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[0:00] Psalm 11.

[0:15] Psalm of David. In the Lord put I my trust.! How say ye to my soul, flee as a bird to your mountain? 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.

[0:31] If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.

[0:45] The Lord trieth the righteous, but the wicked, and him that loveth violence, his soul, hate it. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire, and brimstone, and horrible tempest.

[0:57] This shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness, his countenance doth behold the upright. Please be seated.

[1:09] And we're looking at Psalm 11, particularly verse 3. If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

[1:21] What can the righteous do? Foundations. It's important to build on strong foundations. We know that in the construction industry, a foundation is vital.

[1:34] It's essential to the building structural integrity. Otherwise it's going to become shaky and unstable. And it's like that in life, particularly in the Christian life.

[1:45] Faith in Christ must be that solid foundation, that sure foundation for our lives. Verse 1, it says, In the Lord put I my trust.

[1:58] Our trust, our faith, must be a biblical faith. A sole trust in Christ. God's word as that solid rock on which to build.

[2:09] Australia is at the crossroads. The foundations are crumbling all around us. Weak and crumbling. Being destroyed. Partly by neglect.

[2:21] Partly by a deliberate undermining. A systematic dismantling of godly truth. We're seeing that in our nation today. The building, the fabric of our society, the construction of our society is being demolished.

[2:37] Not by a wrecking ball, as you see when they smash a building down. But by a subtle undermining from the foundations upward. As the foundations are being eroded.

[2:48] We're going to look at some of these foundations. And answer that question. It's a 3,000 year old question. If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

[3:01] The foundations being destroyed. It's got the sense of pulled into pieces, broken down. And it is happening. I put it to you today. It is happening. The foundations are being destroyed on a number of fronts.

[3:14] For example, in the home. In the home. The foundations of the home. Verse 2. For lo, the wicked bend their bow. They make ready their arrow upon the stream.

[3:25] That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. The wicked one sets his target sights. He puts the crosshairs at the heart. The home.

[3:35] We see his fingerprints there. The wicked one. Right from the garden. The home wrecker. Satan himself. He puts his crosshairs.

[3:48] He puts his target sights on your home and mine. The wicked one does not want strong Christian families. He wants to steal, kill and destroy.

[3:58] The wicked one bends his bow. He aims his arrow on the stream. And he attacks the very heart. The very heart is the home.

[4:09] He wants to tear it apart. Brick by brick by brick. He wants to demolish it. Demolish the foundation. He waged his war today against families. In particular, godly families.

[4:21] He wants to destroy them. His work continues in an undermining. In a laying waste. In a creating havoc. The foundations are in danger today. People today, marriage is under attack.

[4:34] More than ever before. Marriage. Home. And family. It needs a sure foundation. A strong foundation. A firm foundation. What do we read of marriage?

[4:46] In Hebrews 13.4. Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled. But hallmongers and adulterers, God will judge.

[4:58] We read of the marriage bed. It is something that should be honoured. God designed it as honourable. And yet the world routinely dishonours it today. The institution of marriage itself.

[5:10] It's in the devil's target size. God sets homes in order. He's designed marriage. He's designed the family to have a godly order.

[5:22] To have a godly foundation. And yet we're seeing disorder as the rule of the day. We must build. You must build. We must build. Godly men.

[5:33] Godly women. Upon the foundation. Upon the foundation of God's word. The foundation. Here we will see healthy marriages. And homes where Christ is head.

[5:44] If the foundation's being destroyed. What can the righteous do? Another foundation that the devil has got his target sights on. Is the church. The church of God.

[5:55] 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. It says there.

[6:07] The Lord is in his holy temple. Now we know God does not live in buildings made by man so much. The temple. We could compare it to. Is the people of God.

[6:18] It's the very living body. That is the church of God. And it is in that. That he is enthroned. In that holy temple. That is his church. The true church of God.

[6:28] Which is in many places. In our world today. The Lord is in charge. He is enthroned. He has his throne. And he is in his holy temple.

[6:39] And the church is meant to be. The people of God are meant to be. A holy temple. We're meant to be a holy people. A holy temple. His body. His hand extended.

[6:50] And it is here that the foundations again. Are at risk. They're under threat. Of course we know our Lord promises that he will build his church.

[7:00] And the gates of hell shall not prevail against the true church of God. But we're living in days where there is a counterfeit church. A counterfeit.

[7:11] A substitute church. A sleepy, comfort driven church. A biblically illiterate church. A self-absorbed church. An easy, breezy, appealing, backslidden, complacent, lukewarm church.

[7:28] Where easy believism has replaced sound doctrine. Sound biblical Christianity. Sound exposition of God's word. As someone put it.

[7:38] What passes for Christianity at best is largely an anemic, spineless, diluted substitute. Without convictions or principles. This is the counterfeit that we're seeing about us today.

[7:53] And we read in God's word that God is not the author of confusion. Yet we do see confusion. Chaos is the order of the day. So who is the author of confusion?

[8:05] Beware brothers and sisters. Today's fad driven church is pushing the tacky, the trivial, the trashy.

[8:17] Like someone said, if you create a vacuum, it will be filled. Create a vacuum and it will be filled. That's why we're seeing cults flourishing. That's why we're seeing all manner of teaching being propagated and it's not biblical.

[8:37] Because there's a vacuum and it's being filled. In the church of God, indecency and disorder prevail. Whereas God says things should be decent and in order.

[8:51] Now that's not to say we're stuffing and straight jacketed. But we need to have an order that is biblical, that is God honouring, that is reverential of the word and linsent.

[9:02] And yet we see in some quarters, churches today, where as antics of every description, just about anything goes. It's a free for all. It's as some have called a church, pandemonium.

[9:15] And what does pandemonium mean? Many devils. Antics of every description is scary when you go to some churches. People raging in contortions.

[9:26] It's like a kind of crazy discotheque. Strange scenes abounding. In some you see a mesmerising display. Mimicking the hypnotist.

[9:39] Frenzy, spasms, hysterics. And great extra-biblical deceptions. And folk are running to this. They're running from one spectacle to another. Like some kind of spiritual drug addict.

[9:50] Yearning for yet another hit. Another high. Another sign. Another wonder. Another experience. A host of absurd, bizarre manifestations prevail.

[10:01] Create a vacuum. And it will get filled. Deception is spreading. And it's worsening. We should be alerted to that. We should be alarmed about that. For many it seems that experience and euphoria reigns supreme above the authority of Scripture.

[10:19] It doesn't matter that it's not in the Scriptures. It's just the latest thing God is doing. People become transfixed under the spell. Lying signs and wonders. I've seen videos of churches where the order of the day is to have gemstones falling from heaven.

[10:36] As the people are worshipping. Somehow diamonds and gems and precious stones fall on the people. Or it could be gold dust. Could come on your Bible.

[10:46] On your clothes. On your arms. On your hands. Oil on your hands. These are the spooky kind of things people are propagating and promoting and applauding today.

[10:57] And supposed angel feathers fall on the people. Could it be the work of fallen angels? Could it be? You don't see this stuff in here, people.

[11:09] It's not scriptural. Gold and jewels are mentioned in the New Testament. We see them in Revelation 17. Verse 4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls.

[11:23] And a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. It's talking about the end time corrupt church. People, we need to be alerted to such things.

[11:35] This stuff is more New Age than New Testament. And yet, these new breed of false teachers are the leading lights. You turn on the Christian TV or you see it on the internet channels.

[11:49] And these are the people that are in the limelight today. And people are flocking to them. Looking for some mystical experiential fan.

[12:00] Doesn't matter that it's not scriptural. They say, Our Lord warned of such a time. In Matthew 16.4 he says, Worship is something precious.

[12:24] It's holy. It is meant to be reverential. And yet it is dangerously corrupted in our world today. The foundations are under attack. Church practice that is not built upon the word is needing to be questioned.

[12:40] We must question. We must try the spirits. We must discern. Are the philosophies and ways of the world encroaching and taking the place of God's infallible word?

[12:51] This must be what dictates how we worship. Whether it's legitimate or not. The question is, Is it biblical? Is it biblical? And we need to be a discerning people for such practices that we engage in.

[13:06] And constantly ask that question, Is it biblical? I believe the word of God is being mocked today. The Holy Spirit is being blasphemed today.

[13:20] When such things are accredited to him, We need to be very guarded about such things. The word says, 1 Thessalonians 5.21, Prove all things. Prove them.

[13:31] Test them. Try them. Discern. Hold fast that which is good. It must be the word of God. This is what we need. That changes lives. Not some spooky, mystical, new age kind of experience.

[13:44] Not some new guru with some new kind of new fad teaching. It must be the word that changes lives. To get back to the word. To get back to God.

[13:55] To be a strong and courageous people. A biblical people. Sound in the faith. Sound in sound doctrine. Exalting his name. Trembling at his word.

[14:06] Taking it seriously. And seeking God's true dynamic. His Holy Spirit. Who acts in accord with his holy word. And then we will see souls saved.

[14:17] Then we will see lives changed. Then we will see strong believers. We need that people today. If the foundations be destroyed. What can the righteous do?

[14:27] In the church we need a restoration of reverential worship. Of repentance. So that God can truly move in mercy amongst us.

[14:41] If the foundations be destroyed. What can the righteous do? We're seeing it in the home. We're seeing it in the church. The foundations are under attack.

[14:51] And we're seeing it in the nation. As it's been said. As goes the home. So goes the church. So goes the nation. The nation. The nation's foundations are under attack. It could be said.

[15:03] That we are living in a modern day Babylon. You know. It talks about the Babylonians. The Amorites. The Baal worshippers. We're living in days where. They're not called such things today.

[15:14] But the Philistines. The Amorites. They're all around us. They're teaching our children. In public schools. We're living in a modern day Babylon. And we need to wake up. And see this.

[15:26] In the nation. How should we be? What can the righteous do? Dearly beloved. I beseech you. As strangers and pilgrims. Abstain from fleshly lusts. Which war against the soul.

[15:37] We're not to be saturating. And allowing our minds to be bombarded. With the world's junk. We're witnessing a breakdown. Today. A breaking down. A demolition job.

[15:49] Of the law and order. Of lawlessness. Of increasing. Of an increasing. Disregard. You know. We had a party down our street. And there was young people there.

[16:00] In late hours. Or early hours of the morning. Obviously drunken. Smashing bottles. And all kinds of carry on. And burnouts. Days of lawlessness.

[16:12] It's a disgrace. It's a disgrace to our nation. There's things I could speak of. And I won't dwell on them. Because it says that it's a shame to speak of those things.

[16:24] That are done. Of the world. But just. Some snapshots here. Just quickly. Our world calls adultery. Having an affair. Fornication is called making love.

[16:38] Modesty is practically unheard of. Honesty and the work ethic. Is missing. Respect for the aged. is hardly thought of. Respect for legitimate authority.

[16:51] A setting aside of a day of rest. Is practically unheard of. The murder of the old. And tiny babies. They call it euthanasia. And abortion. It sounds a bit less confronting.

[17:03] Doesn't it? Obscenities have become part. Of standard vocabulary. And materialism is encouraged. Where people are just not content. Repent. With what they have.

[17:15] They just want more. More. More. A quote. The chilling thing about our behaviour. As a nation. Is that the Bible teaches. That when a nation.

[17:26] Under judgment. Refuses to repent. It will ultimately reach a point. Where God will deliver it. From judgment. To wrath. From discipline.

[17:37] To doom. The foundations. Of our nation. Are under attack. Families. Godly men and women today. Saints of God today. God hates evil.

[17:48] God hates evil. I saw a signboard. From some Christians. Witnessing. And this was confronting stuff. This is what the signboard said.

[17:59] Sinner. God hates you. Just the way you are. There's truth in that. God hates you. Just the way you are. He doesn't want you. In your sin. He wants you to be set free.

[18:10] He wants you to be saved. He wants to. Show his love. Despite. The hatefulness of your sin. And save your soul. It says in the text.

[18:22] Here. Verse 5. The Lord trieth the righteous. But the wicked. And him that loveth violence. His soul hateth. God hates. The sin.

[18:33] Of our nation. The sinfulness. Of Australians. He hates it. With a loathsome hatred. Upon the wicked. He shall reign. Snares. Fire. And brimstone.

[18:44] And an horrible tempest. This shall be. The portion. Of his cup. Doesn't sound like. The lovey dovey God. That's popular today.

[18:54] Psalm 5. 5. The foolish shall not stand. In thy sight. Thou hatest. All workers. Of iniquity. Psalm 7. 11. God judgeth the righteous. And God is angry.

[19:05] Angry. At the wicked. Every day. But there is hope. Thank God. There is still hope. The most wicked can be saved. But we must turn.

[19:18] Unto him. There was a time. Years back. We had contact with the church. And the church youth group was. They had a theme.

[19:30] Riot. Riot. And they called it. Righteous indignation of truth. And the sun. Some. Movie. Or music. Theme. By Carmen.

[19:41] Along that theme. And yet. Why should we use the word riot? Where do we read of riot? The prodigal had. Riotous living. Rioting has got nothing to do with the Christian church.

[19:54] We're not meant to be rioters. We're meant to be righteous. Righteous. Righteous. Not rioters. And yet. There's a riot going on. There's a demolition job. A nation in rebellion.

[20:05] And under God's judgment. As we see. Friends. Face up to it. Australia today. Overwhelmed with abortion. Alcoholism. Drug addiction.

[20:15] Gambling. Divorce. Child abuse. Violent crime. An immorality epidemic. Our nation hands out condoms. And needles to our youth. Propagating it.

[20:25] Supporting it. Condoning it. Educating it. We are reaping what we sow. People today. Australia. No wonder. God is angry at the wicked. And God hates the wicked.

[20:38] We are reaping what we sow. We're under the judgment of Almighty God as a nation today. And the Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation and rebuke.

[20:48] We read in Deuteronomy 28.20. God's wrath, God's fury will be poured out. A question was asked 3,000 years ago. If the foundation's been destroyed, what can the righteous do?

[21:03] Do something. Do something. Do something. Do something. What can you do? What can you do? Thank God the Lord is in his holy heaven. The Lord's throne is in heaven.

[21:15] The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord's throne is in heaven. The righteous can do a number of things today. There's something you can do. The righteous can trust him.

[21:28] The righteous can trust him. Christ is the foundation we read in 1 Corinthians 3.11. Christ is the foundation upon which we build. No other foundation can men lay.

[21:38] Christ is the foundation. Trust him. The righteous can trust him. The righteous can preach the word. The message hasn't changed. This is the way. Walk ye in it.

[21:49] This is the way. Walk ye in it. Be where the word is faithfully preached. It's time to warn the righteous. It's time for godly convictions.

[22:01] It's time for repentance and faith. The righteous. What can the righteous do? The righteous can be righteous. Be righteous. The righteous can be salt and light.

[22:15] The righteous can be faithful workers in a godly church family. And bear one another's burdens. Galatians 6.2. What can the righteous do?

[22:26] The righteous can pray. Pray. There's power in prayer. Power that we underestimate. Pray. Pray saints.

[22:38] Pray without ceasing. Pray for our nation. Pray for those in authority. What can the righteous do? The righteous can vote. And think before you sign.

[22:51] Think before you tick. You cross. You number that ballot box. Think of what these men, these women stand for. Let that guide your voting. Not your preference or your family history.

[23:04] Vote for the godly. The righteous can teach their children godly values. The next generation is in your hands.

[23:19] Parents. The righteous can witness. The righteous can be willing to suffer for righteousness sake. The foundations are being destroyed.

[23:31] All around us. I don't want this to be a negative message. Because this is about what can the righteous do? What can you do?

[23:43] Christian, hold fast. Hold fast. The foundations are being undermined. They're being eroded and subtly undermined. Undermined.

[23:56] Rebuild the foundations. Restore the foundations. Christ is the foundation of a life worth living. Do you know him?

[24:09] Or is your life built on sinking sand? Where do you stand? The foundations are being destroyed. Verse 7. Let that be your comfort as we close.

[24:21] Verse 7. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness. His countenance doth behold the upright. We can take heart in verse 7. Though the foundations be destroyed.

[24:33] The righteous Lord loveth righteousness. His countenance, his face. Does behold the upright. He's with you. His face is upon you. And one day you're going to see his face.

[24:45] One day you'll see him face to face. What can the righteous do? You can do something. You can pray. You can witness. You can be salt. Be light. Be willing to suffer.

[24:56] Be faithful workers. Be the church. Be the righteous. Be abound. The kingdom of God. Let us pray.

[25:07] Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father we thank you that these are sobering times when much that was of godly substance is being eroded.

[25:22] When our nation is threatened by these forces that will undermine all that is godly and true. Where our home is another target of the enemy of our souls.

[25:39] Father we thank you that we can cry out to you. That your church would be a church that is honouring to your name.

[25:51] Help us Lord to be a discerning people. Help us to recognise the fingerprints of the enemy. And to have nothing to do with him. Help us Lord.

[26:05] If there's any here today that you've touched in some of these areas. Lord. For repentance. For faith. For a return to the old past.

[26:17] To return to the old foundations. That they be restored. Help us Lord. Challenge us Father we pray. As parents.

[26:27] As men. As women. As people today. That we will do something. We won't be idle. We will be doing something.

[26:39] Not by our own strength or effort. Or volition of mind or preference Lord. But we will do that which must be done. That your people will have a mind to work.

[26:54]  We pray in Jesus name. Thanks.