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Complete Sermon Notes

When The Wicked Man Rules

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).

VOTING won’t save America anymore than a dumbbell will save someone who is drowning; however, leaders play an enormous role in shaping the direction of the country.

The prophets were statesmen, reformers, and preachers – they were called to redirect the focus of the people back to God.

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WE HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP – If a mere 50 percent of eligible Christian voters would vote, the political landscape would change dramatically. James A. Garfield, an ordained minister and twentieth President of the United States, said, “Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption.”

EVERY PASTOR W/ A PLATFORM who is remaining silent – it’s time to wake up…

I DON’T WANT TO OFFEND
I DON’T WANT TO UPSET
I DON’T WANT TO BE VIEWED AS POLITICAL…it’s time to sound the alarm…blow the trumpet in zion

——- Dobson, “I’m tired of being called a Right-wing Crazy.”

Shocking Poll Christianity Today article Aug. 8th, 2016 – according to a new Pew Research survey, 1% of churchgoers said their pastor has spoken positively of Trump compared to 6% who heard praise for Hillary. Trump received more criticism at 7% than Hillary’s 4%.

MANASSEH OR HEZEKIAH: Manasseh – 2 Kings 21:12 therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

AHAB OR JOSIAH: There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.

Wicked Leadership is often judgment on the people –

JOHN CALVIN in his Institutes says “that they who rule unjustly and incompetently have been raised up by him [God] to punish the wickedness of the people…I shall proceed no farther until I have added some sure testimonies of this thing. Yet, we need not labor to prove that a wicked king is the Lord’s wrath upon the earth [Job 34:30, Vg.; Hos. 13:11; Isa. 3:4; 10:5; Deut. 28:29].”

Make sure to hear the closing two points

Dr. Jim Garlow – http://www.charismanews.com/politics/opinion/59206-if-you-re-on-the-fence-about-your-vote-this-pastor-clarifies-how-the-very-future-of-america-is-at-stake

A] Look at the platform on which the candidate will stand.

B] Like us, both candidates are flawed. But I’d rather deal with a man who is critical vs. a deceiving and manipulating person hell bent on destroying the nation and the church.

C] The Supreme Court is crucial – we’re one step away from abortion outside the womb.

D] What type of counsel is surrounding the candidate?

E] Globalism – bring the world together [boarders].

F] “Voting for a third party candidate is a complete ‘throw-away’.” JIM GARLOW

GARLOW continues, “Freedoms come in ‘threes.’ Political freedom, economic freedom and religious liberty coexist together. Take one away and the other two will eventually disappear. One cannot exist without the other two.”

KEY QUESTION – Are we more concerned about God’s kingdom or comfort and our way of life?

KEY ANSWER – We never see persecution sought or encouraged..

Paul Washer paraphrased, “The only thing that will save the church in America is a total reformation in our preaching and the study of God’s Word, or fierce, horrifying persecution.”

Quoting a brother working with the persecuted church, “For 25 years, especially when I travel in America, I have been told, ‘If we just had persecution here we would be like the Church in China’. That’s nonsense Scripturally and experientially, and even more so, it shows an idol has been created of what people think the church is like in China. Christians in China prefer freedom!”

But, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.”

When the Wicked Man Rules…

They Separate the Sacred and the Secular – “My faith is private,” they say.

KEY – Wicked Leaders separate in order to silence.

2 Kings 17:32 So they feared the Lord, and from every class they appointed for themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. 33 They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods—according to the rituals of the nations from among whom they were carried away.

Newsweek magazine, on December 27, 1982, in an article entitled, How the Bible Made America, made this revealing statement, “historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our Founding document.” For those who doubt this and believe that statements in the Declaration of Independence such as “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” were products of the enlightenment, deism, or secularism, you may want to read quotes from founders such as Alexander Hamilton, Noah Webster, John Jay, William Findley, Rufus King, and James Wilson. All attested to the fact that “the laws of nature and of nature’s God” refer to laws given by God Himself. John Quincy Adams stated that the phrase assumes the existence of a God, the moral ruler of the universe, and a rule of right and wrong. As a matter of fact, if a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly four times more than any other source. No enlightenment, deism, or secularism here—only God and His Word.

THE SACRED AND SECULAR WERE INTERWOVEN!

They Seduce the People – attract or entice [boss, parent, leader] 2 Kings 21: 2 And he [Manasseh] did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.

We are rebuilding the “high places” – phony and fake worship

4 He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

Manasseh allowed the profane in the temple – we are doing the same.

6 Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 7 He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever;8 and I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers—only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

Pride is an asset and humility is a liability – Hosea 5: 5 The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also stumbles with them. 6 “With their flocks and herds They shall go to seek the Lord, But they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously with the Lord…”

America has become Prideful, Arrogant, and Haughty – The wicked freely parade and prance about while evil is praised throughout the land (Psalm 12:8).

Now the most important part – Application: THE CURE FOR WICKED LEADERS –

“IF…” “BECAUSE You Turned to Me…” “WHEN you seek Me…”

WHAT GOT US INTO TROUBLE, THE OPPOSITE GETS US OUT!

Feeling Insignificant – we can’t do anything Judges 6.

Failure to Listen When God Speaks 1 Samuel 3.

We Have a “Worship” Problem – as you worship, you draw closer to God.

April 18th, 2015 – “In Vain They Worship Me.”

This is why we do the bare minimum.
This is why their is a lack of passion.
This is why we can move our lips on Sunday morning, but ESPN has our hearts by Monday night.
This is why just a handful of people show up for prayer meetings…
This is why many don’t like heart-felt, emotional worship…

“Clear The Stage” – Take a break from all the plans that you have made, And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper, Beg him please to open up his mouth and speak, And pray for real upon your knees until they blister, Shine the light on every corner of your life, Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open, Then read the word and put to test the things you’ve heard, Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken, ‘Cause you can sing all you want to… And still get it wrong; worship is more than a song.