La Porte Sermon Patriotic 4 th of July

La Porte Sermon: Patriotic 4 th of July, 2020 Sermon Quote: This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in. (Theodore Roosevelt) Biblical Focus: Galatians 5: 1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 3: 17 -18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory are bring transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

What is the best part about the celebration of Independence Day / 4 th of July each year? It is typically a long weekend off from work and a national holiday. Ya-Hoo! 4 th of July Parades, with the roar of the siren from the Big Red fire trucks, ambulances and police cars, the marching and playing of the high school band. The clowns on small motorcycles, the candy tossed on the side of the road for children to eat, and the beautiful floats. It is Festive.

1. The 4 th of July cook out and picnic. The smell of barbecue ribs and chicken in the air, sinking your teeth into some corn on the cob, and the red juice of a slice of deep red watermelon running down your face. Of course the watermelon seed spitting contest. 2. Watching Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and wondering how Joey Chestnut can actually eat 74 hot dogs and buns in less than 10 minutes.

1. Watching or listening to a professional baseball game with the White Sox’s winning or the Cubs singing the winning song, Go Cubs Go at the end of the game. 2. Finally, watching the dark summer sky light up with brilliant fireworks of a kaleidoscope of colors, loud booms and magic sparkles fanning across the sky.

Although all of these are great events of th our 4 of July Independence Day celebration; by far the best is the having children and grand children come home and being together as a family. Those are cherished times that money cannot buy.

th What makes the 4 of July Special in America? Let’s watch this video called, Celebrate Freedom

th 4 What is the meaning behind the of July? It's the Fourth of July weekend. We’re supposed to be celebrating Independence Day. But what makes this day special? What gives the Fourth of July its significance is that our Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress in 1776.

It was in Philadelphia, and the signers of that document, composed by Thomas Jefferson, knew that this declaration of independence from the dictatorial rule of Great Britain might also be — literally — their death sentence.

They knew full well that the wrath and might of the British army would be sailing across the Atlantic to descend on the relatively defenseless colonies. They knew their scattered “states” didn’t have the numbers or arms or training to stand against the British, much less defeat them militarily. Yet they put their signatures, and their lives, their families, their destiny, on that parchment.

The only importance of the 4 th day of July, then, is that it marks the birth of the United States of America. Most of the people living in those 13 colonies had simply had enough of British domination, of working and virtually existing at the pleasure of a king they didn’t know and who obviously considered them his indentured servants.

They wanted to be free, to make their own decisions, to govern themselves and breathe sweet air of liberty. The first celebration of American Independence took place four days later in Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress was still meeting.

The ceremony began with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Then, from the tower of the State House, now called Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell rang out. The coat of arms of the king of England was taken down. And there was a parade. And cannons boomed. The people, though aware of what lay ahead, cheered! A new nation sprang to life. That’s what this day is meant to be about.

John Adams, himself a signer of the Declaration, thought that Americans should henceforth celebrate a “great anniversary festival. ” In a letter to his wife Abigail he wrote, “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.

So it began. A more elaborate celebration was held there in 1788, after the new Constitution had been ratified. Then there was a much larger parade, speeches and a dinner.

But between those two celebrations, in 1776 and 1788, there was much horrible fighting, rivers of bloodshed, the deaths and bankruptcies of many of the signers of the Declaration, families torn apart and businesses and farms destroyed. The freedoms declared by the Declaration — and ushered into fact by the Constitution — were secured at a terrible cost.

Soon, across the growing nation, at sunrise on July 4, salutes were fired and bells were rung. Flags were flown from buildings, from homes, and along the streets. Shop windows were decorated with red, white, and blue. Churches held special services.

What’s Independence Day like today? Do most people you know actually make time to purposely celebrate our independence in meaningful ways?

th While we are having our 4 of July picnics, barbecue, watching 74 Nathans hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes, enjoying th our 4 of July Parade, and looking up at the night sky to watch the bursting of the fireworks have we forgotten to remember what the true celebration is about?

That we broke away from England’s Rule and became a nation? But do we have a tendency to miss the real meaning with all of the trappings of the holiday? As Americans we seem to be pretty good about adding elements to religious holidays, and perhaps forgetting the real meaning and significance of the religious history.

Halloween: October 31 st is also called all hallows eve; or all Saints Eve, is the evening before All Saints Day. (November 1 st) All Hallows Day, Hallowmas or Saints Day, (November 1 st) Which according to Christian tradition is a three day observance to honor and remember the dead Christian Saints in the church. What started out at a Christian tradition has been changed in American culture to wearing Halloween outfits, passing out candy to children and costume parties. Somewhere in the mix of the many scary and fun events of Halloween, we have lost the religious significance of All Saints Day?

Christmas: Is a celebration of the birth of God’s only Son Jesus Christ. But what have we added to the true meaning of this religious celebration? (Christmas Shopping beginning at the close of Halloween. All types of Christmas music both secular and sacred to listen to. Christmas parties that fill our calendar. Christmas trees and festive decorations that fill our homes, lights that illuminate our front yard and send our electric bill soaring. Christmas foods of all kinds and flavors; while we watch our favorite football game. T. V. specials about Santa Claus, Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer and Frosty The Snow Man. Christmas cards and presents that empty our wallets for a month. And the list goes on. Somewhere in the adding of all these many traditions, have we lost the true Christian meaning of the birth of Jesus Christ?

Easter: The meaning of Easter is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, out of the grave. What has been added is a mix of secularism with the Easter Bunny and the coloring of Easter Egg. Which is a bit funny because Bunnies don’t lay eggs, and chickens are nowhere in the Easter story. For our children we have grand Easter Egg Hunts. Have these secular traditions taken away the true meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Have we watered down or missed the religious meaning and history of All Saints Day, Christmas and Easter, have we somehow lost the true meaning and history of our 4 th of July Independence Day? Please know I am not saying that we stop participating with all of these additions to these religious holiday’s; but can we do both? Can we engage in these extra celebrations and traditions, while still keeping with the true meaning

Has the fourth of July hot dogs, fireworks, baseball games, picnics, and main street parades clouded the true meaning of gaining independence from England 244 years ago? Perhaps we can meet in the middle? Perhaps there is a way to revere and remember the signing of the U. S. constitution by taking time to remember and thank God for these brave individuals who stood up for Freedom for our country. Taking time to thank God for the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation.

Although our religious holidays seem to have been hijacked by our secular traditions, we need to remember to focus on the true meaning, while at the same time enjoying the festivities surrounding our religious ceremonies and remembrances.

Many Have Died: Many have died to allow us to honor our freedoms. First from the Revolutionary War to secure our independence and separation from tyranny. Then the war of 1812, the Spanish American War, the Civil War, WWI and WWII and several conflicts and wars following that have kept us safe and secured our freedoms. We need to be thankful and remember their sacrifices as we enjoy the 4 th of July Weekend.

Only One died to give us Spiritual Freedom: Jesus Christ. It was Jesus Christ who gave his life as a living sacrifice for us to have redemption of our sins. Because of his sacrifice we have true meaning to Christmas, True Meaning to the Resurrection of Easter and True Meaning of All Saints Day for those who have gone before us into heaven. And true meaning to a savior who loves us and cares for us.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for one nation under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all. We pray that we would be forever grateful and thankful for America the beautiful, the land that we love. Stand beside us and guide us, with your spirit from Above. May God bless America, Amen.