Truths That Transform presented by Coral Ridge Ministries featuring Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, with sermon commentary from Dr. D. James Kennedy and Dr. Pacienza. Each program provides a compelling analysis of current moral and cultural controversies all from a biblical perspective.
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Truths That Transform | Rob Pacienza - Return To Me | February 3, 2025
- America was born as a christian nation.
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- And it's only because of that foundation
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- That we've had the freedom and prosperity
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- We've enjoyed for two and a half centuries.
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- Does that sound controversial to you?
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- Then join us on today's truths that transform.
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- Welcome to truths that transform,
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- A production of coral ridge ministries, where we are
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- I'm pastor rob pacienza.
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- February is the month in which we celebrate president's day.
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- It's always a good reminder of america's history, and
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- The great leaders who settled and established this nation.
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- What our secular history tends to ignore today
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- Is the fact that the vast majority of those settlers
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- And founders were christians who were here for christian reasons.
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- They came here for the propagation of the gospel,
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- And they eventually formed a new government
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- That grew largely out of their protestant christian worldview.
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- Today, we still enjoy the remaining fruits
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- Of what they gave us,
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- But we've uprooted it
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- From the christian soil they planted it in.
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- On today's program, we'll get a biblical prescription
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- For the sickness of forgetting about god.
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- And we begin with an encouraging conversation i had recently
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- In washington d.c. with a modern christian leader.
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- In washington, d.c.
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- Recently honored senator josh hawley of missouri
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- With the distinguished christian statesman award.
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- As he received it, senator hawley sat down with me
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- To discuss the current cultural situation in america
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- And how we christians can address it.
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- Senator, thank you so much
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- For making this a priority this afternoon and for being here.
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- Thank you. thank you.
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- Senator, you're concerned about the god's design for the family
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- And particularly biblical manhood.
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- You've done a lot of writing on this.
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- What concerns you so much about the nuclear family,
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- The state of the nuclear family in america,
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- Particularly the state of manhood?
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- Well, i mean the nuclear family
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- I think is pretty clearly under assault.
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- And i mean, it's under assault from many quarters.
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- It's under assault from much of our popular culture.
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- But also, i mean, we're sitting in washington dc
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- We could probably see the capitol out those windows.
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- I mean, it's under assault from policy and from our government.
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- I mean, we have a tax code that penalizes marriage
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- Doesn't reward it, penalizes it.
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- We have policy upon policy
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- That makes it harder to raise children.
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- We have a radical left in this country
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- That now wants the decisions
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- About how to raise children to be made by government,
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- Not to be made by parents.
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- And i think you look at this,
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- And let's not forget the smithsonian institute,
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- Which is funded by your tax dollars,
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- Said just a few years ago that
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- The nuclear family was a vestige of systemic racism.
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- I mean, you can't make this stuff up.
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- Yeah, it's unbelievable.
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- It's unbelievable.
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- So i think against that backdrop,
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- We have to ask ourselves,
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- Is it any wonder that the nuclear family
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- Is in such a state of attrition and disarray?
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- But when it comes to men in particular,
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- I think what we've got to send
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- A different message to men than our culture has been sending.
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- I think our culture sends to men,
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- Our popular culture sends to men the message that
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- They are everything that is wrong with this country
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- And the world by the likes of the liberal left.
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- So they say to men that men are responsible for systemic racism.
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- Men are responsible for global warming.
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- Men are responsible for every leftist ill
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- That they imagine that the country has.
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- And i think we need to send a different message.
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- We need to tell men that they are vitally needed
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- And we need young men in particular.
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- We need to say to young men,
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- You have a responsibility to get married,
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- Have a family, be a contributor, and fulfill
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- The god-given role that he has for you.
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- Every man, as every woman has a god-given destiny on their life,
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- A call on their life.
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- And i think we need to speak to the men
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- In particular this country, the young men in particular,
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- And say, we need you.
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- We need you desperately, and you can leave a legacy,
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- A legacy for your family,
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- A legacy that will change this country.
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- But to do that, we need you to step up
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- And take on responsibility, not shirk responsibility,
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- And we'll stand there to be either
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- With you and support you in that.
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- Senator, you recently wrote a book called
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- Manhood, the masculine virtues american needs.
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- Tell us a little bit about the book
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- And what motivated you to write it.
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- Well, what motivated me to write it are my kids.
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- So my little boys, elijah and blaze,
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- Who i mentioned who are 11 and nine now,
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- And really this started because as they get older,
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- I started thinking to myself,
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- What is my responsibility as a father, as a christian father
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- To help them understand the god-given call on their lives
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- To help them understand what's it mean to be a husband?
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- What's it mean to be a father?
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- Why is it that god calls us to do that?
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- What's it mean to go out there and shoulder responsibility?
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- So it started in that way, and what i did in the book is
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- I just went to the bible and just walked through stories of
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- The men in the bible who god called and used
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- None of them perfect,
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- But all of them powerful because they had a powerful lord,
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- Because they were willing to follow the lord wholeheartedly.
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- We looked at the different, in the book,
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- We look at the different stories
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- And the different virtues,
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- The different character traits that those men illustrated
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- And that god calls every man to stand up into.
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- My favorite, the left, of course, predictably
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- Lost their minds about this book.
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- I mean, i think the washington post alone
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- Wrote three or four different articles about the book,
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- My favorite of which was one washington post columnist said,
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- I just can't understand this book at all.
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- It makes absolutely no sense.
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- And i thought it's really easy.
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- It's called the bible; it's just what the bible says to men.
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- It's very simple.
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- But i think our culture, especially elite,
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- So-called elite culture,
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- Like the people at the posts and the times,
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- And you know who i mean,
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- They're so out of touch with the scripture.
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- They're so out of touch with our history that
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- To them when you start talking about manhood and womanhood,
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- They honestly, a lot of them,
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- They don't know what we're talking about anymore.
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- And boy, that's dangerous for our country
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- And we've got to take that message of biblical manhood,
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- Biblical womanhood, and the great blessing that
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- That is the legacy that it leaves.
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- We've got to take that i think to the whole country.
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- There are so many christians that don't want to speak out,
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- Particularly in areas of politics and government.
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- Why can the church not afford to be silent
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- Right now in the 21st century?
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- Well, this is such a critical time.
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- And listen, you just saw what happened during covid.
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- I think we really got a window into the agenda of the left
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- And the sort of secular progressives
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- Who would like to govern this country.
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- They don't represent the country,
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- But they'd like to govern the country.
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- Covid really exposed their agenda.
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- They shut down every church and synagogue
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- They get their hands on while everything else,
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- Lowe's and walmart were open.
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- Now, listen, as i said actually the other day in a hearing,
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- I don't have anything against lowe's and walmart, in fact,
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- I shop at both those places just about every weekend.
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- But i also go to church on sundays.
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- And the idea that these businesses could be open
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- Or worse, casinos, bars, other places of ill repute,
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- Would be open and blessed by the government
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- While our churches are shut down.
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- There's something fundamentally wrong with that.
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- Number one, it's unconstitutional.
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- But number two, i think it shows the hostility
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- Towards the witness of the church,
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- Towards the witness of faith that permeates
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- Much of the governing class of this country.
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- And in that context, the church cannot be silent.
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- But also the church is the bearer of truth.
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- We hold the hope of the world.
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- How dare we be quiet, ever.
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- We've got to bring that hope to the world in winsome ways,
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- In welcoming ways, sometimes in forceful ways
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- When we have to say to those in power,
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- What you're doing is wrong,
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- What you're doing is wrong.
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- And the witness of the church, i think in that respect
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- Has never been more important than now.
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- Senator, final question.
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- There's got to be something that gets you up every morning.
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- You're smiling.
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- There's a lot of despair, there's a lot of fear,
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- But there's got to be something that drives you.
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- What is your reason for hope?
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- What can you leave us with today that gives us
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- Some encouragement about the future of america?
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- Well, my hope is in the gospel of jesus christ.
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- I mean, listen, we know how the story ends.
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- I mean, we are not working toward victory.
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- We're working from victory.
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- We know how the story ends.
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- We have that deep and profound conviction.
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- And it's interesting; i've been
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- Spending a lot of time recently with the puritans,
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- With their writings, looking back at the
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- First settlers to the country and reading their diaries
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- And their journals and their sermons.
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- What strikes me, is our founders there, our forbearers,
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- They're often tagged as being people
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- Who were dour and who were depressed.
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- And the puritans, they always were looking for
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- Funds so that they could get rid of it.
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- You read their writing in their sermons.
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- What you find is tremendous hope.
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- And what's the source of that hope?
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- The source of that hope is they believe that they had a part
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- In extending the kingdom of god.
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- They believe that they had a part in seeing
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- Biblical principles take root in a new world,
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- Building a new world
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- Where the truths of the bible would take root and flourish.
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- And they believed that they did that.
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- They could create something that
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- Had never before been seen on the earth.
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- And guess what? they did it
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- And what's called the united states of america.
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- What gives me hope knows that the foundational principles
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- On which the country was founded have not changed.
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- Those truths have not changed.
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- They're as powerful and as compelling
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- As they were hundreds of years ago, and
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- It's our great privilege in this time to stand and defend them.
- 00:09:33.876 --> 00:09:38.147
- And i'll just leave you with this.
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- I think it is easy,
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- Given the host of challenges that we face to sometimes
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- Feel depressed and whatever else we say about the 2020's,
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- When we look back on this time, lord willing,
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- 20, 30, 40 years from now, when you talk to
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- Your kids and your grandkids and your great grandkids maybe
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- You will not say about the 2020's
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- That it was a time of boredom and placidity and
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- Nothing ever happened, right?
- 00:10:03.005 --> 00:10:04.206
- You will not say that.
- 00:10:04.206 --> 00:10:05.641
- You'll say, wow, that was a time of challenge.
- 00:10:05.641 --> 00:10:08.477
- That was a time of difficulty.
- 00:10:08.477 --> 00:10:10.046
- Those were times of trials,
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- But what a privilege it is to live in that time
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- When the decisions that we make matter,
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- When the stand that the lord calls us to make really matters.
- 00:10:17.153 --> 00:10:20.690
- And i just think it's a privilege to live in this time
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- And to be called by the lord,
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- To stand for him and for truth in this time, and
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- To remind our fellow americans of what makes us americans,
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- Which are the truths that we were founded on.
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- Amen. as they say that we'll preach.
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- And we are so grateful for you.
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- And i know you're a busy man
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- And you've got to get back to the senate, but
- 00:10:39.742 --> 00:10:41.644
- Let's give senator josh hawley another round of applause.
- 00:10:41.644 --> 00:10:48.317
- I'm grateful for christian leaders
- 00:10:49.118 --> 00:10:51.053
- Like senator josh hawley,
- 00:10:51.053 --> 00:10:52.688
- And i pray that the lord raises up many more like him
- 00:10:52.688 --> 00:10:55.424
- To stand for truth in the halls of power in our government.
- 00:10:55.424 --> 00:10:59.228
- Ours was a nation founded upon christian principles, and it
- 00:10:59.228 --> 00:11:02.531
- Produced blessings like limited government, division of powers,
- 00:11:02.531 --> 00:11:06.402
- Freedom of religion and speech and commerce, and much more.
- 00:11:06.402 --> 00:11:10.406
- Today we enjoy the remnants of that christian foundation,
- 00:11:10.406 --> 00:11:13.642
- But we've forgotten the source.
- 00:11:13.642 --> 00:11:15.711
- That's a very dangerous place to be as a nation
- 00:11:15.711 --> 00:11:18.380
- And the answer is repentance.
- 00:11:18.380 --> 00:11:20.583
- I recently shared more with our congregation here at
- 00:11:20.583 --> 00:11:23.919
- Coral ridge presbyterian church in a message from malachi,
- 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:27.656
- Chapter 3 and second corinthians chapter 8 “return to me.”
- 00:11:27.656 --> 00:11:33.129
- To set the redemptive historical context,
- 00:11:34.130 --> 00:11:37.466
- The people of god are returning from exile and
- 00:11:37.466 --> 00:11:41.270
- The remnant of god's people are returning
- 00:11:41.270 --> 00:11:44.206
- To the southern kingdom of judah,
- 00:11:44.206 --> 00:11:47.443
- But they've rejected god
- 00:11:47.443 --> 00:11:49.812
- And one of the ways in which they've rejected god
- 00:11:49.812 --> 00:11:52.882
- Is they begun to worship the provisions and not the provider,
- 00:11:52.882 --> 00:11:58.454
- The benefits and not the benefactor
- 00:11:58.454 --> 00:12:02.224
- And the rejection was rooted in misplaced affections
- 00:12:02.224 --> 00:12:07.229
- That the treasures of this world captured their hearts instead of
- 00:12:07.229 --> 00:12:12.935
- Their hearts being captured by the treasure of heaven.
- 00:12:12.935 --> 00:12:17.439
- And god calls them here in malachi chapter 3 into what is
- 00:12:17.439 --> 00:12:22.011
- Known as covenant renewal to return to me to be restored.
- 00:12:22.011 --> 00:12:27.750
- We'll read from malachi chapter 3 verses 7 through 10, and
- 00:12:27.750 --> 00:12:31.854
- Then a new testament verse 2nd corinthians chapter 8 verse 9.
- 00:12:31.854 --> 00:12:36.425
- This is the word of god.
- 00:12:36.425 --> 00:13:38.354
- And the grass withers and the flower fades
- 00:13:39.355 --> 00:13:41.857
- But the word of our lord it stands forever.
- 00:13:41.857 --> 00:13:44.360
- Amen. you may be seated.
- 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:53.402
- Jesus in his teachings in the gospels says some very
- 00:13:54.536 --> 00:14:00.843
- Audacious counterintuitive paradigm shattering things,
- 00:14:00.843 --> 00:14:08.851
- But one of the most audacious is
- 00:14:08.851 --> 00:14:12.955
- When he tells his followers that you
- 00:14:12.955 --> 00:14:17.259
- First must have to die in order to live.
- 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:22.932
- Then in order to follow me says the lord,
- 00:14:22.932 --> 00:14:26.535
- You have to die and you have to pick up your cross.
- 00:14:26.535 --> 00:14:31.640
- And that is true for every single person who follows
- 00:14:31.640 --> 00:14:36.679
- After jesus christ that there is a death
- 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:40.883
- That must be experienced in order for us to truly live.
- 00:14:40.883 --> 00:14:46.255
- That is the irony of the gospel; die and then live,
- 00:14:46.255 --> 00:14:52.962
- Suffering before glory.
- 00:14:52.962 --> 00:14:56.799
- In this passage that we just read in malachi,
- 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.002
- God says to his people, his covenant people return
- 00:15:00.002 --> 00:15:04.406
- And god is calling his covenant people to repent
- 00:15:04.406 --> 00:15:08.477
- Because he wants them to have life.
- 00:15:08.477 --> 00:15:11.814
- And so he says, come to me so that you can have life,
- 00:15:11.814 --> 00:15:15.484
- But in order to get there, you first have to die.
- 00:15:15.484 --> 00:15:18.988
- And the question is for the covenanted people of god,
- 00:15:18.988 --> 00:15:21.890
- Particularly in malachi 3, what did they need to die to?
- 00:15:21.890 --> 00:15:26.295
- They needed to die to the idol of self-absorption.
- 00:15:26.295 --> 00:15:32.868
- They needed to die from the thought and the lie that
- 00:15:32.868 --> 00:15:39.074
- They could find life in the provision and not the provider
- 00:15:39.074 --> 00:15:43.779
- In the benefits and not the benefactor.
- 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:47.549
- And god is saying, return to me in order to live
- 00:15:47.549 --> 00:15:52.588
- And have life to the full and repent.
- 00:15:52.588 --> 00:15:56.959
- Allow not your heart to any longer be captured
- 00:15:58.027 --> 00:16:01.830
- By the treasures of this earth
- 00:16:01.830 --> 00:16:04.633
- And allow your heart to be captured
- 00:16:04.633 --> 00:16:07.636
- By the treasure of heaven.
- 00:16:07.636 --> 00:16:09.772
- How do we return to god as his covenant people?
- 00:16:09.772 --> 00:16:13.809
- Well, the first thing we see in this passage is
- 00:16:13.809 --> 00:16:16.378
- God calls his people to stop robbing god.
- 00:16:16.378 --> 00:16:20.883
- In verses 8 and 9, he literally says,
- 00:16:20.883 --> 00:16:23.886
- Stop robbing from me. when asked the question,
- 00:16:23.886 --> 00:16:32.428
- How are we to return? how are we to repent?
- 00:16:32.428 --> 00:16:37.032
- God clearly says, stop robbing from me.
- 00:16:37.032 --> 00:16:42.171
- But you might be sitting here this morning saying to yourself,
- 00:16:42.171 --> 00:16:46.008
- Robbing from god, i mean everything i have i've earned.
- 00:16:46.008 --> 00:16:52.714
- And one of the most foundational things that you can understand
- 00:16:52.714 --> 00:16:57.486
- About living in the kingdom and more particularly
- 00:16:57.486 --> 00:17:01.256
- About earthly possessions is
- 00:17:01.256 --> 00:17:03.792
- That everything you have ultimately belongs to god.
- 00:17:03.792 --> 00:17:08.263
- And if you do not get that foundational principle,
- 00:17:08.263 --> 00:17:11.667
- You'll always be caught in the dilemma of robbing from god
- 00:17:11.667 --> 00:17:18.874
- And holding onto your earthly treasure
- 00:17:18.874 --> 00:17:21.910
- As if it ultimately belongs to you.
- 00:17:21.910 --> 00:17:24.379
- And the tragedy is i see people every day
- 00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:30.085
- Stuffing and consuming their lives
- 00:17:30.085 --> 00:17:34.056
- With things that just don't matter
- 00:17:34.056 --> 00:17:38.260
- Because you could go to the mall this afternoon
- 00:17:38.260 --> 00:17:40.529
- And buy the whole thing and be absolutely miserable,
- 00:17:40.529 --> 00:17:45.734
- But it's the person that understands
- 00:17:45.734 --> 00:17:49.371
- That god has given me everything i need.
- 00:17:49.371 --> 00:17:53.609
- Therefore, i can respond with generosity
- 00:17:53.609 --> 00:17:56.378
- Towards god and his kingdom.
- 00:17:56.378 --> 00:17:58.213
- Those are the people that have life and life to the full.
- 00:17:58.213 --> 00:18:03.085
- Those are the people that are able to walk through this life
- 00:18:03.085 --> 00:18:06.155
- With open hands because they have everything they need.
- 00:18:06.155 --> 00:18:11.660
- And the good news of jesus christ,
- 00:18:12.461 --> 00:18:14.730
- The calling of god's people is extreme
- 00:18:14.730 --> 00:18:17.132
- And the calling of the kingdom is radical.
- 00:18:17.132 --> 00:18:20.536
- And the only way you could do something so crazy
- 00:18:20.536 --> 00:18:23.839
- Like respond to the demands of the kingdom
- 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:27.042
- Is if you already knew that you had all the treasure you needed.
- 00:18:27.042 --> 00:18:30.812
- And in christ you do.
- 00:18:30.812 --> 00:18:35.317
- Let's pray.
- 00:18:35.317 --> 00:18:36.985
- Our father and our god.
- 00:18:36.985 --> 00:18:38.387
- Lord, i thank you for the hope that is in the gospel.
- 00:18:38.387 --> 00:18:41.356
- Lord, i thank you for the generosity
- 00:18:41.356 --> 00:18:43.825
- That we have experienced
- 00:18:43.825 --> 00:18:48.897
- Oh lord i pray if there is anyone here
- 00:18:48.897 --> 00:18:52.834
- This morning that has not experienced the radical nature
- 00:18:52.834 --> 00:18:58.540
- Of god's amazing grace in jesus christ,
- 00:18:58.540 --> 00:19:02.744
- That they would repent of their sins
- 00:19:02.744 --> 00:19:05.480
- And would you respond by saying yes?
- 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:08.083
- Lord, today i believe,
- 00:19:08.083 --> 00:19:10.452
- I confess with my mouth that jesus is lord.
- 00:19:10.452 --> 00:19:12.921
- I believe it in my heart that god raised him from the dead.
- 00:19:12.921 --> 00:19:17.059
- And the promise for you today and tomorrow and forever
- 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:20.562
- Is that you would be saved not according to your work,
- 00:19:20.562 --> 00:19:25.300
- But according to the work of christ in you and for you;
- 00:19:25.300 --> 00:19:30.606
- And may you through the redemption
- 00:19:30.606 --> 00:19:33.408
- And the amazing grace of christ,
- 00:19:33.408 --> 00:19:35.611
- Respond with glad and thankful and generous hearts
- 00:19:35.611 --> 00:19:40.415
- And light of the generosity that's been poured out
- 00:19:40.415 --> 00:19:43.252
- Upon you through jesus christ, our lord.
- 00:19:43.252 --> 00:19:47.889
- We pray this prayer. amen.
- 00:19:47.889 --> 00:19:53.195
- Hi, i'm jennifer kennedy cassidy.
- 00:19:53.962 --> 00:19:56.732
- As you just heard from dr. pacienza,
- 00:19:56.732 --> 00:19:58.900
- Everything we have belongs to god,
- 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:01.770
- And he's made us stewards over it.
- 00:20:01.770 --> 00:20:04.306
- It's bad stewardship to accept the blessings
- 00:20:04.306 --> 00:20:07.042
- But to ignore the god who gives us those blessings
- 00:20:07.042 --> 00:20:09.945
- Yet that's exactly what's happening in america today.
- 00:20:09.945 --> 00:20:13.582
- America was founded and guided by those
- 00:20:13.582 --> 00:20:16.451
- Who largely believed in biblical truth,
- 00:20:16.451 --> 00:20:19.421
- And we've been increasingly pulled away
- 00:20:19.421 --> 00:20:21.556
- From our christian foundations by
- 00:20:21.556 --> 00:20:23.725
- Those who want to revise history in a secular light.
- 00:20:23.725 --> 00:20:27.029
- The repercussions on our freedom and prosperity
- 00:20:27.029 --> 00:20:29.931
- Can be catastrophic as the cracks in that foundation grow.
- 00:20:29.931 --> 00:20:34.436
- My father, d. james kennedy,
- 00:20:34.436 --> 00:20:36.805
- Was a student of america's true history
- 00:20:36.805 --> 00:20:39.441
- And he strongly believed that if we lost sight of that history,
- 00:20:39.441 --> 00:20:43.412
- Our nation would be doomed.
- 00:20:43.412 --> 00:20:45.514
- That's why he wrote the vital booklet,
- 00:20:45.514 --> 00:20:47.449
- What they believed:
- 00:20:47.449 --> 00:20:49.217
- The faith of washington, jefferson, and lincoln,
- 00:20:49.217 --> 00:20:52.054
- And we'd like to send it to you
- 00:20:52.054 --> 00:20:53.655
- As our thanks for your generous donation
- 00:20:53.655 --> 00:20:55.957
- To continue and expand the ongoing work of this ministry.
- 00:20:55.957 --> 00:20:59.761
- Those who want to remake america in their own secular image
- 00:20:59.761 --> 00:21:03.832
- Have distorted the truth about these
- 00:21:03.832 --> 00:21:06.034
- Great men and the principles by which they governed america.
- 00:21:06.034 --> 00:21:09.938
- My father clears away the fog and
- 00:21:09.938 --> 00:21:12.808
- Shares the truth about deeply christian-influenced
- 00:21:12.808 --> 00:21:15.977
- Beliefs of these iconic statesmen
- 00:21:15.977 --> 00:21:18.547
- Truth that will shock you if you got your history from
- 00:21:18.547 --> 00:21:21.516
- The public schools or our secular universities.
- 00:21:21.516 --> 00:21:24.686
- Contact us for this eye-opening booklet,
- 00:21:24.686 --> 00:21:27.089
- And if you're able to give a generous donation
- 00:21:27.089 --> 00:21:29.358
- Of $40 or more, we'll send you
- 00:21:29.358 --> 00:21:31.493
- What they believed, plus the exclusive new dvd,
- 00:21:31.493 --> 00:21:35.464
- How dare we be quiet?
- 00:21:35.464 --> 00:21:37.599
- Recently, our d. james kennedy
- 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:40.435
- Honored senator josh hawley of missouri with
- 00:21:41.470 --> 00:21:44.439
- Our distinguished christian statesman award.
- 00:21:44.439 --> 00:21:46.908
- This dvd contains that award presentation, with a special
- 00:21:46.908 --> 00:21:50.846
- Interview between dr. rob pacienza and senator hawley.
- 00:21:50.846 --> 00:21:54.583
- You saw just a portion of that interview
- 00:21:54.583 --> 00:21:56.952
- Earlier in this program,
- 00:21:56.952 --> 00:21:58.453
- And this special dvd features the full conversation,
- 00:21:58.453 --> 00:22:01.857
- Which you won't want to miss.
- 00:22:01.857 --> 00:22:03.759
- It also features an interview with historian
- 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:07.195
- Dr. stephen mansfield and dr. pacienza's challenging message,
- 00:22:07.195 --> 00:22:11.233
- “revival: the only hope for our nation,”
- 00:22:11.233 --> 00:22:14.369
- Plus more bonus features.
- 00:22:14.369 --> 00:22:16.671
- You'll be challenged and encouraged by senator hawley's
- 00:22:16.671 --> 00:22:19.641
- Insights as a bible-believing christian
- 00:22:19.641 --> 00:22:22.277
- In the halls of power in washington.
- 00:22:22.277 --> 00:22:24.446
- And you'll get an inside look at the work of
- 00:22:24.446 --> 00:22:26.748
- The d. james kennedy center for christian statesmanship
- 00:22:26.748 --> 00:22:29.351
- On capitol hill.
- 00:22:29.351 --> 00:22:30.786
- And your generous donation helps that work grow.
- 00:22:30.786 --> 00:22:33.855
- Contact us right away with your generous donation and
- 00:22:33.855 --> 00:22:37.125
- We'll thank you by sending you my father's eye-opening booklet,
- 00:22:37.125 --> 00:22:40.529
- What they believed: the faith of washington,
- 00:22:40.529 --> 00:22:43.064
- Jefferson, and lincoln.
- 00:22:43.064 --> 00:22:44.399
- And if you're able to give a generous gift of $40 or more,
- 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:47.736
- We'll also send you our exclusive new dvd,
- 00:22:47.736 --> 00:22:50.872
- How dare we be quiet?
- 00:22:50.872 --> 00:22:52.541
- With senator josh hawley.
- 00:22:52.541 --> 00:22:54.376
- Simply write to us at coral ridge ministries:
- 00:22:54.376 --> 00:23:01.850
- Or call toll free:
- 00:23:02.384 --> 00:23:07.456
- Or go online to:
- 00:23:07.923 --> 00:23:12.928
- Sometimes we think of idolatry as something from ancient times.
- 00:23:14.229 --> 00:23:17.732
- We know better than to bow down to something we just carved!
- 00:23:17.732 --> 00:23:21.002
- But do we?
- 00:23:21.002 --> 00:23:22.037
- The very definition of idolatry is
- 00:23:22.037 --> 00:23:24.473
- Making a god out of something that isn't god,
- 00:23:24.473 --> 00:23:26.775
- Or giving that which belongs to god to someone else.
- 00:23:26.775 --> 00:23:30.312
- Have you ever done that?
- 00:23:30.312 --> 00:23:31.680
- As the bible says, we have
- 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.381
- “exchanged the truth about god for a lie and worshiped
- 00:23:33.381 --> 00:23:37.285
- And served the creature rather than the creator.”
- 00:23:37.285 --> 00:23:40.322
- We are all idolaters.
- 00:23:40.322 --> 00:23:41.823
- You, me, billy graham, the pope.
- 00:23:41.823 --> 00:23:44.092
- All of us have put things ahead of god and are guilty.
- 00:23:44.092 --> 00:23:47.395
- But that's where the good news comes in
- 00:23:47.395 --> 00:23:49.631
- The best possible news.
- 00:23:49.631 --> 00:23:51.466
- Though you and i have sinned against god,
- 00:23:51.466 --> 00:23:53.768
- He offers us forgiveness.
- 00:23:53.768 --> 00:24:03.478
- We have all sinned against god,
- 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:06.081
- And the wages of sin is death because god is just and holy.
- 00:24:06.081 --> 00:24:10.886
- But the free gift of god is eternal life.
- 00:24:10.886 --> 00:24:13.388
- We cannot earn it.
- 00:24:13.388 --> 00:24:14.589
- We do not deserve it.
- 00:24:14.589 --> 00:24:15.857
- But jesus christ came into the world,
- 00:24:15.857 --> 00:24:18.593
- Obeyed where you and i had disobeyed.
- 00:24:18.593 --> 00:24:21.062
- And he was nailed to the cross to suffer
- 00:24:21.062 --> 00:24:23.365
- And pay the penalty that was due for your sins and my sins.
- 00:24:23.365 --> 00:24:27.168
- He died our death on that cross, and was buried,
- 00:24:27.168 --> 00:24:30.272
- And on the third day he rose from the dead,
- 00:24:30.272 --> 00:24:33.408
- And he walked out of his tomb in his body.
- 00:24:33.408 --> 00:24:36.244
- By doing that, he defeated sin and death forever
- 00:24:36.244 --> 00:24:40.282
- And he did it for you.
- 00:24:40.282 --> 00:24:41.950
- Have you received that free gift?
- 00:24:41.950 --> 00:24:43.952
- You can't be saved by your works
- 00:24:43.952 --> 00:24:46.121
- By doing good deeds, or going to church every week,
- 00:24:46.121 --> 00:24:48.690
- Or volunteering at a homeless shelter.
- 00:24:48.690 --> 00:24:51.026
- Those are all good things, but they can't save you.
- 00:24:51.026 --> 00:24:54.095
- Instead the scripture says,
- 00:24:54.095 --> 00:25:05.340
- If you've never received that gift of god,
- 00:25:06.274 --> 00:25:08.543
- Why not bow your head
- 00:25:08.543 --> 00:25:10.178
- And pray along with me right now, from your heart.
- 00:25:10.178 --> 00:25:13.448
- “father, i am a sinner.
- 00:25:13.448 --> 00:25:15.817
- I have given my heart to other things,
- 00:25:15.817 --> 00:25:18.420
- When i should have given it to you.
- 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:20.755
- I've disobeyed your law and gone my own way.
- 00:25:20.755 --> 00:25:23.925
- But lord, i'm sorry, and i want to turn away from my sin,
- 00:25:23.925 --> 00:25:28.163
- And receive that free gift of salvation.
- 00:25:28.163 --> 00:25:31.066
- I believe jesus died for my sins and rose again from the dead,
- 00:25:31.066 --> 00:25:35.570
- And today i am trusting only in him
- 00:25:35.570 --> 00:25:38.340
- And what he's done for me for my salvation.
- 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:41.743
- It's in his name i pray. amen.”
- 00:25:41.743 --> 00:25:44.946
- If you sincerely prayed that prayer with me just now,
- 00:25:44.946 --> 00:25:48.083
- I want to encourage you and send you a free gift
- 00:25:48.083 --> 00:25:50.752
- To help you grow in your new faith.
- 00:25:50.752 --> 00:25:52.821
- It's beginning again ,
- 00:25:52.821 --> 00:25:54.623
- Dr. kennedy's book for new believers
- 00:25:54.623 --> 00:25:56.524
- To help you get started in your relationship with christ.
- 00:25:56.524 --> 00:25:59.594
- Contact us to receive your copy today.
- 00:25:59.594 --> 00:26:02.464
- And may god richly bless you.
- 00:26:02.464 --> 00:26:04.933
- Coral ridge ministries is
- 00:26:05.567 --> 00:26:08.870
- Thank you so much for joining us today.
- 00:26:09.804 --> 00:26:12.307
- Any time you're in fort lauderdale,
- 00:26:12.307 --> 00:26:14.209
- We'd love for you to join us for worship
- 00:26:14.209 --> 00:26:16.745
- At coral ridge presbyterian church.
- 00:26:16.745 --> 00:26:18.480
- And you can always join via livestream at:
- 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.684
- And to keep up with all our news, commentaries,
- 00:26:23.785 --> 00:26:26.321
- And other projects, connect with us on social media at:
- 00:26:26.321 --> 00:26:31.726
- And find a whole library of our biblical worldview content
- 00:26:32.994 --> 00:26:36.665
- Available for streaming at:
- 00:26:36.665 --> 00:26:39.668
- And now, here's a look at the next truths that transform.
- 00:26:40.935 --> 00:26:44.139
- If you're a christian statesman, what vision did you use?
- 00:26:45.306 --> 00:26:48.109
- What lens did you use to view that piece of legislation
- 00:26:48.109 --> 00:26:52.647
- When you casted that vote and how has it applied today?
- 00:26:52.647 --> 00:26:56.451
- That's the simple, the most basic role of ccs in my mind
- 00:26:56.451 --> 00:27:04.592
- That's next week
- 00:27:05.060 --> 00:27:08.596
- This has been a production of coral ridge ministries
- 00:27:09.764 --> 00:27:09.764
