We are his Witness
The Great Commission Summer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Now
Now
1 “When someone sins in any of these ways: If he has seen, heard, or known about something he has witnessed, and did not respond to a public call to testify, he will bear his iniquity.
Moses tells us a witness who has seen, heard of known something is responsible to tell it!!!
I am relatively sure Moses is talking about criminal activity. Moses understood that if folks did not step up to hold the wicked accountable a society would eventually fold because justice cannot prevail if witnesses refuse to testify. Clearly God does not agree with the adage “snitches gets stitches!”
All of us have seen court room scenes in movies where the whole case rest on the credibility and one witness. They will either fold or step up and give truthful testimony.
I listen to podcast for legal scholar’s about the importance of “credibility” the witnesses testimony is largely based on his/her personal character which brings validity to their testimony. If I can expose your credibility I can deconstruct your testimony even if it true.
That word witness in Acts 1:8 is defined as: One bears witness or gives testimony!
Testimony is not a synonym for autobiography! When we are truly witnessing, we are not talking about ourselves but about Christ.
John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)
The Key component to all witness testimony is an accurate understanding of the facts to which you are giving testimony on:
As witnesses we need to be able to articulate the narrative.
I. The Creeds of the Witness
I. The Creeds of the Witness
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
What are Creeds?
A system of Christian or other religious beliefs
Freemasons, Fraternities, Sororities all must accept certain Creeds or principles before they gain entrance into the organization.
(EXP)(42) Saints this the beginning of the church. The church is in its infancy. And it looks to me that they decided several things that needed to keep in order. Let’s take a quick look:
Doctrine(apostles teaching)
Church membership, attendance and accountability
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper(The Death, Burial and Resurrection) the finished work of Christ was the center of their activities
Prayer.
Simple yet powerful principles to build your local church on. The one I want to focus on is “Doctrine”
(42) They “devoted” themselves to the apostles teaching: After looking at the definition the best word so as not confuse is “they married” themselves to the apostles teaching. It carries the idea of persistently holding onto something. This devotion implies at least two things.
Devotion grows as knowledge and practice are implemented. We become increasingly more devoted to things we know, study and practice.
The Early Saints understood the nature of binding creeds that everyone must adhere to:
it’s the only way to assure continuity and understanding to keep the faith from splintering.
Example: Chick Fila has a set of binding principles so that if you have Chick Fila in Ohio or Georgia you are getting the same experience. Nothing like eating your favorite restaurant in a different city and saying “this don’t taste the same as in MI” The Saints understood this. We need one unifying message the whole church follows. This is without exception.
(42) The Saints tell us where that message comes from: “The Apostle”
One’s who have been commissioned by Christ
One’s who have seen the Risen Lord
One’s who have performed Signs and Wonders
One’s who are writers’ of scripture and had authorization by the Lord to make binding decision on the church for all. ie…Acts 15
After these men died they were not replaced with other Apostles, therefore when the last died in 90ad the curriculum is closed and finished. We have all we need in the 69 books of the Bible.
They alone in all of Christian history were the witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Their witness was unique, unrepeatable, and absolutely foundational for the Christian movement.
John B. Polhill
Our message comes from the pages of scripture. We do not have the authority to look outside of scripture for our creeds, or principles we live by. The Apostle have spoken the conversation is over. The message is not up for debate or addition. So it would do us well to know what that message is: Paul gives us in this verse a very concise version of “the gospel” in 1 Corinthians 15:1-6
1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.
Lisen to Paul:
(EXP)(1) “Now I want to make it clear for you, brothers and sisters” it is apparent by statement Paul has already taught them about the Creeds/Principles of the Gospel. Paul is teaching again, and when you evaluate the reason he wrote Corinthians it will make sense why is repeating himself again for clarity.
(1) Paul is saying. One these facts we need to have them “nailed down” clear, and concise.
What is the gospel?
(EXP)(3) Paul says I am giving you message that was given to me. I did not make this up nor am I the originator. I am simple a preacher passing on truths given to me:
1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.
Fact #1: Christ Died of our sins according to the scripture
Fact #1: Christ Died of our sins according to the scripture
This statement tells us a couple of things. We were sinners unable to to atone on our own behalf. So God entered our natural in the person of Christ and lived a perfect life and died a sinners death thereby cleansing us from our sins allowing us to have a relationship with a perfect God.
Fact #2: That he was buried
Fact #2: That he was buried
This seems to be spurious fact. Kind of unnecessary. Remember the bible does not waste words. Paul is dealing with early conspiracy about the Resurrection. Lets take a look at one in Matthew 28:11-15
11 As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’
14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.”
15 They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
this statement “and he was buried” reinforces the first statement. Jesus truly died and like any other dead person he was physically put into a tomb.
Fact #3: That he was he was raised on the third day
Fact #3: That he was he was raised on the third day
Jesus bodily resurrection assures our future resurrection. Without the resurrection we have no hope. Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:12-14
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”?
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised;
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.
Paul tells us right in this text “The Whole house of Christianity Rest on the foundation of an empty tomb” Paul says if Christ did not die all of what we are doing is a waste of time.
Christ is the first one to defy the system. He is not the first one to be resurrected. There were resurrection in the OT and in the NT but all of those folks died again permanently. Christ died once and for all for sins never to die again.
Fact #4: Then he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, then to over 500 brothers and sisters at one time; most are still alive, then to James(his brother), then to all the apostles. and last of all Me!
Fact #4: Then he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, then to over 500 brothers and sisters at one time; most are still alive, then to James(his brother), then to all the apostles. and last of all Me!
Paul then talks about Jesus post-mortem appearances to certain individuals. He goes from Peter and finally hisself. You will notice Paul says and he also appeared to 500 at one-time. Paul is saying this gospel has been attested to by a cloud of witnesses it wasn’t the mad ravings of 12 uneducated half drunk men.
Paul is making a legal argument for the resurrection of Christ. Paul is speaking before modern forensics with DNA testing, Ballistic Testing. In the ancient world cases were won or lost based on the testimony of witnesses. Even in our world with modern forensics a case rises or falls based on the testimony of credibility witnesses.
Paul says our Christian gospel is not based on: Feelings, Mysticism, or Conspiracy. It is based on rock solid eye-witness testimony from credible objective witnesses. We got witnesses from all tracks of life. Farmers, Former Tax collectors, Prostitutes, Scholars, Kings, women and children all telling one coherent narrative. He died and he rose “according to the scriptures”
You will notice Paul uses that phrase “according to the scriptures” after talking about the Death of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ.
Saints Paul had an OT Christology. Paul used the OT extensively to prove the authenticity of a NT Christ. The only way he could do that is if there is perfect synergy between the OT and NT.
Paul tells us if one reads the OT critically they will see Gospel Nuggets in the prophets. Christ death was spoken of in Isaiah 53:1-12
1 Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him.
4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.
6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully.
10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
His Physical Appearance:
His Physical Appearance:
(2-4) There was nothing about his appearance that look like a King. His daddy was poor and his momma was considered to be a whoremonger. He was despised and rejected by man
His Work
His Work
(4-6) Yet on the cross he bore our sins in his body. His death assured both our spiritual and future physical healing.
His Blueprint
His Blueprint
(7-9) He showed us what humility looks like. He oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth. Notice (8) “He was cut off from the land of living because of the people’s rebellion” Could this get any clearer. That the Messiah had to die.
His Reputation
His Reputation
(9) He was assigned a grave with the wicked(two insurrectionist crucified on his side) but he was with a rich man at his death.(Joseph of Arimethea made sure he was not buried with the thieves because he knew this man was a man of righteousness)
His Punishment
His Punishment
(10) It pleased the Lord in those moments on the cross to “crush his son”!” “I couldn’t do it!” The Son who never disappointed, disobeyed him nor rebelled against. He crushed him!!! He made him an offering for us!!
Nugget: He will see his seed, he will prolong his days by his hands(the resurrection in plain sight) what was obscure in (10) is clear in (11)
His Resurrection
His Resurrection
(11) After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied “by his knowledge my righteous servant, will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities”
His Prize
His Prize
(12) Therefore I will give him the many as a portion-The Many are those who have been justified. The ones Justified are the Bride of Christ. The Father’s gift to Christ is us!!!!
And he will receive the mighty as spoil-The rebellious, wicked and evil will have to face him and receive the just due of their behavior.
And why?
Because he willingly submitted to death on the cross!!!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
He was counted among the rebels-He was crucified between two murderous thieves
Yet while being mocked and disrespected “he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels”
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Is that Good News????
If it is then tells somebody about it!!!
Good news is meant to be shared not hoarded!!!
We are apart of the witnesses that have had a personal visitation from Christ. Tell someone about it.
Open the Doors of the Church
Open the Doors of the Church
II. The Courage of the Witness
II. The Courage of the Witness
Review
Review
3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
Saints in this text Paul lays out the “Creeds” of the gospel. Notice in (3) “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received” Paul says the message I got I am passing onto you. This message is based on historical facts, not conspiracy theory, or myth.
What we believe is a set of facts that needs to be accepted by those who become part of the kingdom.
Saints we must teach people a clear unambiguous gospel. Because our gospel is clear, and concise.
Transition statement-We first need to know the gospel, but saints we also need courage to speak to gospel.
Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear.
Mark Twain
Fear is real. It is part of the human condition.
Fear can be an asset. If Bear stood at the glass of our church foyer. Fear is what would keep us in the building until help could come. God has gifted us with Fear as a means of our own self-preservation. It is fear that gives you the discernment to not go to certain places at certain times, or to put space between you and certain people.
But like any of the other gifts God has given us “Fear” has been tainted by original sin. Fear also keeps us from traveling the world, fear keeps us from learning to swim, Fear keeps us from starting new businesses, Fear keeps us from going on a mission trip, Fear keeps some from salvation, Fear keeps us from walking in the purposes God has for us, and finally the most dangerous place fear works is keeping us from sharing this “wonderful, life-changing, life-giving good news to the world”
Some us got saved and have been in the Christian Witness Protection Program ever since. The only people who know we are a believer are other Christian at church. You are busy trying to fit in with the world.
Fear of embarrassment, Fear of giving bad information, Fear of being thought of as a crazy, because you Love Jesus. All of us have deep seated fears about sharing the word in certain circumstances. Asking someone could you pray for them.
Saints I believe these fears are spiritual. Because anytime you engaged in sharing the gospel it is a spiritual work. Satan and his boys will move heaven and earth to keep you sharing your faith. They will remind of you of your lack of knowledge, insecurities, and sins.
Paul Harvey, the radio and television commentator, once said to his audience of Christians throughout the United States, “We've strayed from being fishers of men, to being keepers of the aquarium.”
And the reason for this is that churches have decided Building Upgrades is a better way to attract unbelievers than Servant Evangelism. Building Upgrades are important but that is not the way Jesus said he would grow the church. Red hot, Messy, Relational Evangelism is God’s way of advancing his kingdom.
Saints Fear is real and it may never go away but we have to master so that it does not keep us from pursuing the mission God has for us.
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
(EXP)(18) Jesus is giving his Apostles their final marching orders. He reminds them of a critical truth. “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” Jesus in this verse tells us “all authority” He has been given a name that is above every name. In the corporate world we would say “The Buck Stops with Jesus” Jesus fires & hires, Jesus breaks down & builds up, Jesus brings life & death, There is no activity in the spirit world or natural world that happens without Jesus expressed permission.
In heaven-Jesus is lifting the veil right here. He tell us his authority is not limited but exhaustive it has no end. Jesus tell us he has full autonomy in the Supernatural World. Sidenote: It is important as Christian that we are able to affirm the presence of Supernatural beings. Jesus tells us I have all authority in this world. Angels & Demons answer to me.
I believe there is also another point in this statement. Jesus is essentially tellings us the activity in the Supernatural World is manifested in the Natural World.
And on Earth-Jesus is telling the Apostle my authority also extends to the Natural world which you live in. Jesus is giving the disciples a foundation to rest their courage in. Jesus is not empowering tough guys, or lone rangers. He is taking a ragtag group of uneducated men and telling them “I got your back you have nothing to fear” stay unified and dependent on me.
Now this courage and power is conditional. Look at the subsequent verses in Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Since you can rest your courage and confidence in my authority and power “Go” The Christian life is a life of “Going” not “Sitting” it is a life of activity. Not aimless activity though.
“making little Christ” spiritual formation
“Baptizing them” Spiritual rebirth
The churches mission revolves these axioms. Everything God is doing in your personal lives points to these two axioms. Every trial and tribulation points to these two axioms.
The great need in the church is for a spirit of evangelism, not just a spurt of evangelism.
John Blanchard
4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(EXP)(4) Right before his ascension Jesus tells the disciples to stay in Jerusalem. You will notice it says “he commanded them” Jesus was emphatic don’t go anywhere. Do not attempt to start this mission without first receiving the HS. This tells us at least two things:
This mission is supernatural and we live in the natural world. We will be toast if we try to engage in this mission without the HS
The HS internal witness is the churches GPS system. The power, the wisdom, the guidance, the perseverance to complete the mission comes from the HS. He is the single most important factor in our ability to complete the mission found in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
What does Jesus promise in (8)?
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(8) You will receive “power”-dunamis-be able-empowerment-ability. I know many people making the claim from this word that sounds like Dynamite that Jesus is giving them Explosive power. But the greek language did not have a word to describe “explosive material” gun powder was not even thought of at this point. This word simple meant “ability or power to be able to complete a task”
notice Luke 24:47-49
46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day,
47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”
(46) Jesus meets some of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and begins to teach them more clearly what just happened concerning his death, burial and resurrection. They are still in shock and confused. Jesus refers back to the OT text again. “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day” Now the disciples are beginning to correlate the OT prophecy with the current events. Then Jesus tells them what it was all about.
(47) “repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations. This will be a Global Mission.
(48) The method I will be using to spread this message will not be found not in Angels, Not Even ME, it will be blood bought, spirit-filled humans from all nations who will be responsible for giving witness to the gospel.
5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.
6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
8 We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body.
(7) Now we have this treasure in “clay jars” common everyday repository for refuse, water or supplies. and why would God allow us to carry such a valuable, life saving message to the world:
(7,10) “So that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us” The Bible tells us in this phrase why Go chose to put “The Gospel Message” in the bosom of humans made from dust! So that his power can be manifested in the world!!!!
(10) “So that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body” WOW!!!!!!!!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Paul let’s us know in these text that when we allow the power of God to flow through our bodies as we evangelize and spread his message throughout the world it is his power they people see and not us!
Paul says we carry the death of Jesus in our body. Through us the message of the cross is experienced by the world.
Though we are made of dust, we are but “clay jars” we are “Walmart bags” carrying around the most precious, valuable piece of information the world has ever seen.
Isn’t just amazing God would use walmart bags to carry this message to world. Yet when presented with opportunities to share we clam up, we get tongue-twisted, we start panicking. Saints this is not a natural phenomena it’s spiritual and until we realize that we won’t take time to pray and ask God for strength, wisdom and courage to complete his mission.
When we share our faith we are entering a spiritual battle being waged in the spirit world between God and his Angels, and Satan and his Demons.
Open the Doors
Open the Doors
Transition statement: Not only must we have power we must also have credibility
We are his Witnesses: Character Matters!
We are his Witnesses: Character Matters!
The Creeds of the Witness
The Courage of the Witness
III. The Credibility of the Witness
III. The Credibility of the Witness
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Youtube of John MacArthur
The client, too, must be viewed as credible in his or her defense, which may be much more difficult, as many crimes depend upon he said – she said testimony. The client, too, may have prior convictions or prior uncharged acts that may be relevant to a jury’s determination of criminal liability.
This is not an academic or hypothetical issue. At trial, a judge will instruct the jury that:
In deciding whether to believe a witness’ testimony, you may consider, among other factors, the following:
(a) How well did the witness see, hear, or otherwise sense what he or she described in court?
(b) How well did the witness remember and describe what happened?
(c) How did the witness look, act, and speak while testifying?
&
(d) Did the witness have any reason to say something that was not true? Did the witness show any bias or prejudice? Did the witness have a personal relationship with any of the parties involved in the case? Does the witness have a personal stake in how this case is decided?
(e) What was the witness's attitude toward this case or about giving testimony?
What is credibility?
The quality of being trusted or believed
In our Christian Journey nothing destroys are testimony quicker than hypocrisy & inconsistency.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
6 he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
There at least three places I see from the word where hypocrisy rears it’s ugly head.
Biblical Hypocrisy
Biblical Hypocrisy
Biblical Hypocrisy is when folks intentionally cherry pick the bible to support there own conclusion. We find this in Peter’s letters
15 Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.
16 He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
(EXP)(16) Saints this text is not talking about those who are handling the word and with a pure heart have come to some incorrect conclusions about certain texts. We are called to interpret the word as we read and sometimes we come to wrong conclusion that need to be refined. In those instances the HS will continue to draw us into all truth.
This text describes folks who take the words of scripture and intentionally augment, change, add and delete to their own destruction. Folks who twist scriptures always have nefarious motives. We see this in the garden. Satan twisted the word of God to deceive.
When we give folks a truncated gospel it will lead to a lack of trust in the gospel itself and in you as the communicator of the gospel.
Biblical Hypocrisy is what you see in the “Hebrew Israelites” who pick and choose what OT laws to follow. Then impose understanding on everyone else. Paul is clear in Galatians that “if you seek to be justified by the law then you are responsible for the whole law”
To effectively witness to the Gospel, Christians need to be consistent in what they believe, how they live, and what they preach, and also who they support
-The Pope
Moral Hypocrisy
Moral Hypocrisy
Moral Hypocrisy are those the have a sound understanding of the gospel, and affirm it for others but when they apply it to themselves they compartmentalize the practical application of the word and live a life that is anti-thetical to the things they preach.
3 Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye?
5 Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.
(EXP)(3) Your brother has a splinter, but you have a 2x4. Before you seek to even open your mouth to convict your brother pull the beam out of your eyes.
“A person is credible if there is harmony between what he believes and how he lives. Many Christians only say they believe, but live something else … and this is hypocrisy.”
-The Pope
27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
(27) EXPLAIN!!
Several weeks ago there was an outcry of vitriol, and anger over the Olympic depiction of the “The Last Supper” Conservative Christian were angry. Calling for boycotts.
Are conservative American christian in a position to have a word of rebuke and conviction based on this scripture?
Based on this text before you seek to clean up the sins of the world start with the sin among your churches. You don’t have to be sinless before you call out sin but you should be blameless.
Researches from Kansas State look at the section of the US East Coast, West Coast, Midwest, and South to determine which region based on the seven deadly sins from dante inferno was the worst. They looked at these sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, anger and pride.
Guest what Region was determined to be the most sinful?
The Bible Belt where the highest concentration of churches exists in the America. The area that is pro-life, pro-guns, pro-christian nationalism, pro-private christian education over public, anti-pornography, anti-gay, and Pro-Maga! Trump will win NC, SC, Alabama, Florida, MS, TX, Tennessee, KY and VA, OK, and ARK.
What does this Data suggest? The Church was a major credibility problem!!! They region that is the most judgemental is the one committing the most sin. And the cats out of the bag!
When you are a Star they let you do it!!
When you are a Star they let you do it!!
Political Hypocrisy
Political Hypocrisy
Intro:
Intro:
Video Again from last week
Disclaimer-This sermon is not an endorsement of either party. It is an attempt to put a clear line of delineation between the mission of God and the politics of this world. And it is also an attempt to stop the adulterous relationship that exist between the church and MAGA.
Political Hypocrisy is when the thirst for power or influence infects your principles causing you to make decision based on pragmatism rather than principles.
Coach Henry question in the gym
Well this is one of those times the Political intersects with the Gospel
Access Hollywood Quote:
Access Hollywood Quote:
In October of 2016 only weeks before the election an audio was released of Donald Trump boasting of the fact that he moved on a married woman “like a bitch” He then said in relationship to women “I’m automatically attracted to beautiful women I just start kissing them. Its like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. When you are a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything……Access Hollywood
Even after this statement Evangelicals went in to voting booths a month later and supported him at a higher percentage than George W and his Father, Mccaine or Romney. Currently he still polling at 82% with Evangelicals.
This Graph states Evangelicals grow more accepting of politicians personal indiscretions.
Percent who say an elected official who commits an immoral act in their personal life can still behave ethically and fulfill their duties in their public and professional life.
In 2011 30% believed that. Lower than All Americans, Mainline Protestants, Catholics and Unaffiliated but in 2016 right at the time of DJT acension that rose to 72% which is higher than all Americans, mainline, Catholics and Unaffiliated.
Believers of Jesus have a whole different mission the either of the party of US. The parties of the US are trying to remain in power and control what the future of America will look like. The mission is the preservation of America and their right to control that. Both sides make decision what tool, policies or worldviews will be most effective for gaining that control.
Democrats are charting demographic studies, and behavioral charts that suggest the US is becoming more diverse ethnical, and aberrant behaviorally, so they have crafted a party the includes minorities and the LBGTQ and all other lifestyles.
Republican’s have taken a narrow view more exclusive. There tool or means to gain voters’ and power is to call themselves “the party of God, The Party of Morals, The Party of Family values, The Party of Jesus” The protector’s of Christianity.
Believers mission is eternity. Our kingdom is not off this world. We are fighting and praying for the advancement of God’s kingdom in this world and it was never to be done through leveraging political power.
Notice Jesus when dealing with Peter in Matthew 26:50-52
50 “Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.
51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear.
52 Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword.
17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
(EXP)(52) “Put your sword back” is in the imperative mood. Jesus is commanding Peter to put up his sword. My mission is not a mission of war, or force it is a mission of submission, love and humility.
(EXP)(17) “Give Caesar his money” another command by Jesus. You mean Jesus you want us to give to a country who is oppressing us now, and who is openly pagan and debauched! Open homosexuality and orgies. Yes because I am not on a political mission, but a spiritual mission. I don’t want my mission to be co-opted by different arguing factions. If that happens it is my message & mission that will be perverted.
We need to do a brief look at this incestous relationship between the church and the state.
Lets take a brief look into the history of the church following “the dark ages”
Lets take a brief look into the history of the church following “the dark ages”
Doctrine of Discovery
Doctrine of Discovery
The Papal Bull "Inter Caetera," issued by Pope Alexander VI on May 4, 1493 The Bull stated that any land not inhabited by Christians was available to be "discovered," claimed, and exploited by Christian rulers and declared that "the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself." This "Doctrine of Discovery" became the basis of all European claims in the Americas as well as the foundation for the United States’ western expansion. In the US Supreme Court in the 1823 case Johnson v. McIntosh, Chief Justice John Marshall’s opinion in the unanimous decision held "that the principle of discovery gave European nations an absolute right to New World lands." In essence, American Indians had only a right of occupancy, which could be abolished
The Catholic and the Protestant churches authorized the genocide and thief of native lands, because the people living on those lands did not claim to be Christian
Years later the government admitted they were wrong but did not return said lands to the original owners. Essentially the blood of the ancestors cries out.
Just now the Catholic church offering apologies for the damage done.
The government was ahead of the church in admitting wrong it took the church centuries later to offer penance.
Transatlantic Human Trafficking Trade
Transatlantic Human Trafficking Trade
In 1865 it was the ending of the Civil War that freed the slaves. If the churches would have supported the ending of slavery prior to the war 765,000 people would not have died, but it was the American Church that dug their heels in support of slavery. Frederick Douglas says this about Christians during the 1800s:
“I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of the land... I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels. Never was there a clearer case of 'stealing the livery of the court of heaven to serve the devil in.' I am filled with unutterable loathing when I contemplate the religious pomp and show, together with the horrible inconsistencies, which every where surround me. We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of the meek and lowly Jesus. . . . The slave auctioneer’s bell and the church-going bell chime in with each other, and the bitter cries of the heart-broken slave are drowned in the religious shouts of his pious master. Revivals of religion and revivals in the slave-trade go hand in hand together. The slave prison and the church stand near each other. The clanking of fetters and the rattling of chains in the prison, and the pious psalm and solemn prayer in the church, may be heard at the same time. The dealers in the bodies of men erect their stand in the presence of the pulpit, and they mutually help each other. The dealer gives his blood-stained gold to support the pulpit, and the pulpit, in return, covers his infernal business with the garb of Christianity. Here we have religion and robbery the allies of each other—devils dressed in angels’ robes, and hell presenting the semblance of paradise.”
― Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
The Slave Dealer gives his blood-stained gold to support the pulpit, and the pulpit in return covers his infernal business with the garb of Christianity”
It was not the church as a whole who supported the freeing of slaves it was ultimately the war that did to keep the Southern States from succeeding.
The Church did not repent, nor offer repair for the freed slaves.
Post-Civil War Reconstruction blacks began to rise into influential position in government which great angst among church going folks so with the full support of the church the KKK began to rise and local government made rules “called Black Codes” these rules were ingenious ways of getting the freed slaves back onto the plantation. Rules like “you shall not speak to a white woman” nor look at one if you did you must return to the plantation for the length of your sentence. This period ushered in Jim Crow. Where the lynching of former slaves became the finale to a day of fellowship at church. Eventually the Federal Government made laws to protect blacks at the voting booths and in their businesses. But the church dug their heels in and became a source of obstinance fighting the voting rights act tooth and nail.
Eventually after sometime the church had to begrudgingly admit being wrong.
Interracial Marriage
Interracial Marriage
In 1967 the Federal Government ruled that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional. Meaning blacks and whites could now get married. So prior to 1967 it was illegal. Fully supported by the church but not by the bible. The last state to make it legal was Alabama in 2000. saints in 2000 I was 28 years old. Bob Jones university a Christian School was teaching this up until the mid-90s. It had been illegal for 20 years but a Christian School was teaching it still.
Saints why this brief history lesson?
The American Church has been fully complicit and a harden participants in some of the greatest acts of wickedness in History and in each case the state took steps to rectify the problem before the church responded. The Church was always late to admit wrong and in some cases what we are experiencing now “MAGA” is a deep desire to return to a time when some of things were in place. It’s not the world it is the Evangelical Church that is pressing for a pastime when everyone knew their place in society.
Now I did this research in about 30min of reading on the internet? It is accesible and out in the open?
The world knows we drop the ball on Colonialism, Slavery, Genocide of the Native of Americans, Jim Crow, and Interracial Marriage we have been wrong Biblically on everyone of these issues and have had to eat crow and admit wrong. Now with that type of history is it any wonder now When we talked about abortion, or Homosexuality know one believes us or takes the church seriously. They see these as issues we will later have to admit we were wrong. They see how wrong the church was on racism, yet in the Evangelical church Sunday Morning is still the most segregated hour in America(our children go to school together, play soccer together, join band together) yet the american church is still trying to figure out how to integrate. Plus they see currently how the Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches are handling sexual abuse.
If that wasn’t enough we have to ask the question:
John Macthur was totally against supporting DJT as a candidate because of his character in March of 2016 but in January of 2019 he threw his full support behind him.
What happened in three years?
Let me take you back a bit to 1998:
What happened in 1998?
Bill Clinton was impeached by the house for lying under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky let’s take a look at how Evangelicals responded to this behavior:
Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham
But the God of the Bible says that what one does in private does matter. Mr. Clinton's months-long extramarital sexual behavior in the Oval Office now concerns him and the rest of the world, not just his immediate family. If he will lie to or mislead his wife and daughter, those with whom he is most intimate, what will prevent him from doing the same to the American public?
Private conduct does have public consequences. Some of Mr. Clinton's defenders present King David of the Bible, one of history's great leaders, as an example as they call on us to forgive and forget the president's moral failings. Since God pardoned David's adulterous act with Bathsheba, the reasoning goes, we should similarly forgive Mr. Clinton.
But forgiveness is not the end of David's story. Huge consequences followed immediately. The prophet Nathan confronted David with the news that while his life would be spared, the life of his child would be extinguished after just seven days on earth. Bathsheba's husband and others were killed in an attempt to cover up the illicit affair. David, who confessed his sin when confronted by Nathan (perhaps God's special prosecutor), also witnessed a bloody coup attempt by his own son, Absalom. He was never the same king.
The private acts of any person are never done in secret. God sees and judges all sin, and while He seeks to restore the offender with love and grace, He does not necessarily remove all the consequences of our sin
Mr. Clinton's sin can be forgiven, but he must start by admitting to it and refraining from legalistic doublespeak. According to the Scripture, the president did not have an "inappropriate relationship" with Monica Lewinsky--he committed adultery. He didn't "mislead" his wife and us--he lied.
Acknowledgment must be coupled with genuine remorse. A repentant spirit that says, "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I won't do it again. I ask for your forgiveness," would go a long way toward personal and national healing.
Franklin Graham in 1998
Rev. Franklin Graham, son of famed evangelist preacher Billy Graham, spoke out in defense of President Trump’s "Christian values" on Saturday after reports surfaced earlier in the week alleging a prior romance between Trump and adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, appeared to doubt a report by The Wall Street Journal that Trump's lawyer allegedly used a private Delaware company to pay Daniels $130,000 in return for her agreeing not to publicly discuss an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.
“President Trump I don’t think has admitted to having an affair with this person,” Graham told MSNBC’s Alex Witt. “And so this is just a news story, and I don’t even know if it’s accurate.”
Pressed on the possibility that the Journal’s report, and subsequent confirmation by multiple news outlets, were accurate, Graham argued that any such transgression would have no bearing on the man Trump is today.
“I believe at 70 years of age the president is a much different person today than he was four years ago, five years ago, 10 years ago,” Graham said. “He is not President Perfect.”
On the subject of Trump’s moral character, Graham reiterated his faith in the president’s “concern for Christian values.”
"We certainly don't hold him up as the pastor of this nation and he is not," Graham said. "But I appreciate the fact that the president does have a concern for Christian values, he does have a concern to protect Christians whether it's here at home or around the world and I appreciate the fact that he protects religious liberty and freedom."…Franklin G in 2018
James Dobson
James Dobson
As it turns out, character DOES matter. You can't run a family, let alone a country, without it. How foolish to believe that a person who lacks honesty and moral integrity is qualified to lead a nation and the world! Nevertheless, our people continue to say that the President is doing a good job even if they don't respect him personally. Those two positions are fundamentally incompatible. In the Book of James the question is posed, "Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring" (James 3:11 NIV). The answer is no….James Dobson in 1998 after Bill Clinton
In 2018, Dobson — now, like Jeffress, an adviser to President Trump — is again calling on Christians to pray. This time, however, the call is to pray that God keeps President Trump in the White House.
"I think this country will be in serious trouble," Dobson told an Intercessors for America conference call in January, "if they are successful in impeaching this man, and that's why I'm calling for a nationwide movement to pray for him." Dobson explained, "We all ride in the President's boat" and "if our President is thrown out of office, it will create chaos that will touch every dimension of the country."
James Dobson 2018
Resolutions from the Floor of the Southern Baptist
Resolutions from the Floor of the Southern Baptist
WHEREAS, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34 NAS); and
WHEREAS, Serious allegations continue to be made about moral and legal misconduct by certain public officials; and
WHEREAS, The Bible calls upon all citizens to submit themselves to their governing authorities as ministers of the Lord (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13); and
WHEREAS, Scripture further teaches, “Whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves” (Romans 13:2); and
WHEREAS, Governing authorities are not themselves exempt from the rule of law and must submit to the nation’s statutes, rather than mocking them (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:14; Proverbs 19:28-29; 2 Samuel 12:7; Mark 6:17-18); and
WHEREAS, Some journalists report that many Americans are willing to excuse or overlook immoral or illegal conduct by unrepentant public officials so long as economic prosperity prevails; and
WHEREAS, Tolerance of serious wrong by leaders sears the conscience of the culture, spawns unrestrained immorality and lawlessness in the society, and surely results in God’s judgment (1 Kings 16:30; Isaiah 5:18-25); and
WHEREAS, Many public officials and candidates deserve our gratitude and support for their consistent moral character and their uncompromising commitment to biblical principles of right and wrong, resulting in blessing upon their people.
Therefore, be it RESOLVED, That we, the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 9-11, 1998, in Salt Lake City, Utah, affirm that moral character matters to God and should matter to all citizens, especially God’s people, when choosing public leaders; and
Be it further RESOLVED, That we implore our government leaders to live by the highest standards of morality both in their private actions and in their public duties, and thereby serve as models of moral excellence and character; and
Be it further RESOLVED, That we urge all citizens, including those who serve in public office, to submit themselves respectfully to governing authorities and to the rule of law; and
Be it further RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists and other Christians to fulfill their spiritual duty to pray regularly for the leaders of our nation (1 Timothy 2:1-4); and
Be it finally RESOLVED, That we urge all Americans to embrace and act on the conviction that character does count in public office, and to elect those officials and candidates who, although imperfect, demonstrate consistent honesty, moral purity and the highest character….The Southern Baptist in 1998. Conclusion Character Matters you cannot separate a man from his policy……
24 years later: Dr. Robert Jeffery Pastor of First Baptist Dallas. We are not electing a Sunday School Teacher we are electing a Warrior who will fight for our causes.
why the flip flop? Why the total rejection of Character to an unfettered support of an Immoral man?
First DJT has more influence on the members of their churches than they do, so they need to fall in line or the churches will be empty or split. So it is for pragmatic reason not principles or piety.
Second a large swath of Pastor in the US believe in everything he says and want to institute Christianity as a National Religion. The latest statistics states that 61% of Republican want America to be called and run as a Christian nation.
Thirdly one of the things the American Church is really good at and that’s protecting their leaders and powerbrokers when they held accountable by the watching world. This is in the black Church and the white church!
the churches covered the Pastor who traded slaves, and bought slaves they made excuses.
The churches covered Pastor and Deacons who preached on Sunday but strung people up during Wednesday night prayer meeting
Churches cover abuser’s blaming the women often and putting the sexual responsibility of purity on the woman.
I have told yall many times when you get outside the will of God you move into Satan domain and when you go there you become his puppet.
Satan has been setting up this cultish relationship with what is now the party of MAGA since the 1500s when they overlooked the behavior of Christopher Columbus & Hernan Cortez in America we are still celebrating a man that we know killed and pillaged a whole group of people.
The Confederate Monuments are example of honoring and covering for people we know caused great pain and suffering for the oppressed.
This happen because Satan showed the church the power of compartmentalization for power.
When it is someone who works against your agenda hold a high bar of moral behavior(Clinton)
When it someone who agrees to uphold and fight for you agenda there is no moral bar(or according to Dr. Robert Jefferies, we aren’t voting for a Pastor or Sunday School teacher we need a warrior) and make excuses for them.
Saints to the watching world this is the height of hypocrisy.
They see an entity that only believes in Moral Character when it’s someone that doesn’t uphold their agenda.
When they see someone who will uphold their agenda, sexual abuser, adulterer, bully, liar we don’t care as long as they do what we want.
Saints this philosophy cut’s the leg from the gospel. The credibility of the witness is built upon his reputation of being morally consistent.
I have watched voters from both sides contend like J-MAC I am voting on the agenda and policies, they didn’t take this approach with Clinton.
My testimony and reason for not supporting DJT.
Racial Animus
Sexual Deviance
Lack of Integrity
Bullying tactics
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
It is my contention that there are things more important than Abortion and Anti-LBGTQ, and Immigration. Our Christian Witness supersedes and trumps all of those issues. And why? if you lose your credibility you won’t even be able to speak into those issues. If you are able to overlook, obfuscate, and make excuses for your preferred candidate then you have lost your ability to hold anyone accountable for anything let alone a sinner who needs Jesus.
After you do this the only way you can convert sinners is through the state and not the heart!
Carl F. H Henry, the first editor in chief of Christianity Today and perhaps the most prominent American evangelical theologian of the 20th century said that “public virtue depends on private chracter, and that is Christians ever started to excuse malformed character because the social and political stakes are high, the wrong priority prevails
John Macarthur in 1998
John Macarthur in 1998
On that day, in a sermon titled “The Destructive Sin of Lying, Part 1”, just before former President Bill Clinton’s impeachment was initiated, MacArthur preached against the moral failings of Clinton.*
“In the last several weeks as a nation, and certainly across the world we have been overexposed to the extensive pattern of deception and lying engaged in by our president. To put it mildly, this is greatly disappointing to all of us who would have hoped that a man of character and a man of conviction and a man of integrity would have arisen to such a prominent and critical place of leadership. What we have come to find out, however, is that we have a man in the White House who has for his life a habit in which he has engaged, and that habit is a habit of lying and deception and hypocrisy.” (Emphasis Added)
“…he has brought all the people who touch his life into the potential category of joining him in the lie. His wife has lied for him, his friends, his cabinet, his White House staff, loyalists, the media has lied for him, congressmen have lied for him, senators have lied for him. He has lied and deceived, and he has embroiled all kinds of people in lies and deception.”
“What I would like to know is what does God think about this? What has He said about it? To put is simply, to have a ruler who is a liar is an extremely serious matter. In Proverbs 29:12, God says, “If a ruler is given to lies,” this is translated a number of ways, but this is the basic Hebrew of it, “If a ruler is given to lies, all his servants become wicked.” We would put that in the simple category of “birds of a feather,” what? “flock together.” When a ruler is given to lies, he will accumulate around him people who can tolerate lying. A corrupt leader draws around him corrupt people. Allow lies and you will be tolerated and surrounded by liars.”
“I’m not surprised that the president’s approval rating is so high. Because the people who approve of what he does are the people who do what he does. And that’s largely the way our nation is. That approval rating is tantamount to the percentage of Americans who do what he does. That’s what we have. If we have a 62 percent approval rate, then 60 percent of Americans approve of that because they practice those things. Lying, deception, fornication, adultery, whatever. We shouldn’t be surprised, that’s us. In fact, I don’t want to be unkind, that’s not my intention, but I would say that Bill Clinton is the man for this culture in every sense. He is a reflection of the mores of this society. He is the man who represents what these people practice. That’s why they’re not offended by it. How did we get to this place? Well, because of what it says in verse 24 of Romans 1 down to verse 32; let me show you how we got here. Verse 24, “therefore God also gave them up.” Verse 26, “For this reason God gave them up.” Verse 28, “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,God gave them over,” or gave them up. We’ve got a problem here. God’s given us up. That’s what it says.” (Emphasis added)
“The president said some weeks ago that nobody should be concerned about his sexual sin. It was an issue, he said, between himself, his family, he said, and our God. Let me tell you something about his god. His god is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is not pro feminism, pro homosexual, pro lesbian, and pro fornication, pro adultery. That’s not the God of the Bible. He’s not pro deception, He’s not pro lying. You see, he has the same god that all who reject the true God have and you can meet him every morning; he’s there in your mirror.”
“When I was being interviewed by ABC television the other day the reporter said to me, you know, “What is your attitude toward the president?” And I said, “Well, I don’t think he should be the president. I think he has breached every, every position of dignity and integrity that that office would call for.”
“And I really believe he is Satan’s man, he’s the man who fits the time. There are many antichrists in the world, and this is one, who feigns a faith in Jesus Christ that is not real. Who appears as a peacemaker, who appears as a great leader who can win the confidence of people, but underneath is a deceiver. This is an antichrist type person.”
John MacArthur presently
John MacArthur presently
Much can be said about John MacArthur’s recent interview with Ben Shapiro, particularly regarding his comments about the 45th President of the United States.
During the interview, MacArthur remarked that Christians should not expect the presidency to be “a position of moral authority.” Analogous to how we should not be concerned about a brain surgeon’s moral life to determine his work, MacArthur argued that Christians should not be concerned about the moral life of the President when it comes to the work he does.
Open the Doors of the Church
Title: “And Jesus Wept!”
Title: “And Jesus Wept!”
IV. The Compassion of the Witness
IV. The Compassion of the Witness
37 Now he came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:
38 Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!
39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”
41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it,
42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.
44 They will crush you and your children among you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone on another in your midst, because you did not recognize the time when God visited you.”
Review:
Review:
The Creeds
The Courage
The Credibility
The Compassion
Intro:
Intro:
OT scriptures on “Compassion”
OT scriptures on “Compassion”
6 The Lord passed in front of him and proclaimed: The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth,
31 He will not leave you, destroy you, or forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them by oath, because the Lord your God is a compassionate God.
38 Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash all his wrath.
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
Compassion——->Rahum———>Womb——->Mother & Child
NT scriptures on “Compassion
NT scriptures on “Compassion
36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.
14 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
32 Jesus called his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they’ve already stayed with me three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, otherwise they might collapse on the way.”
27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed him.
Compassion——->Bowels
I. Who are our enemies?
I. Who are our enemies?
In this highly political and partisan environment we are living in people are currently being placed an nice neat compartments of belief system. This is done primarily is a declaration of where you stand on issues. Categories by themselves are not necessarily evil. I am a Christian, which is a category of belief. There is an expectation of certain conviction when one says this. As a Christian I have some natural enemies just because our Lord says so let me take you to the Lord’s Prayer in John 17:11-15
11 I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I was protecting them by your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture may be fulfilled.
13 Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in them.
14 I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
(12-13) Jesus praying for his disciples ask the father to watch out for his boys!!! Protect them Lord!!! I am leaving them they will be without my physical presence. Watch over them Daddy!
(14-15) I taught them your word and they saw how much pushback I got from the world. The world will hate them because they are not of this world. The world will hate them because of the association with me. Do not remove them from the world, but keep them from the Evil One!
I simple read this scripture for you guys to see that as a by-product of you being a Christian you take on the same enemies of Christ.
This phenomenon is also true of others areas as well. If you are a Michigan Fan you have to hate MSU. If you are a Jordan Fan you have to bash Lebron. If you work for Ford, GM and Chrysler are natural enemies. In a more serious way. As a citizen of the US whoever becomes the enemy of the country we take on that same enemy, even if disagree with the premise of the conflict.
Muhammed Ali was locked up “because he said I don’t have any problem with the Vietnamese people, my problem is with people who discriminate against me in my own country”
Politically we make choices based on our personal conviction, but we have to be careful because the way political parties largely win election is by demonizing the people of the opposing platform. You see this in the demonization of “Taylor Swift” because of who she is supporting. You see this in the demonization of homosexual community, You see this in the demonization of Cops, You see this in the demonization of the single mother’s. You especially see it in the demonization of immigrants & outcast.
You don’t need me to remind you that when “Muslim” were band from getting in this country it was essentially a racial band. 80% of the world Muslim population live in Asia, The Middle East and North Africa. Whole groups of people demonize because of their religion, but underneath because of their race.
You see right now what’s going on in Springfield, OH. Immigrants have been called: Rats, Vermin, Garbage, Human Scum and charged as Murderer, Raper, Poisoning the blood of americans, eating dogs, and eating cats.
It is sad to say that Christian have taken on the enemies of their respective parties. We have declared war on who are perspective platforms says in the greatest threat to the survival of this Nation. This is why I am preaching these message, because we need to get out of bed with the parties and commit ourselves to the mission of Christ which is diametrically different than the mission of either party.
Political parties seek to eliminate their opponents. Christian seek to evangelize their opponents.
Enemy #1
Enemy #1
15 I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
Enemy #2
Enemy #2
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
Enemy #3
Enemy #3
21 So I discover this law: When I want to do what is good, evil is present with me.
22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
There is not a fourth enemy. The only people that are enemies of Christ is ourselves.
Beware of any Christian movement that acts as though the world is full of enemies to be destroyed rather than full of neighbors to be loved…..Benjamin Creamer
Let me show you where I think we slipped off the tracks hermeneutically the story of Sodom of Gomorrah found in Genesis 19:1-12
1 The two angels entered Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in Sodom’s gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed with his face to the ground
2 and said, “My lords, turn aside to your servant’s house, wash your feet, and spend the night. Then you can get up early and go on your way.” “No,” they said. “We would rather spend the night in the square.”
3 But he urged them so strongly that they followed him and went into his house. He prepared a feast and baked unleavened bread for them, and they ate.
4 Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house.
5 They called out to Lot and said, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
6 Lot went out to them at the entrance and shut the door behind him.
7 He said, “Don’t do this evil, my brothers.
8 Look, I’ve got two daughters who haven’t been intimate with a man. I’ll bring them out to you, and you can do whatever you want to them. However, don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the protection of my roof.”
9 “Get out of the way!” they said, adding, “This one came here as an alien, but he’s acting like a judge! Now we’ll do more harm to you than to them.” They put pressure on Lot and came up to break down the door.
10 But the angels reached out, brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.
11 They struck the men who were at the entrance of the house, both young and old, with blindness so that they were unable to find the entrance.
12 Then the angels said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here: a son-in-law, your sons and daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of this place,
This is widely told story in Evangelical circles. I have heard many sermons preached on this passage.
What was the reason God rain fire and brimstone on S & G?
Like most of you I was always told is for sexual perversion. In the American law system Sodomy is the term for forcible homosexual activity.
First, sodomy laws sought to protect “public morals and decency”; sodomy was listed along with bigamy, adultery, the creation and dissemination of obscene literature, incest, and public indecency [5]. Second, these laws were used to protect women, “weak men,” and children against sexual assault [6]. Court records from the nineteenth century reveal that these laws were used to prosecute nonconsensual activity and that consenting adults who engaged in sodomy within their homes were considered immune from prosecution….Journal of American Ethics
We have been condition to believe that Homosexuality alone hasten God’s wrath.
I was told by my biblical teacher Homosexuality is called an abomination in the OT thereby making it worse than other sexual sins and other sins.. Folks get this from Leviticus 18:22
22 You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable.
(22) abomination(KJV)—-Detestable(CSB)
detestable-Intense dislike!
This was proof according to some folks that Homosexuality is different from other sins, because of the use of this word. Well lets take a look and see if this Hebrew word is used elsewhere in the OT.
15 ‘The person who makes a carved idol or cast image, which is detestable to the Lord, the work of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret is cursed.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen!’
(15) Worshipping Idols was called “destestable” to the Lord.
Anyone in the room been guilty of idolatry pre-salvation and post-salvation?
16 The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him:
17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil,
19 a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.
(17-19) arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands the shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and a troublemaker!!!
Anyone been guilty of the things on the list?
They are all called detestable. My eyes began to open related to the sin of homosexuality as being the primary reason God’s judgement will rain on an area. There is one more line of evidence in Ezekiel 16:48-50
48 “ ‘As I live—the declaration of the Lord God—your sister Sodom and her daughters have not behaved as you and your daughters have.
49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy.
50 They were haughty and did detestable acts before me, so I removed them when I saw this.
20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.
When we read this we automatically deduce that homosexuality alone is the sin God is talking about. ITs the way our brains work. We have been condition to only look at the sin, which is most gross to us and unnatural while excusing the other reason God gave in Ezekiel 16:48-50
48 “ ‘As I live—the declaration of the Lord God—your sister Sodom and her daughters have not behaved as you and your daughters have.
49 Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food, and comfortable security, but didn’t support the poor and needy.
50 They were haughty and did detestable acts before me, so I removed them when I saw this.
Notice he says “Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom” rather than make this plural Ezekiel made it singular, which seems to suggest there was a main sin that lead to the other sins.
Is there NT attestation to this?
9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males,
10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.
(9-10) I love this list because Corinth was very similar to Sodom & Gommorroh rich, opulent, and bless yet debauch, nasty and sinful. Homosexuality is in the list, but look what else.
Arrogance, Opulence, failure to share create a society where the oppressed and poor can rise, no support for the needy which leads to distorted view of people made in the imago dei of God.
What poor and needy was he talking about?
Remeber in the story God said he would not destroy the region if Abraham could find 50 people who were righteous from inside the city.
Abraham got all the way down to 5 and could not find any.
So when the bible talks about this Oppressed group of people being demonized, disrespected and damned they must be outsiders. Folks not from Sodom who came for refuge, Remeber that’s why Lot was there. The land was fertile, so it probably attracted folks who needed a new start and fresh opportunities. We might call them Immigrants!!!
Let’s not forget Lot was an immigrant.
Does the story bear this interpretation out?
When the angels said we will sleep in the city square. Lot says you cannot do this because he was aware how they would be treated by the people of that city.
Lot invited them in treated them the way immigrants were to be treated. Notice what the people of Sodom said about Lot in Genesis 19:6-9
6 Lot went out to them at the entrance and shut the door behind him.
7 He said, “Don’t do this evil, my brothers.
8 Look, I’ve got two daughters who haven’t been intimate with a man. I’ll bring them out to you, and you can do whatever you want to them. However, don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the protection of my roof.”
9 “Get out of the way!” they said, adding, “This one came here as an alien, but he’s acting like a judge! Now we’ll do more harm to you than to them.” They put pressure on Lot and came up to break down the door.
The checked Lot the only reason you got any clout her because you came down here with a plethora of resources but don’t get it twisted you are a Alien(foreigner) and if you don’t bow down you about to get the same thing as those other men get.
What is the conclusion on this matter?
Homosexuality is not the only sin on God’s “detestable” chart of sins. And everyone in this room has been guilty of a least one of them if not more.
God’s judgement on S & G was more comprehensive rather than narrow as we have been made to believe by well meaning bible teachers.
One cannot speak about God judging a nation or region for homosexuality, while leaving out how a society cares for the oppressed citizen or the immigrant running away from oppression from their own land.
Yall better thank God the Israelites let Rahab a Canaanite immigrant who fathered Boaz. Boaz later married a Moabite immigrant Ruth and produce Obed the grandfather of King David. Yall King David was mixed!!!! And guess what Jesus comes from the line of David!!
Saints this is not advocating for a particular LBGTQ or Immigration Policy. It is me simply saying we cannot derive our view of these categories of people from any political party it must come from the Lord.
33 “When an alien resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.
34 You will regard the alien who resides with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
Beware of any Christian movement that demands the government be an instrument of God’s wrath but never a source of God’s mercy, generosity, or compassion….Rev Creamer
conclusion:
conclusion:
Open The Doors of the Church
