THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY IN
AMERICA IS NOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE BUT IN THE CHURCH HOUSE.
WE'RE TO PRAY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO
ARE IN AUTHORITY. ADRIAN ROGERS BELIEVED THAT AS CHRISTIANS AND
AS CITIZENS WE HAVE CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES TO OUR
GOVERNMENT THAT ARE LAID OUT CLEARLY IN THE SCRIPTURES. WE
ARE CONTINUING OUR EMPHASIS ON 40 DAYS OF PRAYER AT LOVE WORTH
FINDING, AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL STAY WITH US FOR TODAY'S
CHALLENGING MESSAGE, STRAIGHT FROM THE WORD OF GOD. AND AS
ALWAYS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND DOWNLOAD OTHER
RESOURCES AVAILABLE WITH THIS MESSAGE AT LWF.ORG. WHILE YOU'RE
THERE, PLEASE DOWNLOAD OUR FREE PRAYER GUIDE THAT WILL GIVE YOU
SPECIFIC WAYS THAT YOU CAN PRAY DURING THIS TIME. NOW, LET'S
JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS WITH TODAY'S MESSAGE. WOULD YOU BE FINDING ROMANS
CHAPTER 13, IN THE WORD OF GOD? THE BOOK OF ROMANS IS THE
CONSTITUTION OF CHRISTIANITY, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, IT IS A
SOLID WORD FOR AN UNSURE AGE. AND OUR AGE, WITHOUT THE WORD OF
GOD, IS AN UNSURE AGE. AND I'M SPEAKING TO MANY PEOPLE. YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SOLID, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO
STAND, AND YET YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WALKING AROUND ON
EGGSHELLS AND JELL-O. THANK GOD FOR THE SOLID ROCK OF GOD'S
WORD. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND TODAY WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING, A
QUESTION OF CHRISTIANS AND PATRIOTISM. AND I WANT YOU TO
SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, OUR DUTIES, OUR RIGHTS? IS THE
BIBLE OBLIVIOUS TO THIS? OR DID GOD ORDAIN HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND
TELL HIS PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF IT? WHAT ARE CHRISTIANS TO DO,
TO THINK, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO BEHAVE? NOW I'M THE FIRST TO
CONFESS THAT MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE SIMPLY DROPPED OUT, AND LET
ME TELL YOU THE REASONS THAT MANY HAVE DROPPED OUT. WE'RE
GOING TO READ THE SCRIPTURE NOW IN JUST A MOMENT. BUT LET ME
TELL YOU WHY MANY HAVE DROPPED OUT. UH, THEY SEE, IF, THEY SEE
INVOLVEMENT AS SOMEHOW AS THE SOCIAL GOSPEL. AND, UH, I'M
AGAINST THE SOCIAL GOSPEL AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE
THERE'S ONLY ONE GOSPEL AND THAT'S THE SAVING GOSPEL OF
JESUS CHRIST, [AUDIENCE: AMEN] THE BLOOD GOSPEL WHERE JESUS
DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES; BUT THERE'S SOME
WHO HAVE SUBSTITUTED CULTURE FOR CALVARY. AND, AND OTHERS THINK
THAT IF WE GET ALL INVOLVED IN, UH, GOVERNMENT, THAT ALL WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO GO TO HELL FROM.
AND, UH, SO THEY JUST SIMPLY DROP OUT BECAUSE THEY THINK,
“WELL, WE'RE NOT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE SOCIAL GOSPEL.” NOW
THERE'RE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE
THEY HAVE GIVEN UP HOPE. THEY SAY THAT AMERICA HAS CROSSED THE
POINT OF NO RETURN. AND SO WHAT THEY'VE DONE, AH, HUH, THEY'VE
JUST HUNKERED DOWN AND THEY HAVE BEGUN TO SING THE SONG, “HOLD
THE FORT,” AND THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR JESUS TO GET HERE
AND TO RESCUE THEM, AND SO THEY'VE JUST, AH, GIVEN UP HOPE.
NOW THERE ARE, THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT, UH,
BECAUSE, NOT THAT THEY EQUATE, UH, ACTIVITY WITH THE SOCIAL
GOSPEL OR NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE HOPELESS, BUT BECAUSE THEY SEE
POLITICS AS DIRTY; SOMETHING THAT, UH, IS, SOMETHING THAT
WOULD DEFILE THEM, THAT, UH, WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE
OTHER-WORLDLY, THAT OUR KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, AND SO
THEREFORE, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO GET CONTAMINATED, SO WE WILL
JUST, UH, STAY AWAY FROM ALL OF THAT, AND SOME FOLKS REALLY
BELIEVE THAT. AND THEN THERE'RE OTHERS, AND A GREAT NUMBER LIKE
THIS, WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT AND DON'T PARTICIPATE, VERY FRANKLY,
BECAUSE THEY ARE INTIMIDATED. THEY ARE INTIMIDATED. THE ACLU
AND OTHERS HAVE, HAVE PRATED SO MUCH ABOUT THIS THING CALLED
CHURCH AND STATE AND THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE,
THAT THEY THINK BECAUSE WE ARE CHRISTIANS, SOMEHOW WE HAVE NO
RIGHTS, NO PRIVILEGES, NO PREROGATIVES, THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DISENFRANCHISED, AND THEY JUST TELL US, “WHY DON'T YOU SHUT UP
AND GO BACK INSIDE YOUR LITTLE STAINED-GLASS PRISONS, AND LEAVE
IT TO US TO TAKE CARE OF IT.” NOW, AH, VERY FRANKLY, A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE BELIEVERS HAVE, UH, MORE OR LESS DROPPED OUT.
NOW WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THE ANSWERS? I MEAN, HOW ARE WE
GOING TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS? ARE WE GOING TO
GET THE ANSWERS TO, UH, SELF-SERVING POLITICIANS? NOT
ALL POLITICIANS ARE SELF-SERVING, BUT ARE WE GOING
TO LET SOME SELF-SERVING POLITICIAN, AH, A, TRY TO, UH,
CO-OPT THE CHURCH AND USE THE CHURCH FOR HIS OR HER PURPOSES?
OR PERHAPS INTIMIDATE THE CHURCH SO THAT HE CAN HA, OR SHE CAN
HAVE HIS OR HER WAY? ARE THE POLITICOS GOING TO TELL US WHAT
IS RIGHT OR WHAT IS WRONG? DO, DO THEY KNOW THE ANSWER?
WHERE'RE WE GOING TO GET THE ANSWERS? ARE WE GOING TO GET THE
ANSWERS FROM THE HUMANISTS AND THE SECULARISTS WHO DON'T
BELIEVE IN CHRIST, DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD, DON'T BELIEVE IN THE
CHURCH? ARE WE GOING TO GET THE ANSWERS FROM SOME EGG-HEADED
PHILOSOPHER WHO'S GOING TO SIT BACK AND BUMP HIS FINGERS AND
TELL US WHAT HE THINKS? I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO GET THE ANSWERS. RIGHT HERE, [AUDIENCE: AMEN] RIGHT
HERE. THE WORD OF GOD AND THE BOOK OF ROMANS IS GOING TO SPEAK
VERY CLEARLY AND VERY PLAINLY ABOUT THIS MATTER OF CHRISTIAN
CITIZENSHIP. BEGIN NOW IN CHAPTER 13 VERSE ONE, “LET EVERY
SOUL BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS.” NOW THE WORD POWERS
THERE IS THE WORD TH, UH, THAT IS, IS A TRANSLATION THE, OF THE
WORD THAT MEANS AUTHORITIES, AND WHEN HE'S SAYING, “HIGHER
POWERS,” WHAT HE IS LITERALLY TALKING ABOUT IS THE CIVIL
MAGISTRATE, THE GOVERNMENTAL LEADER. LET EVERY SOUL BE
SUBJECT UNTO THE, UH, CIVIL MAGISTRATE. “FOR THERE IS NO
POWER,” THAT IS NO AUTHORITY, “BUT OF GOD, AND THE POWERS THAT
BE,” THAT IS THE RULERS, THE LEADERS, THE MAGISTRATES THAT
BE, “ARE ORDAINED OF GOD.” NOW YOU MIGHT THINK OF YOUR MINISTER
AS AN ORDAINED MINISTER, BUT HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF YOUR
GOVERNOR AS AN ORDAINED GOVERNOR? “WHOSOEVER THEREFORE
RESISTETH THE POWER,” THAT IS THE AUTHORITIES, “RESISTETH THE
ORDINANCE OF GOD, AND THEY THAT RESIST,” THAT IS, REBELLERS, UH,
“SHALL RECEIVE,” AH, “TO THEMSELVES DAMNATION. FOR RULERS
ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS, BUT TO THE EVIL. WILT THOU THEN
NOT BE AFRAID OF THE POWER OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE. DO THAT
WHICH IS GOOD, AND THOU SHALT HAVE PRAISE OF THE SAME,” THAT
IS, OF YOUR GOVERNOR, YOUR RULER, YOUR KING, YOUR
PRESIDENT, YOUR MAYOR, YOUR COUNCIL. “FOR HE IS THE MINISTER
OF GOD TO THEE FOR GOOD. BUT IF THOU DO THAT WHICH IS EVIL, BE
AFRAID; FOR HE BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN. FOR HE IS,” WHO
IS HE TALKING ABOUT NOW? THE, THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE, “HE, FOR
HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD, A REVENGER TO EXECUTE WRATH UPON
HIM THAT DOETH EVIL. WHEREFORE YE MUST NEEDS BE SUBJECT, NOT
ONLY FOR WRATH, BUT ALSO FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE. FOR THIS CAUSE
PAY YE TRIBUTE ALSO, FOR THEY ARE GOD'S MINISTERS, ATTENDING
CONTINUALLY UPON THIS VERY THING. RENDER THEREFORE TO ALL
THEIR DUES; TRIBUTE TO WHOM TRIBUTE IS DUE; CUSTOM TO WHOM
CUSTOM; FEAR TO WHOM FEAR; HONOR TO WHOM HONOR.” NOW THAT'S THE
SCRIPTURE WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TODAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK
AT IT BASICALLY UNDER THREE HEADINGS. AND THE VERY FIRST
HEADING THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TODAY IS, FROM THE WORD OF
GOD, IS THE REASONS FOR HUMAN GOVERNMENT. AND YOU'RE GOING TO
FIND, AH, EH, WHEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE, THE BIG QUESTION IS
NOT; CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND BE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT? THE
BIG QUESTION IS; CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND NOT BE INVOLVED?
AND NOT BE INVOLVED. HA, CAN YOU OBEY THIS WORD OF GOD AND NOT BE
INVOLVED? NOW, WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR HUMAN GOVERNMENT?
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT HUMAN GOVERNMENT IS ORDAINED OF GOD.
DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD SETS UP KINGS AND GOD BRINGS KINGS DOWN?
THAT GOD ORDAINS RULERS AND SOMETIMES GOD SETS UP WICKED
RULERS? GOD DOES THAT. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, AND I
WANT YOU TO JOT THIS DOWN, NOW, AND I WANT YOU TO GET THESE
SCRIPTURES SO YOU CAN TAKE THEM HOME AND STUDY THEM. YOU MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO TURN TO THEM AS FAST AS I GIVE THEM TO YOU, SO YOU
MIGHT WANT TO JOT THEM DOWN. FOR EXAMPLE, IN DANIEL CHAPTER TWO
AND VERSE 21, DANIEL SAID, CONCERNING THE LORD, “HE
REMOVETH KINGS AND SETTETH UP KINGS.” GOD TAKES THEM DOWN AND
GOD PUTS THEM UP. THAT'S WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS, “HE
REMOVETH KINGS AND SETTETH UP KINGS.” NOW I'll GIVE YOU A
PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT. ONE OF. THE MIGHTIEST POTENTATES IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT WAS A KING NAMED NEBUCHADNEZZAR. NEBUCHADNEZZAR
RULED OVER ANCIENT BABYLON, AND DANIEL WAS, AH, IN THE COURT OF
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, AND DANIEL HAD A CHANCE TO PROPHESY AND TESTIFY
TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR, AND DANIEL TOLD NEBUCHADNEZZAR WHERE HIS
POWER CAME FROM. IN DANIEL CHAPTER TWO GOD SAID THROUGH
DANIEL TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR, “THOU, O KING, ART A KING OF KINGS, FOR
THE GOD OF HEAVEN HATH GIVEN THEE A KINGDOM.” THAT'S
NEBUCHADNEZZAR, AND HE WAS NOT A GODLY KING. HEH, HEH, AS A
MATTER OF FACT, HE GOT SO ROTTEN FULL OF HIMSELF, HE GOT SO FULL
OF PRIDE, THAT GOD JUDGED HIM, AND HE ENDED UP CRAWLING AROUND
ON ALL FOURS EATING GRASS LIKE AN OX WITH LONG FINGERNAILS. UH,
HEH, THIS MAN WAS SO STUFFED FULL OF HIMSELF, GOD SET HIM UP
AND GOD BROUGHT HIM DOWN. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE:
THAT'S RIGHT] THAT'S NEBUCHADNEZZAR, NEBUCHADNEZZAR,
UH, THE KING OF BABYLON. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER KING. WHO DO WE
THINK OF AS THE ARCH VILLAIN SO MUCH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? OLD
PHARAOH. REMEMBER HOW GOD DROWNED PHARAOH IN THE RED SEA?
WELL HOW DID PHARAOH GET HIS KINGDOM? WELL, GOD RAISED
PHARAOH UP. PHARAOH WAS WICKED, MALEVOLENT, ANTI-GOD, A MURDERER
OF LITTLE BABIES, BUT NOW LISTEN TO THIS, ROMANS NINE VERSE 17,
“FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH UNTO PHARAOH, 'EVEN FOR THIS SAME
PURPOSE HAVE I RAISED THEE UP, THAT I MIGHT SHOW MY POWER IN
THEE.'” GOD SAID, “I BROUGHT YOU UP, AND I'M GONNA BRING YOU
DOWN. I'M GOING TO SHOW MY POWER IN YOU, OLD PHARAOH.” REMEMBER
THAT POLITICIAN, PILATE, WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE MORAL RECTITUDE
AND COURAGE TO RELEASE JESUS? HE WASHED HIS LILY-WHITE
POLITICIAN'S HANDS AND SAID, “I'M INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF
THIS JUST MAN.” BUT IT WAS PILATE THAT HAD JESUS CHRIST IN
FRONT OF HIM AND, AND PILATE SAID TO JESUS, “DON'T YOU KNOW
WHO I AM? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE THE POWER TO CRUCIFY YOU OR
TO RELEASE YOU?” NOW LET ME GIVE YOU THE SCRIPTURE THAT JESUS
GAVE TO PILATE, OR THE ANSWER THAT JESUS GAVE TO PILATE. IN
JOHN CHAPTER 19 AND VERSE 11, “JESUS SAID TO HIM, 'THOU
COULDEST HAVE NO POWER AT ALL AGAINST ME EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN
THEE FROM ABOVE.” [AUDIENCE: [AMEN] EVEN PILATE, EVEN PILATE,
WHO ALLOWED JESUS TO BE CRUCIFIED; JESUS SAID, “YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY; YOU DON'T HAVE ANY POWER, EXCEPT IT
WAS GIVEN TO YOU FROM ABOVE.” NOW THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING
THING BECAUSE OF THE THREE ILLUSTRATIONS I'VE GIVEN YOU
NOW, ALL THREE OF THESE WERE WICKED MEN, AND YET GOD ALLOWED
THEM TO HAVE POWER. “THE AUTHORITIES THAT BE ARE ORDAINED
OF GOD.” WHO, WHO WAS THE AUTHORITY WHEN PAUL WROTE THIS?
OLD CAESAR; UH, THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT WAS IN POWER. UH,
THAT WAS NOT A DEMOCRACY. THE CHRISTIANS WERE DISENFRANCHISED.
THEY HAD NO POLITICAL POWER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHAT THEY
BELIEVED WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT SAY, “CAESAR IS
LORD,” AND YET, UNDER THAT AEGIS THE APOSTLE WROTE, “THE POWERS
THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD.” AND SO, AH, WHAT, THE BIBLE SAYS
IF YOU RESIST THESE AUTHORITIES, IN VERSE TWO, HUH, YOU'RE
RESISTING GOD, BECAUSE IT IS GOD THAT SET THEM UP. WELL, I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE SAYING, “WAIT A MINUTE.
DO YOU MEAN THAT SOME KING, SOME POTENTATE, SOME FAT TOAD SITTING
UPON A THRONE MAY TELL ME TO DO THIS OR THAT AND I AM TO DO IT;
CONTRARY TO THE WORD AND THE WILL OF GOD?” WELL, HOLD ON TO
THAT THOUGHT AND WE'LL GET TO THAT THOUGHT, AH, LATER ON IN
THE THIRD POINT OF THIS MESSAGE, IF YOU'RE STILL AWAKE. BUT NOW
[AUDIENCE CHUCKLE] LISTEN TO ME, LISTEN TO ME. I WANT YOU TO GET
THIS POINT DOWN IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR MIND, AH, THAT GOD
ORDAINS HUMAN GOVERNMENT FOR TWO REASONS, HE TELLS US RIGHT HERE.
NUMBER ONE, UH; TO RESTRAIN EVIL. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES
THREE AND FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER, LOOK AT IT. HE SAYS HERE, UH,
FOR THERE, AH, “RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS, BUT TO THE
EVIL. WILT THOU,” UH, “THEN NOT BE AFRAID OF THE POWER? DO THAT
WHICH IS GOOD AND THOU SHALT HAVE THE PRAISE OF THE SAME. FOR
HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD TO THEE FOR GOOD. BUT IF THOU DO
THAT WHICH IS EVIL, BE AFRAID; FOR HE BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN
VAIN.” REASON NUMBER ONE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US HUMAN
GOVERNMENT IS FOR RESTRAINT, TO RESTRAIN EVIL. LET ME ASK YOU A
QUESTION. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THIS; “YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE
MORALITY?” HOW MANY OF YOU EVER HEARD THAT? LET ME SEE YOUR
HAND. IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD IT, YOU'VE BEEN ASLEEP FOR FIFTY
YEARS. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] “YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE MORALITY.” THAT
IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE MORALITY. THERE IS NOT
A LAW ON EARTH THAT CAN MAKE YOU MORAL. THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE
TO HAVE LAWS THAT LEGISLATE AGAINST IMMORALITY. NOW LISTEN,
YOU CAN'T LEGISLATE MORALITY. LAW CAN'T MAKE YOU GOOD, ONLY
GOD CAN MAKE YOU GOOD. GOVERNMENT IS NOT HERE TO MAKE
YOU GOOD. IT CAN'T MAKE YOU GOOD, ONLY GOD CAN MAKE YOU
GOOD. GOVERNMENT IS HERE TO RESTRAIN EVIL. THERE'S NOT A LAW
ON EARTH CAN MAKE YOU LOVE ME. SO I HAVE TO HAVE ONE TO KEEP
YOU FROM KILLING ME. SEE? AH, YOU, YOU DON'T LEGISLATE
MORALITY, YOU LEGISLATE AGAINST IMMORALITY. THERE'S NOT A LAW ON
EARTH THAT CAN MAKE YOU HONEST, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE LAWS THAT
KEEP YOU FROM STEALING. THERE'S NOT A LAW ON EARTH, AH, THAT
CAN, UH, KEEP YOU FROM LYING, SO WE HAVE TO HAVE LAWS AGAINST
PERJURY. YOU SEE, YOU DON'T LEGISLATE MORALITY, BUT YOU DO
LEGISLATE AGAINST IMMORALITY, AND, AND, AH, THANK GOD FOR
THOSE WHO ARE HERE TO RESTRAIN EVIL. AND I WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING ELSE. IT'S ABOUT TIME WE SAID A GOOD WORD FOR THE
POLICEMEN. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] I'M SICK AND
TIRED OF POLICEMEN BEING PUT UPON. I TOOK THIS OUT OF MY
FILES AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO IT, “A POLICEMAN IS MANY
THINGS. HE IS A SON, A BROTHER, A FATHER, AN UNCLE, AND
SOMETIMES EVEN A GRANDFATHER. HE IS A PROTECTOR IN TIME OF NEED
AND A COMFORTER IN TIME OF SORROW. HIS JOB CALLS FOR HIM TO
BE A DIPLOMAT, A PSYCHOLOGIST, A LAWYER, A FRIEND, AND AN
INSPIRATION. HE SUFFERS FROM AN OVERDOSE OF PUBLICITY ABOUT
BRUTALITY AND DISHONESTY. HE SUFFERS FAR MORE FROM THE
NOTORIETY PRODUCED BY UNFOUNDED CHARGES. TOO OFTEN, ACTS OF
HEROISM GO UNNOTICED AND THE TRUTH IS BURIED UNDER ALL THE
CRITICISM. THE FACT IS,” LISTEN TO THIS, “LESS THAN ONE-HALF OF
ONE PERCENT OF POLICEMEN EVER DISCREDIT THEIR UNIFORM. THAT'S
A BETTER AVERAGE THAN YOU'LL FIND AMONG CLERGYMEN. A
POLICEMAN IS AN ORDINARY GUY WHO IS CALLED UPON FOR EXTRAORDINARY
BRAVERY FOR US. HIS JOB MAY SOMETIME SEEM ROUTINE, BUT THE
INTERRUPTIONS CAN BE MOMENTS OF STARK TERROR. HE IS THE MAN WHO
FACES A HALF-CRAZED GUNMAN, WHO RESCUES A LOST CHILD, WHO
CHALLENGES A MOB, AND RISKS HIS NECK MORE THAN WE REALIZE. HE
DESERVES OUR RESPECT AND PROFOUND THANKS. A POLICEMAN
STANDS BETWEEN THE LAW ABIDER AND THE LAW BREAKER. HE IS THE
PRIME REASON YOUR HOME HASN'T BEEN BURNED, YOUR FAMILY ABUSED,
AND YOUR BUSINESS LOOTED. TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF
THERE WERE NO POLICEMEN AROUND. AND THEN TRY TO THINK OF WAYS TO
MAKE THEIR JOB MORE REWARDING. SHOW THEM THE RESPECT YOU REALLY
HAVE. OFFER THEM A SMILE AND A KIND WORD. SEE THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE TO BE MAGICIANS TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES ON LESS THAN
ADEQUATE SALARIES. WE THINK POLICEMEN ARE GREAT. WE THANK
GOD FOR ALL THE LITTLE BOYS WHO SAID THEY WOULD BE POLICEMEN AND
WHO KEPT THEIR PROMISE. WE HOPE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY. AND WE
HOPE YOU WILL SHOW IT SO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH GOOD
POLICEMEN TO GO AROUND.” [AUDIENCE: AMEN] “HE IS THE
MINISTER OF GOD TO THEE FOR GOOD.” HE IS THERE TO RESTRAIN
EVIL. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT, “HE BEARS THE SWORD.” A SWORD IS
AN INSTRUMENT OF DEATH. SOMETIMES THE GOVERNMENT, IN
ORDER TO RESTRAIN EVIL, MUST TAKE LIFE. NOW I WANT YOU TO
LISTEN TO ME, FRIEND. EXODUS CHAPTER 20 AND VERSE 13. THAT
SAYS, “THOU SHALT NOT KILL,” THIS SCRIPTURE IN THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS MEANS, AND THE HEBREW TRANSLATION BEARS IT OUT,
THAT, “THOU SHALT DO NO MURDER; THOU SHALT TAKE NO PERSONAL
VENGEANCE.” BUT FRIEND, THE SAME PERSON WHO WROTE EXODUS CHAPTER
20 AND VERSE 13 WROTE EXODUS CHAPTER 21 AND VERSE 12. WHOEVER
ELSE HE WAS, HE WASN'T INSANE, A MADMAN, AND WHAT DID HE SAY IN
EXODUS 21 VERSE 12? “HE THAT SMITETH A MAN SO THAT HE DIE
SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH.” [AUDIENCE: AMEN] THE SAME BIBLE,
THE SAME BIBLE, CHAPTER [CLAP] NEXT TO CHAPTER. ONE CHAPTER
SAYS, “THOU SHALT NOT KILL,” THAT IS, “DON'T DO MURDER,” AND
THE NEXT CHAPTER SAYS, [SLAP] “IF YOU DO, YOU OUGHT TO BE PUT
TO DEATH.” [AUDIENCE: AMEN] NOW WHY IS THIS? WELL, THE BIBLE
SAID WAY BACK IN GENESIS CHAPTER NINE AND VERSE SIX, LISTEN TO
IT, “WHOSO SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED.”
ALL MURDER IS KILLING, BUT ALL KILLING IS NOT MURDER. ALL
MURDER IS KILLING, BUT ALL KILLING IS NOT MURDER. AGAIN,
LISTEN TO IT, “WHOSO SHEDDETH MAN'S BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS
BLOOD BE SHED. FOR HE,” THAT IS MAN, AH, “IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
MADE HE MAN.” THE GOD THAT GIVES LIFE IS THE GOD THAT HAS THE
RIGHT TO TAKE IT AND, AND GOD HAS HIS ORDAINED MINISTERS TO DO
HIS WORK FOR HIM, AND THAT IS THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE. SOMEBODY
SAYS, “THAT IS CRUEL, PASTOR ROGERS. I THOUGHT YOU WERE A MAN
OF LOVE.” FRIEND, YOU MAY NOT BELIEVE WHAT I'M SAYING IS BASED
ON LOVE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE ANY MORE LOVING THAN ALMIGHTY
GOD, AND GOD IS INFINITE LOVE. AND I'M GIVING YOU THE WORD OF
GOD; AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE GENESIS 9:6, WHEN YOU GET TO
HEAVEN, IF YOU GET TO HEAVEN, TAKE IT UP WITH GOD, OKAY?
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] GOD IS LOVE. YOU SEE, THE CODDLING OF THE
MURDERER IS REALLY CRUELTY TO THE COMMUNITY. DON'T THINK THAT
YOU'RE MORE WISE OR LOVING THAN GOD HIMSELF. THERE'RE PEOPLE
THAT SAY, “WELL, UH, UH, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, HUH, HUH, THAT'S NOT
AN INHIBITION TO MURDER.” WELL, IN SOME CASES IT IS. UH, I, I
WANT TO TELL YOU THAT, THAT HENRY THE EIGHTH PARDONED A
MURDERER ONE TIME AND THAT MURDERER, AFTER HAVING PARDONED,
BEEN PARDONED, KILLED ANOTHER MAN. THEY CAME BACK TO HENRY THE
EIGHTH AND THEY SAID TO, TO KING HENRY, “PARDON HIM AGAIN.” HE
SAID, “OH, NO.” HE SAID, “HE KILLED THE FIRST MAN; I KILLED
THE SECOND MAN. HE WON'T KILL ANYMORE,” AND THE MAN DIED FOR
HIS CRIME. YOU SEE, IT DOES INHIBIT SOME FROM KILLING AGAIN.
SOME SAY, “WELL, GOD IS TOO GOOD TO PUNISH SIN.” NO, GOD IS TOO
GOOD NOT TO PUNISH SIN. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] NOW IF YOU
DON'T BELIEVE THAT GOD BELIEVES IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, I WANT TO
ASK YOU THIS QUESTION; WHO CRUCIFIED JESUS? WELL, YOU SAY,
“THE ROMAN SOLDIERS.” WELL, THEY WERE THE INSTRUMENTS THAT NAILED
HIM TO THE CROSS. YOU SAY, “WELL, THE JEWISH COUNCIL.” YES,
THEY WERE THE ONES THAT HOUNDED HIM TO THE CROSS. BUT IF YOU'LL
STUDY YOUR BIBLE CAREFULLY, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT GOD THE
SON DIED AT THE HANDS OF GOD THE FATHER. “HE HATH PUT HIM TO
DEATH,” THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. UH, THAT, THAT GOD THE
FATHER POURED OUT HIS WRATH UPON HIS ONLY SON. WHY? BECAUSE GOD'S
SON WAS STANDING IN OUR PLACE. GOD WAS MY SUBSTITUTE; UH, JESUS
WAS MY SUBSTITUTE. HE TOOK MY PLACE. AND THEREFORE HE TOOK THE
DEATH THAT I SHOULD DIE, AND THE [CLAP] BIBLE SAYS, “THE WAGES OF
SIN IS DEATH.” AND THE CROSS WAS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. THAT'S WHAT
IT WAS, AT THE HANDS, REALLY, OF ALMIGHTY GOD. NO, NONE OF US
SHOULD REJOICE WHEN ANYBODY DIES, BUT YOU KNOW THERE'RE
PEOPLE WHO ARE PACIFISTS. THEY DON'T BELIEVE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT
A NATION EVER OUGHT TO GO TO WAR. WELL, I SUPPOSE THESE
PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE, THEREFORE, THAT WE SHOULD DEFEND OUR LOVED
ONES. PUT THIS SCRIPTURE DOWN. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEARING THE
SWORD NOW. EXODUS CHAPTER 22; NOW REMEMBER, IN EXODUS 20 HE
SAYS, “DON'T KILL.” IN EXODUS CHAPTER 21, HE SAYS, “NOW IF A
MAN KILL A MAN, THAT MAN SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH.” IN EXODUS
CHAPTER 22, HERE'S WHAT HE SAYS, “IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR
HOME AND SOMEBODY IS COMING IN, IT'S PITCH BLACK, YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE HAS IN MIND, WHETHER IT'S RAPE, MURDER, PILLAGE, YOU
DON'T KNOW.” EXODUS CHAPTER 22 VERSES TWO AND THREE, “IF A
THIEF BE FOUND BREAKING UP,” THAT IS, HE'S BREAKING IN,
THAT'S WHAT THAT LITERALLY MEANS, “AND HE BE SMITTEN THAT
HE DIE,” THAT IS, HE'S COMING IN THE WINDOW, YOU HIT HIM, AND HE
DIES, “THERE SHALL NO BLOOD BE SHED FOR HIM.” THAT IS, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO BE PUT TO DEATH FOR THAT. “IF THE SUN BE RISEN UPON
HIM, THERE SHALL BE BLOOD SHED FOR HIM.” NOW WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN? WELL, IF IT'S DAYLIGHT AND YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND YOU
KILL HIM UNNECESSARILY, THEN YOU, YOU HAVE BECOME A MURDERER
YOURSELF. “FOR HE SHOULD MAKE FULL RESTITUTION. IF HE HAD
NOTHING, THEN SHALL HE BE SOLD FOR HIS THEFT.” THAT IS, IF A
MAN JUST COMES IN, IT'S DAYLIGHT, YOU SEE HIM HAULING
OFF YOUR TELEVISION, UH, HE SH, HE OUGHT TO MAKE RESTITUTION.
AND BY THE WAY, THAT OUGHT TO BE IN THE LAW TODAY, TOO, THAT HE
OUGHT TO MAKE RESTITUTION. BUT WHAT GOD IS SAYING IS THIS,
“THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR LOVED ONES, YOU
HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN.” LET ME ASK YOU A
QUESTION. AH, WOULD YOU NOT PROTECT, WOULD YOU NOT PROTECT,
IF YOU SAW A MAN, IF YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, AND YOU
SAW A MAN ABUSING A LITTLE CHILD, WOULD YOU STEP IN OR
WOULD YOU JUST WALK ON BY? LET ME ASK YOU ANOTHER QUESTION. IF
SOMEBODY COMES TO RAPE YOUR DAUGHTER OR YOUR WIFE, I, I WANT
TO ASK THE MEN IN THIS CONGREGATION THIS QUESTION,
WOULD YOU JUST STAND AROUND? WOULD YOU SAY, “WELL, PEACE,
BROTHER. HUH, HUH, I'M A, I'M A GODLY MAN. I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO
LOVE. I AM A GODLY MAN.” NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! LISTEN, FRIEND, THE
BIBLE TEACHES THAT THERE'RE TIMES EVEN WHEN NATIONS HAVE TO
STAND UP, EVEN AS WE DO AS INDIVIDUALS. FOR EXAMPLE, WAS IT
WRONG TO STAND AGAINST HITLER, WHO MURDERED HIS MILLIONS? WAS
IT WRONG TO STAND AGAINST STALIN? WAS IT WRONG TO STAND
AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN, WHO GOUGED OUT THOUSANDS OF EYES,
WHOSE ARMIES WERE RAPING AND LOOTING, AND WHO WAS CONCOCTING
POISONED GAS TO PUT ON HIS MISSILES? IS THAT WRONG TO
OPPOSE PEOPLE LIKE THAT? IS IT WRONG TO STAND AGAINST THIS KIND
OF WICKEDNESS? YOU SEE, IF YOU BELIEVE IN A POLICE FORCE, YOU
CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN AN ARMY. HUH, DID YOU KNOW THAT NEW YORK
CITY HAS A BIGGER POLICE FORCE THAN SOME COUNTRIES HAVE ARMIES?
A POLICE FORCE IS JUST SIMPLY AN ARMY. DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN A
POLICE FORCE GOES IN, IN A DRUG RAID, THAT'S A, JUST A SMALL
WAR. WE'RE NOT TALK, WE JUST TALKING, NOT ABOUT, UH, AH,
KIND, NOW. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEGREE. WHAT, WHAT AM I SAYING?
WHAT AM I SAYING IS THIS, THAT ONE REASON THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
GOVERNMENT IS TO RESTRAIN EVIL. [AUDIENCE: THAT'S RIGHT] THAT'S
THE WHOLE THING. “HE BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN,” AH, “FOR,
FOR WRATH.” THAT'S ONE REASON WE HAVE GOVERNMENT. NUMBER ONE; TO
RESTRAIN EVIL. NUMBER TWO; TO REWARD GOOD, TO REWARD GOOD.
LOOK AT THIS SCRIPTURE AGAIN, GO BACK AT IT AGAIN. IT SAYS HERE,
VERSE THREE, “FOR RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO GOOD WORKS, BUT TO
THE EVIL. WILT THOU THEN NOT BE AFRAID OF THE POWER? DO THAT
WHICH IS GOOD, AND THOU SHALT HAVE PRAISE OF THE SAME.” AND
SO, AH, AH, OUR CONSTITUTION THAT, AND BY THE WAY, THE
FRAMERS OF THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION WERE SOAKED IN THE
WORD OF GOD. THEY WROTE IN THERE THAT, THAT, THAT WE ARE TO,
“PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE.” DIDN'T SAY PROVIDE THE GENERAL
WELFARE. HUH, “PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, PROVIDE THE
COMMON DEFENSE.” YOU SEE HOW WISE THEY WERE? WHERE DID THEY
GET THAT? [THUMP] RIGHT [THUMP] OUT [THUMP] OF [THUMP] THIS
[THUMP] SCRIPTURE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH TODAY. I'M TELLING
YOU, THEY WERE SOAKED IN THE WORD OF GOD. THANK GOD FOR OUR
CONSTITUTION AND THE WAY THAT GOD HAS GIVEN IT. NOW, AH, THAT
IS, UH, THE REASON FOR HUMAN GOVERNMENT. NOW, LET'S TALK
SECONDLY ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HUMAN GOVERNMENT, CHRISTIAN
CITIZENSHIP. WHAT ARE OUR RIGHTS AND WHAT ARE OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES? NOTICE VERSES FIVE AND SIX, “THEREFORE, YE
MUST NEEDS BE SUBJECT, NOT ONLY FOR WRATH, BUT FOR, ALSO FOR
CONSCIENCE SAKE. FOR THIS CAUSE PAY YOU TRIBUTE ALSO, FOR THEY
ARE GOD'S MINISTERS CON,” UH, “ATTENDING CONTINUALLY UPON THIS
VERY THING.” NOW, AH, WE HAVE RIGHTS AND WE HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES. WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO GOD THAT
OVERRIDE ANY OTHER RESPONSIBILITY, BUT WE DO HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO HUMAN GOVERNMENT. IN MATTHEW CHAPTER
22, THEY CAME TO JESUS AND THEY TRIED TO CATCH JESUS IN A
CATCH-22, AND, AH, THEY SAID, UH, UH, “JESUS, TELL US, UH, UH,
WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS. IS, IS IT RIGHT TO
PAY TRIBUTE TO CAESAR?” AND HE SAID, “BRING ME A COIN.” AND HE
HELD IT UP AND HE SAID, “WHOSE PICTURE IS THAT? WHOSE
INSCRIPTION IS THAT?” THEY SAID, “THAT'S CAESAR'S.” AND JESUS
SAID, UH, “RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR'S AND
UNTO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S.” THAT'S A VERY, VERY KEY
PASSAGE, AS WE UNDERSTAND OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS CHRISTIAN
CITIZENS AND AS CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST. NOW, THE FRAMERS OF OUR CONSTITUTION KNEW THIS
ALSO. NOW, SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THE PHRASE, “SEPARATION OF
CHURCH AND STATE” IS FOUND IN THE CONSTITUTION. I'll GIVE YOU
A TRIP TO HAWAII, A, IN ANY. HOTEL YOU WANT, IF YOU FIND THAT
IN THE CONSTITUTION AND COME SHOW ME. IT'S NOT IN THE
CONSTITUTION. IT IS A GOOD PRINCIPLE RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD. IT
IS NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION. UH, IT IS BASED, UH, UH, IN, IN THE
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. RIGHTLY
INTERPRETED, THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS, “CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO
LAW RESPECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION.” NOW LISTEN, THAT'S
ONE SIDE OF THE COIN, “OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE
THEREOF.” THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING, “RENDER TO
CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR'S AND UNTO GOD THE THINGS
THAT ARE GOD'S.” NOW THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE SEPARATION OF GOD
AND GOVERNMENT. UH, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS DID NOT BELIEVE THAT. AS
A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN THEY WROTE THAT DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE THEY SAID, “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT,
THAT ALL MEN ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN
UNALIENABLE RIGHTS.” THE RIGHTS DID NOT COME FROM THE
GOVERNMENT, BUT FROM GOD. AND SO THEREFORE IN AMERICA WE PUT, “IN
GOD WE TRUST” ON OUR MONEY. AH, CONGRESS BEGINS WITH PRAYER.
LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS IN SCHOOL CAN'T DO IT, BUT THE BIG
CONGRESSMAN CAN. UH, UH, CONGRESS, UH, CONVENES IN
PRAYER. WE SALUTE THE FLAG, AND WE SAY, “ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE.” WHY? BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE'VE KNOWN, AS OUR
CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN, SOAKED IN THE WORD OF GOD, AH, THAT YOU
DON'T SEPARATE GOD AND GOVERNMENT. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
SAID, “I BELIEVE IT IS THE DUTY OF NATIONS AS WELL AS MEN, THE
DUTY OF NATIONS AS WELL AS MEN, TO OWN THEIR DEPENDENCE UPON THE
OVERRULING POWER OF GOD.” NOW WHAT CONGRESS DID WHEN THEY SAY,
I MEAN, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS WHEN IT SAYS, AH, THAT,
“CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAWS ESTABLISHING A RELIGION,” THAT
MEANT THAT WE DON'T WANT A STATE-MANDATED, A
STATE-SUPPORTED CHURCH. UH, WHEN, WHEN THIS WAS WRITTEN, UH,
THE, THE BRITISH WERE ANGLICANS, THE GERMANS, UH, WERE LUTHERANS,
AND THE FRENCH WERE CATHOLICS AND, UH, AND, AND, WE, WE DON'T
WANT A STATE CHURCH. HUH. FRIEND, I'D BE AS MUCH AFRAID OF
A BAPTIST POPE AS ANY OTHER KIND. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] WE
DON'T, WE DON'T WANT A STATE CHURCH. AH, WHAT WE WANT IS A, A
FREE CHURCH IN A FREE STATE. WE WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO BE FREE
TO DO WHAT IT CAN DO SO THE CHURCH CAN DO WHAT IT IS FREE
ALONE TO DO, AND WHAT CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO? IT'S HERE TO
RESTRAIN EVIL. WHAT IS THE CHURCH HERE TO DO? IT'S TO
PREACH THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND LISTEN, MY
DEAR FRIEND, THE STATE IS NOT THE MASTER OF THE CHURCH, AND,
UH, THE CHURCH IS NOT THE SERVANT OF THE STATE, OR THE
MASTER OF THE STATE, IT IS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE STATE.
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE: [THAT'S RIGHT] THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
HERE TO DO. WE'RE TO, HERE TO HOLD UP A STANDARD, WHICH IS A
STANDARD OF, OF TRUTH. NOW, AH, UNGODLY PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS
WANTED TO SEPARATE GOD AND GOVERNMENT. WHAT ARE YOU TO DO
CONCERNING YOUR GOVERNMENT? NUMBER ONE, I HATE TO TELL YOU
THIS, BUT I'M GONNA PUT IT FIRST; YOU'VE GOTTA PAY FOR YOUR
GOVERNMENT. YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT. LOOK IF YOU
WILL IN VERSES SIX AND SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER, “FOR THIS CAUSE
PAY YE TRIBUTE ALSO, FOR THEY ARE GOD'S MINISTERS.” AND THEN
HE GOES DOWN IN VERSE SEVEN, HE SAYS, “TRIBUTE TO WHOM TRIBUTE
IS DUE,” THAT WOULD BE LIKE INCOME TAX, “CUSTOM TO WHOM
CUSTOM,” EH, JUST LIKE THE RECEIPT OF CUSTOMS, THAT'S LIKE
A SALES TAX. YOU'VE GOT TO PAY IT. JESUS PAID HIS TAXES; YOU
OUGHT TO PAY YOUR TAXES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S A
WONDERFUL STORY WE ALL REMEMBER WHEN JESUS, WAS TIME TO PAY HIS
TAXES, HE TOLD PETER, “YOU GO CAST A, A HOOK IN THE SEA AND,
AH, YOU TAKE THE FIRST FISH THAT COMES UP AND LOOK IN HIS MOUTH,
[CLAP] YOU'LL FIND A COIN IN YOUR MOUTH,” AND JESUS SAID
THIS, SAID, “I'M DOING THIS, NOT BE, I'M A CITIZEN OF ANOTHER
WORLD BUT,” HE SAID, “I'M DOING THIS LEST I SHOULD OFFEND.” NOW,
EVER-INCREASING TAXES ARE A BURDEN, AND A GOVERNMENT IS ON
ITS LAST LEGS, IN MY ESTIMATION, UH, WHEN HALF THE PEOPLE GET THE
IDEA THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORK BECAUSE THE OTHER HALF WILL TAKE
CARE OF THEM AND THE OTHER HALF GETS THE IDEA IT DOES NO GOOD TO
WORK BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE GETS WHAT THEY WORK FOR. AND
EXCESSIVE TAXES ARE SINFUL AND DANGEROUS. A FRENCHMAN SAID
THAT, “FRANCE FELL WHEN PEOPLE GOT THE IDEA THAT THE GOVERNMENT
WAS A COW TO BE MILKED RATHER THAN A WATCHDOG TO BE FED.”
[SLAP] BUT WE ARE TO PAY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT. NUMBER TWO, NOT ONLY
ARE WE TO PAY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT, WE'RE TO PRAY FOR
OUR GOVERNMENT. PUT THIS SCRIPTURE DOWN, FIRST TIMOTHY
TWO VERSES ONE THROUGH THREE, “I EXHORT THEREFORE, THAT FIRST OF
ALL, SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF
THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, FOR KINGS AND FOR ALL THAT ARE IN
AUTHORITY, THAT WE MAY LEAD A QUIET AND PEACEABLE LIFE, IN ALL
GODLINESS AND HONESTY. FOR THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE,
IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR.” YOU SAY, “WELL, SHOULD I PRAY
FOR MY LEADER IF HE'S WICKED?” YOU OUGHT TO PRAY ALL THE MORE
FOR HIM. YOU OUGHT TO PRAY ALL THE MORE FOR HIM. WHY? BECAUSE,
UH, GOD CAN CHANGE A RULER, GOD CAN REMOVE A RULER, AND GOD CAN
OVERRULE A RULER. LISTEN, THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 21 VERSE
ONE, “THE KING'S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD,” HAH, “AS THE
RIVERS OF WATER. HE TURNETH IT WHITHERSOEVER HE WILL.” THE
GREAT, GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY IN AMERICA IS NOT IN THE WHITE
HOUSE BUT IN THE CHURCH HOUSE. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] WE'RE TO PRAY
FOR OUR GOVERNMENT. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY. ONE
CHRISTIAN WAS PRAYING FOR GOVERNMENT AND A, AND A CROOKED
POLITICIAN SAID TO HIM, “WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE PRAYING FOR
THOSE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY.” HE SAID, “WELL, THAT'S NOT THE
VERSE I'M USING. I'M USING THE VERSE THAT SAYS, 'PRAY FOR THOSE
WHO PERSECUTE YOU.'” HMM! HA, HA, HA, BUT WH, WHATEVER IT IS,
WE ARE TO PRAY FOR THEM. NOW, NUMBER THREE, WE ARE TO PRAISE
OUR GOVERNMENT. UH, PATRIOTISM IS NOT BAD. WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT
IS GOOD, PRAISE OUR GOVERNMENT. THIS SCRIPTURE SAYS, “GIVE HONOR
TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.” FIRST PETER TWO VERSE 17 SAYS, “HONOR
THE KING.” THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH PATRIOTISM. THERE ARE THOSE
WHO DON'T WANT US TO WAVE A FLAG. THERE ARE THOSE WHO, OF US
WHO DON'T WANT TO, THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON'T WANT US TO LOVE
AMERICA. WHY NOT? THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I LOVE OTHER NATIONS
LESS WHEN I LOVE AMERICA SPECIALLY. IT'S JUST MEANS THAT
THIS IS MY NATIVE LAND. I LOVE MY FAMILY IN A WAY I DON'T LOVE
YOUR FAMILY. THEY ARE MY FAMILY! UH, THE PSALMIST SAID, “OH,
JERUSALEM, IF I FORGET THEE, LET MY RIGHT HAND LOSE HER CUNNING.”
PATRIOTISM, LOVE OF THE FATHERLAND, IS NOT WRONG. UH, WE
ARE TO GIVE HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE. AND THEN NEXT, WE ARE TO
PREACH TO OUR COUNTRY. WE'RE TO PRAISE OUR COUNTRY WHEN IT DOES
RIGHT; WE'RE TO PREACH TO OUR COUNTRY WHEN IT DOES WRONG.
GOD'S PEOPLE DARE NOT BE SILENT. I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING. WE
DARE NOT IDENTIFY THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WITH THE DEMOCRAT OR THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY. [AUDIENCE: [AMEN] WE NEED TO BE FREE TO TELL
BOTH PARTIES TO REPENT [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AND GET RIGHT
WITH GOD. WE WILL BE CIVIL, BUT WE WON'T BE SILENT. NATHAN
WARNED DAVID. ELIJAH PREACHED TO AHAB. ELEAZAR WARNED
JEHOSHAPHAT. DANIEL PREACHED TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR. MOSES WARNED
PHARAOH. JOHN THE BAPTIST PREACHED TO HEROD. AND I HAVE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. AS LONG AS THEY'RE KILLING BABIES AND
PRACTICING INFANTICIDE, I WILL NOT BE SILENT. [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] AS LONG AS WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT'S
TRYING TO NORMALIZE SEXUAL PERVERSION I WILL NOT BE SILENT.
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE [APPLAUSE] AS LONG AS THEY'RE
HANDING OUT CONDOMS TO HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS IN SO-CALLED, “GOD-BLESSED AMERICA,” I WILL
NOT BE SILENT. [AUDIENCE [APPLAUSE] AND AS LONG AS A
FREE-BORN AMERICAN IS TOLD THAT HE CANNOT PRAY OUT LOUD
ANYWHERE, I WILL NOT BE SILENT. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] [AUDIENCE
APPLAUSE] WE MUST PREACH TO OUR GOVERNMENT. AND WE MUST SAY TO
OUR GOVERNMENT, “WHATEVER IS MORALLY WRONG [STOMP] IS NOT
POLITICALLY RIGHT!” [AUDIENCE: [THAT'S RIGHT] WE PAY FOR OUR
GOVERNMENT; WE PRAY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT; WE PRAISE OUR
GOVERNMENT; WE PREACH TO OUR GOVERNMENT; AND WE PARTICIPATE
IN OUR GOVERNMENT. NOTICE AGAIN IN VERSE SEVEN. WE'RE TO RENDER
ALL THEIR DUE, CUSTOM TO WHOM CUSTOM AND SO FORTH. WHAT IH,
JESUS SAID, “GIVE TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO CAESAR.”
AND JESUS SAID, “RENDER TO GOD THE THINGS THAT BELONG TO GOD.”
TO GOD IS OUR HIGHEST, GREATEST ALLEGIANCE. BUT WE DON'T HAVE A
CAESAR AS THEY DID THEN, SO WHEN YOU READ A SCRIPTURE, YOU ASK
YOURSELF THIS QUESTION; “WHAT DID IT MEAN THEN? HOW DOES IT
APPLY NOW? AND THEN HOW DOES IT APPLY TO ME PERSONALLY? WHAT IS
OUR CAESAR? WHAT IS OUR GOVERNMENT?” OUR GOVERNMENT IS,
“A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE.”
AND I'M TELLING YOU, FRIEND, IF YOU DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN YOUR
GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE NOT RENDERED TO YOUR CAESAR THE
THINGS THAT BELONG TO YOUR CAESAR. IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DO
NOT VOTE, IF YOU DO NOT INFORM YOURSELF, IN MY ESTIMATION, YOU
HAVE DISOBEYED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT
GOD WOULD'VE ORDAINED HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND TOLD HIS PEOPLE
TO STAY OUT OF IT. IF THAT IS TRUE, WHO DOES THAT LEAVE TO RUN
IT? USE YOUR HEAD. WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE TO PARTICIPATE,
NOT ON THE BASIS OF PARTIES OR PERSONS OR POLITICS OR POLICIES
BUT PRINCIPLES. WE ARE TO BE INFORMED. LAST OF ALL, WE ARE TO
PERSUADE OUR GOVERNMENT. MY TIME IS GONE. I'VE GOT A WHOLE THIRD
POINT. YOU'RE STILL AWAKE. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] BUT WE'RE TO
PERSUADE OUR GOVERNMENT. OUR GOVERNMENT IS A DEMOCRACY; MORE,
MORE LITERALLY IT IS A REPUBLIC, A REPRESENTATIVE RULE BY LAW.
BUT ALL AMERICA IS BASED ON PUBLIC OPINION. MAY I TELL YOU,
THE ONLY HOPE FOR AMERICA IS TO CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION?
[AUDIENCE: THAT'S RIGHT] DO YOU KNOW THE ONLY THING THAT CAN
CHANGE PUBLIC OPINION? [AUDIENCE: AMEN] THE [SLAP] WORD
OF [SLAP] GOD. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BIBLE OUT.
FRIEND, WE'RE NOT GOING TO OUT-ARGUE THESE PEOPLE. THEY'RE
BLIND, THEY DON'T SEE IT, AND THEY'RE SELFISH AND FULL OF
GREED! THEY'VE [THUMP] GOT TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST. [AUDIENCE:
AMEN] WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PERSUADE OUR PEOPLE. WE'RE TO BE TAKING
THEM BACK ONE AT A TIME AND WINNING SOULS TO JESUS CHRIST.
I'VE BEEN TO ROME. THE COLISEUM WOULD SEAT FIFTY THOUSAND
PEOPLE. THEY WOULD PUT THE CHRISTIANS IN THE COLISEUM AND
MAKE THEM FIGHT WITH GLADIATORS AND REDDEN THE MOUTHS OF LIONS
WITH THEIR BLOOD, AND IT WAS FOR ENTERTAINMENT. THE CAESARS WERE
UP THERE LOOKING DOWN UPON THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT COLISEUM, BUT
UNDERNEATH THAT COLISEUM WERE THE CATACOMBS, SUBTERRANEAN
TUNNELS, AND THERE THE CHRISTIANS WOULD MEET TO
WORSHIP, HUDDLED TOGETHER. I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING,
FRIEND. THOSE PEOPLE UNDERGROUND, WHO SAID, “JESUS IS
LORD, NOT CAESAR,” THEY WERE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT THAT WHOLE THING
IN THE CATACOMB, AH, IN THE COLISEUM CRASHING DOWN. THAT'S
WHERE [THUMP] THE POWER IS. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] THAT'S WHERE
THE POWER IS. IT'S NOT POLITICAL INFLUENCE THAT WE NEED. IT IS
THE POWER OF GOD THAT WE NEED. AND WE CHANGE AMERICA, WE'LL
CHANGE THE POLITICS. AMEN? [AUDIENCE: AMEN] AMEN AND AMEN.
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER. HUH, WOULD YOU PRAY FOR AMERICA RIGHT NOW?
AND REMEMBER WHEN YOU'RE PRAYING FOR AMERICA, YOU'RE PRAYING FOR
YOU, FRIEND. OH, GOD, GOD, GOD, BLESS AMERICA. LORD, EH, WE
DESERVE JUDGMENT, BUT WE NEED MERCY. BRING THIS NATION, LORD,
BACK TO YOU. LORD, IT'S, IT'S BEYOND US. BUT GOD, WE NEED YOU
IN AMERICA. NOW WHILE HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED, IF
YOU'VE NEVER GIVEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST, FRIEND, YOU NEED
JESUS. WHERE, WHETHER AMERICA SURVIVES OR NOT, THERE IS
ANOTHER KINGDOM AND ANOTHER KING. HIS NAME IS JESUS. AND YOU
NEED TO RENDER UNTO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S, AND YOUR
LIFE BELONGS TO GOD, AND I WANT YOU TO GIVE IT TO HIM RIGHT NOW.
JESUS DIED FOR YOU ON THE CROSS. AS I SAID, HE BORE THAT CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT IN YOUR PLACE. AND IF YOU WILL RECEIVE HIM AS YOUR
LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU'LL BE SAVED TODAY. WOULD YOU PRAY A PRAYER
LIKE THIS? “DEAR GOD,” JUST PRAY IT, “DEAR GOD, DEAR GOD,” SPEAK
TO HIM, “I'M A SINNER, LORD, I'M LOST. MY SIN DESERVES JUDGMENT
BUT I NEED MERCY. I WANT TO BE SAVED. JESUS, JESUS, THANK YOU
FOR DYING ON THAT CROSS FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR PAYING FOR MY SIN
WITH YOUR BLOOD ON THE CROSS. COME INTO MY HEART, LORD JESUS.
FORGIVE MY SIN. SAVE ME, JESUS.” PRAY THAT PRAYER FROM YOUR
HEART. “SAVE ME, LORD JESUS.” DID YOU PRAY IT? THEN PRAY THIS,
“LORD JESUS, GIVE ME THE COURAGE TO MAKE IT PUBLIC. IN YOUR NAME
I PRAY, AMEN.” FRIEND, THANK GOD FOR CHRISTIANS
WHO HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY. LET ME TALK TO YOU A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHANGING THE AMERICAN CULTURE. THE MOST
PATRIOTIC THING I CAN DO, YOU CAN DO, ANYONE CAN DO, WOULD BE
TO GIVE HIS OR HER HEART TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IF WE WANT TO
CHANGE AMERICA, WE'VE GOT TO BE CHANGED. NOW PATRIOTISM IS NOT
THE MAIN REASON FOR GETTING SAVED; THERE'S A DEATH TO DIE,
THERE IS A JUDGMENT TO FACE, THERE IS AN ETERNITY TO LIVE. DO
YOU KNOW JESUS? WOULD YOU INVITE HIM INTO YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?
HE'S KNOCKING AT YOUR HEART'S DOOR. I PROMISE YOU ON THE
AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD, HE WILL SAVE YOU INSTANTANEOUSLY
AND KEEP YOU ETERNALLY IF YOU'LL TRUST HIM. SAY, “LORD JESUS,
COME INTO MY HEART, FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME AND BEGIN, NOW,
TO MAKE ME THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE.” SAY IT AND MEAN IT
AND HE'LL DO JUST THAT. AND IF YOU DO, WOULD YOU PLEASE WRITE
TO US AND LET US KNOW? WE WILL REJOICE AND WE WILL SEND YOU
SOME LITERATURE TO GET YOU STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE. JUST LET US HEAR FROM YOU AND THANK YOU
FOR DOING IT. WE HOPE THAT TODAY'S MESSAGE HAS CHALLENGED
YOU TO CONTINUE TO PRAY DURING OUR 40 DAYS OF PRAYER HERE AT
LOVE WORTH FINDING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE
AGAIN, SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH A FRIEND, OR DOWNLOAD PASTOR
ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES OR A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS
MESSAGE, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT LWF.ORG. AT LWF.ORG,
YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO OTHER MESSAGES IN THIS SERIES OR
DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF OUR PRAYER GUIDE FOR AMERICA TO HELP
GUIDE YOU DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME. YOU CAN ALSO SIGN UP TO
RECEIVE OUR DAILY HEARTBEAT EMAIL FROM LOVE WORTH FINDING.
EACH HEARTBEAT CONTAINS A DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM ADRIAN ROGERS, A
90-SECOND TREASURE FROM THE WORD, AS WELL AS OUR DAILY
PROGRAM DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO YOUR COMPUTER OR YOUR MOBILE
DEVICE EACH DAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING TODAY'S PROGRAM AND
CONTINUE TO JOIN US DURING OUR 40 DAYS OF PRAYER HERE AT LOVE
WORTH FINDING. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS
WRONG IN AMERICA? WE'RE NOT SEEKING THE FACE OF GOD, WE'RE
SEEKING THE HAND OF GOD. REVIVAL IS WHEN GOD HAS NOT TURNED HIS
BACK ON US. WHEN GOD CAN SMILE UPON US. WHEN GOD CAN FIND FAVOR
IN US. AND THEY SAY, “OH GOD! DO SOMETHING!” BELOVED, CAN'T YOU
SEE THAT GOD IS DOING SOMETHING. GOD IS JUDGING THIS NATION. AND
WE NEED TO SEEK, NOT THE HAND OF GOD, BUT THE FACE OF GOD. THE
POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL CLIMATE IS
INTENSIFYING. WE NEED SOLID, BIBLICAL ANSWERS TO OUR
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HONORED TO SHARE A NEW
BOOK, “THE BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA.” IT CONTAINS FOUR
POPULAR MESSAGES FROM ADRIAN ROGERS, AND YOU CAN USE THIS
BOOK AS YOUR RESOURCE FOR BIBLICAL RESPONSES IN THE
CRUCIAL DAYS AHEAD. THE BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR A GIFT OF ANY
AMOUNT. CALL US, AT 1-800-647-9400 OR GIVE ON-LINE
AT LWF.ORG. I TELL YOU WE CAN CHANGE THIS NATION. THERE'RE
ENOUGH CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA, IF THEY WILL WAKE UP AND DO RIGHT!
