This post contains notes from Pastor Robert Taylor’s sermon given on 6 July 2013 at Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church.
Have you had time to reflect this week about what it means to be an American? America is so much more than picnics, parades, and fireworks!
In your Bible, look up Revelation 13:11.
The Beast from the Earth
“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”
We as Seventh-day Adventists realize this verse in Revelation is where our nation is.
Our founding fathers include great men like Patrick Henry, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. These men wrote moving messages and were great leaders of our nation after winning Independence from Great Britain. Here is some of the rational thoughts these leaders wrote.
Patrick Henry declared that our nation was founded not upon religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
George Washington wrote in his farewell address that religion and morality are the basis of our nation.
Thomas Jefferson wrote: Believing with you that religion is solely between man and His God. Legislators should never write a law declaring a religion.
John Adams wrote: “Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.”
The year was 1775. There were men and boys ready to defend Massachusetts. They began calling themselves Patriots. They made a bold declaration. They fought for the right of freedom.
One third of the population were ready for change. There were 56 men that signed the Declaration of Independence. How do you and I value the freedom that we have?
What about the choice of being a believer in Jesus Christ? Do you remember the day when you publicly declared you wanted Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? You made a bold statement that day. Knowing Jesus and proclaiming Him as Lord of your life is a bold commitment.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Jesus comes first in your life when you are born again! If you are living as a committed follower of Christ, you made a bold statement!
Joshua 24:14-15
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
We are in a war. The devil is going to do everything he can to cut us off and pull us down. The devil knows our weak spots. Turn back to your Bible and remember that Christ says: “I will be with you always.” You do not have to be in this war alone.
Rewards are great. Victory is assured. Victory is available to all even in our greatest loss.
Many will say that they Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb but they have not let go to Jesus. Jesus asks us to Abide In His Word.
John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
One day we will reap what we have sown.
Revelation 7:9-17
A Multitude from the Great Tribulation
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The reward is beyond our imagination. Why would we want anything else?
I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb of God!