The shocking truth about intolerance - a surprising discovery

[0:00] Welcome everyone today. I know I'm amongst Protestants today. I'm amongst people that protest.! I've got some protesters amongst us. I know that some of you are out at the various protests! that have been going on at Salisbury about Drag Queen Story Hour. How intolerant of you.

[0:19] Good on you. All right that's my message today. Talk somewhat on this theme of being intolerant. There's some things we should be intolerant about. A lot of people make out that tolerance is such a high virtue now. You don't say anything against anything or anyone unless you might offend.

[0:38] They say that intolerance is bad. Very bad. But I say there is a place, there is a place for intolerance. There is such a thing as a positive intolerance. We need to resist some things. Of course we're told to resist who? Resist the devil and all of his ways. The world, the flesh, the devil.

[1:00] There's some things we ought to be against. That's a rightful thing. We must be. And it honours our Lord when we're opposed to that which is wrong. What is wrong? And we have to be against some things because God is against them. Think about, for example, it's a thing we don't often look at but God's hatred.

[1:21] God has got hatred. God actually hates some things. And so should we. What is God against? God is against every false way. We see in Psalm 119 verse 128 it says, Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right. And I hate every false way.

[1:47] God's saying here that he esteems the word of God about what is right and he hates every false way. They go hand in hand. We go to the word for what is right and we say against that which is wrong.

[2:02] That is every false way. God's against it. Now, of course, including what God is against, including my sin. Thank God in my place condemned he stood. In my place condemned he stood.

[2:17] When I'm saying that we're against some things, I'm counting the old man Andrew Craig, God's against him too. Every false way. But thank God there's grace. The emphasis though today is talking about every false way. Think about the intolerance.

[2:36] Intolerance can be a positive. Because of course it's a virtue to uphold faith and truth, to stand firm for what is right, what is scripture versus what is wrong, to stand upon that.

[2:48] And so we know that it follows on that to love the truth, I have to hate every false way. I have to hate that which is false. And the word of God's very clear about that.

[3:01] So we're going to unpack some of that. We have to take sides, don't we? I know there's some family here that's a Mad King Crow supporter. They've flown in from interstate. They're so for the crows that they've come here. They've flown across the nation to come and barrack for their footy team.

[3:17] So some people you're for the crows and so you're obviously against the other lot. We have to take sides, that's the point, don't we? We have to take a stand. Because some ways, friends, some ways are a false way.

[3:30] They're false. If you're going to understand this, there is a false way. If someone's going a false way, you want to tell them too, don't you?

[3:40] If over the edge of the cliff, down the end of the road, there's a warning sign, if you go beyond it, then you're going the false way, the wrong way. And if you know about that, you want to warn people, hey, warning.

[3:56] That's a false way, that's a dangerous way, don't go that way. And it's the same when you're going witnessing, I know I've seen some memes with people who are warning people about the cliff and saying, no, don't go that way.

[4:08] And they say, don't judge me. They're stepping over the cliff. Oh, don't judge me. The preacher's saying, hey, stop, don't go that way, it's wrong. And they say, don't judge me.

[4:20] But warning actually is a loving thing to do. To warn is to love. Warnings are there because God loves us, amen? Now, last week, Jai and I stood on the doorstep of a man in Hillbank, and he honestly had the view that he believed in every God, he said.

[4:38] He was a Hindu of origin, and he talked about the religions of the Hindus and their gods, the millions of them, take your pick, whatever day of the week. The God of the Muslims, the God of the Christians, you name it.

[4:51] He says, oh, I believe in all of them. Fact is, these are different ways. These are different ways. You've got to make a choice. There's some false ways here.

[5:02] There's only one true way. It's Christ, isn't it? And if we follow every one of these other ways, it's a false way. As if he could follow every one of them. You can't. Fact is, they're different.

[5:15] And you have to choose one and reject the syncretism idea, this interfaith idea. It just doesn't blend. You can't put it all together and have something that makes a common way.

[5:27] They're all different ways. And that man's thinking, I put to you, it's a false way right there. The so-called holy books don't agree.

[5:39] Only one. Only one can be true. The others are outright false. We must stand for what is right. What is morally, ethically the right standard.

[5:50] And to promote that. The one way of salvation. The one saviour. So that means resisting evil. When we stand for the right, we've got to resist the evil. One follows the other. God's also against wicked rulers.

[6:04] We see wickedness in high places. We should be intolerant of that. Intolerant of wickedness in high places. Now, of course, Romans 13 says there's a certain authority, a government control over us.

[6:16] There's rule as God's instated. There's a certain civil framework for decent society. There's a certain law and order. We're not saying be anarchists here this morning.

[6:28] But there is a certain dominion. There's certain powers. There's certain authorities that are called wicked. And Paul says this in Ephesians 6.12. He says, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities.

[6:42] Against powers. Against the rulers of the darkness of this world. Against spiritual wickedness in high places. And so there's things that we ought to be against.

[6:53] Including ungodly laws. And wicked rulers. And such governance that is wicked. It's okay to be a protester.

[7:05] Governments that legislate to legalise sin and wickedness. Local councils. Even if we're in the minority. To speak against abortion and such things.

[7:16] Just because they make it legal doesn't make it right. We're against the woke culture. There is such a thing as wickedness. Spiritual wickedness in high places.

[7:27] And we think of our nation. It's right to stand up and stand against the wicked rule and governance. Where it is a strafe on God's truth.

[7:39] We don't have to comply with wicked rule. In a way we are the real opposition. As far as opposing ungodly governance. They talk about left wing and right wing.

[7:51] But really they're often just wings of the same bird. It is the case often. There's not a lot of difference between them. There's this clash of ideologies.

[8:02] But really we are the ones who speak the truth. If we're speaking biblical truth. And we can't expect unsaved politicians to speak biblical truth. We can hope they'll have some Christian values.

[8:13] We can pray for them. Let's pray for them. Amen. Pray for Canberra. Notice what the word of God tells us in the context of the armour of God. Paul says this.

[8:25] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God. That you may be able to withstand in the evil day. And having done all to stand. We've got some standing to do.

[8:35] Amen. Brothers, sisters, some standing. And some withstanding. Some standing against to do. If we don't withstand, who will? If we won't speak, who will?

[8:47] If not us, who? If not now, when? May we have the courage to stand. Like David stood. We need to stand. Stand alone if it be.

[8:58] If we must. There's powerful men who oppose God and mock him. David said, who is this guy? When this giant was there.

[9:09] It reads in part 1 Samuel 17, 26. Who is this uncircumcised Philistine? That he should defy the armies of the living God. Who is he?

[9:19] Who does he think he is? To defy the Lord. This national champion of the Philistines. It was wicked rule. How dare he? David had been anointed just sometime earlier.

[9:35] 1 Samuel 16, 13. It says in part that the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward when he was anointed. And we think of the wicked rulers of our day.

[9:47] And they're of all political colours really. Much of the time. And we think of David as he stood there. It wasn't David's sling and stone that was his strength.

[9:57] It was the spirit of the Lord that brought him victory. Because God was in him, on him. Working through him. And it's the same for you and me. We can make all kinds of protests and all kinds of noise.

[10:11] But we need it to be a spiritual battle, don't we? We have to arm up spiritually and go into battle to gird our armour on. Like David we stand. Yet we are not alone for God stands with us.

[10:24] And the giant will fall. He must fall. Amen. David was not tolerant of Goliath. Think of it. As a place for intolerance.

[10:34] Like John the Baptist, he withstood the wicked authority of his day. When he stood up and condemned Herod Antipas for taking his brother's wife Herodias as his own against God's law.

[10:45] Mark 6, 18. John the Baptist, he was intolerant of this sin. And he stood for truth. Ultimately it led to his imprisonment and execution. Friends, God is against some things.

[10:57] And that's a good thing. To be against some things. We see Isaiah 59, 19. Then the prophet says, So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and his glory from the rising of the sun.

[11:11] When the enemy shall come in like a flood. The spirit of the Lord shall lift up. Lift up a standard. Lift up a standard against him. Now the enemy's coming in like a flood.

[11:24] God's raising up a standard. He's raising up, if you like, as some have pictured it, it's like a battle standard. An ensign, a banner, a flag. A symbol that represented their values and principles.

[11:37] And the 12 tribes of Israel, each one had a banner. And they served under that as their standard. And we think of the standard. God's raising up a standard. It's this battle standard, this flag, this banner that represents conquest and authority.

[11:53] And that the Lord is going to war for us. Bear with me while I quote a preacher. I've quoted him before, Ian Paisley. I don't agree with all his particulars necessarily.

[12:06] But I like what he says here. Ian Paisley, he says, In every evil age that we read about in God's word, there has always been a challenge to that evil age. A challenge to that darkness of that evil age.

[12:19] A challenge to the leadership of the apostasy of that evil age. And there has always been the triumph and the victory of God's people in an evil age. I believe that we have a responsibility to share the triumph of Christ in an evil age.

[12:34] The darkest days in church history were always the brightest days for the church of Jesus Christ. When they were burning the saints of God, the gospel burnt with mighty fire.

[12:45] The greatest darkness of our day comes from darkened men who are blind leaders of the blind. Darkness in the pulpits. Darkness in the colleges. Darkness in the universities. Darkness in the assemblies.

[12:56] Darkness in the conventions. Darkness in the council of churches. Ecclesiastical, religious, spiritual darkness. Darkness covers the earth. And gross darkness the people.

[13:07] What God did in creation he's still doing today. And he's working by sending forth light. God had commanded the light to shine out of darkness as shined in our hearts.

[13:19] What glorious light when God shines into our hearts. So you have light. Light confronting, challenging the darkness. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

[13:33] I like that word, against. There are things that you and I are against. Yes, we are against them. I am against the Pope. You remember that.

[13:45] Just an aside, here's the Pope visiting a Buddhist temple. The Pope's been in the news lately praying with the Buddhists. As he's also been shown kissing a Koran.

[13:56] This is the Pope, the supposed leader of Christendom. For some, they would count him such. And I'll continue on. I'm against the Pope. I'm against the World Council of Churches.

[14:07] I'm against the National Council of Churches. I'm against the great apostate denominations. Whether they be Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist or called by any other name. I'm absolutely and totally against them.

[14:19] From the top of my head to my big toe. I'm against them. Every bit of me against them. Of course, he's talking about these churches that are cosying up to error and falsehood.

[14:31] Amen. The Pope. Friends, we're firmly against them. We must be. We have to be. Against the tide of evil. When the enemy comes in like a flood. The Spirit of God is going to raise up a standard against them.

[14:42] Amen. Against that tide of evil. And we must be the ones who stand in their number. Stand for faithfulness for God and His Word. Crying out against error and falsehood.

[14:52] There is such a thing as black and white. Truth and error. Some would say we're being intolerant. No matter. Because it's the right thing to do.

[15:04] God calls for people who will rise up. Even the world's protesting drag queen story times. They know it's sick and perverse and wicked. The agenda that's underneath all of that and what it leads to.

[15:18] But there's only a few that care about such things. There's only a few that even dare to question it. Oh, we might be seen to be not inclusive enough.

[15:30] Oh, God forbid we would be not inclusive. What are you going to include? The devil himself? We're outnumbered on many fronts. But we must stand.

[15:41] But if God be for us, who can be against us? So I put to you, saints of God, don't be afraid to stand. You might have to stand in your workplace. To stand on God's side. Wickedness in high places.

[15:54] And there's some elected members that routinely use the name of Christ in vain. I'm opposed to that. I'm intolerant of that. We need to get our fighting spirit back, saints.

[16:04] We need to not be afraid of man. What man can do to us. But man up to the fight. God is against every evil way.

[16:15] And God is against evildoers. He's intolerant of wicked workers. Think of this scripture. The psalmist cries, Psalm 94, 16. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?

[16:27] Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? It's a true statement, isn't it? Who's going to stand? Who's going to rise up? Who's going to cow-tow?

[16:40] Who's going to bow down? I urge you this morning to get that fighting spirit. To stand for the right. To stand with God against the evildoers.

[16:51] Alright? That's why we oppose things like Freemasonry and secret societies. That's why we oppose the Illuminati and the New World Order. That's why we're against the people traffickers.

[17:02] And those that hurt little children. We oppose ecumenism and the World Council of Churches. Charismaticism. Hillsong. Bethel. Elevation. We're against Calvinism.

[17:13] And Arminianism. And the New Age. New fad doctrines. And the compromising ministers fraternals. We're against every false religion. Every false way. We're firmly against the Pope and Popery.

[17:25] And sacerdotalism. In other words, this papal kind of system of fathers and priests. And so-called infant baptism. And we're against any movements based on false prophets such as Seventh-day Adventism.

[17:39] We're against any system which teaches a works-based salvation. A lordship salvation. Friends, the prophets of old stood against some things. They stood against what was false.

[17:50] They spoke out loudly against corruption. Now, of course, we can be gracious about it. I've been on the receiving end. It's not always gracious. But if we're standing for the right, we can stand with the right spirit too.

[18:04] Amen? We can stand for what really counts, not petty side issues. There's wicked workers out there. And so we must stand where the prophets stood. These prophets, they were ordinary men.

[18:16] But they were men with conviction, just like you and me. Just like the people here. In your seat. They just were brave enough, bold enough to be intolerant of every false way.

[18:28] People like the prophet Amos. He pulled no punches. The fact is, God hates some things. Some of the things that are going on in our day and time. Friends, God hates the perversion of the LGBT alphabet movement.

[18:41] And every other sick thing that it stands for. God's against the drag queen story times. And all the wicked confusion of the gender bender agenda. The hurting of little children.

[18:52] God's against that. God hates that. All of that. And so should we. The confusion of that. Who's behind that? Not God. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.

[19:04] As in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14.33 If there's confusion there, it's not God behind it. It's the devil. God is against every false way. And I know this is a bit of a strong message, but it's a needful message.

[19:18] It's needful that we steel ourselves for the fight. That we start saying, yeah, I'm going to be bold in my God. If it's not biblical, then God's against it. Strongly against it.

[19:30] God's intolerant of wicked worship. Think of it. In Amos 5. Amos tells how God tells him that he hates even the worship.

[19:42] Even the worship that was going on. God says to Amos here, Amos 5.21, I hate. I despise your feast days.

[19:53] And I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though you offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them. Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. So God's saying here, all these sacrifices, I don't want it.

[20:06] I despise it. I hate it. I hate even the smell of that meat cooking on the altar. I will not accept it. And it reads on, take thou away from me the noise of thy songs.

[20:18] I don't want to hear it. I will not hear the melody of thy vials. But let judgment run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. There's certain worship. God's against it.

[20:30] It's just noise. Strong words, aren't they? Strong words. It's people worshipping that God's actually saying, I don't want to hear that. There's a worship that God is against.

[20:42] He doesn't want to hear the melody. It doesn't matter how we may try to justify it. There's a number of times the Old Testament prophets of God stood up to oppose falsehood.

[20:54] These are things that should catch our attention. That, yeah, we want our worship to be right. Calling God's people back to biblical truth and worship. We think of the days of Elijah.

[21:06] The prophet Elijah, he was outright intolerant to the prophets of Baal. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah did the right thing. He confronted the false prophets. He called them to a contest.

[21:18] And God showed his power over the false god, Baal. Friends, there can be no toleration of false gods. We can't cozy up to the Buddhists and the Muslims or whoever, you name it.

[21:32] It's biblical. There's one way. He says, I am the way. There's no other way. Every other way is a false way. And Elijah destroyed his father's altar to Baal.

[21:43] That was pretty intolerant. My dad built that. It doesn't matter. It's evil. Tear it down. It was full on intolerance for idolatry. King Josiah of Judah too. He showed a strong intolerance for idolatry and pagan worship.

[21:57] What did Josiah do? He destroyed the altars, the idols, the high places that were dedicated to the false gods. And he reinstated the proper worship of God. We see 2 Kings 23 that in Josiah's day, it tells how the king commanded Hilkiah, the high priest, and the other priest, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal.

[22:22] And for the grove. And for all the host of heaven. And he burnt them. So he took this strong action, these images. He destroyed them to burn them. How can we be like King Josiah?

[22:34] God calls us to be intolerant of idolatry. In the previous 60 years, the people had been worshipping pagan idols. No one had read the word of God. And Josiah found the book.

[22:46] This is where the revival began. 2 Kings 22. Shaphan the scribe showed the king. Hilkiah the priest had delivered me a book. And Shaphan the scribe, it says, he read the book before the king.

[22:59] Verse 11. And it came to pass when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. He heard the word of God, and he tore his clothes to shreds. He heard the book.

[23:09] He heard the words of the book. That's where it all began. That's where the revival began, when they went back to the book. The reforms of Josiah, the revival of Josiah's day. And we also need the book.

[23:22] We can protest, but we've got to be scriptural about it. We've got to go by the book. And Jehu, as king of Israel, showed intolerance for Baal worship as well.

[23:35] Destroyed the temple of Baal, and he killed the worshippers, purging the false worship from Israel. We see that 2 Kings 10. Let me put this in plain language.

[24:01] This lovely temple. Such an ornate edifice. Such an artistic wonder. The temple of Baal. What did Jehu do to it?

[24:12] Turn it into a toilet. That's putting it in plain language. That's the paraphrased version. He broke down the house of Baal and made it into a toilet. A latrine. That's the thing that he did.

[24:25] That's pretty intolerant, wasn't it? That's pretty offensive. It goes to show us that we must stand against those who lead people away from God, doesn't it? Now, I'm not saying we go down to the local false temples and do that necessarily.

[24:42] But if it was Jehu's time, we would be. We would be destroying Baal out of Israel. Amen? The Bible is very much against some false prophets. All right? Not cozying up to them.

[24:52] You see, Deuteronomy 13, it tells us of false prophets. Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God proveth you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

[25:07] There's some people that are false prophets. And they're routinely broadcasting all over the internet at the moment. Under the old covenant, the false prophet was to be stoned to death.

[25:18] That was some intolerance, wasn't it? That was pretty strong to put the false prophet to death. Our Lord himself was intolerant. Think of that. When he went to the temple of God and it says he cast out all of them that sold and bought in the temple.

[25:34] He overthrew the tables of the money changers, the seats of them that sold doves. And he said unto them, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.

[25:45] You can think of the picture as he drove out those money changers selling goods. He said, You've turned the house of God into a den of robbers. How intolerant. How intolerant was our Lord.

[25:57] Now, think of it. There's a whole lot of merchandising going on in the name of God these days that is actually hateful to God. Here's a story I read. And look, you might want to tune in and buy yourself a plot of land in heaven.

[26:11] Honestly, the people are buying this. Literally, they're buying this. There's all kinds of falsehoods out there. This is a recent story. There's a church in Mexico. You can find it on the internet. And you can buy your own plot of land in heaven.

[26:24] Okay? So don't miss out. It's for a limited time only. The pastor claims that God gave him permission. Of course, he had another visit to heaven like they all do. Had another conversation with Jesus like they all do.

[26:35] And the pastor claims that God gave him permission for heavenly real estate to be offered for US dollars, $100 per square meter. What a bargain. So get in now.

[26:47] Don't miss out. Get that land in heaven. Honestly, people, false prophets. We shouldn't be laughing. We should be crying for the people that are sucked in by this garbage. Our Lord condemned such things.

[26:59] The Pharisees, the hypocrisy, the teachers of the law, these whitewashed tombs he called them. And our Lord accused them of burdening people with heavy loads without helping them.

[27:11] God is intolerant of this. And Paul was intolerant of false teachings and heresies. God is intolerant of wicked words. There's people out there preaching a false gospel.

[27:23] Galatians 1, Paul sternly warns against people preaching a gospel that's contrary to the gospel of God. And such a gospel is wicked words when you think about it, isn't it?

[27:35] They go around with another testament of Jesus Christ. These men in suits and tires that knock on your door. It's another gospel. It's a false gospel. Such a gospel is wicked. It's wicked words.

[27:46] It's a message that will damn people to hell. That's the salvation that they're preaching. It's no salvation at all. And a false gospel is no gospel at all. It's not good news. Paul says this, But though we are an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, Let him be accursed.

[28:07] That's pretty intolerant language there. Here he says, These ones are perverting the gospel of Christ. There's no accommodating that. There's very strong words here. Friends, God has no acceptance of any false gospel, any wicked words, any messengers of wicked words.

[28:23] A false gospel is the devil's gospel. The Lord says, Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees. Don't swallow it. There can be no accommodation for error. Think of it. We can't welcome the wolf in the fold with the lambs.

[28:36] Let him be accursed. Paul's message was straight down the line. He wasn't about making friends and influencing people. He says this, Am I therefore become your enemy because I'll tell you the truth?

[28:50] It's been said truth is the new hate speech. The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it. We can't accommodate error.

[29:01] Even if the messenger gets shunned because he's daring to speak it out. Even if he's hated because he bears the truth. Don't shoot the messenger. It's been said that truth is the new hate speech.

[29:13] Amen. And another reference here, our Lord says of the end times, There's people who are going to be hated because they love Jesus.

[29:28] I think it's already happening. Paul says there's a place to rebuke people. Amen. That's strong language. In fact, rebuke them sharply, it says. We see that there. Part of holding fast the faithful word, standing aground for the gospel truth, is rebuking false teachings.

[29:44] In Titus 1, verse 9, It reads on, Friends, there's time and place to rebuke someone sharply even for their good.

[30:05] It's hard to tell someone something other than what they want to hear, but there's time to do that. Paul tells Titus to warn a heretic. Likewise in Titus 3, because God is intolerant to that division, and rather that we have unity and purity in the church.

[30:24] In God's letters to the churches of Revelation, the Lord urges God's people to be intolerant of evil practices and false prophets. There's a time and place for that.

[30:36] In Revelation 2, verse 2, He commends the church of Ephesus for not tolerating the wicked people and false apostles. He says this, I know thy works and thy labour and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil.

[30:50] There's a lot of people calling themselves apostles these days. It's the latest thing. It's just the latest fad. It's probably been around for a while, but just so they can inflate themselves and call themselves an apostle.

[31:02] They say they are apostles, but are not. They're liars. Ephesus wouldn't put up with it. John commands them for that. So God is intolerant also of wicked works.

[31:12] We see that further in Revelation. There's some works that God hates. In Revelation 2, verse 6, God agrees with the church at Ephesus that they hated the works of the Nicolaitans.

[31:27] It says, It's not really spelled out what those deeds or doctrines were, but there was a false movement, and God says he hates that.

[31:42] God hates some religious works. That's the point of it. There's some works that are done in churches, possibly by well-meaning pastors and Christians even, but they're not right.

[31:53] They're wicked. Wicked works. We've always got to be discerning. Is it right? Is it biblical? That must be the measure. And the church of Pergamos, they knew these Nicolaitans as well and their doctrine.

[32:05] And God says, So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. So there's need for warning. There's some intolerance there. God says he hates the deeds, and he hates the doctrine of this particular group.

[32:21] He's intolerant of it. And we've got to discern what's the mind of God on all kinds of doctrine and teaching and practice. If God's against it, we should be against it. God's intolerant of it, their deeds and their doctrines.

[32:34] When you think about it, there's some things that are poison. There's some teachers out there, they're like poison. Don't touch it. We need to have some intolerance about these things.

[32:45] That's why on occasion I do warn and I name names, because there's certain false teachers that you should be warned about. There's actions and teachings that God is against.

[32:56] I believe God's against them. And it's interesting in the context of Revelation, that God's churches that he's talking to, it's God's people. It creeps into good churches. False teachings can seep in.

[33:07] And so God does some straight talking to these churches and the pastors, the angels. Our Lord's message to the Laodicean church was also strong words. And we could do well to take heed of the kinds of warnings that God gives.

[33:21] He says, Revelation 3.15, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot, so then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

[33:35] These are strong words. It's pretty intolerant, isn't it? He refutes the Laodicean church. They're lukewarm, he says. You're not zealous. He says, be zealous and repent. Our Lord was intolerant of this spiritual complacency.

[33:49] Friends, to wrap it all up here today, I trust you've seen some of the truth that there is a zero tolerance with God about certain things.

[34:00] Daniel and his friends shows us just that too. When they refused the king's meat and wine, they saw it as compromise so they wouldn't partake. They weren't prepared to make that compromise.

[34:11] They didn't want to compromise their faith. And it says, Daniel purposed in his heart. It's a heart decision. It's a heart purposing, isn't it? We don't want to defile ourselves. May we stand like Daniel stood.

[34:24] May we stand like Nathan stood. Nathan even stood against the king of the land, the godly king. He should have been godly. King David, when he sinned with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, the prophet Nathan confronts him and says, that's wrong.

[34:41] He was intolerant. And then thankfully David responded to Samuel 12, 13. David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.

[34:52] Thankfully David got his heart right. Just a closing scripture again. And wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand, withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand.

[35:12] My plea to you this morning is we need to get our fight back, our militancy. May we stand like Paul. 1 Corinthians 5, he withstood the immoral actions that compromised the purity of the church.

[35:26] May we stand like Peter as he confronts Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. God's people are meant to stand. There's a saying that goes, if you don't stand for something, you're going to fall for anything.

[35:38] It's what's going on, isn't it? People aren't making a stand about anything. They're just letting it all happen. They're just going with the flow. And they're wondering why the church is lost its cutting edge.

[35:50] It's not what it ought to be. God's people are meant to stand for what is right, not conform in a world of compromise. Rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12.2.

[36:01] So I urge you, in closing, join the resistance today. Okay, we're going to sign you up and we're going to start doing protests all over the place. Not necessarily, but you can do your part.

[36:12] You can play your part. I know some of you are red-hot zealots who like to go to protest meetings. Good on you. I like going to them too. It may not be for everyone here today.

[36:23] But I urge you today to join the resistance. Pray. Amen. That's true. That's true. Let's resist the devil and his ways even if we be labelled as intolerant.

[36:42] It's okay. Even if they say, you're a bigot, a homophobe. You know, I stood at the council meeting Tuesday night and they talked about discrimination.

[36:55] Friends, we should have a discrimination. Not talking racial or anything like that or against people necessarily. But we should discriminate between right and wrong.

[37:07] Between right and wrong. there's a certain discrimination, a discerning between false and true. Friends, let's not be afraid to resist evil. We call to that.

[37:19] And stand for godly principles and truth. The fact is, God hates every false way. Whether it be wickedness in high places.

[37:31] When we've got ungodly governance, let's stand for election. Stand for election and displace them. The wickedness in high places. Let's pray for them.

[37:42] That they get saved. Wouldn't it be great to see that our leaders saved? Glory to God. Wouldn't that be a testimony? God's against some things. He's intolerant of wicked workers.

[37:55] Wicked worship. Wicked words. False gospels. Wicked works. I pray that we'll be encouraged. I'd like to finish really on a positive note wherever I can as much as this has been a negative sermon because we must resist.

[38:09] There is a negative. But on a positive note, the Bible says, overcome evil with good. Overcome evil with good. Now God blesses a nation where righteousness is there.

[38:24] Sin is a reproach to any people but God blesses a nation that's got righteousness. We want to pray for Australia, don't we? Pray for Australia. Pray for our world. Lord, let's pray. Lord, we thank you that Lord, you tell us you hate every false way and so should we.

[38:40] Help us, Lord, to be scriptural, to be discerning, to discriminate between right and wrong. Not in a holier-than-thou way because, Lord, we know as I started, Lord, in my place, condemned, you stood.

[38:53] You bore my sin, all of the foulness of it, all of the perversity and evil and wickedness that is in me. You bore it all. You took it all in your body, on the tree, every bit of my sin and for those that trust you, we can know that too.

[39:07] Lord, your great grace. Lord, let it be upon us. Lord, help us to overcome evil with good, to shine the light in this darkness. Lord, we pray for our rulers, even if they be wicked rulers, we pray even more for them that they would be saved, that you would, Lord, help them to see the truth and know you, to make godly laws and governance decisions.

[39:33] Lord God, pray for every soul. We pray for each one here that might be in a workplace where they're utterly outnumbered by those that would mock and scorn and even use your precious name in vain.

[39:46] Lord, that we won't be afraid to be your people in this world. Lord, be glorified in our lives, we pray. In Jesus' name, Amen.