1. In June, 2013 the SCOTUS determined that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), signed by Bill Clinton on 9.21.96 was unconstitutional. DOMA allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states. Until Section 3 of the Act was ruled unconstitutional in 2013, DOMA, in conjunction with other statutes, had also effectively barred same-sex married couples from being recognized as "spouses" for purposes of federal laws, or receiving federal marriage benefits.
2. With all that is going on today, do you ever feel like the couple in Choctaw, OK who had to stand by and watch their house fall into the Canadian River because of unstoppable erosion? How many times does it seem like there is nothing we can do to stop the plague of rebellion against God?
3. Speaking against Homosexual behavior is considered "hate speech" in many parts of Europe; Canada; Scott Lively (President of Defending the Family International) is being sued in US Federal Court for "crimes against humanity" for preaching against homosexuality in UGANDA, Africa.
4. Romans 1.26-27
I. Marriage -- The Intentions of God: ONE Man and ONE Woman for Life -- Matthew 19.4-6
4 He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
A. "Male and Female" -- Necessary to obey God's first command -- "Be fruitful and multiply" -- Creation -- key part of the image of God
B. Judaism -- set God's standard of sexuality in the world
1. Pagans -- "Penetrator and Penetrated"
a. "Julius Caesar was every woman's man and every man's woman"
b. Women for propagation; men for pleasure
c. Gymnasia -- statues of fertility gods; Hercules -- symbol of homosexuality; nudity; intention for promoting homosexual behavior
2. God: Husband and Wife for life
a. No Divorce/Immorality
b. No Homosexual Behavior
II. God's Declarations About Homosexuality
A. Sodom and Gomorrah -- Genesis 19.4-5
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house; 5 and they called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them."
just as Sodom and GomorŒrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Jude 7
Note also: Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food [gluttony], and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16.49
B. Torah Commands
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. Leviticus 18.22
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them. Leviticus 20.13
C. NT -- Romans 1.26-27
1. Extreme Rebellion -- symptom of our day
a. Sanction my misconduct
b. "God made me this way"
c. What about other sins? Anger; greed; envy; gossip
Four preachers had a friendly meeting back in more conservative days. During the conversation one preacher said, "Our people come to us and pour out their hearts, confess sins and needs. Let's do the same. Confession is good for the soul." In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to the movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn't confess. The others pressed him saying, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret vice?" Finally he answered, "It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here."
2. God demands change/growth -- 1 Peter 2.2; 2 Peter 3.18
III Gay Agenda: Disruption of God's Intentions
[Balaam -- couldn't curse Israel so he enticed them with sexual sin
Pergamum -- 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. Revelation 2.14
A. The Reality of Homosexuality
1. In world -- many families affected by it
2. Not of God
B. Gay Agenda Pushes Past Tolerance
1. Tolerance (right to be left alone) moves to acceptance (integration into society with equality)
2. Acceptance moves to Favored Status then to Supremacy
[Nazi hierarchy
3. Intolerance of Gays toward others
a. Gay Movement has pushed past every obstacle so far -- Military Rules and Regulations; Congress; POTUS; SCOTUS -- giving new definitions to marriage
b. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson were the ones who made the laws for God's marriage, which have been in the USA even starting earlier in 1607 (400+ years). George Washington court martialed homosexuals from the military and called sodomy the "infamous crime" as he was too ashamed to mention the sin. George Washington commanded the whole military to attend Christian church services and also not to offend God in sin so God would protect the military. George Washington knows what is Constitutional.
Thomas Jefferson further suggested laws to castrate rapists and homosexuals as he didn't approve of the sins and how they affect the nation. The Encyclopedia Brittanica wouldn't mention the name of homosexual sin also, but instead said: "The nameless crime, which was the disgrace of Greek and Roman civilization..."
c. Now aiming at churches -- reason Scott Lively is in court for "Crimes Against Humanity"
d. Attacks will come from all directions of society -- under the rule of the Gay Agenda -- splitting denominations with attacks form enlightened believers --
e. Goal -- collapse of Christian infrastructure
f. Ultimate demise of this country
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." ~John Adams
C. What's Coming?
1. Push for Acceptance of: Polygamy (Mormons; Muslims)
2. Acceptance of Pedophilia (N. Colorado Gazette)
3. IRONY -- Russia has banned Gay Athletes in 2014 Olympics; also banned gay couples from adopting their children;
IV. Practical Suggestions
So, what do we do? We are punished for freely speaking against such activities; we have it rammed down our throats via TV and media (turn off the TV and read the Bible) [Clean Up TV Campaign
A. Homosexuality is a Test
1. Homosexuality represents extreme rebellion
2. Noah's flood was preceded by "marriage and giving in marriage" (Matthew 24.37-40)
a. By people with only evil thoughts (Genesis 6.5)
b. Some Hebrew scholars -- Homosexual marriage brought the end
3. Test to Homosexuals
a. As morality for the Heterosexual -- "Born this way"
b. Question to determine -- Is it God or me? Is it Creator or Creature?
c. May call for sacrifice -- Matthew 19.12
For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."
B. Biblical Action Involves:
1. Preparation -- Know the will of God -- don't be ignorant
2. Practice -- WWJD?
a. The will of God
b. Practice loving compassion to reclaim the lost -- of any kind
c. Yeshua (Jesus) did not deal with Homosexuals (as far as we know) -- he did deal with adultery and other sins -- the principle os the same
3. Perception -- recognize the reality -- spiritual war for the souls of people
4. Proactivity, not reactive or defensive -- Matthew 16.18
a. Army of God in cosmic war with reclaiming of people as our goal
The Greatest Raid: In 1944, American forces were closing in on the Japanese-occupied Philippines. The Japanese held around 500 American prisoners who had survived the Bataan Death March in a notorious POW camp at Cabanatuan and subjected them to brutal treatment and summary execution. Many prisoners were also stricken with malaria. Army Rangers were sent to rescue the POW's and defeat the enemy. We have a similar mission.
b. Contending for faith for the souls of people
5. Proclamation
a. Power of the gospel -- Romans 1.16-17
b. GOOD news -- a way out of sinful activity; addiction; bondage
c. A matter of choice and hope -- 1 Corinthians 6.9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
6. PRAY -- PRAY -- PRAY!
1. ["The Further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." ~ George Orwell
a. I don't have all answers or even understand everything
b. People do not have to act on their impulses
c. We ALL can be better disciplined and dependent on God (Purpose of fasting?)
2. I do know God LOVES Homosexual people and adulterers and all other sinners
Billy Graham was asked what he would do if he found out his son was homosexual -- "I would love him MORE."
a. Tend to think sexual sin is the worst
b. All sin is bad -- separates from God --
c. Sin comes with consequences -- this world and in the world to come
d. Greatest consequence -- eternal separation from God (i.e., death)
3. What would this community of faith be like IF ANYONE could confess ANY sin and ask for help, support, encouragement, etc, because we were looking to redeem and restore rather than condemn and criticize?
a. Easier to cut off
b. Harder to contend for the faith of people ensnared in sin
4. Homosexuality is a sin that can be forgiven!
