THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR
TODAY’S PROGRAM. KNOWN FOR HIS UNIQUE ABILITY TO SIMPLIFY
PROFOUND TRUTH SO THAT IT CAN BE APPLIED TO EVERYDAY LIFE,
ADRIAN ROGERS WAS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PREACHERS,
RESPECTED BIBLE TEACHERS, AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF OUR
TIME. HE WAS ALSO A CHRISTIAN CITIZEN, A FRIEND AND
SPIRITUAL ADVISOR TO MANY CITY, STATE, AND NATIONAL
LEADERS. AND, AS YOU’LL HEAR IN TODAY’S MESSAGE, SOMEONE
WHO WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTION OF OUR
COUNTRY. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, BUT,
WHAT SHOULD THAT RELATIONSHIP BE? AND WHAT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY? LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE
CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS NOT THE MASTER OF THE STATE, NOR IS
THE CHURCH THE SERVANT OF THE STATE, THE CHURCH IS THE
CONSCIENCE OF THE STATE. WE NEED TO SPEAK UP AND SAY
WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS. SATAN’S STRATEGY IS TO KEEP GOOD
PEOPLE, GOOD MEN, GOOD WOMEN SILENT IN EVIL TIMES. HAVE
YOUR BIBLES OPEN TO THE BOOK OF PSALMS AND JOIN US FOR
TODAY’S MESSAGE. YOU CAN LISTEN AGAIN AND CHECK OUT
PASTOR ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES, AND OTHER RESOURCES ON TODAY’S
MESSAGE, ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW, LET’S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. TURN TO PSALM CHAPTER 80,
WOULD YOU PLEASE. PSALM CHAPTER 80. GOD IS SPEAKING
ABOUT THE NATION ISRAEL, AND HE ASKS A QUESTION IN VERSE
12, LOOK AT IT. HE SAYS, “WHY HAST THOU BROKEN DOWN HER
HEDGES?” NOW GOD HAD PUT HEDGES AROUND THE NATION
ISRAEL, AND NOW IT SEEMS THAT GOD HAS TAKEN DOWN THE HEDGE.
AND THEN IT SAYS, “WHY HAS THOU TAKEN DOWN HER HEDGES,
SO, SO THAT ALL THEY WHICH PASS BY THE WAY DO PLUCK HER?
THE BOAR,” THAT IS THE WILD HOG OF THE WOOD, “DOTH WASTE
IT.” WASTE WHAT? THE NATION ISRAEL. “AND THE WILD BEAST OF
THE FIELD DOTH DEVOUR IT.” GOD TOOK DOWN THE HEDGE. THE
QUESTION THAT I ASK THIS MORNING IS THIS: WILL GOD
IMPEACH AMERICA? I SAY WITH A BROKEN HEART THAT AMERICA, OUR
GOD-BLESSED AMERICA, IS SICK UNTO DEATH. WE ARE IN A MORAL
FREEFALL, AND SOON WE’RE GOING TO HIT BOTTOM AND THERE WILL
BE NO REPAIR. AND AMERICA WILL BECOME A MOLDED CRUST IN
HISTORY’S GARBAGE CAN IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE RADICAL
AND DRAMATIC AND DONE QUICKLY. NOW WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN PSALM
80 IS A PRAYER FOR REVIVAL. IT’S THE PRAYER OF A PATRIOT,
AND HE’S PRAYING FOR A NATIONAL REVIVAL. HE’S
PRAYING FOR, UH, SPIRITUAL RESTORATION. LOOK IF YOU WILL
IN VERSES ONE THROUGH THREE, “GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF
ISRAEL, THOU THAT LEADEST JOSEPH LIKE A FLOCK; THOU
THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS, SHINE FORTH. BEFORE
EPHRAIM AND BENJAMIN AND MANASSEH. STIR UP THY
STRENGTH, COME AND SAVE US. TURN US AGAIN, O GOD, AND
CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE; AND WE SHALL BE SAVED.” AND
THEN LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSE SEVEN, “TURN US AGAIN, O, GOD
OF HOSTS, AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE; AND WE SHALL BE
SAVED.” THIS IS A PRAYER FOR REVIVAL. AND IT WAS A PRAYER
IN DESPERATE DAYS. THERE’RE FOUR THINGS IN THIS PSALM I
WANT YOU TO SEE TODAY. AND I, WANT YOU TO SEE HOW APPLICABLE
THEY ARE TO AMERICA TODAY. THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO
SEE IS THAT THERE WAS GREAT NATIONAL DESPAIR, GREAT
NATIONAL DESPAIR. WHAT WAS THIS DESPAIR? WELL, LOOK
IN VERSE FOUR. THERE WAS A SPIRITUAL STERILITY. HE SAYS,
“OH, LORD, GOD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU BE ANGRY
AGAINST THE PRAYER OF THY PEOPLE?” SPIRITUAL STERILITY.
THE PEOPLE ARE PRAYING, BUT GOD IS NOT ANSWERING THE
PRAYER. CONTRARIWISE, NOT ONLY IS GOD NOT ANSWERING THE
PRAYER, THE PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE WAS MAKING GOD ANGRY.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE PRAYER OF AN UNREPENTANT PEOPLE IS
AN INSULT TO ALMIGHTY GOD? RELIGION WITHOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS
IS REPUGNANT TO GOD. AMERICA IS PRAYING. YET THE CESSPOOLS
OF INIQUITY ARE FULL AND RUNNING OVER, AND GOD IS ANGRY
AT THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE. WE SPEND SIX DAYS A WEEK
SOWING WILD OATS, AND THEN COME ON SUNDAY AND PRAY FOR
CROP FAILURE. AND SO MUCH OF OUR PRAYING IS, “GOD BLESS US.
JUST BLESS US, ANYHOW.” BUT GOD IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
THERE WAS IN THIS NATION SO LONG AGO, SPIRITUAL STERILITY.
AND THAT SPIRITUAL STERILITY IN VERSE FOUR IS COMPOUNDED BY
PERSONAL SORROW IN VERSE FIVE. LOOK AT IT, “THOU FEEDEST THEM
WITH THE BREAD OF TEARS; THOU GIVEST THEM TEARS TO DRINK
IN GREAT MEASURE.” THIS WAS A NATION BAPTIZED WITH SALTY
TEARS. WHY? BECAUSE SORROW FOLLOWS SIN AS NIGHT
FOLLOWS DAY. THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS 29 VERSE TWO, “THAT
WHEN THE WICKED BEAR RULE, THE PEOPLE MOURN.” AND WE ARE
SEEING THAT IN AMERICA. AND I WONDER IF OCEANS OF TEARS,
RIVERS OF BLOOD, SEAS OF SWEAT WILL BE THE PRICE THAT AMERICA
MUST PAY. BUT NOT ONLY WAS THERE SPIRITUAL STERILITY,
NOT ONLY WAS THERE PERSONAL SORROW, THERE WAS ALSO
NATIONAL SHAME. LOOK IN VERSE SIX, “THOU MAKEST US A STRIFE
UNTO OUR NEIGHBORS: AND OUR ENEMIES LAUGH AMONG
THEMSELVES.” DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD-BLESSED AMERICA IS KNOWN
OF IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD? “THE GREAT SATAN.” THERE ARE
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST AMERICA ALL OVER THIS WORLD. NO LONGER
IS AMERICA RESPECTED FOR HER IDEALS. NO LONG IS AMERICA
RESTRICT, UH, RESPECTED FOR HER LEADERSHIP IT’S A SHAME!
AND SO THAT’S THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO SEE. THERE AT,
THERE WAS, DEAR FRIEND, EH, IN THIS PASSAGE A GREAT NATIONAL
DESPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN A GLORIOUS NATIONAL DESIGN.
THERE HAD BEEN. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES EIGHT AND
FOLLOWING. HERE’S WHAT GOD SAID HE DID FOR ISRAEL, “THOU
HAST BROUGHT A VINE OUT OF EGYPT.” NOW HE’S CALLING HIS
PEOPLE A, A VINE, LIKE A GRAPE VINE. “THOU HAS CAST OUT THE
HEATHEN, AND PLANTED IT.” WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT HERE IS
THE JEWISH NATION COMING OUT OF BONDAGE IN EGYPT WHERE THEY
HAD BROKEN THE GNAWING AND TORMENTING CHAINS OF SLAVERY.
AND THEY HAD COME TO A NEW LAND, AND THERE GOD PLANTED
THEM IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. NOTICE HOW HE DESCRIBES IT.
“THOU PREPAREST ROOM BEFORE IT,” THAT IS, BEFORE THE VINE,
“AND DIDST CAUSE IT TO TAKE DEEP ROOT, AND IT FILLED THE
LAND. THE HILLS WERE COVERED WITH THE SHADOW OF IT, AND THE
BOUGHS THEREOF WHERE LIKE THE GOODLY CEDARS. SHE SENT OUT
HER BOUGHS UNTO THE SEA, AND HER BRANCHES UNTO THE RIVER.”
NOW, WHAT IS HE SAYING? UH, THERE HAD BEEN A GLORIOUS
NATIONAL DESIGN. THIS WAS A NATION DIVINELY PLANTED. DO
YOU SEE THAT IN VERSE NINE, UH, VERSE EIGHT? GOD PLANTED
THE NATION ISRAEL. AND I WANT TO SAY THERE IS A STRIKING
PARALLEL BETWEEN ISRAEL OF OLD AND AMERICA TODAY. THE TWO
ARE NOT THE SAME. THEY ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS. BUT I WANT TO SAY,
AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL OF MY HEART, THAT AMERICA WAS A
GOD-PLANTED, GOD-BLESSED, GOD-ORDAINED NATION. NO
NATION, LISTEN TO ME, NO NATION EVER HAD SUCH A
CHRISTIAN BEGINNING AS AMERICA. NOW, ISRAEL WAS A
VINE PLANTED BY GOD, AND YET ISRAEL FORGOT GOD AND JUDGMENT
CAME. THE AMERICAN DREAM WAS PLACED INTO THE BOSOM OF OUR
FOUNDING FATHERS, I BELIEVE, BY GOD HIMSELF. THE ORIGINAL
COLONIES THAT CAME TO THESE SHORES WERE FOUNDED BECAUSE OF
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IN 1620, WHEN THE PILGRIMS CAME TO
AMERICA, THEY CAME SEEKING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND FREEDOM.
THEY HUDDLED BENEATH THE DECKS OF THAT LITTLE MAYFLOWER SHIP,
AND THEY WROTE “THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT,” WHICH BEGAN WITH
THESE WORDS: “IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.” AND THEY WROTE
IN THEIR COMPACT THAT THEIR VOYAGE TO THESE SHORES WAS
FOR, AND I QUOTE, “FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE
ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.” NOW, BOYS AND GIRLS
TODAY ARE NOT BEING TAUGHT THIS IN SCHOOL. WE HAVE
WHAT WE CALL IN HISTORY A REVISIONIST. THAT IS, THESE
WHO WANT TO REWRITE HISTORY. BUT I WANT TO QUOTE THIS
MORNING, AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO, WHAT
FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT, EARL WARREN,
HAD TO SAY. NOW, IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LISTEN TO
THIS. BECAUSE BY NO STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION COULD YOU
CALL FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE EARL WARREN A RIGHT-WING CHRISTIAN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN, YOU WOULD GO
UP AND DOWN THE, UH, THE, THE HIGHWAYS OF AMERICA, AND YOU’D
SEE SIGNS THAT WOULD SAY, “IMPEACH, HUH, UH, EARL
WARREN.” UH, THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT OF HIM AS BEING A
PART OF THE LIBERAL LEFT. NOW, THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THIS;
YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT EARL WARREN SAID IN THE LIGHT OF
THE FACT THAT HE WAS KNOWN NOT AS A PART OF THE CHRISTIAN
RIGHT. I’M QUOTING NOW, UH, A SPEECH REPORTED IN TIME
MAGAZINE THAT HE GAVE IN 1954. THIS IS THE SUPREME COURT
CHIEF JUSTICE. I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO IT. WE’RE TALKING
ABOUT THE FACT THAT AMERICA WAS DIVINELY PLANTED. HE SAID,
AND I QUOTE, “I BELIEVE THAT NO ONE CAN READ THE HISTORY OF
OUR COUNTRY WITHOUT REALIZING THE GOOD BOOK,” TALKING ABOUT
THE BIBLE, “AND THE SPIRIT OF THE SAVIOR WHICH HAVE FROM
THE BEGINNING BEEN OUR GUIDING GENIUS. WHETHER WE LOOK AT THE
FIRST CHARTER OF VIRGINIA, OR THE CHARTER OF NEW ENGLAND, OR
THE CHARTER OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY, OR THE FUNDAMENTAL ORDERS
OF CONNECTICUT, THE SAME OBJECTIVE IS PRESENT, A
CHRISTIAN LAND GOVERNED BY CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES.” NOW
FOLKS, I WANT TO SAY, THAT IS VERY POLITICALLY INCORRECT
TODAY. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? BUT NOW LISTEN, HE GOES ON
TO SAY, “I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE BILL OF RIGHTS CAME INTO BEING
BECAUSE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OUR FOREFATHERS HAD OF THE
BIBLE AND THEIR BELIEF IN IT. FREEDOM OF BELIEF, OF
EXPRESSION, OF ASSEMBLY, OF PETITION, THE DIGNITY OF THE
INDIVIDUAL, THE SANCTITY OF THE HOME, EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER
THE LAW, AND THE RESERVATION OF THE POWERS TO THE PEOPLE.”
CHIEF JUSTICE WENT ON TO SAY, “I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT
WE ARE LIVING TODAY IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT AS LONG AS WE DO,
NO GREAT HARM CAN COME TO OUR COUNTRY.” I AM TALKING ABOUT
THE FACT THAT AMERICA, LIKE ISRAEL, WAS DIVINELY PLANTED
AND WE KNEW THAT. THAT’S THE REASON OUR NATIONAL HYMN,
“AMERICA” SAYS, “OUR FATHER’S GOD TO THEE, AUTHOR OF
LIBERTY, TO THEE, UH, WE SING. LONG MAY OUR LAND BE BRIGHT
WITH FREEDOM’S HOLY LIGHT. PROTECT US BY THY MIGHT,” NOW
LISTEN TO THIS, “GREAT GOD, OUR KING.” DON’T EVER SAY THAT
THE UNITED STATES DID NOT HAVE A KING. OUR KING RULED IN THE
HEAVENS. WE BELIEVE THAT, WE HAVE SUNG IT. OUR FOREFATHERS
BELIEVED IN SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, RIGHTLY
UNDERSTOOD, BUT NEVER FOR A MOMENT IN THE SEPARATION OF
GOD AND GOVERNMENT. THIS LINE. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] ISRAEL
WAS DIVINELY PLANTED IN VERSE EIGHT AND DIVINELY PROSPERED.
LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES 10 AND 11, EH, IN THIS SAME
PSALM. HE SAYS, “THE HILLS WERE COVERED WITH THE SHADOW
OF IT,” WHAT? THE VINE THAT GOD PLANTED, “AND THE BOUGHS
THERE, THEREOF WERE LIKE THE GOODLY CEDARS. SHE SENT OUT
HER BOUGHS UNTO THE SEA, AND HER BRANCHES UNTO THE RIVER.”
THE PROPHETS OF ANCIENT ISRAEL TAUGHT THE RIGHT OF THE
PERSONAL OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY. THEY TAUGHT, UH, THE
DIGNITY OF WORK. THEY TAUGHT HONOR AND ISRAEL PROSPERED.
AND AMERICA HAS PROSPERED. NO NATION HAS EVER HAD THE
PROSPERITY OF AMERICA. WE TALK ABOUT POVERTY IN AMER, IN
AMERICA, AND WE OUGHT TO DO ALL WE CAN DO TO ERADICATE ANY
OF IT, BUT THE POOR IN AMERICA ARE RICH COMPARED TO MANY OF
THE PEOPLES OF THIS WORLD. AND THE FRUIT OF THAT PROSPERITY
THAT GOD GAVE TO ISRAEL WAS FOR GOD’S GLORY. LOOK IN VERSE
15, “AND THE VINEYARD WHICH THY RIGHT HAND HATH PLANTED,
AND THE BRANCH THEREOF THAT THOU MADEST STRONG FOR
THYSELF.” GOD DID NOT BLESS AMERICA SO THAT THEOLOGY COULD
BE REPLACED WITH ME-OLOGY. WHERE PEOPLE COULD SAY,
“GOD DOESN’T MATTER, ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE DOW JONES.” UH,
ISRAEL WAS DIVINELY PLANTED, AMERICA DIVINELY PLANTED.
ISRAEL DIVINELY PROSPERED, AMERICA DIVINELY PROSPERED.
AND ISRAEL WAS DIVINELY PROTECTED. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN
VERSE 12, “WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES?” IN
BIBLE TIMES, WHEN A MAN WOULD PLANT A VINEYARD, HE WOULD PUT
A THINK, THORN HEDGE AROUND THAT VINEYARD TO KEEP OUT THE
PREDATORS AND TO KEEP OUT THE THIEVES. AND, AND GOD SAID, “I
PLANTED THIS VINE AND I PUT A HEDGE AROUND THIS VINE.” MAY I
SAY ALSO THAT GOD HAS PLANTED AMERICA AND GOD HAS PROTECTED
AMERICA! THIS NATION HAS BEEN PROTECTED IN A WAR-TORN WORLD.
COMPARE AMERICA, COMPARE THESE BLESSED SHORES TO WHAT HAS
HAPPENED, UH, IN ENGLAND, IN FRANCE, IN GERMANY, IN ITALY,
IN JAPAN AND KOREA. GOD HAS PROTECTED AMERICA. GOD PUT A,
A HEDGE AROUND AMERICA, AND WE KNEW IT. “PROTECT US BY THY
MIGHT, GREAT GOD OUR KING.” ISRAEL’S FIRST LINE OF
DEFENSE, ARE YOU LISTENING? WAS GOD HIMSELF. NOT
ALLIANCES. NOT WEAPONS OF WAR, BUT GOD ALMIGHTY. AND GOD
ALMIGHTY IN TIME PAST HAS PROTECTED AMERICA. AND WE’VE
ALL HAD A SENSE THAT GOD’S HAND HAS BEEN UPON AMERICA.
NOW HERE IS A THIRD THING I WANT YOU TO SEE. I, I WANT
YOU TO SEE NOT ONLY NATIONAL DESPAIR AND NATIONAL DESIGN,
BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE A GRAVE NATIONAL DANGER. WE AT THIS
MOMENT ARE AT A POINT OF GRAVE NATIONAL DANGER. AND WHAT IS
THAT DANGER? IT’S FOUND IN VERSE 12, “WHY HAST THOU THEN
BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES?” YOU SEE, GOD HAS PUT A HEDGE
AROUND ISRAEL, BUT THEN GOD BROKE DOWN THE HEDGE. GOD HAS
PUT A HEDGE AROUND AMERICA, BUT THE HEDGE, I’M AFRAID, HAS
BEEN TAKEN AWAY. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF
HEDGES? DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF JOB IN THE BIBLE? THE
DEVIL COULD HARDLY WAIT TO GET HIS HANDS ON JOB! HE’S SAYING
TO GOD, “THAT JOB! THE ONLY REASON HE SERVES YOU IS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE PETTED HIM, YOU HAVE PROSPERED HIM, YOU
HAVE PROTECTED HIM. I CAN’T GET TO HIM. YOU HAVE BUILT A
HEDGE AROUND JOB. EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET TO JOB, THERE’S
YOUR HEDGE. TAKE DOWN THE HEDGE. LET ME GET AT HIM!”
GOD SAID, “YOU DON’T KNOW MY SERVANT JOB.” YOU MIGHT
FIND THIS, BY THE WAY, IN JOB CHAPTER ONE VERSES NINE AND
10, “THEN SATAN ANSWERED THE LORD AND SAID, ‘DOTH JOB FEAR
GOD FOR NAUGHT? THOU HAST, HAST THOU NOT MADE A HEDGE
ABOUT HIM AND ABOUT HIS HOUSE AND ABOUT ALL THAT HE HATH ON
EVERY SIDE?’” YOU SEE, THERE’S A DOCTRINE OF HEDGES! THE
DEVIL CAN’T GET THROUGH THE HEDGE! NOW WHAT GOD HAD D,
DONE FOR JOB, GOD HAS ALSO DONE FOR NATIONS. GOD DID
FOR ISRAEL. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER CORRESPONDING PASSAGE,
ISAIAH CHAPTER FIVE. LET ME SHARE IT WITH YOU. I’VE COPIED
IT OUT TO SAVE TIME, BUT WRITE IT DOWN IN YOUR MARGIN,
ISAIAH CHAPTER FIVE VERSES ONE THROUGH FIVE, “NOW WILL I SING
TO MY WELL BELOVED A SONG OF MY BELOVED TOUCHING HIS
VINEYARD,” HE’S TALKING ABOUT ISRAEL NOW, “MY WELL BELOVED
HATH A VINEYARD IN A, IN A VERY FRUITFUL HILL, AND HE
FENCED IT, AND GATHERED OUT THE STONES THEREOF AND PLANTED
IT WITH THE CHOICEST VINE, AND BUILT A TOWER IN THE MIDST OF
IT, AND ALSO MADE A WINEPRESS THEREIN: AND LOOKED THAT IT
SHOULD BRING FORTH GRAPES, AND IT BROUGHT FORTH WILD GRAPES.
AND NOW, O INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM,” LISTEN TO WHAT GOD
SAYS TO HIS ANCIENT PEOPLE, JERUSALEM, GOD-BLESSED
JERUSALEM, “AND MEN OF JUDAH, JUDGE, I PRAY YOU, BETWIXT ME
AND MY VINEYARD. WHAT COULD, WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE MORE
TO MY VINEYARD, THAT I HAVE NOT DONE IN IT? WHEREFORE,
WHEN I LOOKED THAT IT SHOULD BRING FORTH GRAPES, IT BROUGHT
FORTH WILD GRAPES? AND NOW GO TO; I TELL YOU WHAT I WILL
DO TO MY VINEYARD,” LISTEN TO THIS NOW, “I WILL TAKE AWAY
THE HEDGE THEREOF, AND IT SHALL BE EATEN UP; AND BREAK
DOWN THE WALL THEREOF, AND IT SHALL BE TRODDEN DOWN.” NOW,
GOD SAID, “LOOK, I FOUNDED THIS NATION. I PROTECTED THIS
NATION. I PUT A HEDGE AROUND THIS NATION, AND I WAS
EXPECTING THAT IT WOULD BRING FORTH GOOD GRAPES. BUT IT
BROUGHT FORTH WILD GRAPES. AND NOW I AM GOING TO TAKE DOWN
THE HEDGE.” PASTOR JOE WRIGHT OF KANSAS WAS ASKED TO LEAD
THE KANSAS STATE SENATE IN PRAYER. THEY WERE EXPECTING
THE NORMAL FLABBY, PERFUNCTORY PRAYER THERE. BUT PASTOR JOE
WRIGHT STOOD UP AND PRAYED HERE’S WHAT HE PRAYED. NOW I
WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS PRAYER, BECAUSE WHEN HE
PRAYED, THE SENATORS BEGAN TO GET UP AND WALK OUT. DURING
THE PRAYER! HERE’S WHAT HE PRAYED, “HEAVENLY FATHER, WE
COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS AND TO SEEK
YOUR DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE. WE KNOW YOUR WORD SAYS:
‘WOE UNTO THOSE THAT CALL EVIL GOOD,’ BUT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT
WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE LOST OUR SPIRITUAL EQUAL, EQUILIBRIUM
AND INVERTED OUR VALUES.” AND THEN PASTOR JOE WENT ON TO
PRAY: “WE CONFESS THAT WE HAVE RIDICULED THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH
OF YOUR WORD AND CALLED IT PLURALISM. WE HAVE WORSHIPPED
OTHER GODS AND CALLED IT MULTICULTURALISM. WE HAVE
ENDORSED PERVERSION AND CALLED IT ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE. WE
HAVE EXPLOITED THE POOR AND CALLED IT THE LOTTERY. WE HAVE
NEGLECTED THE NEEDY AND CALLED IT SELF-PRESERVATION. WE HAVE
RE, WE HAVE REWARDED LAZINESS AND CALLED IT WELFARE. WE HAVE
KILLED THE UNBORN AND CALLED IT CHOICE. WE HAVE SHOT
ABORTIONISTS AND CALLED IT JUSTIFIABLE. WE HAVE NEGLECTED
TO DISCIPLINE OUR CHILDREN AND CALLED IT BUILDING
SELF-ESTEEM. WE HAVE ABUSED POWER AND CALLED IT POLITICAL
SAVVY. WE HAVE COVETED OUR NEIGHBORS’ POSSESSIONS AND
CALLED IT AMBITION. WE HAVE POLLUTED THE AIR WITH
PROFANITY AND PORNOGRAPHY AND CALLED IT FREEDOM OF
EXPRESSION. WE HAVE RIDICULED THE TIME-HONORED VALUES OF
OUR FOREFATHERS AND CALLED IT ENLIGHTENMENT. SEARCH US,
O GOD, AND KNOW OUR HEARTS TODAY. CLEANSE US FROM EVERY
SIN AND SET US FREE. GUIDE AND BLESS THESE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO HAVE BEEN SENT HERE BY THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS AND WHO HAVE
BEEN ORDAINED BY YOU TO GOVERN THIS GREAT STATE. GRANT THEM
THE WISDOM TO RULE AND MAY THEIR DECISIONS DIRECT US TO
THE CENTER OF YOUR WILL. I ASK IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, THE
LIVING SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.” [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
[AUDIENCE: GLORY] THAT’S WHAT HE PRAYED. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE]
PAUL HARVEY READ THIS PRAYER ON HIS PROGRAM, AND HE GOT
MORE REQUESTS FOR COPIES THAN ANY OTHER THING HE HAD EVER
DONE. I SAY, GOD GIVE US SOME MORE PASTORS LIKE JOE WRIGHT,
WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT GOD WHO PUT THIS VINEYARD HERE HAS
A RIGHT NOT TO ASK FOR WILD GRAPES. NOW WHAT HAS BEEN
THE RESULT? WHAT IS THIS GRAVE NATIONAL DANGER? WELL, THERE
WAS EXTERNAL DANGER FROM HER ENEMIES. LOOK IN VERSE 12,
“WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES, SO THAT ALL
THEY WHICH PASS BY THE WAY DO PLUCK HER?” AMERICA’S NAT,
UH, NAT, NATURAL RESOURCES ARE BEING STRIPPED AWAY. WE ARE
AT THE SAME TIME LOSING OUR RESOURCES AND LOSING OUR
FRIENDS. I SAY, WE’RE KNOWN AS “THE GREAT SATAN.” PEOPLE
ARE PLUCKING THIS VINEYARD. EXTERNAL DANGER FROM HER
ENEMIES. INTERNAL DANGER FROM CORRUPTION. LOOK IN VERSE 13,
“THE BOAR, THE WILD HOG OF THE WOOD, DOTH WASTE IT.” NOW A
HOG IS NOT ONLY CONTENT TO EAT THE FRUIT, THE HOG DEALS
WITH THE ROOT. SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN AMERICA THAT IS
VERY UN-AMERICAN. AMERICA HAS BECOME SO AMORAL AND IMMORAL,
SO CORRUPT, SO VILE. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,
CONSULT THE FRONT PAGE OF ANY NEWSPAPER. FRIEND, A TIDAL
WEL, A TIDAL WAVE OF FILTH IS SWEEPING ACROSS AMERICA.
CROOKEDNESS, LYING, CHEATING, STEALING, ADULTERY, DIVORCE,
MURDER, LUST, DOPE, VICE. WE SAY AMERICA IS NUMBER ONE.
SHE IS! SHE’S NUMBER ONE IN HOMOSEXUALITY, NUMBER ONE IN
RADICAL FEMINISM, NUMBER ONE IN DIVORCE, NUMBER ONE IN THE
DESTRUCTION OF FAMILY VALUES, NUMBER ONE IN ABORTION, NUMBER
ONE IN POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, NUMBER ONE IN OCCULT,
HUMANISTIC, NEW AGE RELIGION. THAT’S AMERICA. I’M
TELLING YOU, WE’RE IN A MORAL FREEFALL. THINK OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS OF AMERICA. PRAYER IS OUT,
POLICEMEN ARE IN. BIBLES ARE OUT, VALUES CLARIFICATION IS
IN. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE OUT, RAPE AND ARMED ROBBERY
AND MURDER AND BOMBS ARE IN. CREATION IS OUT, EVOLUTION
IS IN. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS OUT, DISRESPECT AND REBELLION
IS IN. TRADITIONAL VALUES ARE OUT, UNWED MOTHERHOOD IS IN.
ABSTINENCE IS OUT, CONDOMS AND ABORTION ARE IN. LEARNING IS
OUT, SOCIAL ENGINEERING IS IN. “HAPPY DAYS” ARE OUT, GOTH
FASHION, GANGSTER RAP, HEAVY ROCK, HEAVY METAL IS IN.
BLASPHEMY IS IN, PRAISE IS OUT. IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL YOU
CAN TELL SOMEONE TO GO TO, TO HELL. FRIEND, I THINK IT’S
TIME WE TOLD THEM TO GO TO HEAVEN. [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] I THINK IT’S TIME THAT WE SPOKE UP.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] THERE IS EXTERNAL DANGER, VERSE 12.
THERE IS INTERNAL DANGER, VERSE 13. AND THERE IS ETERNAL
DANGER, VERSES 14 AND 15. LOOK AT IT, “RETURN, WE BESEECH
THEE, O GOD OF HOSTS. LOOK DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND BEHOLD
AND VISIT THIS VINE, AND THE VINEYARD WHICH THY RIGHT HAND
HATH PLANTED AND THE BRANCH WHICH THOU MADEST STRONG FOR
THYSELF,” NOW WATCH THIS IN VERSE 16, “IT,” THE VINE, “IS
BURNED WITH FIRE AND IT IS CUT DOWN. THEY PERISH AT THE
REBUKE OF THY COUNTENANCE.” NOW IT IS GOD HIMSELF WHO
IS BRINGING JUDGMENT. GOD’S JUDGMENT IS LIKE AN AX,
ACCORDING TO THIS VERSE, LAID TO THE ROOT OF THE TREE. GOD’S
JUDGMENT IS LIKE A CONSUMING, EH, FIRE. AND THAT’S WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN AMERICA. COME UP CLOSE AND I WANT TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING, FRIEND, NOT ONLY IS GOD AMERICA’S ONLY HOPE, GOD
IS AMERICA’S BIGGEST THREAT. GOD IS AMERICA’S BIGGEST
THREAT. LOOK AT IT AGAIN, VERSE 16, “IT IS BURNED WITH
FIRE, IT IS CUT DOWN, THEY PERISH AT THE REBUKE OF THY
COUNTENANCE.” NOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE EXPELLED GOD
FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND FROM OUR GOVERNMENT, AND GOD IS ABOUT
READY TO IMPEACH AMERICA. NOW, YOU SAY, “HOW DO YOU SAY THAT
YOU, ‘WE’VE EXPELLED GOD?’” WELL NOW LISTEN TO WHAT
HAPPENED. THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT BANNED PRAYER IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1962. THEN IN 1963 THEY BANNED THE BIBLE.
NOW EVIDENTLY WE’VE BEEN DONE, DOING SOMETHING WRONG FOR A
LONG TIME. BUT NEN, THEN 1963 THEY BANNED THE BIBLE. AND
THEN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WERE BANNED IN, IN 1980. WHAT WE
HAVE BECOME IS LEGALLY AN ATHEISTIC STATE. THERE IS
PRESENTLY MORE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE FORMER SOVIET
UNION THAN THERE IS IN AMERICA TODAY. THEN THIS WAS
COMPOUNDED BY 1973 WHEN A, ABORTION ON DEMAND WAS
LEGALIZED, LITTLE BABIES IN THE MOTHER’S WOMB WERE GIVEN
THE STATUS OF NON-BEINGS. JANUARY 22, 1973, SURELY
IS GOING TO GO DOWN AS THE BLACKEST DAY IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, WHEN NINE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, THE
SELF-ANOINTED PRIESTS OF HUMANISM, SAID THAT THESE
LITTLE BABIES ARE NOT REAL HUMAN BEINGS. FRIEND, THERE’S
SOMETHING AWFULLY WRONG IN AMERICA. AND I HEARD WILLIAM
BENNET, FORMER SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, UH, SPEAK ON A
FORUM. HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN, IN, IN COLUMBINE
HIGH SCHOOL OUT IN, UH, COLORADO. AND HE QUESTIONED
HOW THE STAFF AND FACULTY AT COLUMBINE HIGH COULD HAVE
FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THESE GUYS WALKING AROUND IN
TRENCH COATS AND SAYING, “HEIL HITLER.” MR. BENNET WENT ON TO
SAY HE “GUARANTEES SOME WOULD, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE NOTICED IF
CASSIE BERNAL,” A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN AND ONE OF THE
VICTIMS OF THE SLAUGHTER, HAD BEEN CARRYING A BIBLE AROUND
THE SCHOOL AND PRAISING JESUS CHRIST.” IF LITTLE CASSIE AND
HER FRIENDS HAD BEEN WALKING THROUGH THE SCHOOL CARRYING
BIBLES AND SAYING, ‘HAIL THE PRINCE OF PEACE, KING OF
KINGS,’ THEY WOULD’VE BEEN HAULED INTO THE PRINCIPAL’S
OFFICE.” MR. BENNET SAID ON MEET THE PRESS. AH, BUT OTHERS
CAN WALK THROUGH THE HALLS AND SAY, “HEIL HITLER.” SOMETHING
IS WRONG IN AMERICA, FOLKS. NOW LET ME TELL YOU. [AUDIENCE
APPLAUSE] YOU WANT ME TO PUT IT IN A SENTENCE WHAT IS WRONG
IN AMERICA? THE HEDGE IS DOWN. HOW DO YOU, HOW ELSE DO YOU
EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GOD-BLESSED AMERICA? YOU SEE,
WHY ARE WE SUFFERING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS? WE’RE SO
JADED, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE THE “TRAGEDY DU JOUR,”
THE TRAGEDY OF THE DAY. I, I LISTEN TO THE RADIO, NOW
WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WE’VE HAD A TORNADO THAT COMES RIPPING
THROUGH THE HEARTLAND. NOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WE’VE HAD A
STUDENT SHOOT, SHOT HERE. NOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED? WE’VE HAD
THIS THING OVER HERE. AFTER, ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. WHY
IS THIS? BECAUSE, FRIEND, THE HEDGE IS DOWN. IT BEGAN IN
1962 WHEN WE KICKED GOD OUT AND THE JUDGMENT IS RIPENING.
LISTEN TO THIS. IN THE MID 1980S THE MIDWEST AND
CALIFORNIA SUFFERED THE WORST DROUGHT IN HISTORY. THEN THAT
DROUGHT WAS FOLLOWED BY RECORD RAINS IN BOTH OF THESE
SECTIONS AND THE DROUGHT WAS FOLLOWED BY SEVERE FLOODING.
IN 1989 HURRICANE HUGO STRUCK CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA,
DOING IMMENSE DAMAGE. SOON AFTER HUGO, HUGO, A
POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE ROCKED SAN FRANCISCO. IN 1992 TEN OF THE
MOST POWERFUL QUAKES IN THE WORLD IN 1992 WERE CENTERED IN
CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING THE MOST POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN THE
WORLD THAT YEAR, 7.6 MAGNITUDE IN CALIFORNIA. ON THE HEELS
OF THAT, IN 1992 HURRICANE ANDREW, ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE EVER, HIT SOUTHERN FLORIDA. AND THEN
IN THAT SAME YEAR THE WORST RIOTING SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
TOOK PLACE IN LOS ANGELES. AND THEN A NUMBER OF TORNADOES
SWEPT ACROSS AMERICA. AND THEN A RECORD FOREST FIRE SWEPT
THROUGH THE WEST, ESPECIALLY IN CALIFORNIA. IN 1993 RECORD
STORMS SLAMMED THE EAST COAST OF THIS NATION. AND THEN
CALIFORNIA WAS AGAIN HIT WITH RECORD WILDFIRES. AND THEN WE
BEGAN MASS KILLINGS AND SERIAL KILLINGS IN AMERICA. THEY HAVE
BECOME A REGULAR OCCURRENCE SINCE, IN THE 1990’S. YOU SAY,
“WELL, PASTOR, HAS, IS GOD DOING ALL OF THAT?” NO! THE
HEDGE IS DOWN. THIS IS WHAT THE ENEMY HAS BEEN WANTING TO
DO FOR A LONG TIME. UH, HE’S JUST BEEN WALKING AROUND,
SAYING, “HOW CAN I GET IN, HOW CAN I GET IN, HOW CAN I GET
IN? I CAN’T GET IN, I CAN’T GET IN.” OH, THIS IS A
GOD-BLESSED AMERICA, BUT AMERICA SAYS, “GOD, WE DON’T
WANT YOU! OUT! OUT, OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS, OUT OF OUR
GOVERNMENT. WE DON’T WANT YOU, GOD.” DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE
PRAYER WAS WHEN THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT OUR CHILDREN
COULD NOT PRAY IN SCHOOL? WAS IT, WAS IT A GREAT, TERRIBLE
PRAYER THEY PRAYED? NO, HERE’S WHAT THEY PRAYED. “ALMIGHTY
GOD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON THEE, WE BEG
THY BLESSINGS UPON US, OUR PARENTS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR
COUNTRY. AMEN.” “OH!” THEY SAID, “YOU CAN’T DO THAT IN
AMERICA! WE DON’T WANT THE BIBLE! WE DON’T WANT
PRAYER! WE DON’T WANT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS! WE’LL HELL,
HANDLE IT OURSELVES.” GOD SAYS, “I’LL JUST TAKE AWAY THE
HEDGE.” LEVITICUS 18 VERSE 25, “AND THE LAND IS DEFILED,
THEREFORE DO I VISIT THE INIQUITY UP, THEREOF UPON IT.”
ONE LAST THING, THERE MAY BE, FRIEND, A GRACIOUS NATIONAL
DELIVERANCE. UH, IT’S NOT TOO LATE. NOTICE THE PRAYER OF
THIS PATRIOT BEGINNING IN VERSE 14, “RETURN, WE BESEECH
THEE, O GOD OF HOSTS. LOOK DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND BEHOLD
AND VISIT THIS VINE AND THE VINEYARD WHICH THY RIGHT HAND
HATH PLANTED AND THE BRANCH THAT THOU MADEST STRONG FOR
THYSELF.” NUMBER ONE, WE MUST LOOK UP, LOOK UP. LOOK IN
VERSE 14, “RETURN, WE BESEECH THEE, O LORD OF HOSTS.” GOD
IS THE ONLY ONE BIG ENOUGH, STRONG ENOUGH, WISE ENOUGH, TO
DELIVER US AND SAVE US, AND WE MUST SEEK GOD’S FACE AND NOT
GOD’S HAND. NOTICE VERSE 19, “TURN US AGAIN, O LORD GOD OF
HOSTS, BE, CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE AND WE SHALL BE SAVED.”
WE NEED TO RETURN UNTO GOD WITH FASTING, PRAYING,
WEEPING, AN OLD-FASHIONED REVIVAL. AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT
WHO’S THE ELECTED OFFICERS ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE
STATE HOUSE. GOD DOESN’T HAVE TO ROUTE REVIVAL THROUGH
WASHINGTON. WE MUST LOOK UP. WE MUST CONFESS UP. LOOK IF
YOU WILL IN VERSE 16, “THIS VINE IS BURNED WITH FIRE, IT
IS CUT DOWN, THEY PERISH AT THE REBUKE OF THY
COUNTENANCE.” IT IS SIN THAT CAUSED GOD TO TAKE DOWN THE
HEDGE. WE MUST CONFESS AND TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAY.
NUMBER THREE, NOT ONLY MUST WE LOOK UP AND CONFESS UP, WE
MUST SPEAK UP. LOOK IN VERSE 17, “LET THY HAND BE UPON THE
MAN OF THY RIGHT HAND, UPON THE SON OF MAN WHOM THOU
MADEST STRONG FOR THYSELF.” AND BY THE WAY, WHO IS THAT,
WHO IS THAT, WHO IS HE TALKING ABOUT HERE? HE’S TALKING ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST. THAT’S WHO HE’S TALKING ABOUT IN THIS VERSE.
THIS IS A PROPHETIC PSALM. HE IS SAYING THAT, “THE HOPE IS
IN THE SON OF GOD.” “LET THAT THY HAND BE UPON THE MAN OF
THY RIGHT HAND,” THAT’S JESUS, THE SON OF MAN, “WHOM THOU
MADEST STRONG FOR THYSELF.” AND IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE
NEED TO SPEAK UP. THEY TELL US TO “GO BACK UNDER THE ROCK.”
WE NEED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE ROCK AND STAND ON THIS
ROCK, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. PEOPLE SAY, “OOH, THAT'S
POLITICS AND RELIGION.” LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE
CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS NOT THE MASTER OF THE STATE, NOR IS
THE CHURCH THE SERVANT OF THE STATE, THE CHURCH IS THE
CONSCIENCE OF THE STATE. WE NEED TO SPEAK UP AND SAY
WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS. SATAN’S STRATEGY IS TO KEEP GOOD
PEOPLE, GOOD MEN, GOOD WOMEN SILENT IN EVIL TIMES. AND
YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR BOYS AND GIRLS WHEN THEY STEP ON SCHOOL
PROPERTY THEY HAVE STILL FULL AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND FREEDOM
OF SPEECH TO PRAY, TO CARRY THEIR BIBLES AND TO WITNESS
FOR JESUS CHRIST. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] “BUT PASTOR ROGERS,
YOU’RE SO INSENSITIVE. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT IF YOUR CHILDREN
PRAY, SOMEBODY MIGHT BE OFFENDED?” FRIEND, OUR
CHILDREN ARE OFFENDED EVERY DAY AT SCHOOL, OFFENDED BY
MILITANT ATHEISM, BY HUMANISM, BY PORNOGRAPHY, BY HEAVY ROCK
MUSIC, BY PROFANITY, EH, BY, BY A, AMORAL SEX EDUCATION.”
BY THE WAY, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT
THAT SAYS THAT SOMEBODY IS PROTECTED FROM BEING OFFENDED.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE’RE TO SPEAK, AND OUR CONSTITUTION
SAYS THAT NOBODY SHALL ABRIDGE OUR RIGHTS TO SPEAK. AND SO
WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT, THAT WE MUST LOOK UP, WE
MUST CONFESS UP, WE MUST SPEAK UP, AND WE MUST STAND UP. LOOK
AGAIN IN VERSES 18 AND 19, “SO WILL WE NOT GO BACK FROM THEE.
QUICKEN US AND WE WILL CALL UPON THY NAME.” WE DON’T HAVE
TO HAVE GREAT NUMBERS. LENIN BEGAN HIS COMMUNIST REVOLUTION
IN 197, UH, 1917, 19, WITH JUST SEVERAL THOUSAND. CASTRO
TOOK CUBA, I CAN REMEMBER, WITH A LITTLE BAND OF
CUTTHROATS. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, JESUS STARTED WITH
TWELVE DISCIPLES. JOSHUA 22, 23 VERSE 10, “ONE MAN OF YOU
SHALL CHASE A THOUSAND AND THE LORD, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD,
HE IT IS THAT FIGHTETH FOR YOU AS HE HAS PROMISED.” IT’S JUST
TIME WE STOOD UP. YOU KNOW WHAT’S WRONG WITH SO
MANY OF US NOW? WE ARE SO SHELL-SHOCKED, EH, IT’S, IT’S
BEEN COMING AT US, IT, BAD NEWS, IT’S LIKE WE'RE DRINKING
FROM A FIRE HOSE. FRIEND, IT’S HARD TO BUILD A DAM WHEN
YOU’RE FLOATING DOWN THE STREAM. WE NEED TO LOOK UP, WE
NEED TO CONFESS UP, WE NEED TO SPEAK UP, WE NEED TO STAND UP,
AND WE NEED FOR GOD TO BLESS AMERICA ONE MORE TIME. WHEN I
WAS A LITTLE BOY, THE JAPANESE DROPPED BOMBS ON PEARL HARBOR.
AFTERWARD, THE UNITED STATES RALLIED AND WON THE WAR.
ADMIRAL YAMAMOTO, YOU REMEMBER HIM, YAMAMOTO? YOU KNOW WHAT
HE SAID LATER ON? HERE’S A QUOTE. I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO
IT. HE SAID, “I HAD INTENDED TO DEAL A FATAL BLOW TO THE
AMERICAN FLEET BY ATTACKING PEARL HARBOR. I FEAR THAT ALL
WE HAVE DONE IS TO AWAKEN A SLEEPING GIANT AND FILL HIM
WITH A TERRIBLE RESOLVE.” HA, HA, HE SAID, “I THOUGHT, I
THOUGHT, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD DESTROY THEM,” BUT SAID, “ALL
IT DID WAS JUST TO FILL THEM WITH A TERRIBLE RESOLVE, AND
THEY WON THE WAR.” NOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY, DEAR FRIEND, IS
THIS. IT’S TIME THAT GOD’S PEOPLE WERE FILLED WITH A
TERRIBLE RESOLVE. IT’S TIME GOD SAID, “OH, GOD, HERE IS,
HERE’S A VINE. WE’RE IN GREAT DESPAIR. BUT LORD THERE WAS
A GLORIOUS DESIGN! BUT LORD, THERE’S A GRAVE DANGER! BUT,
OH, GOD, GIVE US DELIVERANCE, PLEASE, O GOD.” IT IS [THUMP]
TIME FOR GOD TO WORK IN AMERICA. I WAS TALKING TO
SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOLLYWOOD AND
EVERYTHING AND, UH, AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND ALL OF THESE
THINGS AND THEY SAID, “IT’S NOT A FAIR FIGHT.” AND I SAID,
“THAT’S RIGHT, IT’S NOT A FAIR FIGHT, HEH, FOR THEIR SAKE
IT’S NOT A FAIR FIGHT. WE’RE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE
ADVANTAGE, NOT THEM.” FRIEND, WE’VE GOT THE WORD, THE HOLY
GHOST, WE’VE GOT GOD. THEY’RE THE ONES WHO OUGHT TO BE
AFRAID. [AUDIENCE APPLAUSE] THIS IS OUR BATTLE-AX. JESUS
IS OUR COMMANDER. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR ALLY. AND
VICTORY IS OURS THROUGH THE MAN OF GOD’S RIGHT HAND, THE
MAN OF HIS CHOOSING, JESUS CHRIST. LET’S PRAY. OH, GOD,
I PRAY THAT YOU'LL TAKE THE MESSAGE TODAY AND BURN IT INTO
EVERY HEART, BEGINNING WITH MINE O, MY OWN. NOW WHILE
HEADS ARE BOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED, THE MOST PATRIOTIC
THING THAT YOU COULD DO, THE WISEST THING FOR YOUR OWN
WELFARE THAT YOU COULD DO, WOULD BE TO GIVE YOUR HEART
TO JESUS CHRIST. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE’RE SINNERS
BY NATURE, SINNERS BY BIRTH, SINNERS BY CHOICE, AND SINNERS
BY PRACTICE. AND THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT OUR SIN DESERVES
JUDGMENT, AND OUR SIN WILL BE JUDGED. BUT THE BIBLE ALSO
TEACHES THAT GOD MADE A WAY OUT. HE ALLOWED JESUS TO TAKE
OUR PUNISHMENT UPON HIMSELF UPON THAT CROSS. AND THE BIBLE
TEACHES IF WE WILL BELIEVE THAT AND RECEIVE THAT, OUR
SINS WILL BE FORGIVEN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SAVED TODAY,
I INVITE YOU TO PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS, “LORD JESUS, I NEED
YOU, I WANT YOU, I OPEN MY HEART, I RECEIVE YOU NOW AS MY
LORD AND SAVIOR. COME INTO MY HEART, FORGIVE MY SIN, SAVE
ME.” DON’T JUST RATTLE OFF THE WORDS; PRAY IT FROM THE DEPTH
OF YOUR HEART. “COME INTO MY HEART, FORGIVE MY SIN, SAVE
ME, JESUS.” DID YOU PRAY THAT, DID YOU PRAY IT? THEN THANK
HIM BY FAITH. SAY, “THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. AND NOW, LORD
JESUS, I DON’T LOOK FOR A SIGN, I DON’T ASK FOR A
FEELING, I JUST STAND ON YOUR WORD. NOW, LORD JESUS, I WILL
MAKE IT PUBLIC, I WILL NOT BE ASHAMED OF YOU, I WILL MAKE IT
PUBLIC. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” FRIEND, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER
MOMENT OF YOUR TIME? AND MAY I ASK YOU A VERY PERSONAL
QUESTION? DO YOU KNOW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? OR IN OTHER
WORDS, HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED? TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT EVERY SIN
IS FORGIVEN. TO BE SAVED MEANS THAT GOD, THROUGH THE HOLY
SPIRIT, HAS COME TO LIVE IN US, TO DWELL IN US. AND TO BE
SAVED MEANS THAT WHEN WE DIE OR WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN,
WE’RE GOING TO HEAVEN. NOW WE CANNOT EARN SALVATION; IT IS
THE GIFT OF GOD. THE BIBLE SAYS, “FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU
SAVED THROUGH FAITH.” GRACE MEANS GOD’S UNMERITED LOVE AND
FAVOR TOWARDS SINNERS LIKE WE ARE. WOULD YOU PUT YOUR FAITH
WHERE GOD HAS PUT YOUR SINS, ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
WOULD YOU PRAY TODAY AND SAY, “LORD JESUS, I NEED YOU, I
WANT YOU, I RECEIVE YOU AS MY PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR. SAVE
ME LORD JESUS.” IF YOU PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THAT, WRITE US AND
LET US KNOW. AND, UH, WE WILL SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE
TO GET YOU STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. [MUSIC] WE
HOPE THAT TODAY’S MESSAGE HAS MOTIVATED YOU TO CONFESS UP,
TO SPEAK UP, AND TO STAND UP. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO
THIS MESSAGE AGAIN, OR SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE, YOU CAN
FIND IT AT LWF.ORG. YOU CAN ALSO ORDER A COPY ON CD, DVD,
OR DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS’ OUTLINE, NOTES, OR A
TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S MESSAGE. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL OF
THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU ONLINE AT LWF.ORG. THANKS FOR
WATCHING TODAY, WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [MUSIC] [MUSIC]
LOVE WORTH FINDING IS A VIEWER SUPPORTED MINISTRY AND WE NEED
THE HELP OF FAITHFUL VIEWERS LIKE YOU AS WE SHARE THE
LOVE OF CHRIST EACH WEEK. AS A THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINANCIAL
SUPPORT THIS MONTH, WE’D LOVE TO SEND YOU THESE FIVE “HOW
TO” BOOKLETS ON STRENGTH AND FAITH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
GENEROUS SUPPORT AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
