The American Revolution 

     John Adams, 40 plus years after the Declaration of Independence, knew that the risky choices, acts of daring and heroism would long be remembered and deserve serious study. 

     In 1818 he wrote, the Revolution took place "in the Minds and Hearts of the People"...the real American Revolution. "In the 1760s and 1770s, a revolutionary generation learned to think and act like the Americans they were becoming." 

Christopher Flannery, Claremont Institute

     "All the actions and documents leading to the Declaration express the American idea of political freedom. Returning to such again and again is a way by which succeeding generations can continue to experience the Revolution for themselves. The Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776 proclaimed, 'a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.' 

     "So abundant is this gift that to live up to it is the most fulfilling thing we can do. The daily activity of free people is the 'pursuit of happiness,' being good sons and daughters, good parents, neighbors, secretaries, teachers, artists, farmers, plumbers, mechanics, business owners and citizens. Benjamin Franklin put it: 'Pitch upon that course of life which is most excellent, and Custom will make it the most delightful.' 

     "As we celebrated America's 250th, John Adams was invited to attend the 50th anniversary celebration. He wasn't well enough. Later, with the committee visiting, he was asked to make a toast. Adams proposed, I give you 'Independence Forever!' Asked if he would like to add anything, he replied: "Not a word." 

Continued Tuesday

The America God Can Bless 

     "Such an America would look radically different than it looks today. Premarital sex, divorce and out-of-wedlock births would be rare. Our national sin of abortion would become unimaginable. America would assume its crucial role in speaking for basic human rights and would see its worldwide Christian evangelization rejuvenated.

     "In spite of all our short comings and failures, God has blessed America. However, if America does not turn back to the God of our Founding Fathers, I fear the blessings will cease. We are already under God's judgment, having aborted over 75 million children. 

Richard Land, Southern Evangelical Seminary

     "I believe there are two major reasons God has not judged America more harshly. First is our strong national support for God's chosen people, the Jews, and the state of Israel. God has promised to bless those who bless His people and to judge those who do not (Genesis 12).* 

     "Second, we still provide a substantial proportion of support for worldwide missions and evangelism. God has revealed to us the model of national blessing - repentance, humility and obedience. Let us all pray that each of us will embrace the path to blessing, and that it will bring about revival, spiritual awakening and reformation we desperately need. 

     "What better way to honor our nation's 250th birthday than by repentance, obedience and dedication to help usher in blessings for our country."

* Views: Americans are being deceived, tricked into thinking Israel should be eliminated, turning (all) the land turned over to Palestine. The border is contested. When Jesus returns, will He arrive in Jerusalem, or Palestine? 

 Battle Hymn of the Republic 

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, 

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; 

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword - 

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat, 

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; 

O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! 

Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,

  While God is marching on. 

Glory! glory, hallelujah! 

His truth is marching on. 

                                              Julia Ward Howe

The Unstoppable Work

     "The first slaves entered America at Jamestown in 1619. The very next year, 1620, the first Christians arrived from England aboard the Mayflower. These Puritans despised slavery and established a foundation for religious and political freedom. 

Robert Morgan, Tennessee pastor 

     "A hundred years went by. Puritanism and Christianity were waning. A remarkable revival erupted. The awakening spread through all 13 colonies. This set the stage for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. John Adams wrote, Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. 

     "The Lord sent the second Great Awakening in the early 1800s. Thousands came to Christ in a revival that birthed the mission movement, Sunday schools, and sent hundreds of evangelists into untamed frontiers. 

     "The work of Jesus Christ is unstoppable. We his people should be unconquerable. Even with its sinful moments and failure, America is a miracle by God's grace. When I see how God has been our help in ages past, I realize He can be our home for years to come.

     "When Dwight Eisenhower ran for president, he asked Billy Graham for a verse of Scripture. When he took the oath of office, he laid his hand on 2 Chronicles 7:14...If my people who are called by My name will 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."  

July 4th - Battle Hymn

     

The Real Revolution 

     President John Adams argued that the "real American revolution" had already occurred before a single shot was fired. He wrote: "The Revolution was in the Minds and Hearts of the People. A change in their Religious Sentiments of their Duties and Obligations."  

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

     Adams: "This produced in 1760 and 1761 An Awakening and a Revival of American Principles and Feelings. In 1775 it burst out in open Violence, Hostility and Fury. Adams mentioned seven patriots who took the lead, two of whom were pastors in Boston. One of them explained what the Bible has to say about government, and how we are to respond, be it (government) good or bad."

     "The influence of patriot pastors cannot be overstated. The basic form of regular public communication for many colonists was a Bible-based sermon. Historian Harry Stout says, 'A New England sermon...was so powerful in shaping cultural values, and a sense of corporate purpose that even television pales by comparison.' When the British cracked down on Boston in 1774...patriot pastors took to their pulpits, painting the conflict in Biblical terms, portraying King George III as Pharaoh and the American colonies as the Israelites."

     "Adams wrote to his wife, 'The clergy of every denomination... thunder and lightning every Sabbath...' General Percy declared, 'No body of men are so injurious to peace and tranquility as the clergy." 

     Perkins: "Through their preaching, patriot pastors helped bring about what Adams described, a change in religious sentiments. When war came, the same Biblical conviction fueled the courage to stand against tyranny. These pastors not only made the case for independence; they also strengthened the peoples' resolve to secure it."  

     "If we are to preserve our liberty 250 years later, we need that kind of Revolution again. We must return to the same source of the founders' courage and confidence: the Word of God." 

  Friday: the unstoppable work

Who Has the Promise?                                      Wednesday

     America approaches its 250th year of independence. Our history includes approximately 168 years that England ruled Americans. The total is about 418 years. 

     Human history began with Moses' account of God's creation of "man," Adam and Eve. Of course, Moses wasn't living yet, so we'll go with historians who agree that Moses was the author. How could he know, except that God revealed the beginnings. There were no calendars. Moses began writing history in 1,445 B.C. Our search found an agreeable guess of 4,000 B.C. for Adam and Eve. 

     In Genesis 12 - the "call of Abraham," who lived around 2100 B.C. Let's consider him the beginning of the Jewish people, although there was much up and down, back and forth yet to come. 

God so loved the world

     Romans evicted Jews from Israel in 70 A.D., while believing Jews (later called Christians), were going into the known world, delivering the "gospel." 2100 + 2026 = 4126 years for God's "chosen" people. And 418 years for faith in God, in America (not Christianity worldwide, 2026). 

     One Sunday sermon called on Christians to take a stand, vote, support but not worship government, and gather in church to worship. Key scriptures include 1 Timothy 2:1-2, and 2 Chronicles 7:14. 

     While we learn of hatred toward Israel, even among Americans, remember that Satan hates God's people. This explains world support even for Hamas, while wishing Israel destruction, only 78 years since they recovered from WWII. Hitler hated Jews, and Iran hates Israel. And America. Trouble may come, but so will Jesus. And He will descend to the same place he departed around A.D. 33. Not New York or Washington. Israel's return after 1,956 years is a clear sign God's plan is unfolding as Scripture reveals it. 

 

                                                                                                                                 Tuesday

Liberty Impossible Without Faith in God 

     Adding to Sunday's blog, Eric Metaxas wrote, "All the men of the Revolution understood" it was possible to be a nation without kings or bishops. 

     "Even the least religious of our founders knew that in creating a new nation, they were doing what the Israelites did when they left Egypt and made a covenant directly with God at Sinai. Both Jefferson and Franklin - when asked to provide a seal (see Monday's blog) - came up with images of the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai."

     "The new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, marked the first time since Sinai that a people would look directly to God. Samuel Adams, before signing the Declaration of Independence, said they had 'restored the Sovereign,' meaning God. The Lord would be our only king." 

     "No matter how vital faith was, it could not be forced. Religious freedom would have to be at the heart of America. And it is. The men who risked everything to form America had no guarantee of success. If people could not choose to live by faith, freedoms would evaporate." 

     "By the grace of God our liberties are still alive," Metaxas writes. "For liberty to continue, faith must be at the heart of American culture. May the Lord bring revival to our land, that we might spread our faith and our freedoms to the whole world." 

Tomorrow: Who has the promise?