1. “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.”
Independence Day
“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.”
Proverbs 14:34

2. "Whether we live or die, sink or swim, succeed or fail, I stand behind this Declaration of Independence. And if God wills it, I am ready to die in order that this country might experience freedom.“
John Adams August 2, 1776

4. Patrick Henry
“… There is a just God who presides over the Destiny of nations.” He ended with… “…As for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”

5. In declaring independence from Great Britain . . . . .
I. They Boldly Declared Their Dependence Upon God!

6. We weren’t the first nation to do that!
Moses told Israel: "When you have eaten & are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. 11 Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments & His ordinances & His statutes which I am commanding you today;” - Deuteronomy 8:10-11

7. Our Founding Fathers were careful to remember God.
2nd paragraph: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness."

8. Our Founding Fathers were careful to remember God.
Closing words: "With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence (that's God), we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes & our sacred Honor."

9. Constitutional Convention: Ben Franklin -
“I have lived, Sir, a long time, & the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow can- not fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”

10. II. Our Independence Depends on our Dependence
Remember God’s warning to Israel: Deu. 8:7 “For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains & springs, flowing forth in valleys & hills; 8  a land of wheat & barley, of vines & fig trees & pomegranates, a land of olive oil & honey; 9  a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything;”

11. II. Our Independence Depends on our Dependence
In vs. 10 he said, “When you have eaten & are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.”

12. Deuteronomy 8:11-14 – He continues:
"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments & His ordinances & His statutes which I am commanding you today; 12  otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, & have built good houses & lived in them, 13  & when your herds & your flocks multiply, & your silver & gold multiply, & all that you have multiplies, 14  then your heart will become proud & you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

13. III. Watch Out That We Don’t Forget God!
The greatness of a nation is not in its military power or national wealth!
It depends on its righteousness and justice!
"Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov. 14:34)

14. Titus 3:3, Paul says, "At one time we were foolish, disobedient, deceived & entangled by all kinds of passions & pleasures. We lived in malice & envy, being hated & hating one another."

15. People who are caught up in sin think they are free, but in reality they are slaves to sin.
Compare the prodigal son…

16. IV. Our Real Freedom Comes In Christ
The word for freedom in the N.T. is… ‘redemption.’

17. "For the grace of God teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness & worldly passions, & to live self-controlled, upright, Godly lives in this present age. . .”
"Jesus Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness, & to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14)

18. A true patriot is concerned about America; earnestly wanting God to bless her – and living a life in harmony with the will of God.

19. May we reaffirm our dependence upon God so that, "looking unto Jesus the author & finisher of our faith," we might experience the freedom He gives!