Engaging Faith in Society: A Call to Action

"Psalm 78 five four he has established a testimony and Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers that they should not or I'm sorry that they should make them known to their children that the generation to come might know them the children who would be born that they might arise and declare to their children that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandments it may not be like their fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation a generation that did not set its heart or right and whose spirit was not faithful to God see there's always a command to remind children to remind the next generation and we read and judges that there arose a generation after them who did not know the Lord and it and departed from God." [00:01:52]

"Now most of you know I did a quick Fox interview Fox News and last this coming week and they would I've been asked to go to New York again and talk about this subject more and you know I don't know when that's gonna fit in the schedule but anyway the amount of support has been incredible but the some amount of criticism I don't think I've ever been called more cuss words in all of my life and names and things for simply declaring what God's Word says I'm not talking about political parties I'm not talking about presidential candidates I'm talking about what God's Word says now I don't often don't look at comments so if you're listening this later and you're upset don't comment don't email it probably won't get read because we have to stay encouraged and when you know what God's called you to do you don't look for the opinions of others you do what God's called you to do now godly criticism construction constructive criticism from those who care about you is valuable but it's not to even be considered by those who don't." [00:02:49]

"Daniel Webster many of you know if you heard the Webster's dictionary I have an 1828 version that has a lot of Scripture in it you're not gonna find that anymore he said this there is no nation on earth powerful enough to accomplish our overthrow our destruction should have come at all will be from another quarter from the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government from their carelessness and negligence now what does this have to do with the gospel people would say and people have left this church people continue to leave this church on this topic right now they say this should not be talked about from the pulpit what's this have to do with the gospel let me tell you what this has to do with the gospel when my heart changes now I want to expose the unfruitful works of darkness now I want to bring the light to all areas of life now I want to proclaim God's truth from the mountaintops that's what it has to do with the gospel." [00:04:56]

"See it's not about politics it's about honoring God that's what we're called to do and that's why I actually don't even use that word very often do you know what that word means governing or leading a group of people do you think God's Word has anything to say about that I will submit to you that it has quite a bit to say about that and the question often comes up a shame Jesus wouldn't run for office of course not he is the office he of course not do you know that the government rests upon his shoulders he will tread them with the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God and he will have a name written king of kings and Lord of lords of course he's not going to run for office he doesn't need three branches of government he is the branch he doesn't hold on I prayed all week God keep this tongue of fire restrained because I'm pretty upset right now passionate not angry he doesn't need separation of powers he is the power so this idea that Jesus doesn't care he is a governing authority he is sovereign all governments sit underneath his control he is the ultimate government say you don't think he has concerns about what this government represents it makes no sense to me it's coming from men or women who are cowards or who are ignorant to what God's Word says they stay camped out in the love verses but not on the totality of Scripture." [00:05:55]

"Men and women who are filled with God's Spirit have to say something don't we you have to say something and I remember I'll never forgive think it was 2005 I was invited to a pastor is gathering in Los Angeles and it's a good time to check her cell phones - I was I was invited to a pastor's gathering and I'm finally getting exposed to a lot of this because you know you won't hear this in the schools anymore right you won't hear about the nation's you hear all of our founders were racist and all of them were bigots and you know they were deist the America was never you know putting God first and I started to read their original writings I started to look at abortion statistics I started to hear from physicians who have performed partial-birth abortion and what that I can't even explain it it's barbaric it's horrific and then I had a child what are we gonna tell our children sorry is too busy on facebooking candy crush whatever that game is and I couldn't wait to retire and buy my motorhome and get out of here and leave you this mess and it hit me I remember I left it I was in Los Angeles I we wept for the whole night god help us god help us you see when you're filled with the Spirit of God you have to say something and I like what Leonard Ravenhill said you must weep before you whip this sermon was covered in tears you weep before you whip just like Jesus he wet for Jerusalem we have to but we have to say something and when you feel if the Spirit of God don't you want to say something I'm getting emails from government officials little government or school teachers or chaplains or the military or Shan this is ridiculous we're being restrained we can't say anything we can't do anything what we why isn't anybody saying something I'll tell you why we're too scared we're cowards we don't want to lose our 501c3 status as if God is concerned about nonprofit status we don't want to maybe lose our job we don't want to be radical we don't want to be both tell that to the Apostle Paul tell that to Jesus now let me interject I'm not talking about violence you know how I fight this battle I fight this battle on my face on my knees before God crying out god save us have mercy on us we are a prideful arrogant people God we are repenting we're turning back to you have mercy God show us fill us with your spirit bring revival bring renewal that's why I ar-15 the prayer closet freedom is a gift from God and the cry goes out but I don't want to get involved well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you are already involved see when you say nothing you actually speak the loudest 100 million Christian voters I don't even know the numbers the 50 million I don't know don't even turn up to vote I don't want to get involved what you are involved whether we like it or not listen as much as I would like love utopia peaceful days no war we don't live in that world that's conjecture and that's theory we live in the real world and God calls us to battle on her knees if my people not Washington not Hollywood if my people humble themselves so here's the big question this is what this is all about does God desire that marriages seek Him well hello Shane does God desire a family seek him does God desire government now the reason I say that is because he instituted all three they all three have different functions it's his institution not mine he created it not me now here's where it gets interesting the church is to be the conscience of the nation the government the sword we talked last week Romans 13 the whole the remain role of government is to be a terror to those who do evil so that's why I couldn't probably run for that office as I would just want to love everyone right we'll bring them the gospel no let's not do that let's not too passive right too passive to be a leader that's going to not bear the sword in vain so God says here a church you be the conscience of the nation here government you be the sword if it's done correctly and who can when I talk about freedom and what God has given us nobody can argue this fact that America is the number one producer of the gospel throughout the whole world millions and millions and millions and millions have come to faith in Christ because of our freedom have you ever thought to think that maybe your freedom isn't all about you it's the freedom to get the message out the gospel the gospel so you have the number one distributor of the gospel not there's not even close second or third or fourth or fifth the number one distributor of the gospel and the number one distributor of pornography I might take a lot of rabbit trails but here's a rabbit trail when you look at the founding of our nation you have to look at intent this this thing about freedom has anybody heard of freedom of speech the context is you have a moral responsibility for the words you say doesn't mean you can just say whatever there was a case interesting case I think it was judge Kent he was the the the father of I don't know what they call that jurisprudence back and many years ago but a man was on trial for calling Jesus names I can say here and his mother things I definitely can't say here okay well his attorney said listen open-and-shut case freedom of speech the judge said no nothing could be more harmful to the morality of our community or injurious to the morals of our youth than to declare such profanity lawful find and gel for three months see that's that's freedom of speech with the right motive with the right intent you just can't go put pornography whatever you want all these sexual exploits on the back of your vehicle I mean it's just ridiculous how far we've drifted see you look at the intent so let me give you an example because this comes up quite a bit and I'm tired of answering it so I'm just gonna give you example right now and it's not from this church right I'm Judas in general but we have to talk about this so when we look at again now not naming political parties I'm not I'm gonna try to or president I'm just talking about God's design that the president is not pastor in chief he's commander in chief because you see someone how can Christians vote for they're hypocrites on either side right what either side of that how can that happen what's wrong with you guys well let me let me give you an example this might help try to get one from the courthouse but they wouldn't let me take it okay according to God's Word you choose your leader America who are you put in office what biblically you look at financial fiscal responsibility right you better be know how to budget what about a strict you've heard these terms strict constructionist you know what that is what does the Constitution say the right to bear arms no-brainer freedom no-brainer no-brainer no-brainer but then you get revisionist who liked it well I think we're changing now and what used to be wrong is it wrong anymore let's change everything no you want the person to put Supreme Court justices who are constitutional minded they don't interpret they actually don't make law they interpret the Constitution so will you look for that you look for security that's the main thing security are they going to secure the nation well change shouldn't matter well good for you don't lock your door at night and see how that works right but that's that's your imagine if you're mad at get mad at God he said there to be a terror to those who do evil so when you see somebody ham I'm gonna minimize the military we're not gonna care about the military we're gonna go she ate with terrorists you know let's just cook let's just can't we all get along no mm-hmm wake up so you look for somebody who's going to be militarily strong oh oh you see where this is going and who has a deep respect for those who serve have you seen the culture change now now law enforcement military is bad what what side of the continent are you living on yes there's bad apples in every Bunch there's bad pastures there's bad firemen and every bunch so you look at that you also look at those who are going to encourage God's Word who are the who are going to encourage God's Word they're not gonna silence chaplains and they're not gonna silence the church you see where this is going right limited government get the government out of things and the people back into things that's biblical no okay who are they looking forward to counsel right look at the last few candidates whatever side you want who's their counsel who's their influence do they love America or do they hate it again what does God's Word say now I haven't even hit the biggies yet have I who's going to say hey listen abortions not right there's been candidates that are okay with terminating the life of that child even after it's born puncture the skull right there after birth I'm gonna loss for words so we're gonna put some main office who believes in the sanctity of life that might take it to right so that that's what you have but shady but Shane there's a past adultery well okay they're arrogant they tweet mean stuff that I wouldn't tweet me to your good point I don't agree with the dreamers act and making people go back to their country I don't either hello okay I'll give you one loud mouth whatever yeah good point where's the skill tipping folks where's the scale tipping that's the problem that's the problem now if you want pastor in chief okay here we go husband of one wife right if it tilt the other way husband of one life doesn't isn't me is nice is all these things pastor in chief no it's it so that's again again not who you vote for right because every mean it's it's whatever a person whoever they don't like they'll find whatever they want against them Oh such research had an affair twelve months twelve years ago such and such had an affair in the White House hello I can go to Kennedy I can take you to civil rights leaders who are respect that cheated on their spouse bad bad bad not good not good we don't we don't agree with it but when you look at this that's how you vote the lesser of two evils now I don't think we vote for evil we vote for what God upholds and if you get administration's that want to silence the message silence a voice of truth get the church out of everything there should be concerns there because that's what God would want romans 13 the wrath of the United States military that's what it is created to do not perfectly I don't agree with a lot of things understand my heart but if you have a problem with these things you have a problem with God's Word there to be a terror to those who do evil that's the whole role of government William Penn the founder of Pennsylvania you think he might have something to say about this the origination and descent of all human power is from God first to terrify evil dooooor secondly to cherish those who do well government seems to me to be a part of religion itself but you can't legislate morality shame no of course not you can't put a whole bunch of laws on people and then it changes their heart but you can deter wrongdoing the reason crime is escalating and it's going to continue to the reason prisons are full and what is going on because there's little punishment if you restrain those I mean I like that long you cuss about Jesus you're going to jail for three months I mean that might you know that might cause a little bit more of course it's impossible I'm not saying that you know but you look at how far we've drifted Psalm 33:12 blessed is the nation whose God is Lord see what we need to stop doing is stop comparing the government in Rome where Paul was under with our nation because it's they're not even on the same page because people say well look what Paul went through look at they just submitted they just were beaten they just went through it got it they got it but now God has given us a government of the people by the people for the people to elect representatives to either it either uphold his word or don't uphold it do you think if Paul was here today and I explained everything people look at what we have here you think he'd say no don't do anything no no get involved he would say unbelievable you you see how many opportunities for the gospel to proclaim the truth to highlight God's Word no so the messages the America you never knew and I won't be long here but let me just tell you this you need to be careful where you get your information from be careful where you get your information from most people get their information from revisionist what a revisionist is is it's a person who tells you about the history of America based on what they think and so people go off of their book off of their resources off of their motives or agendas what you do and what many have done what I did is you actually go to the original writings you look at the original writings what what did the framers believe for example we've always heard this 3/5 clause right against that slavery it was the they were only viewed as 3/5 of a person and the Constitution different things the reason behind that was so southern states would lose political power so they were given three-fifths of a vote so it wasn't racism it was to get the power away from the southern states in order that they could start to get rid of that evil you just look at got pages and pages on your way out grab the book of all the founders who said we've got to eradicate this this is the evil great and Britain brought it to us we've got to get rid of it King George should be banned because of this but see we have this mentality all founders are bad all of them are evil so America must be going in a good direction now now we're going in a very bad direction based on God's Word I mean all you have to do is if you don't believe any of this just look at God's Word so you either have to believe that God doesn't kid her or he is concerned so we talked last week about the providence factor and I truly believe that God planted America not like Israel and all these thing necessary but he ordains the affairs of men he look at America has been the number one producer of the good news America has defended many nations against many tyrants perfectly no there's mistakes always it's so funny that uh that we're we like to critique everybody but we forget in our own personal lives we make many mistakes we don't look at our own choices we like to put down those who make bad choices john winthrop he was one of the recognized leaders of the Puritans who came over in 16 that believe it was 1630 the pilgrims came in 1620 he said we said we shall be a city upon a hill the eyes of all the people are upon us though that if we deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us we will be made a story and a byword throughout all the world here's the House and Senate Judiciary Committee 1800s in this age there can be no substitute for Christianity that was the religion of the founders of the Republic and that is what they expect to remain the religion of their descendants if a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by or rooted in the Bible it was not even considered in their early writings many of the founders quoted or reference the Bible nearly four times more than any other source in 1982 Newsweek magazine said this historians are discovering that the Bible perhaps even more that the Constitution is our founding document the Supreme Court 1892 from the discovery of this continent to the present hour there is a single voice making this affirmation that this is a Christian nation the Supreme Court now point of clarification a nation can't be Christian because it's a gathering of people people are Christians what they're saying though is the foundation from the school system that was formed to teach the Bible from the you know the judicial system used to have verses they will quote the Bible when giving sentences god forbid today we have to have the water just at 72 so that person's you know that one of the inmates not you know tax too hard and now understand have a carrot of compassion but things get ridiculous it gets absolutely ridiculous so what they're saying is the nation was built on Christian principles remember always that your country was founded by the stern old Puritans whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer a bended knees Thanksgiving to Almighty God Henry wells Wilson vice president an 1800s in 1790 dr. Benjamin Rush signer the Declaration of Independence said this about the public schools the religion I mean to recommend in this place is that of the New Testament now this one's pretty unbelievable to me think about this for a minute we try to figure out where this is from let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life which is to know God and Christ Jesus and to therefore lay Christ at the foundation or at the bottom as the only foundation the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning 1642 rules and precepts of Harvard University founded by Reverend John Harvard i double-dog dare any of you to send this clip to students at Harvard oh my lord but see if they can erase God then they can justify what's going on today that was the rules of Harvard to be a student lake rice at the bottom as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning and this message is not just for white black Hispanic it's for everybody all of us fall under the blanket of Christianity all of us are in this nation together brothers and sisters locked in arms for Christ that's the priority so this isn't about elevating certain things it's about returning what does God's Word say see here's the thing though the rebellious lifestyle does not want to hear this the rebellious lifestyle does not want to hear this do they be quiet be quiet and Elijah what do you like to do you remember Elijah in the Old Testament come on folks you know he would call down fire and and and wipe out the profits of Bell it was interesting he would tell the king pretty much existing you about returning to God putting God's Word first getting our lives back on track and stopped going astray stop letting idolatry lead us astray and no what he said he said Oh Elijah you troubler of Israel you troubler of Israel doesn't the same thing go out today you trouble or of America you trouble earn but see they don't want to hear the troubling effective is how long that's why Elijah said how long will you waver between two opinions how long will we waver between two opinions if God is God follow him there's there's not a middle ground the old prophets cried out John the Baptist cried out Jesus cried out the voice cries out think about this what if we what if we've been called for such a time as this have you ever thought about that what if we have been called for such a time as this not just me everyone this is why I kind of joked earlier but it wasn't really a joke because everybody wants to retire on a motorhome play candy crush and stay on Facebook and get out of the battle god says no stay in the battle let me work through you how do you know if you have not been called for such a time as this I only regret that I have but one life to give for my Savior that's the passion that's the call what if what if we've been called for such a time as this but again I'm not talking about civil war civil disobedience I'm talking about men and women on fire for God broken before him broken and humbled bike by his the magnitude of what is taking place oh so much I could say on this I mean if you look at the I've mentioned early the school district the schools were created to teach the Bible yet the courts William Blackstone's commentaries on the laws of England with it you scripture reference too just to validate certain legal action punishment and different things you look at the church you know the church used to be beacons of life promoting His Word now if I talk about righteousness repentance I'm a hater if I say you know what I love all of you but I'm I can't support gay marriage I'm a homophobic Jesus is the only way when you're narrow-minded I think it's important we all wake up to the fact that you won't all you won't be liked by everyone if the world hates him they're going to hate you so it does beg the question if you're on the side of Hollywood and you don't like what I'm saying what side are you on what side are you on a god god side what His Word says so what's the answer well I could go on and on I've just again recommend just pick up the book on the way out there's so much in there to that but Benjamin Rush was sitting next to John Adams in Congress he's a signer of the Declaration of Independence all of them were he said I sat next to John Adams in Congress and upon my whispering to him and asking him if he thought we would succeed in our struggle with Great Britain he answered me and said yes if we fear God and repent of our sins can you imagine founding the nation you think we're gonna win you think this will happen if we fear God and repent of our sins that's your word this morning if you fear God and repent of your sins now this is even an interesting concept because there are people who I disagree with John MacArthur has a book out where he believes that the Americans were in rebellion and not following Romans 13 in regard to breaking away from Great Britain the problem with that is it wasn't a bunch of people having an uprising it was actually local government lesser magistrates under the king who were initiating the rebellion so it was government officials Americans submitting to their governing officials the signers of the Declaration of Independence many of them gave their lives one of them was Nathan Hale who some of you know I quoted I only regret that I have one what one life to give for my Lord and Savior he said when I only regret that I have one life to give for my country obviously switch that because I'm not I'm not pro-american and pro god I don't cloak the cross with a flag but I do look at how God works if you read through the Bible yearly you'll have a you'll you'll change your view quickly well he's not the Old Testament God anymore that's ridiculous it's the same God grace love mercy if a nation can honor him or can't it honor him so back to that question I don't believe it was a bunch of people with pitchforks and rifles rebelling against the king they had all their grievances laid out they even said in there that they they've been and you can look at all the different things so it was lesser government officials signing a Declaration of Independence going back you know when that when during the course of history when the political bonds of people must be broken we the people the United States and he listed everything so it wasn't a rebellion out of God's will I truly believe that it was God working you bring the pilgrims over in 1620 right the Mayflower Compact I mentioned before to the glory of God into the advancement of the Christian faith and but then you have groups that took away much land from the Native Americans and didn't handle that right I got it I'm with you I'm on your side but any time guys doing something so devil anytime you have godly men and went what about the Salem witch trial what about the three godly men who brought those to an end what about William Wilberforce see anytime God is moving so the devil I just can't imagine this it's a huge struggle where people are going to end their their lives are gonna end they said it's built on God's Word that's why there's a separation of powers and found in the Bible God said I will be your judge I'll be your lawgiver and I will be your king so you see the three distinct executive judicial and legislative bodies of government branches because of the God's Word so he said yes if we fear God and repent of our sins and that's why I truly do not understand that people who think we shouldn't talk about this from the pulpit every week I got it every month I'm with you but once or twice a year give me a break because before fox news and CNN this is where people got their information this is where I can take you to Spurgeon everybody less virgin do you know again he preached against slavery I can take you to Martin Luther rate Reformation do you know he went against the political leaders of that day you ever heard of John Calvin the Presbyterians have you ever heard the Geneva Study Bible or the city of Geneva that they want to make the city of Geneva a city on a hill men and women of God fill with the spirit want to make a difference in all areas of life civil government the public schools our homes our communities all areas because we find the the overreaching part of this is that all of this all of this is affected by the governmental authorities remember the children being killed and Moses this time the children being killed in Jesus's time Esther almost slaughtering all the Jews all of that is because the governing bodies the governing authorities were allowing that to happen if we fear God and repent of our sins that is the response if my people not a political power but our sovereign Lord Church you must repent we must repent this is how we fight our battles see I'm not promoting violence you know that this is how I go to war just this is how I go to war God hear us God hear us we are broken before you we are prepense --nt Lord we have sinned against you mighty God Heavenly Father give us a voice crying in the wilderness Lord a heartbreak for our children God this nation you've gave it as if it has rejected you God would you have your mercy let us make a difference in this world God would you break me and humble me our arrogance is a stench in the nostrils of a righteous holy pure God God we need you that's how you got a bad off that's how you got a battle you see you've got your guns sakes your fall but your prayer closets empty you wave the flag but you don't carry you across no wonder we don't see a difference if I could sum up a strong point it would be this one nothing breaks my heart more than to see the the outright immature behavior of Christians on Facebook going on political tirades and cussing using capital letters and and shooting people and instead of loving them I know I feel that I'd love to write some things too but they'll know that you are Christians by your love for one another you're never going to have a Republican and a Democrat get along or independent or people the church you're never gonna let that that's not you just can't do that on Facebook or with others you have to let God change your heart and I'm concerned that a lot of us have passion for this area but we don't have love we have the letter of the law see war should break our heart you know things are happening in Syria and all these things it should break our heart but we also understand from the biblical with from the Bible Augustine frame worked at something called the Just War Theory there has to be a moral obligation and how you conduct yourself in battle there's different things that the Bible says and if we wouldn't have the being the terror to those who do evil I don't agree with everything at all but if we don't have that then what you will have is North Korea so you make your choice I forget who said it but he said men will either be controlled by the Bible or the bayonet so I just preach to the choir let me preach to the person who's not converted not a believer I'm just gonna close with this this is not about political parties it's about God's love and I've been called every name in the book and people don't see it's just about God's love that's what it is it's about God because when you love God don't you want to honor his word when you see people mocking his word spitting on it in his face blaspheming if something doesn't break in your heart I want to challenge you where in the world is your heart where is your heart I think it was a niemoller who was at a concentration camp I actually just I just remember I think this week a study came out that two-thirds of Millennials don't even know what ash was two-thirds of people coming up don't even know what concentration camps were didn't even know what happened but he said something interesting he said first they came for the Socialists but I was on a socialist then they came for the trade workers and I was in a trade worker then they came for the Jews but I wasn't a Jew then they came for me and by then it was too late there was no one to stand up I think it was John Hancock who said men I beg you by all that is dear that is all all that you hold honorable not only that you pray but that you act praying with action is not biblical either well Shana I don't know about that we'll think about Lord make me a better husband and you're gonna go cuss of your wife ten minutes later make me a better leader but you beat everybody up with your words make a difference in this community but I'm gonna keep my mouth shut because I'm a coward you see prayer in action they're married but what is our action bended knee broken before God because all God says oh I can use that person you see you see how they're broken and humble before me have their emptied of themselves who they're not on arrogant political rants I mean I I'm concerned because sometimes I think we value that more than that you won't take my gun now you can have the cross it's really burden to me anyway are you kidding me we need that brokenness in that love if my people are called by my name you if you humble yourself and pray is I change I can't make a difference I can't make that's what I said 18 years ago hungover destroyed life I can't speak in front of people who am i what what are you gonna do with me he said surrender yourself and you see you see because now you're emptied of yourself and filled with my spirit but let me get back to this if you don't know Christ if you're lost and confused if you're afraid and anxious turn to Jesus today regardless if you don't like what I said listen to Matthew what he said in Matthew Jesus said come to me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest you don't have to be a political party you don't have to be Republican Democrat independent nothing whatever all these things are you Jesus said just come to me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble you will find rest for your souls so you must believe and repent and actually you must swear allegiance to the king of kings in the lord of lords you do have to swear allegiance is that interesting the Bible says that the government will rest upon his shoulders all authority is given to the son you have to swear allegiance oh Christ I swear to you in a good way right I swear my allegiance to you I've repent of my sin I believe Jesus did not die on the cross just for America and that's we get this we get this this American pride there's nothing wrong with being a proud American but watch out for American pride because I'm pretty sure guys not going there's my little North America I just love it you know just I love Lord North America he actually might be overwrought by the Middle East section who has chosen people are the apple of his eye you have to start thinking globally all people all walks Syrian refugees breaks my heart having to see what how they're treated sometimes and what we can these things break my heart that's why the church is the conscience of the nation Martin Luther King jr. said the church must be reminded that is not the master or the servant of the state it is the conscience of the state and if we lose our prophetic zeal we will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority." [00:07:46]