The Light Unto the Darkness - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Light Unto the Darkness

2Co 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.Slide2

Joh

1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Joh

3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Joh

8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."Slide3

Joh

12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

Ac 26:18 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'Slide4

“The

city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding that a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or

Annise

Parker, the city's first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court

.”

Retrieved from http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/45770-city-of-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermonsSlide5

Houston Mayor Annise Parker (right) and her long-time partner, Kathy Hubbard, at their wedding ceremony in California, where same-sex marriage is legal. (Facebook)Slide6

Constitutional?Slide7

The Real Question is:Is it Righteous?Slide8

Ge 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Ge 2:24 Therefore a man

shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.Slide9

1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.Slide10

Ro 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousnessSlide11

The Bible Says It’sShamefulSinfulDebasedUnnaturalVileErrorUnrighteous

WickedSlide12

Responses"The city's subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented," Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christina Holcomb said in a statement. "The City Council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions.“

"Political and social commentary is not a crime," Holcomb said. "It is protected by the First Amendment."Slide13

Responses"We are not going to yield our First-Amendment rights," Welch told me. 'This is absolutely a complete abuse of authority.“Rev. Dave Welch is the executive director of the Texas Pastor Council.Slide14

Responses"The state is breaching the wall of separation between church and state," Perkins told me. "Pastors need to step forward and challenge this across the country. I'd like to see literally thousands of pastors after they read this story begin to challenge government authorities—to dare them to come into their churches and demand their sermons."Slide15

ResponsesThis is the moment I wrote about in my book, God Less America. I predicted that the government would one day try to silence American pastors. I warned that under the guise of "tolerance and diversity," elected officials would attempt to deconstruct religious liberty. Tony PerkinsSlide16

NoticeMuch of the focus seems to be placed on our supposed “responsibility” of fighting for our political “rights” and resisting unconstitutional orders. These rights and responsibilities are guaranteed by certain political documents. Slide17

Declaration of Independence

“…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are

endowed by their Creator

with

certain unalienable Rights

, that among these are

Life

,

Liberty

and the pursuit of

Happiness

.”Slide18

Declaration of Independence

“…That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,

deriving

their just

powers from

the

consent of the governed

, —” Slide19

Declaration of Independence

“…That

whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends

,

it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it

, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”Slide20

Declaration of Independence

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism,

it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government

, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”Slide21

Declaration of Independence

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled,

appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world

for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and

by Authority of the good People of these Colonies

, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are

Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown

…”Slide22

Are These Biblical Principles?Slide23

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and

the authorities that exist are appointed by God

.2 Therefore

whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God

, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.Slide24

Romans 13:3 For

rulers

are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is

God's minister to you for good

. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is

God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil

. Slide25

Romans 13:5 Therefore

you must be subject

, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.Slide26

Mr

12:17 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.Slide27

Ac 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men…”Slide28

Paul’s Relationship to a Hostile GovernmentSlide29

Ac 25:11 "For

if I am an offender

, or have committed anything deserving of death,

I do not object to dying

; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them.

I appeal to Caesar.

"Slide30

2Co 11:32 In Damascus

the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me

; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

Ac 9:23 Now after many days were past,

the Jews plotted to kill him

. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.Slide31

Ac 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Ac 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.Slide32

Ac 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "

Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?

"26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, "Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman."27 Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes." 28 The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship." And Paul said, "But

I was born a citizen.

"Slide33

Ac 16:37 But Paul said to them, "

They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans

, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."Slide34

How Do We Respond?Slide35

Pray

Jas 5:13

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray

. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.Slide36

Pray

Acts 12

1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.Slide37

Pray

1Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that

supplications

,

prayers

,

intercessions

, and

giving of thanks

be made for all men,2

for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence

.Slide38

What’s more effective than any Poll, Petition or Protest?PrayerSlide39

Pray

1Jo 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the

petitions

that we have asked of Him.Slide40

Pray

James 5:16b

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”Slide41

Speak the TruthSlide42

Ac 4:18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."Slide43

Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.Slide44

Ac 24:24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.25 Now as he reasoned about

righteousness, self-control

, and the

judgment to come

, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."Slide45

Mt 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Slide46

Mt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.Slide47

Mt 5:15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.Slide48

The United States of America is not God’s city on a hill.The church is.Se salt.Be light.