1 Today is a different sort of Sunday her at Praise and across our entire nation, and because some may not be aware of what Pulpit Freedom Sunday is I want to take a few minutes to explain before getting into the heart of the message.
Let me state that everything I will say and do this morning is in the same vein as Peter and the other apostles found in both Acts 5:29 and Acts 4:19-20. And in the spirit of those pastors who both preceeded the American Revolution and those who led during the American Revolution.
Acts 5:29 reads - Peter and the Act’s 4:19-20 reads - But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."
other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings!
Fix that thought in your mind. Memorize that vs. That must be the stand of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
None of what I will say violates in any way Paul’s writings in Romans chapter 13concerning govt.
But rather affirms that and the words of - Prov. 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
With that in mind I want us to read together what Romans 13 tells us about govt.
13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
I need to insert here that the governing authorities here speaks of the form of Govt that is set up to rule. ( The powers by which one acts.) It is not speaking about the individual person presently occupying a particular position.
The authorities that exist have been established by God.( Prophet/ priest/ King ) 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Last I checked the authorities that ruled this nation was a form of govt. called a Republic, not a Democracy. A nation ruled by laws, and the chief of that being the Constitution of this nation.
3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
• Here the word switches from Authorities to rulers.
• Rulers are the individuals who enforce the authorities of a nation.
• And their role is clearly defined: They are to be Gods servant for our good. Underline that
• Not all rulers are good and that is what Peter and John were facing in Acts 4 or 5
• Prov. 29:2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Government is a neutral term – But the implications of what God meant are clear in this passage of scripture.
Government –
1. the group of people who control and make decisions for a country, state, etc. Senate, Executive, Supreme Court. State and County. Its who occupies these offices.
2. a particular system used for controlling a country, state, etc. Christian, atheistic, communistic.
3. the process or manner of controlling a country, state, etc. In our nation it’s a Republic, a nation of laws, under the Constitution.
AMERICA MADE A CHOICE IN GOVT at her inception.
Our Federal Government – was drawn from the Bible, Isa. 33:22 For a. the Lord is our judge, - Judicial
b. the Lord is our lawgiver, - Legislative
c. the Lord is our king; - Executive
it is he who will save us. Dependence on Gods Word.
Were going to look at 3 important pieces of why the pulpit must be free to preach all of Gods Word, at all times, to every part of mankind, from family to human govt. And to call out sin regardless of who.
1. Historical - What does history teach us about human govt that is important to our Christian beliefs
2. Constitutional – What did our founders leave us as a road map to continue on a right Godly path.
3. Biblical - Most importantly, and the key reason for my being part of this event. Where is the line between obedience to God vs. obedience to human got.
How does the government that our founders gave us compare to what we have today.
I want to begin with a video clip that explains why the church nationwide currently has come to the place of needing to contend with an unjust law that violates both our Biblical rights and the Constitution of the United States.
Erik Stanley – Lead Counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, Pulpit Freedom Sunday initiative.
PLAY VIDEO
As stated at the heart of human govt are those that will lead it. Government itself was established by God to assure the continuance of the truth of His Word throughout the world.
From Ancient times till today we have known good govt and bad. From Saul to David, from Lincoln to Kennedy to Reagan, to Obama. Some good and some who actually lead us away from God.
The Bible tells us very plainly how to select those who will lead us. What should we be looking for in them!
This morning we will be looking at :
1. True to History
2. True to the Constitution
3. And most importantly True to the Word of God.
When we look at History, both that of human historians and the Word of God together we glean this:
Deut 1:13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you."
Ex. 18:21 But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
In selecting David to be King over Israel we read this in I Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
It isn’t hard to see what our founding fathers though. Here in 2 quotes, one of John Jay, the other Patrick Henry.
John Jay, First Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty...of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."
Patrick Henry It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!"
But where did their views come from?
• What made them so boldly call out for Christian Principals.
HISTORY - Again both Biblical and secular.
• We know from the scripture that when the world became utterly corrupt God sent a world wide flood and destroyed all but Noah and his family. Human govt. had failed.
• We know when the moral depravity of Sodom and Gommorah became to great God reigned down destruction on both cities. Again, human govt. failed.
We know ultimately in -- Revelation 11:15 we are told. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."
All through History and in particular the history of these United States we see GOD. His order.
When the Pilgrims first arrived at Plymouth - the Mayflower Compact -
In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620. ( In the year of our Lord)
On April 18, 1775, John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Reverend Clarke. British General Gage was calling for the colonists to lay down their arms and all would be forgiven. The next morning British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen; "Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England."
The immediate response of Reverend Jonas Clarke was: "We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus.
Jonathan Trumbull, a crown-appointed governor, wrote back to England: If you ask an American, who is his master? He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ.
That battle cry soon rang throughout the colonies making this not just a battle for rights, but for religious freedom as well. That would explain why the very first amendment of the Constitution deals with our religious freedoms.
TRUE TO THE CONSTITUTION: THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
First portion of the 1st Amendment : Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
16 simple word’s – placed there by our founders to assure that we would never be hindered in the practice of our Christian faith.
-- Proverbs 22:28 -"Remove not the ancient landmarks which your fathers have set."
Our ancient land marks are the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. They are what God has given us to steer our nation in His ways
Play the Video here -
Our constitution was set up with the help of God. America was called to be a city set upon a hill. A place where Gods Word would go forth through out the world. Our constitution, more particularily the 1st Amendment assured us of that. But over the past several Administrations that has been increasingly attacked.
PRESENTLY: The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) and the Washington, D.C.-based American Humanist Association are the two leading assaulters on our religious freedoms.
These two bullying organizations claim the use of the Scripture passages violates the First Amendment to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to protect the states from the Federal government interfering with religion, speech, press, and assembly. That’s why the First Amendment begins with “Congress shall make no law. . .”
VIDEO
These anti-Christian organizations are turning the First Amendment on its head claiming it requires the opposite of what it was designed to do.
The national government, not only can’t establish a religion, but it can’t “prohibit the free exercise of religion.”
These two atheist organizations want the courts to step in and rule contrary to the Constitution, the history of the United States, and specifically Christian rights to live in accordance to the teachings of Scripture.
The only reason they even dare try this is because the men and women who occupy the Halls of Congress and the White House, have lost all regard for Gods Laws. They are no longer the good govt that is there to uphold truth. They fail the test of Romans 13
Just a few examples: Obamacare and Abortion - US vs. Hobby Lobby.
Gordon College in Mass. Accredited or not accredited … that is the question. Keeping to its biblical code of behavior as a Christian college since 1889, Gordon College has now been given an ultimatum by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC): be an accredited academic institution by accepting “homosexual practice” or stick to its Christian teachings on sexual behavior and be unaccredited.
Jason and David Benaham - Lost their TV show because of their view on one man, one woman marriage.
Common Core
Aaron and Melissa Klein - Recent speakers at the values voters summit. A bakery forced to close and facing 150,000 in court costs for not baking cakes for same sex marriages. A violation of their first Amendment rights.
Which brings me to the most important reason why we must speak out, against all forms of ungodly behavior be it in the home, the work place, the market place or the government.
Because God has charged the shepherd with taking heed for his flock. Acts. 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
He has called us to be watchmen on the wall. Ezek. 3 and 33
As I stated: In Acts 4 and Acts 5 The early apostles made it clear we must stand for what God has said anytime its conflicts with what man has said.The Bible: Gods leaders who rebuke the kings when they forsake God’s Law:
• Samuel rebuked King Saul (1 Samuel 13:10-14)
• Nathan rebuked King David (2 Samuel 12)
• A Man of God rebuked King Jeroboam (1 Kings 13)
• Elijah rebuked King Ahab (1 Kings 16:29 – 1 Kings 17:2; 1 Kings 18:16-20; 1 Kings 21:17-29)
• Elijah rebuked King Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:1-18)
• Elisha rebuked Jehoram, King of Israel (2 Kings 3:1-14)
• The prophets warned of the pending destruction of Jerusalem because of the sins of King Manasseh (2 Kings
21:10-16)
• Jeremiah / John the Baptist.
Romans 13 if anything demands that believers uphold the law of the land. Our constitution is that law, and Gods Word is our guide. Bonehoeffer
I know people don’t like talk of elections and candidates – We have been convinced that is wrong, but a great man in our nations history sure didn’t feel that way.
Abraham Lincoln July 31, 1846- I do not think I could myself, be brought to support a man for office, whom I knew to be an open enemy of, and scoffer at, religion.
Joshua – Choose you this day.
VOTING OUR BELIEFS – Not party affiliation, or as God warned, not the best looking, the most eye catching
Deut 1:13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you."
Ex. 18:21 But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
1. A society that used to claim Christianity now allows the murder of 4,000 innocent babies a day – government
approved and funded by our taxes.
2. We have an irresponsible spending addiction and instead of cutting spending and paying down the national
debt, government keeps spending what they do not have.
3. Judges overrule the will of the people in many states that once voted to protect the definition of marriage, and
homosexual activists continue to push their agenda in every part of our culture.
4. The next step must necessarily be to silence the speech of Bible-believing Christians. God was kicked out, and
His Word was banned from public schools that once promoted and valued its principles. Instead, they’ve
ushered in sex education including the approval of sexual experimentation and government-funded
distribution of condoms to young kids, promoted by Planned Parenthood.
5. We used to have it all, didn’t we? In such a blessed nation, it’s obviously very easy to take things for granted.
It’s also easy to trust in our own strength, wealth, and accomplishments. We forget what it cost our founders
and early American patriots to form this republic.
6. Most importantly, we forget what it cost our Savior, Jesus Christ, to provide a way for us to be set free from sin and the chains of this temporary world.
7. We have also forgotten much of the history that has under-girded America and society’s tone has gone from
spiritual to secular.
8. We have gone from having a reverence for Almighty God to being complacent at best and hostile toward God
at worst. Pride comes before a fall and this country is tumbling quickly.
We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and
strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were
produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have
become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the
God that made us! It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our
national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness. Not my words, not some current preacher, but
President Abraham Lincoln March 30, 1863
• Voting is a blessing from God To whom much has been given, much will be required.
• If you aren’t registered you need to before this coming election.
• If you are registered you need to vote.
• And you need to do it according to your Christian beliefs, not some party affiliation or personal like for one or
the other candidates.
• America will tell God yes or no this election, and trust me God will act according to our choice.
