WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.720 Thank you, men. If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:22.100 ! Chapter 14. It seems we're reminded every day of the crises that fall upon America. 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:29.300 Just a little good news here and there, it seems like, is all we get. And sometimes that bad news 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:38.740 hits close to home. Some of it we simply read about and watch from afar. Is America really 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:47.240 in a crisis? Or are these just things that you deal with and you ought to expect from time 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:55.120 to time among fallible people? Well, you should definitely expect the type of things we see 00:00:55.119 --> 00:01:05.140 on the news to happen. But yes, I do believe we are in a crisis. Our crisis is not the economy. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:16.439 Whether it feels good at your house now or not, they tell us that things are pretty good. People 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:25.259 are buying more. People are borrowing more. People are blowing more than they ever have. 00:01:26.439 --> 00:01:32.640 Our government has borrowed from our children's children and individual household debt is at an 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:40.560 all-time high. We have a situation. And I don't know all the answers to that. I can teach you what the 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:47.500 Word of God says about stewardship and the importance to give to the Lord first and to be stewards of what 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:54.200 God gives you. But I don't know how all this is going to pan out. I do know this, that our nation's 00:01:54.200 --> 00:02:05.719 national crisis is not the economy. Our national crisis is not the wars. And I say wars because 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:13.039 between the Middle East and Russia, they give us new ammo every day on what's happening. No pun intended. 00:02:13.219 --> 00:02:18.060 But I mean, you know, there's so much going on in the world. We have military personnel spread out 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:23.680 throughout the world, particularly in the Middle East. And we have countries that we know are fighting. 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:31.120 And we have some that we know that we're going to have to fight or at least protect. And then some that 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:39.740 we have to watch like a hawk. And when I think about the sacrifices that so many families are making 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:48.520 so that men and women can go to work protecting our country from the rest of the world, it makes me 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:55.340 glad to live in a land where people sign up most of the time anyway in our history out of their own 00:02:55.340 --> 00:03:05.960 free will, willing to serve, to protect us. With so much volatility, it can be overwhelming. And people often 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:15.319 want to know if this is the end. When you see what's going on overseas, does this mean this is the end? Or is it 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:24.240 merely the beginning of birth pains, as Jesus put it? I don't know. And you know what? 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:31.480 The guys that are selling the books that you're buying, they don't know either. They don't. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:39.560 So what I would encourage you to do is keep your eyes on Jesus. And I believe that if you're here 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:44.360 today and you've never given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ, that there's not a better 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:50.780 day in your life than today to secure your eternity with the Lord. And I'd love to help you with that 00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:56.580 process in just a few minutes. I'd love that. But the reality is we don't know all those things. 00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:03.800 Luke chapter 21 verse 28 says this, now when these things begin to take place, the kind of things you 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:13.259 see, straighten up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near. We have some situations, 00:04:13.259 --> 00:04:19.300 situations. But I can tell you that our national crisis is not war conflicts. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:30.639 Our national crisis is not drugs. Drugs are a real problem. And, but the reality is it's the source. 00:04:31.060 --> 00:04:40.939 It's not the source of a crisis. It's the fruit of the crisis. People that take illegal drugs do it 00:04:40.939 --> 00:04:47.019 because something is missing inside. They either need to be accepted. They need to escape. 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:53.040 They need to find relief because there's a problem of the heart. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:59.720 But the drug problem in America is just a fruit of a different problem. 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:09.640 And may I be blunt, the drug that affects most homes in America, that affects the most homes in America, 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:10.720 is alcohol. 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:15.580 Christian, stay away from it. 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:20.620 If you can use it and it not be a stumbling block for you, 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:23.400 your use of it 00:05:23.400 --> 00:05:26.900 is easily a stumbling block for others. 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:29.759 So why be compromised? 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:32.939 Don't be a hindrance to others. 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:36.699 Drugs of all sorts are a problem, but 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:38.199 drugs 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:41.639 are not our greatest national crisis. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:44.979 Our national crisis 00:05:44.979 --> 00:05:46.179 is not gun control. 00:05:47.459 --> 00:05:48.120 On 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:50.739 April the 20th, 1999, 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:53.099 Eric Harris 00:05:53.099 --> 00:05:54.919 and Dylan Klebold 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:57.740 walked into Columbine High School 00:05:57.740 --> 00:05:58.920 in Colorado 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:00.580 and murdered 13 students 00:06:00.580 --> 00:06:01.180 and a teacher. 00:06:02.840 --> 00:06:03.640 Ten died 00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:05.439 in the library that day 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:07.860 before both guys 00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:09.580 took their own life 00:06:09.580 --> 00:06:10.520 in that same library. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:13.340 They had intended 00:06:13.340 --> 00:06:14.860 to 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:16.500 primarily 00:06:16.500 --> 00:06:17.840 blow up the school 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:19.360 with several 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.420 homemade bombs 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:21.360 that were planted 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:23.939 within the school, 00:06:24.080 --> 00:06:25.199 but they failed to go off. 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:27.860 And over 20 people 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:28.259 were 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:29.080 injured 00:06:29.080 --> 00:06:29.819 in the gun 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:30.080 bite. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:31.600 Columbine 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:32.939 became the catch 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:33.500 word 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:34.720 for school 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:35.340 shootings. 00:06:36.060 --> 00:06:37.000 At that time, 00:06:37.060 --> 00:06:37.879 it was the greatest 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:38.639 school shooting, 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:39.180 the largest 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:39.920 school shooting, 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:40.879 the most mass 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:41.759 school shooting 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:42.860 that had ever taken place. 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:44.759 And the immediate 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:45.939 response to that 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:46.920 was gun control. 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:49.819 one of the 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:50.819 students 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:51.759 that was killed 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:52.060 that day 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:52.439 was named 00:06:52.439 --> 00:06:53.300 Rachel Scott. 00:06:54.140 --> 00:06:54.819 And in the 00:06:54.819 --> 00:06:55.340 aftermath 00:06:55.340 --> 00:06:57.240 of that tragedy, 00:06:57.580 --> 00:06:58.319 her father, 00:06:58.520 --> 00:06:59.220 Daryl Scott, 00:06:59.340 --> 00:07:00.360 spoke to Congress 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:02.460 to make clear 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:03.020 what the real 00:07:03.020 --> 00:07:03.840 problem was. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:05.480 And I want you 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:06.020 to listen to part 00:07:06.020 --> 00:07:06.600 of what he said. 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:08.900 Since the dawn 00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:09.540 of creation, 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:10.200 there has been 00:07:10.200 --> 00:07:11.200 both good and evil 00:07:11.200 --> 00:07:11.780 in the heart 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:12.759 of men and women. 00:07:12.900 --> 00:07:13.740 We all contain 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:14.460 the seeds 00:07:14.460 --> 00:07:15.600 of good kindness 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:16.620 or the seeds 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:17.280 of violence. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:18.560 The death 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:19.260 of my wonderful 00:07:19.260 --> 00:07:19.660 daughter, 00:07:19.780 --> 00:07:20.879 Rachel Joy Scott, 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:21.680 and the deaths 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:23.060 of that heroic 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:23.920 teacher and the 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:24.840 other 11 children 00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:25.360 who died 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:26.540 must not be in vain. 00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:27.740 Their blood cries 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:28.720 out for answers. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.040 The first recorded 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.020 act of violence 00:07:32.020 --> 00:07:33.200 was when Cain 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:34.660 slew his brother 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:36.100 Abel in the field. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:37.840 The villain 00:07:37.840 --> 00:07:39.180 was not the club 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:40.140 that he used. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:42.240 Neither was it 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:43.100 the NCA 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:44.260 or the National 00:07:44.260 --> 00:07:45.340 Club Association. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:47.620 The true 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:49.480 killer was Cain. 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:51.480 And the reason 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:52.240 for the murder 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:53.260 could only be found 00:07:53.260 --> 00:07:54.120 in Cain's heart. 00:07:55.140 --> 00:07:56.040 In the days 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:56.620 that followed 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.520 the Columbine 00:07:57.520 --> 00:07:58.040 tragedy, 00:07:58.200 --> 00:07:58.840 I was amazed 00:07:58.840 --> 00:07:59.480 at how quickly 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:00.180 fingers began 00:08:00.180 --> 00:08:00.700 to be pointed 00:08:00.700 --> 00:08:01.180 at groups 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:02.520 such as the NRA. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:03.120 And I'm not 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:04.120 a member of the NRA. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:04.960 I'm not a hunter. 00:08:05.320 --> 00:08:06.060 I don't even own 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:06.580 a gun. 00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:07.640 I'm not here 00:08:07.640 --> 00:08:08.200 to represent 00:08:08.200 --> 00:08:09.280 or defend the NRA 00:08:09.280 --> 00:08:09.980 because I don't 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:10.500 believe they are 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:11.060 responsible for 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:11.860 my daughter's death. 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:12.400 Therefore, 00:08:12.520 --> 00:08:13.220 I don't believe 00:08:13.220 --> 00:08:13.720 that they need 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:14.320 to be defended. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:16.040 If I believed 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:16.680 they had anything 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:17.500 to do with Rachel's 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:17.779 murder, 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:18.159 I would be 00:08:18.159 --> 00:08:18.680 their strongest 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:19.139 opponent. 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:20.540 I'm here today 00:08:20.540 --> 00:08:21.459 to declare that 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:22.480 Columbine was not 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:23.279 just a tragedy, 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:24.019 it was a spiritual 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:25.040 event that should 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:25.839 be forcing us 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:26.480 to look at where 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:27.259 the real blame 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:27.680 lies. 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:28.680 Much of the blame 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:29.519 lies here in this 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:29.839 room. 00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:31.000 Much of the blame 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.259 lies behind the 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:32.960 pointing fingers 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:33.679 of the accusers 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:34.080 themselves. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:35.899 God is what we 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:36.279 need. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:38.639 He goes on to say, 00:08:38.939 --> 00:08:39.340 men and women 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:40.200 are three-part 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:40.740 beings. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:42.200 We all consist 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:42.620 of body, 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:42.960 soul, 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:43.440 and spirit. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.200 When we refuse 00:08:44.200 --> 00:08:44.759 to acknowledge 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:45.399 a third part 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:45.980 of our makeup, 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:47.019 we create a void 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:48.560 that allows evil, 00:08:48.779 --> 00:08:49.080 prejudice, 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:49.680 and hatred 00:08:49.680 --> 00:08:50.460 to rush in 00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:51.279 and wreak havoc. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.279 Spiritual influences 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:54.180 were present 00:08:54.180 --> 00:08:54.860 within our 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:55.759 educational systems 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:56.379 for much of 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:56.960 our nation's 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:57.279 history. 00:08:57.680 --> 00:08:58.159 Many of our 00:08:58.159 --> 00:08:59.080 major colleges 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:00.379 began as 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:00.919 theological 00:09:00.919 --> 00:09:01.759 seminaries. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:02.440 This is a 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:03.200 historic fact. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:03.919 What's happened 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:05.080 to us as a 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:05.460 nation? 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:06.899 We have refused 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:07.820 to honor God 00:09:07.820 --> 00:09:08.700 and in doing so, 00:09:08.779 --> 00:09:09.500 we opened up 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:10.220 the doors to 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:10.860 hatred and 00:09:10.860 --> 00:09:11.259 violence. 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:11.799 And when 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:12.379 something as 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:12.960 terrible as 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:13.559 Columbine's 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:14.480 tragedy occurs, 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:15.279 politicians 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.080 immediately look 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:16.940 for a scapegoat 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:17.759 such as the 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:18.179 NRA. 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:19.100 They immediately 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:19.899 seek to pass 00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:20.559 more restrictive 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:21.159 laws that 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:21.919 contribute to 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:22.820 erode away 00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:23.379 our personal 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:23.919 and private 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:24.279 liberties. 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:25.299 We don't need 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:25.899 more restrictive 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:26.419 laws. 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:27.440 Eric and Dylan 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:27.980 would not have 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:28.480 been stopped 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:29.460 by metal detectors. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:30.279 No amount 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:30.899 of gun laws 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:31.840 can stop someone 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:32.759 who spends months 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:33.360 planning this 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.220 type of massacre. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:35.379 The real villain 00:09:35.379 --> 00:09:36.139 lies within our 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:36.919 own hearts. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:38.039 Political 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:38.919 posturing and 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:39.339 restrictive 00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:40.299 legislation are 00:09:40.299 --> 00:09:41.159 not the answers. 00:09:41.479 --> 00:09:41.779 The young 00:09:41.779 --> 00:09:42.339 people of our 00:09:42.339 --> 00:09:42.879 nation hold 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:43.219 the key. 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:43.879 There's a 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:44.259 spiritual 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:44.959 awakening taking 00:09:44.959 --> 00:09:45.719 place that 00:09:45.719 --> 00:09:46.459 will not be 00:09:46.459 --> 00:09:47.120 quilched. 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:48.079 He goes on 00:09:48.079 --> 00:09:48.479 to say, 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:49.500 we need a 00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:50.579 change of heart 00:09:50.579 --> 00:09:51.099 and a humble 00:09:51.099 --> 00:09:52.099 acknowledgement that 00:09:52.099 --> 00:09:52.839 this nation was 00:09:52.839 --> 00:09:53.500 founded on the 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:54.120 principles of 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:54.919 simple trust in 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:55.199 God. 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:56.439 As my son 00:09:56.439 --> 00:09:57.279 Craig laid 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.059 under that 00:09:58.059 --> 00:09:58.699 table in the 00:09:58.699 --> 00:09:59.399 school library 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:00.279 and saw his 00:10:00.279 --> 00:10:00.779 two friends 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:01.479 murdered before 00:10:01.479 --> 00:10:02.319 his very eyes, 00:10:02.599 --> 00:10:03.019 he did not 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:03.659 hesitate to 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:04.059 pray in 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:04.599 schools. 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:07.079 I defy any 00:10:07.079 --> 00:10:07.559 law or 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:08.240 politician to 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:08.740 deny him 00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:09.259 that right. 00:10:09.860 --> 00:10:10.379 I challenge 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:10.960 every young 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:11.460 person in 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:12.000 America and 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.379 around the 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:12.659 world to 00:10:12.659 --> 00:10:13.200 realize that 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:13.680 on April 00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:14.340 the 20th, 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.340 1999 at 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:15.919 Columbine High 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:16.080 School, 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:16.919 prayer was 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:17.519 brought back 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.360 into schools. 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:19.659 Do not let 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:20.360 the many prayers 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.139 offered by those 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:21.899 students be in 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:22.120 vain. 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:23.019 Dare to move 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:23.580 into a new 00:10:23.580 --> 00:10:24.200 millennium with 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:24.639 a sacred 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:26.000 disregard for 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:26.940 legislation that 00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:27.639 violates your 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:27.960 God. 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:29.680 Give and write 00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:30.299 to communicate 00:10:30.299 --> 00:10:30.820 with him. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:31.680 To those of 00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:32.060 you who would 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:32.419 point your 00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:32.940 finger at the 00:10:32.940 --> 00:10:33.700 NRA, I give 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:34.620 to you a 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:35.539 sincere challenge. 00:10:35.980 --> 00:10:36.799 Dare to examine 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:37.219 your own 00:10:37.219 --> 00:10:37.719 heart before 00:10:37.719 --> 00:10:38.399 casting your 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.479 first stone. 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:40.219 My daughter's 00:10:40.219 --> 00:10:40.879 death will not 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.439 be in vain. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:42.139 The young 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:42.859 people of this 00:10:42.859 --> 00:10:43.679 country will 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:44.879 not allow that 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:45.879 to happen. 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:46.819 End of quote. 00:10:47.779 --> 00:10:48.679 Our national 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:50.439 crisis is not 00:10:50.439 --> 00:10:51.059 gun control. 00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:54.039 It's also not 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:54.620 the president. 00:10:55.959 --> 00:10:56.819 And it's not 00:10:56.819 --> 00:10:57.299 the Senate. 00:10:58.299 --> 00:10:59.179 And it's not 00:10:59.179 --> 00:10:59.779 Congress. 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:02.000 It's not the 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:03.059 Supreme Court or 00:11:03.059 --> 00:11:03.659 any of the other 00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:04.159 courts. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:06.339 Now I realize 00:11:06.339 --> 00:11:07.000 that any talk 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:07.519 of this can 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.199 polarize this 00:11:08.199 --> 00:11:08.579 room in a 00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:08.899 heartbeat. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.539 I'm smarter 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:09.959 than that. 00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:11.839 And that 00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:13.219 division becomes 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:14.279 much worse when 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.039 we put more, 00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:15.799 listen to me, 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:16.860 when we put 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.199 more stock in 00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:19.279 elected officials 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.139 than we should. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:24.079 I don't hang 00:11:24.079 --> 00:11:24.719 my hat on 00:11:24.719 --> 00:11:25.120 Washington. 00:11:25.339 --> 00:11:25.779 I don't hang 00:11:25.779 --> 00:11:26.579 my hat on 00:11:26.579 --> 00:11:27.019 Columbia. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:27.899 I don't hang 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.459 my hat on 00:11:28.459 --> 00:11:28.919 Pickens. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:31.879 I hang my 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:32.399 trust on the 00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:32.799 Lord Jesus 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:33.360 Christ. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.360 And he's 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:34.740 the one I 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:35.039 put my 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:35.620 trust in. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:36.960 So with all 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:37.720 that's wrong 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:38.500 in Washington 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.399 and Columbia 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:40.240 or Pickens, 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.539 our crisis is 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:42.539 not politics. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:43.800 And it's not 00:11:43.800 --> 00:11:44.279 government. 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:45.500 It's more 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:46.100 than that. 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:50.159 Our crisis is 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:50.980 not television 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:52.560 or the apps 00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:53.120 that you have 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.779 on your phone, 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:56.340 the streaming 00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:56.940 apps. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.259 If your phone 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:00.779 or your 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:01.580 television does 00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:02.159 not have a 00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:03.340 power button, 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.300 I would 00:12:04.300 --> 00:12:04.919 encourage you 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:05.440 to throw it 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:05.779 out and get 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:06.279 another one. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:07.940 Because the 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:08.639 reality is you 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.039 can cut it 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:09.419 off anytime 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:09.899 you want 00:12:09.899 --> 00:12:10.139 to. 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.200 And the 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:12.120 reason why 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.720 there's the 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.500 filth that 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:14.279 there is 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:16.240 on our 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.300 televisions and 00:12:17.300 --> 00:12:17.659 on our 00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.500 phones is 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:19.039 people aren't 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:19.460 cutting it 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:19.860 off. 00:12:20.659 --> 00:12:21.320 They just 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:21.879 keep watching 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.180 it. 00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:23.639 But our 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:24.539 crisis is not 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:26.680 television or 00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:27.399 movie apps. 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:27.459 news. 00:12:28.459 --> 00:12:29.059 It's not 00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:29.399 even the 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:29.659 internet. 00:12:30.439 --> 00:12:31.120 I remember 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:31.379 hearing, 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:31.899 oh boy, 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:33.980 preaching on 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.079 WGGS years 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:35.759 ago about 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.360 the internet. 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.019 Oh God, 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:38.659 blow it up. 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:39.199 Blow it up, 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.419 Lord. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:39.959 Blow up the 00:12:39.959 --> 00:12:40.139 internet. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:40.559 And I thought, 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:41.220 brother, if he 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:41.759 does, you won't 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.240 be able to be 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:42.860 watched anymore. 00:12:43.319 --> 00:12:43.600 Okay? 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:44.759 So just chill 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.059 out. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:47.079 The internet 00:12:47.079 --> 00:12:48.340 opens up new 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:48.919 doors of 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:49.679 opportunity and 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:50.519 information and 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:50.919 marketing, 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.139 reservations and 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:53.159 convenience like 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:53.959 nothing that 00:12:53.959 --> 00:12:54.740 has ever 00:12:54.740 --> 00:12:55.579 come. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.240 But every 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:00.759 one of us 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:01.459 does not use 00:13:01.459 --> 00:13:01.899 it for that 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.299 purpose. 00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:02.980 Sadly, 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:05.019 there are 00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.899 traps there 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:09.259 that are set 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:10.199 by individuals 00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:10.939 and are set 00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:11.799 by corporations 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:13.000 to snatch 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.019 the minds 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.199 of the 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:15.719 computer 00:13:15.719 --> 00:13:16.439 loners 00:13:16.439 --> 00:13:17.980 that 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:18.879 devastate 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:19.559 lives 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.959 every day. 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:26.339 our national 00:13:26.339 --> 00:13:27.159 crisis is not 00:13:27.159 --> 00:13:27.919 social media, 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:30.360 although I 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.079 warn you it 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:31.799 can easily be 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.439 a cancer. 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:34.939 Be careful 00:13:34.939 --> 00:13:35.339 there. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:36.519 The evil 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:37.579 one looms 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:38.959 there. 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.839 Our national 00:13:42.839 --> 00:13:43.779 crisis is not 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:44.779 sexual dysfunction, 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.159 although we 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:46.719 got a lot of 00:13:46.719 --> 00:13:46.839 it. 00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:49.419 It's the 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:50.299 fruit of a 00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.159 greater problem, 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:52.360 but it's not 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:52.899 the root. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:55.279 there's been 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:56.500 sexual indecency 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.579 almost as long 00:13:58.579 --> 00:13:59.139 as there's been 00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.639 humanity, 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.339 and there have 00:14:00.339 --> 00:14:01.419 been attempts 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.799 to justify it 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:03.519 ever since. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.299 Today, 00:14:05.439 --> 00:14:06.379 the fascination 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:08.779 is with 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:10.259 gender 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:10.839 dysphoria. 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:13.459 I don't know 00:14:13.459 --> 00:14:14.120 if the devil 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.559 has ever 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:15.219 schemed up 00:14:15.219 --> 00:14:15.539 a more 00:14:15.539 --> 00:14:16.480 diabolic plan 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:16.759 in our 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.319 society. 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.360 The problem 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.139 is that just 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:20.639 because you 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.100 feel a, 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:22.179 I want you 00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:22.539 to hear me 00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:22.919 today, 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:24.959 whoever you 00:14:24.959 --> 00:14:25.139 are, 00:14:25.219 --> 00:14:25.699 just because 00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:26.099 you feel 00:14:26.099 --> 00:14:26.439 like you 00:14:26.439 --> 00:14:26.819 feel a 00:14:26.819 --> 00:14:27.120 genuine 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.659 attraction 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.139 to someone, 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.919 that does 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:29.339 not make 00:14:29.339 --> 00:14:29.799 it right. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.480 It does 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:31.879 not make 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:32.459 it godly. 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:33.799 It may 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:34.839 feel legit, 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.379 but our 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.240 feelings and 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.620 our attractions 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.659 do not 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.599 determine what 00:14:40.599 --> 00:14:41.360 is right 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:42.159 or wrong. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.759 What you 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.399 woke up and 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:45.839 felt like 00:14:45.839 --> 00:14:46.599 doing today 00:14:46.599 --> 00:14:47.159 does not 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:48.279 determine what 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:48.959 is right 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.200 and wrong. 00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:51.480 I'll tell 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:51.740 you what 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.180 determines 00:14:52.180 --> 00:14:52.680 what's right 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:53.080 and wrong. 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.500 The timeless 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.680 truths of 00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:56.320 the word 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.080 of God. 00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:58.180 And I 00:14:58.180 --> 00:14:59.080 truly believe 00:14:59.080 --> 00:14:59.800 that sometimes 00:14:59.800 --> 00:15:00.580 we need to 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.660 blank our 00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:02.460 mind of 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.080 any of our 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.379 own preconceived 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:06.300 ideas or 00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:07.280 self-generated 00:15:07.280 --> 00:15:08.200 ideas and 00:15:08.200 --> 00:15:09.379 trust God 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.139 at his 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.980 word. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.639 Same-sex 00:15:13.639 --> 00:15:14.500 attraction is 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:15.639 five times 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.420 more popular 00:15:16.420 --> 00:15:17.440 today than it 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:18.300 was 40 years 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:18.640 ago. 00:15:19.920 --> 00:15:20.640 If people 00:15:20.640 --> 00:15:21.140 are born in 00:15:21.140 --> 00:15:21.320 it, we 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:21.760 need to stop 00:15:21.760 --> 00:15:22.200 drinking the 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:22.500 water, 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.000 apparently. 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:24.960 You know 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.320 what that 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:25.680 is? 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:27.740 That's not 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:28.220 inborn. 00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:31.480 What in the 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:31.900 world is going 00:15:31.900 --> 00:15:32.060 on? 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.720 What's caused 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.020 that? 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.840 Several things, 00:15:33.900 --> 00:15:34.220 but I'll tell 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:34.520 you what it 00:15:34.520 --> 00:15:34.640 is. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:35.220 It's a 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.020 societal 00:15:36.020 --> 00:15:37.220 sinful 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.100 sickness 00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.180 that's opened 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:40.260 themselves up 00:15:40.260 --> 00:15:41.980 to allow those 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:42.780 floodgates to 00:15:42.780 --> 00:15:43.220 come in. 00:15:44.640 --> 00:15:45.320 America has 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:45.860 opened its 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:46.760 arms to ways 00:15:46.760 --> 00:15:47.340 of life that 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:47.879 are contrary 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.500 to scripture, 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:49.440 and that 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.259 displeases the 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.600 Lord. 00:15:52.040 --> 00:15:52.720 And it's a 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:54.940 problem, but it 00:15:54.940 --> 00:15:55.560 is not our 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:56.560 national crisis, 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.259 as opposed to 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:00.639 what many 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.060 believe our 00:16:01.060 --> 00:16:01.759 national crisis 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.320 is not the 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:02.820 environment. 00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:04.220 And I didn't 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:04.740 say we shouldn't 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.280 take care of the 00:16:05.280 --> 00:16:06.100 land we live in. 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.580 You better take 00:16:07.580 --> 00:16:07.960 care of your 00:16:07.960 --> 00:16:08.860 natural resources 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:09.560 and be stewards 00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.940 of the garden 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:11.720 that God's placed 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:12.680 you in, because 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.500 he told you to. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.000 It's one of the 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.080 early basics of 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:16.480 Genesis. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.440 But let's not 00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:18.860 fall into 00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.860 pantheism, the 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:21.540 belief that all 00:16:21.540 --> 00:16:22.060 is God. 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:22.600 I mean, I love 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:23.379 animals, but they're 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.019 different than we 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.360 are, and they 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:24.960 don't have a soul, 00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:25.519 and when they're 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:25.960 gone, they're 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:26.300 gone. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.480 God has not 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:28.019 breathed his 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.519 spirit into 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.019 them, nor has 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.840 he the big oaks 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:32.220 in your yard, nor 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:32.980 has he in the 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.600 turnip, or the 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:36.139 rainforest, or the 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.920 spotted owl, or the 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:38.680 red-eyed frog. 00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.440 We need to take 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:41.240 care of all those 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.600 things, folks, but 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.040 don't let it 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:43.639 overwhelm you. 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:45.580 I'll tell you 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.039 what he has 00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.559 breathed life 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:46.899 into. 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.799 Every child and 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:49.899 every womb that's 00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.100 ever been conceived, 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.539 and we ought to act 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.899 like it as a 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:54.240 country. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:57.059 Our national 00:16:57.059 --> 00:17:00.879 crisis is not 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.580 that, however. 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.679 It's also not the 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.500 ice caps. 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.819 It's not any of 00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.599 those things. 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.539 It's deeper than 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:08.859 that. 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.779 Proverbs 14, 34 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.359 says this, 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:12.279 righteousness 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:13.519 exalts a nation, 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.920 but sin is a 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:17.079 reproach to any 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:17.519 people. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.339 The problem in 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:22.579 America is America, 00:17:23.379 --> 00:17:24.440 our national crisis 00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.420 is too much of 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:26.440 America is alienated 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:26.980 from God. 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:30.059 This nation is so 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.879 marked by sin and 00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.759 missed opportunity 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.019 that we've deceived 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.740 ourselves into 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:35.460 thinking that we 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.299 only need God at 00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.940 certain times, and 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:38.759 so many other 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.819 things have grabbed 00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.939 our attention, and 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:42.339 that is the 00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:42.919 crisis. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.299 It's a crisis 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.599 outside the church 00:17:46.599 --> 00:17:47.460 that's devastating, 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.619 but it's a crisis 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.579 inside the church 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:49.839 too. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.599 Distraction and 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.279 waywardness weaken 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.059 the church. 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.619 Our national crisis 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.759 is that we have 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.839 put too many things 00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.659 before our personal 00:17:58.659 --> 00:17:59.319 allegiance to the 00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.599 Lord. 00:18:00.179 --> 00:18:00.980 We've put too many 00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.599 things before our 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.259 faithful walk with 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.740 Christ. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.460 Christians have too 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:06.339 often lived, not as 00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:08.539 Christians, too 00:18:08.539 --> 00:18:09.259 often Christians don't 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:09.720 look any different 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.879 than society does, 00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.240 and society looks at 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:12.839 Christians and say, 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.079 why do I need that? 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.339 The same things that 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.720 dog a lost society are 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.400 sometimes the same 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.640 things that dog the 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:21.079 church. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:21.859 I mean, honestly, 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:23.400 we're reaping what 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.299 we've sown, we're 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.019 reaping what we're 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.480 sowing. 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.440 The broken and 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.519 unchurched homes of 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.460 America have simply 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.579 given lip service to 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:31.640 God and walked away, 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:33.000 and now we reap the 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.680 fruit of that. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.440 And that crisis may be 00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:37.640 bigger than you think. 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:39.780 When I thought about 00:18:39.780 --> 00:18:40.380 this, I couldn't help 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:40.940 but think about 00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.400 Ephesus. 00:18:42.100 --> 00:18:42.940 We're too much like 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.520 Ephesus. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.320 Revelation 2, verse 4 00:18:46.320 --> 00:18:47.680 and 5 says this, but I 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.240 have this against you, 00:18:49.840 --> 00:18:50.759 that you have abandoned 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:51.759 the love that you had 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.340 at first. 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:54.400 Remember, therefore, from 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.360 where you have fallen. 00:18:55.580 --> 00:18:56.500 Repent and do the works 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.259 you did at first. 00:18:57.340 --> 00:18:58.520 If not, I will come to 00:18:58.520 --> 00:18:59.560 you and remove your 00:18:59.560 --> 00:19:00.840 lampstand from its place 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:02.340 unless you repent. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.340 Now, let me explain. 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:05.460 The lampstand is the 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:05.759 pulpit. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.599 The lampstand is the 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.720 witness of the church 00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:11.079 to the world. 00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:13.240 And what he's saying is 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.339 we are destroying our 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:14.700 witness. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.400 He also says, once salt 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:19.039 has lost its saltiness, 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.400 what good is it? 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.460 It's good for nothing. 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.500 And if we're not 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.779 different than the world, 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.859 Christian, we're making 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.279 little difference in the 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.599 world. 00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:31.440 And if all we do is come 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.359 in here and shut the 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:34.019 doors to the world and 00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:35.220 sing a song and hear a 00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:37.039 message and go home dead 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:39.120 to God and dead to his 00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:41.920 will to change our lives 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:43.220 in response to what he'd 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:45.259 have for us, to change 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:46.819 our world by the power of 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.940 the Holy Spirit of God 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.640 living in us, then we are 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:50.720 sinners and we are 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.039 disgraced to any people 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.480 because we have 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:53.980 responsibility. 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:57.480 What America needs is the 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.880 church of Jesus Christ to 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.680 beg God for the fresh 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:02.759 winds of his spirit, the 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:04.420 fresh fires of revival. 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.400 And revival don't start 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:06.220 among lost people. 00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:07.480 Revival starts in the 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:07.880 church. 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:09.920 We need to repent of 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.240 casual Christianity and 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.480 fall into a burning love 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.180 for Christ, his will, his 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:15.779 way and his word and let it 00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:17.900 show everywhere that we go. 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.600 Because the world without 00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:23.680 Christ is dead in sin. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:26.820 They honestly don't know what 00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:28.519 their opportunity in Christ 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.860 really is. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.759 They don't know the 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.340 difference that Christ makes 00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:34.500 unless we tell them. 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:39.500 Unless we live it out before 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:39.840 them. 00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.360 We'll never know. 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:48.799 We may think, well, they'll 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.399 hear it somewhere. 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.699 I mean, people around here, 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.439 there's churches on every 00:20:52.439 --> 00:20:52.759 corner. 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:54.799 I mean, surely, surely 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.059 everybody's heard about Jesus. 00:20:59.179 --> 00:21:00.199 Why in the world should we 00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:00.799 assume that? 00:21:03.899 --> 00:21:05.759 And have they all received a 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:08.419 personal invitation to come to 00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:08.820 Christ? 00:21:11.539 --> 00:21:13.039 We need not assume that. 00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:17.220 And why can't we be a part of 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.440 that? 00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:21.420 Don't you want to be a part of 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.800 people's lives being changed for 00:21:22.800 --> 00:21:23.200 Christ? 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:27.220 So God puts people in our path 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.860 sometimes and we're so busy and 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:31.039 in such a rush, we ignore the 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:37.800 fact that he's put them in our 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.259 path. 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:43.539 We went to Cracker Barrel the 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:43.879 other day. 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:45.200 I got some grilled fish. 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.619 How disappointing. 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.200 It's the Great Depression. 00:22:00.899 --> 00:22:02.480 There's a closed down restaurant 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.799 sitting right beside it there in 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.220 Piedmont. 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.960 I think I remember what it was. 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:10.039 I like that kind of restaurant. 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:13.899 But we were kind of trying to 00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:14.259 figure it out. 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.220 So I thought, I wonder if they 00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.200 still got their menu up. 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.259 Because they had painted it and 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.339 tried to change it some, but you 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:19.099 couldn't change it on anything. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:22.899 And we rode around that old 00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:23.659 Bojangles. 00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:26.379 Rode around to the other side. 00:22:27.659 --> 00:22:29.980 And right there in that small side 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.960 entrance where there's a handrail 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.700 there, there was a lady who had set 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.539 up camp there. 00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:41.440 She had a buggy she'd barred from 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:43.100 somewhere and filled it up. 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:45.180 Had an umbrella covering her and it's 00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.160 about 100 degrees outside. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:52.240 I looked to see if somebody was there 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.200 and I could see her and she saw me. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:00.039 I pulled out, took a chance on life to 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.880 get out of that cracker barrel. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.779 If you've ever been there, you know 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:02.200 what I'm talking about. 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.440 It's hard to get out. 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.640 And I got out and I started back 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.559 toward Easley. 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:10.440 And I did a U-turn and I came back. 00:23:12.919 --> 00:23:14.579 And I pulled back up beside her. 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:18.039 And I said, are you hungry? 00:23:20.879 --> 00:23:21.779 You want something to eat? 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:25.779 I said, there's a KFC and there's an 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.960 Arby's right there across the street. 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.700 What can I get you? 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.200 She said, KFC. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.619 I said, you want some mashed potatoes 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:32.980 that chicken? 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.519 She said, slaw. 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:36.619 I said, I'll do that. 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.879 We went to Sam and we had oranges in 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.240 the car. 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:42.720 So we went by KFC and got a pretty 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:45.559 good meal and it's KFC. 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:48.700 But anyway, got a decent meal and got 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:51.019 her a big old drink and threw some 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.339 bottles of water in there and threw 00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.319 some oranges in there. 00:23:54.180 --> 00:23:55.539 Went back to take it to her. 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.639 And she had left her little spot. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:01.299 We had actually seen this lady crossing 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:03.019 the road going to a raceway, which is a 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.039 gas station across the street. 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:06.019 And we had seen her and always concerned 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:08.279 about her crossing that road because 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.680 it's very busy there as people come off 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.200 the interstate. 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:15.259 I realized that was a, I realized she'd 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:15.859 been here a while. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:22.359 When I got back, I gave her that, that, 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:25.420 I reached out the window and gave her that 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:25.759 food. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.680 She was leaving. 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:30.299 She was headed that way is why I brought 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:30.599 that up. 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:31.480 She was headed that way. 00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:33.759 And, and I brought that food to her. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:39.459 And I said, um, ma'am, my family was with 00:24:39.459 --> 00:24:39.579 me. 00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:42.399 I said, ma'am, I just want you to know that 00:24:42.399 --> 00:24:43.259 Jesus loves you. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:49.059 And, um, I hope this brings some relief to you. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:58.960 And she, she looked at me and she said, when 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:02.339 somebody has more than a million, they have a 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:02.599 billion. 00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:05.659 And when somebody has more than a billion, they 00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.220 have a trillion. 00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:08.619 And when somebody has more than a trillion, they 00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:09.559 have something else. 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.919 I don't, I'm not familiar with that. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.980 I'll just say a quadrillion or something, something 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:14.279 like that. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.059 She knew she was on it. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:18.200 And she said, that's what God's going to bless 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.599 you with. 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:20.220 And I said, well, thank God. 00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.440 I mean, that's good. 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.440 I said, thank you, ma'am. 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.960 I said, have you ever given your heart and life to 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:25.759 the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.519 She said, oh, yes. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.039 Oh, yes. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:30.059 I love and trust my Savior. 00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:38.240 Now, the only reason I say that is if you happen to 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:41.700 ride by that way, check on her. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.700 Grab her a biscuit or something. 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:47.639 If God's planted her there. 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:54.359 I just think sometimes, whether it be in an 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:57.000 inconvenient situation like she's in right now in her 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:03.019 life, or whether it be somebody we just see daily in 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:05.759 places that we go and things that we do, I believe God puts 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:13.299 people in our path along the way in order for us to share the 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.339 love of Christ with her. 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:19.220 And I wish I could tell you that I had some life-changing story 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.019 about her at all. 00:26:20.199 --> 00:26:22.959 She just popped up in my mind when I got to thinking about this. 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:29.319 That God puts people in our path that we have the opportunity to 00:26:29.319 --> 00:26:29.980 share with. 00:26:30.199 --> 00:26:32.259 And we need to do that. 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:38.180 Because unless we tell them, and unless we live it before them, they'll 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.819 never know. 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:45.000 Listen, down in the mouth, pessimism kills the work of the kingdom of God. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:52.140 Selfishness and only concern about us or ours kills the work of the kingdom of God. 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:58.980 Holier than thou attitudes or just plain worldly hypocrisy kills the work of the kingdom of God. 00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:04.200 Preoccupation with our wants kills the work of the kingdom of God. 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:07.599 Apathy and silence kills the work of the kingdom of God. 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:14.759 We need Christians, as the song said earlier, to stand in the gap and say, there's a crisis. 00:27:15.619 --> 00:27:17.559 And bless God, there's an answer. 00:27:18.219 --> 00:27:19.879 And that answer is Christ. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:24.779 And we need to share Christ with the world in which God's placed us. 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:33.399 Proverbs 14, 34 says, righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:40.940 Let us not be the reproach to the people of America, but instead saints of a living God 00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:44.460 sharing his hope with the world he's planned us in. 00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:50.119 With every head bowed and every eye closed, I ask you today, have you ever given your heart 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.680 and life to the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:27:52.299 --> 00:27:54.059 I didn't ask you if you remember this church. 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.759 I didn't ask you if you was faithful at this church. 00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:58.039 I didn't ask you if you'd ever been to this church. 00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:02.899 I just ask you today, if you've ever said, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.299 I know I've done wrong. 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:07.599 I need you to forgive me, change me. 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:11.440 I commit my life to follow you from this day forward. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:15.839 If you've never done that, I encourage you to do that. 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:20.759 We got a lot of special things going on today with the meal and things, but there's nothing 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:23.639 more special than you giving your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:24.640 I encourage you to come. 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.780 I'd love to share that with you. 00:28:27.300 --> 00:28:30.080 Maybe you're here this morning and you have done that, but you've never acknowledged that 00:28:30.080 --> 00:28:32.420 publicly and you need to do that. 00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:36.960 We're going to baptize in just a few weeks and I encourage you, if you've never been baptized 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:40.259 as a believer, that you'll obey God and follow him. 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:44.379 What he showed us to do and what he told us to do. 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.460 Let's follow that. 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:48.379 Maybe God's drawing you to this church. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:51.160 God's leading you to Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:53.720 God's blessing in a mighty way and I'm thankful for that. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:58.039 And if God's leading you to this church, I encourage you, soon as we stand this morning, 00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:00.039 you want to join this church. 00:29:00.140 --> 00:29:01.680 Soon as we stand, you come down the aisle. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:04.360 Now, share that with me. 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:14.279 Or maybe there's just stuff in your life that's a reproach to a heavenly father that loves you. 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:21.700 And today you need to confess that, repent of that, and walk away from the Christian. 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:25.399 Live for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:26.980 It'll change your life. 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.259 It'll change others' lives. 00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:29.819 He works like that. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.519 Let's just follow the Lord today. 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:34.319 Heavenly Father, I love you. 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:38.180 I thank you, Lord, for the gospel and the opportunity you give us to share. 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:41.680 And I pray, dear God, right now that you'll work and you'll move in the hearts and lives 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:44.960 of every one of us to be obedient to follow you as you lead. 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:47.920 In Jesus' precious name, amen.