THE TRUTH ABOUT: Patriotism

Patriot - a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.

  • Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

America: 1776 AD - 246 Years Old

  • Iran 3200 BC - 5224

  • Egypt 3100 BC - 5124

  • Vietnam 2879 BC - 4903

  • Armenia 2492 BC - 4516

  • North Korea 2333 BC - 4357

  • China 2070 BC - 4094

Immigration - everyone wants to come here.

  • America 50.6 million foreign born people

  • Germany 15.8

  • Saudi Arabia 13.5 

  • Russia 11.6

  • United Kingdom 9

2.6 people legally immigrate to the US per year, with close to the same number entering illegally every year.

Largest economy in the world - Gross domestic product

  • US 25 trillion

  • China 18.5 trillion

  • Germany 4.5 trillion

  • Japan 4.11 trillion

  • India 3.9

Pull China out and our GDP is higher than the following 8 nations combined.

Per capita, we are #7 but the 6 above us are tiny nations.

We are facing an election like none other ever seen

  • Election between two who have already been president

  • Two who are in their 80’s

  • One with a lifetime in politics and the other who the only office he held was the one he won

  • Wealth

    • When Joe biden left the vice presidency his net worth was essentially zero but has surged to 8 million with book deals

    • Trumps value dropped by 700 million to 2.3 billion

  • One who is facing 88 criminal charges and 54 felonies.

We Are EXILES - Kingdom First!

  • Jeremiah 29:1 (ESV) These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

While we live here, we are exiles!!!

This is not our home, this is not our destination.

There has been an beginning and ending to every earthly kingdom

  • John 18:36 (ESV) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

  • Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

  • Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

This is the Kingdom He resides over

This is the Kingdom we prioritize

This is the Kingdom we are building

There is a future government coming

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

We Are Here, Now, On Mission For Our King

Jeremiah 29:4 (ESV) “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

  • Acts 17:26–27 (ESV) And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,  that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

Here and now is different for many other believers in the world. But it’s the same mission.

We Are To Thrive While Here

  • Jeremiah 29:5 (ESV) Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.

  • Jeremiah 29:6 (ESV) Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.

  • Jeremiah 29:11 - …plans to prosper you…

As crazy as that sounds, we are to thrive.

We are not to:

  • Live in defense mode

  • Live in fear of this world getting on us

  • Not get involved in anything

  • Multiply, not only in number but in culture/values

  • 3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.


We Are To Help Here & Now To Thrive

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Seek the welfare

  • Health

  • Happiness

  • Fortunes

Greek word

  • Completeness

  • Soundness 

  • Peace

We have to participate in that.

Never at the expense of our homeland

  • Live

  • Vote

  • Participate

  • Give voice

“God doesn’t have a guy, you have a choice”

  • Often its the best of two bad choices

  • Biblical policy over Biblical lifestyle

  • “I like where the ball lands” on other issues

Leslie ParrishSteve ParrishComment