that which moves you to action!
- The Word of God still says, And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) It also says, Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. (Colossians 3:21)
3. Serve the Lord wholly. - Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might...
- Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 10:31, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
- The old saying says, If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well. I'd like to add, If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing right. and, "If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing with all our might!
- An hour is not too much to give to your favorite TV program, but it sure is a hassle to give God an hour on Sunday. In fact, it is not too much to give 3-4 hours for a ball game, but it sure is awful to give God from 9:45 A.M.-noon on Sunday mornings and from 6:00 P.M.-7:30 on Sunday nights. Wednesday only takes up time from 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. In light of what He has given to you, that is not much time at all!
4. Pray for America. - Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
- Paul prayed for his nation. We should pray for America.
- Have you spent any time praying for this great nation of ours?
- Pray for our President, his wife, and daughters.
- Pray for the government officials.
- Proverbs 21:1 is still in the Bible, The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. The Bible says, Pray without ceasing, Watch ye therefore and pray always, Men ought always to pray and not to faint.
- Pray rather than complain. Donนt criticize unless you are praying for America!
Conclusion: America can be reached for the Lord if only the people of God will do what is right. Let's give of our time, talents, prayers, and service that God may bring America back to Himself. In this message today, I said, spread the Gospel, build a truly Christian home, give of your best in serving the Lord, and pray for America.
As I said earlier, Americaนs hope lies in Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
* God says He will cause a nation to rise because of righteousness, but sin causes it to fall.
As I said before, it must be done one person at a time. How can you help bring America back to where she ought to be?
"Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." -- Psalm 119:133

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Pastor Dan Parton Timberline Baptist Church 512 Canon Avenue Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829 Church Office - 719.685.4121
E-mail: tbc@timberlinebaptist.org
Web site: http://timberlinebaptist.org