In this sermon, the preacher discusses the possibility of a nation rising again. He emphasizes that this concept applies not only to America but to any nation that listens and understands its origins. The preacher references President Bush's speeches after the 9/11 attacks as an example of a nation attempting to rise again. He also highlights the importance of knowing where a nation came from and its purpose for existing, citing the Declaration of Independence as a testament to America's founding principles. The preacher encourages the congregation to reflect on the significance of being an American and to remember the events of 9/11.

And Lord, we pray in Jesus name, Lord God, that America, that the world would just be looking to you. It's not governmental leaders. It's not political parties. It's if we'll turn our heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the universe, as we look to Lord, just the condition in the state, Lord of America, as we consider Lord, the, the events of 9-11. And Father, as we this morning, look to this nation and into the world, Father, it is our heart's desire that by the power of your spirit, you'd give us ears to hear Lord, in the heart to do in Jesus name. Put your eyes to the screen, if you would. Speaking to them, staying with them, knowing that their partner, their spouse would never get out of the buildings. And as they were talking of the roar and the thunder and the screaming, and then the silence, and we spoke to them, we talked with them and ministered with them. And it was a tremendous time. That song that you heard, extremely powerful, written by our own Jean-Luc here, leading us in worship this morning. You can get this CD after service. I think there's 50 of them, you guys. It's five bucks. It's a testimony to New York. This is what we handed out on the streets of New York City by the thousands on September 11th, 2002, one year after the event. I encourage you to do that. All this to for us today as a church to be reminded. And I pray, listen, I pray that you'll receive this message this morning. It's it's from my heart. I pray that you will forgive me in advance if there's any emotion expressed, because these things that I share this morning are very dear to my heart. I hope to your heart. It's caused me to think a lot this week in preparation about America, about the world in light of all that's going on in the world right now. What is it to be an American? What does it really mean? We're not hearing that much anymore. The lines are skewed and things are shifting. And. God intends for every one of every nation that they reside in to be honoring that nation in which they live as Christians, we are to be the best of citizens. If you live in America or if you live in Uganda or Mali or Brazil, you ought to be the best citizen. That that nation ought to be thankful that you as a Christian reside in that country. And those things are lost in the day and age in which we live. So in light of the fifth anniversary of September 11th. I want you to consider some things today and. And I want you to consider the title that may be offensive to some of you, and I pray that it is not. I pray that you listen carefully. The title of today's message in memorial of September 11th is Can a Nation Rise Again? Can a nation rise again after it has been attacked in a most brutal way? Any nation can a nation rise again? The answer is a nation can rise again after it's attacked. The question is, rise to what? Germany is back from being a nation. England is back from being a nation. The United States came back from December 7th, 1941, as a nation. But what do nations rise toward? What do they become? And so in our time together this morning, I'm just going to ask you to take your Bibles and turn to Second Chronicles, chapter seven, and you can just park there today and take notes as we advance in this study. Can a nation rise again? There in Second Chronicles, chapter seven, the scripture says, verse 13, God says, When I shut up heaven and there is no rain or command that the locusts devour the land or send pestilence among my people. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive them their sins and heal their land. Now my eyes will be opened and my ears attentive to prayer made in this place. And of course, in the context, God was speaking to the people of Israel regarding the temple and regarding the nation of Israel. That promise is given to Israel, and we could throw our arms up this morning and say, well, that's a lost promise in that it's reserved for the nation of Israel and for no other nation on the planet. Theologically, you'd be correct. However, God then announces to us that he's not a respecter of persons. God also says in the word that I will bless any nation that makes me their God. And so the promise bestowed upon Israel, if a people who are called by his name. Will humble themselves and seek his face and pray. Turning from their wicked ways, then he will hear from heaven that is the cure for America, that is what we need to rise to as a nation. And my friend, listen, anything less than that will be failure. This is the United States of America. If you have any vision and understanding of America, it is a miracle created by God. It is the envy of the world or it was, but it can be again. If we do those things before the Lord, we need to be very careful. We all remember that day. You remember exactly where you were the moment you heard the news or the moment you turned on the TV and you watched what was going on. And many of us, most of the world, by the way, witnessed the second attack into the tower. Because by that time, a little over an hour later, by that time, the world tuned in. We will never forget where we were that morning. Consideration number one, can a nation rise again? I'm going to give you 10 things that I believe is a prescription, according to the Bible, if a nation can rise again. But my friend, listen carefully. This is not only about America. It's about any nation in the world that will listen. And it's about your family. If you listen, it is about your life. It is about your children. It is about your marriage. If you listen, it can be about your church. If you listen for this truth of God. Transcends and is broader than our own perspectives, it goes beyond its infinite number one, can a nation rise again only if that nation knows where it came from? Will you jot that down? A nation can rise again only if it knows where it came from. Where do we go to when the nation is going to attempt to rise again? When President Bush, with that fireman, stood on that heap of rubble at ground zero at the World Trade Center and made the announcements trying to bolster America. And the subsequent speeches of president and of others and congressmen and senators and mayors and governors across America, we will rise up again. We will not be defeated. We have a resolve. We are Americans. My question is, what will we rise to? The only thing that we can begin to step in the right direction is to ask ourselves this question or to consider this challenge only if that nation knows where it came from. And do we as Americans know where we came from? This is a nation, a land of immigrants, all of us. And our fathers and our mothers came here with a reason and a purpose, and they had to learn what it was to be an American. Many of our families, if not all of our families, came through Ellis Island. And you can go to New York today and trace the roots of your nation coming from Europe and starting this country. And if that's not close enough or far back enough, you can go to the pilgrims. God had a plan. We need to know where this nation came from if we're ever going to return back. And listen, this is an important thing. And some of you may take issue with what I'm saying today. And that's OK. That's totally fine. It's not going to hurt my feelings. I will, though, require of you to study some history. You don't want my opinion and I don't want yours. We want the facts. Where did this nation come from? Unfortunately, people are coming into this nation today. They don't even know where this nation came from. How can you be loyal to a nation that God has given if you don't know what it's all about? I'm all for people coming if they want to partake of the amazing miracle that God did by creating America. Do you know what America is? If we ask some questions, I wonder if they can be answered. Where did America come from? I think every school ought to ask that question of every student. Where did America come from? Do our children know the answer to that? What does America return to? Do we know that question? Do we know the answer? Our founding fathers, our founding foundation, our founding faith, Deuteronomy chapter eight, verse 18, says, and you shall remember the Lord, your God, for it is he who gives you the power to prosper. Wouldn't that be great if that verse, Deuteronomy 18, was on Wall Street? Wouldn't it be great if they took that bull off the street and put a plaque? You know what bull I'm talking about? I'm not I'm not cussing right now. I'm talking about the bull. You know, the bull that's there. If you've been to New York, the big bull speaking about a bold and strong and going forth economy. Take it down. Put up this scripture. Don't forget God who makes you to prosper. Yeah, that should be there. But I don't have any power to put it there. So I'm just saying. I'd also like to go around and ask every high school teacher and every high school student, by the time they get out of high school, they ought to be able to answer this question, where did America come from? Because you'll never know where America should be taken, where she should go, unless you know where she's come from. Or if you get into some old, good old documentaries, look at the precious people. Look at our our grandmas and grandpas who are coming from Poland and Italy and France and all over the world. Standing in line is so cute. They were there and they're so excited and they the little kids had flags and their parents were telling them in Polish or in Italian, we're coming into America. We're coming to America and it's standard. They're coming up the ships, they're waving flags and they're just waiting. They're moving up in line. The names are recorded. They enter and they they learn what it's about. They stand, they take the pledge and they enter in and they created an awesome nation by the grace of God. It's amazing to think. It's beautiful, you know, it's so fun to travel America, you go to the Midwest, the upper Midwest, and you know who you run into, you run into all kinds of Dutch, all kinds of Germans, all kind of northern Europeans. And they got their cheeses and they got their beef and they got the stuff that they're great for. And then you go to certain areas, you go down to the south of the United States and you've got a lot of southern nations represented there. And you also have southern Europe much represented there. New Orleans was named after Orleans. And there's a French influence. And it's wonderful. You go to Florida and there's the Spaniard, the Spain influence of Western Europe. It's just wonderful. Unlike any other place on the planet. The envy of the world, where did we come from? Can a nation rise again only if that nation knows where it came from? We need to know where we've come from. Listen to bore you. I hope not. I'm joking. But to some people find this incredibly boring. I find it hard to hold back tears. This is from the text of October 3rd, 1789. I reserve to tell you who said it in a second. I will let you know, quote, whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of the almighty God and obey his will to be grateful for his benefits and to be humbly imploring his protection and favor upon us. Don't we need this now? And whereas both houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested to me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and single favors of the almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and for their happiness. To be devoted by the people of these states to the service of the great and glorious being who is the benefit author of all that is good, all that was, that is, and that will be that we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks for his kind and care protection of the people of this country. Do we not need this now? Wouldn't it be great if a politician read this announcement for the civil and religious liberty of which we are blessed and the means we have acquired and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he has been pleased to confer upon us and also that we may then unite in most humble offering of prayer and supplication to our great Lord and ruler of all nations. And beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions given by the hand in the city of New York on the third day of October in the year 1789 President George Washington. It's amazing to me that what he said today, the ACLU would find to be illegal and he was the founder of our nation. Notice how many times he referenced God, how will we ever get back if we have lost the way number two, can a nation rise again only if that nation returns to its purpose? Do you know, Church, the purpose of America, by the way, I'm excited. We are very, very much firming up the plans of a God in American heritage tour next year. We've almost got the specific dates nailed down the sites. We will begin by God's grace, Lord willing, in Plymouth, and we will end in Washington, D.C., and it's all going to be, by the way, Dr. Peter Marshall, Jr., son of Peter Marshall, is going to be conducting our tour at Plymouth, and that is going to be amazing, all about God and American history and heritage. And we're going to be giving Bible studies in front of the White House. We're going to be giving Bible studies in front of the Pilgrim's Gathering and Plymouth Rock and all of that. It's going to be a great thing that we might understand that it's possible that God's not done with this nation if we will repent. What did America do that no other nation has ever done before? It once preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and the federal budget of the United States funded such an effort. Did you know that? Did you know that the United States budget up until 1954 funded the production of the publication of Bibles to be distributed worldwide? Taxpayers' dollars went to that. What about the separation of church and state? That is not a federal document, nor is it a law, nor is it found in any governmental writings. Did you know that it was stolen from a private letter from Thomas Jefferson to his pastor friend who was the senior pastor of the Danbury Baptist Church? There is no separation of church and state. It's a myth. And you would say to me after service, it's in the First Amendment. I challenge you, my friend, I've read the Constitution, I've read the amendments, I've read the Bill of Rights, I've read the Declaration of Independence. I'm telling you right now, show me where it is. Find me where it is. You will not find it. That's CNN or a new revised history version. I challenge you now, you won't find it. No other nation in the history of world, in all of human history has sent more relief, more aid, more to more people, to more nations, to more places still to this moment than the United States of America. Did you know that? We're the most benevolent nation in the world. Where do you think that heart comes from? If this nation rejects Christianity, it will become even more self-centered and this nation will begin to be less benevolent. No other nation in all the history of the world has sent more Bibles and more missionaries to more people, more places than the United States of America. Did you know that? Even you say, oh, no, England did. No, America surpassed England in missionary ventures in less than 200 years. What was our purpose for being a nation? I'll read to you a section of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776, when in the course of human events. It becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands of which connected them with one another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and the nature's God entitled them. A descent respect, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes of which impel them to the separation. They're talking about the break from England, of course. 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 them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That's the Declaration of Independence, a portion of it. Did you know that democracy? Listen, this ought to raise an eyebrow, but it's a fact. Did you know that democracy and its truest definition can never work right unless there's a God fearing people that dwell within that democracy? Did you know that democracy only works if we love one another? You say, well, yeah, but this guy might be a Muslim and this guy might be a Buddhist and this guy might be a Christian and this guy might be an atheist. Do you understand that according to the Constitution of the United States and the spirit of our founding fathers, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, 56 of them. Did you know that 27 of them, I'm proud to say, were my brothers. 27 of them were ordained pastors. 27 out of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. And do you know what they announced? They announced it's okay if you want to be an atheist, that you have the freedom to be an atheist. We respect that. You want to be a Muslim? It doesn't say Muslim Hindu, but it says, by the way, Abraham Lincoln echoes it as a Christian nation. He says this is a Christian nation, Abraham Lincoln said, and we will love people. We will tolerate their different beliefs. That means it's OK. You don't want to believe that. That's OK. I love you. I'm going to pray for you. We're going to help you. We're not going to separate you. You don't get any treatment of blessings from the government because you're an atheist. You get blessed. You're not segregated. This nation of all nations on the planet had a vision that said, you know what? Black people and white people ought to live together and be equal. Yeah, that's a struggle because the human heart is wicked. It's still a struggle. But where on the planet is there a nation that has been dedicated for the last 230 plus years to dissolving those demonic divisions? I believe, by the way, I know it's a strong statement. I don't want to hear about it from you after I say it. I believe racism is from Satan. I really do. It's the exact opposite of God's heart. The proclamation of the president of the United States, President John Adams, March 23rd, 1798, quote, as the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend upon the protection of the blessings of almighty God. And the national acknowledgement of this truth is not only an indispensable duty, which the people owe him. But it is our duty whose natural influence is favorable to the promotion of that morality and piety, without which social happiness cannot exist, nor can the blessings of a free government ever be enjoyed. President John Adams, can you imagine a president saying this today? He'd get sued. He went on to say. It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. See, democracy demands this. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Other constitutions has made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. This is a statement from John Quincy Adams, president of the United States. The law given from Mount Sinai was a civil and municipal code as well as a moral and religious code. It contained many statutes of universal application, laws essential to the existence of men in society, and most of which have been enacted by every nation which has professed any code and rule of law. God gave in the Bible how nations should be ordered. Samuel Adams. Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty, liberty and happiness of people whose manners are universally corrupt. That haunts me today. Did you hear what he said? He said there's no constitution and there's no wise laws that are going to secure the liberty of the happiness of this people. If people whose manners are universally corrupt, in other words, if we have corrupt politicians and a corrupt society, laws will be changed and thrown out. Is that not happening? Number three, can a nation rise again only if that nation's God is the Lord? Psalm 33, 12 says, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. It's pretty simple. Isaiah 37, 12 says, What have the gods of other nations done for them? Have they been delivered? Have you ever thought about that? I'd just like you to write down this question. Always ask yourself this question. What are the gods of other nations done for them? That is about the most unpolitically correct question you can ask yourself today. Look around the world. Find out what find out how governments and people live and the standard of living that they live in, how women are viewed. Ladies, do I have your attention? Listen, ladies, go look to other nations and read about how women and their freedoms are viewed in other countries. Where the Bible is not taught, it is the Bible, and this is not my opinion, you can read this in history, it is the Bible that has elevated the position of all women around the world when it's properly taught. Women are beyond women are to be honored. When the Lord is the God of that nation, obviously, that title, we could go on all day. Number four, can a nation rise again only if that nation determines to follow God? Only if that nation determines to follow God. Number four, can a nation rise again? These are the closing remarks of one of my heroes, and I don't have many in life. Jesus ultimately is beyond the hero. But I'm speaking about Abraham Lincoln. Just a statement from the Gettysburg Address, one of the shortest speeches ever given by a politician. And still today, it's unmatched. Gettysburg Address, 16th President United States, Abraham Lincoln said, I quote. Oh, by the way, let me give you a little preface. This is obviously the Gettysburg Address given at Gettysburg in regards to the fallen dead in the Civil War. I want you to hear this in light of September 11th. I want you to hear this in light of Afghanistan and Iraq at this moment. He said, we are highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from off the face of the earth. That is an awesome statement. By the way, you want to see this really cool? Go to Disneyland. And Abraham Lincoln presents, you'll see him say this. I mean, it looks like it's they use the real death mask of Abraham Lincoln's face to make that thing. And he's speaking to you. You want to just stand up and shout. You ever heard of John Hancock? I hope so. John Hancock said, in consideration of many undeserved blessings conferred upon us by almighty God, the father of all mercies, it becomes us not only in our private life. And in our usual devotion to express our obligations to him as well as our dependence upon him, but also specifically to set apart a day. To be employed for this great and important purpose. I have therefore thought fit to appoint and by the advice of the consent of this council to hereby accordingly appoint the next Thursday, the 17th of November to be observed as a day listen, a day of public Thanksgiving and praise to God throughout this commonwealth, hereby calling all ministers and people of every denomination to assemble on this day in the name of our great mediator. You know, that is devoutly and sincerely offering up to him. Almighty God, the gratitude of our hearts. Oh, would God please provide politicians today? See, if somebody would stand up and present the truth of God in a humble heart, even people that oppose that particular person's various backgrounds or denominational persuasion, God will take truth and stimulate your heart with it. And you will even say things like, I don't even know why I'm going to go vote for John Hancock, but you know what? Whatever he says rings true to my heart. And I don't even like the guy, but I'm going to go vote for him. That's the power of God. And it's amazing. Where are we? Number one. I knew I just tested. Number five, can a nation rise again? Only if that nation humbles itself. Only if that nation has humbled itself. Nahum one seven. The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and he knows those who trust in him. That's Nahum one seven. You can find that, by the way, in the cup of an In-N-Out burger drink. Isaiah 40, verse 17, says before him all the nations are as nothing. And they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. God's not swayed by nations. A nation can be humbled, you know. God can do it like this. And here's the thing. What will that nation do with the invitation to be humble? Church, are you awake? Are you listening? When God says, listen, this has come upon you for many reasons, but one of them, will you humble yourself and seek my face and pray? Will you? What will that nation do with that calamity? Will it shake its fist at God and say, why? Or will it bow its heart before the Lord like Daniel, like Nehemiah, like Jeremiah, like Ezekiel and say, oh, God. Oh, God, I'm so sorry that now you have my attention. Oh, Lord, let us seek you with all of our hearts. We will pray to you, God. We will confess our sins before you. We will seek your face. Oh, God, we humble ourselves before you. What what do most nations do? What I what is it that I believe this nation is guilty of? Oh, by the way, before I say that in England, I was in England and this guy told me, you know, you guys are amazing in America and we are disgusting here in Europe. I didn't say it. He said it. He said, we're disgusting. We got hit by the by the train bombings in Spain. We've been hit time and time again in England. And what do we do when we get hit in England? We go to the bars and get drunk. What do you guys do when you get hit? You guys all run to church and pray. He said, you guys are amazing. Well, listen, that's true for two weeks. September 11th and the weeks following, including this church was packed out. And we you know why we we chanted, never forget, never forget. We will not forget. You know why? Because we forget and we have forgotten and this nation will not rise again unless it remembers. Don't think you're going to rub some Christian lamp and pull out a dollar bill and everything's going to be fine. The American view is if I just throw enough money at it, it's going to work. That's over. A lot of churches function that way. Just throw enough money at it. I was told on Thursday night, there's a church that I've actually spoken in at this church. There's a church that someone left 80, 86 million dollars to this year. And when I heard that, I cringed. I thought, oh, Lord, give that pastor and the board of that church extreme wisdom, for they will stand before God someday to give an account on how they use that money. Be careful. We can throw enough money at something in America. That's the American way. Just throw enough money at it. It'll work. Those days are gone. We've been humbled and we're being humbled. Ask your child honestly, when they're really in a moment of candor, ask them, do all the material things I've bought you, does it matter to you? Really? Does it really fill your heart? If your children are honest, they'll tell you, no, I want you, Dad. I want you, Mom. America is at war, if we have forgotten a war unlike any other war that's ever been fought. We're fighting an enemy that cannot be defeated by conventional means. And I'm not talking about using nukes. That's not going to work either. This enemy can only be confronted with truth. Isn't that interesting? It's a spiritual war. When someone's attacking you with a spiritual mindset since September 11th, their agenda is spiritual. You can launch all the bombs you want. It's not going to change what's inside them. This war will not stop. America is attempting to wage this war and to rebuild itself, to protect itself, to defend itself, to wage war for itself, to promote democracy. All this without God. Without God's help and without God's blessings. This is a very serious thing. If we are going to recover, we've got to have God in the middle of it all. The Bible says some trust in chariots, right? And some trust in horses. But we shall trust in the name of our God. And that's what we need to do. Will the nation rise again? Number six, can a nation rise again only if that nation will seek justice? Isn't it interesting the timing of it all? Are our courts in America known for justice? Anything, but the joke around the world and the joke is here. If you have enough money, you can get off to can you buy? Make no mistake about it, even against the founding of America. You are considered guilty until you have enough money to prove yourself innocent. And that's a sad thing. A nation can only rise again if that nation seeks justice. Isaiah 60, verse 12. For the nation and kingdom which shall not serve the Lord shall perish. And those nations shall utterly be ruined. Does this ring a bell to you? Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Again, Abraham Lincoln. Justice for the black man. Justice for the white man. Justice for the poor. Justice for women. Justice for men. Justice should be only concerned about truth. And not what color or how much money is in your pocket. Number seven, can a nation rise again only if that nation would pursue righteousness? I give you the words of Benjamin Franklin at the Federal Convention in 1787. I have lived, sir, a long time. And 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 cannot fall to listen to him, if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, it is probable that an empire can rise without his aid. Have we been assured, sir, in the sacred writings of the Bible that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it? I firmly believe this. And I also believe that without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the projects we will be confounded with them. And we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down throughout the ages. And what is worse? Listen, mankind may hear after from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom. And leave it to chance, war or conquest. I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers be implored for the assistance of heaven, listen, and its blessings on our deliberations here and be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed with our business as a nation, that one or more of our clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service daily. Benjamin Franklin. Thank God that has somewhat been held true still to this day. Somewhat. James McHenry, signer of the Declaration of Independence, we in vain without the Bible will increase. Listen to this will increase laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are our strong entrenchment where they abound. Men cannot pursue wicked courses and at the same time enjoy a quiet conscience. I love that. He says, if there's no Bibles, the lawmakers are just going to make a bunch of more laws. Why do that? Put the Bible out there to the people and their conscience will be bothered when they do something wrong. Is that perfect? Hey, do you guys care about this? Are you with me here? I'm sorry. I must admit I am a historical freak. I love this stuff, but you can't return unless you know where you came from. OK, number eight, we're almost done. Can a nation rise again? Only if that nation would cry out to the Lord again. Second Chronicles 714. But somebody says, if my people are you a Christian and what's cool about this statement? Are you a Christian? Are you Jewish? Are you crying out to the God of the Bible? Oh, he says, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, pray and seek my face. That needs no no definition other than an invitation church to pray. Honestly, can I if I haven't offended you by now, can I offend each and every one of us right now, including myself? Until we seek God's face, nothing really serious has yet happened in our lives. You understand that? Don't tell me after service that your marriage is messed up. I won't believe you. I might look at you and be courteous. Hi, nice to meet you. What's that? Well, your marriage is ruined. I'm sorry. But we're just wasting time. You're not really serious about it unless you are crying out to God. Oh, but pastor, I need you. You don't need me. You need the Lord, man. And you say, well, why are you a Christian? I'm not talking about becoming a Christian again. I'm talking about full on your face and crying out. Hey, husband, is your wife wayward? Get on your face and cry. Grab the feet of Jesus and say like Jacob, I'm not going to let you go until you bless my wife and bring her back home. Is your kids wayward? Grab hold of Jesus's robe and get healed prayer meetings when we really get serious. We'll attend prayer meetings until you until that nothing's really happened significant in our lives. Let's not fool anybody. If things are bad enough, we'll pray. We'll call a prayer meeting. Let's say let's say there's a prayer meeting called this week. How many people will come? But if we say there's free pizza, it'll be a packed house. Honestly, pastor, you talk like that. I'm not coming back. OK, I have some very sad stats for number nine. Can a nation rise again? Only if that nation will turn from its sins. That's what he says in Chronicles. OK, if my people, if they turn from their sins, then by the way, the word in Hebrew is then and only then God says then only then I will hear from heaven. Do you know what that implies? Church, are you ready? Isaiah 59 verses one and two says, My hand's not too short that it won't save you. My ear's not deaf that I can't hear you. But the bummer is that I put that in there. The bummer is I can't save you and I can't hear you because your sins have separated you from me so that when you pray, I cannot hear you. And when you cry out for help, I cannot save you. Isaiah 59 verses one and two. The American husband and wife lead the world in divorce. We are a Christian nation. And we lead the world in divorce. The American youth has more than two sets of parents than any other nation on the planet. American youth. The American youth is the most sexually active people on the planet. The American is the most medicated person on the earth. We consume more medications, mainly for pills and for moods than any other person on any other nation of the planet. The Americans lead the world in pornographic production and by the way, exportation to the world. Did you know that? The American makes more money than anyone else on the planet. Did you know that the American is the poorest person on paper of anyone on the planet by debt? You say, what about the guy that's out there in Africa sitting in a heap of dirt and all he's got is a spear and a rabbit? He owns his hut. That's his spear and that's his rabbit. All this while at the same time, 88% of Americans say they believe in God. I hope you're sitting down here. A few examples from a report or a collection of reports. I'll give you where in a moment of what happened after at the removal of prayer from public arena in 1963. Regarding young people. For 15 years before 1963, pregnancy and girls of ages 15 to 19 years of age had been no more than 15 girls per thousand people. I mean, 15 girls per thousand girls after the removal of prayer in 1963, pregnancies increased 187% in within 15 years. It's more now for young girls ages 10 to 14 years of age after the removal of prayer, pregnancies increased 553% in ages 10 to 14. 553% before 1963, sexually transmitted diseases among students were 400 per 100,000 people after the removal of prayer in 1963. They were up 226% in 12 years within 12 years. The family, the family before 1963, divorce rates had been declining for 15 years in America after the removal of prayer in 1963. Divorces increased over 300% a year for the following 15 years since after the removal of prayer in 1963, unmarried people living together has gone up 353% since after the removal of prayer in 1963, single parent families are up 140% after the removal of prayer concerning the family in 1963, single parent families with children are up 160% education as the topic. The educational standard of measures has been the scores. The scores had been steadily level prior to 1963 after the removal of prayer in 1963, the decline for 18 consecutive years, even though the same test has been issued since 1941 before the removal of prayer in 1963. There are only approximately one. This is the good news. 1000 Christian schools in America prior to 1963 after the removal of prayer in 1963 by 1984, 11 year, 21 years later, there are more than 32,000. This is 1984. There are more than 32,000 Christian schools in America after the removal of prayer in 1963. The nation's top academic scholars shifted from the public arena to three times as many now from private and or religious schools, which operate on one quarter of the education budget of the public schools. The nation after the removal of prayer in 1963 violent crime has increased 544% after the removal of prayer in 1963, illegal drugs have become an enormous and uncontrollable problem to our nation. After the removal of prayer in 1963, the nation has been deprived of an estimated 10 million children, citizens through legal abortions. And since Roe versus Wade in 1973, an additional 47 million children, future citizens have been aborted since that 1973 year. And that's why today the United States Senate has met and discussed the ramifications of an aborted generation to the workforce and tax base of America. Did you know what? Isn't it interesting? Since 73, we killed 47 million kids in the womb. And isn't it interesting that it's an estimated 40 million people have come to America, many of them illegally to work. We killed the workforce. I didn't say it. Senator Zell Miller said it. And I was in front of him when he said it. I heard him. It is a study done by the United States Senate. We killed an entire generation of taxpayers and workers. And now we need people from abroad or from the other side of the borders. Amazing, huh? Doesn't the Bible say you reap what you sow? You say, Jack, you're crazy. Well, the data source is the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease and Control, the Statistics Abstracts of the United States, the Vital Statistics of the United States Government, United States of America, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Number 10, and we're done. Can a nation rise again, my friend? Only if that nation is willing to obey God. And that's the problem. He says, I will hear from heaven and I will heal their land. If they turn, pray, seek my face, I will hear them. I will forgive them. And he says, I will heal that land. I want you to look at the screen. Look at this. This is precious. She says to us, Statue of Liberty, give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe freedom. Oh, you can read it. I didn't know it was up there. Send these, the homeless, the tempest tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door. Anybody know who gave us that, by the way? Very good. The French. They have a little version of it. She's shorter, half the size in France. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe freedom. You're teeming. Look at the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me. She's announcing that she's standing beside the golden door. I lift my lamp. You can sit back in the old days. You could see her from out at sea. And if you come to her, she stands beside a golden door, golden. We would say it's the golden door of opportunity. Will the nation rise again? I don't know. It can only happen if it's done God's way. It's only going to happen. And it has happened once in history to the nation of Israel. It's not impossible. Will it happen to us? I don't know. I almost cringe to tell you that someone was listening to a study that we had done in this church about eight years ago. And they're listening on CD. And then in that CD, they had told me, you said that America had reached its zenith. You believed in that. It was going to diminish from this time on because the way that it was going. And you also said that something would happen to America, either externally or internally, that would leave it so preoccupied that it would leave its support of Israel. And we're hearing campaign statements this week that if you just vote for me, I'm not going to send any money to Israel. I'll make sure that we take care of ourselves. And you might say justifiably, yeah, Jack, that's right. We have people hungry here. I understand that. And don't tell me that we can't feed them. We don't really want to feed them. If we wanted to feed them, we'd feed them ourselves. But don't ever turn your back on Israel. We are. I'll end with this. When we go to the voting box, you guys. And let me make this very clear. When we go to vote. You understand, Jesus has already come. He preached and taught, was crucified, resurrected and went back to heaven. When you vote for a Republican or a Democrat or independent, do you understand? Jesus is gone. He's in heaven. I say that don't vote for somebody thinking they're going to deliver you from all your woes. They can't do it. You got to vote for the lesser of the two evils. And here's my view. Here's who I vote for. I vote to see how they view Israel. Because that tells me how well off I'm going to be later on. Because God says, I will bless those who bless my people and I will curse them who curse my people. Will a nation rise again? I don't know. I know what I think. But our God does miracles, doesn't he? We need to humble ourselves, pray, cry out to God. But don't you dare expect him to bless us. If we are sinning against him and we got this going on the side and we're cheating on taxes and you got a little bit of porn over here and a little bit of this going on and you're flirting with him and you're flirting with her and you're depriving your kids. And then you say, oh, God bless me. He will not. As a nation, we need to repent and seek his face. Let's pray now. Dear God in heaven, as we remember September 11th, we can never make it back unless we abandon our plans of self, self-grandizement, trusting in money, affluence, power, position. And we fall on our face. And Lord God, I do not condemn any governmental leader. I come right alongside them. My hands, our hands are as bloody as anyone's hands. Someone may legalize this, but how did it ever come to his table, his desk to begin with? By my apathy. Why have I not prayed more for this nation? Why have I not prayed more for my city? Why have I not prayed more for my state? Lord, I stand here. I am guilty. And I ask you to forgive me of my apathy. And I pray, Lord God, in these last days, Lord, that you would awaken us as a church to seek your face, to pray, to humble ourselves, to turn from our sins, to cry out to you. Because you have promised us that if we do that, you'll heal our land. We ask you, Father, in Jesus name. And as we look to the events of September 11th, may we respond to them correctly. If we haven't in the last five years, may we do that today. In Jesus name and all of God's people said, amen. Amen. Let's stand. I want to encourage you.