fromthepreacherspc

THE CONSPIRACY BEHIND THE SILENCING OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

1. Reading the daily newspaper, sadly, is like reading from the book of Judges
2. Judges 2:10; 21:25
3. Does this not describe the present United States of America?
4. We are living in a “anything goes” society

The dismantling of America’s Christian Heritage is taking place before our very eyes

1. This has been taking place for the last 75 years … four generations
2. American culture for 185 years was friendly toward Christianity
3. America was once considered a Christian nation – but I believe that this is no longer the case

For the last 75 years, the forces of humanism, atheism, evolution, liberalism, pluralism (all religious beliefs tolerated), and “political correctness” have been aggressive in their assault on Christian religion.

1. They have gradually dismantled many of the moral and spiritual principles that one characterized our society
2. America’s religious, moral, and spiritual foundation is literally disintegrating before our very eyes

We are presently in an all-out, casualty filled, spiritual war

1. The central issue of the war is God and the Bible
2. Social and political liberals from Hollywood, and even many in our Nation’s Capitol are hostile toward God.
3. They are very open about it – we are facing perilous times!
4. Thus, the word of the apostle Paul comes to mind – Ephesians 6:10-12

DISCUSSION

1. This conspiracy (to silence God) parades itself under the guise that the Founding Fathers and the Constitution advocated the “separation of church and state”
2. They claim that this means that all references to God and Christianity should not be permitted in public settings that are associated with the government, community or schools.

There are many decisions that are being made in our government and in our courts with this philosophical mind set

1. No prayer in our schools
2. No Ten Commandments
3. Bible no – Gays yes
4. State Seals – removal of religious symbols

We are being told:

1. The constitution enjoins the “separation of church and state” … THIS IS A LIE
2. The Founding Fathers desired the acceptance of all religions – Pluralism … THIS IS A LIE
3. The Founding Fathers were deists – not Christian … THIS IS A LIE
4. The Founding Fathers opposed public expression of Christian religion in government and schools
5. This is a lie!

 Adolf Hitler said, “By means of shrewd lies unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell – and hell is heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it is believed”

The “separation of church and state” is not found in the Constitution – or anything akin to it.

1. As a matter of fact, our Founding Fathers wrote/spoke often of God and religion
2. If we will read what they said, and not what people said they said, this will become very apparent
3. Shouldn’t this be true with regard to the Bible?
4. Should we not be more concerned with what God say than man?
5. Our Founding Father’s speeches were filled with Scripture
6. The Bible is quoted over and over again in Presidential Inaugural Speeches
7. Even the Constitution spoke of God and the Bible

As an example, notice George Washington’s Farewell Address…

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them…Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle”

1. George Washington, one of our Founding Fathers, says if you separate the church from the state – you will have national problems

The two indispensable supports to human happiness, political prosperity, and popular government is religion and morality

1. If you take religion out it all falls
2. That is exactly what see happening in our day!
3. Did our Founding Fathers subscribe to Christianity?
4. Most definitely!
5. Our nation was founded on Christian principles – NOT Judaism – Not Islam

Consider what Noah Webster said…

“In my view the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed…No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the right and privileges of a free people”

“Historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our Founding Document” (Newsweek, Dec. 27, 1982 – p. 44)

The Bill of Rights – Amendment I…

“Congress shall make no new law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

THE SOLUTION

Self-examination and Serious Rededication to God

1. Stop allowing culture to influence
2. Life is so good that we have become lax
   1. Many have become desensitized to the evil around them
   2. Many are ignoring the crisis we face
3. Matthew 6:33
4. Mark 12:30

Diligent to Dedication to Family

1. We must demand that our families straighten up
2. Judges 2:10 … apostasy is only one generation away… we are now in our 4^th generation of apostasy… 2 Timothy 3:13; Hosea 4:6
3. We must take charge of our families
4. Genesis 18:19
5. We must teach our children the principle found in Deuteronomy 6:24-25

Prayer

1. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
2. We must pray:
   1. Individually
   2. Collectively – Prayer Meetings
   3. It must be sustained (1 The. 5:17)
   4. Fervent – Intense

Political Participation

1. Many say that politics and religion do not mix – HOG WASH
2. This is not what our Founding Fathers believed
3. Our Nation was founded on Biblical principles
4. 2 Chronicles 19:2
5. Do we empower the wicked by our lack of participation?
6. “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke)
7. Who should be selected for political office?
   1. Exodus 18:21  
   2. Proverbs 29:2, 4
8. We decide who our political leaders are:
   1. Investigate the candidates
   2. Do not vote based on the budget, the welfare system, tax reform, health care, etc. – We need to be concerned with moral issues!
   3. Proverbs 14:34

Determine to Steadfast

1. America did not get in this fix overnight and it will not be changed overnight
2. 1 Corinthians 15:58

CONCLUSION

1. What Makes a Strong Government?
2. Economics? Military? Health Care? – NO!
3. It is Morality! and The Bible!
4. Psalm 33:12-14
5. Psalm 33:16-18
6. “In God We Trust” must remain the American motto!

Tom Moore
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com

CONCERNING BIBLE CLASS TEACHERS

INTRODUCTION

A. As far back as we can remember we probably remember preaching on the work of the church, and how it is divided into three major categories: Evangelism, Benevolence, and Edification

1. Most church members today are more familiar with evangelism and benevolence than they are with edification … and in this lesson we hope to change that
2. What is edification?
3. To be edified means to be built up, to make, to be instructed and improved, to be benefited morally and spiritually
4. 2 Peter 3:18
5. To grow suggests not just an increase in the number of Christians in a congregation, but a growing within each individual Christian

B.How does edification take place?

1. There are several ways in which we can edify, but today I want to focus in on one area, an area that is very critical
2. Colossians 2:6-7 … “were taught“
3. Acts 20:32 … “the word of his grace”
4. John 6:44-45
5. If a people are taught then it is implied that there was a teacher
6. Since God wants and demands that we be taught – we must have teachers
7. There were teachers in the first century church
8. God put teachers in the church (1 Cor. 12:28)
9. Ephesians 4:11-12
10. Thus, it is imperative that we understand that our Bible Classes are what will make or break the church 

C. Therefore, we need teachers!!!

1. If your care about the church you will want to be a teacher – and prepare yourself for such
2. If you care for the souls of our little ones you will want to be a teacher
3. If you truly care for the souls of our youth – you will not retire from teaching
4. Some might say I have taught for many years and now it is time for the young to teach
5. But the younger ought to be in class being taught gaining experience in God’s word, and the older and experience in the faith ought to be teaching
6. Hosea 4:6

Are we contributing to the churches destruction by our lack of desire to teach?

1. 2 Timothy 3:15
2. How did this occur?
3. By teachers!!!

Don’t you care enough for our youth to be a teacher?    

Let Us now consider some very important principles with regard to Bible Class teachers.

DISCUSSION

BEING A TEACHER IS SERIOUS BUSINESS

1. I know many Bible Class teacher who, it seems to me, do not take their Bible class teaching very serious
2. Teachers have a very serious responsibility
3. I can not over emphasize the critical and weighty obligation of a Bible Class teacher
4. Souls are hanging in the balances!!!
5. James 3:1
6. It is not the purpose of James to discourage a qualified teacher from teaching God’s word, but he is striving to instill in our mind the seriousness of teaching
7. James is saying, don’t you dare be a teacher unless you are sure that you can act as a faithful teacher should act, and are willing to accept the responsibility for your position.
8. The teacher does not have the power of life and death over his or her students, but they do have the power of eternal destiny.
9. James says that teachers shall receive “heavier judgment” or “greater condemnation.”
10. Teachers are going to be judged more severely
11. This is because of the great responsibility the they have

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT A TEACHER MUST POSSESS

A Bible Class teacher must be sound in the faith

1. 1 Timothy 1:3-4
2. A teacher can disrupt a congregation by falsE teaching
3. One given to false doctrine should have no place in the teaching of the church
4. Titus 2:1
5. 1 Timothy 4:16
6. Soundness in the faith is found in those who:
7. Are mature in the faith … not babes in Christ
8. Are knowledgeable in the holy scriptures

A Bible Class teacher must be studious

1. If anyone should study the Bible, it is he or she who would teach it
2. 2 Timothy 2:15
3. 1 Timothy 4:13
4. “Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah, and read” (Isa. 34:16)
5. Acts 17:11
6. The church does not need teachers who are not studious in the scriptures
7. Teachers who are not studious are doing a disservice to their students, the church, and themselves
8. A teacher must know the Bible!!!

A Bible Class teacher should be a good example in all things

1. 1 Timothy 4:12
2. Romans 2:21-23
3. It is certain that a Bible Class teacher who is unfaithful cannot effectively teach others
4. Let us consider some things that a Bible Class teacher must be faithful in:

They must be faithful in attendance (Heb. 10:25)

1. What are teachers telling their students when they teach their class on Sunday morning and are not at services on Sunday night or Wednesday night?
2. A teacher who will not attend faithfully the services of the Lord are doing severe damage to the cause of Christ – and they ought not to teach
3. “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” (Rom. 2:21)

They must be faithful in the work of the church

1. They ought to be present at work days, seminars, Gospel Meetings, and any activity involving the churchThis sets a good example for their students
2. “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” (Rom. 2:21)

They must be faithful in their every day walk of life (1 Tim. 4:12)

1. They must be faithful in the home, the community, and on the job
2. They must be a shining light of an example to their students, for they never know when their students might see them
3. “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” (Rom. 2:21)

A Bible Class teacher must love the Lord

1. Mark 12:30
2. If this is true of us – then we will want to teach and will want to be the kind of teacher that is pleasing to the Lord and beneficial to our students.

CONCLUSION

1. Our Bible Class program in my opinion is the most important work of the church, because we can do no better than we are taught and know.
2. It is my prayer that if you are not a qualified teacher that you will be begin to prepare yourself to be so
3. It is my prayer that all those who are not teaching, and are qualified to teach, will begin teaching once more
4. It is my prayer that if you are teaching, and have been taking this great responsibility lightly, that you will change your ways for the sake of your students and your own soul
5. It is my prayer that if you are presently faithfully teaching that you will keep up the good work – the church is depending on you!

Tom Moore
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com