Intro. This morning we saw the Principle that Marriage is of God. It was established by Him, and in reality for Him. To pervert it is to defy God Himself. This morning we saw -
I. THE DIVINE PATTERN
A. Marriage, between a man and a woman, is Rooted in Creation
B. Marriage was Reaffirmed by Christ
C. Marriage is Revealed in the Church and the Lord’s relationship with it.
But there is a problem in our society:
II. THE DECEPTIVE PERVERSION
A. The Clear Condemnation - Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Nothing more is needed to be said!
B. The Controversial Destruction Genesis 19 (Sodom and Gomorrah)
Homosexual revisionists only point to Ezekiel 16:49-50: pride, gluttony, laziness, apathy, etc., and state that the problem in Genesis 19 was that the people were "inhospitable." But let’s look at the verses: 49 "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good."
1. They Had Plenty, and were ungrateful - vs. 49
2. They were Prideful in themselves - Pride, haughty
3. They committed and Abomination - vs. 50 Their sin went to a new low. What was the Sinm the Abomination of Sodom? Genesis 19:5 "And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof." It could not be more clear!
But society cries for us to be tolerant of what God says is intolerable.
III. THE DEFINITIVE PROBLEM
A. Mankind is all Born in Sin - Isa 53:6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
B. The Progression of Sin - Romans 1 teaches that one that is in the sin of homosexuality has gotten there by a progression. It is not a sin of birth, but a sin of gross permissiveness. Sin never satisfies, and new levels of iniquity are sought. Even if they could prove one was born that way - it would only prove that we are born sinners. (Adrian Rogers)
Sin is destroying our society. Sexual sins are wrecking our homes.
Homosexuality, Adultery, Fornication, Pornography, are all damaging us. This is not a civil rights issue, it is a sin issue.
IV. THE DESTRUCTIVE PROGRAM - there is a radical group in our country that wants to rid society of God’s Word and Ways. Goals of the Radical Homosexual Agenda:
- Universal acceptance of the "gay and lesbian" lifestyle.
- Special privileges and rights in the laws (e.g., Hate Crimes Law; Empolyment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 - modeled after the Civil Rights act to protect based on “sexual preference”).
- "Sensitivity training" of our children through public education.
- Tolerance teaching, but not tolerant of those that believe differently.
- Silencing critics in the clergy and Christian media. (Pelosi has declared when they have Democrats in control, they will bring back the “Fairness Doctrine.”"
- Securing the legal benefits of marriage and parenting (legal adoption) for any two people of the same gender. Folks, We are There!
How are they doing it?
A. The Entertainment Arena - TV and Movies have portrayed these lifestyles as normal while Christians watch and laugh.
1. Television
(CNN) -- “Not just in one episode, not just a side character and not just for easy laughs. Issues of homosexuality have arrived in commercial television...” That was not this year, but May, 1999! Shows like Friends, Will and Grace, and Dawsons Creek were named then. Soap operas began making it appear normal in the early ‘90’s. And the church sits and laughs.
2. Movies
2005, Brokeback Mountain, story of Homosexuals in a western format. Made millions - while society made excuses for the movie. None of this is new!
B. The Educational Arena - Patricia Nell Warren, a Lesbian activist said, "It is the first fact of civilization, whoever captures the kids owns the future." And publishers are putting out the books, and librarians are allowing them.
1. One Dad, Two Dads, Brown Dad, Blue Dads - a book after the style of Dr. Seuss that teaches people are the same no matter what color or sexual orientation. For ages Preschool through 2nd grade. (Amazon)
2. And Tango Makes Three - Says it is based on a true story - Roy and Silo, two male penguins, cuddle and share a nest like the other penguin couples, and when all the others start hatching eggs, they want to be parents, too. They bring an egg-shaped rock back to their nest and proceed to start caring for it. A watchful zookeeper decides they deserve a chance at having their own family and gives them an egg in need of nurturing. The “fathers” do a great job of hatching their funny and adorable daughter, and the three can still be seen at the zoo today.
3. Emma and Meesha My Boy: A Two Mom Story -Rosie Odonnell endorsed
4. Not the Only One: Lesbian and Gay Fiction for Teens
5. King and King - Homosexual king, used in a Mass. School.
Reading level ages 4-8 IT is an ALL OUT ATTACK!
C. The Legal Arena - Rogue courts are legislating from the bench.
Massachusetts, California, and now Connecticut. WE must be vigilant, talk it and get the vote out. Our society, families and children are at stake.
V. A DETERMINED PLAN - "All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke We must do something!
A. Action Step 1: We must Pray - 2 Chr 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We need to pray for God’s mercy on a nation that is speeding toward the reprobated condition of Sodom and Gomorrah. We need some righteous to stand. God would have spared them for only 10. Gen. 18:32 "And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake."
B. Action Step 2: Practice
1. We must Live what we say we Believe.
2. We must Practice Biblical Principles of having healthy marriages, as a positive witness to society.
Colossians 4:5 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."
C. Action Step 3: Participate - We need to participate in our "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" as Abraham Lincoln described it.
1. Our Obedience to Government - Matthew 22:21 21 "They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s." As long as Government does not tell us to disobey God. Acts 5:28 "Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
2. Our Influence as Salt and Light Matthew 5:13-16 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
- Salt is a Preservative - Salt Enhances the Flavor - Light reveals what it Real!
Vote and make sure others vote.
D. Action Step 4: Proclaim - We need to proclaim the promise!
There is still hope for a hopeless world 1 Cor. 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." God can redeem the sinner and give them genuine hope. God will change any that will come to Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Concl. We need a new burden, and a new fervor for our city, state and country. Do we care? Are we so complacent that none of this bothers us?
Abraham Lincoln once said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” We have the responsibility of standing for right.
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
