Stand Up For God and Your Country

By P.J. Stratton

Our Heavenly Father

God loves us so much and His mercy endures forever. We praise our Heavenly Father, our creator, protector, provider, and Yeshua…our Savior throughout the Universe!

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Bible says every man and woman is equal in His sight. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.…

Let us review some of the cherished traditions and blessings.

The Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:1-17

The Giving of the Law

After giving Israel claim to acceptance with Him only IF they obeyed His will, God proceeded to instruct Moses:

“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering….And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exod. 25:2,8).

God would not have added the Mosaic covenant had it not been for the Lamb “foreordained before the foundation of the world” (I Pet. 1:19,20).

Nevertheless, having Christ in mind, He did add it and Israel accepted and confirmed it so that, for the time being, it was binding upon them. And this served to demonstrate to them their utter depravity and inability to obey God.

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3,4).

Columbus Discovers America

Christopher Columbus indicated to others he was on a mission and led by the Holy Spirit to discover America.

In 1486 King Ferdinand, although in the midst of his military cares, was interested in the proposals made by Columbus. He liked the man. He was pleased by the modesty and dignity with which he brought forward his proposals.

Columbus spoke, as he tells us, as one specially appointed by God Himself to carry out this discovery.

The king did not, however, at once adopt the scheme, but gave out that a council of men of learning should be called together to consider it. “In one word, as the sovereign master of the universe, had, in the outset, distinguished him in granting all his requests, before he had carried out his expedition for God's greatest glory, and before it had succeeded, he was compelled to believe now that God would preserve him to complete the work which he had begun." Such is Las Casas's abridgment of Columbus's words.

President Benjamin Harrison declared October 21st, the original Columbus Day, a national holiday, designated schools as a main celebration site and urged all schools to adopt the Pledge. Many did. An estimated 10 million children recited the Pledge in 1892.

The Declaration of Independence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“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 and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

As stated in the second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence. This therefore is based on two facts; firstly, the Founding Fathers recognized man is created by God and secondly, God created every man to have the right to fair and equal living.

On July 4, 2021, America celebrated its 245th birthday. Let’s look back for a quick moment at the events which transpired on and leading up to the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The American Revolution was birthed as a result of the greedy, controlling and oppressive tentacles of the Crown of Britain. The mood in the room was far from celebratory. Everyone was aware of what they were undertaking. It was an act of high treason against the British Crown that could cost each man his life.

Recalling the day many years later, Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a leader in Philadelphia, wrote about how awful and silent the house was as each member was "called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress."

There they signed "what was believed at that time, to be our own death warrants."

On August 2, 1776, Congress members signed the declaration. Not every man who had been present on July 4 signed the declaration on August 2.

Two important officials passed up the chance to sign and others were added later.

The first and largest signature was that of the president of the Congress, John Hancock.

Betsy Ross and the American Flag

Betsy Ross (1752–1836) was an upholsterer in Philadelphia who produced uniforms, tents, and flags for Continental forces.

Although her manufacturing contributions are documented, a popular story evolved in which Ross was hired by a group of founding fathers to make a new U.S. flag.

According to the legend, she deviated from the 6-pointed stars in the design and produced a flag with 5-pointed stars, instead.

Francis Scott Key and The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner

Attorney Francis Scott Key witnessed the twenty-five hour bombardment of Fort McHenry from a British troopship anchored some four miles away. He had boarded the ship to negotiate the release of an American civilian imprisoned by the British, and had been detained aboard as the bombardment began. On September 14, 1814, as the dawn’s early light revealed a flag flying over the fort,

Key exultantly began jotting down the lines of the song that became our national anthem. He scribbled the initial verse of his song on the back of a letter. Back in Baltimore, he completed four verses and copied them onto a sheet of paper.

Francis Scott Key

A local printer issued the new song as a broadside. Shortly afterward, two Baltimore newspapers published it, and by mid-October it had appeared in at least seventeen other papers in cities up and down the East Coast. After the war, Key continued to practice law in the District of Columbia.

During the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the nation’s best-loved patriotic songs. It gained special significance during the Civil War, a time when many Americans turned to music to express their feelings for the flag and the ideals and values it represented.

By the 1890s, the military had adopted the song for ceremonial purposes, requiring it to be played at the raising and lowering of the colors. Despite its widespread popularity, “The Star-Spangled Banner” did not become the National Anthem until 1931.

America The Beautiful

"America the Beautiful" is a patriotic American song published in 1910. Its lyrics were written by Katherine Lee Bates on July 4, 1895 and its music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A Ward in 1882 at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey.

The Pledge of Allegiance

Stand up for God, your country, and what is right in His eyes!

Now is the Time for All Good Men (and Women) to Come to the Aid of their Country! Our America is on a precipice of losing her freedom and the right to worship God. What will it take to wake up America and the world? We refuse to bow our knee to the evil forces at work. Our enemy is the same enemy of our Heavenly Father.

If Yeshua is not your personal Savior,
please pray this prayer with me:

Stand up now while He is watching for your decision. The tipping point is almost upon us to stand in the gap and be a true believer no matter what comes at us. We will be persecuted for His sake. Follow Yeshua!  It’s a badge of honor, so let them bring it. Remember, Gideon’s 300!

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Romans 10:8-10 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.…

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Dear Reader: For many generations growing up in the USA, a patriotic metropolis was observed at community, educational, all sporting events, and at every glorious parade. Those present crossed their heart with their hands as America the Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner were played by the band as they marched forward. Hearts were crossed when saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school or public functions.

There existed a reverence for our Creator, USA leaders, local community leaders, law enforcement, churches, and last but not least, beloved parents teaching their children to respect their elders. A great remnant faithfully prayed with their heads bowed to our Heavenly Father for His blessings. Let us pray it is not too late to turn our country around to repentance, restoration, and celebration in Yeshua for all eternity. In His Service, P.J.

FOOTNOTES:

  1. The Ten Commandments Ten Commandments - Wikipedia
  2. Christopher Columbus The life of Christopher Columbus: from his own letters and journals and other documents of his time.
  3. Betsy Ross flag - Wikipedia
  4. American Voice 2004: What is the background of the Pledge of Allegiance? – Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ilsr.org)
  5. Signing of the Declaration of Independence | National Geographic Society
  6. United States Declaration of Independence - Wikipedia
  7. American Revolution - Wikipedia
  8. America the Beautiful - Wikipedia
  9. The Star-Spangled Banner - HISTORY
  10. The Star-Spangled Banner - Wikipedia
  11. Declaration of Independence: A Transcription | National Archives
  12. Preamble to the United States Constitution - Wikipedia
  13. The Constitution - Full Text | The National Constitution Center
  14. What Does the Bible Say About Everyone Is Equal? (openbible.info)

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

STAND UP FOR GOD

Ezekiel 2 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. ...

Exodus 8:20 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

Exodus 9:13 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

1 Samuel 19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1 Samuel 14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

1 Samuel 6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

Joshua 7:13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

Deuteronomy 11:25 There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.

Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor; I am the Lord.

Exodus 33:21 And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

STAND UP FOR FAITH

Hebrews 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. ...

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psalm 36:5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Psalm 31:23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

2 Chronicles 19:9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

1 Samuel 2:35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

STAND UP FOR YOUR COUNTRY

Psalm 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Jeremiah 44:29 And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: