AMERICA WAS BORN AS A CHRISTIAN NATION.
AND IT’S ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT FOUNDATION
THAT WE’VE HAD THE FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY
WE’VE ENJOYED FOR TWO AND A HALF CENTURIES.
DOES THAT SOUND CONTROVERSIAL TO YOU?
THEN JOIN US ON TODAY’S TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES, WHERE WE ARE
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH IN WHICH WE CELEBRATE PRESIDENT’S DAY.
IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD REMINDER OF AMERICA’S HISTORY, AND
THE GREAT LEADERS WHO SETTLED AND ESTABLISHED THIS NATION.
WHAT OUR SECULAR HISTORY TENDS TO IGNORE TODAY
IS THE FACT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE SETTLERS
AND FOUNDERS WERE CHRISTIANS WHO WERE HERE FOR CHRISTIAN REASONS.
THEY CAME HERE FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL,
AND THEY EVENTUALLY FORMED A NEW GOVERNMENT
THAT GREW LARGELY OUT OF THEIR PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW.
TODAY, WE STILL ENJOY THE REMAINING FRUITS
OF WHAT THEY GAVE US,
BUT WE’VE UPROOTED IT
FROM THE CHRISTIAN SOIL THEY PLANTED IT IN.
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE’LL GET A BIBLICAL PRESCRIPTION
FOR THE SICKNESS OF FORGETTING ABOUT GOD.
AND WE BEGIN WITH AN ENCOURAGING CONVERSATION I HAD RECENTLY
IN WASHINGTON D.C. WITH A MODERN CHRISTIAN LEADER.
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
RECENTLY HONORED SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY OF MISSOURI
WITH THE DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN STATESMAN AWARD.
AS HE RECEIVED IT, SENATOR HAWLEY SAT DOWN WITH ME
TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT CULTURAL SITUATION IN AMERICA
AND HOW WE CHRISTIANS CAN ADDRESS IT.
SENATOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR MAKING THIS A PRIORITY THIS AFTERNOON AND FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SENATOR, YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOD'S DESIGN FOR THE FAMILY
AND PARTICULARLY BIBLICAL MANHOOD.
YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WRITING ON THIS.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU SO MUCH ABOUT THE NUCLEAR FAMILY,
THE STATE OF THE NUCLEAR FAMILY IN AMERICA,
PARTICULARLY THE STATE OF MANHOOD?
WELL, I MEAN THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
I THINK IS PRETTY CLEARLY UNDER ASSAULT.
AND I MEAN, IT'S UNDER ASSAULT FROM MANY QUARTERS.
IT'S UNDER ASSAULT FROM MUCH OF OUR POPULAR CULTURE.
BUT ALSO, I MEAN, WE'RE SITTING IN WASHINGTON DC
WE COULD PROBABLY SEE THE CAPITOL OUT THOSE WINDOWS.
I MEAN, IT'S UNDER ASSAULT FROM POLICY AND FROM OUR GOVERNMENT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A TAX CODE THAT PENALIZES MARRIAGE
DOESN'T REWARD IT, PENALIZES IT.
WE HAVE POLICY UPON POLICY
THAT MAKES IT HARDER TO RAISE CHILDREN.
WE HAVE A RADICAL LEFT IN THIS COUNTRY
THAT NOW WANTS THE DECISIONS
ABOUT HOW TO RAISE CHILDREN TO BE MADE BY GOVERNMENT,
NOT TO BE MADE BY PARENTS.
AND I THINK YOU LOOK AT THIS,
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS FUNDED BY YOUR TAX DOLLARS,
SAID JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THAT
THE NUCLEAR FAMILY WAS A VESTIGE OF SYSTEMIC RACISM.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
YEAH, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
SO I THINK AGAINST THAT BACKDROP,
WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES,
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
IS IN SUCH A STATE OF ATTRITION AND DISARRAY?
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MEN IN PARTICULAR,
I THINK WHAT WE'VE GOT TO SEND
A DIFFERENT MESSAGE TO MEN THAN OUR CULTURE HAS BEEN SENDING.
I THINK OUR CULTURE SENDS TO MEN,
OUR POPULAR CULTURE SENDS TO MEN THE MESSAGE THAT
THEY ARE EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY
AND THE WORLD BY THE LIKES OF THE LIBERAL LEFT.
SO THEY SAY TO MEN THAT MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SYSTEMIC RACISM.
MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GLOBAL WARMING.
MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY LEFTIST ILL
THAT THEY IMAGINE THAT THE COUNTRY HAS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO SEND A DIFFERENT MESSAGE.
WE NEED TO TELL MEN THAT THEY ARE VITALLY NEEDED
AND WE NEED YOUNG MEN IN PARTICULAR.
WE NEED TO SAY TO YOUNG MEN,
YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GET MARRIED,
HAVE A FAMILY, BE A CONTRIBUTOR, AND FULFILL
THE GOD-GIVEN ROLE THAT HE HAS FOR YOU.
EVERY MAN, AS EVERY WOMAN HAS A GOD-GIVEN DESTINY ON THEIR LIFE,
A CALL ON THEIR LIFE.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE MEN
IN PARTICULAR THIS COUNTRY, THE YOUNG MEN IN PARTICULAR,
AND SAY, WE NEED YOU.
WE NEED YOU DESPERATELY, AND YOU CAN LEAVE A LEGACY,
A LEGACY FOR YOUR FAMILY,
A LEGACY THAT WILL CHANGE THIS COUNTRY.
BUT TO DO THAT, WE NEED YOU TO STEP UP
AND TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITY, NOT SHIRK RESPONSIBILITY,
AND WE'LL STAND THERE TO BE EITHER
WITH YOU AND SUPPORT YOU IN THAT.
SENATOR, YOU RECENTLY WROTE A BOOK CALLED
MANHOOD, THE MASCULINE VIRTUES AMERICAN NEEDS.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOOK
AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO WRITE IT.
WELL, WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO WRITE IT ARE MY KIDS.
SO MY LITTLE BOYS, ELIJAH AND BLAZE,
WHO I MENTIONED WHO ARE 11 AND NINE NOW,
AND REALLY THIS STARTED BECAUSE AS THEY GET OLDER,
I STARTED THINKING TO MYSELF,
WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A FATHER, AS A CHRISTIAN FATHER
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE GOD-GIVEN CALL ON THEIR LIVES
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IT MEAN TO BE A HUSBAND?
WHAT'S IT MEAN TO BE A FATHER?
WHY IS IT THAT GOD CALLS US TO DO THAT?
WHAT'S IT MEAN TO GO OUT THERE AND SHOULDER RESPONSIBILITY?
SO IT STARTED IN THAT WAY, AND WHAT I DID IN THE BOOK IS
I JUST WENT TO THE BIBLE AND JUST WALKED THROUGH STORIES OF
THE MEN IN THE BIBLE WHO GOD CALLED AND USED
NONE OF THEM PERFECT,
BUT ALL OF THEM POWERFUL BECAUSE THEY HAD A POWERFUL LORD,
BECAUSE THEY WERE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LORD WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
WE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT, IN THE BOOK,
WE LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT STORIES
AND THE DIFFERENT VIRTUES,
THE DIFFERENT CHARACTER TRAITS THAT THOSE MEN ILLUSTRATED
AND THAT GOD CALLS EVERY MAN TO STAND UP INTO.
MY FAVORITE, THE LEFT, OF COURSE, PREDICTABLY
LOST THEIR MINDS ABOUT THIS BOOK.
I MEAN, I THINK THE WASHINGTON POST ALONE
WROTE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT ARTICLES ABOUT THE BOOK,
MY FAVORITE OF WHICH WAS ONE WASHINGTON POST COLUMNIST SAID,
I JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND THIS BOOK AT ALL.
IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
AND I THOUGHT IT'S REALLY EASY.
IT'S CALLED THE BIBLE; IT'S JUST WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS TO MEN.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
BUT I THINK OUR CULTURE, ESPECIALLY ELITE,
SO-CALLED ELITE CULTURE,
LIKE THE PEOPLE AT THE POSTS AND THE TIMES,
AND YOU KNOW WHO I MEAN,
THEY'RE SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE SCRIPTURE.
THEY'RE SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH OUR HISTORY THAT
TO THEM WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD,
THEY HONESTLY, A LOT OF THEM,
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYMORE.
AND BOY, THAT'S DANGEROUS FOR OUR COUNTRY
AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT MESSAGE OF BIBLICAL MANHOOD,
BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD, AND THE GREAT BLESSING THAT
THAT IS THE LEGACY THAT IT LEAVES.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT I THINK TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE SO MANY CHRISTIANS THAT DON'T WANT TO SPEAK OUT,
PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.
WHY CAN THE CHURCH NOT AFFORD TO BE SILENT
RIGHT NOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY?
WELL, THIS IS SUCH A CRITICAL TIME.
AND LISTEN, YOU JUST SAW WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID.
I THINK WE REALLY GOT A WINDOW INTO THE AGENDA OF THE LEFT
AND THE SORT OF SECULAR PROGRESSIVES
WHO WOULD LIKE TO GOVERN THIS COUNTRY.
THEY DON'T REPRESENT THE COUNTRY,
BUT THEY'D LIKE TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY.
COVID REALLY EXPOSED THEIR AGENDA.
THEY SHUT DOWN EVERY CHURCH AND SYNAGOGUE
THEY GET THEIR HANDS ON WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE,
LOWE'S AND WALMART WERE OPEN.
NOW, LISTEN, AS I SAID ACTUALLY THE OTHER DAY IN A HEARING,
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST LOWE'S AND WALMART, IN FACT,
I SHOP AT BOTH THOSE PLACES JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEKEND.
BUT I ALSO GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS.
AND THE IDEA THAT THESE BUSINESSES COULD BE OPEN
OR WORSE, CASINOS, BARS, OTHER PLACES OF ILL REPUTE,
WOULD BE OPEN AND BLESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT
WHILE OUR CHURCHES ARE SHUT DOWN.
THERE'S SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH THAT.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
BUT NUMBER TWO, I THINK IT SHOWS THE HOSTILITY
TOWARDS THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH,
TOWARDS THE WITNESS OF FAITH THAT PERMEATES
MUCH OF THE GOVERNING CLASS OF THIS COUNTRY.
AND IN THAT CONTEXT, THE CHURCH CANNOT BE SILENT.
BUT ALSO THE CHURCH IS THE BEARER OF TRUTH.
WE HOLD THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.
HOW DARE WE BE QUIET, EVER.
WE'VE GOT TO BRING THAT HOPE TO THE WORLD IN WINSOME WAYS,
IN WELCOMING WAYS, SOMETIMES IN FORCEFUL WAYS
WHEN WE HAVE TO SAY TO THOSE IN POWER,
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG,
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG.
AND THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH, I THINK IN THAT RESPECT
HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN NOW.
SENATOR, FINAL QUESTION.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT GETS YOU UP EVERY MORNING.
YOU'RE SMILING.
THERE'S A LOT OF DESPAIR, THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR,
BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT DRIVES YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR HOPE?
WHAT CAN YOU LEAVE US WITH TODAY THAT GIVES US
SOME ENCOURAGEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICA?
WELL, MY HOPE IS IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
I MEAN, LISTEN, WE KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS.
I MEAN, WE ARE NOT WORKING TOWARD VICTORY.
WE'RE WORKING FROM VICTORY.
WE KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS.
WE HAVE THAT DEEP AND PROFOUND CONVICTION.
AND IT'S INTERESTING; I’VE BEEN
SPENDING A LOT OF TIME RECENTLY WITH THE PURITANS,
WITH THEIR WRITINGS, LOOKING BACK AT THE
FIRST SETTLERS TO THE COUNTRY AND READING THEIR DIARIES
AND THEIR JOURNALS AND THEIR SERMONS.
WHAT STRIKES ME, IS OUR FOUNDERS THERE, OUR FORBEARERS,
THEY'RE OFTEN TAGGED AS BEING PEOPLE
WHO WERE DOUR AND WHO WERE DEPRESSED.
AND THE PURITANS, THEY ALWAYS WERE LOOKING FOR
FUNDS SO THAT THEY COULD GET RID OF IT.
YOU READ THEIR WRITING IN THEIR SERMONS.
WHAT YOU FIND IS TREMENDOUS HOPE.
AND WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF THAT HOPE?
THE SOURCE OF THAT HOPE IS THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD A PART
IN EXTENDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD A PART IN SEEING
BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES TAKE ROOT IN A NEW WORLD,
BUILDING A NEW WORLD
WHERE THE TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE WOULD TAKE ROOT AND FLOURISH.
AND THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY DID THAT.
THEY COULD CREATE SOMETHING THAT
HAD NEVER BEFORE BEEN SEEN ON THE EARTH.
AND GUESS WHAT? THEY DID IT
AND WHAT'S CALLED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WHAT GIVES ME HOPE KNOWS THAT THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
ON WHICH THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED HAVE NOT CHANGED.
THOSE TRUTHS HAVE NOT CHANGED.
THEY'RE AS POWERFUL AND AS COMPELLING
AS THEY WERE HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, AND
IT'S OUR GREAT PRIVILEGE IN THIS TIME TO STAND AND DEFEND THEM.
AND I'LL JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
I THINK IT IS EASY,
GIVEN THE HOST OF CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE TO SOMETIMES
FEEL DEPRESSED AND WHATEVER ELSE WE SAY ABOUT THE 2020'S,
WHEN WE LOOK BACK ON THIS TIME, LORD WILLING,
20, 30, 40 YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN YOU TALK TO
YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDKIDS AND YOUR GREAT GRANDKIDS MAYBE
YOU WILL NOT SAY ABOUT THE 2020'S
THAT IT WAS A TIME OF BOREDOM AND PLACIDITY AND
NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, RIGHT?
YOU WILL NOT SAY THAT.
YOU'LL SAY, WOW, THAT WAS A TIME OF CHALLENGE.
THAT WAS A TIME OF DIFFICULTY.
THOSE WERE TIMES OF TRIALS,
BUT WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LIVE IN THAT TIME
WHEN THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE MATTER,
WHEN THE STAND THAT THE LORD CALLS US TO MAKE REALLY MATTERS.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO LIVE IN THIS TIME
AND TO BE CALLED BY THE LORD,
TO STAND FOR HIM AND FOR TRUTH IN THIS TIME, AND
TO REMIND OUR FELLOW AMERICANS OF WHAT MAKES US AMERICANS,
WHICH ARE THE TRUTHS THAT WE WERE FOUNDED ON.
AMEN. AS THEY SAY THAT WE'LL PREACH.
AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE A BUSY MAN
AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO THE SENATE, BUT
LET'S GIVE SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I’M GRATEFUL FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS
LIKE SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY,
AND I PRAY THAT THE LORD RAISES UP MANY MORE LIKE HIM
TO STAND FOR TRUTH IN THE HALLS OF POWER IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
OURS WAS A NATION FOUNDED UPON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES, AND IT
PRODUCED BLESSINGS LIKE LIMITED GOVERNMENT, DIVISION OF POWERS,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SPEECH AND COMMERCE, AND MUCH MORE.
TODAY WE ENJOY THE REMNANTS OF THAT CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION,
BUT WE’VE FORGOTTEN THE SOURCE.
THAT’S A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE AS A NATION
AND THE ANSWER IS REPENTANCE.
I RECENTLY SHARED MORE WITH OUR CONGREGATION HERE AT
CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN A MESSAGE FROM MALACHI,
CHAPTER 3 AND SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8 “RETURN TO ME.”
TO SET THE REDEMPTIVE HISTORICAL CONTEXT,
THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE RETURNING FROM EXILE AND
THE REMNANT OF GOD'S PEOPLE ARE RETURNING
TO THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH,
BUT THEY'VE REJECTED GOD
AND ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THEY'VE REJECTED GOD
IS THEY BEGUN TO WORSHIP THE PROVISIONS AND NOT THE PROVIDER,
THE BENEFITS AND NOT THE BENEFACTOR
AND THE REJECTION WAS ROOTED IN MISPLACED AFFECTIONS
THAT THE TREASURES OF THIS WORLD CAPTURED THEIR HEARTS INSTEAD OF
THEIR HEARTS BEING CAPTURED BY THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN.
AND GOD CALLS THEM HERE IN MALACHI CHAPTER 3 INTO WHAT IS
KNOWN AS COVENANT RENEWAL TO RETURN TO ME TO BE RESTORED.
WE'LL READ FROM MALACHI CHAPTER 3 VERSES 7 THROUGH 10, AND
THEN A NEW TESTAMENT VERSE 2ND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8 VERSE 9.
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD.
AND THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER FADES
BUT THE WORD OF OUR LORD IT STANDS FOREVER.
AMEN. YOU MAY BE SEATED.
JESUS IN HIS TEACHINGS IN THE GOSPELS SAYS SOME VERY
AUDACIOUS COUNTERINTUITIVE PARADIGM SHATTERING THINGS,
BUT ONE OF THE MOST AUDACIOUS IS
WHEN HE TELLS HIS FOLLOWERS THAT YOU
FIRST MUST HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER TO LIVE.
THEN IN ORDER TO FOLLOW ME SAYS THE LORD,
YOU HAVE TO DIE AND YOU HAVE TO PICK UP YOUR CROSS.
AND THAT IS TRUE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO FOLLOWS
AFTER JESUS CHRIST THAT THERE IS A DEATH
THAT MUST BE EXPERIENCED IN ORDER FOR US TO TRULY LIVE.
THAT IS THE IRONY OF THE GOSPEL; DIE AND THEN LIVE,
SUFFERING BEFORE GLORY.
IN THIS PASSAGE THAT WE JUST READ IN MALACHI,
GOD SAYS TO HIS PEOPLE, HIS COVENANT PEOPLE RETURN
AND GOD IS CALLING HIS COVENANT PEOPLE TO REPENT
BECAUSE HE WANTS THEM TO HAVE LIFE.
AND SO HE SAYS, COME TO ME SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE LIFE,
BUT IN ORDER TO GET THERE, YOU FIRST HAVE TO DIE.
AND THE QUESTION IS FOR THE COVENANTED PEOPLE OF GOD,
PARTICULARLY IN MALACHI 3, WHAT DID THEY NEED TO DIE TO?
THEY NEEDED TO DIE TO THE IDOL OF SELF-ABSORPTION.
THEY NEEDED TO DIE FROM THE THOUGHT AND THE LIE THAT
THEY COULD FIND LIFE IN THE PROVISION AND NOT THE PROVIDER
IN THE BENEFITS AND NOT THE BENEFACTOR.
AND GOD IS SAYING, RETURN TO ME IN ORDER TO LIVE
AND HAVE LIFE TO THE FULL AND REPENT.
ALLOW NOT YOUR HEART TO ANY LONGER BE CAPTURED
BY THE TREASURES OF THIS EARTH
AND ALLOW YOUR HEART TO BE CAPTURED
BY THE TREASURE OF HEAVEN.
HOW DO WE RETURN TO GOD AS HIS COVENANT PEOPLE?
WELL, THE FIRST THING WE SEE IN THIS PASSAGE IS
GOD CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO STOP ROBBING GOD.
IN VERSES 8 AND 9, HE LITERALLY SAYS,
STOP ROBBING FROM ME. WHEN ASKED THE QUESTION,
HOW ARE WE TO RETURN? HOW ARE WE TO REPENT?
GOD CLEARLY SAYS, STOP ROBBING FROM ME.
BUT YOU MIGHT BE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING SAYING TO YOURSELF,
ROBBING FROM GOD, I MEAN EVERYTHING I HAVE I'VE EARNED.
AND ONE OF THE MOST FOUNDATIONAL THINGS THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND
ABOUT LIVING IN THE KINGDOM AND MORE PARTICULARLY
ABOUT EARTHLY POSSESSIONS IS
THAT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ULTIMATELY BELONGS TO GOD.
AND IF YOU DO NOT GET THAT FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLE,
YOU'LL ALWAYS BE CAUGHT IN THE DILEMMA OF ROBBING FROM GOD
AND HOLDING ONTO YOUR EARTHLY TREASURE
AS IF IT ULTIMATELY BELONGS TO YOU.
AND THE TRAGEDY IS I SEE PEOPLE EVERY DAY
STUFFING AND CONSUMING THEIR LIVES
WITH THINGS THAT JUST DON'T MATTER
BECAUSE YOU COULD GO TO THE MALL THIS AFTERNOON
AND BUY THE WHOLE THING AND BE ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE,
BUT IT'S THE PERSON THAT UNDERSTANDS
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I NEED.
THEREFORE, I CAN RESPOND WITH GENEROSITY
TOWARDS GOD AND HIS KINGDOM.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIFE AND LIFE TO THE FULL.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THIS LIFE
WITH OPEN HANDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
AND THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST,
THE CALLING OF GOD'S PEOPLE IS EXTREME
AND THE CALLING OF THE KINGDOM IS RADICAL.
AND THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD DO SOMETHING SO CRAZY
LIKE RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS OF THE KINGDOM
IS IF YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT YOU HAD ALL THE TREASURE YOU NEEDED.
AND IN CHRIST YOU DO.
LET'S PRAY.
OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN THE GOSPEL.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THE GENEROSITY
THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGH
THE RICHES OF THE GLORIOUS GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST.
LORD, YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON THAT.
THE PRICELESS NATURE OF OUR SALVATION
AND THE GRACE UPON GRACE THAT IS POURED OUT UPON US
EVEN WHEN WE DISOBEY,
EVEN WHEN WE ARE PRONE TO WANDER,
YOU POUR OUT YOUR AMAZING BLESSING UPON US.
AND SO LORD, I PRAY THAT WE WOULD NOT BE TEMPTED TO THINK
THAT THE TREASURES OF THIS WORLD BRING LIFE
OH LORD I PRAY IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE
THIS MORNING THAT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE RADICAL NATURE
OF GOD'S AMAZING GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST,
THAT THEY WOULD REPENT OF THEIR SINS
AND THAT THEY WOULD KNOW THAT GOD GAVE HIS SON
AND SENT HIM INTO THE WORLD NOT TO CONDEMN THE WORLD,
BUT THAT THROUGH HIM THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED.
IF YOU'RE HERE THIS MORNING OR LISTENING AT HOME,
WOULD YOU REPENT OF YOUR SIN?
WOULD YOU LOOK TO JESUS CHRIST
AS YOUR ONLY HOPE IN LIFE AND DEATH?
AND WOULD YOU RESPOND BY SAYING YES?
LORD, TODAY I BELIEVE,
I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD.
I BELIEVE IT IN MY HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.
AND THE PROMISE FOR YOU TODAY AND TOMORROW AND FOREVER
IS THAT YOU WOULD BE SAVED NOT ACCORDING TO YOUR WORK,
BUT ACCORDING TO THE WORK OF CHRIST IN YOU AND FOR YOU;
AND MAY YOU THROUGH THE REDEMPTION
AND THE AMAZING GRACE OF CHRIST,
RESPOND WITH GLAD AND THANKFUL AND GENEROUS HEARTS
AND LIGHT OF THE GENEROSITY THAT'S BEEN POURED OUT
UPON YOU THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD.
WE PRAY THIS PRAYER. AMEN.
HI, I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM DR. PACIENZA,
EVERYTHING WE HAVE BELONGS TO GOD,
AND HE’S MADE US STEWARDS OVER IT.
IT’S BAD STEWARDSHIP TO ACCEPT THE BLESSINGS
BUT TO IGNORE THE GOD WHO GIVES US THOSE BLESSINGS
YET THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AMERICA TODAY.
AMERICA WAS FOUNDED AND GUIDED BY THOSE
WHO LARGELY BELIEVED IN BIBLICAL TRUTH,
AND WE’VE BEEN INCREASINGLY PULLED AWAY
FROM OUR CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS BY
THOSE WHO WANT TO REVISE HISTORY IN A SECULAR LIGHT.
THE REPERCUSSIONS ON OUR FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY
CAN BE CATASTROPHIC AS THE CRACKS IN THAT FOUNDATION GROW.
MY FATHER, D. JAMES KENNEDY,
WAS A STUDENT OF AMERICA’S TRUE HISTORY
AND HE STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT IF WE LOST SIGHT OF THAT HISTORY,
OUR NATION WOULD BE DOOMED.
THAT’S WHY HE WROTE THE VITAL BOOKLET,
WHAT THEY BELIEVED:
THE FAITH OF WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON, AND LINCOLN,
AND WE’D LIKE TO SEND IT TO YOU
AS OUR THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION
TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THE ONGOING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
THOSE WHO WANT TO REMAKE AMERICA IN THEIR OWN SECULAR IMAGE
HAVE DISTORTED THE TRUTH ABOUT THESE
GREAT MEN AND THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH THEY GOVERNED AMERICA.
MY FATHER CLEARS AWAY THE FOG AND
SHARES THE TRUTH ABOUT DEEPLY CHRISTIAN-INFLUENCED
BELIEFS OF THESE ICONIC STATESMEN
TRUTH THAT WILL SHOCK YOU IF YOU GOT YOUR HISTORY FROM
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR OUR SECULAR UNIVERSITIES.
CONTACT US FOR THIS EYE-OPENING BOOKLET,
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A GENEROUS DONATION
OF $40 OR MORE, WE’LL SEND YOU
WHAT THEY BELIEVED, PLUS THE EXCLUSIVE NEW DVD,
HOW DARE WE BE QUIET?
RECENTLY, OUR D. JAMES KENNEDY
HONORED SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY OF MISSOURI WITH
OUR DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN STATESMAN AWARD.
THIS DVD CONTAINS THAT AWARD PRESENTATION, WITH A SPECIAL
INTERVIEW BETWEEN DR. ROB PACIENZA AND SENATOR HAWLEY.
YOU SAW JUST A PORTION OF THAT INTERVIEW
EARLIER IN THIS PROGRAM,
AND THIS SPECIAL DVD FEATURES THE FULL CONVERSATION,
WHICH YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS.
IT ALSO FEATURES AN INTERVIEW WITH HISTORIAN
DR. STEPHEN MANSFIELD AND DR. PACIENZA’S CHALLENGING MESSAGE,
“REVIVAL: THE ONLY HOPE FOR OUR NATION,”
PLUS MORE BONUS FEATURES.
YOU’LL BE CHALLENGED AND ENCOURAGED BY SENATOR HAWLEY’S
INSIGHTS AS A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN
IN THE HALLS OF POWER IN WASHINGTON.
AND YOU’LL GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE WORK OF
THE D. JAMES KENNEDY CENTER FOR CHRISTIAN STATESMANSHIP
ON CAPITOL HILL.
AND YOUR GENEROUS DONATION HELPS THAT WORK GROW.
CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY WITH YOUR GENEROUS DONATION AND
WE’LL THANK YOU BY SENDING YOU MY FATHER’S EYE-OPENING BOOKLET,
WHAT THEY BELIEVED: THE FAITH OF WASHINGTON,
JEFFERSON, AND LINCOLN.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A GENEROUS GIFT OF $40 OR MORE,
WE’LL ALSO SEND YOU OUR EXCLUSIVE NEW DVD,
HOW DARE WE BE QUIET?
WITH SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
SOMETIMES WE THINK OF IDOLATRY AS SOMETHING FROM ANCIENT TIMES.
WE KNOW BETTER THAN TO BOW DOWN TO SOMETHING WE JUST CARVED!
BUT DO WE?
THE VERY DEFINITION OF IDOLATRY IS
MAKING A GOD OUT OF SOMETHING THAT ISN’T GOD,
OR GIVING THAT WHICH BELONGS TO GOD TO SOMEONE ELSE.
HAVE YOU EVER DONE THAT?
AS THE BIBLE SAYS, WE HAVE
“EXCHANGED THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD FOR A LIE AND WORSHIPED
AND SERVED THE CREATURE RATHER THAN THE CREATOR.”
WE ARE ALL IDOLATERS.
YOU, ME, BILLY GRAHAM, THE POPE.
ALL OF US HAVE PUT THINGS AHEAD OF GOD AND ARE GUILTY.
BUT THAT’S WHERE THE GOOD NEWS COMES IN
THE BEST POSSIBLE NEWS.
THOUGH YOU AND I HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD,
HE OFFERS US FORGIVENESS.
WE HAVE ALL SINNED AGAINST GOD,
AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BECAUSE GOD IS JUST AND HOLY.
BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE.
WE CANNOT EARN IT.
WE DO NOT DESERVE IT.
BUT JESUS CHRIST CAME INTO THE WORLD,
OBEYED WHERE YOU AND I HAD DISOBEYED.
AND HE WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS TO SUFFER
AND PAY THE PENALTY THAT WAS DUE FOR YOUR SINS AND MY SINS.
HE DIED OUR DEATH ON THAT CROSS, AND WAS BURIED,
AND ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
AND HE WALKED OUT OF HIS TOMB IN HIS BODY.
BY DOING THAT, HE DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH FOREVER
AND HE DID IT FOR YOU.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED THAT FREE GIFT?
YOU CAN’T BE SAVED BY YOUR WORKS
BY DOING GOOD DEEDS, OR GOING TO CHURCH EVERY WEEK,
OR VOLUNTEERING AT A HOMELESS SHELTER.
THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS, BUT THEY CAN’T SAVE YOU.
INSTEAD THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
IF YOU’VE NEVER RECEIVED THAT GIFT OF GOD,
WHY NOT BOW YOUR HEAD
AND PRAY ALONG WITH ME RIGHT NOW, FROM YOUR HEART.
“FATHER, I AM A SINNER.
I HAVE GIVEN MY HEART TO OTHER THINGS,
WHEN I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU.
I’VE DISOBEYED YOUR LAW AND GONE MY OWN WAY.
BUT LORD, I’M SORRY, AND I WANT TO TURN AWAY FROM MY SIN,
AND RECEIVE THAT FREE GIFT OF SALVATION.
I BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR MY SINS AND ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD,
AND TODAY I AM TRUSTING ONLY IN HIM
AND WHAT HE’S DONE FOR ME FOR MY SALVATION.
IT’S IN HIS NAME I PRAY. AMEN.”
IF YOU SINCERELY PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH ME JUST NOW,
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND SEND YOU A FREE GIFT
TO HELP YOU GROW IN YOUR NEW FAITH.
IT’S BEGINNING AGAIN,
DR. KENNEDY’S BOOK FOR NEW BELIEVERS
TO HELP YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
CONTACT US TO RECEIVE YOUR COPY TODAY.
AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES IS
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
ANY TIME YOU’RE IN FORT LAUDERDALE,
WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
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AND NOW, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN STATESMAN, WHAT VISION DID YOU USE?
WHAT LENS DID YOU USE TO VIEW THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
WHEN YOU CASTED THAT VOTE AND HOW HAS IT APPLIED TODAY?
THAT'S THE SIMPLE, THE MOST BASIC ROLE OF CCS IN MY MIND
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES