The week of Thanksgiving our program ended with a strong appeal to begin thanking God for His blessings on our nation. That message drew a tremendous audience response! Some of you even requested copies of it to send to your Representatives and Senators in Washington. Thank you, thank you! Thank you! God bless you and may He keep on blessing America.
Greetings to you friend. We're so glad to be invited into your home today by means of your radio or television set to study the Bible In Search of the Lord's Way to become and to be a Christian. The Lord's way to become a Christian is the only real way to do it and you'll not find it anywhere but in the Bible. Oh, we pray we'll both be blessed by our Bible study today.
When I was preaching and living in a foreign land, I saw Old Glory flying in the breeze over the American Embassy there, the sight always brought tears to my eyes. No, it wasn't from homesickness because I was always too busy to be homesick. It was pride. Yes, I said it. It was pride; not in myself, though. I was proud to be an American. And I was proud to see our flag flying in the winds over friendly soil. It represented us, and all America stood for in the whole world. In one country I was wrongly accused and threatened with arrest and jail. Would they permit me one telephone call? Well, who did I want to call? With that, a phone was pushed across the desk to me and I answered, "I"ll call the American Embassy." Of course it was a bluff, but with that, they let me go. I boarded the plane and came home. Respect for America; that's what it was. Yes, I was --and I still am proud to be an American. Oh, I'm not an American by choice. By the grace of God I was born here. This is not a "patriotic speech." I suppose it could be called, "A Call To Repentance." It's some thoughts I want to a share with you about whether, if we continue on our present course, God will continue to bless America.
And, if you'd like to write me, or if you'd like a free CD or audio cassette tape or printed copy of today's study, our mailing address is In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. The internet address is searchtv@searchtv.org. Please address your message now to my attention. I'm Mack Lyon. Oh, say, yes. I want to remind you of the free bible reading schedule. If you’d like to be a daily bible reader in the year 2008, if you need a guide, then ours is a super one, you can carry it right along in your bible like this and if will always be with your bible. You can read the bible through in the year. You read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice if you read every week. Sometimes the Old Testament, sometimes in the New. Now, if you prefer to call, the toll-free telephone number is 1-800-321-8633. The program can be seen, heard, or read again at searchtv.org. That’s our web site. Ken Helterbrand's going to lead us now as we sing, then I'll be back.
For our bible reading, we are going to be reading from the 18th chapter of the book of Jeremiah and we’ll read the first ten verses. “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying; ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house and there I will cause you to hear my words’. Then I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?’ says the Lord. Look as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom to pluck up, to pull down and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in my sight so that it does not obey my voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” And that was reading through verse 10. Now let’s go to God in prayer. Our heavenly Father, we are so thankful for the abundance of your many blessings that have been showered upon our nation from its very beginning until this present day. We are so thankful to you for your guidance and for your help and the support and the strength you have provided us as a people. And now we come to the point that we realize, that in order to continue to enjoy your blessings, we must come to a spirit of repentance. And we pray Father, that this message may help to do that. Bless it as it goes out to many people over the world that in our hearts, we will turn to you to do your will. In Jesus’ lovely name we pray, Amen.
Is it really true that "Righteousness exalts a nation?" And that "sin is a reproach to any people?" Yes! Oh, yes it is, friend. It's really true, --mainly, because God said it. It's historically true, too. The historical landscape is littered with the ruins of nations, ancient Greece and Rome and others who, early on, rose to heights, then collapsed from moral decay within. It's the old story of sowing and reaping. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Now you'd believe that if you had read it in the Farmer's Almanac, wouldn't you? Here's the application, though: "... he who sows to his flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (Galatians 6:7-8). Another thing about sowing and reaping is that "he who sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). That's said about something else, as a matter of fact, it’s about our giving to the Lord. But it's true in all things. It's true with farming. It's true with mankind. It's true with nations of men.
Awhile back we received a request for me to do a program about "addictions" and I plan to do that. Any one of us can become addicted, though to drugs, to alcohol, to tobacco, to sex, to pornography, to well even to some good things, to work, or to sports --something evil or something good. We usually relate addiction to evil, though. The word of God says, "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us (Hebrews 12:1 That’s the New King James Version). The addict is a person who has become ensnared in some particular form of evil. Some evils that seem so innocent and harmless and pleasurable at first taste, can and often do become the bitter sin that ensnares, and enslaves and addicts us. The Lord's teaching is that if you've tasted it; and it tastes or feels good, the Lord is saying before it ensnares you --before you become addicted to it. That's the idea. It happens with individuals and it happens with a culture sometimes. Evil that's unchecked, grows, whether it's private or public. No, no, now, we're not saying America needs more legislation to regulate our behavior. To the contrary, what we are saying is, we need more exercise of personal responsibility for our behavior. Every time we get a new law that restricts our behavior, we lose another freedom to choose to do the right thing. When the public refuses to exercise that power of choice to do right, the government is forced to step in to promote and protect the common welfare, --until, eventually the society comes under a totalitarian rule, a dictatorship, if you will, or it collapses from the disorder.
Well then, how do we develop a society of self-controllers? In a nation that's drifted as far from its mooring as America has, how do we do that? Well, it won’t be easy. But, first: We must establish a national conscience --an awareness of God, the presence of God --yes, a belief in God. Our forefathers well-knew that it's impossible to govern people with no public awareness of God. Historically, with the rejection or the collapse --or the perversion of true religion comes also the breakdown of public morality. That's not only true in the biblical history of nations; it's true in secular history as well. Many of the surviving monuments of fallen civilizations are the ruins of magnificent temples to their false gods. I know. I've been there and I’ve seen them. William Penn, first Governor of Pennsylvania knew that, too. He said, "People who will not be governed by God, will be ruled by tyrants." Oh! He's so right about that! In the case of the "Church of the Holy Trinity vs. United States, (1892, a little more than one hundred years ago) the Supreme Court of the United States of America said, Friend, listen to this. Are you listening? The Court said, "Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible, they said, that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian...” They continued to say, “this is a religious people. This is historically true." That’s the end of the quote.
But, America rejected God in the latter part of the last century because there arose a counter culture who wanted to be free from what those people perceived to be "restraints" which they thought God put on them. And while the Christian community slept, or was in hot pursuit of lesser things, they were able to win the battle over truth and right. And as a result, the sub-culture, with its drugs, free sex, abortion on demand, its divorce syndrome, its gay lifestyle, its fear and violence, its gambling, --well with its total rejection of God and the Bible, the sub-culture became our culture. The Holy Spirit best describes us now. Let me read it for you right out of the word of God.
I’m reading now from the book of Romans chapter 1 beginning at verse 22. "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness, they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” That's the reading of Romans 1:22-32. My friend, that's the word of the God who loved you so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross that all of us might be forgiven of our part in all of that and be reconciled to Him.
So, my friend, we must --we simply must --oh yes! First, we must return our country to its firm foundation on belief in the one true and living God. No, now, not just any god will do. And secondly, we need to do that by beginning with the children. We must put God first and family next. What are your children being taught about our nation's founding, our Constitution, our history? Is that of any concern to you? I hope so! Are God and Christ forbidden on the campus where your child goes to school?
Parents, what are you teaching your children at home? Do you teach them the Lord's way to live? What kind of TV or internet do they watch? What kind of books and magazines do they read? You fathers: do your children ever see or hear you read the Bible? Do they hear you pray? The Bible says, "You fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). And Christian women are said "to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, home-makers, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed" And that’s Titus chapter 2 verses 4 and 5. Parents, do you bring them to church regularly? Do they see and know that God has first place in your life?
Well, how do we develop a society of self-controlled people? First, we must establish an awareness of God. Second, we will do well to begin with the little children. Now thirdly, we must get the church strongly involved. God says Christians (They're the church, you know.) Christians are not to be conformed to the world –to the culture-- but Christians are to be transformed --meaning true Christians are different. If they're not different, they're not Christians. It’s just that way, friend. Chapter 12 verse 2 of the book of Romans. There is a difference, you know. If it has wings, it is not a kitten. You knew that. Jesus said to His disciples, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). On another occasion He said, "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness" (Luke 11:35). However, American style Christianity hasn't heeded that admonition. It has sacrificed moral truth in order to be like the world –in order to conform to the culture. It's been fearful of being offensive. It has contributed to the darkness, simply by not being the light.
While I was preparing this message, a member of our office staff came bringing me a fairly long article from "Forthright Magazine:" I don't have the time to read it all. But, the report was, and I am quoting "In a remarkable turn of events, the 20,000-member Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago area, discovered that its members actually wanted 'deep Bible study.'" It said, too, that "Their preacher, called this revelation 'earthshaking' and 'the wake-up call of his adult life." Well, perhaps others who've followed his philosophy of conforming to the world will take this as the "earth-shaking, wake-up call" that he did-- to "preach the word" as preachers are charged to do in Second Timothy chapter 4 and verse1. Let us pray about it. Holy Father we pray that we as parents, that we as citizens and that even our children may return, and the churches even return to the moral standards and to the moral teachings which you have given us in your word. In Jesus’ name we ask it, Amen.
Will God always bless America? Thomas Jefferson, the very man who is unjustly accused by the ACLU as being the father of the current idea of "separation of church and state," once asked a very similar question to that one. He asked, "Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?" Remember that in our text, God said, "If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it... If it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." Oh, I'm sure you believe in God. You probably wouldn't be with me still, if you weren't a believer. But, the Scripture says, "You believe there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe --and tremble" That’s James 5:19. Now you need to repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins. How do I know that? Why would I say you need to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins? It's simple, friend. The apostle Peter preached to thousands of Jews, some of whom, only about 50 days earlier, had cried out to Pilate to crucify Christ (Matthew 27:22). Now some of them believed what Peter preached, that God had raised Christ from the dead, and they asked what they must do for the remission of their terrible sin. That’s Acts 2:37. "Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." That's verse 38.
So, I'm just telling you what the Holy Spirit inspired Peter told those people to do to receive remission of their sins. He's the same Peter, by the way, to whom Jesus said, "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven..." (Matthew 16:19). So, I'm sure that's what God in heaven is binding on people nowadays for the remission of their sins. And I would be remiss, if I didn't tell you that. Have you done it? Why not? Will you do it today? Oh, I hope and pray you will.
If you'd like a free printed copy, a free CD or audio cassette tape of this program, please mail your request to In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083. Or by e-mail our address is searchtv@searchtv.org. Our toll free telephone number is 1-800-321-8633. You can see, or hear, or read the program again by visiting our website --Searchtv.org. Oh say! Let me tell you again about this matter of importance too. If you'd like a free copy of our daily Bible reading calendar, you need to hurry and get your request in quickly. We're very rapidly approaching the new year and you'll want it to begin on the first day of the year. And, I don't know how many thousands we had printed of these, but this I do know –they are going very fast. So hurry. Or if you'd like to enroll in our free Bible correspondence course and you'd like to start that the first of the year, request it today. We plan to be back next week. I hope you will be, too. God bless you. We love you.
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