We thank David Barton for posting this sermon. Let’s take some time the next few days before the upcoming election to consider these things, and what we might learn from them.

Here is the Scripture from which Pastor Stone preached…

Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whether ye go to possess it. Keep, therefore, and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Since the Left thinks of itself as superior, they represent the way things ought to be for the good of every one else. Therefore, it is only right that they take the necessary steps to insure that Americans don’t make a mistake in the election. Let’s not think of it as cheating or fraud, but rather correcting the error of the less informed.

If this statement is true, then what does it say of all those who continue to disparage her? It is apparent that the elites do not understand ‘we the people’ nor do they believe that government is to be of the people and for the people.

Sarah Palin seems to have a better understanding of American constitutionalism than any of the other candidates which makes her far and above the most qualified to be a leader.

The Biblical imperatives against women exercising authority over men have to do with the proper order of church government. The apostle is addressing the church, not the civil government.

Can constitutionalism to be learned in American universities today? The system that has brought liberty and prosperity is disparaged. The world view of the Founders is rejected because the new world view comes with the presumption of truth.

’Thy word is truth…the Scriptures cannot be broken… till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled…the Scripture is God breathed and sufficient for doctrine…and training in righteousness’.

When the church accommodates a lesser view of the Bible than does the Lord of the Church, the culture will follow with its idolatry. Where idolatry reigns then every other sin will abound.

When men are discontent they are ripe for Marxism; being marked by unthankfulness, they are full of covetousness and envy. Marxism is no answer to discontentment; its power is that it provides an attractive and sinful response. I’ll give the state power over me in exchange for the promise of unlawful gain.

Those who peddle in Marxism are no better than the TV preachers who peddle the Bible.

The Declaration of Independence declares to the world that governments are instituted among men to secure the God given rights of Life and Liberty. Life is the essential thing on which Liberty depends.

What difference does it make if the abortion is botched and the child is born alive? The death sentence has already been made. If there is no God and no accountability to His Law, then why should anyone act in defense of the helpless and unwanted?

If Mr. Obama can neglect the first thing in believing that the unborn have no right to Life, then why should it be a surprise that he has no regard for individual Liberty? He would have us give up our liberty in exchange for dependency on the state.

The socialist ideal of fraternity is a myth because the state cannot promote both liberty and equality. Equality does not mean equality under law, but equality of outcome.

The French tried liberty and equality and the result was government by means of the guillotine. In order to insure equality of outcome rather than equality of opportunity, the state becomes the promoter of tyranny rather than liberty.

Capitalism taps into wealth creation by allowing men to pursue their self interest. Even in the Plymouth colony made up largely of Christians the practice of socialism was a failure. Only when men were allowed to work for themselves and keep the fruits of their own labor did the colony begin to thrive.

When the Pilgrims came to America to establish the Plymouth Colony, they did so under the requirement that "all profits and benefits that are got by trade, working, fishing, or any other means" were to be placed into the "common stock" of the colony and that "all such persons as are of this colony are to have their provisions out of the common stock."

The failure of this high-minded system was evident when the reality of famine overtook them. William Bradford abolished this experiment in socialism and converted to a free market society based on the Biblical model.

He did as the Jews did when they entered the promised land. The land was divided according to family. Men became responsible for their own; they kept what they produced and were free to trade as they saw fit. The famine not only ended, but prosperity overtook them.

At the heart of the life issue is an understanding of the sovereignty of God. It is this knowledge that will put abortion to death.

It is written that all our days were known before we came into the world. God knew us before the foundation of the world. As King David says, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” [Psalm 139] 

In the same Psalm, David considers the wicked and the bloodthirsty. Those who shed innocent blood do not regard God as the Sovereign of life. They are worthy of our contempt. Christian, do not think you are more spiritual than David. If there is a time to hate, it is defined here…

A radical change of heart is necessary. Christ called it the new birth. The apostles called it regeneration. We must be born again to see the kingdom. A man cannot enter into what is unseen until he has been given the eyes of faith.

Every believer has been confronted by Christ on his way to Damascus. Perhaps not as dramatic as Paul, but to some extent the risen Christ invaded our world; He changed us so that we began to walk in a different direction.

Intellectual persuasion has no power to raise the dead. That power rests with Christ alone. That is why Paul could write these words…

Now when is this prophecy fulfilled? After the resurrection, Christ gave His disciples the great commission. Because Christ has been given all authority, He tells them to go into the nations and gather His people into His kingdom. Can there be any doubt that He was speaking in fulfillment of Daniel 7:14?

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:18-20]

This is the account of the ascension of Christ from the perspective on earth…

‘…He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” [Acts 1:9-11]

But what of His coming to the Ancient of Days? The account from the perspective of heaven is given in Revelation 5. Christ the Lamb of God is received by God and found worthy to open the eternal degrees of God. Behold the scene in heaven at Christ’s ascension…                                                                                            

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

Worthy Is the Lamb

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:

     “You are worthy to take the scroll,
      And to open its seals;
      For You were slain,
      And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
      Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
      And have made us kings and priests to our God;
      And we shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:

      “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
      To receive power and riches and wisdom,
      And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

      “Blessing and honor and glory and power
      Be to Him who sits on the throne,
      And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. [Revelation 5]

The good news is that another kingdom has come with a king that is able to set the captives free. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to him. He rules the nations with a rod of iron and gives his people authority over the nations [Psalm 2:9 & Revelation 2:26-27].

What is this rod of iron?

‘Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations’ [Revelation 19:15]. He shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.

The sword of the Spirit is referred to as the Word of God. It is the word of this king that judges the nations and that is the sense in which his people have authority over the nations. Those who are released from captivity in the kingdom of darkness by the power of this king know the forgiveness of sins and have the word of truth written on their heart.

As sons and daughters of King Jesus we judge the nations when we measure them against the eternal truth of the Word of God. ‘He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet, and He has made us to be a kingdom of priests’ [1 Corinthians 15:25 & Revelation 1:6].

This is the theology that motivated the colonial Americans. If Christians are to judge the nations, then who is more qualified to be involved with the founding and sustaining of government? [1 Corinthians 6:1-3]

Freedom must bear its own responsibility. Not so says the socialist. Everyone must have more than opportunity. The state must insure equal outcome, not just equal opportunity. We must share responsibility for the irresponsible in order to be fair. Fairness has trumped our liberty.

Fairness allows the state to take the fruit of one man’s labor and give it to another. For the state to do this it must pit citizens against each other. The socialist state is guilty of thief and it uses envy between different classes of people to gain support. Socialism divides the citizenry against one another, expanding the dependent class and destroying the incentive of men to better themselves for the good of their family.

The founding documents contain the American ideal that the state is to insure life, liberty and opportunity. The socialist concept of fairness is foreign and destructive to these ideals. This is why socialism has always failed and will continue to fail, even in America. We have exchanged our dependence on the sovereign God for a mess of pottage given to us by the elites.

This statement reminds me of the story written for our instruction in Judges 4. No man in Israel would stand up to fight their enemy. Those responsible would not go unless Deborah would go with them...

This is difficult and near impossible if they are public schooled because they are being given conflicting information. You can’t tell a child that he is special and at the same time teach him that he is the product of mindless macro-evolution. The Darwinian understanding of existence and purpose destroys the truth that they are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ [Psalm 139:14] so that they can ‘know the true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent’ [John 17:3]. They must reject the naturalist world view and accept the Christian world view to know their real worth.

The teachings of Romans 1 are disregarded by the culture and trampled under foot. The abuse of these children is criminal in that the public education system is assisting them to suppress their innate knowledge of God. We as parents must be about reinforcing the knowledge of God. At every opportunity we point out that all children are special because they are image bearers of the Personal and Infinite God who has revealed Himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. They are special because the Word of God made flesh gave Himself to redeem all who trust in Him. The worth of their soul is infinite.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Centuries after Daniel wrote of the kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, Jesus Christ spoke these words, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel” [Mark 1:14].

He told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations because all authority had been given to Him on earth and in heaven [Matthew 28:18].

Independent of the kingdoms of this world that come and go, Christ has been building His Church for two millennium. Just as He said, “I will build My Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it” [Matthew 16:18]. That is, nothing can prevent the Church from fulfilling its mission of gathering together the people of God.

The churches of every age make up Christ’s Church. The church is where His authority is recognized; this is the kingdom of heaven on earth. Believers are the living stones being built up into a glorious temple; Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone.

The nations are as dust in the scale and as a drop in the bucket. They are counted by the Lord less than nothing and worthless [Isaiah 40]. But the Church is called the bride of Christ. He loves her and cherishers her as precious and has promised to present her blameless and holy having sanctified her for Himself [Ephesians 5].