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christfocused · 3 years

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Exposing False Prophets

There are two children’s stories that are alike but different. I want to tell you both and point out the morals of each

One is Chicken Little. In Chicken Little, a young chick is struck on the head by a falling acorn. Confused and very upset the young chick begins to tell the other animals that the sky is falling. Paranoia and mass hysteria set in because all the animals believe the world is coming to an end.

The farm animals, all upset, decided they needed an answer to the question, Is the world about to end? So they set out to find the king animal who could answer that question.

They found a fox and assumed he was the king. The fox assured them he was and would be glad to hear their concern, they only needed to go with him into his den. They did so and the fox killed all the animals and ate them.

What’s the moral of Chicken Little? Don’t believe everything you are told.

The other story that’s similar but different is the Boy Who Cried Wolf. In this story, a shepherd boy, bored with his job, decides to cry “wolf” although there was no wolf around.

When he cries “Wolf” the villagers come to his rescue only to find there is no wolf. The boy enjoys the prank so much he does it again and again the villagers come. Eventually, a wolf does appear. And when the boy cries “wolf” no one comes because he had lied the other times.

What’s the moral of the story? Liars are not believed even when they tell the truth.

Today I am going to share with you some lies and half-truths Christians are telling and believing. As we get deep into the message there is a chance that I will offend some of you. I want to ask for forgiveness now. But I think it is essential that you learn how to deal with lies and half-truths when they come your way.

We are studying How to Survive in a Post-Christian World.

Last week we learned how to use two tests to examine ideas, people, and organizations. These tests are:

The Jesus Test – Find out what they believe about Jesus.

The Bible Test – Find out what they think about the Bible and whether or not what they teach agrees with the Bible.

Our primary text was 1 John 4. Let’s return to that passage and read verse 1.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Take note of the term the Spirit of the Antichrist.

Turn to 2 John verse 7-11

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

What is an antichrist or the spirit of the antichrist – anti means opposed. So an antichrist is someone or some teaching that is opposed to Jesus. It takes you away from Christ or it hides Christ from you.

Other than testing what else should we do about these false prophets that are in the world?

RESPONSE ONE and TWO

Do not believe everything you are told. 1 John 4:1

Do not encourage it or aid it. 2 John 1:10-11

David Guzik says this:

John is not talking about all error, but only error which masquerades as true Christianity.

John is not talking about all who hold the error which masquerades as true Christianity, but about those who teach those errors which masquerade as true Christianity.

John is not talking about all teachers who err, but those who err in the most fundamental truths, and those who are active in spreading those fundamental errors.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Look Good but Sound Bad

I believe the Apostle John had Deuteronomy 13 and 18 in mind when he said: “to test.”

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

In this passage, God warns us of false prophets who look good but teach evil.

They are able to perform miracles and do some interesting things but if you listen to the message it is opposed – anti – to the Lord – Christ.

What does God tell you to do when you come across such?

STEP THREE

Kill the source. We cannot take someone out and execute them today. But we can eliminate the source of this bad doctrine.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22

20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

How and Why Does this Happen?

Deuteronomy 18 raises a question. In today’s world, how is it we can wonder, “How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?” Or how can we tell truth from lies?

The reason believers today would say this is:

We are biblically illiterate.

We have swapped the Bible for showmanship, for celebrity, for feelings, for prophecy

Consider Jeremiah 23:25-28

I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.

28 “The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.

According to verse 27, what are these false prophets attempting to do? People today have traded away wheat for chaff. People today want the sensations, the miracles, the prophecies that tickle their ears. They do not want the Bible.

STEP FOUR

Review

Do not believe everything

Do not encourage it or aid it.

Kill the source

Fear or respect only God and His Word.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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Examine Every Single Thing

George Orwell once said, "There are some ideas so stupid that only intellectuals believe them."

I am not an intellectual and it's my belief that you are not one either. So when we are confronted with a new idea we need to evaluate them. We need to see if they have merit, see if they are true or false.

We finished the first section of our series How to Survive in a Post-Christian World.

We learned that God has appointed our leaders and for that reason, we are to subject ourselves to their leadership except when they ask us to disobey God.

We learned that we are to love our neighbors even when they hate us and persecute us.

And we learned that in these last days we need to wake up, put off the deeds of darkness, and put on the armor of light.

Today we will begin our new section with a question. It is a True or False question.

I will ask this question in just a moment, but I want you to refrain from shouting out your answer. I want you to keep your answer to the question to yourself. And a little later we will answer it aloud.

Here is the question:

True or False – All roads that lead to God are good.

Today the one thing you will learn is how to answer that question and any other question that may come your way.

Let’s pray

Test the Spirits

Turn in your Bible to 1 John 4:1-3.

I opened this lesson with a question, is this a true or false statement – All roads that lead to God are good.

A little later we will answer that question. But first we have to cover some ground. We need to learn the fundamentals on how to know whether something is true or false.

Follow along as I read from 1 John 4:1-3

The idea of “testing” or “trying” the spirits is found elsewhere in the Bible. Leave a finger at 1 John 4 but turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:20:22

Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

I want to take 1 John and 1 Thessalonians and mash the two passages together.

In 1 Thessalonians we are told to “Test all things.” In 1 John we are told to “test the spirits.” Let’s start with “the spirits” of 1 John.

We know that the Holy Spirit is God. John just mentioned the Holy Spirit in the last verse of chapter three.

So we know of the Holy Spirit, but this passage tells us that there are even more spirits in this world and we must test them.

What does it mean to test? It means to make a critical examination of something; to determine the genuineness of something; to really examine it.

The Greek word for test is used for metallurgy. It is the test that a goldsmith would use to test the purity of gold.

We should never take something at face value. We should evaluate it. We should make sure it is genuine. We should check its purity.

We make these evaluations 1,000s of times per day. Every time we sit on a chair we determine whether or not it will hold. When we drive our cars down the road or over a bridge the mind evaluates whether or not it will hold.

These tests are based on past experience. It has held before. It will hold this time.

In 1994, here in Westminster, Robert Knight took a dinner break from his job at the sewer treatment plant, jumped in his car, and drove toward town to get some food. It was 2 am.

As he drove along route 31, all of a sudden the road was no longer there and Robert in his van plunged into a sinkhole that measured 45 feet wide and 18 feet deep. He died a few hours later in shock trauma.

We ask ourselves, why did Robert drive route 31 if there was a possibility that a sinkhole might swallow him up? Why didn’t he take another road? The reason he drove on that road without any fear is that the road had never swallowed him up before or anyone else for that matter. He made an evaluation based on past experiences. We do this all the time.

Faith is an evaluation based on past experiences. We know that God will do such in such because He has always done so in the past.

Past experiences or faith is one test but there are others. Another test is the doctrine of Christ.

The First Test – Jesus

John is not worrying about sinkholes or even matters that we can evaluate with past experience. John is focused on things pertaining to Jesus, to spiritual matters.

How can we determine if a religious idea, a religious person, or a religious institution is genuine?

One way is to see what they say about Jesus.

1 John is an early response to an early version of Gnosticism. Gnosticism believed that Jesus was not God and that Jesus was spirit. Gnostics believed that Jesus did not have a body.

Gnostics believe that all things physical are bad and all things spiritual are good. In the time of 1 John they believed that Jesus was an emanation, a spirit, and did not have a body.

What does that wrong thinking do to the crucifixion?

What does it do to the resurrection?

Look back at 1 John 4:1-3

You can see in verses 2 and 3 John’s response to the Gnostics.

Something is false if it believes Jesus did not come in the flesh. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus came to this earth in full humanity

The Holy Spirit (v2) testifies to the true nature of God the Son. Satan and false prophets distort the nature of Jesus.

Satan is a liar and a murderer. His false prophets are the same. (John 8:44) He wants to keep you from salvation. He wants to kill you spiritually forever.

There are other things about Jesus you must believe. They too can be used to test an idea, person, or institution.

Jesus is God the Son.

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world.

Jesus rose again bodily on the 3rd day

Salvation is only through Jesus

Satan and his false prophets want to keep you from truly understanding and believing on Jesus because Jesus is God and salvation only comes through Jesus.

You can test a spirit or everything by what they believe concerning Jesus.

Here is a question you can ask when you are uncertain about someone’s faith or ideas:

Who is Jesus to you?

The Word

In a few minutes, we will answer our True or False question. Don’t shout it out. Keep your answer quiet. I will give you an opportunity to share in a bit.

But remember the question is: True or False – All roads that lead to God are good.

There is a second test that we need to use when we are confronted by something. It is the Word test.

We have been looking at 1 John 4 and also considering 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22

In both passages, prophecy is mentioned. In 1 Thessalonians Paul tells us not to despise prophecies. In 1 John, John warns us about false prophets.

What does Paul mean in 1 Thessalonians when he tells us not to despise prophecies? The word “prophecies” can mean the spoken revelation from God.

That’s the way I always imagine prophecies. Some longhaired, crazy-eyed prophet standing up on a hill shouting out, “Thus saith the LORD!!!”

But the word prophecies can mean the written word of God. In fact, the idea of the written word is meant more often than spoken.

An example is found in 2 Peter 1:19-21

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Paul is saying that when the Word is preached, taught, or read we are to take it seriously. We must not reject it. We must receive it. Do not despise the Word.

Example of the Word Test

A perfect example of this can be found in Acts 17:10-12.

If you have walked with Christ for any amount of time you are familiar with the story of the Bereans. Christians admire the Bereans. Many churches bear their name – Berean Bible Church, Berean Baptist Church.... Why so?

Let’s read and find out.

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

The Bereans did not take what Paul said at face value. They tested his words and they tested him. They did so by comparing him and his words to Scripture.

Why did they do this? It was their nature. It was who they were as a synagogue. They were people of the Word. They studied it with eagerness. So it was natural for them to use the Word as a tool to test whether or not something was true.

Pray to God that we too would be a church of the Word.

The Word of God is what we should use to test everything.

Let’s go back to our question. I will ask it again and now you will give me your answer.

Don’t shout it out. Rather let’s do a show of hands.

If you believe it is True when I say “All roads that lead to God are good.” Then raise your hand.

If you believe it is False when I say the same raise your hands.

The answer is False.

Why? We want to be like the Bereans. What verse or passage should we use to test this question?

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

I think it’s time for a pop quiz.

I gave you time to think about your answer to the True or False question. How here comes one and I will not give you any time to think about it. But I will help you with this hint.

Hint: You can find a passage to help you evaluate this idea in the Book of Genesis. There, I have eliminated 65 other Bible books.

Here is the idea to evaluate.

On Thursday, February 25, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives Passed the Equality Act. The act is not yet law because it has to pass the Senate. But if it does, many things in the US will change. Here is one change that we can test.

If Equality Act passes the Senate, we will no longer be allowed to identify people by biological gender. No longer will there be males or females, boys or girls.

What is a Bible passage, found in the book of Genesis, that will help you test this new idea?

Genesis 1:27 and 5:2

If you would like to read more about the impact the Equity Act can have on our society, Mary Rice Hasson wrote an opinion piece for Newsweek Magazine titled The Equity Act and the End of Females. https://www.newsweek.com/equality-act-end-females-opinion-1571432

Also, The Heritage Foundation has an article The Equity Act – How Could Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Laws Affect You? https://www.heritage.org/gender/heritage-explains/the-equality-act

Remember, don’t despise or dismiss or reject God’s Word. Read it with eagerness. God is using it to teach you. And you can use the Word to test everything.

Conclusion

The Apostle John warned about false prophets. False prophets are everywhere. They are writing books. They are on TV and radio. They are on social media. And they even occupy the halls of government.

They use all forms of media – print, broadcast, and the internet. Every day they feed you with their false doctrine and corrupt ideas.

How can you test these people, test their ideas, and test their organizations?

Find out what they think about Jesus.

Test them using the Bible.

Let us pray that you and this church will eagerly study God’s Word so that we will not fall to Satan’s lies.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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It's Time To Wake Up

To kick off this message I want to ask you a few questions. In fact, grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.

Now on the front of that paper, I want you to write down the answer to question number one. Here it is.

If you could instantly change anything about anyone who would you change and what would you change?

Turn the page over and let’s answer question number two. So question number one was on the front and question number two will be on the back.

If you could instantly change anything about yourself what would you change?

Now I have a third question, but you don’t need to write anything down.

Which of these changes – Changing someone else or changing yourself – is more likely to happen?

So hold those thoughts and I will come back to it later.

We have been in a series titled How to Survive in a Post-Christian World. Over the last few episodes we have learned:

That God places leaders over us – Kings, Queens, Prime Ministers, Presidents – and for that reason we are to subject ourselves to them.

There is one exception to our obedience. We obey our leaders as long as our obedience does not conflict with the Bible.

These governmental leaders are God’s ministers. He uses them to restrain evil.

We have also learned that God commands us to love our neighbors. Neighbors are those who are closest to us – our spouse, kids, parents, and people in the immediate community. We are to love them even when they disagree with us or even hate us.

Today we will complete Romans 13 and God has for us two distinct lessons.

Is to wake up

Is to work on ourselves.

Today you will learn this one thing: As the return of Jesus draws closer we are to wake up and wear Christ.

Wake Up

Turn in your Bibles to Romans 13. I will read verses 11-14

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [c]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Look again at verse 11.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

When Paul writes, “knowing the time” he is saying “understand the season you are in.”

That is why we are studying life in a post-Christian world.

What season are we in?

The Bible is clear. We are in the “Last Days.”

This not based on current events, or on the signs of the times. It is what the Bible teaches.

When did the Last Days begin? There are two possible answers.

Is with the Ascension of Christ.

10 days later with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Turn to Acts 2.

Let’s look at verse 14

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only [e]the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

Peter goes on quoting the Prophet Joel. When we read Joel we have to treat it like Peter. The prophecy was partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost and will be fully fulfilled as we approach the last last days.

According to both, Joel and Peter, we are in the Last Days.

Going back to Romans 13, we should consider the Last Days like a season, like a period of time. And we are in this season.

The question is, how should we live during the last days?

First of all, we should be awake and aware of our walk.

Many believers today are sleepwalking through life. Pastor David Guzik writes about this in his commentary. He points out that we can do a lot when we sleepwalk. We can:

speak when we are asleep

hear when we are asleep

walk when we are asleep

sing when we are asleep

think when we are asleep

I will add that we can go to church while we sleep and even go through the motions of worship while we are asleep.

Here’s how I know that.

When you read the Scripture are you listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying through the Bible or do you go through the motions?

Sometimes I read a chapter only to finish and wonder what I just read. My mind was not engaged. I did not think about the words or ask God to show me what He wants for me to learn.

And even more importantly, I ignore what God is doing in my life with that passage. I am sleepwalking in respect to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Word.

When you sing in church, do you sing out of rote – mechanical, habitual repetition or do you think about the words you sing?

Do you use them to actually worship God or do you just repeat the words you see on the screen or in a hymnal with never a thought?

As we sleepwalk through life a few things can happen.

We will miss out on what God is doing.

Here is God working all around us, but our eyes are closed and we are unengaged. Maybe God is pulling at the heartstrings of your neighbor but you do not notice because you are asleep.

We will not be changed by what God is saying.

2 Tim 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God for a reason – to teach us, to reproof us, to correct us, to train us, so that we will be competent and equipped. But none of that matters if we as sleepwalking through this life.

We will be attacked by the enemy.

The devil is out there and he wants to ruin you and your testimony. You need to wake up before he destroys you and your family. 1 Peter 5:8

We will sin. Rom 13:12

Romans 13:12 Paul tells us to cast off the works of darkness. Because we have been sleepwalking we have fallen into sinful habits.

Wake up to the Word of God.

Wake up to the Holy Spirit.

Hear Christ knocking at the door of your heart. He wants to come you’re your life and walk with you in fellowship.

Every day is one day closer to Jesus’ return. Tomorrow is one day closer to the Rapture. Do we really want to be found napping when Jesus returns?

Work on Yourself

So let��s come back to our original three questions. Look back at that piece of paper I had you fill out.

Who and what would you change?

What would you change about yourself?

Which of the two changes is more likely to happen?

The rule of thumb is that we cannot change other people but MAYBE we can change ourselves.

Let’s talk about change.

It is important to remember that God never changes. This is called immutability. God is immutable. He doesn’t change.

Often we use the doctrine of the Immutability of God to teach against current trends. I have used it to teach that God’s views on marriage – one man to one woman – has not changed.

That idea is important but immutability is much larger than that. God’s mercy, kindness, love, justice, and wisdom also never change. They are always perfect. God’s love for you never changes, even when you sin.

Because God is immutable it is impossible for Him to change.

People change. We are mutable. Everything about us can change – our weight, hair color, and even our values and opinions. God has given us the ability to change.

I can choose to lose weight. I can dye my hair. I can political parties. God has given us power over these things and more. God has given us the power to change.

But there is one thing unbelieving humans cannot change. There is one thing that unbelieving humans have no control over and that is the power that sin has over them.

An unbeliever cannot help but sin.

Notice that I said “unbeliever.” A believer, someone who is truly born again, that person has power over sin and can change. If you are a believer, you can resist temptation and the power of sin.

Look again at Romans 13:12-14. Let’s pick up midway through 12.

Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk [c]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Look at those actions again.

Cast off

Put on

Walk properly

Put on

If the Bible commands it, then we can do it. If the Bible tells us to cast off and put on, then we can do those things.

Whereas the unbeliever has no choice but to sin, we choose to sin when we sin. And we choose not to sin when we walk properly.

How does this work?

Put On Christ

When a believer puts on Christ, Christ becomes the believer’s armor. We do not just assume the character of Jesus. We do not just copy the ways of Jesus. We put on Jesus. Jesus becomes our armor. We call upon Jesus to protect us, to defend us, to empower us.

Turn to Ephesians 4:17-

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as [f]the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

It is not enough to learn about Christ. We must learn Christ.

Daily as you walk with Christ and talk with Christ He changes you. Although behaviors are changed the more important thing is a heart change – inner change.

Sin affects or corrupts our behavior. When we sin we do things that are counter to God’s teaching.

But sin also corrupts our thinking. The unbeliever in verse 18 is corrupted and blinded by sin. An unbeliever’s thinking has been corrupted. That’s why when you talk to a loved one or neighbor about the things of God they just don’t get it. They even come up with silly, stupid, or corrupt ideas and opinions. Sin has blinded them and made them ignorant.

But God, in Christ, makes us a new creature. He teaches us. We learn from Him – IF we listen – If we allow Him to teach.

You are a New Person

Romans 13:14 says that because we put on Christ we make no provision for the flesh.

Look at Galatians 3:26

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

When you became a believer you became a new person. God changed you. You have a new nature.

That nature should not make provisions for sin. Whoever you were before Christ has been changed.

What’s happening here? God is not just forcing a behavior change. God is accomplishing an inner change, a heart change.

There is so much more we need to discuss. Like the armor of God. The elders will preach on this subject in the future. And much more on putting off and putting on.

But I will stop here and answer another question. What does this have to do with a post-Christian world?

In a post-Christian world, it is essential that we live as good citizens, obeying our leaders but defending the truth.

In a post-Christian world, we must love our neighbors as God has first loved us – regardless of their mindset and behavior.

And during these times, as we see the world slipping deeper and deeper into darkness, we need to wake up and put on Christ.

When we are awake and walking properly then no matter how crazy things may get we still wear Christ. We still represent Him and His Word. And we will respond correctly to the madness around us.

If you, a believer, have been walking in darkness, wake up and put off the deeds of sin. Remember, Jesus is one day closer to coming back. Don’t be caught napping.

And if you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, then you are completely living in darkness. You are consumed by sin. Everything you do takes you farther and farther away from God.

But God loves you. He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sin. Call upon God to save you. God wants to forgive you of your sin.

How can you be forgiven? The Bible says, “Believe on Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

I am asking God to open your eyes and show you that you are a sinner.

I am asking God to awaken you to your greatest need – you need to believe that Jesus died for your sin.

Tell God you are a sinner.

Turn away from that sin.

And turn to Jesus and ask Him to save you.

This is Mark Jones and I will speak with you next week.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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How Much are You Required to Love?

At the start of 2021, we began a study on How to Survive in a Post-Christian World. The influence of Christianity, especially in the western world, is on the decline.

With this decline comes a change in how people respond to Christians. More and more we will find ourselves out of sorts with our community, even with people we know well and love.

We will begin to experience persecution. For that reason, I am preparing my church to handle the coming persecution.

Over the past three messages, we have studied how we should respond to our leaders, especially the government. Today we will begin to look at our responsibility to our community or to our neighbors.

Today you will learn that no matter how people in your community might behave or think you must love them.

And at the end of this message, I will share with you a piece of Scripture that I have intentionally held back these past three weeks.

Let’s pray.

Open your Bibles to Romans 13.

We will read verses 8-10.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Before we get into the Scripture I want you to make a list either in your mind or on paper of the people you meet and interact with every day.

If you are married with kids, then your spouse and kids would be on the top of the list. If you work, then your coworkers would be on the list. There are others in the community, maybe a business you frequent, or a school you attend. These are the names on your list.

Paul in the first 7 verses of Romans 13 taught us our responsibility to our government officials. Now he pulls the lesson back closer to home. He will now teach us what our responsibility is to those we see almost every day – your spouse, your kids, your parents, your co-workers, your neighbors.

The first few words of the passage – “Let no debt remain outstanding...” is not a lesson on credit. Rather, Paul is using financial debts to make a point about our obligations to one another.

He is saying that there is no maximum limit on the amount of love we are to give to someone else. Love is a permanent obligation that we must have for those close to us.

How much are we supposed to love our wives, husbands, or kids? How much are we supposed to love our family? There is no amount that is too much. Whatever the amount that you give in love to those close to you it is not enough.

And that includes unbelievers. And that includes people who are very different from you.

Before we get into the heart of this passage look at the end of verse nine. Paul sums all of the above by using Jesus’ teaching “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

When you love your neighbor you are loving those you interact with every day. The Bible is telling you to love real people.

Paul is referencing the Law and Jesus’ teaching. Let’s look first at Matthew 22:37-40.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

There is much we can say about this passage but let’s just keep the discussion centered around the reason we came here. Jesus teaches that the second greatest commandment is “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Let’s start inward and move out with these questions.

How do you love yourself? What are some ways you love yourself?

What are ways that you show love to those close to you? Spouse, kids, parents...

How do you express love to your co-workers or to your neighbor?

How do you love those in the community – cashier, a trade you hire,

Finally, how do you show the love of God to those who are opposed to you?

The scripture that both Paul and Jesus are using comes from the Law and is based on the 10 Commandments. Turn to Exodus 20.

The 10 Commandments can be divided into two sections. Verses 3-7 are the commands that are between us and God. And verses 8-17 are the commands between us and our fellow humans.

Let’s read these verses – 8-17.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

So it starts with honoring the Sabbath. Then honoring your parents. After that, it covers murder, adultery, theft, lying, and coveting.

Now turn back to Romans 13 and let’s look at verses 8-10.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

At first glance it appears that Paul had omitted some of the commandments. But he covers them with verse 9 where he writes “and whatever other command there may be...”

These 10 Commandments are summed up in the idea of love. By choosing not to commit adultery, murder, theft, lying, and others, we are choosing to love our neighbors.

Remember this series in How to Survive in a Post-Christian World. This post-Christian world will turn against us. We will find ourselves at odds with many who live in our neighborhood. Even those close to us may no longer share our values. We will feel the sting of persecution.

But God commands us to love them. He tells us that we owe them more love than we currently give.

One other thing. Our neighbors are not commanded to love us back. The commands given in Romans 13 are to us. It is our responsibility to love regardless of whether they love us or not.

When we turned to Romans 13 a few weeks back I intentionally skipped and important passage. It is the key passage on which Romans 13 is constructed. All of our talk about obeying our leaders and today’s words on loving our neighbors is built upon it.

Now is the time to look at these important words. Look at Romans 12 starting at verse 9.

We will read these verses without comment.

Let’s pray over the passage before we read it.

Heavenly Father, we ask that God the Holy Spirit use this passage to teach us an important lesson. We ask for insight and clarity as we read it. Amen.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given[d] to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So how do we do what God has called us to do in Romans 12:9-21?

We obey the leaders God has placed over us. And we love our neighbors. And wherever we have been wronged, however, we have been abused, God will take care of it. He will be our avenger.

Let’s pray.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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How to be a Good Citizen

Two messages back we learned that our first responsibility to our leaders is to pray for them and to give thanks to God for them.

I hope this week you prayed for the president of your prime minister, or whatever leader God has placed over you. I hope that you also thanked God for them.

For some of you this teaching – to pray and to give thanks – is a tough pill to swallow. Maybe you did not vote for this particular leader. Possibly he or she does not represent your values. Or this leader is corrupt.

Whatever, God expects it of us. Prayer is our first and most important calling toward our leaders. So please pray for your leaders regardless of their politics.

In the last message, we learned that God appoints human leaders over us. And for that reason, we are to subject ourselves to their leadership as long as their leading is not in conflict with God’s Bible.

When the Bible disagrees with our human leaders we are to obey God and be willing to suffer the consequences. We looked at the Apostles in Acts 5. The apostles told the religious leaders that they had to obey God before they would obey men.

We considered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were willing to suffer the consequences that come when a believer chooses to obey God rather than men.

Today we will continue to look at our responsibility to our government.

Today the key thing we will learn is that God expects us to be the very best citizens we can be..

Let’s pray.

The Purpose of Government

Let’s open our Bibles to Romans 13. Last week we studied Romans 13:1-2. Today we will pick up at verse 3 and read through verse 5.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

Within this text, we find the primary purpose for government and we also find God’s expectation for our lifestyle under this government.

Let’s look at 1 Peter 2:13-17

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

The primary and the original purpose of government is to restrain evil. This purpose was first established by God in Genesis 9:5-6.

The flood of Noah is in chapter 7 of Genesis. In Chapter 8 God delivers Noah and his family back on dry ground. In chapter 9 God makes a covenant with Noah.

Just prior to making the covenant. God teaches Noah about the importance of life, especially the life of mankind.

People would begin again to populate the earth. Sin was already present in the hearts of Noah and his family. Soon there would be wickedness done against other humans.

God wanted Noah and us even to understand how much He, God, valued human life. Let’s read.

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

God has placed a high value on the life of all mankind. Everyone is created in the image of God – whether that person lives a good life or an evil one. When someone murders another person they kill an image-bearer. God says in Genesis 9 that it is the responsibility of people to then take the life of the murderer.

Even when an animal kills a man that animal is to be put to death. Why? Animals just act out of their nature. The reason again is that God places the highest value on human life. Humans are image-bearers. For this reason, the animal must die.

The unconditional covenant between God and mankind called the Noahic Covenant is found here in Genesis 9. Bits and pieces of this same covenant are found in Genesis 6 and 8. Look at Genesis 8:21

And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

They’re hardly off the ark and already God is acknowledging the sinfulness of man. Our imaginations within our hearts are evil. The ultimate end of such evil is murder. God in Genesis 9 states that murder must be dealt with and the way to deal with it is capital punishment. Capital punishment becomes the responsibility of the government. In fact, the restraint of all forms of evil is the purpose of government.

Why Should We Obey Our Leaders?

Reason One

There are two basic reasons why we should obey our leaders. The first one is so we will avoid punishment or their wrath.

Return to Romans 13.

Look at verses 3-4

God places a person in a leadership position to retrain evil. When a person does evil the government official becomes God’s avenger. Those that murder, the government is called to execute wrath.

The wording “bear the sword” in verse four is in reference to capital punishment. Romans typically executed criminals by beheading them with a sword. Crucifixion was rarely used and only for the worst of offenders.

When the government executes someone, they are acting on behalf of God.

There is some great advice in this passage for the believer. It is found in verse 3. “Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.”

You’re driving over the speed limit. You come over a hill and there sits the police officer. Your heart begins to beat faster. Your palms sweat. You hope he had his radar off. But no. On come the blue lights. Busted!

Here is what that verse is saying. If you don’t want to fear the police office, don’t speed.

God expects all Christians to be good citizens. We are expected to obey the laws and live peaceably in our communities.

Reason Two

There is a second reason why we should obey our leaders.

We then obey our leaders to avoid their wrath.

We also obey our leaders because of our conscience.

Look at Romans 13:5-7.

Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

What is meant by “for conscience sake”? It means we obey because it is our duty to God.

Obeying the laws of the land is a way we serve God. It is a way that we bring glory to God.

The conscience is our moral compass or our moral awareness. It is a part of our personality that makes us feel guilty when we violate the law and it is the thing that makes us feel good when we follow the law.

We should want to please God in our actions. Our behavior should be pleasing to God.

Turn to Hebrews 13:18.

In Hebrews 13:18 the writer of it asks that the reader to pray for them. There are two distinct prayer requests.

The second request is in verse 19. He wants to return to them soon. So prayer is necessary for that to happen.

The first request is in verse 18. Let’s read that.

Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.

The write of Hebrews desires to live honorably. When you live honorably you will have a good conscience. When you live honorably you obey the laws. You are a good citizen.

Remember 1 Peter 2:13-17

Here’s an Example of How We Should Obey

Let’s go back to Romans 13 and see how Paul teaches us to obey our leaders.

He commands us to pay our taxes and fees.

Romans 13:6-7 says,

For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Out of fear and for consciousness' sake we should do our duty and pay our taxes.

Jesus taught this very thing. Look at Mark 12:12-17.

13 Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. 14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?”

But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it.

And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

And they marveled at Him.

Many of you know this story.

The Pharisees and the Herodians (Herod’s people) were trying to trick Jesus. Either possible answer – “yes” or “No” – would be viewed negatively by someone. If Jesus says “Yes, we should pay taxes” the Jews would be upset. And if Jesus said, “No!” Then the Romans would be upset.

Jesus tells them to give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s. But what does He mean “to God the things that are God’s”?

Possibly He is talking about the Temple Tax?

But more than likely He is speaking of spiritual matters, such as worship.

The Caesars often viewed themselves as gods.

On a Denarius there was a picture of the Emperor. On this coin, it was probably Tiberius. On the Tiberius coin, there was his image and an inscription – “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Son of the Divine Augustus.”

We must never make our leaders into gods. Leaders must never claim deity. But sometimes we do and sometimes they do.

Like Romans 13, Jesus is teaching loyalty to the state, to the government. And He is also teaching loyalty to God, not man.

Conclusion

Let’s return to our opening. In that, I asked you if you had been praying and giving thanks for your leader.

I have been praying for President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Let me encourage you one more time to do the same – pray for your leaders.

Last lesson we learned that God has appointed our leaders. For that reason, we are to subject ourselves to them. But when there are things that are not in line with God’s word we are to obey God and suffer the consequences.

Today we built upon that teaching.

We learned that God gave us government to restrain evil. For that alone, we should be thankful.

God calls us to obey our leaders for two reasons.

So we will not experience punishment

And to serve God.

Overall the God has taught us to be the very best citizens we can be.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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To Obey or Not

Surviving in a Post-Christian America

Message Three – To Obey or Not Obey

On January 20th, our country went through a change of leadership. President Biden became our 46th president of the United States.

I watched a good deal of the Inauguration. Lady Gaga did a fabulous job singing the National Anthem.

Recently I heard Amanda Gorman, our Youth Poet Laureate, recite one of her poems; so I was interested to hear her read her new poem The Hill We Climb.

I sang along with Garth Brooks as he performed Amazing Grace.

And as I listened to President Biden’s speech, I shared his hope for unity.

Every 4-8 years we go through this. We welcome a new government into power. The republic created 243 years ago still stands.

So now what?

What do we as Christians do with respect to this new government? Do we honor and respect President Biden and Vice President Harris or do we stand against them?

Do we subject ourselves to these leaders for the next four years or do we rebel?

Two weeks back you learned that your first responsibility toward your leaders is to pray for them and to thank God for them.

But do we have to obey them? Must we follow in lockstep wherever they lead?

Today you will learn the answer to the question – must I obey...

You will learn that ....

God commands us to obey our government as long as our obedience is not in conflict with God. When we do choose to obey God rather than man we must be willing to accept the consequences.

Subjection

Romans 13:1-2

Believers are to be subject to their governing authorities because God has appointed these leaders.

Look at Romans 13:1-2

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Why does the Word tell us to subject ourselves to our political leaders? The reason we are to subject ourselves to our governing authorities is that God has appointed them. God raises leaders up and God removes them.

If the Scripture is telling the truth, (and we know it is) then God just appointed President Biden and God just removed President Trump. And we are to subject ourselves to that change.

Remember, Paul is writing the book of Romans at the time Nero is Emperor. As I discussed two weeks back, Nero was one of the most perverse leaders of all time. Yet Paul told the readers of Romans that they were to subject themselves to this leader.

Several questions come to mind.

What about:

Hitler who executed 4-6 million Jews (2/3 of all European Jews)

Stalin who killed approximately 20 million Soviet citizens

Chairman Mao killed as many as 45 million Chinese citizens

Or what about the United States, who has aborted 62 million babies since Roe v Wade.

What is a believer’s responsibility to a government like that? Must a Christian obey their leaders when their leaders sanction murder?

Three Things to Think About

Does the Bible and especially Romans 13 teach the “Divine Right of Kings”? The DRK is “the doctrine that kings derive their authority from God, not from their subjects.” The DRK teaches that human rulers are beyond reproach or criticism by his or her subjects. Rebellion would be the worst of political crimes.

So is this biblical? No – Romans and elsewhere in Scripture teach that we are subject in general but not in absolute.

Remember that

Nathan called out King David’s sin in 2 Samuel 12:7

Jeremiah stood against Ahab in 1 Kings 18

Remember Daniel in the lions’ den?

John the Baptist confronted Herod and religious leaders with their sin.

There is another important teaching in the Scripture that destroys the idea of the Divine Right of Kings.

What is it? All men are created equal.

All are sinners. Romans 3:23 (All men are created equal.)

All are guilty and those without Christ will be held accountable for their sins.

So does the Bible teach that we must obey our leaders because they are without reproach? The answer is no.

Christians are citizens of two kingdoms. You are a citizen of the country in which you live. And you are a citizen of heaven. Phil 3:20 and Col 1:13

Why is this important?

Because you are to subject yourself to your leaders as long as there is no conflict with God’s laws.

Look at Acts 5:17-32

What does that story teach? It teaches when man’s laws are in conflict with God’s laws then we must choose to obey God.

Another example is found in Daniel 3:13-18.

What does that story teach? It teaches that when we choose to obey God and not man we must be willing to accept the consequences.

Here is another example. Who is Kim Davis?

Kim Davis was the former county clerk in Rowan County Kentucky who refused to sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

Shortly after the US Supreme Court made same-sex marriages legal, same-sex couples began to come to the Rowan County Courthouse for a license to marry.

Kim Davis was the county clerk. Her name was on every marriage license and above her name was a line for her signature.

She said,

"I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience."

Because of her refusal, she was jailed and sued. Eventually, she returned to her post after they removed her name from the signature block. Her assistant clerks signed from then on. She refused. Ultimately she was voted out of office.

All in all, this worked out as it can.

The government made same-sex marriage legal.

Kim Davis, a representative of that government, chose to obey God rather than man and to suffer the consequences. She used her Frist Amendment rights to do so.

The First Amendment says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

When we are faced with a decision to obey the government or obey God we should always choose “Obey God.” But we should do so in the way that fits the issue and with an understanding that we must be willing to suffer the consequences.

Kim Davis did not set off any bombs. She did not try to violently overthrow the government. She exercised her constitutional rights to resist a law that was in conflict with the Bible.

The people of Rowan County Kentucky also exercised their rights and in due time voted her out of office.

So must we obey our leaders in all matters? The answer is no when the laws of man are in opposition to the laws of God. But we must be willing to suffer the consequences.

One final question then we will conclude. What about our founding fathers and the American Revolution, was that a violation of Romans 13 because they did rebel against the sitting government?

Pastor John MacArthur Jr. says that “the American Revolution was born out of a violation of Romans 13:1-7.”

Let’s look at that.

On August 2, 1776, 56 members of the 2nd Constitutional Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

These men too struggled with the teaching of Romans 13. But they also considered the entire Bible.

The Declaration of Independence is a document that explains why they felt justified to break with England.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

It rejects the Divine Right of Kings because it states this:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

The signers believed that the King of England and the government he represented was no longer a government worthy of subjection.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

They then wrote down 28 ways the King had violated them and the law.

Finally, they appealed to God that they would establish a new country that would be worthy of God-ordained subjection.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States

The final sentence of the declaration calls upon one another and upon God’s providence.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

When we stand and obey God rather than man we can only depend upon God and one another.

Conclusion

So are we subject to our leaders? Yes, we are.

Why? Because God has appointed them. God appointed President Biden and God removed President Trump.

Must we obey them in all matters? No.

Why?

There is no Divine Right of Kings. And we are citizens of two kingdoms. When man’s kingdom disagrees with God’s we must choose God’s and suffer the consequences.

Let’s pray.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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Christian Insurrection

This past Wednesday, I was horrified as I watched on TV US citizens storming the capitol. These individuals destroyed and stole property, attacked authorities, broke onto the senate and house floors, and occupied offices.

I thought to myself, “I can’t believe what I am seeing!”

I never thought I would see the day when citizens of this country would storm the US Capitol to try and stop a lawful procedure. Something in this country has changed. There has been a shift.

Then I noticed something else. At first, I looked past it. But then I say it. The flags. The flags and banners came to the forefront of my view.

The rioters carried flags and banners.

Many of the flags were the US flag hung upside down. Others carried flags that featured President Trump’s name and image.

But in this crowd of rioters, there were several who carried flags that bore another name. And that name was Jesus.

The name of Jesus was on Capitol steps. The name of Jesus was climbing over the barricade. The name of Jesus was knocking down the Capitol doors.

Some of these people were doing these things in the name of Jesus.

So this raises some questions.

Does Jesus approve of this protest?

Does Jesus approve of this insurrection?

Or the question this message and the next will try to answer

Is it okay for a Christian to overthrow his country?

Today we will begin to answer that question – is it okay for a Christian to overthrow his country?

And in answering this question, we will learn our number one priority to our government.

Let’s Pray

Open your Bible to 1 Timothy 2

Our First Responsibility

In 1st Timothy, Paul lays out our first responsibility to our community and to our leaders.

What could it be?

Let’s read the passage:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

The Bible is very clear.

Our first responsibility toward all humans is to pray for them.

Paul uses three general terms to cover the idea of prayer.

Supplication – which is to ask

Prayers – which is to communicate with God

Intercessions – which is to ask on behalf of someone

Sometimes the Word is making a distinction within a list. Here I think the Word is using three ways to say the same thing for emphasis.

There is a fourth term that is a bit different from the first three – “Giving Thanks”

Two things immediately stand out.

Paul does tell us who to pray for – everyone and especially our leaders.

Initially, Paul does not tell us what to pray. He only tells us to pray. I say initially because I do think a verse later he gives us what we can pray.

So what would a first-century believer pray for on behalf of all men?

What do you pray for today?

Health needs

Work and financial needs

Family struggles

Marriage struggle

When you pray for leadership – for the president, for the governor, what do you pray?

Protection

Policies

Moral behavior

The early church father, Tertullian, helps us understand what 1st-century believers may have prayed. He writes,

“We pray for all the emperors, that God may grant them long life, a secure government, a prosperous family, vigorous troops, a faithful senate, an obedient people; that the whole world may be in peace; and that God may grant, both to Caesar and to every man, the accomplishment of their just desires.”

It is one thing to pray for someone. It is another thing to give thanks for them.

You probably know 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

That means we give thanks for the people and circumstances we like AND for the people and circumstances, we do not like.

Why does God want us to give thanks for all men and all leaders?

Why even would God want us to pray for all men and all leaders?

When you sincerely pray for someone and give thanks for someone – if that someone is someone who you do not like – your prayers and gratitude for that person keep bitterness away.

Gratitude keeps bitterness away.

It’s easy to pray for the people you love.

It’s easy to pray for the folks you agree with.

But what about the person who has hurt you?

What about the person who has wronged you?

What about the leader who upsets you or disturbs you, or disgusts you?

That is not so easy.

When you pray and give thanks, God can use that to keep you from becoming bitter.

I also think God is doing something with what He is asking us to do.

Ask for their needs

Pray in general for them

Pray specifically on their behalf

Then give thanks for them

Think about that person you are very angry with. Think about that person who you do not want to pray for.

If all you had to do was pray for them then your prayers might be what theologians call Imprecatory Prayers.

What are Imprecatory Prayers? Well, the Book of Psalms has several Imprecatory Psalms. David wrote them while he was on the run.

Imprecatory Psalms are psalms when David asked God to judge, bring down curses, and calamity upon his enemies.

So yours might sound like this:

“Dear God, rain down fire on my ex-husband”

“Heavenly Father, strike my teenage daughter’s tongue!”

It’s hard to call upon God to curse someone when you must follow that prayer up with words of gratitude.

“Dear God, strike Joe dead! But thanks for the two kids he gave me” doesn’t ring true.

Prayer + Gratitude does not equal Bitterness.

Prayer + Gratitude gives you a look into the heart of God.

Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:43-45

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

There are people in your life who have hurt you. Pray for them and find a way to give thanks.

Even here in this church, there is probably someone who has disappointed you and you struggle to pray for them. They have wronged you and you omit them from your prayer list. They have hurt you and you want God to hurt them back.

God asks you to pray for them and to give thanks.

Do not let bitterness set in.

Do not let your prayers become a weapon.

No one has been wronged more than God. And He blesses even the worst of humanity.

When you pray and give thanks for all men then you get a glimpse into the heart of God. You live our life on earth as God lives in heaven.

Responsibility to Our Leaders

Let’s talk about our responsibility toward our rulers.

Our first responsibility as a citizen of this country is to pray for and give thanks for our rulers.

Think about the situation in Rome and what we have here in the U.S.

We have something that the Roman citizen did not have. We have the vote.

The great civil rights leader, The Honorable John Lewis, once said, “Voting is the most powerful non-violent tool we have.”

The ability to vote is powerful but I respectfully disagree with Mr. Lewis.

The most powerful non-violent tool we have is prayer. Every believer in every situation has the ability and opportunity to pray.

In the U.S. we have the vote and prayer. But a believer in North Korea does not have the vote. But they do have prayer.

I said earlier in this message that Paul does not initially tell us what to pray only that we should pray.

But in 1 Timothy 2:3-4 he does give us one thing we should always pray for on behalf of all men, especially our leaders.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The one thing we should always pray for when we pray for all men and our leaders is for their salvation.

Over the years and over the presidents, my prayers have been varied. A few have even been Imprecatory.

But the most consistent thing I have prayed for in regard to our leaders has been for their salvation.

I pray even today that President Trump repents of his sin and turns to Christ for salvation.

I have prayed similar prayers for almost every president.

If we want true change in our country, true change will only come when our leaders believe on Christ. Not until then. So we should pray for their salvation.

Why Should We Pray?

We’re almost done. But I have held back the best part of this passage – the ultimate WHY WE SHOULD PRAY.

This is found in the second part of verse 2.

Our first responsibility is to pray and give thanks. Why should we do that?

...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence

We pray for all men.

We pray for rulers.

We pray for their needs and their salvation.

Why? So they will leave us alone.

So we can lead a quiet, peaceable life.

So we can raise our kids, do our jobs, worship our God without them interfering.

Isn’t that what you want? Don’t you want the government to do its job to do and leave you alone?

Yes, but you’re thinking, “I already have that.”

But you’re looking at this verse through western eyes.

Think about the Christian family in North Korea, or Egypt, or Iran.

They just want to live a quiet life. They want to raise their kids. Go about their work. Worship the Savior without the threat of some leader kicking down their door and dragging them off to prison because they love Jesus.

Think about the people who originally received and read 1 Timothy.

In the recent newsletter, I told you to try and determine who the emperor was at the time Paul wrote 1 Timothy.

The answer is Nero.

What do we know about Nero?

He covered Christians in pitch, hung them on poles, and set them on fire to use as torches in his garden.

Nero murdered his mother, his aunt, his first wife Octavia (who was also his step-sister) and murdered his second wife by kicking her to death (She was pregnant at the time.)

He then married two different men. The first he castrated and the second looked so much like his second wife that Nero dressed this man up in his second wife’s clothes and called him by his dead wife’s name.

And he burned Rome down and then blamed it on Christians. This led to the empire-wide persecution of believers.

But Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 says we are to give thanks for and pray for him.

If Paul can pray for Nero, you can pray for ___________________.

Next Sunday we will have a guest speaker, Pastor Matt Robinson. When I return on the 24th we will continue to answer the question,

Is it okay for Christians to overthrow their country?

But today you learned that your first responsibility is to pray for all men, especially your leaders, and to give thanks for them.

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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christfocused · 3 years

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How the Church Can Avoid Persecution

I told the church last week that Mayberry is gone and it’s not coming back. The little town and its lifestyle featured in the Andy Griffith Show is gone forever.

In fact, The America of Mayberry has been gone for a long time.

America didn’t change last November when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election. American has been in a state of change for generations.

This change has brought to the US the decline of Christianity and the reality of persecution.

For that reason, I want to take 2021 and prepare our church for this coming persecution. So for the next several months, we will study:

Our Responsibility to One Another and our Responsibility to our community

Our Responsibility to Our Government

How to Test the Spirits

How to Endure Hardship, Suffering, and Persecution

How to Evangelize and Disciple When We are Not Permitted

The Things We Must Die For

In today’s lesson, we will set an important foundation for this series. We will establish a base upon which all the other messages must be built.

And I will share with you four ways that we can avoid the coming persecution.

Let’s Pray

The Foundation

Everything every church does must be based on some key Scripture. Obviously, all Scripture comes from God. All Scripture is equal in importance. But when it comes to the mission and purpose of the church there are five passages that must come first.

Let’s first turn to Matthew 28:19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

What is the popular name for this passage? (The Great Commission.)

A Commission is an instruction or a command given to a group of people or possibly to an individual.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commissioned His apostles, His disciples, and all local churches to do something.

That means whether you are Wakefield Valley Bible Church or Westminster Baptist, you have the same marching orders. Whether you are Church of the Open Door or St. Paul’s in downtown London, God has the same expectation.

A secret house church in China is under this commission. A small group of worshippers meeting under a tree in Kenya are commissioned the same.

The Great Commission is the Mission Statement for every church ever planted. Every small group. Every Sunday School class. Every Christian ministry.

What did Jesus commission us to do?

Make Disciples of Every Nation

Baptize them

Teach them to obey everything Jesus taught

What is the promise of this commission – Jesus will always be with us.

Why do you think this promise is important?

One reason is that when we go about accomplishing the Great Commission, it will seem like no one is with us. We will suffer attacks from Satan and the world.

We must always know that Jesus stands with us as we go about completing His commission.

Every Creature

I did promise to share with you how we can avoid this coming persecution. But first, let’s look at:

Turn to Mark 16:14-18

Years ago I learned that the passage in Matthew 28 is not the only Great Commission. There are actually four more.

In Mark 16:14-18, we find one of these four. I want to share this and the other commissions with you. When I do I want to point out what I have identified as the key teaching in each.

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[b] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

It sounds like Matthew’s but I will point out the preaching of the gospel is not to be exclusive. We are to share the gospel with every creature.

People naturally like to be with people who are like them. What’s the expression? “Birds of the feather flock together.”

For that reason, you end up with places like Little Italy and China Town. This desire to group culturally is not necessarily sinful, but it can lead to prejudice and segregation.

The Jews at the time of Jesus, possibly even the Apostles, were very nationalistic and inward-focused. They did not easily relate to other cultures.

But here, Jesus commands them to leave this mindset behind and to reach everyone with the gospel.

A quote attributed to Martin Luther King Jr. is that “Sunday is the most segregated day of the week.”

Consider your church. Look around at the congregation where you worship. How representative of the surrounding culture is it?

I like what Ed Stetzer says about this.

Mr. Stetzer says

“People like the idea of diversity. They just don’t like being around different people,” “Maybe their sense is that church is the space where they don’t have to worry about issues like this,”

He goes on to say, “If you don’t like diversity, you’re really not going to like heaven.”

But Jesus has called us to not segregate but to share Christ with everyone, regardless of race, gender, or even sexuality.

He is calling us to share the gospel with people who make us uncomfortable.

But don’t let my illustration make you think only black and white, only race.

What about sharing Christ with someone who hates you? That applies here as well.

Look at John 15:18-19

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

On the one hand, Jesus tells us to share with everyone. On the other, he tells us that since we are His we will be hated.

Jesus is telling us to share with those who hate us.

God has called us to share Christ with every creature

America is changing. Christianity is in decline. These changes will soon be felt here. As we go forth and share the gospel with every creature, most of those we meet will hate us. With that hate will come persecution.

The Full Gospel

Persecution is coming, but there is a way we can avoid it. I want to share that with you. But first lest look at Luke 24:44-49

Turn to Luke 24:44-49

We looked at this passage a few weeks back. But we need to return to it with the Great Commission in mind.

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Many churches teach many things other than the gospel. Sometimes they teach good works. Sometimes they teach morality. Often the sermons address current events.

But Jesus called upon us to teach the gospel.

What is the gospel?

It is the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day for our eternal life. It is a command for repentance – a turning from sin and a turning to Christ.

This needs to be the heart and soul of preaching.

I first heard this illustration from J. Vernon McGee. And I have told it over the years. Here it is again.

In England, there is a chapel built over 200 years ago bearing these words over the door: "We Preach Christ Crucified."

The chapel's early pastors did preach Christ crucified. People came with testimonies of how lives were changed, and there was vitality in the church.

But time passed. Vines grew over the motto "We Preach Christ Crucified," until it read-only, "We Preach Christ." The men who stood in the pulpit named the name of Jesus Christ but preached a social gospel of good works and morality.

The vines continued to grow until the motto read "We Preach." And they did. They preached philosophy, ethics, politics, and literature. But not Jesus Christ.

Not long after that, the little chapel was emptied.

I grew up in a church that would be classified a “We preach” church.

Jesus on the cross and the empty tomb was displayed in the stained glass windows. A crucifix hung over the altar to remind us of His death.

The prayers we recited recognized that Jesus died for sin.

But when the priest entered the pulpit to preach, he never once told me why Jesus died and what I needed to believe for salvation. Never in all my years did I hear the gospel taught.

We must preach the fact that Jesus died and rose again. And we must tell people why this is essential.

Persecution is coming. Our country is changing. But we must share the gospel with everyone. Even if it costs us, We must preach Christ crucified and risen.

Sin and Salvation

Soon we will get to what I promised, how Wakefield can avoid the coming persecution. But first, turn to John 20:19-23

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

At first glance, this commission is like the others. But I believe there is something very important in it that the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John wants you to know.

Jesus sent these disciples and sends us. That is the same.

Jesus empowers us with the Holy Spirit. That’s new. I’ll address that later.

The thing that really stands out to me is the ministry of the church in regards to sin. Look at verse 23.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

We know that Christ has commissioned the church to share the gospel with all nationalities, all peoples, even those who hate us.

We know that we are to make disciples of them and to teach them to obey everything that Jesus has spoken.

And now we know that God has commissioned the church to proclaim the hope of forgiveness found in the gospel and the curse of unforgiveness retained by those who reject the gospel.

Let me ask you a few questions:

What motivates God to forgive sin?

Why would God not forgive someone?

Why is that important?

What ultimately happens to the person who accepts the gospel?

What ultimately happens to the person who rejects the gospel?

God has commissioned the church to proclaim this truth – there is sin and death, but then there is salvation in Jesus Christ.

Today, not every church calls sin a sin.

There are many reasons for this; here is one reason. Cultures change what sin is and is not

I’m not good with math. How many years back is 2015? (5-ish)

What is significant about the date of June 26, 2015?

(the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on same-sex marriage, legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage licenses in the case Obergefell v. Hodges.)

As a country, our laws changed. What was once wrong in society, is now allowed.

Countries change. Laws change. People change.

But here’s a question - does God change? (Numbers 23:19,Hebrews 13:8,James 1:17)

I live in a community and interact with all types of people in the community. I believe that I should be gracious to all who I interact with. I believe we should treat each other with kindness and respect.

But as a pastor of this church, it is essential that I proclaim both the curse of sin, the destination of the sinner, but also the salvation that can only be found in Jesus.

America has changed and will change even more. Persecution is on the horizon. But we as a church must continue to proclaim that Jesus forgives sin and saves the sinner from eternal hell.

Empowerment and Company

One last section and then I will share how to avoid the coming persecution. That will be good to know. But first turn to our last commission

Turn to Acts 1:4-8

This is the last commission we will examine.

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

There are two important teachings in this commission.

When we do the work Jesus has called us to do, we are not alone nor are we without power. God has given us the Holy Spirit to do this work.

That means many things. Here are two.

It means that anyone can make disciples, not just professional clergy. Why? Because every believer has been filled by the Holy Spirit.

It means that when we are in a hard place, a place where we are not accepted, a place where we are suffering or under persecution, then we know we are not alone, God is with us.

There is a second thing that stands out in this passage.

God has called us to reach our surrounding community as well as the world.

In fact, I personally think that our heart for local, personal, evangelism, is the true measuring stick for a heart of missions. Not foreign missions.

Come back to me. Stop thinking about your upcoming lunch. I want you to hear from me.

I greatly value the fact that we support foreign missions. It means a great deal to me that we send about 25 percent of our budget to people doing God’s work in the Philippines, Turkey, the continent of Africa, Argentina, Japan, and even Brazil. That number equals about $41,000 dollars per year.

But how much money in our budget is allocated to local outreach? And how much did we spend?

More importantly, do we only write a check and ask the people on that bulletin board to witness on our behalf or do we share Christ as well?

Let me dive even deeper with this last question.

And this question will be directed to both you and to me.

When is the last time you witnessed to someone?

We can no longer hide behind our missionaries and hope they will witness on our behalf.

God commissioned us to make disciples, not just write checks.

Conclusion

Mayberry is long gone. It left long ago. America changed long ago. And it will continue to change.

With this change will come even greater persecution.

I believe persecution will come upon us.

But I have promised all along a way or ways we can avoid this persecution.

Here are four ways we can avoid the coming persecution:

Stop preaching to every person Christ crucified and risen. If we stop that, persecution will pass us by.

Stop telling people that sin is sin and salvation is found only in Jesus. If we stop doing that, then persecution will pass us by.

Stop witnessing to our neighbor and to the world. If we just turn inward and leave everyone alone, then persecution will pass us by.

Stop making disciples and teaching the words of Jesus to those who attend this church. If we stop doing that then persecution will not come.

The way to avoid the coming persecution is to disobey the Great Commission.

Is that what you want to do? (NO)

So since we have decided to

Share the gospel with everyone, even those who hate us

Tell people about sin and salvation

Witness to our neighbors

To make disciples and teach all to obey Christ

Since we have decided to obey the Great Commission, then persecution will come. So now let’s prepare.

Let’s Pray:

“Please God forgive us, forgive me, for not obeying the Great Commission.”

Check out this episode!

#glory #glory of Christ

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