THE 'REAL' STATE OF THE UNION

Last week, I spoke about choices; how having a choice in any matter is a special gift from God, and it is our duty to make sure we use that gift properly. 

In just nine days, we Americans are going to be faced with one of the most important, and one of the most spiritual, choices we have ever been faced with.  And for the future of our very nation, it is imperative that we get it right, for if we don’t, the damage will be forever cast. 

Of course, I am talking about the presidential election.  Let me put it another way:  We are going to elect a man who will, by vestige of his office alone, become the most powerful man in the world.  And we had better be very careful in whom we elect, because this is the most dangerous time in America’s history. 

The outcome of this particular election will either bring more chaos into our nation or it will correct the downward spiral we are on.  It will be fodder for critics or it will be a bright horizon for our future. 

Our nation is truly at a crossroads in its history.  And the choices we make in the next few months will surely determine our destiny for many years to come.  If America ends up in the graveyard of civilizations, it will be because of her own doing.  There will be nobody to blame it on but us; her citizens. 

What is the bottom line?  The bottom line is that we give lip service to the truth in God’s word, but we too often do not follow that up with any real belief or action.  Do we, or do we not, fully and truly believe in God’s word? 

PSALM 33:12 informs us, 

‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’  

That is a very short and extremely easy verse to understand.  If God is the Lord of a nation, that nation will be blessed beyond comprehension.  Look at our nation as an example.  We put God over this nation from its very inception, and look how we have been blessed! 

But now, we are trying our best to kick God out of our existence.  We are making it harder and harder for Christians to hear the unabated word of God, and we are doing even more to take the mention of God’s name out of our language.  

‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’  

Of course the opposite would be, ‘Cursed is the nation whose God is not the Lord.’ 

Today, I want to take a look at where our nation is and compare it with where the Bible says we should be.  Now, before I start, let me say that I do not represent either party.  I only represent the Word of God.  And God’s Word will lead us in every area of our society – if we will let it.  

The Word of God will guide us through the abortion quagmire our nation has subjected ourselves to; it will guide us through the issues of war that is splitting our nation apart; and it will steer us through the economic hardships we are faced with today. 

Let me start by examining what is happening in America’s school in regards to God’s Word.  

1.   IS GOD ALLOWED IN OUR SCHOOLS?

Despite what you hear today, our Founding Fathers did base this nation upon Jesus Christ as the Savior and Son of God.  All I will say in defense of that is:  If you doubt my statement, read any of the many charters and documents they wrote as they formed this nation. 

George Washington is quoted as saying that it would be impossible to govern America without the Bible as a guide, or God as a leader. 

The textbook of choice for America in its schools was the Bible.  As a matter of fact, up until the early 1950’s the Bible was still being taught in some schools in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and some other states. 

Isn’t it a coincidence that discipline in school, and in society overall, has spiraled downward just since the Bible was yanked out of our schools?  When you refuse to teach children right from wrong, they have no moral compass to base their lives upon.  And the end result will always be bad.  Don’t take my word for it; look around you! 

Spitballs and truancy used to be our schools biggest problems.  Today, our kids are being raped on school campuses, dope is found in abundance, and all kinds of weapons are found every day of the week. 

Let’s take a good objective look at most of our colleges in America.  They actually teach that America is wrong in its socio-economic beliefs.  They teach their students that the problems America is facing with other nations have all been brought on by ourselves and our refusal to accept other people’s beliefs as valid as our own. 

However, history will prove over and over again that when basic truth is discarded for any reason, the only thing left is untruth and the confusion it brings. 

A judge in Galveston, Texas, ordered a decree that if any student invoked the name of Jesus in any kind of prayer at any school function, he would make sure they rued the day they were born.  And to make sure his order was followed, he had the prosecutor’s office act as ‘prayer police’ to monitor all student activities. 

In 2002, a kindergarten student prayed this prayer with another student:  ‘God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food.’  The teacher pulled that child from class, and the school filed charges against that child for “crimes against humanity”.  That is true, I am not making this up! 

The child’s mother finally took it to the state Supreme Court and had that ruling overturned.  In that same school, however, they teach TOLERANCE of other religions under the satanic guise of ‘diversity’. 

In the state of Vermont, many public schools have taken the stance that if the name of Jesus is mentioned, the student automatically gets expelled.  Throughout America, schools are banning the name of ‘Christmas’ in its plays, in its songs, and even in mentioning the season.  Instead, they refer to it as a ‘Winter Holiday.’ 

No!  It is not a ‘Winter Holiday’!  The reason for the season is not because it is winter, but because that is when we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It really is a Christian holiday and should be referred to as exactly what it is! 

As far as including God in our education, that has already been settled – by God! 

In PROVERBS 22:6 it reminds us that if we teach our children to love God, they will love God. 

DEUTERONOMY 4:1-2 gives us this instruction: 

‘Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you.  Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers is giving you.  Do not add to what I have instructed, and do not subtract from it, but keep these teachings of the Lord.’  

God has taught us to follow His teachings!  That should have been the end of discussion in that matter, and it would serve our nation well, our people and our schools better if we would get back to basics and follow that teaching of God. 

We have seen how God is, and should forever more be, included in our education system.  Now lets look at …. 

2.   IS GOD FOR OR AGAINST WAR?

One of the biggest problems we have in America today is our views on whether or not we should be engaged in war … any war.  Let’s go back to God’s Word and see how God handles the issue of war. 

In GENESIS 14, we find a story about war. 

Some kings from Mesopotamia gathered and decided to go in and loot Lot’s tribe and carry him and his people and possessions off as spoils of war.  By the way, does anyone know where Mesopotamia was?  Today, we call it Iraq. 

Anyway, these kings descended upon Lot and his camp and took them and everything they had.  One man escaped and ran to Abraham and told him what happened.  Abraham immediately took 318 of his trained military men and went in hot pursuit of these kings. 

They caught up with them, and as the kings prepared to camp out for the night, Abraham split his men into two groups.  In the middle of the night, they attacked the kings men from two sides, making as much noise as they could.  Abraham’s men not only defeated them, they took all of Lot’s people and possessions back. 

Now, we have to ask ourselves if God approved of that battle.  Go back with me to GENESIS 12:3.  God promised Abraham that those who blessed Abraham would be blessed, but those who cursed him would be cursed.  

In addition to that promise, on the way back to their camps, Abraham ran into a priest by the name of Melchizedek, who was the king of Salem.  ‘Salem’ means ‘peace’.  And that king blessed Abraham and said God had delivered his enemies into Abraham’s hands.  

(For biblical accuracy, let me say that at this time, he was known as Abram, because God had not yet changed his name to Abraham.)  

In EXODUS 15:3, it says the Lord is a warrior.  

In PSALM 18:34, David says God trains his hands for war. 

David was a warrior.  And in ACTS 13:22; God says David is a man after His own heart. 

To attack someone unprovoked is not Godly.  To defend yourself against such an attack is Godly and biblical.  And we must remember that America was attacked without provocation on 9/11. 

Here is the way to keep it Godly.  Always have an offer of peace that you are ready to extend to an enemy.  However, if the enemy refuses your peace, and the only option you have left is to defend yourself, the Bible tells us to besiege the enemy until you win. 

That is like the advice my dad gave to us boys as we were growing up.  He said if we started a fight, he would punish us.  If we got into a fight and lost, he would punish us.  And if we got in a fight and ran away, he would punish us.  

I asked him one time what options that gave us, and he said to do everything we could to not fight, but if we were faced with no other option, do whatever was necessary to win it – period.  Needless to say, none of us got into many fights, because we were known as ‘those boys who wouldn’t quit until it was over.’ 

And that is the same principles God wants our nation to employ.  Do everything we can to remain at peace, but if we can’t; then win. 

America has one enemy.  That enemy is named Satan.  And Satan is using radical Muslims to come against our way of life.  America has a choice.  We can either defeat radical Islam, or we can submit to it.  There will be no other choices.  But while we are making our decision, we must never take our support away from Israel; no matter what the cost might seem to be at the time. 

We have now seen how America has kicked God out of our schools and the chaos and suffering that has caused to our nation.  We have also seen how going to war is not, in itself, something we should not do. 

Now, let’s take a look at …. 

3.   GOD AND AMERICAN POLITICS

Let me start by saying that our national leaders have all but turned their collective backs on God and His principles.  And they have done so to save their political hides. 

When any government condones what God condemns, all hell will break loose within that nation.  And we can see that happening all around us today. 

You all have heard that churches cannot endorse one party or candidate over another, or they will lost their legal tax-exempt status.  Has this always been this way?  NO! 

Churches have always told their congregations to vote the Bible, and they have helped show them which candidates were, and were not, on the side of the Bible.  But when Lyndon Johnson ran for president, a non-profit company (not a church) slammed him.  He was one of the most influential people in Washington, so after the election, he spearheaded a resolution through Congress that prohibited any tax-exempt organization from endorsing any candidate over another. 

And that end result was quickly picked up and utilized against churches.  So today I will not jeopardize this church by violating that federal law.  But I will tell you to vote the Bible.  And the way you do that is to stop following the crowd and think for yourself. 

If a candidate is for anything that God is against, you cannot, in good conscience, vote for that candidate; no matter who he is or what party he belongs to.  It is my belief that if a candidate is for abortion, for instance, and you vote for that candidate, you are turning your back on God and you will have a price to pay for that.  I don’t think any of us want to put ourselves in that position, do we? 

That is why I said before that I draw a line on a piece of paper.  Then I draw a circle in the middle of that line.  That circle represents where God’s agenda is on a host of subjects. 

Then I draw a circle to the left and right of God’s circle.  The more the candidate’s agenda reflects God’s agenda, the closer his circle is put to God’s circle.  The further away it is from God’s agenda, the further away it is from God’s circle. 

Then, I vote for the one closest to God.  I don’t care what party he belongs to, and I don’t even care if I like him on a personal basis.  My decision to vote for him is solely based upon how closely he resembles the desires of God. 

I told you a few moments ago about how schools are mandating our tolerance of all other religions, but Christianity is forbidden by law to even be mentioned.  In the book of ACTS, we find the same scenario.  The government had forbidden the Christians to preach in the name of Jesus, saying they would be put in jail.  

Thankfully, when questioned, the Holy Spirit spoke through Peter and he started preaching Jesus to the very men who had helped condemn Jesus to death. 

What was the end result?  ACTS 4:21 says, 

‘After further threats, they let them go.  They could not decide how to punish them because all the people were praising God for what had happened.’  

What was the end result?  The politicians told them to be quiet, but they kept preaching.  And in ACTS 5, we see where many were added to the church because of it. 

There is quickly coming the day when the law of the land will say that I cannot even quote parts of the Bible, as I will be guilty of crimes against humanity.  Don’t laugh, as this is already a law in Canada and parts of Europe. 

There will be a day come when I will be in the middle of a sermon, and will read a verse out of the Bible; a verse like where Jesus speaks in … 

REVELATION 21:7-8 – 

‘He who overcomes will inherit all of Heaven, and I will be his God and he will be My son.  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers.  The sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.’  

And on that day, you will see two men approach me at the pulpit, read me my rights, handcuff me and lead me off to jail because I will have violated the government’s hate crimes laws.  And all I will have been guilty of is reading God’s Word aloud. 

And if you do not think that is coming, ask a few Danish ministers who are already in jail for reading the exact same verse. 

So we all say we will pray.  But when we pray, do we pray with the certain expectation of receiving our answer, or do we pray in hopes we might see something? 

Christians are famous for asking God for something, and then when He delivers it to us, we climb all over each other denying it. 

For instance, there was a nice little Christian town in western Oklahoma many years ago.  That little town had two churches in it.  And then a city slicker from back east came in and opened up a bar. 

Well, the two churches began protesting across the street from that bar.  And finally, they went into prayer, asking God to do whatever it took to get rid of that bar.  The bar owner, an atheist, openly mocked their prayers. 

One night, in the middle of just such a prayer, a big thunderstorm came through and lightning rained down on that bar, causing it to catch fire and burn to the ground. 

The bar owner sued the two churches, saying they caused it by asking God to destroy the bar.  And what did the two churches do?  They denied any part in it. 

When the judge made his ruling, he finished by saying, “I find this most perplexing.  On one hand, we have an atheist who is proclaiming the power of prayer, and on the other hand, we have two preachers and their congregations adamantly denying that very same power.’ 

And the judge’s opinion describes America today.  We all claim to believe in God, but deny any admission of Jesus Christ. 

Nine days from today, I hope that all of you will make the attempt to vote for your choice of president of these United States.  And I would like to close this sermon answering this question. 

4.   ARE POLITICIANS FOR GOD OR FOR THEMSELVES?

Some of today’s politicians openly take the stance that it is wrong for America to back Israel and should instead start backing the surrounding Muslim nations. 

Again, let’s quickly go back to GENESIS 12:3, where we see God promising Abraham, who became the father of the Jewish Nation, that He would bless those who blessed him and God would curse those who cursed Abraham.  In other words, if we bless Israel, we shall also be blessed, but if we curse Israel, we shall be cursed. 

Let’s look at some real time examples of this promise.  Israel had been non-existent for nearly 2,000 years.  And on May 14, 1948, a vote of nations gave Israel back its original land so that it might come together and form the nation of Israel once again.  There are over 100 verses in the Old Testament that prophesied this occurrence. 

At that time, the president of America, Harry S. Truman, signed the treaty to give Israel that land – even though Congress demanded he not do it.  Why did President Truman sign that pact?  His father was a preacher, and had taught Truman to bless the Jews in all he did.  

And since we blessed the nation of Israel then, and have stood by as its ally since, God has blessed America with many bountiful blessings.  But know this - the very minute we stop blessing Israel and start blessing her enemies, God will drop America like a hot potato and our blessings will instantly cease.  Now, what does that have to do with this election? 

One candidate has gone on record saying that if the tension between America and the Islamic nations increase, he would be forced to take a stand with the Muslims instead of with America.  That candidate has gone on record as saying that he would not wear the America flag on his lapel, because he did not want to appear as if he were taking sides.  

I, for one, think that if a person is running for this nation’s highest office, he had better learn really fast how to take sides, and that side he takes had better be for America. 

When we go into that voting booth, let us be dead serious on whom we choose to vote for as our leader.  After all, we don’t want to be led astray, do we? 

I noticed something as I was watching the news recently.  We have two candidates.  One candidate says we are no longer a Christian nation, but a nation made up of diverse religions.  He has just cursed God by putting other things on the same level with God. 

The other candidate is afraid to even mention the name of God because he might lose votes.  

MARK 8:36 asks us, 

‘What good does it do a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul getting it?’

I can just imagine a candidate smiling as he counts up all the votes he pandered to ….while he is forever in that lake of fire.  I don’t think those votes are going to do him any good then, do you?  

We must be very careful whom we choose to be our next leader.  Our very future depends on it.  Pick the right one, if there is a right one, and our nation will have the chance to turn from our wicked ways and turn back to God. 

Choose the wrong king and we end up with more calamity, terrorism, natural disasters and anarchy – the likes of which we will have never seen before in America. 

What can we do?  How can we be sure of whom to pick?  

Have you ever been in a situation where you had absolutely no control over, and the only way you could be kept safe is if someone helped you?  Picture slowly sinking in quicksand.  If somebody else didn’t help you, you would die, wouldn’t you?  

Americans are standing, or should I say sinking, in quicksand as we sit here this morning.  And we cannot save ourselves at this point.  Things are totally out of control and out of our ability to take care of.  So what can we do?  The only answer lies in … 

2 CHRONICLES 7:14  [Contemporary English Version]

‘If my own people will humbly pray and turn back to me and stop sinning, then I will answer them from heaven.  I will forgive them and make their land fertile once again.’  

God says if we will stop looking just after what our selfish and sinful nature wants, and start paying attention to what He wants, He will forgive our sins and He will make our nation prosperous, safe, and happy again. 

There will come a day when we are in such bad trouble in America that nobody will know how we got there or how to get out of it.

1 SAMUEL 8:18  [Contemporary English Version]

‘You will finally cry out for the Lord to save you from the king you thought you wanted.  But then, the Lord will not answer your prayers.’

I truly believe this election is one based, not on Republican vs. Democrat, or conservative vs. liberal, but one based upon God vs. Satan.

We look down our noses at the Nazis of WW2 and how they slaughtered millions of people.  We raise our voices in unison and say, ‘That would never happen in America!’

And all the while, we murder millions of unborn babies for convenience sake.

In Oklahoma City, across from where the office building was bombed, stands a statue of Jesus Christ.  It isn’t the type of statue you might picture.  He doesn’t have his hands out or his face turned towards God.

He has his hands covering His bowed face, and He is slightly turned away from the scene of devastation.  The caption on the statue simply says, ‘Jesus wept.’

That is what Jesus is doing now when He looks upon America.  And I blame Christians for the shape we are in.  We have turned our backs on the need to fast and pray for this nation.  We have become focused on the world around us instead of keeping our focus on the Lord within us.

The devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy, and he is doing that from within the Christian ranks.  We have just as many divorces as the non-Christian community; we have allowed our families to be destroyed and scattered; we have stood by in silence as ungodly people kicked Jesus out of our schools; and we are now standing by while ungodly people are hi-jacking our nation for their own selfish agendas.

But we have one more chance to do something to combat it, and that is vote for the candidate that is most closely aligned with the will of God.  It doesn’t matter if you like him or not.  It doesn’t matter which party he might belong to.  All that matters is that his agenda does not condone anything that God condemns.

But you will never know God’s will or agenda unless you have given your heart to Jesus Christ.  As we go into this time of invitation, I urge you to do that right now.  Be sure you are on the side of Christ.  Be sure you belong to Him and your eternity will be spent with Him.

INVITATION