July 18, 2004
Morning Worship
Text: Romans 1:16-32
Subject: The Wrath of God
Title: The World Verses the Word
When I talk about the world, I am referring to the world system of which satan is the ruler. Do you know that satan is still the God of this world? I found an alarming statistic the other day that is worth telling you about.
Even those who claim to be Born Again are not necessarily firmly grounded in the truths of the Bible. In his book, which provides a statistical analysis of religious beliefs in America, George Barna cites several fascinating statistics, which are based on a national survey.
In chapter four he states, "The Devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil." Then asking that segment of his survey respondents who have identified themselves at being Born Again, he states, "Do you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with that statement?"
The Born Again population reply with 32 percent agreeing strongly, 11 percent agreeing somewhat and 5 percent did not know. Thus, of the total number responding, 48 percent either agreed that Satan is only symbolic or did not know!
Should it then be surprising that a few pages later Barna would receive some very startling responses? His next question, "Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and others all pray to the same God, even though they use different names for that God." Again, the respondents were asked to agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly.
Of that population surveyed who identified themselves as Born Again, 30 percent agreed strongly, 18 percent agreed somewhat and 12 percent did not know. That is a total of 60 percent! (What Americans Believe, pp. 206-212).
It now becomes obvious that satan is alive and operating even in the so-called “evangelical church” in America. Not only is he still alive, but the dragon has an active group of followers who seek him and have developed a fundamental statement of beliefs. They are as follows:
The Nine Satanic Statements:
1:Satan represents Indulgence, not Abstinence!!!!
2: Satan represents Vital Existence, Instead of Spiritual Pipe dreams!!!!!
3:Satan represents undefiled Wisdom, Instead of Hypocritical Self Deceit!!!!
4:Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, Not Love wasted on Ingrates!!!!!
5:Satan represents Vengeance instead of turn the other cheek!!!!!!
6:Satan represents Responsibility to the Responsible, instead of concern for Psychic Vampires!!!!!!
7:Satan represents man as just another Animal, Sometimes Better, more often worse then those that walk on all fours, who, because of his "divine and intellectual development", has become the most Vicious animal of all!!!!!!
8:Satan represents All of the so-called "Sins", As they lead to Physical, Mental, and Emotional Gratification!!!!
9:Satan has been the Best friend the Church has ever had....As he has kept it in business all these years!!!!!
Why does the world hate the Word and the church? Because satan is directly opposed to everything that we stand for.
Today I want us to look into the things Paul writes of concerning the world verses the word.
I. THE WORLD HATES THE WORD. (16-17)
A. The World Hates the Word Because It is the Power of God to Salvation for Everyone Who Believes. Satan does not want anyone to know that the Bible is the word of God. Therefore, he has put the word out that God is the “Universal Father to the brotherhood of man”. In other words, God is the father of Adam from whom all mankind is descended, and therefore all people are God’s children. Since all are children of God, then all are heirs to His throne. John 1:12 says, “but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” But everywhere we turn there is the onslaught of liberal ideology that tells us what the devil wants us to believe. Country music star Alan Jackson sings these words.
Here comes a Baptist, here comes a Jew
There goes a Mormon and a Muslim too
I see a Buddist and a Hindu
I see a Catholic and I see you
We’re all god’s children
We’re all god’s children
We’re all god’s children
Why can’t we be
One big happy family
We can be one big family. The door is always open for people to turn to Christ and be saved.
B. The World Hates the Word because the Righteousness of God is Revealed in it. What does the righteousness of God have to do with mankind? Simply put, God is the standard of right and wrong. The word of God helps us see that. But the world refuses to agree. To them anything goes. If it feels good do it. Secular humanists cling to the theory of evolution as truth. If mankind is nothing more than a highly adapted animal with this life being all there is, then there is no higher moral law with which to concern ourselves. With only human laws, people will risk the odds in getting caught to engage in abhorrent behavior. If this life is all there is, people can do what ever they feel like and the only authority they have to answer to is other people. If enough people live by this philosophy, either anarchy or an autocracy (government by a single individual ruler) will be the result. The Bible makes it clear it will be the latter per Revelation 13:7, “It was granted to him (the antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” If the secular humanist admitted there was a higher moral law, they’d eventually have to conclude that we are all judged. By implication, there must also be some reason to be judged: reward or loss, heaven or hell. And if we are judged, who does the judging? And by what standard are we judged? How good is good enough? How can we be certain what is right or wrong? The Bible has the answers to all these questions but the secular humanist avoids the issues by denying the existence of higher moral law.
C. The World Hates the Word Because it Tells Us that “The Just Shall Live by Faith”. There are those who believe that unless you belong to a certain church you cannot be saved. "No man can find salvation except in the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation. One can have honor, one can have the sacraments, one can sing alleluia, one can answer amen, one can have faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and preach it too, but never can one find salvation except in the Catholic Church." (Saint Augustine died A.D. 430. This quote came from the website catholicapologetics.net. I’m not sure if it is an official Roman Catholic website or not. But it is full of quotes from ancient church leaders and scripture that is taken out of context. Satan loves that. There are those who say that all will ultimately be saved. If you are sincere about your beliefs, that is good enough. I wonder how many sincere souls there are in Hades awaiting the great white throne judgment? The bible clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith. No additions or subtractions. It doesn’t matter if you are Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, or Pentecostal, but it does matter that you trust Christ. The just shall live by faith.
II. THE WORLD SUPPRESSES TRUTH. (18-21)
A. God’s Displeasure With Sinful Man Revealed. Let’s face it. If we were left to our sinful nature without the option to repent and be saved, we would be just like the humanists and atheists. I mean, “sin” is just a natural expression of who we are at the very core isn’t it? No! Verses 18-19 say that God’s displeasure is revealed because His very nature has been revealed to them and in fact is manifest in them, but the suppress it. Why? Because they don’t want to know that they are children of darkness. John 3:20, “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his evil deeds should be exposed.”
B. God’s Nature is Clearly Revealed. It is relatively simple to look at creation and come to the conclusion that there must have been a creator. It is far too complicated to have happened by accident. By looking at the created things one is brought to the point of decision. Is there a God who created all things or not, and if there is, what do I do with Him? Those who decide to err on the side of evolution do so at their own peril for verse 20 says, “they are without excuse”. Brother Jim Bourisaw, what if I put this twenty-dollar bill in your hand for you to see my goodness? But you say, “It’s not real. It is a counterfeit. I don’t want it.” Does it make it any less valuable as currency? But you think in the back of your mind “what if it is real?” You begin to wonder about it. You look at it. You feel it. You take it and spend it and it works. God’s revelation of Himself works the same way.
C. God’s Nature is Denied. “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God…” secular Humanists and atheists rely totally on science to explain everything. In reality, natural law has become their God. Natural law is a description of what has been observed to happen when certain conditions occur i.e. the law of gravity states that if something falls from the sky it will eventually hit the ground. Anything contrary to that defies natural law and therefore cannot be true. I am not saying that science is anti – God. It is a gift from God. But when man’s knowledge begins to take precedence over God’s eternal power, “they became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.” These people refuse to allow room for anything supernatural to exist. If it cannot be explained logically, it isn’t true.
III. THE WORLD PROFESSES WISDOM. (22-32)
A. Becoming Fools. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” American society is quickly going the way of Europe. The born again population is on the fast track to becoming a minority segment of western society. God is being taken out of the government, out of schools, out of the every day lives of mainstream America. Why? Because it is foolish to believe that there is a God who cares and even if there is, you don’t have a right to force Him on anyone else. Secular wisdom prevails and the church appears unable to stop it.
B. Becoming Confused. What is replacing God in school? Every perverted type of thought imaginable. Condoms are passed out to those who ask. Abortions are available for the asking. Homosexuality is taught as a perfectly normal “alternative lifestyle”. Discipline is removed and absurd behavior is encouraged. Teachers who fail students are asked to resign. Kids are passed to the next grade because to hold them back would destroy their self-esteem. Test scores are modified so that even mediocre students look brilliant. Drugs and alcohol are readily available if you look but don’t bring your bible to school. Verse 24, “Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…” The more influence the secularists have, the more God will give them over to their base reasoning and allow them to move toward the godless society that they are looking for. They have “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” These who consider themselves “wise” have brought us to a place of decision. Western society has now begun to worship itself as the savior of the world. The liberal agenda has not yet reached a climax. Once God is taken out of our culture then there is nothing to stop the god of this world from moving forward to claim his place as the dominant influence of our time and to drag millions with him to the final place of torment, the lake of fire. Don’t try to convince anyone of the need to have God in the culture. You’re just an ignorant, narrow minded, myth-believing bigot who only wants to control the world and force your religion down the throats of decent people who know the real truth. There is no place for you any longer, in the world. Enlightened people know what is best and God is not the answer. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power…” Paul’s prophecy to Timothy has come to pass.
C. Becoming Perverted. Verse 26-27, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even the women exchanged their natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” One of the most talked about issues today is the “gay marriage” issue. Paul speaks rather openly about this. 1) It is unnatural. The homosexual population has apparently convinced everyone else but the church (and even some in the church) that what they do is natural. They were born predisposed to the homosexual nature. Paul says they have made a choice, not to retain God in their knowledge…”. 2) It is shameful. Even centuries before, when two angels went to rescue Lot and were accosted by the men of Sodom, who wanted to know them carnally, Lot replied, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly”. Marriage was ordained by God to be between a man and a woman and it is the institution that He loves. 3) It is deserving of penalty. Is AIDS God’s punishment for homosexual activity? If so why are so many children dying from aids around the world. They would appear to be innocent. Most of the children are innocent. But satan doesn’t care about innocence. He is doing everything he can to drive perversion right to the heart of our culture. NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) is behind numerous lawsuits to make it legal for men to have sex with underage boys. Their motto is, “sex before eight or its too late.” The AIDS epidemic in Africa is driven by the lie that if a man with aids can have sex with a virgin, his disease will be removed. The truth is that AIDS and STDs are on the rise and it is mainly among homosexuals. From 1999 – 2003 HIV infections have risen 17% among homosexual men. Homosexuals account for 50% of the AIDS cases in the US but account for only 3-5% of the population. STDS are on the rise among homosexuals. There are many statistics to be quoted but the point is, satan is destroying lives and using a small percentage of the population to do it. But if you talk about homosexuality being wrong, you are a gay basher. Paul says the perversion doesn’t stop with homosexuality. There is a general perversion of truth that allows people, “to do those things which are not fitting…” (verse 28). The bottom line in verse 32 is that God has given all what is called “common grace”, the knowledge of right and wrong. And even so, those who know, “the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
So here’s the bottom line. The world is standing by, looking at the church and laughing. We are sanctimonious bigots who are hypocritical and narrow-minded. We are portrayed as a people of little intelligence who accept the things of the Bible with blind faith. We need to be enlightened so we can accept everyone as God’s children and therefore brothers and sisters. All roads lead to Heaven. Jesus is not the only way. And if we don’t stop interfering with the rights of others to live their lives the way they choose, then we are not Christians and we are the ones destined for hell, if there is such a place.
They can laugh at me and persecute me all they want. They can throw me in jail and take away everything I have. They can threaten me, my family, this church, the Assemblies of God and it doesn’t change a thing.
I am saved by the grace of God,
Walking in the spirit of God,
Baptized in the power of God
To know the will of God
And speak the word of God
To a world without God
That they might receive the inheritance of God
And live in the kingdom of God
In the eternal city of God
Where we will worship God forever.
Peter was right when he wrote that, “scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts…” That time is now. Let them laugh. Let them demean me. Let them persecute me. But when I stand in the kingdom and look down and see them wailing and gnashing their teeth and crying out for mercy I’ll smile and wave and say, “I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen.” As I stand before the throne and worship the King of all creation they won’t be laughing anymore. They won’t be able to scoff any longer. As I receive the crown of righteousness and cast it before the throne and fall down before the Mighty One, their snide remarks and hatred for all that is right will be just an echo from the past. “Sorry! I tried to tell you but you knew better. You just wouldn’t listen.
Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you that you may be sons of your father in heaven…”
Satan is the god of this world, but we have overcome the world by the blood of the Lamb and the word of His testimony.
Praise be to God.
