The past couple weeks, I have heard a term more and more that to be quite honest with you, as a person who has not served a day in the military, hadn’t heard the term, and even when I did, I was a bit unsure what it meant.
Here is the meaning of the term STAND DOWN: A relaxation from a state of readiness or alert.
As it relates to the military, it is quite clear that the soldier is commanded to NOT go on the offensive against the enemy, but to cease from either defending or advancing upon the enemy.
I’m sure details will come out in the future as to the entire story concerning the attack on our embassy in Libya in which 4 Americans were killed by a terrorist group on 9/11 of 2012. However, it’s been reported that those who were there on the ground going through the nightmare of the attack were told to “stand down”.
Again, these things may all come out in further detail in the future, and my point is today is not about the attack, but those words “STAND DOWN” are very intriguing to me, especially in light of an upcoming election that has the potential to determine what kind of nation we have become, and will become in the future.
My concern today is not party affiliation, and I can honestly say before God that if a candidate from either party supports the values of what I see clearly shared in His word, then that person will have my vote.
I believe today, if we as the church as a whole around the Nation, and yes, even around the world would begin to care about the things God cares about, and I mean really care to the point of taking action, we could take our Nation to places spiritually that would bring great victory, both for our families as well as for our pocketbooks.
The Bible tells us about the battle that you and I face:
1 Peter 5:8-9 (MSG) 8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. 9 Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.
We are constantly receiving the message to “STAND DOWN” whether it be from a media with no sense of right or wrong anymore, or from friends or family who think for some reason that if we are going to serve God, then we have to do it in secret so that we don’t offend anyone at all.
Well, I believe that if you and I are going to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a dark world, then we are obviously going to offend people because Jesus offended people everywhere He went, and it was the religious crowd who was often the most offended.
I believe today that America and the Church in America is at a Crossroad, and it is up to each and every one of us here to decide whether it’s time to “stand down” or “stand up”! I believe it’s time to stand up… do you?
Today, I’m going to look at just 3 areas that to me are the most pressing and needful in this day:
1. Stand Up For The Unborn
2. Stand Up For The Family
3. Stand Up For Jesus
By the way, that’s not the order of priority because they are all important but I do believe that if we really Stand Up for Jesus, then we will also stand for the things He would stand for. In other words, we will feel and sense His heartbeat and love the things he loves, and hate the things He hates with a holy hatred.
So, soldiers in the army of God it is not time to stand down, but time to:
I. STAND UP FOR THE UNBORN
Before I even touch this subject, I want to assure anyone here who may have had an abortion in the past, that God forgives and if you have come to Him and asked for forgiveness from Sin that assuredly He has forgiven you, and there is no reason whatsoever to sit here today in condemnation and fear.
On September 11, 2001 over 4,000 people were killed. They were future leaders of this nation, doctors who could have saved many, scientist who may have found a cure for cancer, evangelist who may have lead thousands to the Lord and they were loved. Yes on September 11, 2001, evil doers killed over 4000 people.
Some of you might in fact know that the September 11th attacks killed 2,819 people and wondering why I have my numbers wrong!
But the truth is that many people don’t realize that on September 12, 2001 another 4000 people and again on September 13 and 14 and 15. Every day over 4000 people are killed. These are unborn babies- 4000 each day, 28,000 each week, 112,000 each month and 1,460,000 each year.
On September 11, 2001 terrorists killed nearly 2819 people, and the outcry for justice was great, the cry of pain was heard throughout our Nation. Swift and accurate justice was rendered. 4000 unborn babies are being killed every day, but we see no weeping, no anger, and no outcry for justice from our Government. This caring must start with the people of God.
Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV) 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Folks, I grow so weary of hearing that somehow that beautiful little child being formed in the womb of the mother is somehow less of a person depending on the circumstances that led up to the conception and formation of life within her body.
A human being is a human being, and cannot be reduced down to something we simply cast off as choice.
Somehow we have gotten so twisted in our thinking in America, and I use the word “we” very loosely here because the majority of us had nothing to do with it, but I’ve shared this with you before, and want to share it again to show how far we have fallen:
The Endangered Species Act protects 3 amphibians, 56 birds, 7 clams, 2 crustaceans, 29 fish, 8 mammals, 21 reptiles, 2 snails and 42 plants - and their unborn offspring. But not an unborn human baby.
I am finding more and more that unless the Christian stands up for the Unborn that indeed there are not many others who will take up the fight because of the extreme intimidation from those who would try to make us believe that it’s all about a woman’s right to choose what to do with “her own body”.
Then, to make things doubly wrong is when Christians are more concerned about the state of their own financial well-being than the spiritual well-being of our Nation.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This verse of scripture applies to so many things in our lives! If we will continue to place God first, then He will make sure that our needs are supplied, yet there is a constant tug from so many other places and voices that cry out for our attention, and yes, even good voices!
You see, to really stand up for God and the principles of the Word of God, it will take extra tenacity with each and every day we live on this earth because the enemy is not one to just roll over and allow us to advance without some kind of resistance.
There are no valid reasons to devalue life.
1. One question often raised today, “What if the baby is born into a horrific family situation, wouldn’t be better for the child to the dead? A mercy killing of sorts.
2. I admit that my heart cries out with pain when I see and read about some of the children of our country that are abused in so many ways.
a) But neither you nor I or anyone else has the right to play God, who is the only one who knows the future.
b) No one would ever suggest going out into the world and rounding up all the young children in miserable abusive situations and having them executed!
3. We, as Christians, must work and use our influence to try to make life better for these children.
4. Another reason for taking the life of an unborn child is often given in instances of rape or incest.
a) These are unbelievable situations -- tragic and grieving to our hearts and the Lord’s.
b) But I must say that I’ve never known two wrongs to make a right.
c) It was never the baby’s fault that these crimes were committed -- a life is the consequence of the terrible sin.
5. Statistics show that only 4% of those abortions are for the sake of the mother’s life.
a) 96% are for convenience of the mother.
b) In other words 96% of the 40,000,000 abortions are performed for birth control.
38,400,000
Folks, it is high time you and I stop STANDING DOWN, and we start STANDING UP for the Unborn! When you vote on Tuesday, Stand Up not only physically, but also spiritually!
Not only should we Stand for the Unborn, I believe today it is time we:
II. STAND UP FOR THE FAMILY
One of the hot button issues of the day is one that we would have never dreamed would even be talked about in the context of a Presidential or Congressional campaign, and its’ the topic of “Same Sex Marriage”, or whatever you want to call it.
Yet, here we find ourselves in this situation, not just because there is an election coming up, but there are many in our society who have decided that we need to no longer define marriage as a union between a man and a woman only, but can now be defined as a union between a man and a man, a woman and a woman, and quite honestly, who knows what the attempt will be to define it as 20 years from now should the Lord tarry.
Now, if there is ever an issue that Christians are told to “Stand Down” on, it is this one, yet, the Word of God makes it clear that this is wrong. Here are just a few of the verses that speak out against homosexuality.
Romans 1:18-27 (NIV)
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Here’s a few of the ways the enemy tells the Christian to “Stand Down”, and it usually comes from other people who have no regard or concern for the Word of God.
“You’re just a bigot and a hater of people” –
While I personally believe that the Bible makes it clear that we need to reach out in love to those around us, it definitely does not require us to make concessions of Biblical values and commands to placate those who are in defiance to the Word.
A question asked by Gallup back in May of 2011 asked this:
“Just by your best guess, what percent of Americans would you say today are Gay or Lesbian”
Here’s the results of that question:
U.S. adults, on average, estimate that 25% of Americans are gay or lesbian. More specifically, over half of Americans (52%) estimate that at least one in five Americans are gay or lesbian, including 35% who estimate that more than one in four are. Thirty percent put the figure at less than 15%.
Well, the way our society is pushing us to accept this as “the new normal”, or “the modern family”, in reality, Gallup itself has just come out with a poll that shows how far off in their perception of the way it is in America:
In the largest study on the issue in history, here is the question put out to over 121,000 Americans just this year with the results being published on October 18th by Gallup -
“Do you personally identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender” –
And the answer is! Only 3.4% of the people questioned gave the answer of “yes”. This is actually down from 3.8% between 2004 and 2008 –
Because of what we believe to be a growing demand by a growing segment of our population, here we are somehow in America attempting to re-define something that God intended to be between a man and a woman right from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve were created:
Genesis 2:18 (NIV) 18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 2:21-22 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Let me just say this, if it’s a God idea, it’s a good idea, and as a matter of fact, it’s the best idea, and I say it’s time to STAND UP for God’s ideas, and not STAND DOWN!
While this is a major topic this year, let me also remind you today that sex outside of the context of marriage between a man and a woman is also called sin, and there are enough verses in the Bible to back this up as well.
So often, we forget this, and simply shows up as one of the reasons we as a society have fallen so far, and relatively speaking so fast.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not here today to slam and put down, but I still believe that God’s way is the absolute best way! There are no better ideas, or more “up to date” ideas that work today that may not have worked back then.
We live in a society that has become so permissible and yet, at the same time has become so far away from God, and moving further and further away with each passing year.
I have heard someone say that if God does not judge America, then He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Well, that may sound like a neat saying, but let me say that God makes absolutely not mistakes! We live in an amazing age of Grace, yet there is only so far that God will go before His judgment is poured out.
I don’t know about you, but I’m so happy for the grace and mercy of God because I sure have needed it many times in my life!
The Forgiveness of God is not the Permission of God! In other words, just because He forgives us of Sin doesn’t mean He approves of Sin!
So, even as the enemy says to “Stand Down” in our fight on moral issues today, I believe once again, that it’s time to “Stand Up” for righteousness and the family, and yes, one of the ways we can do that is when we are in the voting booth.
Not only should we Stand Up for The Unborn, and Stand Up For The Family, the 3rd one I want to look at today is by far the most important one:
III. STAND UP FOR JESUS
How can I say this is the most important? Well, I believe today that when you and I as God’s people Stand up for Jesus, then these other things will be taken care of because in reality, when we stand for Jesus, we stand up for everything pertaining to life and Godliness in a godless world!
I would be so bold as to say that the ills of society and even political issues that you and I are facing today are often due to the fact the church has kept silent while the enemy does his best to run roughshod over the things of God.
When I go into the voting booth, whether it be on Tuesday or any other time, I am not looking to vote for a person who believes absolutely everything I do as it pertains to God, yet I am familiar enough already with the Word of God that I want to research the issues, and determine which candidate or candidates for President, Senate, and other offices come closest to Godly and Biblical values.
When I’m asked if “I’m personally better off than 4 years ago”, that is a question that I can easily ignore because I’m more concerned about the spiritual and moral welfare of our Nation than I am the financial welfare of me and my household.
Today, I want to assure you that the overall problem in America does not originate from the State House or White House, but it comes from the Church House!
I saw this statistic yesterday that is absolutely stunning to me and an indictment upon the church or those who call themselves Christians.
43% of Americans claim to be Christian. Less than half of them are registered to vote. Less than half of those registered, WILL vote.
Here’s one even more stunning! 22 Percent of Pastors Are Still Undecided Voters
In 1963, prayer was removed from schools in yet another attempt to rid America of any reference to God. President Ronald Reagan recognized the danger of this act when he said:
“Our Pledge of Allegiance states that we are ‘one nation under God,’ and our currency bears the motto, ‘In God We Trust.’ The morality and values such faith implies are deeply embedded in our national character. Our country embraces those principles by design, and we abandon them at our peril. Yet in recent years . . . Americans . . . [have] for the sake of religious tolerance . . . forbidden religious practice in the classrooms. The law of this land has effectively removed prayer from our classrooms. How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an abiding faith in our Creator?”
Somehow, the enemy over the years has gotten the church not only to “STAND DOWN”, but to “LAY DOWN” and fall asleep while he seeps his wickedness through every crack in the wall, and continues to pound upon every weakness surrounding our families and nation.
Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
This verse of scripture is not talking about a physical wall that needed to be built back in the days of Ezekiel, but a spiritual wall that needed to not only be built, but to be defended as well.
The previous verses of scripture talk about the fact that the priests and politicians of that day were making a mockery of the things of God and I’m going to share those verses in a few moments.
I watched a news clip the other evening in which 2 ministers, or at least with the title of Rev. in front of their names proudly defended their position that abortion and gay marriage are not issues that would prevent them from continuing to vote the way they have voted for years and years.
I say that God is still looking for leaders, whether in the pastoral area, or political realm who will stand up for right, and stand up for Jesus regardless of the personal price they may have to pay!
Listen to the verses preceding in Ezekiel, and tell me this doesn’t sound like a picture of America today:
Ezekiel 22:26-29 (MSG) 26 " 'Your priests violated my law and desecrated my holy things. They can't tell the difference between sacred and secular. They tell people there's no difference between right and wrong. They're contemptuous of my holy Sabbaths, profaning me by trying to pull me down to their level. 27 Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want. 28 Your preachers cover up for the politicians by pretending to have received visions and special revelations. They say, "This is what God, the Master, says..." when God hasn't said so much as one word. 29 Extortion is rife, robbery is epidemic, the poor and needy are abused, outsiders are kicked around at will, with no access to justice.'
Rapaciusly - given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.
I hear people say, “I hate politics”, so can’t get involved in voting. Well, if more people who claim to be Christians would actually exercise their freedom to vote that others have fought and died for, then perhaps we wouldn’t be in many of the positions we are in today.
Bottom line is this though, regardless of who you cast your votes for on Tuesday. We must continue to STAND UP for Jesus in a world that is working every angle to intimidate and squelch the voice of the true Christian who still holds up the Word of God as our rule of faith and practice.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus
Ye soldiers of the cross.
Lift high his royal banner;
It must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory
His army he shall lead
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus;
The trumpet call obey;
Stand forth in mighty conflict
In this his glorious day.
Let all his faithful serve him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger
And strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus;
Stand in his strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
You dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor;
Each piece put on with prayer.
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
