Jiminy Cricket part 3
Thesis: We need to know the difference between God’s voice, Satan’s voice, our own voice, and others voices. It is a matter of life and death. One voice brings life, resurrection, peace and the others bring death, destruction, and chaos.
Review Last two weeks messages- Power Point slides 1-9!
Introduction:
There are voices battling for control of our minds and we must be determined to listen to the right voice, which is God’s so that we stay focused on the mission he has called us to.
LaHaye states, “If Christ’s church becomes sufficiently aroused to the fact that humanism is winning the battle for the mind, she will awaken millions of pro-moral pro-Americans- and together they will vote their amoral, one-world humanist overlords out of office and replace them with traditional, pro-moral leaders” (88).
Cal Thomas states a puzzling fact, “America, which once promoted God and biblical values, now opposes them, and Russia, which once opposed God and biblical values, now welcomes and promotes them” (103).
So what has happened to one of the greatest educational and governmental systems in the world? The United States system was originally based on biblical principles but over the last 40 years it has been slowly overtaken by secular humanists.
Power Point Presentation:
10.Humanists believe! 11.Dobson Quote 12.Why Listen to Humanists? 13,14. Scripture verses.
As Paul Harvey says “And now for the rest of the story!”:
Clip from David Barton’s work: Keys to Good Government.
Power Point Presentation: 15.Humanists 5 basic beliefs 16.Ephesians 6:13,14
T.S.- The fourth voice battling for control of our minds is the humanistic voice of mankind. Satan is the driving force behind this voice even though mankind would deny it.
I. The fourth voice is the humanistic voice of the world.
a. The humanistic voice says’ “I can do all things through me!”
i. James Dobson stated, “The secular humanistic system of values has now become the predominant way of thinking in most of the power centers of society.”
ii. Paul Kurtz stated, “No deity will save us; we must save ourselves.”
1. Romans 1:22-23 states, “22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
2. Humanism has five basic beliefs according to Tim LaHaye’s book Mind Siege pages 70-86.
a. He says they are:
i. Atheism- the belief that there is no God.
ii. Evolution- Since there is no God there is no creation just evolution to explain man’s existence.
1. There belief comes from Darwin’s theory.
2. Despite evolutions frauds, lies and weaknesses, humanists stick to it zealously because their disbelief in God requires it.
iii. Amorality – which means there is no absolute morality. Anything goes because man is an evolving animal and his or her instincts will guide them to what is right for them.
1. Consider some humanistic voices on the following subjects:
a. On sexual experimentation – “…We must accept that adolescent sexual experimentation is not just inevitable but actually necessary for normal development” (77)
b. On premarital sex- Discuss it and tell what options are available like petting, masturbation and mutual orgasm then on to intercourse (77).
i. No talk on abstinence!
c. On extramarital sex- “An extramarital affair that’s really solid might have very good results” (77).
d. On Sexology Magazine – “Sexology magazine is no more pornographic than the Bible “(78).
i. A magazine full of pornographic pictures and immorality.
iv. Autonomous Man – Man in their view is autonomous, self-directed, godlike person with unlimited goodness and potential (78).
1. LaHaye states, “Humanism assumes that man is innately good and capable of solving his problems independently of any Supreme being” (80).
2. Yet history has repeatedly showed that an person with autonomous free thinking with no absolutes leads to chaos and destruction.
3. LaHaye adds “Today’s philosophy of education is obsessed with self-actualization, self-image, self-love, self-sufficiency, self-esteem, self-satisfaction-self, self, self” (80).
a. Today we live in one of the most self-centered societies in the history of mankind.
4. The Christian mind is told by the Lord that it is born to serve where the humanistic voice says no it’s to be pleased!
v. Globalism – Humanistic voice always cries for bigger government. To them this is the answer to all problems in society bigger government solves them for the individuals.
1. The truth is less government produces more freedom – the bigger the government the lesser you have of individual freedom.
a. Just ask the former Communist citizens.
b. The humanistic voice is strong in America in the following areas:
i. Higher education especially in Secular Universities.
ii. In the Media.
1. The Printed page of most Newspapers are humanistic.
2. The television is controlled by humanistic thinkers and promoters.
3. The news on television is controlled by Anchor people who are humanistic over 80% are. How many conservative anchor people do you know?
4. Talk Shows- The overwhelming majority of their guests are amoral thinkers. Conservative on these shows are treated as threats to the good life.
5. The movie industry- Volumes could be written on how this industry has slammed away at God’s moral system of life.
iii. The American Civil Liberties Union.
1. LaHaye states, “The most effective humanist organization for destroying the laws, morals, and traditional rights of Americans has been the ACLU “(187).
a. Because of this organization prayer, Bible reading, the ten commandments, God, Bible study, release time classes, Easter and Christmas celebrations focusing on Christ have been either banned or curtailed by their efforts (189).
iv. In a lot of government positions you discover humanistic minds.
c. Christianity and the voice of humanism are in opposition today because there voices of direction come from two different sources. Christianity is driven and directed by God and Humanism is driven and directed by Satan.
i. LaHaye states, “The humanist’s faith in man and his inherent goodness stands in marked contrast to the Christian position on the Fall” (87).
ii. But is imperative to make our stand today against the voices that are contrary to God Ephesians 6:13,14 tells us to take our stand against the voices that are trying to lead us and our country astray– Power point! Ephesians text!
Summary and Conclusion:
So what can we do to make sure we are listening to the right voices? You may also be thinking “How do we get others to listen to the right voice?”
1. We do it by making a commitment to grow in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible.
a. This process of growth and maturity in Christ happens by:
i. Praying- Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
ii. Reading and listening to God’s Word – II Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
iii. Reading Christian literature
iv. By learning how to forgive others in the Body of Christ – Ephesians 4:30-32 “ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
v. Listening to mature teachers and preachers in Christ
vi. Attending church regularly – Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
vii. By fellowshipping with believers – Acts 2:42-47
viii. By serving others in the church – Colossians 3:23,24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.”
ix. By using your spiritual gifts – I Timothy 4:14 “ Do not neglect you gift…”
x. By pressing through tough times – Hebrews 10:36 “ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he promised.”
xi. By renewing our minds – Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV)
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (NLT)
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you (The Message).
Power Point slide 17. There are voices battling for your mind. 18. Are you going to listen to God?
If you are then we must learn and mature in Christ then turn to help others out of the web of destruction and deception.
2. Make a commitment to get involved and make a difference
a. In your church
i. To help serve others so as to lead them to Christ
ii. To help lead others to Christ by your testimony and life
iii. To help teach others about Christ
b. In your local schools
i. Know what your kid’s are learning
ii. Run for school board
iii. Volunteer at the school
iv. Pray for the right people to get in
v. Go to school and become a teacher or adminstrator
c. In your local government
i. Attend meetings
ii. Run for the council
iii. Vote for people who are Christian
iv. Volunteer to help others who are Christians get elected
v. Pray for the right people to get in
d. In county government
i. Do the same as above
e. In State government
i. Do the same
f. In Federal government
i. Do the same
g. In political groups
i. Get involved to help get good people elected!
* LaHaye states,’Two hundred thousand individuals make up the leadership of America. It is our aim to make sure that a significant number of that 200,000 are either mature Christians or at least not hostile to Christ and His people…Let us not fool ourselves. If we refuse to engage in the battle for the mind and heart, we stand to lose all-our families, our churches, our country, our civilization” (286,287).
Closing Poem: by James Russell Lowell:
Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood
For the good or evil side.
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside
