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Sunday Morning Message, 4/14/2021

What Can the Righteous Do?

Psalms 11.

I want to thank Pastor Lang for his confidence in placing me behind this pulpit, I don’t take it lightly

It is an honor and truly humbling to speak God’s word. I want also to thank both Brian Browns for their help. Brian Brown that so capably took the class this morning and Bryan Brown that has carried the ball in keeping everything running smoothly.

I won’t tell you that I will be brief this morning. I am not so much worried about the time of preaching as I am about the times we live in. If the Methodist beat you to the buffet, don’t worry they won’t and can’t eat it all.

Turn in your bibles to Psalms 11.

Here we have a Psalm of David. There is no hint of why David had written this Psalm. Perhaps he had written it when King Saul had attempted to kill him. The Lord did not answer this question so I won’t attempt to speak where the scriptures are silent.

It is quite clear that David had been given advice to flee and he was reluctant to follow their advice.

First, we see that ill advice was given David.

In verses 1 we see David’s answer to the ill advice. In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

They had told him to run from the danger. At this point in his life, he was not going to run.

In 1Samuel 17and verses 34-37 we find David confronted his advisor, King Saul, to not take up the battle against the giant of Gath. Here is his answer to him “And David said to Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: (35) And I went after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (36) Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the Living God. (37) David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”

It is no wonder that David answered his advisors with the words, “How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain.” David’s answer is; In the Lord put I my trust.

Not only had David received ill advice but it was based on ill understanding (verse 2. For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.

These advisors had the understanding that David was defenseless against his enemies.

They saw that the bows and arrows were ready to fire away at David.

David was still unconvinced. He would not run. Lions could not kill Daniel; fire could not convince the three Hebrew children to bow before the king’s idol image that he had made.

The bear with its claws and lion with its strength and teeth could not defeat young David, why should he be afraid of arrows? He was trusting in the Lord.

In verse 3 we see the ill conclusion of his advisors. Verse 3. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

They had not correctly understood the power and sovereignty of David’s and our God. They seemed to think that those enemies of God had all the power and the righteous could do nothing about it. David knew better. God could be trusted. God had the only power. His God had delivered him before and would again. God was supreme and Sovereign. He could and would overrule any attempts against his life.

I want to go back to verse 3 for the basis of this message.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

According to Strong’s definition, the word foundation means “a basis, figuratively a political or moral support or purpose.”

In the bible there are three institutions that are the basic foundations that our society in general is to be governed by; I will begin with the first the institution of the family unit.

1. The institution of the family unit, meaning one father or husband, one mother or wife and children if so blessed. This family unit was instituted by God in Genesis 1:27-28 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Notice it says specifically that God created them male and female. There is no other gender according to the one who created them. And He is the only one that counts seeing as He was the only one present when this took place.

This family unit was to have an order of chain of command; God was to be the head of the husband and the husband was to be the head of the family, the wife was to be in subjection to him and to be the bearer and nurturer of the children, if any.

God created the family and ordained it to be the primary unit of society. If this family unit breaks down then society in general is in trouble.

Is this foundation being destroyed? Yes! Satan has been trying to destroy it from the very beginning. He tried to destroy Adam and Eve by their disobedience. If he could get Eve to disobey God then God would have to separate her from her husband Adam. She gave the forbidden fruit to Adam, he ate it also and instead of separating them, God gave them His grace.

Satan and the world are attempting to destroy the family unit by obliterating the distinction between the man and the woman. No matter how hard he tries, he will never accomplish this.

Here is one example that is being used, a quote from the book “We Will Not be Silenced” by Irwin Lutzer, which I recommend for everyone to read, and I quote, “Standing in the way of these changes, (meaning changes in the national structure) is the nuclear family with a father, a mother and children. Marx taught that families based on natural law, and the Judeo- Christian values breed inequality and feed on greed and systemic oppression. Such families had to be dismantled if the Marxist vision of equality was to be realized.” Unquote.

Lutzer went on to say “Marx claimed due the restrictions limiting sexual intimacy to a man-woman relationship within the marriage covenant were invented by religion to maintain the dominance of men. Belief in God and the Bible with its teaching about social institutions such as marriage was the source of multiple forms of oppression.” Unquote.

It is easy to see that the sexual revolution began in the 60’s with the Playboy philosophy; the Gay Pride movement; transgender movement; and the LGBTQ community that we see happening today is designed to destroy the family unit. It is of necessity that we mention abortions as a part of the destruction of the family unit as well as divorce; along with men and women in a relationship that is outside the will of God, that is in a sexual relationship that is uncommitted in marriage.

Seeing as how this country has abolished God and the bible from the schools and government, it necessitated God to bring judgment on this country.

Romans 1:21-32. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds. And four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleaness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more that the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. 26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31. Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.

Because of the Supreme Court rulings in the past and present concerning abortions and LGBTQ and transexual laws, God has been judging this nation and is turning it over to our lusts.

How many of you are aware of the drought in America? From the West Coast to Kansas where it is rated from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. And it is moving east.

We are neglecting the family structure so God is abandoning our country.

Due to no-fault divorce, we have seen divorces grow steadily. It used to be that there was a stigma attached to divorce but no longer. It is expected. The thinking today is that if I don’t like the marriage, I’m in, I will just get a divorce. Children are being raised in blended families with multiple fathers and mothers. Divorce does have its place as long as it is according to God’s word. Marriage is an institution that God ordained and it is not to be taken lightly.

When the righteous see things happening, what can the righteous do?

The second institution that God ordained is the institution of civil government.

Romans 13:1-6 tells us that God did ordain civil government for the good of mankind; whether it is a constitutional government such as our own or some other government. 13:1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending upon this very thing.

We know from history that the government of the Roman Empire that Paul was living under was a hedonistic and cruel government. So, Paul was saying that even under this type of law and government the citizens were to be in subjection to it. By the way, Jesus lived under this same form of government and did not try to overthrow it. Both Jesus and Paul were put to death under this form of Government.

Here in America, we have a different sort of government but it also is in many ways corrupt.

So, the question before us is, is this foundation being destroyed?

Our nation was founded upon a government that is bound by its Constitution and Bill of Rights.

In these two founding documents, form the three separate offices of our government; Executive the legislative and the judicial. These three were formed to keep a check on one another.

Listen to what Isaiah says in chapter 1:4-6 “Ah, sinful nation a people laden with iniquity, A seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken anymore? Ye will revolt more and more; listen to this; the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it; But wounds, and bruises and putrifying sores: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

We need to understand that when Isaiah was speaking of the head, it was about the head of the nation, the rulers in charge, the kings and priests. When he spoke of the heart it was referring to the laws under which they lived. From the sole of the foot even to the head was indicating the people of the land. The head, their kings and priests were sick. Sin sick. The heart or laws were not being enforced, and were faint and ineffective. The people had become sick as well. There was no soundness in their country. It had become full of bruises and ugly sores.

That was the situation in Israel in the time of Isaiah. Is it any different in America today?

When we have an executive branch, a legislative branch and a judicial court that endorses wickedness then it is sick, sin sick.

When we have rioting in the streets of major cities and the police are handcuffed by wicked mayors and they, the police, cannot do anything about it then our laws are becoming weak and ineffective.

When we have prosecuting attorneys that loose vandals and the criminal element out on the streets on no bail then our laws are of no effect.

When we have put in charge those that have no regard for God, Jesus, the Bible, the Church, or Christianity, then we have the wrong ones in charge.

Listen to what one of those in charge, Jerry Nadler said when a man spoke from the Bible in Congress against the Equality Act. Congressman Greg Staube had read that God had created only man and woman. After much reproach from some of the other congressmen and women, Congressman Nadler arose and said, quote, “Mr. Straube, what any religious tradition described as God’s will is no concern of this Congress.” Unquote. Hasn’t Mr. Nadler ever read the history of this country and its Christian heritage? Doesn’t he know that we have been given these rights that we have, from God? God’s will for our country should be a concern for Congress.

It is no wonder that our Deputy Secretary of Health is a man identifying as a woman, Rachel Levine, a cross dresser.

It is no wonder that God is judging this nation, He has to.

It is no wonder that our country is quickly being given over to Marxist Socialism and Communism.

If you remember, Israel chose Saul to be King even after much warning about what he would do as king. They got Saul as king, they got what they desired and they got the kind of king that they deserved.

Have we not learned anything from the Bible? Do we forget what 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us? It says, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

It was a wise man that said that when we ignore history, we are doomed to repeat it.

Our nation is being judged for its neglect of God, Jesus and the bible.

If you read your bibles you will notice that God judges nations by their leadership; their kings and their spiritual leaders.

Wicked men and women are taking control of this once Christian nation, by destroying its foundations. What can the righteous do?

The last foundation, the last institution that God ordained is the Church.

Christ did not die for the countries of the world, but for the people that make up those nations.

He will eventually, perhaps sooner than any of us realize, judge the nations of the world.

But we also read that Christ died for the church (Ephesians 5:25).

The Church is to be the pillar and ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15), so those that need to promote their agenda by lies must destroy the foundation of the Church.

We must remember that this is not only a political battle for the soul of the country, but is more importantly a Spiritual battle, fought both in heaven and here in this world.

As a political, financial and military power as well our history has shown, America was and is a Christian nation, we are the biggest plum in the pie. If we go down then we take a lot of others with us.

As shown before, we are quickly becoming a secular nation, governed by secularists and wanting nothing to do with God.

Why has this happened? The churches have been negligent in proclaiming the message given it by the Lord and His Apostles. We have not been preaching the holiness and judgment of God. We have not been preaching that all will have to answer to Him. Our churches are not getting people ready to meet their God.

Many of you may remember Clara Peller that was in the ad for Burger King. She gained fame for
“Where’s the beef.”

Today in the church I want to know where’s the soap. We are preaching soapless sermons.

The bible tells us in Isaiah 64:6 that we are all as an unclean thing. Where is the soap?

The same verse says that all our righteousness is as filthy rags. Where is the soap?

Malachi 3:2 says “But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand at His appearing? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers soap.”

There’s the soap, our Lord and Savior. It is His blood that cleanses us from all sin. He washed us in His own blood. That is the soap. Too many sermons are bloodless, soapless. No wonder we don’t see a real revival in our churches. The churches have turned to a social gospel and a prosperity gospel; and I might say that these are no gospels at all. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:8 said that though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed.

It is heart-breaking to see so many churches that once stood for the Lord, now abandoning Him for political correctness.

Here are just a few that are following the ways of the world.

Many if not all the first colleges and universities were Christ honoring institutions that not only promoted the bible but were the first to send out missionaries. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, William and Mary, and Oxford to name just a few. Today they are the bastions of liberal, worldly philosophy. They no longer claim to be Christian.

Bethany Christian services formally a Christian agency is now acknowledging gay and lesbian marriages and are allowing children to be adopted by gay and lesbian couples.

The once staunch Christian pastor, Tony Evens has embraced Black Lives Matter, an organization that was founded by two Marxist women and proclaim Marxism. Marxism has vowed to destroy Christianity. One spokesperson made the comment that all stained-glass windows, all crosses must come down and be destroyed.

Raphael Warnock a pastor of Ebenezer Baptist church in Atlanta Georgia, now running for a Georgia Senate seat is a pro-choice spokesman advocating abortion rights.

The National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches have departed from the bible on many issues such as the LGBTQ movement; The Palestinian and Israel situation. They have taken the side of the Palestinians over the people of God. They are promoting a one world religion including what has become known as Chrisalam, which is a joining together Christianity and Islam. They have promoted women pastors, gay and lesbian pastors. Many of our main-line churches have become a part of the National Council of churches.

The Pope has also embraced Chrisalam.

Yes, the world led by Satan is out to destroy the foundation instituted by the Lord Jesus, the church.

In Canada a church was fenced off to keep it from holding services. The pastor just went to another place to hold services.

Here in America, many attempts to close churches have been made.

What can the righteous do? Now I am going to answer this question.

In verses 4-7 we find David’s answer to all of their ill advice that was based on their ill understanding and ill conclusions.

Verse 4. The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.

We need to keep in mind that God is in control. Not kings, not presidents, not Congresses and not Supreme Court justices. Nothing gets by His all-seeing eye. Nothing escapes His ever-present knowledge. It says “His eyelids try the children of men.”

Just because they think they are getting by with their wickedness doesn’t mean that they are.

Just because they refuse to acknowledge the God of Heaven and His Son Jesus doesn’t mean that they do not exist and will hold them accountable.

Look at verse 5. The Lord trieth the righteous: But the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth. It says here that the Lord tries or tests the righteous. This situation is going to get worse. The bible tells us that in the last days perilous times will come. It also says the evildoers will grow worse and worse. This will be a giant test for the true Christians.

It also says that the Lord hates the wicked and those that love violence. Are we seeing violence today? Those vandals that are destroying stores are doing it just for the loot they can carry off. They do in deed love and take pleasure in violence. The two young teen-age girls that tried to hi-jack a delivery man and take his car loved violence. That incident resulted in a car crash that took the life of the driver. One of the girls only concern was that her telephone was in the wrecked car.

Then there was the incident of a thirteen-year-old boy with a revolver that was shot in an alley at 1:30 in the morning. Some say it was his fault, some say the officer that shot him was in the wrong. My question is “Where was this boy’s parents? What was a 13-year-old boy doing out at 1:30 in the morning with a gun? The parents must share the blame.

What can the righteous do? Verse 6. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall the portion of their cup.

We also need to remember that there is a pay-day someday. Nobody rejecting God’s mercy and grace can or will escape the righteous judgment of our Holy God.

The time is coming and perhaps not too far in the future that God will fill their cup of sin with a horrible tempest or storm, this could be alluding to the Great Tribulation period. The fire and brimstone are what awaits them in hell and the Lake of Fire.

What can the righteous do? Verse 7. Keep on loving righteousness, so that the blessings of God will come upon us. He notices the righteous, He will reward us according to our faithfulness.

Here are a few other things that the righteous can do.

1. Resist the Devil (James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you). Satan is out to destroy the foundations that God set in place. We must with every fiber of our bodies resist that attempt.

2. Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints). They, and the Devil and his servants, are going about to destroy the faith of the church. They have introduced the world into the church with an entertainment style of service. We must contend for it. We must struggle against any such attempt.

3. Obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men). When the sinful world interferes with the Spiritual realm then it is okay to disobey man and his laws and rules.

4. Appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11 For if I be an offender , or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them, I appeal unto Caesar.). Paul had an outlet for his situation. He was a Roman citizen with rights as a free man. Today we are to have the rights as citizens of America to call those rights before the court system. We have many faithful pastors that are doing just that when it comes to where, how and to whom they preach. In spite of some opposition from local governors and mayors they have won in the courts.

5. Shun all appearances of evil (1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearances of evil). This means separating yourselves from these people that are in opposition to God, Jesus, the church and Christians. When we support this element of society, we are appearing as they are.

6. Choose the Government that best pleases God. We here in America have the opportunity to choose what Government that we want to live under. Israel had the same choice when they chose Saul to be their king. Even after Samuel had told them what kind of king he would be, they wanted Saul.

Do we want to live in a country that is led by those that kill their babies by abortion?

Do we want or choose to live in Sodom and Gomorrah? Lot did and see where that got him.

Do we want to choose a country that forgets God? Our bible tells us that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).

Psalms 9:17 tells us that the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.

Also, in Proverbs 22:10 tells us to cast out the scorner and contention shall go out; yea strife and reproach shall cease. There are some scorners of God, Jesus, the bible, the church and Christians in places of authority, they must be cast out of their offices. Better yet stop putting them into office. That is your right as a citizen and your obligation as a Christian.

7. Stop following the advice of those that are against the very foundations that God ordained.

This would include the news media that is molding the nation’s heart and minds toward the Marxist, anti-God and anti-Constitution agenda.

8. And last, we must let our voices be heard. Stand up. Quit sitting and doing nothing. Speak out. Let Satan know which side you are on.

Invitation. I’m going to ask some questions, Be honest with God and yourself.

Have you found yourself siding with those that are destroying the foundations that God established?

Do you find yourself too lukewarm to care?

Do you find yourself afraid and lack courage to change?

Are you really seeking truth about what is happening, or are you too willing to go along with the world?

What is Jesus saying about your condition?

How will you answer Him when you come face to face with Him? The altar is open.

Sunday Morning Message, 4/14/2021

What Can the Righteous Do?

Psalms 11.

I want to thank Pastor Lang for his confidence in placing me behind this pulpit, I don’t take it lightly.