Finding Clarity in the Scriptures

Are we excusing the children?

The children are dismissed.

! That's all right.

!

Can you pray with your eyes open?

I hope.

Okay.

Let me ask you to turn to a passage that is kind of an overarching statement, and let

me tell you ahead of time, next week I'm going to preach on John.

Next week I'm going to preach on John in the eve of the national elections, which I think

is profoundly important.

What I mean is that preaching on John is profoundly important.

You didn't think that way, perhaps, and that was an error on your part.

I am going to speak this morning, I'm going to preach on the matter of what the Scriptures

have to say regarding the current environment we find ourselves in, and so I'm going to ask

that you pray through the sermon.

You ask that what I say is clear, that it is accurate scripturally, that it is uplifting

to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ that all of us someday are going to face.

I do want to read this passage and let it be one of those things that kind of stays in

the background as we work our way through.

1 Timothy chapter 2.

1 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

If you have your Bible there, I would ask that you open and follow along.

First of all.

The first rule of life saving is don't drown.

First of all.

I urge you that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving and thanksgiving be made for all

people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceable and

quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good and is pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be

saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

For this, for this, for this, I was appointed a preacher and an apostle, and I'm telling the

truth and I'm not lying, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

I desire that in every place that men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger and quarreling.

Let us pray.

Our Father God, we rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of all mankind,

who came into the world, sent by your divine plan to die on the cross and to rise again,

that we may have redemption through his blood and forgiveness of sins.

We are thankful that we may rely upon the Scriptures to know with certainty those things that are

important today.

I pray, and I know others join me in praying, that the preaching of the Word of God this morning

might be clear.

It might be marked by simplicity, that it might communicate through the enabling of the Holy Spirit

that which God once heard today.

I ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, over the last six months, the upcoming elections that are going to be taking place

on November the 8th have almost overwhelmed the normal news cycle.

It would seem that we've all ended up being affected in one way or another by the chatter that goes on all around us.

And I say this because of the number of times I've heard individuals speak to me directly,

or I've seen some of the Facebook posts and comments that have been made.

And I have to tell you, in all the years, I'm 68.

Some of you didn't know that.

I want you to know my age.

So I'm 68, and in all of my life, I can't think of a time that I've heard as much dissonance,

kind of nails on chalkboard kind of thing, about politics.

I've had people say to me, oh, man, I need you to tell me how to vote.

Not going to do that.

Well, I'm trying to figure out what to do.

Well, that's a good idea.

I don't plan to tell you how to vote this morning,

though what I do want to do is demonstrate the sufficiency and the accuracy,

the reliability of Scripture.

We all, at least most of us here this morning,

would say that we buy into 2 Timothy 3, verse 16 and 17, don't we?

2 Timothy 3:16

I mean, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.

And what's the takeaway?

Why did God give us this book?

Oh, one, to get to heaven,

to convince us that we're sinners that desperately need the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

And by the way, if we really don't come to grips with the darkness of our heart,

we don't think we need Jesus.

There's something profoundly deficient in preaching that does not exalt Jesus

and also help us understand our desperate spiritual need.

And so we look at 2 Timothy and it says,

Scripture is given by inspiration.

And at the end of that little run in those two verses,

it says that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped,

completely furnished to all good works.

It means that in that book that He has given to us is every piece of information and counsel

and wisdom that we need for all of it.

The other day I was doing a plumbing job helping a friend,

and actually it was one of those rare,

and I mean rare experiences,

where I arrived on site and did not have to go out to get parts.

Now, there's kind of a rumor that all plumbing jobs are three trips.

And I can tell you by experience that that has been true.

And this must have been a provision by God because I arrived and helped,

and actually it ended up where the pipe to reconnect the gas tank,

there was a four-inch piece and there was a three-inch piece,

and I was able to switch them out.

It was like, wow, and it worked!

You see, everything was on site provided.

And so when we read the Bible,

it tells us that God has given us everything we need.

And so my desire this morning is to equip you as a believer

to make God-honoring decisions that reflect your understanding of the Word and your conscience.

Now, as I take up this matter of where we are as a nation and believers,

I'm reminded that my principal task is really not to speak about politics.

I have under the glass right here a little statement that looks up at me every Sunday,

and here's what it says.

It says,

Do you follow that?

Right there.

Right there.

John 5, verse 39.

John 5:39

How does this sermon testify to Christ?

And I would like to think that the main reason that I've not given more time to politics in this pulpit

is not because of fear or uncertainty of how it's going to be received,

but really because sanctification, salvation, and our eternal hope is not rooted in what takes place in Washington,

but is rooted in the finished work of Christ and the certainty we have that He is the Savior of mankind.

I have no intention of deviating from that purpose this morning.

And so our study is going to be aimed, first of all, at some rather sober truth I think we need to come to grips with.

Secondly, at some hope-filled truths.

And then finally, a couple practical things that I think God wants us as believers to be engaged in.

Let's talk, first of all, about some very sober truths.

Politics is the arena in which worldviews come into conflict.

Does that make sense?

Politics is the arena in which worldviews come into conflict.

You may wonder why it is that there is so much turmoil and tension today in politics.

And I've got to tell you that when it really comes down to it,

political parties and agendas propose blessings, peace, fairness, health, one way or another,

and you end up with differing opinions about how that should be accomplished

and what resources need to come to the table.

And so I want to fix it in your mind at the very beginning.

The fact of the matter is, is politics is an arena in which worldviews clash.

And while we may be alarmed at the level of division and turmoil in America,

I assure you that the problem is not unique to these shores or to our culture.

I grew up in India.

Never voted in an election in India, I can tell you that.

And I can remember listening to the political turmoil of the community around me

and recognizing that, you know what, I really, I didn't have anything to do with it.

It was just like, ha, I'm hoping this season will pass.

Yes.

I was driving to church this morning and praying,

and I couldn't help noticing all the signs that are in everybody's yard.

It reminded me of a number of years ago when I was much younger and lived over on Angaro.

One of the boys in our church took it upon himself like Saturday night.

I don't know when it happened, but he went around, this perverse boy,

went around and collected about 200 political signs.

And this is when I lived on Angaro, 1636, and I had the little orchard right out in the front there.

My entire yard was filled with every conceivable sign.

I mean, it's like I woke up in the morning and I'm having devotions.

I'm like, what?

I'd never, you know, it was a mess.

Yes.

So I had to delay my devotions to get out there and pull all these things out.

Ah!

And I found out the kid could not help but giggling so much that I figured out who it was.

So if you're going to pull one on me, just act like you didn't do it.

I've got to tell you, political turmoil is just the nature of the beast.

And so we recognize that until Christ returns, you're going to see the clash of worldviews.

With this in mind, let me point out several things that I think are worth remembering.

For one, righteousness leads to blessing.

Wickedness leads to much suffering.

This is true whether you're talking about Africa or India or China or America or wherever.

Look for a minute at a passage in Proverbs 29, verse 2.

Proverbs 29:2

Righteousness leads to blessing.

Wickedness leads to much suffering.

Proverbs 29, verse 2, it says this.

Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous increase, the people rejoice.

But when the wicked rule, the people groan.

I remember one of those political jokes told by two people who had shown up at the UN.

And by the way, just so you know, there's a reason why I seldomly tell jokes.

A couple reasons, actually.

One of them, they seldom bear on the sermon.

And number two, I don't do it very well.

And that's thankful.

You'll tell me afterwards how I did.

There were several politicians from a couple different banana republics that showed up at the UN for, you know,

one of those conflagrations that they had in conversations.

And so they said to each other, trading business cards,

Why don't you come and visit me in my country?

Of course, I'll do that.

And so, politician A, director of finance or whatever he was,

finally decided to come and visit politician B, who was director of finance in whatever country.

And as they're driving from the airport, going past all these nice properties and buildings and roads and everything.

And the one, they're sitting in the back of the Mercedes.

You know, I mean, if you're going to move around, you've got to do it comfortably.

And the one nudges the other and says, You see all this?

10%.

Impressive.

I am getting 10% off of everything that comes into this country.

It's a good thing.

And the other says, Well, when are you coming to visit me?

I'll come, I'll come, I'll come.

Well, politician A goes to visit politician B, lands there on a kind of broken down airport,

and gets in the Mercedes, you know, and there's a fleet of them that take them.

And as they're driving on down this dirt road, past these hovels, you know,

the politician B bumps politician A and says, You see all this?

90%.

You see, here's the deal.

Righteousness, no matter where it is, ends up being a blessing and a benefit to people.

Ungodliness ends up causing heartache and compromise in any place that it is participated in.

And what we are seeing happen in our country is something that should alarm us,

because unrighteousness and ungodliness across the face is a threat.

To people.

Secondly, I have to tell you that many believers have compromised their role.

I want you to look at Matthew chapter 13 just for a moment.

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

Pay attention to the passage, Matthew chapter 13.

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

Matthew chapter 5, that's what I meant.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Matthew chapter 5, verse 13 through 16.

Matthew 5:13–16

Look at it in your Bible, if you would, please.

I want you to track this passage where Jesus is making a comment.

He says,

You are the salt of the earth.

But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?

It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

Now, listen to me.

We're in a day and time where it doesn't matter what your political affections are.

It doesn't matter what your perspective is on the economy.

There is a common and universal acceptance that there is a progressive rottenness taking place in our culture.

Isn't that right?

It's a mess.

I would propose to you that when meat goes bad, the problem is not with the meat.

The problem is with the salt.

And when you stop and think about the things that are troubling to us as professing believers in our day,

I have to tell you that I sometimes hear people talking about the fact that they're watching the same crass, ungodly, vile,

you know, what's the word I want to use here?

Violent movies.

Their entertainment is no different than the unbeliever.

They laugh at the same crude jokes at work.

They really use the same vocabulary except when they're in the church lobby.

I don't know if you understand what I'm saying.

At the end of the day, if the meat goes bad,

it's fair for those who are concerned to ask the question, why is it?

There's another truth that I want you to hold on to this morning,

and it's this undeniable reality that God will not let sin go unchecked forever.

Kind of fix that in your minds.

First of all, let's recognize that,

and turn in your Bible so you kind of get the picture here,

but look at Romans chapter 2 just for a second.

Romans 2 · chapter mention

Romans chapter 2.

Romans 2 · chapter mention

And the reason I want you to turn to it is because, hey, listen,

my voice is not half as convicting, even when it's reading Scripture.

You see it for yourself.

Here's what God says.

Romans chapter 2, I don't think it's going to appear on the screen,

Romans 2 · chapter mention

but here's what it says.

Verse 4.

Do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience,

not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

I think it's in Ecclesiastes, and off the top of my head, it says this,

because judgment for an evil deed is not speedily executed.

Are you following?

The heart of man is fully set in him to do it.

So here is God being forbearing and patient,

allowing time to pass for hearts to be hardened in stubborn rebellion and disobedience.

But the truth of the matter is, is that eventually God does deal with sin.

And when you stop and ask yourself the question,

how is it that in a nation our size, I want to say this respectfully,

two individuals whose character is undeniably flawed could rise to this high position of office?

That gives us pause to ask what's going on.

I think God's in the process of dealing with our nation.

And so you ask yourself, what are some of the things that really, really bother God?

And eventually, historically, Bible history is what I'm referring to here,

have led God to deal with the nation.

For one, it is the destruction of innocent blood.

What are things that really bother God a great deal?

Is God bothered about our tax code?

And I've got to tell you, in the righteousness and perfection of a holy God,

certainly He would like to see things balanced out in a fashion that modeled the Old Testament.

But here's the fact.

You don't find God dealing in Bible history with nations because of tax code.

And I don't think of any passage where it says that He's really worked up

about people driving on the other side of the road.

Do you follow that?

It's okay.

But here are a couple things that really do get God's attention.

One is the destruction of innocent blood.

And I want you to look at Genesis 6, verse 11 through 13, just for a moment.

Genesis 6:11–13

Genesis 6, verse 11, it says this.

Genesis 6:11

Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.

Violence.

Can we get used to violence?

Can you get used to violence?

How many of you understand that you can get used to violence?

I've got to tell you, one of the things that I appreciate.

How many of you have noted that I appreciate the fact that God brought Pastor Shearer here?

Have I said that before?

Just checking.

I remember in the first month that Pastor Shearer was here,

he was, we were having conversation about a passage,

and he was used by God to challenge me about my growing.

I remember when I first watched my first MMA conflict.

How many of you know what MMA is?

Raise your hands.

Mixed martial arts.

I remember when I watched the first one, I thought,

those guys are incredibly cruel, and they're incredibly arrogant.

But over time, I'm a competitive person.

Did you know that?

I mean, just to let you know.

A little, I need God's help.

But he was used by God to challenge me.

I don't watch it anymore.

Why?

Because the God of this universe is not in favor of men smashing each other's faces.

I might say that slowly so you don't miss it.

God is not in favor of men smashing each other's faces and going around,

yeah, yeah.

You know, it's like, okay.

God hates violence.

Is he violent?

He will be against sin.

But he's, back off.

In Genesis 6, verse 11, it says,

Genesis 6:11

Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.

And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt.

For all flesh had corrupted their way in the earth.

And what did God do to that culture?

He judged it.

There's another thing that in history, the Bible history,

has led to God dealing with a people.

One is violence.

And I've got to tell you, the abortion of innocent, unborn children is an abomination to God.

It's an abomination to God.

I was thinking, as Seth and Joy were up here,

of the passage of Scripture where it says that

children are a heritage from God.

And happy is the man who has his quiver full.

When I'm going deer hunting, I want 10 arrows.

I don't want 9.

And 20 is better than 10.

You know, it's like, more is better in some cases.

God's the one who brings children into being.

And to snuff out their lives because of your personal inconvenience and decision

is unholy and deeply offending to God.

And don't think he doesn't care.

There's another thing, though.

And just kind of take a look, if you would, at Leviticus chapter 18.

Leviticus 18 · chapter mention

Leviticus chapter 18 is where the God of this universe tells us what he thinks about morality.

Leviticus 18 · chapter mention

And we live in a day where the immorality of our nation has just kind of slowly accelerated the point

that is profoundly troubling and offensive to God.

I'm not going to read the entire passage.

I just kind of frame it for you to take a look at.

But here's the deal.

God has something to say about gross immorality.

And I can tell you, if you read Bible history, you know that historically,

he's dealt with nations for these two things.

So here we are in the shadow of this nation's election for a leader to high office.

And we're sober to know that no matter who ends up winning on November the 8th,

this nation is in trouble and there is no remedy apart from the grace of God

and broken and contrite hearts on the part of God's people.

Well, let's come to some comforting thoughts.

You know, it's pretty sobering to realize,

he's looking bad in front.

Okay, let's kind of look at some other things.

Comforting thoughts.

The Word of God does challenge us to look truthfully at what's going on,

but the Word of God also offers us some hope and encouragement.

For one, remember God's in control.

How many of you every now and then have thought to yourself that it really all revolves around

what happens in Washington?

Have you ever gotten caught up by the tractor beam of the world's logic that whatever happens

in Washington at the end of the day, that is what is going to make all the difference in the world?

I saw a sign the other day.

It said, this is the most important election for gun rights.

And I thought to myself, hmm, I don't care.

Now, any of you who know me, I'll give you a little sidebar.

I don't care.

Because at the end of the day, I was not brought into this world to care about gun rights.

I was brought into this world to care about the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel in which alone is hope.

Okay?

And so, here we are.

God's in control.

By the way, God has been in control.

And He will continue to be in control.

And He will not stop being in control.

And I think believers ought to act a little less like Chicken Little and a little more like they believe.

Okay?

The sky is not falling in.

I love the fact that as you read in Romans chapter 13, it says He's the one who's in control of this day.

Romans 13 · chapter mention

He raises governments up.

He takes them down.

I don't remember the exact passage, but it also says that He sets the boundaries of nations.

Can you believe that He draws the lines that we respect on maps?

He does.

I can hear Twyla Parris in the background somewhere.

God is in control.

And some of you ought to go to the polling booths or our election place on Tuesday kind of singing that.

Just remember, God is in control.

Okay.

Secondly, God calls us to pray.

First, for repentance and revival in the lives of believers.

Let me have you turn to a passage.

It's interesting.

I was reading a blog.

Russ Moore is a man that I highly respect.

And he was kind of taking a whack at the fact that 2 Chronicles doesn't really apply.

I think it does.

Okay.

Anyway, that's off the page.

2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Here's what it says.

I'll get there.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

Now, the first application of that passage is directly, undeniably, to the nation of Israel.

It was given to advise God's people in a messy time.

God pays attention to the humility of His people.

But I want to remind you that it's not the only illustration of where the prayer of righteous individuals

had benefit and had an effect upon another group of people.

I mean, for one, Abraham's prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah, his pleading, his intercession was what?

If there's only 50, are you going to wipe them out?

No.

What about 40?

It would get down to how many?

Does anybody remember?

Down to 10.

There's nothing wrong with God's people with passion and humility saying,

Lord, first of all, we've got to deal with our own sin.

And then we pray for our nation.

I can't help but think about Nineveh.

Did God spare Nineveh?

Huh?

Why did God spare Nineveh?

Because of the passionate, sympathetic heart of Jonah.

Is it what it was?

You know?

Jonah came into town and he says, guys, you're going to get smoked.

And you got it coming in 40 days.

You know, that's the kind of preaching you don't want.

But it had its effect.

And I got to tell you, if God heard the people of Nineveh pray,

he's got to hear our prayers.

Why don't you pray?

I think it's another important thing.

I go back to that passage in 1 Timothy 2.

I want you to look at that text

and recognize that God calls us to pray for repentance in our own hearts.

But God also calls us to pray for the nation that we are in.

1 Timothy, go back to that passage again

and put your finger on it and hold on to it just for a second.

One of the things I want you to recognize

is here's God giving instruction to His people.

And He says, listen, I want you to pray

for those who are in high office.

I'm not praying for Him.

I got to remember, years ago,

probably the most discouraged I was politically

was a number of years ago

when a particular president came into office

and I knew and everybody knew that he was a philanderer.

Do you know what I mean by a philanderer?

Someone who was unfaithful to his covenant to his wife.

That counts big with Tim, you know.

And I remember being really discouraged by that.

And after that, I kind of fell into the trap,

the sinful behavior of saying snarky things about that president.

How many of you know what I'm talking about?

I had a bad attitude and I let it play out

and then I was convicted by God

that what I ought to do is quit acting that way

and I ought to start praying for the guy.

And by the way, when Paul wrote this,

Nero was on the throne.

Nero was on the throne.

Any of you who are wondering

if there is a comparison between Nero

and any of the current politicians

that favor us with their efforts,

Google it and say to yourself,

man, God, you've been pretty patient

and forbearing with us

to give us the kind of quasi-half-baked individuals

instead of Nero who was on steroids.

Okay.

Let's also remind ourselves of one other great thing

and that is this,

is that our sure hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ

who is the Savior of the world.

Here's what I'm holding on to.

You know, at the end of the day,

the thing that I have confidence in

is that Jesus came into the world

to save sinners of whom I have chief.

And all you have to do

is work your way through 1 Timothy

where the apostle is writing to people

in Ephesus

and giving them instructions

on how to behave

in a very nasty culture.

Does he say anything about investing

a profound matter of their energy

or their resources

in swaying things politically

one way or another?

And what's the answer?

No.

Let me have you look at it.

For this is good, verse 3,

and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior

who desires all people to be saved

and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Listen to me.

People will not get to heaven

by your belligerent attitude

towards one party or another.

When I was on vacation,

I was up there at Lake Erie

fishing for perch

on an extended pier

that ran out into the lake

and ended up in conversation

with a man sitting next to me.

Well, I lent him my fishing pole.

That's why he was sitting next to me.

And we got to talking

and got to talking

and I failed to reveal

that under my shirt

I actually was a Baptist pastor

and I was just kind of,

I'm a fisherman with a dumpy hat on.

I was just kind of sitting there

doing my thing, you know.

And like the guy's kind of

getting his speed

and he let me know.

He wanted to tell me

all about himself

and he's going on

and letting me know

that he was a lobbyist for...

I don't want to go there.

Okay?

Now listen to me.

I'm ashamed to admit this.

We had a 30-minute wind-up

to an opportunity

to talk about Jesus

and he hit one of my

hot-button issues

and I went south on that one.

I had to ask forgiveness.

And I remember...

And very thankfully

the Lord pulled it back

real quickly.

How's that?

You know, it's like...

I said, you know what?

Let's not talk about

the Second Amendment.

Why don't we do that?

Let's not do that.

Let's talk about

corruption in Columbus.

Let's talk about

cocaine deaths.

I mean, because those

were other things

he was really worked up on.

How many of you know

lobbyists are really

kind of fired up?

I mean, they make their living

being fired up.

And so I was like...

And I found myself

drifting left of center

and I lost focus

for a moment

on the fact that

people don't get to heaven

by politics.

I remember coming back

to the house

and saying,

Judith...

I lost sight

of why I'm here.

It's good to vote.

I think believers

should vote.

But when you

in the process

of engaging

in the issues

that are on the table

today

lose sight

of why you draw breath,

you have lost

your purpose

temporarily.

Well,

let's get some

clear direction

and close.

Pray passionately

and humbly

to know where you've

lost your saltiness.

And that's a fair thing

to do.

There's not one of us

here that would say,

hey, listen,

we're clean as the

wind-driven snow

and we're on top of it

and there's nothing

in our life

that we need to

confess and forsake

if we're going to be

more effective

as salt.

it would help

for God's people

to return to their

first love.

Okay,

a little,

a little smile

at me just for a minute

so I know you're looking.

I don't understand

why people who profess

to know Jesus

can't sing enthusiastically.

Is that a fair statement?

I mean,

there I go left of center.

I understand,

but you can get all over me

afterwards.

Email.

But you know what?

I mean,

what are you doing?

You're saved?

I mean,

you know what kind of people

don't get fired up

at an OSU game?

The opponents.

I have to admit,

I didn't watch the whole game,

but I was watching

a couple of those

touchdown drives

and you know how,

I don't know about you,

but my body anguish

is right there with it.

How many of you do that?

It just,

you know,

you know,

it's like,

come on,

hit it,

hit it.

You know,

oh,

yeah.

So,

here.

Some of you lost

your first love

and how can I tell?

If you looked at yourself

in the mirror

that way in the morning,

you wouldn't go out.

Okay.

Well,

another thing to do.

God's people should exercise

the privilege

that God has given us

of voting.

Hello?

Vote!

And by the way,

vote with information

in hand.

Do not leave it

in the polling place.

Can I tell you that?

That's wrong.

Don't do that.

Do not do that.

You just go up there

and fill out your whatever

and vote,

your conscience,

but find out information

ahead of time.

There is so much stuff

out there.

You can figure it out.

There's worldviews

in conflict.

It's not hard

to sort them out.

Third,

we ought to be peacemakers

in a progressively

divisive

and belligerent world.

First,

among ourselves

and the fact

that we hold

differing political opinions.

Do you realize that?

You get to practice

here in the body

of Christ

how it is

to handle the fact

that everybody

doesn't agree with you

and do it

with a Christian decorum

and gentleness.

Fourth,

do recognize

that the Bible

calls out particular sins

as a sure cause

of judgment

and those are things

that count.

I remember my mother

who had no bumper stickers

on her car.

I have none.

But mom had

one bumper sticker

on her car.

Do you know what it was?

I vote pro-life.

There are things

that count

and God's made it clear.

Finally,

and I think

this is very important,

don't let politics

make enemies

of those we've been

called to love

to Christ.

Don't let politics

make enemies

of those that

we've been called

to love

to Christ.

There's a reason

why

God being my helper

I will never have

a political bumper sticker

on my car.

I will never have

a yard sign

in my lawn

except for the time

that I had 200 of them.

And anybody

who could figure out

what party

I was voting for

that time

that

that was

divining tea leaves.

Let me say it again.

Don't let politics

make enemies

of those we have been

called to love

to Christ.

Here's the undeniable

truth that we have

to hold on to.

God who is holy

will someday

judge sin.

Christ Jesus came into the world

to save sinners

Paul said

of whom I'm chief.

God who is holy

and this morning

we who know

Christ

should have it

fixed in our mind

that when we

close our eyes

for our eternal rest

until the return

of Christ

the one thing

that we should have

done well

is keep our eyes

on the only hope

there is

and that is

Jesus Christ.

Make much

of Him

and those of you

who are here

that do not know

Christ

some of you

have been deceiving

yourselves

and thinking

that you're okay.

I'm not the one

who calls you

to task

but your conscience

bears witness

the scriptures

bear witness

and there will be

a day

when God

who is holy

will judge

all sin

and condemn

sinners

who are unrepentant

forever

to hell

and I would

plead with you

and Christ did

be reconciled

to God.

Let's close

in prayer

and as I am

closing in prayer

I'm going to ask

that the candidates

for baptism

would come

at this time

and we will

have baptism

following that.

Our precious God

and Father

we are blessed

this morning

by the fact

that the scriptures

speak clearly

to us

and give us

hope in the Lord

Jesus Christ

and the confidence

that there is a day

when you are coming back

and you will be

King of Kings

and Lord of Lords

and we who know you

will rejoice

with inexpressible joy.

Help us not lose sight

of the supremely

important calling

that you've given

to us

to lift up

the Lord Jesus Christ

to make

His name

and gospel

clear.

I pray

Father

this morning

that believers

would be

humbly repentant

and sinners

drawn to the gospel.

Ask in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Stand together

as we sing.

sing together.

Let it be Jesus

Jesus

First name

that I call

Let it be Jesus

Let it be Jesus

Smoked inside the storm

I'll never be

I'll never be

to love you

For me to live

this Christ

For me to live

this Christ

For me to live

this Christ

God I drink

Your name

God I drink

Your name

name above everything

let it be

let it be

Jesus

let it be

Jesus

from the rising

of the sun

let it be

Jesus

when all is

said and done

I'll never

be the best

world

for me

to live

this

life

for me

to live

this

cry

God I

greet your name

above everything

let it be

let it be

Jesus

let it be

let it be

holy

holy

Should I ever be the best friend? Should I ever be the best friend? Should I ever be the best friend? I'm not even a friend.

And every night

And every night

And every night

And every night

And every night

And every night

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.