An Exalted Nation; An Election Day Sermon
An excellent example of an “Election Day Sermon” in outline form with historical information and relevant verses.
By Pastor Gary Dull
PROVERBS 14:34
INTRO: Today I am going to preach AN ELECTION DAY SERMON. What is AN ELECTION DAY SERMON, you may ask? Well, such a sermon has its roots buried back in the 18th and 19th Centuries in America when, either on the Sunday before Election Day, the day of the election, or on both days, preachers would deliver messages called ELECTION DAY SERMONS. For those sermons, all the elected officials were invited to attend and the pastor would direct his message to both the ELECTED and the ELECTORATE.
The purpose of the ELECTION DAY SERMON was not to tell people who TO VOTE FOR, but rather to proclaim from the pages of scripture what a nation must to in order to experience the blessing of God. Most of the ELECTION DAY SERMONS followed a typical pattern in which it was asserted that CIVIL GOVERNMENT was founded by God with the responsibility to maintain order in society. In addition, the ELECTION DAY SERMON taught both the VOTERS and the RULERS what they must do, according to scripture, to gain the BLESSING OF GOD, relative to both of their circumstances. Both VOTERS and RULERS were charged to PROMOTE VIRTUE, SUPPRESS VICE, AND SUPPORT PEOPLE OF “PROVEN WISDOM, INTEGRITY, JUSTICE AND HOLINESS.”
Many of those sermons were printed and distributed nation-wide in large city newspapers and pamphlets, as there was no radio, TV or Internet back then. (Refer to Daniel Foster’s sermon). History reveals that God used the ELECTION DAY SERMONS to make a positive influence upon the entire nation. When America became more sophisticated, the ELECTION DAY SERMON passed off of the scene. Even though the ELECTION DAY SERMON is basically a thing of the past, today, as we are facing a very crucial election in America, the Lord has led me and some other pastors across America, to resurrect this tradition that God has used for His Glory in such a great way in the past.
QUESTION: WHAT KIND OF A NATION DOES GOD BLESS AND EXALT? I am sure we ALL want a nation that God BLESSES AND EXALTS!
ANSWER: A NATION THAT MAINTAINS RIGHTEOUSNESS! “RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION, BUT SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.” -PROVERBS 14:34
OBSERVATIONS ON PROVERBS 14:34
1) “Righteousness” – RIGHT CHARACTER ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL
2) “Exalt” – TO ELEVATE AND TO REMAIN ELEVATED
3) “Sin” – THE VIOLATION OF THE LAW OF GOD
4) “Reproach” – “TO SHAME AND TO MAKE SMALL WE SHOULD ALL CHOOSE RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR AMERICA!!!
I. THE PLAN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
WHAT IS GOD’S PLAN TO BRING RIGHTEOUSNESS TO SOCIETY?
HIS THREE INSTITUTIONS!
A. The Home – God’s FIRST institution – Genesis 2 & 3.
GOD’S PRIMARY INSTITUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
B. The Government – God’s SECOND Institution – Genesis 9; Romans 13
GOD’S PROTECTIVE INSTITUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
C. The Church – God’s THIRD Institution – Acts 2
GOD’S PROMOTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT IS GOD’S WILL FOR ALL THREE OF HIS INSTITUTIONS TO HERALD RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT IT IS UP TO US TO SEE THAT SUCH IS DONE!
ILLUSTRATION:
II. THE PATTERN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. Righteousness is Revealed – In the Word of God.
B. Righteousness is Known – Through the Word of God.
C. Righteousness is Experienced – Through Jesus Christ
D. Righteousness is Promoted – By God’s People
ILLUSTRATION:
III. THE PRACTICE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. Principle One: The Electorate and the Elected MUST work together as a TEAM if righteousness is to be practiced
1. The Electorate
a. Develop Righteousness – Through a relationship with God in Christ.
b. Determine Righteousness
2. Support God-given Unalienable Rights – Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.
3. Support God-established Unchangeable Realities – Sanctity of Life, Sanctity of the Family, The Public Expression of God in public spaces.
a. Demand Righteousness – Of self and the elected. Practice personal righteousness and communicate it with the ELECTED.
B. The Elected
1. Develop Righteousness – As your political platform.
2. Determine Righteousness – As the basis of all your legislation
3. Support God-given Unalienable Rights – Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.
4. Support God-established Unchangeable Realities – Sanctity of Life, Sanctity of the Family, The public Expression of God in public spaces
a. Demand Righteousness – Of self and other elected individuals.
b. Principle Two: The Electorate and the Elected WILL rejoice together as a TEAM when righteousness is practiced – Proverbs 29:2
