Beautiful Savior
00:00:30.23\00:00:34.35
Lord of all nations
00:00:34.38\00:00:39.58
Son of God
00:00:39.61\00:00:40.88
Son of Man
00:00:40.91\00:00:45.26
And Son of Man!
00:00:45.29\00:00:53.07
Glory and honor,
00:00:53.10\00:00:58.77
Praise adoration,
00:00:58.80\00:01:04.31
Now and forevermore be Thine.
00:01:04.34\00:01:12.31
Hallelujah.
00:01:16.12\00:01:17.33
Would you grab
your neighbor's hand?
00:01:17.36\00:01:18.74
We're going to invite the
Lord's presence here again.
00:01:18.77\00:01:21.77
Grab your neighbor's hand.
00:01:21.80\00:01:22.83
Father, today we touch
and agree believing that
00:01:22.86\00:01:25.68
You have invited us
here today to meet You.
00:01:25.71\00:01:29.21
We sense Your
presence, Lord Jesus.
00:01:29.24\00:01:31.73
Teach us today, draw
us closer ever to thee.
00:01:31.76\00:01:35.26
We pray in the
name of Jesus. Amen.
00:01:35.29\00:01:38.27
How many know
that the Lord is Holy?
00:01:40.98\00:01:43.10
The Bible declares
He is high and lifted up
00:01:43.13\00:01:46.02
separate from sinners.
00:01:46.05\00:01:47.65
And so we sing that song today.
00:01:47.68\00:01:49.58
We stand and lift up our hands
00:01:51.04\00:01:54.48
For the joy
00:01:54.51\00:01:55.61
For the joy of the
Lord is our strength
00:01:55.64\00:02:01.77
We bow down and worship Him now
00:02:01.80\00:02:07.66
How great, how awesome is He
00:02:07.69\00:02:12.61
And together we sing
00:02:12.64\00:02:16.61
Everyone sing
00:02:19.02\00:02:23.23
Holy is the Lord
00:02:23.26\00:02:24.63
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
00:02:24.66\00:02:31.25
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:02:31.28\00:02:36.43
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
00:02:36.46\00:02:42.66
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:02:42.69\00:02:48.26
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:02:48.29\00:02:53.93
Let me try it again, we
stand and lift up our hands.
00:02:56.45\00:02:58.79
We stand and lift up our hands
00:02:58.82\00:03:02.05
For the joy of the Lord
00:03:02.08\00:03:03.55
For the joy of the
Lord is our strength
00:03:03.58\00:03:09.02
We bow down and worship
00:03:09.05\00:03:10.45
We bow down and worship Him now
00:03:10.48\00:03:15.08
How great, how awesome is He
00:03:15.11\00:03:20.33
And together we sing
00:03:20.36\00:03:24.21
Everyone sing
00:03:25.47\00:03:27.18
Everyone sing
00:03:27.21\00:03:30.48
Let's try out together, Holy.
00:03:30.51\00:03:32.21
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
00:03:32.24\00:03:38.32
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:03:38.35\00:03:43.42
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
00:03:43.45\00:03:49.80
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:03:49.83\00:03:55.52
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:03:55.55\00:04:02.03
It's rising up all around
00:04:04.72\00:04:10.26
It's the anthem
of the Lord's renown
00:04:10.29\00:04:16.45
It's rising up all around
00:04:16.48\00:04:21.94
It's the anthem
of the Lord's renown
00:04:21.97\00:04:27.48
It's rising up all around
00:04:27.51\00:04:33.62
It's the anthem
of the Lord's renown
00:04:33.65\00:04:39.64
It's rising up all around
00:04:39.67\00:04:45.24
It's the anthem
of the Lord's renown
00:04:45.27\00:04:52.90
And together we sing
00:04:52.93\00:04:59.76
Everyone sing
00:04:59.79\00:05:03.99
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
00:05:04.02\00:05:11.96
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:05:11.99\00:05:16.94
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
00:05:16.97\00:05:23.58
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:05:23.61\00:05:28.61
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:05:28.64\00:05:34.44
The earth is
filled with His glory
00:05:34.47\00:05:42.44
Amen. Please take your seats.
00:05:44.33\00:05:45.65
Isn't that
something to sing about?
00:05:48.28\00:05:50.23
The Lord is Holy,
00:05:51.71\00:05:52.74
He is drawing us
closer and closer.
00:05:52.77\00:05:55.51
We want to teach you a new song.
00:05:55.54\00:05:56.94
Song the Lord gave to me,
it says to all generations.
00:05:56.97\00:06:00.02
And it comes from Psalm 89:1.
00:06:00.05\00:06:01.75
It says, I will sing at
the mercies of the Lord forever
00:06:01.78\00:06:04.15
and declare His faithfulness
unto all generation.
00:06:04.18\00:06:07.74
And so we'll repeat that
course to all generations.
00:06:07.77\00:06:10.61
We're thinking of
our commitment to share,
00:06:10.64\00:06:13.85
to just walk across the
room and to sing of His mercy
00:06:13.88\00:06:17.72
and His love and
His faithfulness to us.
00:06:17.75\00:06:20.40
Just repeat after me,
we're going to sing it
00:06:20.43\00:06:21.80
for you few times, just repeat.
00:06:21.83\00:06:23.03
Here we go. We'll
sing and you repeat.
00:06:23.06\00:06:26.55
I will sing of the
mercies of the Lord forever
00:06:28.49\00:06:35.77
Try that.
00:06:35.80\00:06:36.89
I will sing of the
mercies of the Lord forever
00:06:36.92\00:06:42.30
And the next part says.
00:06:42.33\00:06:43.42
And declare His
faithfulness in truth
00:06:43.45\00:06:49.06
Try that, and declare
00:06:49.09\00:06:50.35
And declare His
faithfulness in truth
00:06:50.38\00:06:55.80
Nest part says, I will testify.
00:06:55.83\00:06:57.69
I will testify, of one crucified
00:06:57.72\00:07:04.95
Try that.
00:07:04.98\00:07:06.01
I will testify, of one crucified
00:07:06.04\00:07:12.63
And the last part says.
00:07:12.66\00:07:14.12
I will sing His praises
00:07:14.15\00:07:17.77
I will sing His praises
00:07:17.80\00:07:20.03
And the courses
to all generations,
00:07:20.06\00:07:21.45
To all
generations, to all generations
00:07:21.48\00:07:29.03
To all generations we speak
00:07:29.06\00:07:34.95
To all generations.
00:07:34.98\00:07:36.35
To all
generations, to all generations
00:07:36.38\00:07:43.67
To all generations we speak
00:07:43.70\00:07:49.48
We will try all again
together that same verse,
00:07:49.51\00:07:51.58
I will sing of the
mercies of the Lord forever.
00:07:51.61\00:07:54.46
I will sing of the
mercies of the Lord forever
00:07:54.49\00:08:01.86
And declare His
faithfulness in truth
00:08:01.89\00:08:07.63
I will testify.
00:08:07.66\00:08:09.28
I will testify
00:08:09.31\00:08:12.08
Of one crucified.
00:08:12.11\00:08:13.14
Of one crucified
00:08:13.17\00:08:15.19
And I will sing His praises.
00:08:15.22\00:08:16.70
And I will sing His praises
00:08:16.73\00:08:19.48
To all generations.
00:08:19.51\00:08:20.57
To all generations,
00:08:20.60\00:08:24.28
to all generations
00:08:24.31\00:08:27.78
To all generations we speak
00:08:27.81\00:08:33.76
To all
generations, to all generations
00:08:35.37\00:08:42.64
To all generations we sing
00:08:42.67\00:08:48.39
Come on try one
more verse, I will sing.
00:08:48.42\00:08:53.48
I will sing of the
mercies of the Lord forever
00:08:53.51\00:09:00.69
And declare His
faithfulness in truth
00:09:00.72\00:09:06.19
So with all my heart.
00:09:06.22\00:09:07.84
So with all my heart
00:09:07.87\00:09:11.08
And every breath.
00:09:11.11\00:09:12.19
And every breath
00:09:12.22\00:09:14.01
I will shout His praises.
00:09:14.04\00:09:15.52
I will shout His praises
00:09:15.55\00:09:18.07
Just bring out that chorus.
00:09:18.10\00:09:19.21
To all
generations, to all generations
00:09:19.24\00:09:26.40
To all generations we speak
00:09:26.43\00:09:31.97
Let's sing that, to all.
00:09:32.00\00:09:33.50
To all
generations, to all generations
00:09:33.53\00:09:40.83
To all generations we sing
00:09:40.86\00:09:46.15
One last time.
00:09:46.18\00:09:47.89
To all
generations, to all generations
00:09:47.92\00:09:55.54
To all generations we speak
00:09:55.57\00:10:02.70
To all
generations, to all generations
00:10:02.73\00:10:10.21
To all generations we speak
00:10:10.24\00:10:16.80
Sing the mighty power of God
00:10:39.66\00:10:42.69
Marvelous amazing
00:10:42.72\00:10:45.51
Sing the mighty power of God
00:10:45.54\00:10:48.50
Earth and heaven praise Him
00:10:48.53\00:10:51.61
God is worthy to be praised
00:10:51.64\00:10:57.90
To be praised
00:10:57.93\00:11:02.52
Sing the mighty power of God
00:11:02.55\00:11:05.43
Marvelous amazing
00:11:05.46\00:11:08.48
Sing the mighty power of God
00:11:08.51\00:11:11.56
Earth and heaven praise Him
00:11:11.59\00:11:14.66
God is worthy to be praised
00:11:14.69\00:11:20.94
To be praised
00:11:20.97\00:11:25.65
Everything with life and breath
00:11:33.03\00:11:39.91
Makes His glories known
00:11:39.94\00:11:46.28
All authority and strength
00:11:46.31\00:11:52.38
belong to God alone
00:11:52.41\00:11:58.98
Sing the mighty power
00:11:59.01\00:12:02.71
Sing the mighty power of God
00:12:02.74\00:12:09.08
Marvelous amazing
00:12:09.11\00:12:12.21
Sing the mighty power of God
00:12:12.24\00:12:15.34
Earth and heaven praise Him
00:12:15.37\00:12:18.44
God is worthy to be praised
00:12:18.47\00:12:24.80
To be praised
00:12:24.83\00:12:29.21
I sing the almighty power of God
00:12:34.81\00:12:41.45
That made the mountains rise,
00:12:41.48\00:12:46.84
the mountains rise
00:12:46.87\00:12:50.39
Sing the mighty power
00:12:50.42\00:12:53.86
Sing the mighty power
00:12:53.89\00:12:57.05
Sing the mighty power of God
00:12:57.08\00:13:04.78
I sing the mighty power of God
00:13:08.27\00:13:16.27
The power of God
00:13:17.76\00:13:25.76
Let's pray.
00:13:29.33\00:13:30.36
Holy Father, appropriate words,
00:13:36.06\00:13:37.91
this singing of Your
might power given this hour
00:13:40.78\00:13:46.87
a political uncertainty,
00:13:49.58\00:13:53.24
economic turbulence.
00:13:53.27\00:13:54.94
How would You have Your
children engaged this hour?
00:13:59.46\00:14:05.29
May this
morning's teaching be clear.
00:14:05.32\00:14:09.62
Through Jesus
Christ, our Lord, amen.
00:14:12.61\00:14:16.26
Once upon a time
00:14:19.14\00:14:23.24
Jesus was ambushed
00:14:23.27\00:14:24.82
by a group of young seminarians
and giving the sterling
00:14:27.96\00:14:34.63
reputation that our seminarians
enjoy on this campus.
00:14:34.66\00:14:37.42
I know that sounds
a bit strange to you,
00:14:37.45\00:14:39.80
seminarians ambushing Jesus.
00:14:39.83\00:14:42.92
Covert their
assignment, placed strategically
00:14:47.65\00:14:54.26
in the crowd that
morning by their professors,
00:14:54.29\00:15:01.07
the religious
elders and Pharisees.
00:15:01.10\00:15:04.82
It was one of those classic,
00:15:04.85\00:15:07.93
gotcha journalism moments.
00:15:07.96\00:15:10.56
I realize that we are in
an election season right now.
00:15:13.56\00:15:18.86
I don't know where
you stand politically
00:15:18.89\00:15:21.04
and it really
doesn't matter to me
00:15:21.07\00:15:22.16
and you don't know
where I stand and you won't.
00:15:22.19\00:15:24.35
But I have a
feeling all of us, come on,
00:15:27.79\00:15:30.10
let's just be honest, all
of us have felt a bit drawn
00:15:30.13\00:15:37.05
to her plight, her
name is Sarah Palin.
00:15:37.08\00:15:40.68
I don't know if
you've heard of her.
00:15:40.71\00:15:42.86
Drawn to what appears to be
00:15:46.43\00:15:51.37
the gotcha journalism
of the main stream press.
00:15:51.40\00:15:55.84
Vice presidential nominee
of course and John Mccain's
00:15:55.87\00:16:00.76
republican ticket.
00:16:00.79\00:16:02.77
Wikipedia defines
"Gotcha journalism" this way,
00:16:02.80\00:16:06.62
let me read it to you,
"Method of interviewing
00:16:06.65\00:16:10.61
which are designed to
entrap the interviewee
00:16:10.64\00:16:14.52
into making statements which
are damaging or discreditable
00:16:14.55\00:16:17.67
to their character,
integrity, or repute."
00:16:17.70\00:16:23.08
Now it cuts both ways.
00:16:23.11\00:16:25.72
Both political parties,
any candidate is fare game,
00:16:25.75\00:16:28.70
gotcha journalism.
00:16:28.73\00:16:30.24
This was to be the
perfect, perfect setup.
00:16:30.27\00:16:37.36
Flattering, innocent
00:16:37.39\00:16:41.42
but in that question a Christian
00:16:41.45\00:16:46.30
community on the eve
of this national election
00:16:46.33\00:16:49.00
would do well--
listen carefully,
00:16:49.03\00:16:51.09
to both the young
seminarians gotcha question
00:16:51.12\00:16:56.30
and Jesus gotcha back answer.
00:16:56.33\00:17:02.45
We continue our
series Primetime.
00:17:02.48\00:17:05.20
Open your Bible to the
Gospel of Matthew Chapter 22
00:17:05.23\00:17:08.91
and while you are doing
that I'll put it on the screen.
00:17:08.94\00:17:10.63
This is our series Primetime.
00:17:10.66\00:17:12.24
This is part seven in Primetime.
00:17:12.27\00:17:15.05
Title of today's teaching,
"The Politics of the Kingdom,"
00:17:15.08\00:17:18.26
subtitle, "How to
Vote in this Election."
00:17:18.29\00:17:20.91
And I hope we were
still friends when it's over.
00:17:24.06\00:17:25.95
If you've missed
the previous six in this
00:17:28.73\00:17:30.10
teaching by the
way, let me leave it up
00:17:30.13\00:17:31.41
for little longer
there's our website.
00:17:31.44\00:17:32.92
You can go to that
website and get the pod cast
00:17:32.95\00:17:35.48
to the previous six teachings.
00:17:35.51\00:17:36.67
And by the way
don't miss next week
00:17:36.70\00:17:39.62
when the title of
our teaching will be,
00:17:39.65\00:17:41.28
can an atheist be saved?
00:17:41.31\00:17:44.51
How can I effectively share
00:17:44.54\00:17:46.15
my faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ
00:17:46.18\00:17:47.94
with someone who
doesn't believe of it?
00:17:47.97\00:17:52.33
I hope you'll be
here next weekend.
00:17:52.36\00:17:54.72
All right, this is Matthew 22.
00:17:54.75\00:17:56.46
I am in the Today's
New International Version.
00:17:56.49\00:18:00.04
Grab your Bible, if
you didn't bring your Bible
00:18:00.07\00:18:01.53
you got to track this
little narrative in Matthew 22
00:18:01.56\00:18:03.90
the pew Bible in front of you.
00:18:03.93\00:18:05.37
What's the page
number, page 665.
00:18:05.40\00:18:08.01
That will be in the
New King James Version.
00:18:08.04\00:18:11.17
Matthew Chapter 22,
let's pick it up in verse 15,
00:18:11.20\00:18:14.38
"Then the Pharisees went
out and laid plans to trap
00:18:14.41\00:18:18.70
him in his words."
00:18:18.73\00:18:19.85
Classic definition
of gotcha journalism,
00:18:19.88\00:18:23.58
that's what you do.
00:18:23.61\00:18:26.24
Now remind you this is Tuesday.
00:18:26.27\00:18:29.69
Tomorrow is Wednesday,
the next day is Thursday
00:18:29.72\00:18:34.26
and after that will be
Friday upon which this young
00:18:34.29\00:18:38.14
Galilean will be executed
by the Roman authorities.
00:18:38.17\00:18:44.99
But the Pharisees have no
idea that the Friday is coming.
00:18:45.02\00:18:47.52
They have no idea
what will happen transpire
00:18:47.55\00:18:49.97
for the reminder of this week.
00:18:50.00\00:18:51.28
What they do know is
that they must somehow gather
00:18:51.31\00:18:56.54
enough legal evidence
for a religious court,
00:18:56.57\00:19:00.93
for a secular
court it doesn't matter,
00:19:00.96\00:19:03.02
accumulate
Ecclesiastical, federal charges.
00:19:03.05\00:19:06.86
Somehow you got to
trap Him with His own words.
00:19:06.89\00:19:11.72
Get rid of this guy,
eliminate Him, odious.
00:19:11.75\00:19:16.36
He's been a thorn in our
side ever since He began.
00:19:16.39\00:19:18.47
"Then the Pharisees
went out," verse 15,
00:19:21.75\00:19:23.76
"and laid plans to
trap him in his words."
00:19:23.79\00:19:26.72
Now here they come,
the young seminaries.
00:19:26.75\00:19:28.24
"They sent their
disciples to Him."
00:19:28.27\00:19:30.65
Hold it right there.
00:19:30.68\00:19:32.38
They sent their disciples.
00:19:32.41\00:19:34.43
There was a
seminary in Jerusalem.
00:19:34.46\00:19:36.53
It's obvious the
Pharisees cannot on this Tuesday
00:19:36.56\00:19:39.04
morning dare show up
with their glorious flowing
00:19:39.07\00:19:41.95
robes and their
big bushy beards.
00:19:41.98\00:19:44.53
It would be a dead give
away that somebody is out
00:19:44.56\00:19:47.63
to nail this preacher.
00:19:47.66\00:19:49.26
Jesus would be prepared,
cocked and ready to go.
00:19:49.29\00:19:53.67
So they send the
beardless seminaries to filter
00:19:53.70\00:19:56.81
into that crowd and
stand there innocuously waiting
00:19:56.84\00:19:59.93
for their perfect moment.
00:19:59.96\00:20:01.60
The instructions to
the seminaries are clear
00:20:01.63\00:20:03.93
by the way, an
automatic A you can nail Him.
00:20:03.96\00:20:08.39
Who wouldn't take the offer?
00:20:08.42\00:20:09.73
Verse 16 again, "They
sent their disciples to Him
00:20:14.63\00:20:18.46
along with the Herodians."
00:20:18.49\00:20:22.95
Hit the pause
button right there.
00:20:22.98\00:20:25.59
Tragically, it's too
often the case, the church,
00:20:25.62\00:20:29.03
when on certain
that she has the leverage
00:20:29.06\00:20:30.79
and power to accomplish her
task tragically she often does
00:20:30.82\00:20:34.18
precisely this.
00:20:34.21\00:20:35.34
She allies herself with
a political party in order
00:20:35.37\00:20:38.84
to achieve her
means and her ends.
00:20:38.87\00:20:44.22
The Herodians, the Herodians,
00:20:44.25\00:20:46.73
they are a political
party, party of Jews.
00:20:46.76\00:20:50.39
They back the Roman
puppet ruler of Palestine,
00:20:50.42\00:20:54.78
Harold Antipas that's
why they called Herodians.
00:20:54.81\00:20:58.13
Now you got to
understand this envy obviously,
00:20:58.16\00:21:01.95
clearly bags the most
strange of bad fellows
00:21:01.98\00:21:06.17
because the
Pharisees are ultranationalist.
00:21:06.20\00:21:08.82
They are the archconservatives,
00:21:08.85\00:21:10.48
they spit on the very
thought of collaborators.
00:21:10.51\00:21:15.07
So for the Pharisees to lock,
00:21:15.10\00:21:17.08
to join forces with
Herodians is the evidence
00:21:17.11\00:21:24.16
of desperation now.
00:21:24.19\00:21:27.39
And that's a tragedy by the way,
00:21:27.42\00:21:29.30
that has ever been
the tragedy in desperation
00:21:29.33\00:21:32.90
to achieve our agenda
that the church allies
00:21:32.93\00:21:37.32
itself with a political
party and we are always
00:21:37.35\00:21:42.66
the weaker for it.
00:21:42.69\00:21:46.70
This last year
brought the untimely death
00:21:46.73\00:21:51.75
of two of the
most well known leaders
00:21:51.78\00:21:53.15
of the religious
right in this country,
00:21:53.18\00:21:54.58
Jerry Falwell
and D James Kennedy.
00:21:54.61\00:21:58.01
Four years ago, this season
00:21:58.04\00:22:02.18
Jerry Falwell
before the re-election
00:22:06.11\00:22:09.30
of President George
W. Bush, Jerry Falwell,
00:22:09.33\00:22:13.15
Baptist preacher and pastor,
00:22:13.18\00:22:15.11
Chancellor of Liberty
University in Virginia,
00:22:15.14\00:22:19.07
Lynchburg Virginia.
00:22:19.10\00:22:20.18
Jerry Falwell
made this statement
00:22:20.21\00:22:22.27
I put it on the screen for you.
00:22:22.30\00:22:25.61
Both Kennedy and
Falwell unabashed
00:22:25.64\00:22:29.40
and they are pastor
over parties and loyalties.
00:22:29.43\00:22:31.14
Here it goes, "For
conservative people,
00:22:31.17\00:22:33.25
" quoting Jerry
Falwell now four years ago.
00:22:33.28\00:22:34.91
"For
conservative people of faith,
00:22:34.94\00:22:36.50
voting for principle
this year means voting
00:22:36.53\00:22:38.93
for the
re-election of George W. Bush.
00:22:38.96\00:22:41.79
I believe it is
the responsibility
00:22:41.82\00:22:43.57
of every political
conservative, every evangelical
00:22:43.60\00:22:46.20
Christian, every
pro-life Catholic,
00:22:46.23\00:22:47.89
every traditional
Jew, every Reagan Democrat,
00:22:47.92\00:22:50.26
and everyone in
between to get serious about
00:22:50.29\00:22:52.48
re-electing President Bush."
00:22:52.51\00:22:54.36
So preaches a
baptize protestant preacher.
00:22:54.39\00:22:59.81
Of course, it is the right
of every American Christian
00:22:59.84\00:23:02.51
and by the way we
have 100 nations here,
00:23:02.54\00:23:04.12
it is the right of
every Christian on earth
00:23:04.15\00:23:06.98
to engage in the
national election and vote
00:23:07.01\00:23:10.34
your wish, vote
your convictions,
00:23:10.37\00:23:12.24
vote your conscious.
00:23:12.27\00:23:13.30
But the tragic
death of our Lord Jesus
00:23:15.85\00:23:18.66
is in incontrovertible
'Exhibit A' that when the church
00:23:18.69\00:23:22.49
aligns itself with a
political party the end
00:23:22.52\00:23:25.86
results are
always, always disastrous.
00:23:25.89\00:23:32.69
For evangelicals in
America today to blindly ally
00:23:32.72\00:23:36.38
or align themselves to
a political party repeats
00:23:36.41\00:23:39.88
the sin of the
Pharisees and the Herodians.
00:23:39.91\00:23:44.00
Let James Dobson
be his tired drum,
00:23:44.03\00:23:48.26
you cannot let one spokes person
00:23:48.29\00:23:51.60
become the voice of an
entire community of faith.
00:23:51.63\00:23:57.39
And by the way you
want to 'Exhibit B'?
00:23:57.42\00:23:59.17
If 'Exhibit A' wasn't
enough you want 'Exhibit B?'
00:23:59.20\00:24:02.29
The political collaboration
of the church in Nazi
00:24:02.32\00:24:06.12
Germany is a
Sambar 'Exhibit B' about
00:24:06.15\00:24:11.14
the national political,
even emergency amalgamation
00:24:11.17\00:24:16.47
that can take a church down.
00:24:16.50\00:24:19.48
I tell you what, it does
not forebode well for Jesus
00:24:19.51\00:24:22.22
this Tuesday morning
when the church has aligned
00:24:22.25\00:24:26.34
itself with a political party.
00:24:26.37\00:24:27.94
Verse 16, "So they
sent their disciples"
00:24:31.60\00:24:34.39
these young seminaries
00:24:34.42\00:24:35.45
"to Him along
with the Herodians.
00:24:35.48\00:24:36.81
'Teacher,'" Here we go
now, "'Teacher,' they said,
00:24:36.84\00:24:40.87
'we know that you
are a man of integrity
00:24:40.90\00:24:43.58
and that you
teach the way of God
00:24:43.61\00:24:45.18
in accordance with the truth.
00:24:45.21\00:24:46.69
You aren't swayed by others,
00:24:46.72\00:24:48.64
because you pay no
attention to who they are.'
00:24:48.67\00:24:51.20
" All right, I want
to tell you something.
00:24:51.23\00:24:52.57
If ever I would covet
a complement I would want
00:24:52.60\00:24:55.68
those words to be said
about me, wouldn't you?
00:24:55.71\00:24:58.41
I mean, come on.
00:24:58.44\00:24:59.47
I know that when
you open up your mouth
00:24:59.50\00:25:00.98
you tell the truth.
00:25:01.01\00:25:02.05
You are not
swayed political position
00:25:02.08\00:25:03.82
or power.
00:25:03.85\00:25:04.88
You hold your like
because it's what you believed
00:25:04.91\00:25:07.02
to be truth.
00:25:07.05\00:25:08.48
If only the young
seminaries believed
00:25:08.51\00:25:12.47
what they have just mouthed.
00:25:12.50\00:25:14.66
Oh, no, this is
just a flattery setup
00:25:14.69\00:25:18.62
for the gotcha question.
00:25:18.65\00:25:21.18
Verse 17,
00:25:24.60\00:25:25.78
Tell us, O good
teacher, "Tell us then,
00:25:28.95\00:25:34.01
what is your opinion?"
00:25:34.04\00:25:35.54
Boom, red light.
00:25:35.57\00:25:36.69
Jesus knows immediately.
00:25:36.72\00:25:38.39
They just said, they
value me for telling the truth
00:25:38.42\00:25:41.23
and now they are
asking my opinion.
00:25:41.26\00:25:43.82
They don't want to know at all.
00:25:43.85\00:25:45.25
Tell us.
00:25:45.28\00:25:46.92
They gave
themselves away too early.
00:25:46.95\00:25:48.48
"Tell us then,
what is your opinion?
00:25:48.51\00:25:50.30
Is it right to
pay the imperial tax
00:25:50.33\00:25:53.74
to Caesar or not?"
00:25:53.77\00:25:58.24
It seemingly harmless
question, you got to admit.
00:25:58.27\00:26:00.22
I mean, please, shall we
pay the tax that subjugated
00:26:00.25\00:26:02.30
peoples and provinces of
Rome, of the Roman Empire,
00:26:02.33\00:26:05.34
are require to pay,
Roman citizens themselves being
00:26:05.37\00:26:08.19
exempted of course.
00:26:08.22\00:26:10.13
I tell you what,
them fighting words
00:26:10.16\00:26:11.75
with the nationalistic
community like the Jews.
00:26:11.78\00:26:15.74
The Pharisees
said, no way, no way.
00:26:15.77\00:26:18.38
The Herodians said, but
of course we pay that tax.
00:26:18.41\00:26:21.06
So what do you say, Jesus?
00:26:21.09\00:26:23.36
Should we or should we not?
00:26:23.39\00:26:25.52
Oh, its perfect.
00:26:25.55\00:26:26.58
Gotcha journalism, if he Says,
00:26:26.61\00:26:27.84
pay the tax then the
Pharisees will declare Him,
00:26:27.87\00:26:29.84
an enemy of law of God for
they believe the law of God
00:26:29.87\00:26:32.29
for bad paying
taxes to any foreign power
00:26:32.32\00:26:35.02
and if He says, don't pay
the tax then they will hurry
00:26:35.05\00:26:37.69
to the governor and declare
that He is an insurrectionist
00:26:37.72\00:26:40.14
against Rome.
00:26:40.17\00:26:41.20
Gotcha either way.
00:26:41.23\00:26:42.84
Brilliant. Automatic A.
00:26:42.87\00:26:44.93
Verse 18, "But Jesus,
knowing their evil intent,
00:26:50.65\00:26:58.01
said, 'You hypocrites,'"
you are too young to be this,
00:26:58.04\00:27:02.83
"'You hypocrites why
are you trying to trap me?'
00:27:02.86\00:27:07.79
"And then Jesus, get this,
00:27:11.15\00:27:14.52
because He is so dirt poor
00:27:14.55\00:27:19.62
has to turn to the
crown and say, hey,
00:27:19.65\00:27:21.02
anybody here have a coin?
00:27:21.05\00:27:22.80
Somebody throw me a
coin, He's that poor.
00:27:22.83\00:27:26.82
Not even a coin.
00:27:26.85\00:27:29.81
Somebody reached in
to his flowing robes
00:27:29.84\00:27:34.37
and flips a coin
across the clearing
00:27:34.40\00:27:37.38
to where the young
Gillian catches it.
00:27:37.41\00:27:40.11
He holds up the coin,
00:27:43.25\00:27:46.94
it's a denarius, denarius,
00:27:46.97\00:27:53.31
equal to the wages of a
common laborer for one day.
00:27:53.34\00:27:57.39
Let's say you work at McDonalds
00:27:57.42\00:27:58.45
and you get $8 an hour
and you work eight hours
00:27:58.48\00:28:00.70
a day doing $60 to
$64 in this coin for tax.
00:28:00.73\00:28:07.47
I did this in first service.
00:28:07.50\00:28:08.53
This is a silver
dollar by the way.
00:28:08.56\00:28:10.91
I did this in first
service between services
00:28:10.94\00:28:13.83
one of my friends
doctoral student here
00:28:13.86\00:28:15.66
Kenneth Morrison met me just
00:28:15.69\00:28:17.26
before coming on
to the platform today.
00:28:17.29\00:28:19.65
He said, I want to
show you something.
00:28:19.68\00:28:22.63
He said, take a look at this.
00:28:22.66\00:28:24.81
He handed me an actual denarius,
00:28:24.84\00:28:27.05
its right here in this plastic.
00:28:27.08\00:28:28.83
Oh, I must be very careful,
dated between 14 and 37 A.D.
00:28:28.86\00:28:36.58
It's about the
size, it's about the size
00:28:36.61\00:28:41.14
little bigger than a dime
and smaller than a nickel.
00:28:41.17\00:28:45.20
So that's what
somebody threw at Jesus.
00:28:45.23\00:28:46.76
He did have a coin.
They threw it at Him.
00:28:46.79\00:28:49.71
Jesus held it up
and just like this one,
00:28:49.74\00:28:52.97
in fact Ken Morrison
said to me, you know what,
00:28:53.00\00:28:54.66
Dwight, this could
be the actual coin.
00:28:54.69\00:28:58.15
It could be, you
don't know that its not.
00:28:58.18\00:29:01.24
We know it's
between 14 and 37 A.D.
00:29:01.27\00:29:03.86
because we have
Tiberius picture on the coin.
00:29:03.89\00:29:07.61
This could be
the one He held up.
00:29:07.64\00:29:11.42
Let's pretend it is.
00:29:11.45\00:29:12.52
Jesus holds up the
coin and He gets it so that,
00:29:16.45\00:29:19.49
so that the Tiberius'
face is facing straight at the
00:29:19.52\00:29:24.00
smart aleckian seminaries.
00:29:24.03\00:29:27.26
He says, all right,
tell me whose picture,
00:29:27.29\00:29:31.54
whose image is
engraved on this coin?
00:29:31.57\00:29:35.51
It would be like
Jesus pulling out a penny
00:29:35.54\00:29:37.05
and saying to us, okay, guys,
tell me who's the president
00:29:37.08\00:29:39.86
on this copper penny?
00:29:39.89\00:29:40.96
And what would we say?
00:29:40.99\00:29:42.09
Oh, Lincoln.
00:29:42.12\00:29:44.13
That's exactly what they did.
00:29:44.16\00:29:45.93
Set Him up, they
didn't have time to think.
00:29:45.96\00:29:48.01
They just said, ha, it's Caesar.
00:29:48.04\00:29:51.42
Jesus said, very good.
00:29:51.45\00:29:54.50
Very good.
00:29:57.37\00:30:00.15
Give it to
Caesar what is Caesar's,
00:30:00.18\00:30:07.60
give to God what is God's.
00:30:07.63\00:30:12.35
Just like that it's over.
00:30:12.38\00:30:14.11
Verse 22, "When they
heard this, they were amazed.
00:30:14.14\00:30:20.60
So they left him and went away."
00:30:20.63\00:30:24.18
The end. Oh, it's not the end.
00:30:24.21\00:30:26.80
The end doesn't
come for more three days,
00:30:26.83\00:30:29.35
that's when the end comes.
00:30:29.38\00:30:30.68
But that story has a backdrop.
00:30:36.03\00:30:43.43
I want to take a moment
00:30:43.46\00:30:47.27
and talk heart to heart
00:30:47.30\00:30:51.29
with you who are the
Primetime generation right now.
00:30:51.32\00:30:59.13
One of the epic stories
that has come out of this
00:30:59.16\00:31:03.51
presidential election
cycle has been the phenomenal,
00:31:03.54\00:31:07.83
the phenomenal,
00:31:07.86\00:31:09.91
the chattering class
has shaken its heads.
00:31:09.94\00:31:14.55
The phenomenal, activism
00:31:14.58\00:31:20.93
of young American adults
00:31:20.96\00:31:27.78
in Barrack Obama's campaign.
00:31:27.81\00:31:31.38
And I'm gonna tell you
that somebody who has been
00:31:31.41\00:31:34.11
standing on the sidelines,
I've found it personally,
00:31:34.14\00:31:37.28
I've found it very refreshing
to see that reengagement
00:31:37.31\00:31:43.97
by your segment of
the American electorate.
00:31:44.00\00:31:47.66
Never the less, never the less
00:31:47.69\00:31:52.09
I need to warn
you, I need to warn you
00:31:52.12\00:31:56.89
about the danger of
seeking rapprochement
00:31:56.92\00:32:04.42
with the Caesar of politics.
00:32:04.45\00:32:09.79
In 1274 a German myth was born,
00:32:09.82\00:32:14.10
came out of that tiny little
German village called Hamelin.
00:32:14.13\00:32:17.40
It's the myth of the Pied Piper.
00:32:17.43\00:32:18.86
You remember the Pied Piper?
00:32:18.89\00:32:20.69
Put a picture of the Pied
Piper on the screen for you.
00:32:20.72\00:32:23.59
You remember that
story, Hamelin, Germany, 1274.
00:32:23.62\00:32:27.31
This story according to the myth
00:32:27.34\00:32:30.31
that little village was
inundated with rats, remember?
00:32:30.34\00:32:33.81
And so this
enchanter comes among
00:32:33.84\00:32:35.75
and he says, hey, I
can take the rats away.
00:32:35.78\00:32:37.19
They said, you can?
He says, yeah, for a fee.
00:32:37.22\00:32:38.95
They said, we'll pay you.
00:32:38.98\00:32:40.24
He played his magical
flute and all the rats were led
00:32:40.27\00:32:43.55
right down to the
river and they drowned.
00:32:43.58\00:32:45.62
He came back for his
fee and the people said,
00:32:45.65\00:32:47.26
we changed our mind, we
are not going to pay you.
00:32:47.29\00:32:50.20
Oh, a few months later
00:32:50.23\00:32:52.84
when all the
adults were in church
00:32:52.87\00:32:56.11
the Pied Piper came back,
00:32:56.14\00:32:57.28
played that same little flute
00:32:57.31\00:33:00.11
and 130 boys and girls
00:33:00.14\00:33:01.83
followed him out of that village
00:33:01.86\00:33:02.96
and into a cave and
were never seen again.
00:33:02.99\00:33:06.15
It's the myth of the Pied Piper.
00:33:06.18\00:33:08.75
The Caesar of
politics is a Pied Piper
00:33:08.78\00:33:12.09
who plays a heady
and enchanting tune
00:33:12.12\00:33:15.03
and as it is in the
myth he is particularly,
00:33:15.06\00:33:19.34
particularly desires
00:33:19.37\00:33:22.44
of drawing the young after him.
00:33:22.47\00:33:28.80
Fresh with idealism, it's you.
00:33:28.83\00:33:33.80
Filled with physical and
intellectual energy you are.
00:33:33.83\00:33:38.14
Passionate about cause
you embrace, that's you again.
00:33:38.17\00:33:41.85
There isn't a Pied
Piper on this planet
00:33:41.88\00:33:43.87
including the Lord Jesus Christ
00:33:43.90\00:33:46.20
who would not give His right arm
00:33:46.23\00:33:48.00
to have you
follow after Him. Why?
00:33:48.03\00:33:52.84
Because you are
the stuff of hope,
00:33:52.87\00:33:55.94
you are the promise of change.
00:33:55.97\00:33:59.49
And so the Pied Piper
knowing that you want hope
00:33:59.52\00:34:02.44
and that you believe in change
00:34:02.47\00:34:05.22
plays the tune for you.
00:34:05.25\00:34:07.85
Beware the Caesar of politics
00:34:11.63\00:34:16.03
who can be the
enchanting Pied Piper?
00:34:16.06\00:34:20.62
Because after the
last rally is over
00:34:20.65\00:34:23.85
and election night has ended
00:34:23.88\00:34:25.30
and you crawl back into your bed
00:34:25.33\00:34:27.29
and the floor in the hotel
ball room is strewn with red,
00:34:27.32\00:34:31.62
white and blue
confetti and deflated balloons
00:34:31.65\00:34:34.66
reality will once
again set in, trust me.
00:34:34.69\00:34:38.58
And the voters who
recorded and romance
00:34:38.61\00:34:40.53
with every
political promise in the book
00:34:40.56\00:34:42.58
will soon be
forgotten by the political elite
00:34:42.61\00:34:45.17
who only need our votes and not
our opinions and convictions.
00:34:45.20\00:34:48.34
But if you've learned
anything from history,
00:34:51.71\00:34:54.76
it is that the ends of Caesar
00:34:54.79\00:34:58.18
are the terminus
of impotent power,
00:34:58.21\00:35:02.18
futile redemption
and unconsummated hope.
00:35:02.21\00:35:05.05
What you want most, you
will never find scampering
00:35:10.26\00:35:14.52
after the Pied Piper, trust me.
00:35:14.55\00:35:18.89
Truth be told, there
is no political deliverer
00:35:18.92\00:35:21.50
for the human race or
for the American nation,
00:35:21.53\00:35:23.81
you think about
this at best, at best.
00:35:23.84\00:35:26.61
The Caesar of politics operates
00:35:26.64\00:35:28.01
in a moral world of compromise
00:35:28.04\00:35:30.36
and the necessary choice
of the lesser of two evils.
00:35:30.39\00:35:32.75
For millennia the
Pied Piper has piped
00:35:32.78\00:35:34.80
something about Ethiopia
00:35:34.83\00:35:36.30
and we keep hoping and believing
00:35:36.33\00:35:37.63
unless the Ethiopia will
come, it has not come yet.
00:35:37.66\00:35:40.95
Do you know why?
00:35:40.98\00:35:42.60
Because what is facing Caesar
is the endemic dysfunction,
00:35:42.63\00:35:46.80
the systemic
disease of the human heart
00:35:46.83\00:35:49.78
that even Caesar's
elixir can not heal
00:35:49.81\00:35:53.37
and can not satisfy, that's why.
00:35:53.40\00:35:57.33
Oh, yes, the very same Caesar.
00:35:57.36\00:35:58.53
You are right,
the very same Caesar
00:35:58.56\00:36:00.11
that Jesus
commanded us to render to
00:36:00.14\00:36:02.40
is the same Caesar that
the apostle Paul appeal to,
00:36:02.43\00:36:05.38
appeal to when his
life was in jeopardy.
00:36:05.41\00:36:07.84
Acts 25, "Get me out of
here, I appeal to Caesar.
00:36:07.87\00:36:11.10
I won't get a fair trial
here, I appeal to Caesar."
00:36:11.13\00:36:16.14
The only treat that Paul
offers on human governance
00:36:16.17\00:36:20.35
and government is
in Romans Chapter 13.
00:36:20.38\00:36:23.38
And in Romans 13
he calls the ruler.
00:36:23.41\00:36:25.88
You can read Caesar,
00:36:25.91\00:36:26.94
he calls the
ruler a servant of God.
00:36:26.97\00:36:29.04
Let me put it on the
screen for you, Romans 13:4,
00:36:29.07\00:36:31.47
"For the one in
authority is God's servant."
00:36:31.50\00:36:33.37
The Greek word is diakonos
from which come out word deacon.
00:36:33.40\00:36:38.02
"The one in authority is
God's deacon for your good."
00:36:38.05\00:36:44.93
But please do not mistake,
00:36:44.96\00:36:47.07
Paul defense of human governance
00:36:47.10\00:36:48.71
in this fallen
world for any appeal
00:36:48.74\00:36:50.92
to become immersed in
the world of politics.
00:36:50.95\00:36:53.10
We say, hey, come
on, time out, time out.
00:36:53.13\00:36:54.46
Oh I, wait a
minute, don't be so fast.
00:36:54.49\00:36:57.94
You have forgotten
about Daniel and Esther
00:36:57.97\00:37:01.73
and Nehemiah and Joseph
00:37:01.76\00:37:04.05
and even Moses. What about them?
00:37:04.08\00:37:06.03
They were all believers
00:37:06.06\00:37:07.51
and they served
government effectively.
00:37:07.54\00:37:09.81
Ho, touche. Good point.
00:37:09.84\00:37:15.21
Thoughtful observation.
00:37:15.24\00:37:17.11
However, I remind you
00:37:17.14\00:37:20.51
that their exemplary
service, these political exiles
00:37:20.54\00:37:24.71
and by the way
that's the key word exiles.
00:37:24.74\00:37:26.82
The exemplary service
of these political exiles
00:37:26.85\00:37:29.29
was to a man and to a woman,
00:37:29.32\00:37:30.91
the result of their exile status
00:37:30.94\00:37:33.42
and not their
political ambitions.
00:37:33.45\00:37:36.66
They were thrust into
office not by personal choice
00:37:36.69\00:37:39.87
but by miraculous
divine appointment.
00:37:39.90\00:37:43.11
And they
maintained the whole while
00:37:43.14\00:37:46.10
their exile
status even in captivity.
00:37:46.13\00:37:49.19
They were not citizens
00:37:49.22\00:37:50.37
or political participants
of their government.
00:37:50.40\00:37:54.88
So of course,
00:37:54.91\00:37:56.49
I know some of you are
taking political science,
00:37:56.52\00:37:58.55
keep in political science.
00:37:58.58\00:38:00.29
Aspire to government
service. Do you know what?
00:38:00.32\00:38:03.17
I met a prime minister once,
the prime minister of Uganda
00:38:03.20\00:38:06.54
and did a preaching to him,
Seventh-day Adventist Christian.
00:38:06.57\00:38:10.91
Go ahead aspire the
highest government service
00:38:10.94\00:38:15.02
you can aspire to
00:38:15.05\00:38:16.90
but do so with
your eyes wide open.
00:38:16.93\00:38:24.12
David Kuo, a young
evangelical political operative
00:38:24.15\00:38:28.38
who became special
assistant to President Bush,
00:38:28.41\00:38:30.91
his last turn for
faith based initiatives
00:38:30.94\00:38:33.35
eventually resigned,
resigned in disillusionment
00:38:33.38\00:38:37.07
from his political
position in the White House.
00:38:37.10\00:38:38.77
Put him on the screen
there, there's his face.
00:38:38.80\00:38:40.90
He wrote a book subsequently
entitles "Tempting faith,
00:38:40.93\00:38:43.83
an insight story of
political seduction."
00:38:43.86\00:38:47.97
There's the young
adult who got on the inside
00:38:48.00\00:38:52.56
and said, it aren't all
that's cracked up to be.
00:38:52.59\00:38:55.69
Kuo story is a moral tale
for Christian young today.
00:38:55.72\00:38:58.95
The Pied Piper may fain
00:38:58.98\00:39:00.33
an interest in
your faith perspectives
00:39:00.36\00:39:02.24
but Kuo concluded all
you really wanted for is
00:39:02.27\00:39:04.88
you ability to
deliver a few more votes
00:39:04.91\00:39:07.01
to associate Caesar's
insatiable appetite for power.
00:39:07.04\00:39:12.15
Don't be pied pipered into that.
00:39:12.18\00:39:17.91
Say, what's the point, Dwight?
00:39:17.94\00:39:19.72
What are you saying?
Here's what I am saying.
00:39:19.75\00:39:24.11
How much do we give to Caesar?
00:39:24.14\00:39:26.39
Jesus said render to
Caesar what is Caesar's.
00:39:26.42\00:39:28.18
So how much is that?
00:39:28.21\00:39:29.78
The stunning
injection that three days later
00:39:29.81\00:39:33.25
Jesus himself
made while He was bound
00:39:33.28\00:39:36.28
and almost gagged in
front of the Roman governor.
00:39:36.31\00:39:43.38
That stunning
injection defines the parameters
00:39:43.41\00:39:46.18
and the limits of how
much we give to Caesar.
00:39:46.21\00:39:50.15
I want to read
this story with you
00:39:50.18\00:39:52.05
straight out of the gospel.
00:39:52.08\00:39:53.50
John, one more
text, John Chapter 18.
00:39:53.53\00:39:57.38
John Chapter 18. John
18, drop down to verse 28.
00:40:02.16\00:40:07.06
Pickup the
narrative in verse 28.
00:40:07.09\00:40:08.76
John 18:28, "Then
the Jewish leaders
00:40:16.33\00:40:20.09
took Jesus from Caiaphas
00:40:20.12\00:40:23.54
to the palace of
the Roman governor.
00:40:23.57\00:40:26.23
By now it was early morning,
00:40:26.26\00:40:28.41
and to avoid
ceremonial uncleanness
00:40:28.44\00:40:30.86
they did not enter the palace,
00:40:30.89\00:40:33.01
because they wanted to be
able to eat the Passover."
00:40:33.04\00:40:36.49
Go figure.
00:40:36.52\00:40:37.63
Verse 29, "So Pilate
came out to them and asked,
00:40:41.45\00:40:45.07
'What charges are you
bringing against this Man?'
00:40:45.10\00:40:48.27
'Oh if he were not a
criminal,' they replied,
00:40:48.30\00:40:50.21
'we would not have
handed Him over to you.'"
00:40:50.24\00:40:53.11
Verse 31, "Pilate said,
00:40:53.14\00:40:54.17
'Take Him yourselves and
judge Him by your own law.'
00:40:54.20\00:40:58.27
'But we have no
right to execute anyone,'
00:40:58.30\00:41:00.23
they objected. This took place."
00:41:00.26\00:41:02.65
Verse 32, "to fulfill
what Jesus had said about
00:41:02.68\00:41:05.44
the kind of death
he was going to die."
00:41:05.47\00:41:07.07
He said, I am going to
die by being lifted up,
00:41:07.10\00:41:08.71
I'll be
crucified and only Romans,
00:41:08.74\00:41:12.13
this was a bitter
pill for Jews to swallow,
00:41:12.16\00:41:15.19
only Romans could
execute that penalty.
00:41:15.22\00:41:19.26
"Pilate" verse 33, "then
went back inside the palace,
00:41:22.74\00:41:26.26
summoned Jesus and asked Him,
00:41:26.29\00:41:30.25
'Are You the king of the Jews?'
00:41:30.28\00:41:34.65
'Is that your own
idea,' Jesus asked,
00:41:34.68\00:41:37.31
'or did others
talk to you about Me?'
00:41:37.34\00:41:39.02
'Am I a Jew?' Pilate replied.
00:41:39.05\00:41:40.92
'Your own people
and chief priests
00:41:40.95\00:41:42.13
handed You over to me.
What is it You have done?'"
00:41:42.16\00:41:45.32
And then Verse 36,
00:41:45.35\00:41:47.23
"Jesus said, 'My
kingdom is not of this world.
00:41:47.26\00:41:54.49
If it were, My
servants would fight to prevent
00:41:54.52\00:41:56.02
My arrest by the Jewish leaders.
00:41:56.05\00:41:57.67
But now My kingdom
is from another place.'"
00:41:57.70\00:42:04.28
My kingdom is not of this world,
00:42:04.31\00:42:12.28
meaning, and
neither are My followers.
00:42:14.38\00:42:18.04
I am from another
place and so are they.
00:42:18.07\00:42:22.29
They wanted to
play this game with you,
00:42:22.32\00:42:23.62
they fight
justice dirty as you fight
00:42:23.65\00:42:25.17
but they are not
gonna fight on your turf.
00:42:25.20\00:42:29.55
They are not sucked
in to this fallen system,
00:42:29.58\00:42:34.28
they are Mine.
00:42:34.31\00:42:36.60
My kingdom is
from another place.
00:42:36.63\00:42:39.98
You know what that means?
00:42:40.01\00:42:43.02
That means that the
follower of Christ embraces
00:42:43.05\00:42:45.55
an ultimate and higher loyalty.
00:42:45.58\00:42:50.20
I tell you what ladies
and gentlemen the utter,
00:42:50.23\00:42:51.97
the utter lack of
political engagement
00:42:52.00\00:42:54.00
by both Jesus and Paul
speaks cautionary volumes
00:42:54.03\00:42:58.28
to us living today.
00:42:58.31\00:42:59.53
Neither one stepped in
00:42:59.56\00:43:01.44
to the hottest
political issues of their day,
00:43:01.47\00:43:04.40
they stayed out.
00:43:04.43\00:43:09.16
You say, what are
you saying, Dwight?
00:43:09.19\00:43:10.22
Am I not supposed
to enter politics then?
00:43:10.25\00:43:13.10
You know what my friend,
00:43:13.13\00:43:14.16
nobody can make
that decision for you.
00:43:14.19\00:43:15.55
No, I am not
gonna make it for you
00:43:15.58\00:43:17.89
but I will tell you,
rare, rare is the man or woman
00:43:17.92\00:43:25.59
who has been able to
combine high moral integrity
00:43:25.62\00:43:30.15
with political expedience.
00:43:30.18\00:43:34.52
The price is very, very high.
00:43:34.55\00:43:42.42
I saw the movie "Amazing Grace",
00:43:42.45\00:43:43.91
we sang it just a moment ago.
00:43:43.94\00:43:44.97
I saw the movie "Amazing Grace",
00:43:45.00\00:43:48.01
based on the life of
that Englishman named
00:43:48.04\00:43:50.43
William Wilberforce
who single handedly,
00:43:50.46\00:43:56.80
single handedly
turned an entire empire,
00:43:56.83\00:44:01.16
took years of political
engagement in the government
00:44:01.19\00:44:04.87
but turned and
empire against slavery.
00:44:04.90\00:44:10.10
There is a sterling exception.
00:44:10.13\00:44:17.52
Rare is the man or
women, rare who can.
00:44:17.55\00:44:22.44
You know what that means,
00:44:22.47\00:44:23.50
that means that
this Primetime generation
00:44:23.53\00:44:24.86
is been raised up by God not
to craft an alliance with Caesar
00:44:24.89\00:44:28.47
but rather to raise
up a new kingdom for God.
00:44:28.50\00:44:32.15
You say, what are you saying,
00:44:32.18\00:44:33.21
Dwight, am I not
suppose to vote now?
00:44:33.24\00:44:35.65
No, of course you vote,
vote, vote your conviction,
00:44:35.68\00:44:37.85
vote your
wishes, vote your will.
00:44:37.88\00:44:39.94
Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's
00:44:39.97\00:44:41.66
and the vote belongs to him
00:44:41.69\00:44:42.90
but let us not be, I repeat,
so naive as to believe that
00:44:42.93\00:44:46.43
we should elect a
political Messiah.
00:44:46.46\00:44:48.93
Caesar, whether
his name is Obama
00:44:48.96\00:44:50.67
or McCain or Clinton or Bush.
00:44:50.70\00:44:53.65
Caesar cannot
save this nation now.
00:44:53.68\00:44:57.32
No matter who is chosen
by the nation in a few days
00:44:57.35\00:45:00.14
to become our next president,
00:45:00.17\00:45:01.62
he simply will not
be able to save America.
00:45:01.65\00:45:07.31
Disabuse yourself
of that day dream.
00:45:07.34\00:45:13.61
The economic crises into which
00:45:15.03\00:45:16.30
we are in the world
are now descending us
00:45:16.33\00:45:17.72
is painfully revealing
apostasy of human deliverance
00:45:17.75\00:45:20.46
and human delivers.
00:45:20.49\00:45:22.12
Not even Paul Krugman,
Princeton University professor
00:45:22.15\00:45:26.31
just awarded two weeks ago
the Nobel prize for economics.
00:45:26.34\00:45:29.70
Not even this economics laureate
with the Nobel prize can tell us
00:45:29.73\00:45:36.52
what we're supposed to do next
00:45:36.55\00:45:39.73
to execrate
ourselves from this morass.
00:45:39.76\00:45:44.59
I tell you what, the
unnerving uncertainty
00:45:44.62\00:45:48.13
that we're now
witnessing in our economic
00:45:48.16\00:45:50.35
and political leaders of
way reminds me of a prediction.
00:45:50.38\00:45:53.75
This is a prediction
that was made 100 years ago
00:45:53.78\00:45:56.22
but every day that
goes by makes this for me,
00:45:56.25\00:45:58.84
makes this prediction all
the more appreciate for it
00:45:58.87\00:46:02.29
describes the
condition of the nation
00:46:02.33\00:46:05.25
before the return of
the Christ, just before.
00:46:05.28\00:46:08.79
I put the words on
the screen for you.
00:46:08.82\00:46:11.28
There are not many, "There are
not many even among educators,"
00:46:11.31\00:46:15.31
that would be
Princeton University.
00:46:15.34\00:46:19.27
"There are not many, even
among educators and statesmen,"
00:46:19.30\00:46:22.30
you want to talk
about Hank Paulson,
00:46:22.33\00:46:23.94
you want to talk about the
presidents, the economy team.
00:46:23.97\00:46:28.08
"There are not
many, even among educators
00:46:28.11\00:46:29.87
and statesmen who
comprehend the causes
00:46:29.90\00:46:32.14
that underlie the
present state of society.
00:46:32.17\00:46:35.30
Those who hold the
reins of government
00:46:35.33\00:46:37.76
are not able to
solve the problem.
00:46:37.79\00:46:40.01
They are struggling in vain
to place business operations
00:46:40.04\00:46:43.84
on a more secure basis."
00:46:43.87\00:46:48.45
Struggling in vain to
place business operations
00:46:48.48\00:46:50.43
on a more secure basis,
has it already come to that?
00:46:50.46\00:46:53.30
But surely it's clear to us all
00:46:56.72\00:46:59.58
into what is fast
becoming a crisis hour
00:46:59.61\00:47:01.34
if you believe
all the commentators.
00:47:01.37\00:47:05.32
The crisis hour
of economic confusion
00:47:05.35\00:47:06.96
and political uncertainty
what surely is clear to us all
00:47:06.99\00:47:09.68
is that Christ Jesus is sending
a new Primetime generation
00:47:09.71\00:47:13.92
of young adults into
this crisis in society.
00:47:13.95\00:47:21.92
We noted in last week it
is in the time of collective
00:47:21.95\00:47:25.79
or personal crisis that
the mind is suddenly open wide
00:47:25.82\00:47:30.53
to the possibility of
a major paradigm shift.
00:47:30.56\00:47:32.92
Ladies and gentleman,
the everlasting gospel
00:47:32.95\00:47:34.69
of Jesus Christ is a huge
paradigm shift for this society.
00:47:34.72\00:47:38.93
But in the time of
crisis what I never before would
00:47:38.96\00:47:42.27
have been open to, I am suddenly
now willing to consider.
00:47:42.30\00:47:47.54
This is the hour
for the mobilization
00:47:47.57\00:47:51.24
of a new Primetime generation
00:47:51.27\00:47:53.64
that can march
straight into the crisis
00:47:53.67\00:47:56.22
with the good
news that we got hope,
00:47:56.25\00:47:57.60
we got a hope that
there is somebody returning
00:47:57.63\00:47:59.89
to this planet and that
somebody is our only hope.
00:47:59.92\00:48:04.23
I want to tell you something,
our message is not a message
00:48:04.26\00:48:07.21
of political alliances
or bumper sticker hope.
00:48:07.24\00:48:09.28
Ours is a cry of three angels.
00:48:09.31\00:48:10.90
Fear God and give glory to Him,
00:48:10.93\00:48:12.84
we are in the
hour of His judgment
00:48:12.87\00:48:14.61
and worship Him who
made heaven and earth
00:48:14.64\00:48:16.23
and the fountains of water.
00:48:16.26\00:48:17.79
Look up we got
deliverance on the way
00:48:17.82\00:48:21.21
and if you come to Jesus
now, you can be saved too.
00:48:21.24\00:48:24.80
Come to Jesus
now. Come to Jesus now.
00:48:24.83\00:48:27.41
Why would you put it off?
Is there a human solution?
00:48:27.44\00:48:30.36
Have we found a
human deliverance?
00:48:30.39\00:48:31.73
No, no, no.
00:48:31.76\00:48:32.93
Then I have a divine
deliver to recommend to you.
00:48:32.96\00:48:37.75
Guys, girls, you've been setup
00:48:37.78\00:48:42.73
as a primetime generation
to step into this crisis
00:48:42.76\00:48:45.42
and holding your head high
00:48:46.15\00:48:47.37
with your faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:48:47.40\00:48:49.08
declaring to this
generation I know a solution.
00:48:49.11\00:48:53.97
I have met the deliverer
and He is soon to come.
00:48:54.00\00:48:58.36
Wow.
00:48:58.39\00:49:00.14
Primetime generation
give your vote to Caesar
00:49:00.17\00:49:06.06
but give your life, your energy
and your passion to Christ.
00:49:06.09\00:49:12.95
Given to Caesar what is Caesar's
00:49:12.98\00:49:14.31
but give to God what
is God's and is God's?
00:49:14.34\00:49:17.01
What is God's
right now is your life
00:49:17.04\00:49:19.92
for His mission
with such an army
00:49:19.95\00:49:23.42
as our young adults
rightly train might furnish.
00:49:23.45\00:49:25.93
How soon the
message of a crucified risen
00:49:25.96\00:49:28.03
and soon coming Savior
to go to all the world?
00:49:28.06\00:49:30.38
How soon the end would come,
00:49:30.41\00:49:31.87
the end of suffering
and sickness and sin?
00:49:31.90\00:49:35.22
You've been setup,
generation Primetime.
00:49:40.46\00:49:45.58
491 year ago this coming Friday
00:49:51.22\00:49:56.09
another young adult
strode across the leaf
00:49:56.12\00:50:01.96
strewn comings of
another little German village.
00:50:01.99\00:50:09.54
He went striding up
to the university doors,
00:50:09.57\00:50:11.72
the Bolton Board for that campus
00:50:11.75\00:50:14.57
and he nail on to
that door 95 challenges
00:50:14.60\00:50:19.07
to the Holly Roman
Empires bankrupt theology
00:50:19.24\00:50:22.91
and unwittingly for he
had no idea what would ensue.
00:50:22.94\00:50:27.67
Martin Luther, a
young adult ignited
00:50:27.70\00:50:33.18
the mighty
protestant reformation.
00:50:33.21\00:50:37.04
He did it.
00:50:37.07\00:50:40.61
Choosing between
Caesar and Christ,
00:50:40.64\00:50:43.21
he did it and
ended up bringing down
00:50:43.24\00:50:47.97
and entire geo-religo
political system, a young adult.
00:50:48.00\00:50:53.75
Don't you ever say you are
too young to change the world.
00:50:53.78\00:51:01.08
And in the throws of
that might reformation
00:51:01.11\00:51:05.41
he was almost astounded a
desire along worship leaders,
00:51:05.44\00:51:09.51
Luther sat down with the
pen scribble out the words,
00:51:09.54\00:51:16.66
compose the music to what became
00:51:16.69\00:51:19.21
the battle hymn
of the reformation.
00:51:19.24\00:51:22.87
In the German here's
what he scribble down,
00:51:22.90\00:51:25.46
"Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott."
00:51:25.49\00:51:30.53
"A mighty fortress is our God."
00:51:30.56\00:51:35.90
It's one hymn sings of
two kingdoms and one choice.
00:51:35.93\00:51:39.39
That' the choice
this generation faces,
00:51:39.42\00:51:41.15
two kingdoms and one
choice, Caesar or Christ?
00:51:41.18\00:51:43.39
You cannot serve both.
00:51:43.42\00:51:45.60
You cannot go
follow after the Pied Piper
00:51:45.63\00:51:47.52
heart for the
Savior, you have to choose.
00:51:47.55\00:51:53.93
One choice, two kingdoms.
00:51:53.96\00:51:57.69
Thus ask who that might
be, Christ Jesus it is He,
00:51:57.72\00:52:02.09
Lord Shabuoth is
His name from age to age
00:52:02.12\00:52:04.91
it's same and He
must win the battle.
00:52:04.94\00:52:08.35
Want to sing that hymn
and I want you as you sing it
00:52:08.38\00:52:10.73
to offer yourself to
the same Christ and say,
00:52:10.76\00:52:14.00
I will follow.
00:52:14.03\00:52:15.38
As Martin
followed, I will follow.
00:52:15.41\00:52:18.68
I will engage
this society for you.
00:52:18.71\00:52:22.98
506, let's sing it,
506, A mighty fortress.
00:52:23.01\00:52:25.65
A mighty fortress is our
God, a bulwark never failing
00:53:17.74\00:53:25.74
Our helper He, amid the
flood of mortal ills prevailing
00:53:29.88\00:53:37.88
For still our ancient
foe doth seek to work us woe
00:53:43.31\00:53:51.31
His craft and power are
great And armed with cruel hate
00:53:51.34\00:53:59.31
On earth is not his equal
00:54:04.61\00:54:12.54
Did we in our
own strength confide
00:54:12.57\00:54:19.22
Our striving would be losing
00:54:19.25\00:54:25.34
Were not the
right Man on our side
00:54:25.37\00:54:31.93
The Man of God's own choosing
00:54:31.96\00:54:38.27
Dost ask who that may
be? Christ Jesus, it is He
00:54:38.30\00:54:46.27
Lord Sabaoth, His Name
From age to age the same
00:54:46.30\00:54:54.27
And He must win the battle
00:55:00.44\00:55:08.44
That word above
all earthly powers
00:55:08.47\00:55:15.25
No thanks to them, abideth
00:55:15.28\00:55:22.02
The Spirit and
the gifts are ours
00:55:22.05\00:55:27.68
Through Him Who with us sideth
00:55:27.71\00:55:34.27
Let goods and kindred
go, this mortal life also
00:55:34.30\00:55:42.27
The body they may kill,
God's truth abideth still
00:55:42.30\00:55:50.27
His kingdom is forever
00:55:56.31\00:56:04.31
Now to him who is able
to do immeasurably more
00:56:11.60\00:56:14.01
than all we ask or imagine,
00:56:14.04\00:56:17.36
according to His power
that is at work within us,
00:56:17.39\00:56:21.10
to Him be glory in the church
00:56:21.13\00:56:24.05
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
00:56:24.08\00:56:28.26
forever and ever. Amen.
00:56:28.29\00:56:32.27
It's been a pleasure to be able
to worship with you again today.
00:56:46.09\00:56:48.97
I hope the Spirit of Jesus
has blessed your time with us.
00:56:49.00\00:56:51.74
You know what?
00:56:51.77\00:56:52.80
We've got people
all over this earth
00:56:52.83\00:56:54.37
who join us every
week for this worship hour.
00:56:54.40\00:56:56.90
And as a consequence
we are always looking
00:56:56.93\00:56:58.74
for a new ways to
bridge, to somehow allow these
00:56:58.77\00:57:02.24
who worship with us
to be bridge to the truth
00:57:02.27\00:57:05.37
about Jesus for this
critical time in history.
00:57:05.40\00:57:08.44
One of the areas of bridging,
00:57:08.47\00:57:10.39
that's quickly
growing is our website.
00:57:10.42\00:57:12.03
We've more than a
140,000 visitors a year.
00:57:12.06\00:57:15.45
It is an amazing opportunity
that God has given us
00:57:15.48\00:57:18.18
to expand His
kingdom here on earth.
00:57:18.21\00:57:20.59
If you would like
to partner with us
00:57:20.62\00:57:22.41
as we seek to spread
the everlasting gospel
00:57:22.44\00:57:24.86
I tell you what, would you
be willing to call this number?
00:57:24.89\00:57:27.85
Let me put it on the screen
for you, 877, its toll free,
00:57:27.88\00:57:31.00
877, the words His-Will.
00:57:31.03\00:57:33.87
Our operators will
be glad to help you
00:57:33.90\00:57:36.50
work through the
details of that partnership
00:57:36.53\00:57:38.85
or if you prefer
you can do it all online
00:57:38.88\00:57:40.66
in the privacy of your our home.
00:57:40.69\00:57:43.18
The website, you
know at www.pmchurch.tv
00:57:43.21\00:57:48.43
I'd we honored for the
privilege of partnering with you
00:57:48.46\00:57:50.58
as we seek to spread the truth
about Jesus for this generation.
00:57:50.61\00:57:54.40
If ever there were
an urge in generation
00:57:54.43\00:57:56.61
to get the good news
out it's got to be this one.
00:57:56.64\00:58:00.16
So once again, the
toll free number 877,
00:58:00.19\00:58:02.81
two words His-Will.
00:58:02.84\00:58:04.51
Thank you in
advance for your generosity.
00:58:04.54\00:58:06.46
I'm looking forward to
the continuing worship journey
00:58:06.49\00:58:09.30
that you and I share right here.
00:58:09.33\00:58:11.37