1 00:00:08,165 --> 00:00:13,725 Speaker 1: Life audio. I believe we have two options in front 2 00:00:13,725 --> 00:00:17,325 Speaker 1: of us as a nation right now, judgment or revival. 3 00:00:17,885 --> 00:00:21,365 Speaker 1: And by revival I mean the spiritual awakening. And if 4 00:00:21,405 --> 00:00:25,925 Speaker 1: we don't have another spiritual awakening in America, I believe 5 00:00:25,965 --> 00:00:35,325 Speaker 1: that judgment is inevitable. Here. I heard a story about 6 00:00:35,325 --> 00:00:38,045 Speaker 1: a woman that was walking on the beach in southern 7 00:00:38,085 --> 00:00:42,604 Speaker 1: California and she looks and sees a bottle embedded in 8 00:00:42,685 --> 00:00:45,645 Speaker 1: the sand. She reaches out, picks it up. Wife says 9 00:00:45,644 --> 00:00:49,565 Speaker 1: stand off, and a genie appears. True story, and the 10 00:00:49,725 --> 00:00:53,325 Speaker 1: genie says, oh, master ible, grant you one wish. She says, wait, 11 00:00:53,405 --> 00:00:56,325 Speaker 1: one wish? What up into three wishes? The genie said, 12 00:00:56,405 --> 00:00:59,445 Speaker 1: times are hard, we had to cut back one wish. 13 00:00:59,605 --> 00:01:02,405 Speaker 1: She thinks about it for a moment, says wow, and 14 00:01:02,445 --> 00:01:05,925 Speaker 1: then she reaches into her bag and pulls out a 15 00:01:06,045 --> 00:01:09,005 Speaker 1: map of the Middle East and says, Genie, I want 16 00:01:09,045 --> 00:01:12,444 Speaker 1: to see peace in the Middle East. They're always fighting there, 17 00:01:12,605 --> 00:01:15,685 Speaker 1: all of this conflict. Yes, peace in the Middle East. 18 00:01:15,725 --> 00:01:17,605 Speaker 1: Since she thought about it for a moment, thought wait, 19 00:01:17,725 --> 00:01:19,884 Speaker 1: if I only get one wish, she said, let me 20 00:01:19,885 --> 00:01:23,805 Speaker 1: amend that, Genie. I want peace in all of the world. 21 00:01:24,285 --> 00:01:28,845 Speaker 1: Global peace. That is my one wish. And Genie looks 22 00:01:28,885 --> 00:01:32,005 Speaker 1: at the map says, are you crazy? This is unreasonable. 23 00:01:32,325 --> 00:01:35,524 Speaker 1: Come up with something else. She thinks about it for 24 00:01:35,525 --> 00:01:38,965 Speaker 1: a moment, she goes, I've got it. I have never 25 00:01:39,045 --> 00:01:41,725 Speaker 1: found the right man man. I have searched for the 26 00:01:41,845 --> 00:01:44,325 Speaker 1: right guy and I can't find him. But this man 27 00:01:44,365 --> 00:01:48,165 Speaker 1: has to be special. He has to be considerate and fun, 28 00:01:48,485 --> 00:01:51,445 Speaker 1: and he needs to enjoy cooking, and he needs to 29 00:01:52,045 --> 00:01:55,085 Speaker 1: help with the housekeeping. And he needs to spend time 30 00:01:55,125 --> 00:01:58,725 Speaker 1: with my family instead of sitting around watching sports all 31 00:01:58,805 --> 00:02:02,165 Speaker 1: day long. And the woman continues, he needs to smother 32 00:02:02,285 --> 00:02:04,725 Speaker 1: me with love and affection him for the rest of 33 00:02:04,765 --> 00:02:08,685 Speaker 1: my life. That's a genie. My wish is for a 34 00:02:08,725 --> 00:02:12,525 Speaker 1: good man. A genie lets out of science says, let 35 00:02:12,565 --> 00:02:15,405 Speaker 1: me see that map again. You know, some things just 36 00:02:15,445 --> 00:02:19,165 Speaker 1: don't seem possible, do they. But listen, the Bible says, 37 00:02:19,205 --> 00:02:23,805 Speaker 1: with God, nothing is impossible. So I want to talk 38 00:02:23,845 --> 00:02:27,765 Speaker 1: a little bit with you about our country. I believe 39 00:02:27,805 --> 00:02:31,045 Speaker 1: it's the greatest nation on the face of the earth, 40 00:02:31,485 --> 00:02:35,085 Speaker 1: the United States of America. But there is an evil 41 00:02:35,245 --> 00:02:40,725 Speaker 1: encroaching into our society and culture in America like never before. 42 00:02:41,285 --> 00:02:47,205 Speaker 1: Socialism and outright communism are permeating our nation right now. 43 00:02:47,445 --> 00:02:51,125 Speaker 1: There are people who want to undermine and destroy this 44 00:02:51,365 --> 00:02:54,645 Speaker 1: great country. In many ways. Our nation is in a 45 00:02:54,725 --> 00:02:59,885 Speaker 1: state of moral and spiritual crisis. At home, the family 46 00:03:00,205 --> 00:03:04,605 Speaker 1: is under increasing attack. The bottom line is the breakdown 47 00:03:04,725 --> 00:03:07,485 Speaker 1: of the family. Is that the root of almost all 48 00:03:07,605 --> 00:03:11,925 Speaker 1: of our societal problems we see today. It's been said 49 00:03:12,325 --> 00:03:15,365 Speaker 1: that a family can survive without a nation, but a 50 00:03:15,485 --> 00:03:19,325 Speaker 1: nation cannot survive without the family. A man and a woman, 51 00:03:20,005 --> 00:03:25,765 Speaker 1: a mother and a father, married in a faithful relationship 52 00:03:26,005 --> 00:03:30,405 Speaker 1: that is God's order. Then when children come, those children 53 00:03:30,485 --> 00:03:34,765 Speaker 1: are raised in this intactome, in a loving environment, and 54 00:03:34,925 --> 00:03:39,085 Speaker 1: even an environment a faith where they go to church 55 00:03:39,205 --> 00:03:42,845 Speaker 1: together on Sunday, where they read the Bible together, where 56 00:03:42,845 --> 00:03:45,685 Speaker 1: they pray together. Remember that old saying, the family that 57 00:03:45,765 --> 00:03:49,205 Speaker 1: prays together stays together. Oh, people left at that Now, 58 00:03:49,405 --> 00:03:52,205 Speaker 1: I don't know if they're laughing anymore. Because our culture, 59 00:03:52,405 --> 00:03:56,565 Speaker 1: our nation is unraveling, because we have lost well it's 60 00:03:56,565 --> 00:04:01,645 Speaker 1: sometimes called the nuclear family, this foundation of our country, 61 00:04:01,725 --> 00:04:05,285 Speaker 1: and we tamper with God's order to our own peril. 62 00:04:05,645 --> 00:04:09,365 Speaker 1: So we see the repercussions of that played out in 63 00:04:09,405 --> 00:04:13,245 Speaker 1: our nation. We're seeing that we have sown the wind, 64 00:04:14,085 --> 00:04:18,724 Speaker 1: and we have reaped the whirlwind. As the Bible says, America, 65 00:04:19,125 --> 00:04:22,245 Speaker 1: this is your wake up call. Speaking of wake up calls, 66 00:04:22,285 --> 00:04:25,205 Speaker 1: I was back in Alaska years ago with my friend 67 00:04:25,285 --> 00:04:29,805 Speaker 1: Richie Furay. Richie is a founding member of the legendary 68 00:04:29,885 --> 00:04:34,205 Speaker 1: rock band Buffalo Springfield. He's a very strong Christian. He 69 00:04:34,245 --> 00:04:37,085 Speaker 1: was a pastor for many years. So anyway, Richie and 70 00:04:37,085 --> 00:04:40,525 Speaker 1: I are in Alaska and he's singing and I'm speaking, 71 00:04:40,605 --> 00:04:43,765 Speaker 1: and then we both had to fly home. Richie lives 72 00:04:43,805 --> 00:04:46,805 Speaker 1: in Colorado, I live in California, so we had to 73 00:04:46,805 --> 00:04:49,445 Speaker 1: get up in the morning and go our separate ways. 74 00:04:49,845 --> 00:04:53,405 Speaker 1: And so I decided to do a fake wake up 75 00:04:53,445 --> 00:04:56,045 Speaker 1: call for Richie. So I called up the front desk 76 00:04:56,085 --> 00:04:58,365 Speaker 1: and I said, Hi, I need a wake up call 77 00:04:58,445 --> 00:05:01,045 Speaker 1: for this room number. And I gave them the room 78 00:05:01,165 --> 00:05:03,445 Speaker 1: number of Richie, not even my room number that I'm 79 00:05:03,485 --> 00:05:06,805 Speaker 1: calling from. I give another room number call this room 80 00:05:06,925 --> 00:05:10,445 Speaker 1: at five o'clock for a wake up call, and then 81 00:05:10,565 --> 00:05:13,605 Speaker 1: if they don't respond, I want you to call him 82 00:05:13,605 --> 00:05:16,604 Speaker 1: back again at five point thirty. Okay. So I caught 83 00:05:16,645 --> 00:05:20,164 Speaker 1: my flight, left got home, and then a day later 84 00:05:20,725 --> 00:05:23,005 Speaker 1: Richie calls me and says, do you know what happened 85 00:05:23,005 --> 00:05:25,085 Speaker 1: to me and Alaska? I said no. He goes, well, 86 00:05:25,085 --> 00:05:28,245 Speaker 1: I got a call at five in the morning. I 87 00:05:28,325 --> 00:05:30,404 Speaker 1: knew it was probably a wake up call that you 88 00:05:30,565 --> 00:05:33,205 Speaker 1: set up, and so I ignored it, he says. So 89 00:05:33,285 --> 00:05:35,365 Speaker 1: I went back to sleep, and all of a sudden, 90 00:05:35,845 --> 00:05:39,325 Speaker 1: some guy from the hotel is in my room shaking 91 00:05:39,485 --> 00:05:42,285 Speaker 1: me to wake me up out of bed, saying, sir, 92 00:05:42,405 --> 00:05:45,245 Speaker 1: you're gonna miss your flight. I said, wow, I didn't 93 00:05:45,285 --> 00:05:48,005 Speaker 1: planet that way, but it worked up pretty well. Talk 94 00:05:48,045 --> 00:05:50,925 Speaker 1: about a wake up call. Our wake up call in 95 00:05:51,005 --> 00:05:54,085 Speaker 1: America is saying it's time to turn back to God. 96 00:05:54,485 --> 00:05:57,205 Speaker 1: I believe we have two options in front of us 97 00:05:57,285 --> 00:06:01,445 Speaker 1: as a nation right now, judgment or revival. And by 98 00:06:01,525 --> 00:06:05,245 Speaker 1: revival I mean the spiritual awakening. And if we don't 99 00:06:05,325 --> 00:06:09,365 Speaker 1: have another spiritual awakening like the last one called the 100 00:06:09,485 --> 00:06:15,325 Speaker 1: Jesus Revolution in America, I believe that judgment is inevitable. Now. Look, 101 00:06:15,725 --> 00:06:18,485 Speaker 1: judgment is coming to the whole world. It's coming to 102 00:06:18,565 --> 00:06:22,405 Speaker 1: every nation in the world, including the United States, at 103 00:06:22,445 --> 00:06:26,085 Speaker 1: some point, and it may come sooner than we think. 104 00:06:26,605 --> 00:06:30,525 Speaker 1: But let's pray for a spiritual awakening. There was a 105 00:06:30,565 --> 00:06:33,085 Speaker 1: man named Peter Marshall. He was a chaplain to the 106 00:06:33,245 --> 00:06:36,525 Speaker 1: US Senate, and he once made this statement, and I quote, 107 00:06:36,965 --> 00:06:41,365 Speaker 1: the choice before us is playing Christ or chaos, conviction 108 00:06:41,925 --> 00:06:47,885 Speaker 1: or compromise, discipline or disintegration. End quote. Well said. And 109 00:06:47,965 --> 00:06:50,685 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you today about what I 110 00:06:50,965 --> 00:06:56,285 Speaker 1: hope will happen in America, a spiritual awakening, so that 111 00:06:56,445 --> 00:06:59,925 Speaker 1: gives me hope for the future of our nation. Yes, 112 00:07:00,165 --> 00:07:03,605 Speaker 1: I acknowledge things are dark right now, and our country 113 00:07:03,765 --> 00:07:07,605 Speaker 1: Wolk ideology seems to be spreading through everything. We see 114 00:07:07,645 --> 00:07:10,605 Speaker 1: it in our movies, we see it in our classroom, 115 00:07:10,885 --> 00:07:13,845 Speaker 1: we see it in our politics, we see it pretty 116 00:07:13,885 --> 00:07:17,765 Speaker 1: much everywhere. Yes, things are dark. But let me tell 117 00:07:17,805 --> 00:07:22,085 Speaker 1: you why I have a genuine reason for hope. It's 118 00:07:22,125 --> 00:07:25,925 Speaker 1: by returning to God and by returning to the message 119 00:07:26,045 --> 00:07:28,365 Speaker 1: that He has given us. We can all do that 120 00:07:28,525 --> 00:07:31,805 Speaker 1: as a nation, and we can do that individually. So 121 00:07:31,925 --> 00:07:34,605 Speaker 1: let's think for a few moments about the Sermon on 122 00:07:34,805 --> 00:07:39,085 Speaker 1: the Mount. I love that that's where Jesus spoke to 123 00:07:39,405 --> 00:07:43,125 Speaker 1: his discipleship. It's a funny thing. People envision Jesus as 124 00:07:43,165 --> 00:07:47,005 Speaker 1: speaking to a multitude, but the fact is a multitude 125 00:07:47,045 --> 00:07:50,525 Speaker 1: gathered there on the Mount of Beatitudes, as we call it. 126 00:07:50,765 --> 00:07:53,725 Speaker 1: And then we read that Jesus called his disciples to 127 00:07:53,845 --> 00:07:56,725 Speaker 1: himself and spoke to them. So the Sermon on the 128 00:07:56,765 --> 00:08:00,085 Speaker 1: Mount was not given to the multitude as much as 129 00:08:00,165 --> 00:08:03,365 Speaker 1: it was given to his own followers. To bring this up, 130 00:08:03,405 --> 00:08:07,165 Speaker 1: because sometimes people say, all our religion I need is 131 00:08:07,205 --> 00:08:09,165 Speaker 1: found on the Sermon on the Mouth. That's what I 132 00:08:09,205 --> 00:08:11,645 Speaker 1: live by. Well, number one, I doubt you live by 133 00:08:11,645 --> 00:08:13,765 Speaker 1: the Sermon on the Mouth. I would take it a 134 00:08:13,765 --> 00:08:16,445 Speaker 1: step further and say, I doubt you've even read the 135 00:08:16,485 --> 00:08:19,485 Speaker 1: Sermon on the Mouth. The Sermon on the Mount, as 136 00:08:19,525 --> 00:08:22,245 Speaker 1: we call it, are the words of Jesus to his 137 00:08:22,445 --> 00:08:26,845 Speaker 1: own people. These words are for Christians only, And if 138 00:08:26,845 --> 00:08:30,365 Speaker 1: we listen and obey what Jesus says to us on 139 00:08:30,405 --> 00:08:33,085 Speaker 1: the Sermon on the Mount, it can first change us 140 00:08:33,405 --> 00:08:36,565 Speaker 1: and then change our nation as well. Let me read 141 00:08:36,564 --> 00:08:39,204 Speaker 1: to you what the Lord says. He says, you are 142 00:08:39,205 --> 00:08:42,085 Speaker 1: the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses 143 00:08:42,165 --> 00:08:45,245 Speaker 1: its flavor, how shall it be seasoned. It's in good 144 00:08:45,285 --> 00:08:48,005 Speaker 1: for nothing but to be thrown out and trembled at 145 00:08:48,005 --> 00:08:51,485 Speaker 1: their foot by men. You are the light of the world, 146 00:08:51,725 --> 00:08:54,325 Speaker 1: a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 147 00:08:54,805 --> 00:08:56,845 Speaker 1: Nor did they light a lamp and put it under 148 00:08:56,885 --> 00:09:00,125 Speaker 1: a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light 149 00:09:00,205 --> 00:09:03,085 Speaker 1: to all who are in the house. So let your 150 00:09:03,165 --> 00:09:05,925 Speaker 1: light so shine before men, that they may see your 151 00:09:05,965 --> 00:09:11,245 Speaker 1: good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Salt and light. 152 00:09:11,925 --> 00:09:15,685 Speaker 1: Why did Jesus pick these two word pictures? Because the 153 00:09:15,725 --> 00:09:18,925 Speaker 1: world is dark and the world is corrupt. So the 154 00:09:18,965 --> 00:09:22,165 Speaker 1: world needs salt because it is corrupt, and it needs 155 00:09:22,285 --> 00:09:26,205 Speaker 1: light because it's dark. The biblical world on our culture 156 00:09:26,285 --> 00:09:29,925 Speaker 1: is very simple. It's dark and it's getting darker. Like 157 00:09:30,005 --> 00:09:32,765 Speaker 1: many people before I was a Christian, I believe that 158 00:09:32,805 --> 00:09:37,165 Speaker 1: man was basically good and we just occasionally did bad things. 159 00:09:37,445 --> 00:09:39,445 Speaker 1: But then when I began to read the Bible, I 160 00:09:39,525 --> 00:09:43,205 Speaker 1: read a different message. The Bible teaches that man is 161 00:09:43,405 --> 00:09:47,685 Speaker 1: basically bad. In fact, he's bad to the bone. He's 162 00:09:47,765 --> 00:09:51,925 Speaker 1: a sinner and he sins because he is a sinner. 163 00:09:52,125 --> 00:09:56,085 Speaker 1: That's our nature. But God can intervene and he can 164 00:09:56,245 --> 00:09:59,685 Speaker 1: change things. But look at the way our culture is 165 00:09:59,725 --> 00:10:03,405 Speaker 1: going right now as an example. Look at scientific knowledge, 166 00:10:03,565 --> 00:10:09,765 Speaker 1: medical knowledge, logical knowledge. But we can't change our nature. 167 00:10:10,125 --> 00:10:14,405 Speaker 1: We can't change our bend toward evil. Why because this 168 00:10:14,565 --> 00:10:18,085 Speaker 1: world is a very dark place and need of some light, 169 00:10:18,245 --> 00:10:21,605 Speaker 1: and even a little light would help. Natural We come 170 00:10:21,645 --> 00:10:25,725 Speaker 1: in as Christians, acting as agents of both salt and light. 171 00:10:26,525 --> 00:10:29,445 Speaker 1: But sadly, this world is going to get worse before 172 00:10:29,445 --> 00:10:32,645 Speaker 1: it gets better. The Bible says in the end times, 173 00:10:32,685 --> 00:10:35,444 Speaker 1: and I believe we're in the end times. I believe 174 00:10:35,485 --> 00:10:38,564 Speaker 1: we're in the last days. I believe Christ could come 175 00:10:38,685 --> 00:10:41,325 Speaker 1: at any time. And speaking of the last days, the 176 00:10:41,365 --> 00:10:45,885 Speaker 1: apostle Paul writes, and two Timothy three evil men and 177 00:10:45,965 --> 00:10:52,005 Speaker 1: impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 178 00:10:52,405 --> 00:10:56,285 Speaker 1: Let's talk about AI, or artificial intelligence, and look at 179 00:10:56,365 --> 00:10:59,885 Speaker 1: some of the challenges it poses. You know, we've never 180 00:10:59,965 --> 00:11:03,925 Speaker 1: been more capable and yet never more dangerous to ourselves. 181 00:11:04,005 --> 00:11:08,045 Speaker 1: We have medical break throughs because of AI that would 182 00:11:08,085 --> 00:11:12,805 Speaker 1: seem miraculous to previous generations. Yet the same technology that 183 00:11:12,885 --> 00:11:16,684 Speaker 1: can translate the Bible into a thousand languages can also 184 00:11:16,805 --> 00:11:20,925 Speaker 1: flood the Internet with one thousand lines. The same intelligence 185 00:11:21,165 --> 00:11:25,325 Speaker 1: that can write a symphony can also design a bio weapon, 186 00:11:25,845 --> 00:11:29,684 Speaker 1: and this deception can run deeper than many people realized. 187 00:11:29,725 --> 00:11:33,005 Speaker 1: Did you know that over half of all Internet activity 188 00:11:33,365 --> 00:11:38,285 Speaker 1: is now generated not by people but by bots, fake accounts, 189 00:11:38,605 --> 00:11:44,205 Speaker 1: artificial voices, artificial videos, armies of them, in many cases 190 00:11:44,285 --> 00:11:48,925 Speaker 1: deployed by foreign governments specifically built to so discord and 191 00:11:49,005 --> 00:11:52,485 Speaker 1: to spread hatred. They don't even have to fire a 192 00:11:52,525 --> 00:11:56,445 Speaker 1: single bullet. For some AI is even taking the place 193 00:11:56,685 --> 00:12:00,485 Speaker 1: of God himself. Basically, man has built a tool in 194 00:12:00,525 --> 00:12:03,845 Speaker 1: his own image, and now he bows before it and 195 00:12:03,965 --> 00:12:07,285 Speaker 1: does what it tells him to do. I'm reminded of 196 00:12:07,325 --> 00:12:11,005 Speaker 1: the statement of General Omar Bradley, who, in an armistice 197 00:12:11,005 --> 00:12:14,804 Speaker 1: speech said, way back in nineteen forty eight, and I quote, 198 00:12:15,085 --> 00:12:18,285 Speaker 1: we have grasped the mystery of the atom, and we've 199 00:12:18,325 --> 00:12:21,845 Speaker 1: rejected the sermon on the mount. The world has achieved 200 00:12:21,845 --> 00:12:26,245 Speaker 1: brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants 201 00:12:26,845 --> 00:12:30,805 Speaker 1: and ethical infants end quote. Swap the word atom for 202 00:12:30,885 --> 00:12:35,205 Speaker 1: the word algorithm, and he could be describing today. So 203 00:12:35,245 --> 00:12:39,045 Speaker 1: instead of getting better, we've gotten worse. Man's discoveries and 204 00:12:39,085 --> 00:12:43,165 Speaker 1: accomplishments have simply provided new ways for us to show 205 00:12:43,245 --> 00:12:47,525 Speaker 1: ourselves what we really are, sinful and wicked. So modern 206 00:12:47,605 --> 00:12:50,125 Speaker 1: man has only been in more ways to corrupt and 207 00:12:50,205 --> 00:12:53,365 Speaker 1: destroy himself. As an example, we go from war to 208 00:12:53,485 --> 00:12:57,165 Speaker 1: greater war, we go from crime to greater crime because 209 00:12:57,285 --> 00:13:01,765 Speaker 1: our heart is dark. The spiral is always downward, it's 210 00:13:01,885 --> 00:13:05,564 Speaker 1: never upward. Think back to the nineteenth century as an 211 00:13:05,605 --> 00:13:09,325 Speaker 1: example of this. There was a buoyant optimism as who 212 00:13:09,365 --> 00:13:12,205 Speaker 1: came to the end of that century and the beginning 213 00:13:12,565 --> 00:13:16,485 Speaker 1: of the twentieth century. Author Mark Twain described that time 214 00:13:16,525 --> 00:13:20,725 Speaker 1: as the Gilded Age. A new philosophy was emerging as 215 00:13:20,765 --> 00:13:23,645 Speaker 1: a new millennium down and man believed he was going 216 00:13:23,725 --> 00:13:27,485 Speaker 1: to build literally heaven on earth. It's thought that men 217 00:13:27,525 --> 00:13:32,005 Speaker 1: could even best nature, and even best gone through technology. 218 00:13:32,365 --> 00:13:36,765 Speaker 1: And in that day it wasn't ai computers or rockets 219 00:13:36,845 --> 00:13:40,685 Speaker 1: or anything of that nature. The cutting edge technology of 220 00:13:40,725 --> 00:13:45,205 Speaker 1: that day was ship building. So they decided to build 221 00:13:45,245 --> 00:13:49,845 Speaker 1: the largest, most luxurious cruise ship the world had ever seen. 222 00:13:50,125 --> 00:13:54,645 Speaker 1: It would harness the latest tech, it would be virtually unsinkable. 223 00:13:54,925 --> 00:14:00,485 Speaker 1: It launched, and they called it fittingly, that Titanic. Interestingly, 224 00:14:00,525 --> 00:14:03,925 Speaker 1: the vice president of White Star Line, who created the Titanic, 225 00:14:04,205 --> 00:14:07,485 Speaker 1: said it was unsafe. And by the way he said 226 00:14:07,525 --> 00:14:11,645 Speaker 1: that while it was sinking, it was said God himself 227 00:14:11,685 --> 00:14:14,405 Speaker 1: could not sink this ship. Well you know the rest 228 00:14:14,725 --> 00:14:17,885 Speaker 1: of that story. Someone hearing me say this might say, 229 00:14:18,005 --> 00:14:21,525 Speaker 1: that's right, Greg. The world's going to hell in a handbasket, 230 00:14:21,565 --> 00:14:23,805 Speaker 1: and there's nothing we can do about it. So let's 231 00:14:23,845 --> 00:14:27,405 Speaker 1: just build a Christian city and we'll have Christian stores, 232 00:14:27,605 --> 00:14:30,885 Speaker 1: and we'll have Christian cars, and we'll have Christian food. 233 00:14:31,085 --> 00:14:34,765 Speaker 1: We'll have Christian dogs and Christian cats. Maybe that's going 234 00:14:34,805 --> 00:14:38,285 Speaker 1: too far, but I would disagree if that's the position 235 00:14:38,525 --> 00:14:42,645 Speaker 1: you hold, because the point is we don't want to isolate. 236 00:14:43,165 --> 00:14:47,725 Speaker 1: We want to infiltrate as Christians in our culture. So 237 00:14:47,805 --> 00:14:50,485 Speaker 1: we may try to remove ourselves and our children from 238 00:14:50,565 --> 00:14:53,325 Speaker 1: the culture, but the bottom line is the culture will 239 00:14:53,325 --> 00:14:56,125 Speaker 1: still find us, and in trying to do this, we 240 00:14:56,285 --> 00:15:01,405 Speaker 1: sometimes end up building a Christian subculture. Our objective is 241 00:15:01,565 --> 00:15:04,565 Speaker 1: I want to go a whole day without any contact 242 00:15:04,805 --> 00:15:09,605 Speaker 1: with anything of the world. Listen, Jesus has not called 243 00:15:09,685 --> 00:15:14,645 Speaker 1: us to isolate. Jesus has called us to infiltrate, not 244 00:15:14,845 --> 00:15:19,125 Speaker 1: to evade, but to invade. We're meant to impact the 245 00:15:19,205 --> 00:15:22,645 Speaker 1: culture without being compromised by it, and I know that's 246 00:15:22,685 --> 00:15:26,765 Speaker 1: a tricky balance. Jesus put it this way in John seventeen. 247 00:15:26,925 --> 00:15:29,685 Speaker 1: He said to the Father, I'm not asking you to 248 00:15:29,725 --> 00:15:31,885 Speaker 1: take them out of the world, but to keep them 249 00:15:31,965 --> 00:15:34,925 Speaker 1: safe from the evil one. They are not part of 250 00:15:34,965 --> 00:15:37,725 Speaker 1: the world anymore than I am. As you sent me 251 00:15:37,965 --> 00:15:42,325 Speaker 1: into the world, I am sending them into the world. 252 00:15:43,005 --> 00:15:47,405 Speaker 1: Did you catch that Jesus is sending us into the world. 253 00:15:48,125 --> 00:15:50,005 Speaker 1: What are has words to us? And what we call 254 00:15:50,085 --> 00:15:54,805 Speaker 1: the Great commission? He says, go into all the world 255 00:15:55,165 --> 00:15:59,045 Speaker 1: and preach the Gospel. So Jesus, our commander in chief, 256 00:15:59,285 --> 00:16:03,325 Speaker 1: is sending us into the world. This is a battle. 257 00:16:03,805 --> 00:16:07,565 Speaker 1: It's a spiritual battle. The Christian life is on a playground. 258 00:16:07,805 --> 00:16:10,765 Speaker 1: It's a battleground. And in this battle that we're all 259 00:16:10,805 --> 00:16:15,685 Speaker 1: engaged in, we're either advancing or retreating. We're either gaining 260 00:16:15,725 --> 00:16:19,205 Speaker 1: ground or we're losing ground. So as believers, we need 261 00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:23,605 Speaker 1: to realize that we are behind enemy lines. So I 262 00:16:23,725 --> 00:16:26,445 Speaker 1: was watching a World War two film a while ago, 263 00:16:26,845 --> 00:16:29,605 Speaker 1: and there's a scene where the commanding officer tells that 264 00:16:29,685 --> 00:16:33,885 Speaker 1: paratroopers of Easy Company who are dropped behind enemy lines. 265 00:16:34,085 --> 00:16:37,325 Speaker 1: A panzer division is about to cut the road south. 266 00:16:37,645 --> 00:16:40,925 Speaker 1: Looks like you guys are going to be surrounded. And 267 00:16:40,965 --> 00:16:45,645 Speaker 1: the lieutenant in charge of easy companies says, we're paratroopers, Lieutenant, 268 00:16:46,165 --> 00:16:49,965 Speaker 1: We're supposed to be surrounded. And you know what that's 269 00:16:50,005 --> 00:16:54,925 Speaker 1: true of the Church. We're paratroopers. We're supposed to be surrounded. 270 00:16:55,205 --> 00:16:59,645 Speaker 1: We've been dropped in by God himself behind enemy lines, 271 00:16:59,645 --> 00:17:02,165 Speaker 1: and I know it feels that way. Sometimes you look 272 00:17:02,205 --> 00:17:05,085 Speaker 1: around and all you see is the enemy at work, 273 00:17:05,605 --> 00:17:08,965 Speaker 1: wreaking havoc in the lives of countless people. So the 274 00:17:09,085 --> 00:17:13,524 Speaker 1: question arises, how can we impact our culture and make 275 00:17:13,604 --> 00:17:16,365 Speaker 1: a difference. Coming back to what I said earlier, we 276 00:17:16,445 --> 00:17:22,244 Speaker 1: must not isolate, we must infiltrate. We must influence people. 277 00:17:22,885 --> 00:17:25,484 Speaker 1: You know, there's a whole category of people now who 278 00:17:25,564 --> 00:17:30,764 Speaker 1: describe themselves its influencers. Maybe you're an influencer. Maybe you 279 00:17:30,804 --> 00:17:32,764 Speaker 1: have a lot of people that follow you on your 280 00:17:32,804 --> 00:17:36,244 Speaker 1: social media platform. But here's the bottom line. If you 281 00:17:36,324 --> 00:17:39,564 Speaker 1: have a million followers, or if you have ten followers 282 00:17:39,685 --> 00:17:43,125 Speaker 1: or no followers, you're still an influencer in a way, 283 00:17:43,445 --> 00:17:48,044 Speaker 1: meaning that you influence people around you as a follower 284 00:17:48,084 --> 00:17:50,965 Speaker 1: of Jesus by what you say and do. But the 285 00:17:51,004 --> 00:17:53,965 Speaker 1: bottom line is every one of us has a sphere 286 00:17:54,125 --> 00:17:57,404 Speaker 1: of influence. We all have our platform, we all have 287 00:17:57,524 --> 00:18:02,324 Speaker 1: our pulpits, so to speak, So use it and influence 288 00:18:02,645 --> 00:18:07,644 Speaker 1: and permeate and infiltrate and affect other people as a 289 00:18:07,685 --> 00:18:11,045 Speaker 1: follower of Jesus. Now others go in the opposite direction. 290 00:18:11,324 --> 00:18:15,564 Speaker 1: They'll embrace everything culture offers without reservation. But that, of course, 291 00:18:15,804 --> 00:18:19,084 Speaker 1: is a huge mistake. Much of our popular thought today 292 00:18:19,484 --> 00:18:23,605 Speaker 1: runs contrary to scripture, and our country is going through 293 00:18:23,645 --> 00:18:28,484 Speaker 1: a massive cultural shift right now, so far from the 294 00:18:28,524 --> 00:18:34,044 Speaker 1: original template that our founding fathers laid. America was clearly 295 00:18:34,445 --> 00:18:39,484 Speaker 1: built on a Judeo Christian foundation, and our founding fathers, 296 00:18:39,564 --> 00:18:44,284 Speaker 1: with a couple of exceptions, were believers in Jesus Christ. 297 00:18:44,645 --> 00:18:49,805 Speaker 1: Take George Washington, our first president, who made this statement, 298 00:18:49,844 --> 00:18:53,604 Speaker 1: and I quote, to the distinguished character of patriot, it 299 00:18:53,645 --> 00:18:56,685 Speaker 1: should be our highest glory to also add the more 300 00:18:56,764 --> 00:19:01,164 Speaker 1: distinguished character of Christian end quote. But someone say, oh no, 301 00:19:01,244 --> 00:19:04,604 Speaker 1: it's not true. America was not founded on Christian principles. 302 00:19:04,645 --> 00:19:09,565 Speaker 1: It's not true. John Adams, our second president, made this statement, quote, 303 00:19:09,764 --> 00:19:14,884 Speaker 1: the Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. 304 00:19:15,165 --> 00:19:19,244 Speaker 1: It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other 305 00:19:19,524 --> 00:19:21,484 Speaker 1: See here's the thing that a lot of people don't 306 00:19:21,484 --> 00:19:24,844 Speaker 1: know about American history. There's more than one George and 307 00:19:24,925 --> 00:19:29,645 Speaker 1: Our story. There's George Washington, who led the Continental armies 308 00:19:30,324 --> 00:19:34,244 Speaker 1: in victory against the most powerful finding force in the 309 00:19:34,284 --> 00:19:37,205 Speaker 1: face of the earth at that time, that of the 310 00:19:37,324 --> 00:19:41,404 Speaker 1: United Kingdom, and of course then he became our first president. 311 00:19:41,965 --> 00:19:44,484 Speaker 1: But what we don't realize is the other George and 312 00:19:44,564 --> 00:19:48,925 Speaker 1: Our Story was named George Whitfield. George Whitfield came from 313 00:19:49,004 --> 00:19:52,604 Speaker 1: England and came to the colonies and preached the Gospel. 314 00:19:53,044 --> 00:19:56,444 Speaker 1: And by the time Whitfield was done, eighty percent of 315 00:19:56,484 --> 00:20:00,484 Speaker 1: the colonists had heard him speak in person, and thousands 316 00:20:00,524 --> 00:20:04,324 Speaker 1: and thousands of them came to faith. There was a revival. 317 00:20:04,604 --> 00:20:08,125 Speaker 1: It was the first great awakening in America. So that 318 00:20:08,205 --> 00:20:12,445 Speaker 1: became the soil that our founding fathers like George Washington, 319 00:20:12,604 --> 00:20:17,604 Speaker 1: Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and others put the 320 00:20:17,804 --> 00:20:21,884 Speaker 1: seed in. So it was built on a moral foundation, 321 00:20:22,284 --> 00:20:26,604 Speaker 1: and specifically it was built on a biblical foundation, and 322 00:20:26,685 --> 00:20:32,044 Speaker 1: that's what makes America unique. So our culture is shifting, 323 00:20:32,405 --> 00:20:36,564 Speaker 1: Our culture is drifting. It's our job as Christians to 324 00:20:36,685 --> 00:20:41,044 Speaker 1: point people back to Christ or point people to Christ 325 00:20:41,165 --> 00:20:44,845 Speaker 1: for the first time. How do we do this. Number one, 326 00:20:44,925 --> 00:20:48,524 Speaker 1: we must stand for the truth, whether it's popular or not. 327 00:20:48,885 --> 00:20:52,445 Speaker 1: Oh listen, this is a non negotiable. There's no wavering here. 328 00:20:52,685 --> 00:20:56,684 Speaker 1: We as Christians stand on what the Bible says on 329 00:20:56,844 --> 00:21:00,484 Speaker 1: every topic. The Bible says, let God be true and 330 00:21:00,564 --> 00:21:03,085 Speaker 1: every man a liar. And by the way, you don't 331 00:21:03,084 --> 00:21:05,725 Speaker 1: get to pick and choose the parts of the Bible 332 00:21:05,844 --> 00:21:08,764 Speaker 1: you like or don't like. Speaking of founding Fathers, Thomas 333 00:21:08,844 --> 00:21:12,764 Speaker 1: Jefferson had his own version of the Bible. Jefferson went 334 00:21:12,804 --> 00:21:15,244 Speaker 1: out and apparently cut out all the portions of the 335 00:21:15,284 --> 00:21:19,125 Speaker 1: Bible that dealt with miracles. He just saw Jesus as 336 00:21:19,165 --> 00:21:23,965 Speaker 1: a moral and philosophical leader. Well, you can't do that. 337 00:21:24,004 --> 00:21:26,965 Speaker 1: You can't edit the Bible. You take what the Bible 338 00:21:27,004 --> 00:21:30,965 Speaker 1: says on every topic. So we must base what we 339 00:21:31,084 --> 00:21:34,484 Speaker 1: do on what the scripture says. Number two, we must 340 00:21:34,564 --> 00:21:37,805 Speaker 1: use a language that people understand. You know, I think 341 00:21:37,844 --> 00:21:41,285 Speaker 1: sometimes as believers we get frustrated because as we talk 342 00:21:41,365 --> 00:21:45,004 Speaker 1: to people about our faith, they don't seem like they're listening. Well, 343 00:21:45,004 --> 00:21:48,564 Speaker 1: maybe the reason is we're speaking in a different language. 344 00:21:48,685 --> 00:21:51,125 Speaker 1: For instance, we'll go to a non believer and will say, 345 00:21:51,165 --> 00:21:55,965 Speaker 1: excuse me, uncircumcised philistine. Let me ask you a question, 346 00:21:56,244 --> 00:21:58,764 Speaker 1: are you saved? Are you washed in the blood? And 347 00:21:58,844 --> 00:22:01,725 Speaker 1: are you part of the body? And then we don't 348 00:22:01,804 --> 00:22:04,484 Speaker 1: understand whether they don't even respond to us. Well, think 349 00:22:04,524 --> 00:22:06,564 Speaker 1: about what you just said. That makes no sense. You 350 00:22:06,725 --> 00:22:09,284 Speaker 1: just ask them if they're washed in blood and part 351 00:22:09,324 --> 00:22:12,164 Speaker 1: of somebody. They don't know what you're talking about. You 352 00:22:12,244 --> 00:22:14,925 Speaker 1: might say, well, Greg, are you suggesting I don't use 353 00:22:14,965 --> 00:22:19,764 Speaker 1: biblical terminology. No, what I'm suggesting is you don't assume 354 00:22:20,205 --> 00:22:24,884 Speaker 1: the person you're speaking to knows biblical terminology. You know, 355 00:22:24,965 --> 00:22:28,725 Speaker 1: I've been preaching the Gospel for over fifty years, and 356 00:22:28,804 --> 00:22:31,165 Speaker 1: I can tell you as I preach publicly and even 357 00:22:31,205 --> 00:22:36,205 Speaker 1: talk to people privately, people are more illiterate biblically today 358 00:22:36,445 --> 00:22:40,965 Speaker 1: and they've ever been. They don't know anything about anything. 359 00:22:41,324 --> 00:22:45,164 Speaker 1: So we cannot assume that our listener understands what we 360 00:22:45,244 --> 00:22:50,004 Speaker 1: mean when we use terms like saved, regenerated, the need 361 00:22:50,084 --> 00:22:53,804 Speaker 1: to repent, etc. We need to break down and explain 362 00:22:54,044 --> 00:22:58,405 Speaker 1: everything to everyone. Paul put it this way in First 363 00:22:58,445 --> 00:23:01,725 Speaker 1: Corinthians nine. He said, I try to find common ground 364 00:23:01,764 --> 00:23:05,044 Speaker 1: with everyone so I might bring them to Christ. I 365 00:23:05,125 --> 00:23:08,244 Speaker 1: do all of this to spread the good news. Another 366 00:23:08,324 --> 00:23:13,004 Speaker 1: translation puts that same thought of Paul this way, I 367 00:23:13,084 --> 00:23:16,244 Speaker 1: have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in 368 00:23:16,365 --> 00:23:19,844 Speaker 1: order to reach a wide range of people, the religious, 369 00:23:20,244 --> 00:23:26,365 Speaker 1: the non religious, the meticulous moralists, the loose living immoralists, 370 00:23:26,645 --> 00:23:32,564 Speaker 1: the defeated, the demoralized. Whoever, perfectly said. When Jesus spoke 371 00:23:32,645 --> 00:23:36,564 Speaker 1: to Nicodemus in John chapter three, he would be described 372 00:23:36,604 --> 00:23:40,365 Speaker 1: as the meticulous moralist. This was a man that tried 373 00:23:40,405 --> 00:23:43,084 Speaker 1: to live by the rules, that tried to live a 374 00:23:43,165 --> 00:23:47,644 Speaker 1: good life, very religious. But the problem is Nicodemus, the 375 00:23:47,685 --> 00:23:51,804 Speaker 1: deeply religious man, did not have a relationship with God. 376 00:23:52,205 --> 00:23:54,244 Speaker 1: But then you go from John three to John four, 377 00:23:54,324 --> 00:23:56,964 Speaker 1: you come to the woman at the well. She had 378 00:23:57,004 --> 00:23:59,764 Speaker 1: been married in divorse five times and was living with 379 00:23:59,804 --> 00:24:03,164 Speaker 1: some dude at the moment when Jesus approached her. She 380 00:24:03,284 --> 00:24:07,084 Speaker 1: would be the loose living in moralists. But notice how 381 00:24:07,365 --> 00:24:11,644 Speaker 1: Christ engaged her and she ultimately became a believer on 382 00:24:11,764 --> 00:24:14,645 Speaker 1: that day. When Paul spoke to the people in Act 383 00:24:14,764 --> 00:24:19,125 Speaker 1: seventeen on marsh Hill, those would have been the non religious, 384 00:24:19,165 --> 00:24:22,885 Speaker 1: the secular people. When Simon Peter spoke to the people 385 00:24:22,965 --> 00:24:27,284 Speaker 1: in Pentecost, those would have been religious people, and in 386 00:24:27,324 --> 00:24:30,845 Speaker 1: every one of those situations, they adapted to their audience 387 00:24:31,084 --> 00:24:35,965 Speaker 1: without compromising the content. Number three, we need to bring 388 00:24:36,044 --> 00:24:39,764 Speaker 1: people the message of the gospel. Now, look, when we 389 00:24:40,165 --> 00:24:42,725 Speaker 1: share the gospel with people, some are going to respond 390 00:24:42,804 --> 00:24:47,764 Speaker 1: favorably and come to faith and believe shockingly. So you'll 391 00:24:47,844 --> 00:24:49,965 Speaker 1: just talk to them a little bit and they'll believe 392 00:24:50,084 --> 00:24:52,644 Speaker 1: right there on the spot. And then others will be 393 00:24:52,965 --> 00:24:57,084 Speaker 1: very resistant. It just depends on the person. The apostle, 394 00:24:57,125 --> 00:25:00,804 Speaker 1: Paul says, and Second Corinthians too. Now, wherever we go, 395 00:25:01,205 --> 00:25:04,204 Speaker 1: he uses us to tell others about the Lord and 396 00:25:04,244 --> 00:25:07,525 Speaker 1: to spread the good news. Like a sweet perfume. Our 397 00:25:07,564 --> 00:25:11,885 Speaker 1: lives are like a fragrance presented by Christ to God. 398 00:25:11,965 --> 00:25:16,004 Speaker 1: And this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are 399 00:25:16,004 --> 00:25:19,965 Speaker 1: being saved by those who are perishing. Now think about 400 00:25:20,004 --> 00:25:22,925 Speaker 1: it this way. You know, some people wear way too 401 00:25:22,965 --> 00:25:26,204 Speaker 1: much perfume or cologne. By the way, if you're a 402 00:25:26,324 --> 00:25:29,885 Speaker 1: cologne where less is more. Now, I don't really wear 403 00:25:30,004 --> 00:25:34,445 Speaker 1: cologne myself, and the reason is I'm allergic to it. 404 00:25:34,804 --> 00:25:37,885 Speaker 1: I even have an allergic reaction to those little cards 405 00:25:38,165 --> 00:25:41,205 Speaker 1: that they put in magazines that are scented with Colonne, 406 00:25:41,244 --> 00:25:43,965 Speaker 1: or if I'm walking to a department store and they say, 407 00:25:44,165 --> 00:25:46,484 Speaker 1: can I give you a little of our COLOGNEA no, no, 408 00:25:46,604 --> 00:25:49,365 Speaker 1: keep it away from me. So my experience goes back 409 00:25:49,405 --> 00:25:52,405 Speaker 1: to high school, where I used to wear something called 410 00:25:52,604 --> 00:25:57,764 Speaker 1: Jade East, and also there was another one called Hi Karate. 411 00:25:57,965 --> 00:26:00,484 Speaker 1: Do you remember those? You have to have lived a 412 00:26:00,484 --> 00:26:03,084 Speaker 1: long time ago, but I do think they sell them still. 413 00:26:03,284 --> 00:26:06,484 Speaker 1: But here's my point. Some people will like the smell 414 00:26:06,604 --> 00:26:09,884 Speaker 1: of a certain colonna perfume and others will not. The 415 00:26:09,925 --> 00:26:12,684 Speaker 1: same is true with the Gospel. You could compare it 416 00:26:12,685 --> 00:26:16,644 Speaker 1: to garlic. Garlic is amazing when it's cooking. Garlic is 417 00:26:16,725 --> 00:26:20,565 Speaker 1: amazing on food. It's not so amazing on your breath. 418 00:26:20,685 --> 00:26:23,164 Speaker 1: So here's my point. We go to some people with 419 00:26:23,284 --> 00:26:26,764 Speaker 1: the gospel, they love the aroma of it, they love 420 00:26:27,084 --> 00:26:30,125 Speaker 1: what it is, they embrace it, they respond to it. 421 00:26:30,284 --> 00:26:32,484 Speaker 1: And you go to Weathers with the gospel and they 422 00:26:32,484 --> 00:26:35,725 Speaker 1: hate it and they impose you for even bringing the 423 00:26:35,844 --> 00:26:38,925 Speaker 1: message to them. But don't worry about that. Your job, 424 00:26:39,084 --> 00:26:42,685 Speaker 1: my job, our job together is to bring the Gospel 425 00:26:42,764 --> 00:26:46,284 Speaker 1: to people and to live it out before them. Number four. 426 00:26:46,365 --> 00:26:50,165 Speaker 1: Before I can effectively tell someone about Jesus. I need 427 00:26:50,205 --> 00:26:55,244 Speaker 1: to personally walk with Jesus. Why because nothing is a 428 00:26:55,324 --> 00:27:00,165 Speaker 1: worse witness than a hypocritical Christian. There are some people 429 00:27:00,564 --> 00:27:04,564 Speaker 1: that I would actually ask to not preach the Gospel 430 00:27:04,885 --> 00:27:08,044 Speaker 1: because they contradicted by the way that they live and 431 00:27:08,084 --> 00:27:11,405 Speaker 1: as a result, they undermine it. Listen to this. What 432 00:27:11,445 --> 00:27:17,005 Speaker 1: this culture is looking for is authenticity, not perfection. Authenticity. 433 00:27:17,284 --> 00:27:20,365 Speaker 1: In other words, we must be before we can effectively 434 00:27:20,804 --> 00:27:24,844 Speaker 1: say we need to practice what we preach. So let's 435 00:27:24,885 --> 00:27:28,645 Speaker 1: go back to being salt. Jesus said again. Remember you're 436 00:27:28,725 --> 00:27:32,004 Speaker 1: the salt of the earth, You're the light of the world. 437 00:27:32,365 --> 00:27:34,844 Speaker 1: What does it mean to be salt? Jesus says, if 438 00:27:34,925 --> 00:27:39,725 Speaker 1: the salt loses its flavor, it's good for nothing now 439 00:27:39,844 --> 00:27:43,925 Speaker 1: quent Beeck. Historically, salt had enormous value in Jesus' day. 440 00:27:44,405 --> 00:27:47,564 Speaker 1: The Romans believed that, except for the sun, nothing was 441 00:27:47,604 --> 00:27:52,644 Speaker 1: more valuable than salt. Sometimes Roman soldiers were even paid 442 00:27:52,965 --> 00:27:55,405 Speaker 1: in salt. That's where we get the phrase, hey, he's 443 00:27:55,445 --> 00:28:00,085 Speaker 1: not worth his salt. So let's understand what salt represented 444 00:28:00,165 --> 00:28:03,724 Speaker 1: back at this time and what salt actually did, so 445 00:28:03,764 --> 00:28:07,244 Speaker 1: we can understand how to play to us. Number one 446 00:28:07,405 --> 00:28:11,044 Speaker 1: in the first century, salt preserved. So if you went 447 00:28:11,125 --> 00:28:13,084 Speaker 1: on and caught some fish, you had to eat that 448 00:28:13,205 --> 00:28:17,764 Speaker 1: fish really quickly because you could not refrigerate it. So 449 00:28:17,844 --> 00:28:20,284 Speaker 1: if you could eat it quickly, you would rub salt 450 00:28:20,324 --> 00:28:22,764 Speaker 1: in it to preserve it. You would do the same 451 00:28:22,804 --> 00:28:25,445 Speaker 1: with other kinds of meat as well. You would take 452 00:28:25,484 --> 00:28:28,724 Speaker 1: the meat, cut it into slender strips and soak it 453 00:28:28,764 --> 00:28:31,484 Speaker 1: in a salt solution. You know, maybe our modern equivalent 454 00:28:31,885 --> 00:28:34,324 Speaker 1: is beef turkey. You know those little strips of beef 455 00:28:34,564 --> 00:28:36,924 Speaker 1: that you can buy in the market that costs like 456 00:28:36,925 --> 00:28:40,445 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars a bag. That's you know, preserved meat. 457 00:28:40,925 --> 00:28:43,924 Speaker 1: So the mean function of salt at that time was 458 00:28:44,005 --> 00:28:47,645 Speaker 1: to preserve something. Now, in the same way, we as 459 00:28:47,765 --> 00:28:51,165 Speaker 1: Christians are acting as salt and our culture and we're 460 00:28:51,205 --> 00:28:54,844 Speaker 1: here to preserve. What does that mean. It means as 461 00:28:54,925 --> 00:28:58,725 Speaker 1: believers we stand up for what is true, We speak 462 00:28:58,805 --> 00:29:02,725 Speaker 1: out against what is wrong. That is part of our job. 463 00:29:03,165 --> 00:29:05,405 Speaker 1: So preaching the gospel is yes, I'll get to that 464 00:29:05,645 --> 00:29:08,685 Speaker 1: in a moment, proclaiming the truth to others, but it's 465 00:29:08,685 --> 00:29:12,605 Speaker 1: also standing for what is right and true in our culture. 466 00:29:12,805 --> 00:29:16,965 Speaker 1: We're preserving I mean, bottom line, the very presence of 467 00:29:17,165 --> 00:29:20,844 Speaker 1: a Christian can change a conversation. Have you ever walked 468 00:29:20,885 --> 00:29:23,245 Speaker 1: into a room where maybe some people are telling a 469 00:29:23,285 --> 00:29:25,925 Speaker 1: dirty joke. In the moment you walk in, the joke 470 00:29:26,005 --> 00:29:29,725 Speaker 1: stops and they can smell, hey man, how you doing okay? 471 00:29:29,925 --> 00:29:32,444 Speaker 1: And then you walk out and they pick their story 472 00:29:32,485 --> 00:29:34,565 Speaker 1: back up. That's not a bad thing. That's a good 473 00:29:34,604 --> 00:29:38,525 Speaker 1: thing because that means that you represent Jesus Christ. You 474 00:29:38,805 --> 00:29:41,924 Speaker 1: just change the temperature of the room. You know, a 475 00:29:42,045 --> 00:29:45,685 Speaker 1: question you can ask yourself is are you a thermistat? 476 00:29:46,285 --> 00:29:50,604 Speaker 1: Are you a thermometer. A thermometer tells you the temperature 477 00:29:51,005 --> 00:29:55,205 Speaker 1: of a room. The thermisttat affects the temperature of the room. 478 00:29:55,485 --> 00:29:58,605 Speaker 1: I don't want to just be a thermometer blending in. 479 00:29:59,045 --> 00:30:01,725 Speaker 1: I want to be a thermistat. I want to change 480 00:30:01,765 --> 00:30:05,205 Speaker 1: the temperature of the room. I want to change the conversation. 481 00:30:05,885 --> 00:30:09,844 Speaker 1: I want to preserve what is good and true, and 482 00:30:09,885 --> 00:30:13,884 Speaker 1: I want to speak out against what is evil. So 483 00:30:14,084 --> 00:30:18,444 Speaker 1: Christians are the preserving influence in our world today. The 484 00:30:18,445 --> 00:30:21,485 Speaker 1: Bible tells us an event is coming when all two 485 00:30:21,565 --> 00:30:25,164 Speaker 1: followers of Jesus will be caught up in a moment 486 00:30:25,445 --> 00:30:28,565 Speaker 1: in the twinkling of an eye into the presence of 487 00:30:28,645 --> 00:30:33,485 Speaker 1: the Lord. This event is sometimes called the rapture. The 488 00:30:33,525 --> 00:30:37,525 Speaker 1: word rapture comes from a Greek word reptorus, which is 489 00:30:37,565 --> 00:30:41,325 Speaker 1: based on another word harpazzo in the Greek, which means 490 00:30:41,365 --> 00:30:44,885 Speaker 1: to be taken by force. So the Lord will come, 491 00:30:44,965 --> 00:30:47,124 Speaker 1: for his people will be caught up to meet the 492 00:30:47,165 --> 00:30:50,165 Speaker 1: Lord in the air, and then the anti Christ will 493 00:30:50,205 --> 00:30:53,765 Speaker 1: be revealed. The Bible also calls him the beast. If 494 00:30:53,805 --> 00:30:57,085 Speaker 1: Satan never had a son, this is him, and this 495 00:30:57,365 --> 00:31:01,485 Speaker 1: wicked man, the anti Christ, will bring about a time 496 00:31:01,525 --> 00:31:05,884 Speaker 1: of deception, and he will be in power during that 497 00:31:06,005 --> 00:31:10,844 Speaker 1: time called the Great Tribulation period that will last seven years, 498 00:31:10,925 --> 00:31:15,285 Speaker 1: and you will see darkness break out and evil on display. 499 00:31:15,645 --> 00:31:19,325 Speaker 1: How is it that can happen because the preserving influence 500 00:31:19,765 --> 00:31:23,404 Speaker 1: in the world has been removed, that is the Church, 501 00:31:23,925 --> 00:31:27,884 Speaker 1: the Bible says in Second Thessalonians too, the mystery of 502 00:31:27,965 --> 00:31:31,565 Speaker 1: lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains 503 00:31:31,604 --> 00:31:34,365 Speaker 1: will do so until he is taken out of the way, 504 00:31:34,844 --> 00:31:38,525 Speaker 1: and then that lawless one will be revealed according to 505 00:31:38,565 --> 00:31:42,405 Speaker 1: the work of Satan, with all power, signs and line wonders, 506 00:31:42,565 --> 00:31:45,245 Speaker 1: whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his 507 00:31:45,365 --> 00:31:48,525 Speaker 1: mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. So 508 00:31:48,645 --> 00:31:52,965 Speaker 1: bottom line is the preserving force in the world today 509 00:31:53,245 --> 00:31:57,805 Speaker 1: is the Church. Just like salt. Once we're removed from 510 00:31:57,844 --> 00:31:59,725 Speaker 1: the earth, caught up to meet the Lord in the 511 00:31:59,765 --> 00:32:04,645 Speaker 1: airth all help breaks loose with the leadership of the Antichrist. 512 00:32:05,005 --> 00:32:09,525 Speaker 1: That's why our presence makes a difference. Jesus said, you 513 00:32:09,565 --> 00:32:13,965 Speaker 1: are the salt of the earth. Another thing that salt 514 00:32:13,965 --> 00:32:17,285 Speaker 1: does is it stimulates thirst. You know how it goes. 515 00:32:17,285 --> 00:32:21,164 Speaker 1: You go to the movies and maybe you order some popcorn, 516 00:32:21,805 --> 00:32:23,765 Speaker 1: and you know the law for you three size this. 517 00:32:23,885 --> 00:32:27,644 Speaker 1: Here is a really small one that's fifty dollars, here's 518 00:32:27,725 --> 00:32:30,805 Speaker 1: a bigger one that's one hundred dollars, and here's a 519 00:32:30,844 --> 00:32:33,965 Speaker 1: really gigantic one that you can refill over and over 520 00:32:34,005 --> 00:32:37,085 Speaker 1: again for one hundred and two dollars. Oh, they want 521 00:32:37,125 --> 00:32:39,445 Speaker 1: you to buy the big one. And then you buy 522 00:32:39,445 --> 00:32:42,565 Speaker 1: it and it's maybe over salted, and so you go 523 00:32:42,645 --> 00:32:45,364 Speaker 1: back and you buy a soft drink that costs another 524 00:32:45,525 --> 00:32:48,645 Speaker 1: seventy five dollars. But the point is, when you eat 525 00:32:48,685 --> 00:32:52,045 Speaker 1: something salty, it does stimulate thirst. And I think that 526 00:32:52,125 --> 00:32:54,884 Speaker 1: when we're walking with Jesus Christ as we ought to, 527 00:32:55,485 --> 00:33:00,565 Speaker 1: we will stimulate a spiritual thirst and other people for God. 528 00:33:00,685 --> 00:33:04,245 Speaker 1: Let me illustrate. I was in Israel years ago leading 529 00:33:04,325 --> 00:33:07,924 Speaker 1: a tour and I had a tour guide who I 530 00:33:08,045 --> 00:33:11,245 Speaker 1: was having constant discussions with. And this guy liked to 531 00:33:11,405 --> 00:33:15,525 Speaker 1: argue and disagree, and we went back and forth for 532 00:33:15,725 --> 00:33:20,045 Speaker 1: hours and hours as we drove around the Holy Land together. 533 00:33:20,565 --> 00:33:23,485 Speaker 1: And I never really made much progress with this tour guide. 534 00:33:24,005 --> 00:33:25,805 Speaker 1: And one day we came to the end of our 535 00:33:25,885 --> 00:33:28,605 Speaker 1: journey and the driver came to me and said, I've 536 00:33:28,604 --> 00:33:32,445 Speaker 1: been listening to your conversations with your tour guide. I said, right, 537 00:33:32,565 --> 00:33:36,924 Speaker 1: and he said, and I'm really jealous of your relationship 538 00:33:36,965 --> 00:33:40,644 Speaker 1: with God. Now what's interesting about this is the Bible 539 00:33:40,685 --> 00:33:44,245 Speaker 1: says that we, as gentile's non Jews, have been grafted 540 00:33:44,285 --> 00:33:49,405 Speaker 1: into the promises of Israel, the promises given to Abraham, 541 00:33:49,485 --> 00:33:54,045 Speaker 1: Isaac and Jacob, and so we are being blessed by 542 00:33:54,125 --> 00:33:57,924 Speaker 1: these promises given to God's people. But God says, and 543 00:33:57,965 --> 00:34:02,525 Speaker 1: this happens to provoke them to jealousy. So, in a 544 00:34:02,685 --> 00:34:06,805 Speaker 1: very technical sense, this Jewish driver was saying to me 545 00:34:06,885 --> 00:34:09,765 Speaker 1: that I, as a non Jewish person who is a 546 00:34:09,805 --> 00:34:12,645 Speaker 1: believer in Jesus, and I had been grafted into the 547 00:34:12,685 --> 00:34:16,325 Speaker 1: promises of God was saying and doing something that made 548 00:34:16,445 --> 00:34:20,325 Speaker 1: him jealous for a relationship with God. So he invited 549 00:34:20,365 --> 00:34:22,925 Speaker 1: me over to his home, and he gave me and 550 00:34:22,965 --> 00:34:26,525 Speaker 1: my wife a wonderful meal. In fact, we filled up 551 00:34:26,565 --> 00:34:28,525 Speaker 1: in the first course and didn't know there were four 552 00:34:28,525 --> 00:34:31,645 Speaker 1: more courses to come. He had his entire family, maybe 553 00:34:31,685 --> 00:34:35,165 Speaker 1: thirty people, gathered together in his front room. Some of 554 00:34:35,205 --> 00:34:39,365 Speaker 1: his children were serving in the IDF, the Israeli Defense Forces, 555 00:34:39,445 --> 00:34:42,565 Speaker 1: and he said to me, say to all of my family, 556 00:34:42,845 --> 00:34:44,885 Speaker 1: what you are saying to that tour God. So I 557 00:34:44,925 --> 00:34:48,485 Speaker 1: was able to share the Gospel with this man's entire family. 558 00:34:49,045 --> 00:34:51,805 Speaker 1: So I think because he saw something in us that 559 00:34:51,965 --> 00:34:57,045 Speaker 1: was desirable, it created a spiritual thirst in him. The 560 00:34:57,125 --> 00:35:00,245 Speaker 1: greatest compliment that can be paid to a Christian is 561 00:35:00,285 --> 00:35:04,285 Speaker 1: when a unbeliever says, I want what you have. Why 562 00:35:04,285 --> 00:35:07,365 Speaker 1: are you so joyful? Why do you want peace in 563 00:35:07,405 --> 00:35:10,725 Speaker 1: the midst of your hardships and difficulties in life? How 564 00:35:10,725 --> 00:35:13,885 Speaker 1: do you keep going as you do? I want? Would 565 00:35:13,885 --> 00:35:18,844 Speaker 1: you have? Salt stimulates thirst, But first I need to 566 00:35:18,885 --> 00:35:22,805 Speaker 1: be thirsty for God. The samas rites is the deer 567 00:35:23,085 --> 00:35:27,085 Speaker 1: pants for flowing streams. So my soul pants for you. 568 00:35:27,285 --> 00:35:30,325 Speaker 1: Oh God, let me ask you a question. Do you 569 00:35:30,485 --> 00:35:34,485 Speaker 1: hunger in thirst for righteousness? Jesus said, if you hunger 570 00:35:34,525 --> 00:35:39,005 Speaker 1: in thirst after righteousness, you will be filled. So let 571 00:35:39,045 --> 00:35:42,404 Speaker 1: it start with you. But don't be crippled by sin 572 00:35:42,765 --> 00:35:46,005 Speaker 1: and be living a compromised life, because that will turn 573 00:35:46,045 --> 00:35:49,445 Speaker 1: away to the best of your ability. As I said earlier, 574 00:35:49,965 --> 00:35:52,165 Speaker 1: live a godly life, not a perfect life. You're going 575 00:35:52,245 --> 00:35:55,685 Speaker 1: to fall short. We all do. Sometimes we even have 576 00:35:55,765 --> 00:36:00,005 Speaker 1: to apologize for things that we say and do as Christians. 577 00:36:00,045 --> 00:36:03,805 Speaker 1: I remember years ago I was going to get pizza 578 00:36:03,885 --> 00:36:07,325 Speaker 1: with a friend and we went to a restaurant and 579 00:36:07,725 --> 00:36:10,205 Speaker 1: as I was sitting there, I looked over at a 580 00:36:10,285 --> 00:36:11,965 Speaker 1: table next to me and there was a man that 581 00:36:12,045 --> 00:36:14,965 Speaker 1: looked very familiar to me, And I said, excuse me, 582 00:36:15,085 --> 00:36:17,405 Speaker 1: is your name Paul? And he said, yes it is. 583 00:36:17,485 --> 00:36:21,765 Speaker 1: I said, Paul. We went to elementary school together. You know, 584 00:36:21,965 --> 00:36:24,205 Speaker 1: some people look the same that they looked when they 585 00:36:24,245 --> 00:36:27,365 Speaker 1: were younger, just they're bigger now. But other people changed 586 00:36:27,365 --> 00:36:31,005 Speaker 1: so much. Paul looked exactly the same. He goes, yes, 587 00:36:31,125 --> 00:36:33,605 Speaker 1: well who are you? I said, well, I'm Greg Lourie. Well, 588 00:36:33,645 --> 00:36:37,765 Speaker 1: I didn't look anything like I looked in elementary school. 589 00:36:37,885 --> 00:36:40,405 Speaker 1: My hair was blonde and parted on the side. When 590 00:36:40,405 --> 00:36:42,965 Speaker 1: I had hair, beautiful blonde hair. By the way, I 591 00:36:42,965 --> 00:36:46,005 Speaker 1: had a great wave. Now I just have beach very 592 00:36:46,045 --> 00:36:48,765 Speaker 1: sad anyway, But now at this point, as I was 593 00:36:48,765 --> 00:36:51,325 Speaker 1: talking to Paul, my hair was parted in the middle 594 00:36:51,725 --> 00:36:54,725 Speaker 1: down to my shoulders, and I had a beard, and 595 00:36:55,045 --> 00:36:57,405 Speaker 1: so he didn't recognize me. And he said, you know, Greg, 596 00:36:57,445 --> 00:37:00,805 Speaker 1: I remember you. You were always getting in trouble in school. 597 00:37:01,045 --> 00:37:04,165 Speaker 1: You were always getting sent to the principal's office for 598 00:37:04,285 --> 00:37:07,765 Speaker 1: disrupting the class. I said, yeah, that's true. But Paul, 599 00:37:07,845 --> 00:37:11,085 Speaker 1: I've changed. He said really. I said, yes, Paul, I've 600 00:37:11,125 --> 00:37:13,765 Speaker 1: become a Christian. He said what I said, I'm a 601 00:37:13,845 --> 00:37:16,525 Speaker 1: Christian now, Paul, I'm not the old Greg you used 602 00:37:16,525 --> 00:37:18,884 Speaker 1: to know. And then I said, and not only that, 603 00:37:19,405 --> 00:37:22,325 Speaker 1: I'm a pastor of a church. I think Paul's thinking, 604 00:37:22,365 --> 00:37:24,365 Speaker 1: who are they giving churches to these days? Are you 605 00:37:24,485 --> 00:37:27,205 Speaker 1: kidding me? And I said no, I'm a different person 606 00:37:28,045 --> 00:37:30,725 Speaker 1: and Christ has changed my life. And Paul said, well, Greg, 607 00:37:31,085 --> 00:37:33,565 Speaker 1: I can see you seem to be happier and you 608 00:37:33,685 --> 00:37:37,005 Speaker 1: seem to be changed that's wonderful. I said, well, it's 609 00:37:37,085 --> 00:37:39,525 Speaker 1: nice to talk to you, Paul. Meanwhile, my friend had 610 00:37:39,525 --> 00:37:41,285 Speaker 1: to go to the restroom for a moment, and we're 611 00:37:41,285 --> 00:37:44,165 Speaker 1: waiting for a pizza and it arrives, and I had 612 00:37:44,205 --> 00:37:47,404 Speaker 1: a devious thought. I thought, wouldn't it be really funny too. 613 00:37:47,565 --> 00:37:49,245 Speaker 1: You know, I already told you I did a prank 614 00:37:49,405 --> 00:37:51,765 Speaker 1: wake up call to my other friend. So now to 615 00:37:51,805 --> 00:37:53,805 Speaker 1: this guy, I thought it would be funny if I 616 00:37:53,845 --> 00:37:56,765 Speaker 1: took the hot red pepper flakes and poured them over 617 00:37:56,925 --> 00:37:59,565 Speaker 1: his side of the pizza. Then when he eats it, 618 00:37:59,645 --> 00:38:02,445 Speaker 1: you know it'll be hot, it'll be hilarious. So I 619 00:38:02,565 --> 00:38:04,725 Speaker 1: take out the pepper flakes and point them on my 620 00:38:04,765 --> 00:38:07,965 Speaker 1: friend's side of the pizza. And I'd forgotten about Paul, 621 00:38:08,005 --> 00:38:10,325 Speaker 1: who had been talking to and I hear him say, 622 00:38:10,925 --> 00:38:16,165 Speaker 1: haven't changed much, have you? Greg? Busted Geeah. Sometimes we 623 00:38:16,285 --> 00:38:19,405 Speaker 1: mess up and we have to apologize. But to the 624 00:38:19,445 --> 00:38:22,845 Speaker 1: best of your ability, live a godly life, and don't 625 00:38:22,925 --> 00:38:27,805 Speaker 1: put red pepper flakes on your friend's pizza. You see, 626 00:38:27,845 --> 00:38:30,285 Speaker 1: we cannot be used by God to stop the corruption 627 00:38:30,445 --> 00:38:34,725 Speaker 1: of sin and others if sin has corrupted us. Going 628 00:38:34,765 --> 00:38:37,245 Speaker 1: back to the statement of our Lord again, you're the 629 00:38:37,285 --> 00:38:40,485 Speaker 1: salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, 630 00:38:40,485 --> 00:38:43,445 Speaker 1: how shall it be seasoned. It's good for nothing but 631 00:38:43,565 --> 00:38:48,005 Speaker 1: to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by man. Good 632 00:38:48,445 --> 00:38:53,405 Speaker 1: for nothing. So years ago I traveled overseas to Europe 633 00:38:53,805 --> 00:38:57,965 Speaker 1: to be at a speaking conference, and Kathy was with me, 634 00:38:58,005 --> 00:39:00,925 Speaker 1: and Jonathan was a very little guy, little toddler at 635 00:39:00,925 --> 00:39:03,245 Speaker 1: that point, and so you know, when you travel, you 636 00:39:03,285 --> 00:39:05,645 Speaker 1: have all of this hardware you take with us. I 637 00:39:05,685 --> 00:39:08,444 Speaker 1: had a stroller and I needed a backpack to carry 638 00:39:08,525 --> 00:39:10,965 Speaker 1: him as well, and I came across something called a 639 00:39:11,045 --> 00:39:14,444 Speaker 1: backpack stroller that seemed brilliant to me, so I bought 640 00:39:14,445 --> 00:39:17,805 Speaker 1: it without trying it first. So I get overseas and 641 00:39:17,885 --> 00:39:20,844 Speaker 1: I pull it out of the box and I use 642 00:39:20,925 --> 00:39:23,325 Speaker 1: it as a backpack. And it was the worst backpack 643 00:39:23,365 --> 00:39:26,245 Speaker 1: ever because they had these big wheels that dug into 644 00:39:26,325 --> 00:39:29,525 Speaker 1: my back. I was like in pain carrying them around. 645 00:39:29,565 --> 00:39:32,045 Speaker 1: So it was the worst backpack. But then as a 646 00:39:32,085 --> 00:39:35,365 Speaker 1: stroller it was equally lame because it didn't have back 647 00:39:35,365 --> 00:39:37,885 Speaker 1: wheels to support it, so you had to hold it 648 00:39:37,965 --> 00:39:42,165 Speaker 1: up the entire time. So I finally abandoned it. You 649 00:39:42,205 --> 00:39:45,165 Speaker 1: know it was good for nothing. And guess what. A 650 00:39:45,245 --> 00:39:49,245 Speaker 1: Christian that isn't salting, a Christian that isn't walking with 651 00:39:49,365 --> 00:39:52,924 Speaker 1: God as they ought to, are as useless as a 652 00:39:53,005 --> 00:39:59,085 Speaker 1: backpack stroller. So unsalty salt is pointless. It's like a 653 00:39:59,085 --> 00:40:04,485 Speaker 1: coke that's lost its carbonation. It's like tepid coffee or 654 00:40:04,525 --> 00:40:08,005 Speaker 1: even worse d calf coffee. You know, some people going 655 00:40:08,045 --> 00:40:10,445 Speaker 1: to a coffee place and they'll say, I'll have a 656 00:40:10,565 --> 00:40:15,845 Speaker 1: low fat latte decalf with some vanilla oak toash. Stop. 657 00:40:16,045 --> 00:40:19,005 Speaker 1: Just go to thirty one Flavors, you know, get coffee 658 00:40:19,005 --> 00:40:23,125 Speaker 1: with caffeine, and be a salty Christian, and be a 659 00:40:23,205 --> 00:40:26,765 Speaker 1: Christian that makes a difference wherever you go. But then 660 00:40:26,845 --> 00:40:29,645 Speaker 1: Jesus also says in the Sermon on the Mount you 661 00:40:29,685 --> 00:40:32,884 Speaker 1: are the light of the world. A city that's said 662 00:40:32,925 --> 00:40:35,645 Speaker 1: on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light 663 00:40:35,685 --> 00:40:37,965 Speaker 1: a lamp and put it under a basket, but on 664 00:40:38,005 --> 00:40:40,765 Speaker 1: a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who 665 00:40:40,845 --> 00:40:44,645 Speaker 1: are in the house. So taking together salt and light 666 00:40:45,005 --> 00:40:49,485 Speaker 1: paint a vivid picture. Salt is hidden, light is obvious. 667 00:40:49,965 --> 00:40:54,925 Speaker 1: Salt works secretly, light works openly. Salt works from within. 668 00:40:55,485 --> 00:41:00,365 Speaker 1: Light works from without. Salt is more the indirect influence 669 00:41:00,405 --> 00:41:05,045 Speaker 1: of the gospel. Light is the direct communication of the gospel. 670 00:41:05,645 --> 00:41:09,924 Speaker 1: Salt works primarily through our living Light works primarily through 671 00:41:09,965 --> 00:41:14,365 Speaker 1: what we say to others. Salt is largely negative. It 672 00:41:14,405 --> 00:41:18,965 Speaker 1: can retard corruption, but it cannot change corruption into incorruption. 673 00:41:19,165 --> 00:41:23,565 Speaker 1: But light, in contrast, is more positive. So how are 674 00:41:23,605 --> 00:41:26,845 Speaker 1: we to let our light so shine? One thing that 675 00:41:26,925 --> 00:41:31,245 Speaker 1: light does, it exposes the darkness. Have you ever lost something, 676 00:41:32,005 --> 00:41:35,085 Speaker 1: say in your car at night, maybe that brito you 677 00:41:35,125 --> 00:41:37,485 Speaker 1: were eating on the way home a month ago, and 678 00:41:37,565 --> 00:41:40,285 Speaker 1: you dropped it. You don't know where it went. You 679 00:41:40,365 --> 00:41:42,325 Speaker 1: turn on the light and there it is. Oh wow, 680 00:41:42,365 --> 00:41:46,245 Speaker 1: I wonder where that went. Light doesn't just expose the problem, 681 00:41:46,485 --> 00:41:49,605 Speaker 1: It shows you the way out of the problem. When 682 00:41:49,605 --> 00:41:52,365 Speaker 1: I was in darkness, I couldn't see much less find 683 00:41:52,405 --> 00:41:55,485 Speaker 1: the door. But when the light switched on, when I 684 00:41:55,525 --> 00:41:59,005 Speaker 1: saw my need for Jesus Christ, when I heard the gospel, 685 00:41:59,365 --> 00:42:03,245 Speaker 1: when the light went on, everything changed for me. So 686 00:42:03,325 --> 00:42:06,884 Speaker 1: we need to let our lights so shine before men 687 00:42:07,445 --> 00:42:11,085 Speaker 1: so they will see their need for Jesus Christ. Here's 688 00:42:11,125 --> 00:42:14,565 Speaker 1: another interesting thing. When Jesus says you are the salt 689 00:42:14,685 --> 00:42:16,525 Speaker 1: of the earth, you are the light of the world. 690 00:42:16,845 --> 00:42:20,525 Speaker 1: It could better be translated, You and you alone are 691 00:42:20,565 --> 00:42:23,925 Speaker 1: the salt of the earth. You and you alone are 692 00:42:23,965 --> 00:42:26,364 Speaker 1: the light of the world. Think of it this way. 693 00:42:26,805 --> 00:42:28,924 Speaker 1: What kind of world would we live in if every 694 00:42:29,125 --> 00:42:32,645 Speaker 1: Christian behave just like you do? How many people would 695 00:42:32,685 --> 00:42:35,485 Speaker 1: be drawn to the Gospel or turned off by it? 696 00:42:35,885 --> 00:42:38,805 Speaker 1: What kind of general opinion do you think people would 697 00:42:38,885 --> 00:42:43,645 Speaker 1: have of Christianity if you were a sole representative. And 698 00:42:43,805 --> 00:42:45,845 Speaker 1: you might be saying, well, Greg, that's kind of a 699 00:42:45,885 --> 00:42:48,885 Speaker 1: lot of pressure to put on one person. Well maybe, 700 00:42:49,085 --> 00:42:51,525 Speaker 1: but here's the fact of the matter. You are the 701 00:42:51,565 --> 00:42:56,325 Speaker 1: only representative of Jesus Christ that many non believers are 702 00:42:56,325 --> 00:42:59,445 Speaker 1: ever going to see. They may never read the Bible, 703 00:42:59,725 --> 00:43:02,285 Speaker 1: but they're going to read your life. It's been said 704 00:43:02,605 --> 00:43:07,884 Speaker 1: Christians are walking epistles written by God and read by men. 705 00:43:08,925 --> 00:43:11,445 Speaker 1: You are the salt of the earth. You are the 706 00:43:11,525 --> 00:43:14,365 Speaker 1: light of the world. So let's wrap this up. Is 707 00:43:14,405 --> 00:43:18,205 Speaker 1: there any hope for America? Yes? There is, And there 708 00:43:18,205 --> 00:43:20,765 Speaker 1: are three things we need to do. Number one, as 709 00:43:20,765 --> 00:43:24,845 Speaker 1: they said, we need to infiltrate, not isolate, be both 710 00:43:24,925 --> 00:43:28,525 Speaker 1: salt and light. God has dropped us behind enemy lines. 711 00:43:28,645 --> 00:43:33,205 Speaker 1: Our job is to infiltrate, to permeate, to saturate, not 712 00:43:33,285 --> 00:43:37,125 Speaker 1: to evade, but to invade. To live the Christian life 713 00:43:37,125 --> 00:43:41,445 Speaker 1: with authenticity, we need to be salt and light in 714 00:43:41,485 --> 00:43:45,845 Speaker 1: the culture. A w Tozer said it well. The world, 715 00:43:46,005 --> 00:43:49,885 Speaker 1: he said, is waiting to hear an authentic voice, a 716 00:43:50,045 --> 00:43:53,404 Speaker 1: voice from God, not an echo of what others are 717 00:43:53,405 --> 00:43:58,165 Speaker 1: doing insane, but an authentic voice. Be an authentic voice. 718 00:43:58,285 --> 00:44:01,645 Speaker 1: Number two, we need to pray. We need to turn 719 00:44:01,685 --> 00:44:03,964 Speaker 1: to God as a nation, and we need to turn 720 00:44:04,005 --> 00:44:07,725 Speaker 1: to God as individuals. Remember the words of Second Chronicles 721 00:44:07,805 --> 00:44:10,805 Speaker 1: seven fourteen, where the Lord said, if my people, which 722 00:44:10,805 --> 00:44:13,845 Speaker 1: are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray 723 00:44:14,085 --> 00:44:18,125 Speaker 1: and seek my face and churn from their wicked ways, 724 00:44:18,525 --> 00:44:21,285 Speaker 1: then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin 725 00:44:21,725 --> 00:44:26,325 Speaker 1: and heal their land. That was given contextually to Israel, 726 00:44:26,845 --> 00:44:31,805 Speaker 1: but it applies principally to any nation, including ours. We 727 00:44:31,885 --> 00:44:35,565 Speaker 1: need to humble ourselves and pray and seek His face. 728 00:44:35,805 --> 00:44:39,605 Speaker 1: And notice that it says turn from our wicked ways. 729 00:44:39,965 --> 00:44:43,405 Speaker 1: Let it begin with us. Let revival start with you, 730 00:44:43,805 --> 00:44:47,605 Speaker 1: and let it start with me. And number three, we 731 00:44:47,725 --> 00:44:51,725 Speaker 1: need to preach this message of the gospel. God has 732 00:44:51,765 --> 00:44:54,325 Speaker 1: told us to go into all the world and preach 733 00:44:54,365 --> 00:44:59,405 Speaker 1: the gospel. America needs to hear the gospel. America needs 734 00:44:59,445 --> 00:45:04,205 Speaker 1: to see the gospel. Remember, Jesus said, you and you alone, 735 00:45:04,605 --> 00:45:08,285 Speaker 1: or the light of the world. So yes, there is 736 00:45:08,325 --> 00:45:11,605 Speaker 1: hope for America, and there's hope for you. Let me 737 00:45:11,685 --> 00:45:15,685 Speaker 1: say this in closing. Maybe as you're listening to this podcast, 738 00:45:15,805 --> 00:45:19,365 Speaker 1: you're thinking, well, I don't really have this relationship with God. Well, 739 00:45:19,445 --> 00:45:23,485 Speaker 1: here's the good news. Christ can change your life. Jesus 740 00:45:23,525 --> 00:45:26,525 Speaker 1: can forgive you of your sin. You see, you're separated 741 00:45:26,605 --> 00:45:29,765 Speaker 1: from God because of your sin. The Bible says all 742 00:45:29,845 --> 00:45:32,285 Speaker 1: of sin and fallen short of the glory of God. 743 00:45:32,485 --> 00:45:35,725 Speaker 1: But the Bible also says, while we were yet sinners, 744 00:45:36,125 --> 00:45:39,485 Speaker 1: Christ died for us. I love the way the apostle 745 00:45:39,525 --> 00:45:43,045 Speaker 1: Paul personalized it when he said he loved me and 746 00:45:43,085 --> 00:45:47,765 Speaker 1: he gave himself for me. Listen, Jesus loved you and 747 00:45:47,885 --> 00:45:51,525 Speaker 1: gave himself for you. And if you will turn from 748 00:45:51,565 --> 00:45:54,365 Speaker 1: your sin and ask Christ to come into your life, 749 00:45:54,405 --> 00:45:58,205 Speaker 1: he will forgive you and come into your heart and 750 00:45:58,325 --> 00:46:02,245 Speaker 1: life and change you and change your eternal address from 751 00:46:02,885 --> 00:46:07,445 Speaker 1: hell to heaven. He's only a prayer away. If you 752 00:46:07,485 --> 00:46:09,805 Speaker 1: would like to ask Jesus to come into your life. 753 00:46:09,885 --> 00:46:12,765 Speaker 1: You could just pray a prayer with me right now. 754 00:46:13,205 --> 00:46:15,685 Speaker 1: I'll pray it out loud. And if you want to 755 00:46:15,685 --> 00:46:18,845 Speaker 1: be forgiven of your sin, if you want Jesus to 756 00:46:18,885 --> 00:46:21,525 Speaker 1: come into your life, why don't you just pray this 757 00:46:21,605 --> 00:46:24,645 Speaker 1: after me? Just pray, Lord Jesus. I know that I'm 758 00:46:24,685 --> 00:46:28,445 Speaker 1: a sinner, but I know that you're the Savior who 759 00:46:28,485 --> 00:46:31,485 Speaker 1: died in the cross from my sin and rose again 760 00:46:31,565 --> 00:46:35,005 Speaker 1: from the dead. I turned from my sin now, and 761 00:46:35,085 --> 00:46:38,965 Speaker 1: I choose to follow you from this moment forward in 762 00:46:39,085 --> 00:46:43,565 Speaker 1: Jesus name, I pray. Amen, if you just pray that prayer, 763 00:46:43,565 --> 00:46:46,405 Speaker 1: I want you to know that Christ has come to 764 00:46:46,525 --> 00:46:49,285 Speaker 1: live in your heart, and he has forgiven you of 765 00:46:49,405 --> 00:46:52,085 Speaker 1: all of your sins. And I'm going to help you 766 00:46:52,125 --> 00:46:55,405 Speaker 1: get started on the right foot and following Jesus Christ. 767 00:46:55,445 --> 00:46:57,765 Speaker 1: And I'm going to send you at no charge, a 768 00:46:57,805 --> 00:47:00,445 Speaker 1: free copy of the New Testament. We call it the 769 00:47:00,525 --> 00:47:04,885 Speaker 1: New Believer's Bible, a special edition of the New Testament 770 00:47:04,965 --> 00:47:08,485 Speaker 1: and the New Living Translation with hundreds of notes that 771 00:47:08,565 --> 00:47:12,005 Speaker 1: I wrote. And if you'll contact us at a harvest 772 00:47:12,325 --> 00:47:16,245 Speaker 1: we'll send you your own copy of the New believer's Bible. 773 00:47:16,365 --> 00:47:19,925 Speaker 1: You might also go to our website no good dot 774 00:47:20,045 --> 00:47:24,685 Speaker 1: org k and ow good no good dot org. You 775 00:47:24,725 --> 00:47:28,085 Speaker 1: can find out more there here. Until next time, God 776 00:47:28,125 --> 00:47:28,725 Speaker 1: bless you.