We Have Sinned

We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments. Daniel 9:5

Do you know what is wrong with our country? We have sinned! Have you ever thought of those in the Bible who said, "I have sinned?" Our churches are like what Daniel said, "We have disobeyed God."

And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Exodus 9:27

And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. Numbers 22:34

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus have I done:
Joshua 7:20

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel 15:24

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 2 Samuel 12:13

I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? Job 7:20

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: Micah 7:9

Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Matthew 27:4

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, Luke 15:18

There are two great thoughts in this chapter.

Prayer of confession and repentance.
Prophecy of Israel's future sufferings.

Our thoughts for this message will be concerning Daniel's prayer. Daniel who had been enslaved in Babylon for nearly seventy years had been reading the book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25-29) the Prophet. Daniel saw that the seventy year captivity of the nation of Israel was about to end. Then Daniel began to seek the face of God in prayer. This prayer is about a three minute prayer by Daniel in which he confesses his sin, and the sins of the nation. The leaders of Israel, both political and religious, overlooked or discounted their sins and were in need of repentance. Their view and belief in God was not correct.

Like Israel, our leaders do not take responsibility for their wrong actions.
There is little admission of sin in our country, by the people.
Israel was scattered among all the nations because they failed to repent.
How often do you hear on the television, radio or in the pulpit messages, "We have sinned." (We are not a praying people, worshiping God as we should)
The Lord did not fail to bring disaster upon His people in Israel after warning them, when they refused to repent. (I think the Lord has been warning us)
Like Israel, we have not turned from our sin and sought to live by God's truth.
Our sins are making us, a nation known as a Christian nation, to lose favor with the world.
Then Daniel said to God, "We ask for mercy not because we are righteous, but because you are merciful." (We do not deserve God's blessings)
There are many of God's people in this country, but he does not overlook our sin.
Daniel learned the will of God from studying God's Word.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16

Daniel prayed to "My God."
Some say there is no God, others just ignore Him.
"We have sinned," Daniel said, including himself.
God showed goodness to Israel and God shows goodness to us.
In the world today we have threats from evil dictators, terrorists, destruction from storms, loss of jobs, a failed economy and many other ills. It would seem that those who say they believe in God would repent of sin and cry out to the God of heaven who said he would forgive and heal our land.
God was right to send destruction, and Israel was wrong to think otherwise. The same is true with America.
We must not make excuses for our sins, we are wrong.
We are getting what we deserve as a country because of our sin.
The kind of leaders we have is because we are that kind of people.
We have not protested loud enough against their ungodly laws.
We as a people have not prayed as we should for our nation.
We had better wake up, God does judge sin in a person or a nation!
We as a nation have not supported Bible Churches as we should. Very few are truly Bible churches.
We have too much religion and not enough spirituality.
We have endorsed sin in our nation. (abortion, liquor, gambling, etc...) We are materialistic and pleasure minded.
The ceiling debt of the country has been raised to 14 trillion dollars, which some say could make every American citizen owe 45,000 dollars each.
God brought Israel out of Egypt and Israel sinned against God as she did.
Look how God established us as a great nation and now we have forsaken his laws and Word. (Church is not important to this generation)
God can be righteous to us not because we deserve it, but because he is a righteous and merciful God.
Jesus has already paid for our sins, so God can be merciful if we will repent.

As a Church we do not need to say a prayer for our nation. We need to pray! There is a vast difference between the two. God would delight to give our people jobs, and protect us from our enemies. But we as a nation must repent of sin. We have got to get serious with God and mean business.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

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. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Why don't we repent of our sin? What is so wonderful about sin when it brings so much pain and destruction? Why are intelligent people so stubborn and refuse to humble themselves before their Creator who loves them so much? Everywhere on television, radio, and in Bible churches the gospel is going out calling men and women to turn from sin to Jesus Christ. But too few are heeding the message.

Many in the churches are not living the life they profess to live. A young man told me recently of his sinful relationships with women in which the Bible forbids. Yet he will talk about how much he loves the Lord and enjoys going to church. Something is wrong with this kind of church member, and he is not alone. But this is not the only sin. The most prevalent sin possible, is that of pride. It is the worst of sins. This attitude that I am Mr. or Mrs. so and so. Christian people are supposed to be humble servants of the Lord.

It breaks my heart to see how the people of our country are allowing our nation to become less than what it once was. Do any of you remember when we did not lock our doors night or day? Do you remember, when you knew everyone down the street? Do you remember when groceries were ten to fifteen dollars a week, and gas was seventeen cents a gallon? My dad's first light bill was two dollars, and he thought that was awful. How much was your light bill last month?

People used to want to help people, but I sense, and have for a time now, that people are taking advantage of people. There appears to be few favors done anymore for anyone. Instead, most want to get paid for any effort or consideration made.

I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. Psalms 142:4

Do you find many people who are concerned for their soul? Do you find any who care for the souls of others? What's happened to us? Is it not true we are absorbed with our self? It's me only that matters and this life I now live. Get all I can, while I can, before I die, because I deserve it!

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7

Father, help us to confess and repent of our sins as a people and live for the glory of God for Christ's sake I pray. Amen, Preacher