Make America God-Fearing Again - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Jul 6
- 10 min read
Make America God-fearing Again
God and Country Sunday
Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Intro: We will expound these verses in just a few minutes.
But first, I want to focus on the statement that Peter made to the house of Cornelius.
“…But in every nation he that feareth him…”
The phrase “Make America Great Again” has been a political mantra for nearly a decade.
All over this country at rallies, that phrase and a dozen or so variations of have been ringing from the rooftops.
Make America…
· Safe again.
· Wealthy Again.
· Strong Again
· Proud Again
All of these were to emphasize the desire to make America GREAT.
I want to go on record this morning with this statement, and it’s not political.
The only way that America will ever be GREAT again is to become GOD-FEARING again!
If America is going to be God-fearing, we need…
I. GOD-FEARING PUBLIC SERVANTS
In Acts 10, we find an unsaved Roman centurion named Cornelius.
He was not born again; he didn’t even know how to be saved.
But the Bible says he was “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house…”
We need those in high-ranking military positions to FEAR GOD.
We need men in political office that understand what it means to FEAR GOD!
JOKE: Politics comes from two words – poly, which means many; and ticks, which are blood-sucking insects.
America was founded by men that feared God.
Not all of them were saved.
Not all of our Founding Fathers were right with God.
· But they recognized a Supreme Being.
· They understood the sinfulness and weakness of man.
· They testified that the Bible was God’s Word.
· They believed that we were created by a Divine Creator.
· They articulated the power of godly influence in our nation.
· They recognized the superiority of Christianity over other religions of their day.
That’s more than you can say about those running our nation today!
To those that deny that America ever was a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles, lend me your ear for a moment.
George Washington (1732–1799)
Farewell Address (1796)
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports."
Prayer at Valley Forge
"Almighty God... I beseech Thee to pardon my sins, remove them from Thy presence, as far as the east is from the west, and accept me for the merits of Thy Son Jesus Christ."
(From George Washington’s Prayers, published from his personal writings.)
Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 3, 1789
"It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."
John Adams (1735–1826)
Letter to Thomas Jefferson, June 28, 1813
"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity."
He explicitly credits Christian principles with the foundation of the country.
Proclamation, March 6, 1799 (as President)
"I have thought proper to recommend... a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that the citizens... may then offer their devout addresses to the Father of Mercies."
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
Notes on the State of Virginia (1782)
"Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever."
He feared God’s judgment on national sin, especially slavery.
Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1805
"I shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our fathers, as Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in a country flowing with all the necessaries and comforts of life."
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790)
Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787 He called for prayer to seek God's guidance in forming the Constitution.
"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 the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"
Letter to Ezra Stiles, March 9, 1790
"As to Jesus of Nazareth, ...I think the system of morals and his religion… the best the world ever saw or is likely to see."
Patrick Henry (1736–1799)
Speech at the Second Virginia Convention, March 23, 1775
"An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!... Sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations..."
Last Will and Testament - He commended Christianity to his children as the best inheritance.
"This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed."
Samuel Adams (1722–1803)
The Rights of the Colonists (1772)
"The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty... The rights of the colonists may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institutes of the Great Lawgiver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament."
Address to the State Legislature of Massachusetts, January 17, 1794
"May every citizen in the army and in the country have a proper sense of the Deity upon his mind and an impression of that declaration recorded in the Bible: 'Him that honoreth me I will honor, but he that despiseth me shall be lightly esteemed.'"
This refers to when God spoke through a prophet to Eli, the priest, about the consequences for Eli's house due to their dishonor. 1 Samuel 2:30:
· Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
James Madison (1751–1836)
1789 Congressional Records (Proposing the Bill of Rights)
"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future... upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
(Note: The attribution of this precise quote is debated, but he did advocate for religious liberty on the ground of duty to God.)
John Jay (1745–1829) Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1789–1795)
Letter to Jedidiah Morse, February 28, 1797
"Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty... of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832) Signer of the Declaration of Independence
"On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts."
Roger Sherman (1721–1793) Signer of the Declaration, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution
"I believe that there is only one living and true God... that He is a most pure, perfect, and infinite Spirit... That God did send His own Son to become man, die in the room and stead of sinners, and thus to lay a foundation for the offer of pardon and salvation to all mankind."
Daniel Webster (1782–1852) Senator and Statesman
"If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering... but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us."
Noah Webster (1758–1843) Lexicographer, "Schoolmaster of the Republic"
"The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws."
Fisher Ames (1758–1808) Author of the First Amendment’s final wording
"We have a dangerous trend... to put books into the hands of children containing fables and moral lessons divested of religious principles. We are spending less time in the classroom on the Bible, which should be the principal text in our schools."
John Witherspoon (1723–1794) Signer of the Declaration of Independence, President of Princeton
"He is the best friend to American liberty who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion."
If America is going to be God-fearing, we need…
II. GOD-FEARING PREACHERS
Notice this quote from the French author, Alexis de Tocqueville in his book Democracy in America – (1835)
“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”
In our text, after Peter acknowledged the need of the nation to fear God, he then mentioned the need for preachers that fulfilled their God-given responsibilities.
· 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
· 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
· 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Peter understood that for the nations to fear God, they needed men of God to PREACH to them!
What America needs it a crop of God-fearing preachers!
When I say GOD-FEARING PREACHERS, I mean those that fear God MORE THAN THEY FEAR:
A. Poverty – many of the preachers in the Bible were given bread and water of affliction for preaching
B. Prison – Jeremiah, Micaiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, Peter, James, Paul, even Jesus were put in prison.
C. Peer-pressure – fear of not being in step with all the other preachers.
Elijah on Mt. Carmel vs. 850 prophets of Baal
We need preachers that are not afraid of the…
1. Reaction of the Crowds – Jeremiah 1:8 “Be not afraid of their faces:…”
2. Rejection of the Carnal
Matthew 10 (Jesus talking to His disciples)
· 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
· 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
3. Rebukes of the Compromisers
Many preachers today are more fearful of losing their PLATFORM than they are in losing the POWER OF GOD.
They are more concerned with Pleasing God rather than Pleasing Man.
· Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
If America is going to be God-fearing, we need…
III. GOD-FEARING PEOPLE
The secret to having God-fearing Public Servants is a group of God-fearing people casting ballots.
We can complain about those in public office, but Americans put them there.
51% of Americans who identify as “a person of faith” reported being “likely to vote.”
That means 49% were not likely to vote - (Fall 2024, Barna survey)
Within that survey’s breakdown, among self-identified Christians who regularly attend church, about 14 million were unlikely to vote—and these were identified as evangelical churchgoers.
Extrapolating from broader findings, it's reasonable to estimate that around 40–50% of evangelicals may not vote.
But the secret to truly being a God-fearing American is believing the Gospel and being born again.
· Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Cornelius “feared God with all his house” according to Acts 10:2, but he was lost.
God even had a reputation among his men for fearing God – (vs. 22)
But he was lost.
He was still headed to Hell.
God sent him a preacher.
What did Peter preach?
· 35 ...every nation that feareth him, and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.
He was not preaching a “works-based salvation.”
This is reminder that “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” Isaiah 64:6
We need the righteousness of Jesus Christ!
What else did Peter preach?
· 36 ...preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
What else did Peter preach? The death, buriel and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
· 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
· 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
· 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
· 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
· 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Neither is there salvation in ANY OTHER!! For there is NO OTHER name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4)
· John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Conclusion: You can’t truly fear God until you are saved.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this the the whole duty of man.
The commandment of God that you need to be concerned about this morning is YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
