WEBVTT

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 Take your Bibles this morning, turn over to the book of Proverbs, Proverbs chapter 14 this morning.

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! We're going to be taking just a few moments here to even think on the need here even as a nation.

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 Because, you know, as we think here at the end of the week here, we celebrate our nation's 249th birthday.

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 You know, and as nations go, we're relatively a young nation.

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 And, you know, I just out of curiosity did a little search on what the oldest continuous nation on earth is.

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 You know, that's kind of an interesting question because it has a lot of nuances to it sometimes of what things are.

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 But it's really interesting.

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 The oldest nation in the world is a little microstate called San Marino in northern Italy.

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 It's been established in 301 A.D. and has been under the same constitution and the same form of government since then.

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 They've had a consistency, you know, and it's hard to imagine, you know, 1,700 years of autonomy.

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 You know, in our world today, that's kind of an odd thing to understand that there wasn't something that had overtaken them.

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 And there's many reasons for that.

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 But I found that interesting, you know.

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 So when we compare our nation to that, it was really a pretty young nation.

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 249 years compared to 1,700 is just a drop in the bucket.

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 And, you know, sometimes people will talk about Iran and Egypt as being the oldest.

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 But they've seen many transitions throughout the generations and times.

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 Their government has changed.

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 Their structures have changed.

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 But so our nation is just like a youngster on the scene of history.

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 And even though we're going to celebrate our nation's birthday, it's important to understand that our nation, we have received a lot of blessings from God.

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 I mean, we enjoy today a lot of blessings that God has given our nation.

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 You know, and we ought not to never forget what God has done in the course of our nation.

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 And it's important because as we're going to look here this morning, you know, instead of God bless America, really what America needs to get back to is for America to bless God.

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 To raise God up.

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 To honor God in the things.

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 Because as we're going to look here this morning, you know, oftentimes we've heard, God bless the USA.

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 You know, you hear that phrase roll off and it's just kind of a phrase that people just sort of say without really contemplating.

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 Because I believe God can bless a nation.

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 But also we have to understand there's some parameters for that blessing.

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 There's some essentials for that blessing that we need to pay attention to.

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 And it's been time and time again that's been said throughout the generations.

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 And we've enjoyed those blessings.

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 But, you know, have you ever stopped to consider is why should God give his approval to our nation?

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 Why did God bless our nation in many ways?

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 You know, we need to rewind a little bit and consider those things.

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 Why should God give his approval?

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 Well, the very thought of God's blessing us is something that should cause us to be humbled and not prideful.

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 The fact that God blesses you ought to be something that humbles you and not something to be proud about.

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 That God blesses us as a nation.

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 But I want to tell you that America is not special because God, I believe, gives some principle or declaration in his word about how a nation can be blessed.

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 And those important points to that.

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 So if you found Proverbs chapter 14 this morning, let's stand together.

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 And we'll read one verse here this morning.

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 And that's a familiar verse.

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 And then we're going to talk about it a little bit because I think it's important to understand what it's saying and how it's saying it and for why.

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 But look here in verse 34 with me.

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 The word of God says this.

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 It says,

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 Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

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 Let's pray.

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 What you have set forth.

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 And Lord, I pray we just consider these things as it applies to us as individual citizens of this nation.

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 And Lord, the importance of it.

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 And Lord, we just ask it all in your precious name.

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 Amen.

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 May be seated.

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 You know, as we see here, it says,

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 Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

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 Proverbs 14 gives a lot of contrast between good and evil.

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 You see this whole contrast down through and it comes to the end of the chapter.

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 And it makes mention of nations and the result of sin.

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 You know, you could go back in history and find many nations that once honored God have turned away from God.

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 Have turned away and have faced the consequences, not of just God rejecting them,

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 but really when we understand this verse, it's the consequences of sin.

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 Sin always has consequences.

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 Those things are there.

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 So we need to ask ourselves, why has God blessed this nation?

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 Why has God blessed?

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 Because, you know, the word here we find is righteousness exalteth a nation.

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 Now, I want you to see here, because we need to define and understand,

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 what kind of righteousness is it talking about here?

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 Because the Bible speaks about a couple different ways righteousness is applied.

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 Because we understand as a sinner that needs salvation by the grace of God,

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 we need to put on the righteousness that's in Christ Jesus.

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 That's God's righteousness, holy, pure, just, nothing evil, nothing there that God will put on.

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 He'll clothe us in his righteousness at the moment of salvation.

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 We are righteous before God because of what Jesus Christ did, not because of what we did.

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 But I want you to see here, the word righteousness here has a little different connotation

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 than talking about salvation.

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 It's talking about here something very important because it involves that which is just

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 and that which is right in action.

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 It literally means to follow the moral laws of God.

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 You know, they could have lost people that follow God's moral law.

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 I want you to understand, you don't have to be saved to understand

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 the laws that God gave are beneficial for you.

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 You know, you'll see that throughout history.

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 Man, this works!

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 And you look back and you go, well, God told you it would work.

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 You know?

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 They're kind of like the blind squirrel that stumbles upon a nut every now and then.

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 It's like, it just, it's a truth, and so therefore it works.

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 So I want you to see here this morning as we understand what this is.

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 And for many years, I want you to understand, especially the founding of our nation,

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 there was many men in our founding of our nation that had a righteous attitude about the things of God.

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 They wanted things to be done according to the Bible.

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 They wanted to follow God's order of things.

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 And you'll see that throughout.

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 But I want you to understand that that does not mean we are a perfect nation.

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 Matter of fact, far from it.

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 We are a nation of sinful people.

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 And I want to understand that what we're not saying is promoting America as a great, bright, perfect, righteous nation,

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 because what it talks about here is a direction.

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 God's application, this doesn't mean everybody's going to do exactly what they ought to do,

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 but it means as a whole, the direction, the laws, the way the laws are enforced,

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 are trying to do that which is just and right.

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 And so that's important.

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 But consider, because we fall short of God's laws.

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 Think about for a moment.

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 Turn over to Isaiah 64 for a minute.

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 And you'll be scooting through your Bible here this morning.

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 We've got a lot of Bible verses this morning we've got to get through in the time frame that we have.

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 But I want you to understand that this is God's principles in action.

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 And here we find this, Isaiah 64 and verse 6.

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 You find there, it says,

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 But we are all as an unclean thing.

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 And notice this,

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 And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,

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 and we all do fade as a leaf,

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 and our iniquity like the wind have taken us away.

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 I want you to understand what he's talking about here is not perfection,

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 but direction of a nation.

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 Because I want you to understand, we can try to be righteous,

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 we can try to live righteous even after salvation,

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 but you know what?

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 Pretty soon you soon realize you do what?

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 You'll fail along the way.

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 You'll fall along the way.

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 You'll look back and say,

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 Man, I should have done that differently.

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 Things happen along the way in our life,

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 and that's the reason the Bible tells us that we need to go to the Lord.

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 We need to confess and to forsake our sin,

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 and return to Him,

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 and to understand that.

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 And we understand that principle.

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 But look a little earlier in Isaiah,

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 chapter 56.

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 Chapter 56,

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 because this is important to understand,

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 Isaiah 56 in verse 1.

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 Notice what it says,

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 Thus saith the Lord.

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 Now anytime you see that in your Bible,

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 what ought your ears to do?

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 You better be listening,

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 because something important was being said,

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 for sure.

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 Now I want you to understand,

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 all the Bible's God's word,

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 but when it says,

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 Thus saith the Lord,

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 that's like saying,

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 that's the highlighted portion in the book.

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 Okay?

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 That's like,

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 pay extra attention to this.

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 And he says this,

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 Keep ye judgment,

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 and do justice,

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 for my salvation is near to come,

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 and my righteousness to be revealed.

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 Now I want you to see something here,

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 because where it says,

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 do justice,

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 is the same word from Proverbs 14,

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 where it says righteousness.

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 It's translated a little different,

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 because of the context,

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 but it's the same application.

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 It's to do justly,

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 to do right,

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 to do properly.

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 You know?

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 It's been said that righteousness,

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 is the only foundation,

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 of permanent national prosperity.

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 You know,

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 I thought,

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 let me say that again.

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 It's been said this,

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 righteousness is the only foundation,

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 of permanent national prosperity.

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 Because you know what,

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 if you had a nation,

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 that followed God's laws,

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 and said,

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 I want to do,

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 and build,

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 and act,

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 and do justly,

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 because people are going to sin,

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 against one another,

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 but how is that settled?

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 That's doing justly.

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 Doing those things right,

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 and proper,

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 that's important.

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 When the justice system,

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 gets turned upside down,

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 you know what,

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 the morality of a nation,

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 is upside down.

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 If you have any questions,

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 watch the news.

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 When the justice system,

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 gets corrupt,

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 righteousness,

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 is chased away.

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 To do justly,

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 to do right,

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 to do the things,

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 and to do it properly.

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 But I want you to understand,

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 the beginning of our nation,

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 I believe,

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 was the foundation,

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 of our blessing.

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 Because,

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 let me look at a few things,

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 I'm just not promoting,

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 these gentlemen,

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 as being perfect,

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 but I want you to understand,

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 they understood something,

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 that we need to understand,

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 as a people today.

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 Because,

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 because we're not going to be perfect,

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 just as those founders,

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 of our nation,

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 were nowhere near perfect men.

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 But they understood,

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 something very important.

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 Consider for a moment,

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 Samuel Adams,

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 as the declaration of independence,

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 was being signed,

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 declared this.

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 He says this,

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 we have this day,

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 restored the sovereign will,

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 to whom all men,

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 ought to be obedient.

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 He reigns in heaven,

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 and from the rising,

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 to the setting of the sun,

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 let his kingdom come.

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 I want you to understand,

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 they did something very important.

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 We had founders of our nation,

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 that did something else,

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 that talks about in Proverbs,

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 and that's,

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 they had the fear,

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 of the Lord.

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 The fear of the Lord,

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 is the beginning of knowledge,

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 the fear of the Lord,

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 is the beginning of wisdom.

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 They understood,

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 a principle.

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 Consider the words,

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 of John Adams,

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 our second president,

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 who also served,

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 as the chairman,

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 of the American Bible Society.

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 He said this,

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 our constitution was holy,

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 was made only,

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 for a moral,

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 and religious people.

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 It is holy,

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 inadequate,

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 to the government,

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 of any other.

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 In other words,

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 he says,

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 there's outside,

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 these things that are,

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 already established,

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 that makes what we wrote,

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 function.

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 If we follow,

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 God's plan,

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 and God's righteousness,

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 this will function correctly.

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 But it's dependent,

00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:44.839
 upon people knowing,

00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.000
 what they need,

00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:46.799
 to make it function.

00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.339
 You know,

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.479
 I want you to understand,

00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:50.000
 it's kind of,

00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:51.379
 the reality of,

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:52.279
 of function.

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.339
 It's the power,

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:54.799
 that makes it happen.

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:55.740
 You might say,

00:13:55.819 --> 00:13:55.979
 you know,

00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:57.240
 most of us drove here today,

00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:57.759
 and most of us,

00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:58.019
 I'd say,

00:13:58.079 --> 00:13:59.259
 probably put gas in your car.

00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:01.219
 Now you can have a car,

00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.299
 but if it runs out of gas,

00:14:02.359 --> 00:14:02.659
 you know what,

00:14:02.699 --> 00:14:03.099
 you're in trouble,

00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:03.839
 there's no function.

00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:04.979
 For a nation,

00:14:05.099 --> 00:14:06.500
 we can have all the right,

00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:07.479
 best constitution,

00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.699
 we can have all the right things,

00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:10.459
 but without God,

00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:11.579
 and the principles,

00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:12.699
 of God's word,

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:14.179
 it's not going to function,

00:14:14.339 --> 00:14:14.839
 correctly.

00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.379
 There's going to be a hindrance,

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.019
 you know,

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:19.059
 even Benjamin Franklin,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.080
 it's interesting,

00:14:20.299 --> 00:14:21.379
 that you know,

00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.460
 when you read through the life,

00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.580
 of some of these guys,

00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:24.580
 of the things,

00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.700
 that they came to understand,

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.279
 or even things,

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.379
 they struggled with.

00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:28.799
 You know,

00:14:28.820 --> 00:14:29.480
 because I want you to understand,

00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.320
 Benjamin Franklin,

00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:31.120
 wasn't exactly,

00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:31.919
 when you study history,

00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:33.600
 the most upright individual.

00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:36.100
 He had more,

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.039
 than his fair share,

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:37.639
 of issues.

00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:38.539
 But you know what,

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.639
 you can have issues,

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.120
 in your life,

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.759
 you can have sin,

00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:41.279
 in your life,

00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:42.179
 but you can still have,

00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.039
 an understanding,

00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:44.639
 of some things,

00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:45.600
 that are very important.

00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:46.980
 Notice what he,

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:48.439
 he noticed here,

00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:49.659
 that had an impact,

00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:50.439
 on his life,

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.259
 in the first,

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:52.579
 constitutional convention.

00:14:52.699 --> 00:14:52.899
 He said,

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.439
 in the beginning,

00:14:53.439 --> 00:14:54.319
 of our contest,

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:54.899
 with Britain,

00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:55.899
 when we were,

00:14:56.059 --> 00:14:57.819
 sensible of danger,

00:14:58.819 --> 00:15:00.579
 we had daily prayers,

00:15:00.819 --> 00:15:01.899
 in this room,

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.079
 for divine protection.

00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.139
 He said,

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:04.919
 our prayers,

00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.179
 sir,

00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:05.799
 were heard,

00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:07.000
 and graciously answered.

00:15:07.500 --> 00:15:08.539
 We have been assured,

00:15:08.719 --> 00:15:10.039
 in the sacred writing,

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.459
 that except the Lord,

00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:12.299
 build the house,

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:13.299
 they labor in vain,

00:15:13.359 --> 00:15:13.959
 that build it.

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.719
 I firmly believe this,

00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.599
 and I also believe,

00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:17.179
 that without,

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.899
 his concurring aid,

00:15:19.219 --> 00:15:19.879
 we will have,

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.639
 we shall succeed,

00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:22.879
 in this political building,

00:15:22.939 --> 00:15:23.559
 no better than,

00:15:23.719 --> 00:15:24.139
 the buildings,

00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.259
 building,

00:15:25.599 --> 00:15:27.019
 builders of Babel.

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.000
 In other words,

00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.699
 he said this,

00:15:28.699 --> 00:15:29.039
 he says,

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.219
 if we don't follow,

00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:31.159
 God's principles,

00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:32.159
 we're doing all this,

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:32.620
 in vain.

00:15:33.979 --> 00:15:34.799
 Patrick Henry,

00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:36.000
 of the famous line,

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:36.259
 you know,

00:15:36.319 --> 00:15:36.519
 what's,

00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:38.859
 Patrick Henry's famous line?

00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.539
 Give me liberty,

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.000
 or what?

00:15:41.719 --> 00:15:42.779
 Give me death.

00:15:44.479 --> 00:15:45.620
 He wrote this,

00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:45.939
 he says,

00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.479
 I cannot,

00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.379
 it cannot be emphasized,

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.299
 too strongly,

00:15:49.439 --> 00:15:50.079
 or too often,

00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:51.159
 that this great nation,

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:51.719
 was founded,

00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:53.159
 not by religious,

00:15:53.359 --> 00:15:54.219
 but by Christians,

00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.339
 not on religions,

00:15:55.339 --> 00:15:56.479
 but on the gospel,

00:15:56.479 --> 00:15:57.579
 of Jesus Christ.

00:15:59.179 --> 00:15:59.399
 You know,

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.319
 Jacob Duke,

00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:00.959
 was the first,

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:02.279
 he led the first,

00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.359
 congressional prayer,

00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:03.679
 you know,

00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.599
 our nation opened in prayer.

00:16:07.319 --> 00:16:08.919
 Even in the very beginning,

00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:09.679
 of our nation,

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:10.679
 before it was even,

00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:12.339
 officially a nation,

00:16:12.479 --> 00:16:13.379
 when they met together,

00:16:13.479 --> 00:16:14.059
 they prayed.

00:16:15.979 --> 00:16:17.000
 According to the,

00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.859
 Congress,

00:16:18.579 --> 00:16:19.359
 or the,

00:16:19.359 --> 00:16:21.039
 Congressional Library,

00:16:21.579 --> 00:16:22.620
 this is the prayer,

00:16:22.859 --> 00:16:23.799
 that he made,

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.459
 on that day,

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.279
 the first prayer,

00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.399
 of the Continental Congress,

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.620
 in 1774.

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.019
 It says this,

00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:29.299
 Lord,

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.319
 our heavenly Father,

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.139
 high and mighty,

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.319
 King of kings,

00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:33.299
 the Lord of lords,

00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:34.639
 who does from the throne,

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.480
 behold all the dwellers of the earth,

00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:38.679
 and reignest with power supreme,

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.139
 and uncontrolled,

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.860
 over all the kingdoms,

00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:42.659
 empires,

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.340
 and governments.

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.899
 Look down,

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.439
 in mercy,

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.399
 we beseech thee,

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:46.980
 on these,

00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:48.139
 our American states,

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.819
 who have fled to thee,

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.500
 from the rod of the oppressor,

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.539
 and thrown themselves,

00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:54.559
 on thy gracious protection,

00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:56.659
 desiring to be henceforth,

00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:58.459
 dependent on thee,

00:16:58.859 --> 00:17:00.699
 to thee have they appealed,

00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.959
 for the righteousness,

00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:03.099
 of their cause,

00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:05.179
 to thee do they now look up,

00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:06.440
 for that countenance,

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.980
 and support,

00:17:07.159 --> 00:17:08.440
 which thou alone,

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.099
 canst give.

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:10.019
 Give them therefore,

00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:10.839
 heavenly Father,

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:12.779
 under thy nurturing care.

00:17:13.159 --> 00:17:14.240
 And he continues on,

00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:14.659
 in this prayer,

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:14.960
 he says,

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.879
 be thou present,

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.799
 O God of wisdom,

00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:18.039
 and direct for the counsels,

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.200
 of this honorable assembly,

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.399
 enable them to settle things,

00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:22.579
 on the best,

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.960
 and surest foundation,

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.620
 preserve the health,

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.279
 of their bodies,

00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:27.559
 and the vigor of their minds,

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.059
 shower down on them,

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:30.559
 and the millions,

00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.600
 that they represent,

00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.920
 since temporal blessings,

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.480
 as thou seest expedient,

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.000
 for them,

00:17:35.360 --> 00:17:36.240
 in this world,

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.920
 and crown them,

00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.039
 with everlasting glory,

00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.019
 in the world to come.

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.680
 All this we ask,

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.299
 in the name,

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.700
 and through the merits,

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.740
 of Jesus Christ,

00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.340
 thy son,

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.059
 and our savior,

00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:45.860
 amen.

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.100
 You know,

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.340
 I'm thinking to myself,

00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.240
 it'd be great,

00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.340
 if we had prayers like that,

00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.140
 in Congress today.

00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:52.539
 You know,

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.420
 I want you to understand,

00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.680
 that we enjoy today,

00:17:55.880 --> 00:17:57.960
 still some blessings,

00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:00.380
 from what they did.

00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:03.019
 The direction they sought,

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:05.820
 the importance they placed,

00:18:07.340 --> 00:18:07.700
 you know,

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:10.000
 we've been a nation,

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:10.500
 that I believe,

00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:11.840
 truly has been blessed,

00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.319
 but why?

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.180
 Because God,

00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:14.640
 is true to his word.

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:15.420
 His word says,

00:18:15.580 --> 00:18:16.240
 that righteousness,

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:16.920
 does what?

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.740
 It exalteth,

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:18.480
 or lifted up,

00:18:18.580 --> 00:18:19.900
 a nation.

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.220
 It lifts up a nation.

00:18:23.100 --> 00:18:23.299
 You know,

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.319
 Psalm 37,

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.019
 in verse 3,

00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:26.279
 the Bible tells us this,

00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.140
 trust in the Lord,

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.940
 and do good.

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:29.539
 So shalt thou dwell,

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.140
 in the land,

00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:31.680
 and verily thou shalt be fed.

00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.000
 Psalm 33,

00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:33.759
 verse 12,

00:18:33.840 --> 00:18:34.279
 says this,

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.539
 blessed is the nation,

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.899
 whose God is the Lord,

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.839
 and the people whom he have chosen,

00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:40.019
 for his own inheritance.

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.839
 Now,

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:43.379
 I want to make something clear here,

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:45.299
 because sometimes people conflate things.

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:46.599
 Before we go any farther,

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.539
 I want you to understand,

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.819
 the United States of America,

00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:51.759
 is not God's chosen nation.

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.160
 Because that gets confused sometimes.

00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:56.100
 I want you to understand,

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.700
 America,

00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:57.200
 I believe,

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.820
 was blessed,

00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.840
 because we followed,

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.500
 on our establishment,

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.600
 godly principles.

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:03.740
 God says,

00:19:03.840 --> 00:19:04.500
 you do that,

00:19:04.540 --> 00:19:05.440
 and I will bless.

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.519
 It's just a result,

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.980
 of what God promised to do,

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.740
 and what God did.

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.980
 But we are not God's chosen people,

00:19:14.100 --> 00:19:15.400
 God's chosen nation.

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.080
 I want you to understand,

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.140
 that's Israel.

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.040
 It has long since,

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:22.460
 achieved God's favored nation status.

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.519
 That's important,

00:19:23.579 --> 00:19:25.240
 even in our current political climate,

00:19:25.340 --> 00:19:26.740
 to understand what's happening.

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:29.420
 Because people begin conflating some things,

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.380
 that get us in trouble.

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.799
 Because I'm not saying,

00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:33.519
 in any way,

00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.740
 that we are above,

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.740
 what Israel.

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.180
 I'm saying,

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:36.940
 we are blessed,

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:38.819
 because of what God promised.

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.240
 He says,

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.380
 if you do righteously,

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.259
 I will bless.

00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.480
 Because we're going to look in a minute,

00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.940
 the result of going the other way.

00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:44.420
 You know,

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.880
 but there's a lot in the news,

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.779
 about Israel,

00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.700
 and our nation's connection with them.

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.120
 I just want to make a statement here,

00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:51.400
 to help you understand,

00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:52.059
 biblically,

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.819
 some things.

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.919
 To stand with Israel,

00:19:54.919 --> 00:19:56.039
 as a people,

00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:58.539
 is being on the right side,

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.240
 of history.

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.599
 And it's also being,

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.379
 on the right side,

00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:01.940
 of the future.

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.919
 If you read your Bible,

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.859
 you'll understand,

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.759
 that very specifically,

00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:10.200
 the land and a people,

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.299
 promised to Abraham,

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.419
 in Genesis 12,

00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:13.319
 Genesis 15,

00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:14.179
 Genesis 17,

00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:15.480
 doesn't mean,

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.419
 that we have to agree,

00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:17.139
 with everything.

00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:17.879
 You know,

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.379
 you can read Romans 9,

00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:19.700
 10,

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.240
 and 11,

00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.900
 and find out,

00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:21.900
 that God's not done,

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:22.500
 with Israel.

00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.579
 Their status,

00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:24.680
 has never changed.

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.599
 God still,

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.339
 is going to do something,

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:26.839
 with Israel.

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.640
 That's a whole lesson,

00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.339
 for another day.

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.960
 But I want you to understand,

00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.240
 don't conflate those two.

00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.160
 America did not,

00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:35.940
 replace Israel,

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.680
 by any means.

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.400
 We are a blessed people,

00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.579
 and if you're saved today,

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.640
 you are blessed,

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.660
 because you are,

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.859
 a child of God.

00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:45.039
 I tell you what,

00:20:45.059 --> 00:20:46.019
 you have more blessing,

00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:47.180
 because you're saved,

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.180
 than anything else.

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:50.019
 We enjoy great blessings,

00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:51.160
 because of what Christ,

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.019
 did for us.

00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:54.460
 And we need to always,

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.680
 keep that in mind.

00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:57.140
 But don't conflate,

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.380
 those things together,

00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.320
 and don't let others,

00:20:59.320 --> 00:21:00.420
 conflate them together.

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.220
 Just because,

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.660
 we are standing,

00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.320
 with Israel,

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.000
 against people,

00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:06.400
 who want to annihilate them,

00:21:06.560 --> 00:21:07.700
 that's the right thing,

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:07.920
 to do.

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.400
 It doesn't mean,

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.000
 we have to agree,

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.759
 with everything,

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.660
 and every choice,

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.720
 that a government makes.

00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.039
 But I want you to understand,

00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.480
 to stand with Israel,

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.340
 as a people,

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:17.299
 is right.

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.359
 God says,

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.359
 that if you bless them,

00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.259
 he'll bless you.

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.220
 If you curse them,

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:22.960
 he'll curse you.

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:23.960
 Like I said,

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.839
 you don't have to agree,

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:25.599
 with everything,

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.419
 but I want you to understand,

00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.539
 that you need to understand,

00:21:28.619 --> 00:21:29.859
 you best not be on the other side.

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.839
 Because the other side,

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.539
 I don't know what,

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.579
 people are thinking,

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.379
 but you don't want to be,

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.700
 under the curse of God.

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.879
 God's judgment,

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:40.200
 is a fearful thing,

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:41.220
 that you ought to understand.

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.159
 Let's move on.

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:43.019
 But God,

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:45.079
 has clearly blessed America,

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:48.059
 because he exalts righteousness.

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.079
 Now I want you to understand,

00:21:49.179 --> 00:21:49.519
 it doesn't mean,

00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:50.659
 everything they do is right,

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.740
 but the focus,

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:54.119
 of trying to do that,

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.919
 which is right,

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.679
 and just,

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.720
 and proper,

00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:58.159
 according to the word of God.

00:21:59.179 --> 00:22:00.299
 That's where our founders,

00:22:00.419 --> 00:22:01.720
 established our nation,

00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:03.220
 was built upon the word of God,

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.119
 and God's principles.

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:07.000
 How do you do things justly?

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.839
 How does something look justly?

00:22:08.919 --> 00:22:09.939
 You go to the Old Testament,

00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.279
 God gave the children of Israel,

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.039
 how to deal with all sorts of situations legally.

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.940
 Land disputes,

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:17.779
 or if somebody borrows something,

00:22:17.859 --> 00:22:18.680
 and it gets broke,

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:21.319
 or somebody borrows an oxen,

00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:22.660
 and it falls over in the field,

00:22:22.779 --> 00:22:25.039
 how do you settle the responsibilities?

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.819
 And God gave them all sorts of things,

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:29.039
 of moral law,

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:32.240
 of what does justice look like,

00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.440
 and to establish those things.

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:38.039
 We've enjoyed God's blessing,

00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:39.139
 but I want you to understand,

00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:42.080
 this verse also has the contrast.

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:44.340
 Righteousness exalts a nation,

00:22:44.780 --> 00:22:46.200
 but look at the second part of that,

00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:47.160
 our text today.

00:22:47.780 --> 00:22:49.480
 Proverbs 14, verse 24,

00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:50.480
 look at the contrast.

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.520
 He says,

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:53.580
 righteousness takes you one direction,

00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.100
 but it says,

00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:59.920
 but sin is a reproach to any people.

00:23:00.300 --> 00:23:01.940
 Why will God judge America?

00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.920
 Because of sin.

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.900
 I want you to understand,

00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:09.780
 if God exalts a nation for righteousness,

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.220
 the other side of that,

00:23:11.300 --> 00:23:13.380
 God holds you accountable for what you do.

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.380
 Read your Old Testament.

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.080
 Israel,

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.160
 blessed by God,

00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:20.440
 honored,

00:23:20.560 --> 00:23:22.360
 has his most favored nation,

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.280
 and you know what?

00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:24.540
 They started sinning,

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.540
 and God said,

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.700
 I'm going to hold you accountable.

00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:27.960
 You can read through.

00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:30.460
 Israel faced God's accountability,

00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:31.500
 God's judgment.

00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.280
 Why?

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.619
 Because of sin.

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:38.339
 Sin is a reproach to any people.

00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.279
 I want you to understand,

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:43.980
 God's blessing will not save a wicked people

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.000
 from God's judgment.

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:47.660
 Just because you may have once been blessed,

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:50.799
 doesn't mean God is obligated to continue

00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:54.639
 if you turn away from him.

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:56.839
 Now,

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:58.639
 I want you to understand something very important here.

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.259
 I'm not talking,

00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:01.980
 this message today is not talking directly about salvation.

00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:05.099
 Because I believe the Bible makes it clear,

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.920
 once you're saved,

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.420
 you are secure in Christ.

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:11.120
 Nothing can take you away from Christ.

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.960
 But in this life,

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.819
 even as a believer,

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.860
 I want you to understand,

00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:18.579
 if you start making choices counter to God's word,

00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:20.579
 God will hold you accountable.

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.079
 He chastens his children,

00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.120
 he corrects them.

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.259
 As a nation,

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:27.660
 God corrects nations.

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.200
 God holds nations accountable.

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.640
 For what they do also,

00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:34.240
 you know,

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:36.160
 as we prepare to celebrate this week,

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.740
 it's necessary to be mindful

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:40.000
 of just how wicked our nation has become.

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:40.579
 You know,

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.319
 it's,

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:45.420
 ought to sadden us to see the things that take place.

00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:47.460
 How we can call evil good,

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:48.299
 and good evil.

00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:53.559
 That tells you there's been a change of thought.

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:56.180
 You know what part of that problem is?

00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.919
 Is sometimes when we see God's blessing,

00:24:58.039 --> 00:25:00.200
 we think God's going to just continue to do that.

00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:02.339
 And we forget that the promise here

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:05.759
 has nothing to do with salvation,

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.899
 but it has to do with the course of actions,

00:25:07.980 --> 00:25:09.440
 of choices that you make here,

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.579
 as an individual,

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.779
 and even as a nation.

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:14.559
 Because as a nation,

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.160
 you know what?

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.859
 Even if you're a believer,

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.980
 you're going to face

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:21.299
 God's accountability to the nation.

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.200
 The children of Israel,

00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:23.680
 there was many righteous people

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.279
 who died because of the sins of others,

00:25:26.839 --> 00:25:28.539
 and the sins of their leaders.

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.139
 You know,

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:31.240
 look over to Isaiah chapter 5 for a moment.

00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.980
 Isaiah chapter 5,

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.279
 and Isaiah 5 is,

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.279
 when you read through Isaiah 5,

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:39.420
 it's really a chapter of woe.

00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:42.340
 Six times in Isaiah 5,

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.779
 it says,

00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:43.279
 woe.

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.600
 Now,

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.680
 woe doesn't mean telling the horse to stop.

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.259
 It means you better be paying attention.

00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:51.420
 It means you better heed what's going to be said

00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:53.380
 because it's going to be detrimental if you don't.

00:25:53.580 --> 00:25:55.460
 Notice what it tells us here in verse 20.

00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:56.759
 It says this,

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:59.700
 woe unto them that call evil good and good evil,

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:03.560
 that put darkness for light and light for darkness,

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:06.600
 that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:10.619
 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes

00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:12.219
 and prudent in their own sight.

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.699
 You know,

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.619
 the sad part is,

00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:13.899
 is this,

00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:17.359
 if you compare this to what we're going on in our nation today,

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:20.259
 it describes it.

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:20.619
 Why?

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:22.980
 Because sin is the same no matter where it is.

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:25.519
 Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.719
 and prudent in their own sight.

00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.659
 Verse 22,

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:30.199
 woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine

00:26:30.199 --> 00:26:32.899
 and men of strength to mingle strong drink,

00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:36.019
 which justify the wicked for reward

00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:39.480
 and take the righteousness of the righteous from him.

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.620
 Now I want you to understand,

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:45.220
 we live in a nation that this is exactly what's taking place.

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:48.280
 We live in a nation that's turning its back on God

00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:48.660
 and saying,

00:26:48.780 --> 00:26:48.840
 well,

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:50.220
 God's going to bless us anyways.

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.060
 Let me give you something.

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.140
 God says,

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.519
 no,

00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:56.040
 if our nation continues on the path that it's on right now,

00:26:56.040 --> 00:26:57.560
 we're going to face God's judgment.

00:26:57.559 --> 00:27:01.220
 I believe there's some things we're facing God's judgment

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:04.259
 because understand sin is our reproach.

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:07.039
 That word reproach means it's our shame.

00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:09.460
 We live in a nation that has no shame.

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:14.839
 When perversion is allowed in the streets

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:19.240
 and people celebrate it and expect God's blessing,

00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:22.019
 I want you to understand that the United States

00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:24.339
 leads the nations of the world in murders,

00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:26.899
 in violent crime and imprisonment,

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.500
 divorce,

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.720
 abortions,

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.780
 sexually transmitted disease,

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.860
 teen suicide,

00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.440
 drug consumption,

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:36.340
 and pornography production and consumption.

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.420
 And people say,

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.660
 God bless the USA.

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.480
 And you know what?

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.360
 God can't.

00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:47.340
 We might enjoy some of the benefits of generations past,

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:47.960
 but you know,

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.660
 the problem is sometimes we don't think of how

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:52.220
 what we choose today impacts the future generation.

00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:55.940
 We think as long as it doesn't affect me,

00:27:56.120 --> 00:27:56.860
 it's okay.

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:57.560
 You know,

00:27:57.560 --> 00:27:59.120
 it's really a great shame to us

00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:01.140
 that we often are entertained by that

00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:02.320
 which God calls evil.

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:05.700
 It's a great shame that in our state

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.780
 and across the land,

00:28:06.780 --> 00:28:08.640
 you have legalized gambling

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.840
 and lottery

00:28:09.840 --> 00:28:11.680
 and we rationalize it by saying

00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:12.820
 it's good for the schools.

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:13.780
 You know,

00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:16.519
 it causes far more destruction to the family.

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:19.519
 It causes far more destruction to society

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:21.600
 than it ever is going to help the schools.

00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:23.799
 You know,

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.959
 the first thing that's going to help schools,

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.799
 strong families.

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:29.359
 Moms and dads who care about kids.

00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:31.299
 I want to let you know,

00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:32.459
 that'll do more good

00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:34.240
 than any amount of resource or money.

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.240
 Look in history,

00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.699
 there's been some very intelligent,

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.779
 well-educated people

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:39.039
 raised on minimum budgets.

00:28:39.219 --> 00:28:41.159
 It had to do with what they decided to do

00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:42.779
 and not how much money they threw at it.

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.180
 You know,

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:44.299
 we live in a nation today

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.819
 that thinks if we just spend more,

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.879
 it'll solve the problem.

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:50.019
 We have parents who treat their kids,

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.019
 my kid will get better

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.399
 if I just spend more money on him

00:28:52.399 --> 00:28:54.039
 or if I do this or do that.

00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:54.240
 You know,

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.039
 I want you to understand,

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.660
 money is not the answer.

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:58.579
 Money is just a tool God gives us.

00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.019
 You know,

00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:00.000
 it's a great shame

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.299
 that we promote perversion

00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.519
 in the name of diversity

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:05.359
 and call it alternative lifestyle.

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.619
 I want you to understand,

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.399
 as a believer,

00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:08.960
 you need to take a stand to say,

00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:09.279
 no,

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:11.039
 I'm not going to get caught up

00:29:11.039 --> 00:29:12.759
 in what they're trying to indoctrinate.

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:14.660
 I'm not,

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:16.480
 I'm going to stop the next generation

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.759
 from being indoctrinated.

00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:21.839
 I'm going to do my part to do that.

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:24.059
 It's a great shame

00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:26.240
 that the biblical form of marriage

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:28.299
 has been destroyed by a court decision.

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.079
 They step into a place

00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.960
 they have no authority.

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:36.099
 Proverbs 17 verse 13 says this,

00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:38.079
 whoso rewardeth evil for good,

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:40.720
 evil shall not depart from his house.

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.160
 You know,

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:42.759
 if you're going to run the principles of God,

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:44.000
 you better read the whole book

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:47.440
 because we like to cherry pick

00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:49.019
 and not take the parts we don't like.

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.839
 But you know what?

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:53.059
 God keeps his whole word,

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.799
 not part.

00:29:56.559 --> 00:29:58.160
 And he tells us very clearly

00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:02.079
 that he's going to hold sin accountable.

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:05.879
 Psalm 119, 126 says this,

00:30:05.880 --> 00:30:06.880
 it is time for thee,

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.180
 it is time for thee, Lord,

00:30:07.260 --> 00:30:10.820
 to work for they have made void thy law.

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:11.720
 You know what?

00:30:13.240 --> 00:30:14.980
 Sometimes you have to understand

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:16.580
 if people want to reject God,

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.700
 turn away from God,

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:21.340
 we have a responsibility to tell them

00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.440
 the truth about God,

00:30:22.520 --> 00:30:23.780
 but people still make choices.

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:26.260
 People choose to turn away from God.

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:30.319
 Proverbs 15, 9 says this,

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.220
 the way of the wicked

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:33.200
 is an abomination under the Lord,

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.640
 but he loveth him

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:37.480
 that followeth after righteousness.

00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.140
 Remember, righteousness,

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:41.019
 if you follow after righteousness,

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.700
 and righteousness does what?

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:45.099
 Exalteth a nation,

00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:46.180
 a people as a whole.

00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:47.900
 It's important to understand.

00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.140
 So the question is,

00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:51.360
 what can the righteous do?

00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.360
 What can we do?

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.540
 What can believers do today

00:30:54.540 --> 00:30:55.280
 to make a difference?

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:59.080
 What is our responsibility in this?

00:31:00.580 --> 00:31:01.519
 Because I want you to understand,

00:31:01.600 --> 00:31:02.700
 we can't control everything

00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.580
 that happens in government.

00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:05.519
 You can go down here on election day

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:08.300
 and you can try to put into office

00:31:08.300 --> 00:31:10.240
 the best person that you can put in.

00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:12.720
 And we ought to always be participating in that

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:14.580
 because that's a right we have as a people.

00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:16.180
 I think it's a great sin

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.519
 when Christians don't vote.

00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:21.720
 Now, some people upset,

00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:22.500
 but I don't care.

00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.220
 That's the reality

00:31:23.220 --> 00:31:24.940
 because God has given us

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:27.800
 the ability to influence our government.

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:30.160
 And if you choose not to influence it,

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.680
 you're making a choice to say,

00:31:31.820 --> 00:31:33.160
 I'm going to permit the evil.

00:31:33.540 --> 00:31:35.600
 That's the reason it's essential to participate.

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.980
 Now, I also want to just do

00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:40.440
 a little caveat here to be careful

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:43.000
 because we can't make politics our God.

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:47.980
 But as God's people,

00:31:48.140 --> 00:31:49.519
 we need to have our voice

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:52.079
 as citizens of our nation,

00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:54.400
 we need to make our voice heard.

00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:57.079
 How do you make it heard?

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:59.059
 By standing for that which is right.

00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:03.160
 Not throwing a temper tampering in the street.

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:05.000
 You know?

00:32:05.320 --> 00:32:08.040
 I'm so tired of watching three-year-olds

00:32:08.040 --> 00:32:09.019
 running through the streets

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:12.380
 having their little tantrum that they're throwing.

00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:14.000
 That's not what we're talking about.

00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:16.759
 We're talking about standing for truth

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:18.759
 and standing for right where you are.

00:32:19.080 --> 00:32:20.340
 That's what makes a difference.

00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:21.600
 What can the righteous do?

00:32:21.959 --> 00:32:25.240
 It starts not just in the ballot box,

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.859
 but the ballot box

00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:28.480
 and how the ballot box is influenced

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:30.099
 in the pew and in the pulpit.

00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:33.139
 From the very founding of our nation,

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:35.119
 you'll find that the pew and the pulpit

00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:37.159
 influence more things than anything else.

00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:39.439
 Because when the word of God was sent forth

00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:42.159
 and they addressed what righteousness looks like,

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:44.319
 they understood what they needed to do.

00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:47.000
 You know, the sad part today,

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:49.399
 there's many pulpits who downgrade the righteousness

00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:51.540
 of what God says is right

00:32:51.540 --> 00:32:52.800
 and what God says is wrong.

00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:54.160
 But I want you to understand,

00:32:54.300 --> 00:32:55.360
 what can the righteous do?

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.600
 It starts with you and I.

00:32:56.780 --> 00:32:58.500
 It starts with decisions we make.

00:32:58.540 --> 00:33:00.019
 Look over to 1 Peter for a moment.

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:03.140
 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 17.

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:07.500
 1 Peter chapter 4 has got a lot of things in the chapter,

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:10.420
 and he talks about sin and righteousness,

00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:12.000
 and he comes to this and he says,

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:15.340
 For the time has come that judgments must begin where?

00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:19.519
 At the house of God.

00:33:21.459 --> 00:33:22.319
 Notice what he says,

00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:24.500
 And if it first begin at us,

00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:28.119
 what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:29.259
 I want you to understand,

00:33:29.399 --> 00:33:31.439
 Peter's making a contrast here,

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.699
 a very important element,

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:35.480
 that how are the others going to be held accountable

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:37.059
 if God doesn't hold us accountable?

00:33:37.439 --> 00:33:38.599
 If you're his child,

00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:42.259
 you ought to consider what does God expect?

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:45.339
 How do we honor God to do the right things?

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.500
 Because I want you to understand,

00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:50.119
 righteousness does not begin amongst the lost.

00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:51.200
 You know, some people say,

00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:52.900
 Well, I'm shocked that person did that.

00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.259
 You know what?

00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:55.579
 I'm never shocked anymore what a lost person does.

00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:59.640
 When you are without Christ,

00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.980
 your mind is darkened.

00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.660
 Sin has you enslaved.

00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:04.140
 What ought to shock you

00:34:04.140 --> 00:34:06.339
 is what people profess the name of Christ do.

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:09.800
 If it doesn't begin among those who have been redeemed,

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.400
 then who?

00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:12.139
 You know, one thing that has happened

00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:15.220
 is that we allow things to be passed to the next generation.

00:34:15.740 --> 00:34:18.360
 You know, Hezekiah was a good king.

00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:20.420
 But you know, at the end of Hezekiah,

00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:22.940
 there were some things coming to account.

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:25.920
 The prophet Isaiah comes and tells him

00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.920
 that the nation was going to be taken over.

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:29.320
 God's going to hold to account

00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:32.320
 the sin of the people.

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:36.180
 Now, while Hezekiah tried to get the nation back on,

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.599
 there was God going to hold to account

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:39.019
 some sin that took place.

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:42.559
 Even generation before Him.

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:47.019
 You know, look over to 2 Kings chapter 20 for a moment

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.800
 because this is important to understand.

00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:52.079
 Because if we look at this illustration from God's Word,

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.619
 verse 16 says this,

00:34:53.619 --> 00:35:09.219
 So in other words, Isaiah says,

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:11.679
 Hey, God's judgment has come.

00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.319
 God's judgment is coming.

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.419
 Verse 18,

00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:16.980
 And thy sons that shall issue from thee,

00:35:17.899 --> 00:35:19.459
 which thou shall beget,

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:21.159
 shall they take away,

00:35:21.299 --> 00:35:24.059
 and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:25.739
 Well, let that sink in for a moment.

00:35:25.779 --> 00:35:26.579
 What's it telling you?

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:30.219
 Hezekiah, Isaiah comes to Hezekiah,

00:35:30.219 --> 00:35:31.919
 and he says,

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:33.899
 Hezekiah, God's judgment's coming,

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:36.500
 and your children are going to become eunuchs.

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.679
 If you need an explanation of that,

00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:40.579
 see me afterwards.

00:35:40.919 --> 00:35:42.000
 Or you can use your dictionary.

00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:46.439
 Because the reality of that has stark consequences.

00:35:46.939 --> 00:35:47.759
 But I want you to see,

00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:49.599
 it's not that God announced His judgment.

00:35:49.759 --> 00:35:50.639
 Look at verse 19.

00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:53.159
 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah,

00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:57.739
 Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken.

00:35:57.960 --> 00:35:58.900
 That sounds pretty good.

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.099
 Now look at the last part.

00:36:01.379 --> 00:36:01.920
 And he said,

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:04.460
 Is it not good if peace and truth be in my day?

00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.799
 Let that sink in for a moment.

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.460
 What's Hezekiah saying?

00:36:08.819 --> 00:36:10.219
 Yeah, I know that's coming,

00:36:10.379 --> 00:36:13.299
 but I'm enjoying what I have now,

00:36:13.339 --> 00:36:15.099
 and they can just deal with it when it comes.

00:36:15.359 --> 00:36:16.980
 That's really a pretty sad statement.

00:36:17.259 --> 00:36:17.839
 But you know what?

00:36:17.879 --> 00:36:19.000
 I think it's a statement

00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:20.800
 that reflects a lot of people today.

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:22.059
 As long as I'm doing

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:23.900
 and get what I want out of this life,

00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:25.440
 it doesn't matter about the next.

00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:27.719
 Generation to come.

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:30.639
 Is it not good if peace and truth be in my day?

00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:31.820
 I want you to understand,

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.019
 how do we make a difference?

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:35.079
 Turn over to the book of James for a moment,

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:36.880
 because I think James gives us a good

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:40.659
 New Testament illustrations here through

00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:42.039
 of some practical things.

00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:44.440
 James is a very practical book in the Bible.

00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:46.400
 You know, we can look into some Old Testament

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.579
 and Second Chronicles

00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:49.239
 and others that talk about these things,

00:36:49.299 --> 00:36:50.900
 but I think it's important to know

00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.759
 what we're talking about here

00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:53.279
 is not just something for the past,

00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:54.380
 it's something for the present.

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:58.039
 It's something of what moving forward,

00:36:58.460 --> 00:37:00.259
 because the first thing we see here

00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:01.319
 is humility.

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.319
 Humility.

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:06.420
 To humble ourselves before God.

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.659
 James 4.6 says,

00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:16.879
 James 4.10 tells us this,

00:37:16.879 --> 00:37:23.679
 I want you to understand,

00:37:23.839 --> 00:37:24.839
 from the very beginning

00:37:24.839 --> 00:37:26.679
 all the way to the end of the book,

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:28.059
 all throughout the Scripture,

00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:30.059
 you'll find that it's required of us

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:31.960
 to humble ourselves before God.

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:35.980
 Pride will keep you from God.

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:37.039
 It hinders that.

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.980
 We ought to be humble enough to say,

00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:41.900
 hey, I need to do something.

00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:43.579
 I need to take responsibility.

00:37:45.340 --> 00:37:47.179
 I need to do my part.

00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:49.380
 To humble ourselves before God.

00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:50.980
 Secondly, to pray.

00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:53.079
 Pray for forgiveness.

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:56.659
 Pray for God to search who we are.

00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:58.480
 Pray for God to use us.

00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:01.420
 You know, consider what James says

00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:03.300
 in James 1 and verse 5 and 6.

00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:03.599
 It says,

00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:05.019
 If any man lack wisdom,

00:38:05.460 --> 00:38:06.659
 let him ask of God

00:38:06.659 --> 00:38:08.460
 that giveth to all men liberally

00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:09.440
 and abradeth not,

00:38:09.719 --> 00:38:10.860
 and it shall be given him,

00:38:10.900 --> 00:38:12.360
 but let him ask in faith,

00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.340
 not wavering.

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.820
 For he that wavereth

00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:16.099
 is like the wave of the sea,

00:38:16.199 --> 00:38:17.920
 driven with the wind and tossed.

00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:20.340
 James 5.16 says,

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:22.099
 Confess your faults one to another

00:38:22.099 --> 00:38:23.260
 and pray for one another

00:38:23.260 --> 00:38:24.980
 that you may be healed.

00:38:24.980 --> 00:38:28.240
 The effectual fervent prayer

00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:31.480
 of a righteous man availeth much.

00:38:33.219 --> 00:38:34.699
 If you want to make a difference,

00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:35.440
 we need to pray.

00:38:35.820 --> 00:38:37.400
 We need to seek God's face.

00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:39.579
 We need to seek the Lord.

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.500
 Seek the Lord.

00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:43.639
 Consider James 4.8 says,

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:45.000
 Draw nigh to God

00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:46.619
 and he will draw nigh to you.

00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:47.980
 You know, that's a principle

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:49.260
 you see throughout the Bible

00:38:49.260 --> 00:38:52.480
 that if you want to understand

00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.440
 who God is,

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.679
 God says, I'm here.

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:57.280
 I haven't moved.

00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:57.920
 I'm available.

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.840
 God will always answer

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:01.480
 a humble heart seeking him.

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:03.559
 He will bring to light those things.

00:39:04.019 --> 00:39:07.059
 Notice Psalm 119 verse 9 says this,

00:39:07.179 --> 00:39:08.699
 Wherefore with all shall a young man

00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:09.559
 cleanse his way

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:11.679
 by taking heed thereto

00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:13.099
 according to thy word

00:39:13.099 --> 00:39:14.659
 and with thy whole heart

00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.619
 have I sought thee.

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:17.000
 Let me not wander

00:39:17.000 --> 00:39:18.059
 from thy commandments

00:39:18.059 --> 00:39:20.559
 to seek the Lord,

00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:21.880
 to know what God wants

00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:22.679
 and seek God.

00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:24.079
 How do we know what God wants?

00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:24.740
 From his word.

00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:25.539
 And lastly,

00:39:25.619 --> 00:39:26.980
 we need to turn from wickedness.

00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:28.139
 James 4.8,

00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:29.300
 the last part of that verse

00:39:29.300 --> 00:39:29.840
 says this,

00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:30.099
 draw,

00:39:30.920 --> 00:39:31.280
 it says,

00:39:31.400 --> 00:39:32.980
 Cleanse your hands,

00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:33.519
 ye sinners,

00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.860
 and purify your hearts,

00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.619
 ye double-minded.

00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:36.719
 Now, that's,

00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:37.900
 we could spend a whole message

00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:39.219
 just on that right there.

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.460
 Because the problem is,

00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:41.079
 is that we do

00:39:41.079 --> 00:39:42.199
 is call evil good

00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:42.820
 and good evil.

00:39:43.139 --> 00:39:44.199
 You don't want to get rid,

00:39:44.240 --> 00:39:44.619
 oftentimes,

00:39:44.780 --> 00:39:46.079
 you don't want to let go of sin

00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.400
 because we get caught up

00:39:47.400 --> 00:39:48.900
 in the pleasure of the moment,

00:39:48.900 --> 00:39:50.300
 not considering the end.

00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:50.760
 You know,

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.740
 I want you to understand,

00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:53.019
 sin can seem like it's

00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.920
 something that's easy

00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:55.820
 to contend with

00:39:55.820 --> 00:39:57.019
 or easy to control

00:39:57.019 --> 00:39:59.400
 or it provides something

00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:00.460
 you might enjoy

00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:01.260
 for the moment.

00:40:01.560 --> 00:40:02.460
 But the Bible says

00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:03.820
 the end thereof is death,

00:40:04.120 --> 00:40:04.640
 destruction.

00:40:05.039 --> 00:40:05.200
 You know,

00:40:05.240 --> 00:40:06.060
 there's a lot of things

00:40:06.060 --> 00:40:06.720
 that look good

00:40:06.720 --> 00:40:07.480
 on the outside

00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.660
 to draw you in

00:40:08.660 --> 00:40:10.440
 and capture you.

00:40:10.539 --> 00:40:10.720
 You know,

00:40:11.220 --> 00:40:12.100
 think about it for a moment.

00:40:12.180 --> 00:40:13.740
 Do you ever set a trap

00:40:13.740 --> 00:40:14.200
 that says,

00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:15.480
 a big flag that says,

00:40:15.519 --> 00:40:16.280
 it's going to be a problem

00:40:16.280 --> 00:40:17.000
 if you do this?

00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:19.519
 Have you ever seen advertisers

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.219
 advertise something?

00:40:20.500 --> 00:40:21.559
 Don't buy our product

00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:22.920
 because it's going to cause harm

00:40:22.920 --> 00:40:23.539
 in your life.

00:40:23.739 --> 00:40:24.679
 You don't see that, do you?

00:40:24.699 --> 00:40:25.019
 You see,

00:40:25.159 --> 00:40:25.920
 what's the benefits?

00:40:26.199 --> 00:40:27.780
 How does this help you right now?

00:40:27.880 --> 00:40:30.000
 How does this help you enjoy things

00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:31.920
 and to be able to see

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.880
 all these things

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:34.179
 or do all these things?

00:40:34.579 --> 00:40:36.059
 We need to turn from wickedness.

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:37.139
 Look over to Psalm 51

00:40:37.139 --> 00:40:37.820
 for a moment.

00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:39.739
 Psalm 51,

00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:41.320
 David here says this,

00:40:41.380 --> 00:40:41.559
 he says,

00:40:41.639 --> 00:40:42.039
 Behold,

00:40:42.500 --> 00:40:44.099
 thou desirest truth

00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:45.739
 in the inward parts

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:47.479
 and in the hidden part

00:40:47.479 --> 00:40:48.519
 thou shalt make me

00:40:48.519 --> 00:40:49.599
 to know thy wisdom.

00:40:49.979 --> 00:40:51.219
 Purge me with hyssop

00:40:51.219 --> 00:40:52.239
 and I shall be clean.

00:40:52.379 --> 00:40:52.879
 Wash me

00:40:52.879 --> 00:40:53.919
 and I shall be whiter

00:40:53.919 --> 00:40:56.059
 than snow.

00:40:56.419 --> 00:40:57.239
 David's heart

00:40:57.239 --> 00:40:59.619
 was to turn to God

00:40:59.619 --> 00:40:59.959
 to say,

00:41:00.039 --> 00:41:00.399
 God,

00:41:00.899 --> 00:41:02.699
 show me what needs cleaned up.

00:41:04.299 --> 00:41:06.079
 Show me what needs to change.

00:41:06.399 --> 00:41:06.559
 You know,

00:41:06.579 --> 00:41:08.079
 this morning we live in a nation

00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:08.979
 that's been blessed

00:41:08.979 --> 00:41:09.659
 but is now,

00:41:09.859 --> 00:41:10.719
 I believe,

00:41:10.819 --> 00:41:11.500
 going to be facing

00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:12.599
 the judgment of God

00:41:12.599 --> 00:41:13.399
 in many areas.

00:41:13.659 --> 00:41:14.919
 We see the effects of it

00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:16.300
 happening within our families,

00:41:16.440 --> 00:41:17.400
 within our communities,

00:41:17.780 --> 00:41:18.619
 in our nation.

00:41:18.960 --> 00:41:19.780
 I want you to understand

00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:20.559
 we need to be careful

00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:21.800
 not to just expect

00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:22.840
 God's blessing

00:41:22.840 --> 00:41:25.760
 but to seek God's blessing

00:41:25.760 --> 00:41:29.159
 by doing that which is right.

00:41:31.099 --> 00:41:33.099
 And it begins with you and I.

00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.920
 It begins,

00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:35.700
 even here this morning,

00:41:35.820 --> 00:41:37.579
 it begins with your relationship

00:41:37.579 --> 00:41:38.340
 with God

00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:39.460
 because it begins

00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:41.059
 by one being transformed,

00:41:41.800 --> 00:41:43.139
 being changed

00:41:43.139 --> 00:41:44.480
 by the power

00:41:44.480 --> 00:41:45.779
 of the Holy Ghost

00:41:45.779 --> 00:41:46.480
 through faith

00:41:46.480 --> 00:41:47.579
 in Jesus Christ

00:41:47.579 --> 00:41:48.579
 because if you've never

00:41:48.579 --> 00:41:49.639
 been born again,

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:51.199
 you cannot grasp

00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:53.000
 fully what I'm speaking of,

00:41:53.199 --> 00:41:54.000
 of what Christ

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:55.059
 has done for you.

00:41:56.119 --> 00:41:56.839
 This morning,

00:41:56.920 --> 00:41:57.839
 have you been born again

00:41:57.839 --> 00:41:58.599
 by faith

00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:59.539
 in Christ alone?

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:02.799
 Not resting in what they call

00:42:02.799 --> 00:42:03.920
 a Christian nation.

00:42:04.679 --> 00:42:04.900
 You know,

00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:05.940
 that's kind of a misnomer

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:07.159
 because nations

00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:08.000
 aren't Christians,

00:42:08.239 --> 00:42:09.400
 individuals are Christians.

00:42:09.759 --> 00:42:09.900
 Now,

00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:10.699
 a group of Christians

00:42:10.699 --> 00:42:11.899
 can influence a nation

00:42:11.899 --> 00:42:12.859
 in a direction

00:42:12.859 --> 00:42:15.279
 that God can bless.

00:42:15.559 --> 00:42:15.739
 You know,

00:42:15.759 --> 00:42:16.219
 this morning,

00:42:16.319 --> 00:42:17.099
 that also includes

00:42:17.099 --> 00:42:18.139
 just being obedient

00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:19.259
 to what God's word

00:42:19.259 --> 00:42:20.639
 has declared in your life.

00:42:20.879 --> 00:42:22.039
 It's an important reality

00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:23.579
 for each of us

00:42:23.579 --> 00:42:24.159
 to consider.

00:42:25.719 --> 00:42:26.199
 You know,

00:42:26.219 --> 00:42:26.639
 this morning,

00:42:26.759 --> 00:42:27.839
 have you considered,

00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:29.039
 are we just expecting

00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:29.839
 God's blessing

00:42:29.839 --> 00:42:30.859
 or do we need

00:42:30.859 --> 00:42:31.779
 to do the things

00:42:31.779 --> 00:42:32.659
 that raises

00:42:32.659 --> 00:42:33.559
 and exalt it

00:42:33.559 --> 00:42:35.239
 to blesses God

00:42:35.239 --> 00:42:37.859
 that he might bless us

00:42:37.859 --> 00:42:38.839
 in his promise?

00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:40.800
 His heads are bowed

00:42:40.800 --> 00:42:41.500
 and eyes are closed

00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:41.940
 this morning.

00:42:42.200 --> 00:42:43.200
 What about you today?

00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:44.280
 What about you?

00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:45.059
 Heavenly Father,

00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:46.000
 as we come before you

00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:46.539
 this morning,

00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:47.760
 Lord,

00:42:47.800 --> 00:42:48.500
 we just thank you

00:42:48.500 --> 00:42:49.100
 and praise you

00:42:49.100 --> 00:42:50.780
 for your word.

00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:51.000
 Lord,

00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:51.480
 we're thankful

00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:52.400
 for your promises.

00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:54.400
 Lord,

00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.760
 help us to take a stand

00:42:55.760 --> 00:42:57.380
 to do our part.

00:42:57.600 --> 00:42:57.780
 Lord,

00:42:57.860 --> 00:42:58.640
 trusting you

00:42:58.640 --> 00:42:59.500
 for the outcome,

00:42:59.680 --> 00:42:59.780
 Lord,

00:42:59.840 --> 00:43:00.660
 but be able to say

00:43:00.660 --> 00:43:02.460
 that we trusted you.

00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:04.640
 Lord,

00:43:04.700 --> 00:43:05.280
 you make note

00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:05.940
 of those things.

00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:06.120
 Lord,

00:43:06.180 --> 00:43:06.800
 help us to do

00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.380
 those things

00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:08.019
 that are right

00:43:08.019 --> 00:43:09.519
 help us

00:43:09.519 --> 00:43:10.440
 to promote

00:43:10.440 --> 00:43:11.159
 righteousness.

00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:13.739
 But Lord,

00:43:13.780 --> 00:43:14.059
 help us

00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:14.599
 to understand

00:43:14.599 --> 00:43:15.059
 the need

00:43:15.059 --> 00:43:15.699
 to apply it

00:43:15.699 --> 00:43:16.739
 to our heart first.

00:43:17.059 --> 00:43:17.179
 Lord,

00:43:17.219 --> 00:43:17.559
 I pray that you

00:43:17.559 --> 00:43:18.059
 have your hand

00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:19.119
 upon each one today.

00:43:19.239 --> 00:43:19.380
 Lord,

00:43:19.440 --> 00:43:19.860
 that you might

00:43:19.860 --> 00:43:21.280
 stir hearts

00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:22.219
 and stir minds.

00:43:23.579 --> 00:43:23.940
 Lord,

00:43:23.980 --> 00:43:24.619
 to convict

00:43:24.619 --> 00:43:25.280
 and convince

00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:25.860
 as needed

00:43:25.860 --> 00:43:26.639
 with each one.

00:43:28.019 --> 00:43:28.320
 And Lord,

00:43:28.360 --> 00:43:28.780
 we just turn

00:43:28.780 --> 00:43:29.500
 this opportunity

00:43:29.500 --> 00:43:30.119
 to respond

00:43:30.119 --> 00:43:30.840
 to you today.

00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:31.099
 Lord,

00:43:31.139 --> 00:43:31.539
 we just give you

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:32.179
 all the praise

00:43:32.179 --> 00:43:33.199
 in Jesus' name.

00:43:34.400 --> 00:43:35.420
 As piano plays,

00:43:35.480 --> 00:43:36.159
 what about you

00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:37.019
 today?