I Kings 17:7
The nation of Israel fell because of its sin against God, and America is following a similar path of decline.
Chuck Smith discusses the decline of Israel as a nation, emphasizing that their sin against God led to their downfall. He highlights how Israel, once established by God, turned to worship other gods and forsook His laws, ultimately leading to their destruction. Smith draws parallels to America, warning that the nation has similarly strayed from its foundation in God, embracing materialism and false idols. He stresses the importance of recognizing God's warnings and returning to Him to avoid a similar fate. The sermon serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
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"THE DEATH OF A NATION"
Intro: In 721 B.C., Israel ceased to exist as a nation The Assyrians had
carried them away as captives The once great and Godly nation
has fallen. What brought death to this nation?
I. GOD'S INDICTMENT AGAINST ISRAEL.
A. They sinned against the Lord their God.
1. Nations can sin as well as individuals.
2. They missed the mark, they failed to be what God wanted
them to be.
a. God wanted them to be a living example to the
world of the value and blessing of serving
God.
3. Israel was a nation that was established by God.
a. He brought them out of Egypt.
b. He subdued their enemies and gave them the
land.
4. It was a nation established in God.
a. God's law was the law of the land.
b. God was at the center and in the heart of the
nation.
B. They began to fear, reverence and serve other gods.
1. Forsaking the God who made them, they began to worship
gods they had made.
a. They sought to live as the world around them.
1. To follow its fashions and standards.
2. God has said, "Be not conformed to
this world," yet they were.
2. They began to put the true and living God out of their national
life.
a. They forsook His laws.
b. They established their own godless standards.
3. Following after emptiness they became empty.
II. GOD'S ATTEMPT TO TURN THEM FROM THE CERTAIN PATH OF
DESTRUCTION.
A. He sent prophets and seers with warnings.
1. Turn from your wickedness.
2. Turn back to God.
B. He allowed them to begin to taste the bitterness of defeat
in battle as a warning.
C. They would not listen to the prophets.
1. They did not believe the warnings of God.
D. Having now forsake God, God has now forsaken them.
1. Without God, they have no strength.
2. They misinterpreted their history.
a. They ignored that it was God that made them
strong.
b. They attributed the greatness to free
enterprise or democracy.
c. They began to trust in their military strength.
3. Without God's help they immediately were defeated. The nation
died.
III. THE DEADLY PARALLEL.
A. America was established as one nation under God, the
founding fathers knew who that God was.
1. It was God who made our nation great, it was God who
made our nation strong.
2. As a nation, we have sinned against God. We have begun
to worship other gods.
a. Prosperity, success, happiness, materialism.
b. Forsaking the God who made us, we are serving
gods we have made.
B. God has been sending some strong warning signals.
1. Korea, Viet Nam, Iran.
2. We were once great as the Lion the King of the beast.
Feared and respected.
Sermon Outline
- GOD'S INDICTMENT AGAINST ISRAEL points: - They sinned against the Lord their God - Nations can sin as well as individuals - They missed the mark, they failed to be what God wanted them to be - God wanted them to be a living example to the world of the value and blessing of serving God
- Forsaking the God who made them, they began to worship gods they had made points: - They began to fear, reverence and serve other gods - They sought to live as the world around them
- GOD'S ATTEMPT TO TURN THEM FROM THE CERTAIN PATH OF DESTRUCTION points: - He sent prophets and seers with warnings - Turn from your wickedness - Turn back to God
- THE DEADLY PARALLEL points: - America was established as one nation under God - It was God who made our nation great, it was God who made our nation strong
Key Quotes
“Nations can sin as well as individuals.” — Chuck Smith
“It was God who made our nation great, it was God who made our nation strong.” — Chuck Smith
“Forsaking the God who made us, we are serving gods we have made.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must turn from our wickedness and turn back to God to avoid national decline.
- We must recognize that our strength comes from God, not from our military or economic power.
- We must not forsake God and begin to worship other gods, such as prosperity or materialism.