The only hope for America lies in this verse. It is not just what God has said, it is what He is saying to any people. Today we are living in what some call a post-Christian era. The America we knew as children, those happy days are gone. We are living in hostile territory. Those who used to be considered good, old-fashioned, decent Christians, because we believe the Bible, are now labeled as "religious nuts,” the religious right, fundamentalists, zealots, whackos. They try to lump us in with the Jim Joneses and David Koreshes of society. We need to ask ourselves, “What kind of country am I leaving to my children and to my grandchildren?” Some are worried about the environment and say that is the main problem. Others say it is economics that should concern us. (I think it may be ethics.) I had much rather leave my children and grandchildren a godly heritage and a godly nation than great wealth to be squandered by and in a godless society. Something terrible has happened in America (for further information consult any newspaper.) In light of that, there are two dangers we face. One, as believers we may just retreat, get a “live and let live attitude,” and just try to hold on until Jesus comes. The problem with that is we can’t do it because there’s no place to hide. The number two danger: We will substitute a political agenda for the preaching of the Gospel. Satan has always wanted to substitute something for the Gospel of the grace of God. It may be sacramentalism, rationalism, education. One of the newest ideas is to substitute psychology for the Gospel. And in many churches political strategy has been substituted for the Gospel. The great need in America today is righteousness. We may defeat our enemies, but we have failed if we do not have a spiritual revival. America will be destroyed, not because of some enemy without, but because of the debauchery within. Alexander Hamilton once said, “We get the kind of government we deserve.” Something wonderful happened that July 4 in 1776 in Philadelphia -- a declaration was made, and shortly after that, a Constitution was formed. Our Constitution reflects in many ways the values of God’s Word. But today we're doing things our founding fathers did not intend for us to do. The Declaration of Independence signed July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. It was independence from Great Britain, but what many people fail to understand is that this was a document of dependence – dependence upon God. Listen to how it starts: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” And, it closes: “With a firm reliance upon the protection of Divine Providence.” "Divine providence is a reference to God! And then it says, “We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” On the Liberty Bell is inscribed these words from Leviticus 25:10 – “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land.” In that Declaration they said that God created us. (You can’t even teach that in schools today!). They said God gives us our rights, not the government. These are inalienable rights -- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These have come from God, not from government. Three things I want you to see from this text:

I. RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE EXALTATION OF A NATION.

II. REPROACH IS THE HUMILIATION OF A NATION.

III. REVIVAL IS THE RESTORATION OF A NATION.