How to Resist Despotic Rulers (John 11:45-57 Jeff Kliewer)

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming to Cornerstone Church. I'm really glad to see you on this

Sunday morning It's great to hear everyone talking and fellowshipping with one another.

That's what we're supposed to do as a church My name is Michael I'm gonna lead a little bit later some music

But we have a couple things to do this morning One of the things I want to hand to anyone who's visiting is one of these connect cards

We actually have a little packet. It has a gospel of John Has a pen and this connect card.

This connect card is important because we just want to be able to see that That you're you're here.

We don't want to miss you. So if you can Grab one of these cards either.

There's a box in the back that has them. There's There's someone in the back.

Hey Stan Stan well Can you grab one of those books on the front table if anybody

Needs one just slip up your hands Stan will come and get one to you If you're visiting if not, just grab one of these cards in the back use a pen just fill it out

Just name and address. We just want to thank you for coming this morning. We really appreciate that The box in the back so normally we have an offering box, it's brown it sits on that table.

It's not there anymore It's hanging on the wall. There's a black box on the wall. It has the connect cards on it You can put your offering in there if that's the way you give or if you give online.

Thank you Thank you for forgiving to cornerstone The building and benevolence and all the things that we do here at cornerstone.

We really appreciate that So again final call if and there's any visitors or anybody no Okay, great.

Hey Jeff Okay a couple announcements tomorrow night is a

Congregational meeting seven o 'clock. It's kind of an annual report and we have a number of interesting things

Everybody's welcome to attend even if you're not yet a member, please come tomorrow night at 7

Men's retreat is coming April 28th to 29th. So that's just getting close guys.

If you haven't signed up. It's not too late Please sign up. It's gonna be amazing. It's too late

John says it's too late. We'd find a way All right, we could we could talk to me well

I could call a guy I know a guy I know a guy yeah This Saturday is love life

So love life is when we go out to the Cherry Hill Women's Center where they? kill babies and we pray in front and we call out to women offering to help them and Hopefully rescue the babies.

So if you want to come out to that love life this Saturday at the Cherry Hill Women's Center at 9 a .m

Next there are vacation Bible school flyers in the back. So please grab some of those and begin to hand those out and Prayer meeting is back to the regular schedule tonight 6 p .m

Sunday nights we have our prayer meeting. Oh, I do have one more announcement that I'm sure my daughter will be glad that I'm making we have a national champion in the house, so the

American Association of Christian schools Has a a tournament that meets at Bob Jones University So all the

Christian schools from around the country come and one of the categories is Old Testament Bible knowledge and Abby won first place in the nation

You're welcome daughter, I'm sure you're so glad I So we're very proud of them and also all the girls that were in the

Bible quizzing they won the consolation round Riley did a great job with her Woodworking was in in there and all of you who are part of that AJ part of the

Bible quizzing team great job So great job everybody who went down there. We're proud of you for that That's right

All right with that. We have a special Missions moment today. So Neil and Wani Thompson.

Where are you way back there today? Come on up. Come on up. Neil is Rick Thompson's older brother and They have been and they'll share how long they've been partnering with Cornerstone Church I think it's going back to the founding of this church.

So let's welcome Neil and Wani Thompson to give a missions update I'm not quite that tall

It's great to be back yeah, as Jeff said we've you've had you have supported us in prayer and financially for Over 40 years and it's really exciting to see that One and I have served probably a combined 80 years with OMF International Starting out at Manoram Christian Hospital in Central Thailand.

And then since we've come home in administration and mobilization You may not know what mobilization is one.

He'll tell you about her short -term Surveys in ministry with OMF in just a minute or two

But mobilization is really a disciple making from a mission standpoint making disciples

I Have probably gotten more excited about medical missions since I've come home from Thailand than I was when

I was doing surgery in an operating room at Manoram Christian Hospital Don't get worried.

I'm not going to tell any surgical stories. I just think of me as an as an interior decorator

That's what I that's what I used to do Medical missions was called by one historian the heavy artillery of the missions movement in the 19th century

Where missions just took off after William Carey the father of modern missions

Went to India in the late 18th century. And so I've been looking at the past present and future and actually

I'm going to write an article about that that needs that I need to work on very quickly and Ask your prayer for that but medical missions itself added a dynamic to missions in the 19th century in that people who heard about Jesus Heard the gospel

Listened to grace Buddhist populations Hindu populations around the world.

They don't understand grace. It doesn't make sense for some It's silly for some its weakness

But when people saw Christian doctors and nurses as missionaries in many countries

They saw a concern and a care for people that was modeled after the compassion that Jesus showed

And they were very moved and when they saw the care demonstrated the compassion demonstrated

What they heard began to make sense Medical missions was instrumental in the opening of countries like India, Thailand China, Korea To knowing the gospel and so I've gotten more excited about medical missions since I've come home than when

I was there doing it so We thank you so much for your support and We're glad for this opportunity to share one evil talk about what she's been doing

Thank you as new said he was involved in medical missions. I'm not in medicine.

I'm I don't do blood like him I'm just on the outside more of admin person so I do a short -term program for all math that's called serve

Asia I I To explain what do I do in a sense like when

I say short -term programs? I tell my participant I'm not a travel agent. I'm not sending you to see the world to eat

Different kind of food we want more than that. We are discipleship programs So we want the trip that you go to have an impact on your life

We want you to go and come back change to love God more So, how do we do that in you know in all these short -term trips we

Sorry, we kind of prepare you before you go we do a lot of how to cross culture

Well, as I said the first things versus Not every country greet the same way.

For example, you don't just shake hands and give a hug So, how do we greet in another culture?

Properly what to wear what not to wear what to do and what not Touching the head or whatever.

So we trade all that we talk about expectation. What do you think? I have one participant that he's

Korean American Went to Thailand for 11 months and his church keep asking him

How many times have you preached how many people come to know the Lord? He can't even speak

Thai why the church expect him to to do all of that so we talk about expectation and we talk about flexibility

How do you use chopstick how many times you can eat with chopstick, you know that kind of thing? So we go through all of that we prepare them about spiritual warfare

Not just a physical training we do Emotional spiritual training to prepare them to go then they go to do whatever they need to do do chem ministry teaching

English VBS or whatever and then they come back So we talk about debriefing.

What does that? What did you learn? What did you do? What did you see? What did you learn about yourself are you better than you think you were or you're worse than you think you were

What about God? Did you see God do anything? So with all that experience and then what's next?

What does that mean? What is God telling you? So if you guys have you on short -term trips, you know that once you get back to to the

States Oh, you have a great idea of what you want to do, but the busyness of life just take that desire away

So we come up with a six months follow -up program. So we go With our participants through a journey, so that's a whole package for this year.

We already send about 11 people to Japan And Cambodia, so we have 30 more are going this summer and early fall

So appreciate your pray for that. I just ask for pray for my participants that they go experience

God and come back different come back and love God more and wants to get involved with whatever he has for them and Pray for my team.

We are so short staff and we need more staff. So we have a big training coming up over Memorial Day weekend

So a lot of work just pray for my staff. Thank you Let's Do that now and pray

Gracious Heavenly Father we give you all the glory for the amazing work. You've done through the Thompsons We thank you for the partnership that we have in the gospel with them and Lord We pray for your continued hand of favor your blessing that you would go before them

Be their rear guard and keep your hand of favor upon them Lord God We pray for Neil as he writes this important article on medical missions

I pray that you would quicken his mind with ideas and thoughts that come from you that you would help him and And that this would come out in a way that impacts lives in Jesus name and for Juan e

Lord We pray for her in equipping these teams to go we pray for more staff to join them.

We pray for their Memorial Day Training that they have and we ask

God that you would continue to use Juan e in the work that you have called her to do So we pray for the

Thompsons and ask your hand of blessing on them in Jesus name And let me pray for the service too as We all stand to worship let's stand and just consecrate this time of praise and worship give thanks to the

Lord Father we want to thank you for what you're doing in this church.

We thank you for the young people Rachel and Abbey and AJ and Riley and others from the church and who have gone down We pray blessing on them and we thank you for the work that they did in Carolina We thank you for all of the evidence of your favor on the children's ministry and on the adult ministries

The Sunday school classes and you are so present with us and now Lord we consecrate this time of singing

Unto you that we would not just go through the motions Lord, but that our hearts would be on fire that our hearts would burn for you

For you have made us and you are our God and you have redeemed us by the blood of the Lamb in the name of Jesus We pray amen

You are worthy. Oh Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power

For you created all things And by your will they existed and were created

Worthy of every song we could ever sing Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of every breath we could ever bring we live for you

Jesus the name above every other name Jesus the only one who could ever say

Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe we live for you

We live for you Holy There is no one like There is none beside you

And show me Who you are and fill me with your heart and lead me

Jesus the name above every other name

Jesus The only one who could ever say Worthy of every breath you can ever breathe we live for you

We live for you Holy There is no one like you there is none beside you

Who you are and fill me with your heart and lead me

Give your love to those around me

I I will build my life upon your love

It is a firm foundation

And I will build my trust in you alone

And I will not be shaken

And I will And I Holy there is no one like you there is none

I When everything seems out of balance

One thing we can rest assure is that the living presence of the

Almighty and Holy God is steadfast unmovable and unshakable God didn't promise that he would take all of our pain away here on earth

But he promised us that he would stay with us and see us through everything. We're going through Psalm 62 8 says trust in him at all times.

Oh people pour out your heart before him God is a refuge for us

The enemy

Surrounds and my heart grows faint with it when the darkness

Overwhelms and my fears are pressing in I Will trust in you

Oh Lord In the silence, I will wait

I will stand upon your word You're my solid rock and my salvation

My steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul

My soul My strong Machine in the midst of every threat

Yes, I know the outcome sure

Evil plans will fail in your power

You're my son and my salvation My steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul

My soul You're my comfort when

I feel forsaken my refuge and my sure foundation my soul

My soul This is love

I can't explain this is mercy

Through your sacrifice For the battle has been won

And I fear no shame Now the sting of death is gone

You're my solid rock and my salvation My steadfast hope that won't be shaken my soul

My soul Oh My comfort when

I feel forsaken Amen how great is our

God the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. Let's continue to sing I will bless your name.

Oh God each day. I'm awake. How great is your name? I'll bless your name.

Oh God each day that I'm away From dawn to setting sun your greatness.

I'll proclaim Your glory far exceeds all human thought

So with each breath I'll bless your name Your name will be

Children yet to come As generations see the wonders you

Your Are always

Hi, your name will be

How great is the

Lord Greatly to be praised How great is the

Lord and greatly to be praised

Your gracious hand provides for all Your mercy runs to When we call out to you you hear our cries

And all I need your gracious and provides

How great is the Lord and greatly to be praised

How great is the Lord our

God How great is the

Lord and greatly to be praised Forever without end

Forever without end creation will rejoice

When works of wicked men you finally destroy

Your power will proclaim till Christ descends

And you will reign forever Without How great is the

Lord and Greatly to be praised How great is the

Lord and greatly to be

How great is the Lord and Greatly to be praised

How great is the Lord? our

God How great is the

Lord and greatly to be praised Amen he is great greatly to be praised

Amen Let's pray

Father as we turn now to your word We pray that you would make us strong as a people

And I pray that you would do exceedingly abundantly beyond whatever we could ask think or imagine

That you would use this church in the world and That you would raise up for among even the young people who are here today

Men and women who are courageous Who are willing to stand? Who are unafraid?

Who are freedom fighters? Who are willing to share the message of Jesus Christ and him crucified

Preaching the message of this new life I Pray Lord that as I preach this morning your

Holy Spirit would help me to say what you would say to the people Lead me in your scripture and give me the words.

I pray in Jesus name. Amen The Viet Cong were a ruthless

Communist regime the Vietnamese War raged for decades and in 1971

There was a famous evangelist who came to Vietnam to minister to the troops and also to Minister to those who were imprisoned the

Viet Cong that the southern Vietnamese had captured This evangelist spoke only

English and so he employed the help of a translator his Translator was named

Hien Pham. He spoke perfect English He himself was an evangelist and strong in the

Lord and God used him During that that crusade of this evangelist to bring many people to saving faith in the

Lord Jesus Christ. I Was 1971 but in 1975 something drastic happened a

Major change and that was the fall of Saigon and the communists the

Viet Cong won the war and drove out the troops and it really had more to do with the loss of nerve on the part of Those at home in America rather than a military victory because American troops were often very restrained from Engaging fully in the fight, but be that as it may the the facts of the matter are that the communists took over Vietnam and so the question is what becomes of Hien Pham Well the

Viet Cong put him in a prison camp and He no longer had any access whatsoever to the scripture and for years and years they began to indoctrinate him in the writings of Marx and Engels in Communism trying to convince him that he had been deceived by the

Americans and by the West and as year wore on year after year his faith began to falter and He even wrote this maybe

I have been lied to maybe God does not exist Maybe the West has deceived me

And so he determined in his mind that the next day would be the first day that he doesn't pray

He had prayed all during his time in the prison camp, but he had made up his mind that tomorrow.

He would not pray Well as Providence would have it things went from bad to worse

For Hien Pham because he was assigned the duty of cleaning the latrines of the prison camp

So it's one thing to be in the prison camp. It's another thing that your job in the camp is to clean the latrines

But that day the first in which he had not prayed as he cleaned and picked up some paper behind the latrine he saw

English Writing which he had not seen for many many years and so quickly with no one looking he grabbed that piece of paper put it in his pocket and Returned to his quarters that night with a flashlight laying under his mosquito net

He unfolded that piece of paper and the title of it was Romans 8

Rediscovering the scripture he read that God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose

And we are more than conquerors and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus not height or depth or angels or principalities or things present or things to come nothing in all creation

Can separate us from the love of God in Christ and the Word of God Revived his faith and he hung on to the

Christian faith now with that introduction There's a lot of different directions.

I could go I Could talk about the treasure. That is the Word of God and How the

Viet Cong had discarded it as rubbish But it had the power to save We could talk about how much it's it how important it is for us to spend time in the word

Because with years of not hearing the word he almost lost his faith but I actually use this illustration to open because often

Christians fail to consider the political macro high -level

Influence that nations have on the gospel to be in South Vietnam Vietnam fighting with the

Americans was to be free and to hear the gospel openly to be in the north was to be repressed and To have little access and to have little light so it was in Russia with communism in Mao's China and So in our day we see a totalitarian impulse rising in many nations

Authoritarianism on the rise for example a couple of weeks ago Israel outlawed

The preaching of the message of Jesus Christ. No one is allowed to speak of Jesus in Israel at this time there is hate legislation against certain speech in Canada where people are no longer allowed to talk about sexuality in biblical terms

I Just heard from someone in first service. I hadn't heard this one yet But Washington State has now issued some kind of order

That if parents are not willing to allow their children to transition those Transitions so to speak it's really a mutilation rather than any kind of change

That those kids can be taken away from the parents in these

United States of America These issues matter for human flourishing

But they also matter for the progress of the gospel in many ways as we turn now to John chapter 11

I want you to see what I saw for the first time in my life having read the book of John so many dozens of times

I never noticed That what John does here for us is peel back the cover of the authoritarian rulers the despots

That were running Israel at the time and show us their inner workings And then after showing us what's going on behind the scenes.

He then shows us how to resist despotic rulers There's much that can be learned from the end of John 11.

We're gonna read from verses 45 to 57 Context here is the great miracle

Where Lazarus has been raised from the dead and we have then the aftermath of that event

Many of the Jews therefore Who had come with Mary and had seen what he did believed in him

But some of them went to the Pharisees and Told them what

Jesus had done So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said what are we to do?

For this man performs many signs if we let him go on like this

Everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation but one of them

Caiaphas Who was high priest that year said to them, you know, nothing at all

Nor do you understand that it is better for you That one man should die for the people not that the whole nation should perish

He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year He prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and not for the nation only but also to gather into one the children of God Who are scattered abroad?

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the

Jews But went from there to the region near the wilderness to a town called Ephraim and there he stayed with the disciples

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves

They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple What do you think that he will not come to the feast at all?

Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders That if anyone knew where he was he should let them know so that they might arrest him

Christians need to resist the power grabs of despots and We need to do this in a distinctly

Christian way Now as you look at the world around you Don't expect depraved sinners to rightly appraise matters

Don't expect depraved sinners to rightly appraise matters look at verses 45 and 46

Many of the Jews therefore who had come with Mary and had seen what he did believed in him

That's entirely logical. That's entirely Rational the sign that Jesus did was amazing

He turned a funeral into a party he raised a dead man and This indicates that Jesus himself is from God.

That's the rational conclusion It's a sign that points to him but look at verse 46 some of them completely missed the point

They went to the Pharisees whom they knew adamantly opposed

Jesus They knew the opposition of the Pharisees to Jesus and they told them what

Jesus had done. They went tattletailing They went tattletailing to the

Pharisees trying to stir up trouble for Jesus This is an indication of The true condition of the human heart

Jeremiah tells us in chapter 17 verse 9 the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick how sick did the hearts of these

Jewish people have to be To see the sign of the raising of Lazarus and try to weaponize that against the very one who did the miracle the heart is

Desperately sick who can understand it. It's not rational There were some in this case who weaponized this miracle against Jesus as You look out at the culture in which we live we have been so blessed that many have believed in Jesus a

Country that largely has been founded upon Christian principles But it's not the case that all have come to saving faith in fact

There are many who do not believe How dark have the times become?

How wickedly? Do many people in the world deal with Christians and With the claims of Christ It amazes me that it was only

January 17th 2022 when this article emerged from ABC News Think of this.

It was only barely a year ago when an article from ABC News said this a

Recent national telephone and online survey from the Heartland Institute and Rasmussen reports says respondents

Who claimed to be Democrats? supported a sort of house arrest house arrest for unvaccinated

Among other punishments and deterrence now listen to these statistics ABC News January 17th 2022 59 % of Democrats who took the poll were in support of a theoretical government policy

Which would confine those who have not been vaccinated to their own homes unless it was an emergency

It's only one year ago how times have changed Seemed evidently logical and rational to them at the time, but listen to this 45 % of Democrats who took the poll and this is thousands that were polled 45 % were in favor of the government forcing people who refuse the vaccine to live in designated facilities or locations

Half of a party that makes up half of the nation would have seen unvaccinated people put into camps for refusing gets worse than that 29 % of Democrats who took the poll reportedly say they would be in support of parents

Who are against getting vaccinated? losing custody of their children One third and Two -thirds of Democrats respond respondents to the poll were in support of the government using digital devices to track the

Unvaccinated to ensure they socially distance and remain properly quarantined in the days of Jesus Unprincipled Unethical men and women reported on Jesus after his miracle in order to get him detained

And don't think that here in America in 2023 or going forward in coming years that such things are impossible

Expect power grabs from fearful and unprincipled authorities read on in verse 47 and 48

The fearful and the unprincipled Who have power

Will abuse that power see this the chief priests notice the word chief that indicates their supremacy their power and the

Pharisees gathered the council and Said what are we to do for this man performs many signs now pause right there.

What ought they have done? Believed the signs point to Christ, but they say what are we to do?

And then in verse 48 look at the telling language if we let him

Go on like this as If it's within their power to stop him from doing good

From raising dead people from healing sick people from teaching love They say if we let him as if they have this totalitarian control and They're merely granting people the right to do what they say that they can

This is the authoritarian mindset if we let him go on like this everyone will believe and now look at the fear and hear the fear in their voices

They're breathless The Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation

They're afraid of Rome and so they're willing to oppress individuals

Now who are these chief priests? They have become not priests to the people but political rulers captive to Rome in the

Bible the high priest was to be appointed for life

But from the time of the turn of the century zero Until 70

AD at the fall of the temple Josephus records for us that there were 28 different high priests

What does that indicate? It had become a political position that was bought and sold

It was controlled by Rome and the priesthood was no longer an intermediary between God and man

It was an intermediary between Rome and the people Rome was ruling through them.

This was the political rulers. They had the power to control the people and They use that power

Now, of course, it was God's design Once a king was given in 1st

Samuel 8 that Israel would have a king and then ultimately Jesus is the king from the throne of David 2nd

Samuel 7 but in 2nd in 1st Samuel chapter 8 listen God warned them about Taking a king for them for themselves

Prior to 1st Samuel chapter 8 God was the king and the people followed

God But they wanted a king a human king like the other nations and God said, okay, we'll give you this king

But here's what's gonna happen First Samuel 8 10 and following Samuel tells the people asking for a king

These will be the ways of the king Who will reign over you? he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots and he will point for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of 50s some to plow his ground and To reap his harvest and to make implements of war and the equipment of chariots.

He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers

The warning is you want a king you want one man in power over you?

He'll be a despot. He'll rule over you and he'll put you under his boot

That's precisely what we see happening with the priesthood now They've taken this role of a king so to speak in Israel because Herod is just a puppet of Rome In fact, he wasn't even

Jewish Herod the ruler the king of Israel at the time. He was from Edom descendant of Esau So here in verses 47 and 48

The priesthood is a corrupt authority and they're grabbing power more and more power for themselves until the leader of them all speaks up When the

Antichrist comes he will be one among many Rulers ten rulers But he will speak up and exert himself over the others and ultimately become a despotic ruler of the world

Notice Caiaphas has that impulse. He's not just a priest. He's the high priest verses 49 and 50

This is so interesting He will trumpet

Communitarianism Even while he tramples upon individuals

Before we read it listen So much evil is done in the world in the name of the common good

Communism is in the name of the good of the community of the the nation

But communism was willing to ruthlessly Trample individuals underfoot look at the thinking of Caiaphas.

It's precisely the same but one of them Caiaphas Who was high priest that year said to them

You know nothing at all Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people not that the whole nation should perish

Notice sacrifice The one the individual who's expendable on behalf of the group the community

The nation that one could be trampled underfoot like a sheep slaughtered for the good of the whole this is the impulse of Communism Our country in the

United States of America is so blessed by God and one of the great blessings

We have is the Constitution The Constitution arose from a biblical understanding of the nature of man prior to Christianity Teaching us what man is really like Romans chapter 1 verses 18 to 320

Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9 People always assume that mankind is good

But the scriptures have taught us That mankind is desperately sick to pray at depravity total depravity that doctrine

Taught the political theorists that gave birth to the United States of America that mankind is desperately sick and therefore listen you ought not centralized power in the hands of one executive and so you have the separation of powers checks and balances by a

Judiciary and a legislative branch and the executive all holding one another in check and the

Constitution with the Bill of Rights gave priority and precedence

To individual rights and so the document is built from individualism

But understand that that comes from the Bible when Jesus teaches do unto others as you would have them do unto you

He's teaching that you as an individual or any other individual that you might approach and interact with in the world is made in the image of God and you must treat an individual that way no one can be

Expendable and trampled underfoot for the sake of the of the common good That's what made

America and it really comes from the individualism of the Bible On The last day each one of us will individually stand

Before the throne of God we will not stand as a nation or as a group or an identity politic

We will stand individually before the Lord. That's Christian ethics Notice Caiaphas doesn't have

Christian ethics He says it's better so benevolent. It's better for you

Another thing about Caiaphas in this passage he models what is true of every dictator and Every despot every tyrant.

They always think that they know better Look at Caiaphas's words verse 49

He said to them do you hear the the arrogance? You know nothing at all

Nor do you understand and then he brings his proposed solution which is to kill

Jesus But he does so on the grounds of his deeper knowledge

Do you want to know what Marxism is at root it is spiritual

Gnosticism and even hermeticism Prior to Marx there was a philosopher named

Hegel and Hegel taught what was is called the dialectic The dialectic is two seemingly opposite things

That get brought together and become one the elimination of distinctions between opposites

Now Hegel taught this because he was a hermetic occultic lunatic

He was trying to bring all things together as one in order that Mankind can discover that they were actually

God all along No distinction or separation between man and God his doctrine was

Monism that God is in all and ultimately his plan was for mankind to discover

That we are God He was absolutely Theological in his teaching and the dialectic this back -and -forth between seemingly opposite opposite things thesis antithesis synthesis would ultimately bring all things together eliminating distinctions and thereby

Usher in this new world Where all is one and one is all

It is a theological Construct that comes from the cult of Hermes hermeticism

Now it's very deep and hard to understand but what Marx does is he makes it materialistic atheistic dialectic he takes the construct of Hegel and then he eliminates

God and pushes it on the economics of the nations and Proposes bringing all things together as one community

So the roots are in the occult and Marx himself is a cultic in many ways and The result of this is that in the century prior in the 20th century the 1900s

Marxism swept through the Soviet Union and Then through China and up to North Korea and to Vietnam Sweeping through and in its wake left hundreds of millions dead

It was not merely a material issue. It was a spiritual warfare going on absolutely against Christ when

Stalin was in charge he demanded that individual farmers in Russia give up their farms and In the name of the common good

Oftentimes these farmers would sooner kill their animals and burn their crops rather than give up their private property and What resulted also even the ones that did give up their property?

Stalin took to the common good there was no incentive to work without the capitalist system and So in the 1930s seven million people starved to death 3 .5

million of them were in the Ukraine area which gives some background to this war that's going on There's a history there the communism

That was present in the previous century failed in the United States of America because of the

Christian ethic in this country individualism individual rights But in recent years

Christianity has receded in America and what we see rising here is a return to that mindset

It's a return to the thinking of Caiaphas that the individual is expendable for the sake of the whole and when you see the

ESG scores in companies and diversity equity inclusion in the workplace and So many of the policies of the government implemented against individuals

It's right to describe it as the coming of communism in the

United States of America so this is the state of things and If we ended the sermon here

It'd be pretty bleak Because the trajectory is not towards Christianity and individual rights

It's toward the things that have a horrible track record throughout the course of human history

Going all the way back to Caiaphas but now the last seven verses of the chapter teach us

Not just what the problem is, but how to resist Despotic tyrants.

Let's look at the first thing verses 51 to 53 He did not say this

Caiaphas didn't just say that of his own accord But being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and Not for the nation only but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death The first principle that all of us need to grasp and hold on to deeply is

The sovereignty of God over the affairs of men Caiaphas Did not know what he was saying he meant one thing but God meant something different By the way, this is an incredible argument for the verbal inspiration of Scripture Not just thoughts and ideas or inspired concepts

But the very words of Scripture down to the smallest jot and tittle in the

Hebrew Comes from God because here Caiaphas didn't even mean what he was saying.

He was saying this Kill Jesus. He's expendable. It'll put an end to this movement and keep us good with Rome But what he actually said was it is for it is better for you that one man should die for the people

He said one thing but God meant this by it it's better that Jesus go and die for sinners

For the nation of Israel and for Gentiles scattered across the world in order that our sins would be atoned for What Caiaphas meant for evil

God meant for good and here is the principle Caiaphas intended and plotted the death of Jesus in Acts chapter 4 verses 27 and 28

Herod is the king and Pilate is the Roman governor Together they do to Jesus What they wanted to do

They're responsible for that that's their human sin, but acts 428 says they did whatever

God's hand and plan predestined to occur So even in the most wicked thing that was ever done

God was sovereignly orchestrating his plan for our good So the first big lesson church when you look out at the world

You can't be in despair you have to have your eyes open you have to realize how badly things are going

The direction that the train is traveling in and the cars of the train that are hitched to these movements

It doesn't look good but church Don't bat an eye

Don't have a moment of fear Don't have a moment of hesitation because whatever mankind means to do

God means whatever occurs for our good as that evangelist fam discovered on that piece of paper

Romans 8 verse 28 he works all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose

So that's the first principle as you see the world Descending into chaos and bad things happening

Have no fear trust the sovereign plan of God. He's going to work it all for our good Secondly, this is very important Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the

Jews Jesus did not provoke

Just to be provocative He was very wise in how he confronted

The despotic ruler He could have ridden into Jerusalem with the power from on high and right there taking matters into his own hands and that would have

Done away with the ruler and we would have died in our sins He knew what was best

But he used wisdom in How he proceeded look what he did. He did not walk openly

He withdrew Wisdom would say

When we see despotic rulers in Mount Laurel and Morristown and Marlton Despotic rulers who think they have the authority to hang rainbow flags all across town square

Which is them teaching their sexual ethic Indoctrinating people into that in abuse of their power.

They don't have the right to do that. That's not what God constituted government to do in Romans 13 and 1st

Peter 2 They're they're acting out of bounds We as a church

Could go climb those flagpoles and tear those flags down and cut them into shreds, but that's not wise

Look what Jesus does he no longer walked openly among the Jews.

What did he do? This is the answer But went from there to the region near the wilderness to a town called

Ephraim and There he stayed with the disciples

Church we will not win the culture war By brazenly climbing flagpoles and cutting down obscene images or Storming the castle at the next drag queen story hour

You know how we're gonna win the culture war Make disciples somebody saw it in the text

Jesus went away to a small place Ephraim where there was peace and an opportunity for him to make disciples

He spent time with the disciples and we have one Commission. This Commission is actually going to be our victory

The Commission was Go therefore and make disciples of all nations Baptize them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey Everything that I have commanded you

You want to see America transformed then every young person every old person

Every person in this room be committed to vacation Bible school this summer

There are flyers in the back you can take them and invite children in your neighborhood

Everybody here Come on Monday May 8th

And each Monday night for four weeks learn how to share the gospel Phil and I mostly

Phil will be teaching Evangelism for four straight Monday nights beginning at 7 p .m.

May 8th Making disciples begins with winning people to Christ You want to win the culture war

Then train children in the way that they should go They will be indoctrinated into the worldview of the public schools and the universities unless someone comes to them and brings them the light of the gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ and then trains them in How to walk in a way that's pleasing to God and I want to tell you when that child grows up and some despotic tyrant

Tells him to do something immoral or ungodly That young man that young woman will stand his or her ground

Train them up in the way that they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it We're going to win this culture war in the

United States of America. I hope that's a prophetic word I just feel that in my bones

We're gonna win, but it's not gonna be with the weapons of the flesh It's going to be with weapons of righteousness in our right hand and in our left it's going to be with the weapons of prayer and A sword of the

Spirit which is the Word of God Not weapons of flesh So take on the whole armor of God the helmet of salvation the breastplate of righteousness the belt of truth fit your feet with the gospel of peace and take that sword of the

Spirit with the shield of faith and Go and make disciples of these towns and let's see it from the bottom up transform.

I believe we can do it make disciples Lastly two quick observations in 55 and 56.

There's this public conversation What's Jesus gonna do? Is he gonna come? Is he not gonna come at all?

I Would say in these public matters Get involved in the conversation

We've been told for years that pastors are never to talk about politics That's what they told the pastors in Nazi Germany The pietistic movement had said that pastors can't say anything about the rise of Nazism you sing your hymns in the church while the boxcars are rumbling the building driving by and The pastor said little some did like Dietrich Bonhoeffer in the confessing church

But most of the pastors were completely silent The public conversation is going on.

The people are like sheep and Without hearing a clear voice. They followed the voice of a wolf a false shepherd named

Adolf Hitler Let's not make that mistake in the United States of America pulpits proclaim

Christians in the workplace and wherever you go join the conversation. You don't have to be silent

Lastly Notice what happens in verse 57. Did you ever notice this?

There was actually an order a civic order given that if anybody saw

Jesus they had to turn him in There was an order given in 2020 the churches were not to gather for fear of a virus.

I Want to tell you something Whenever a despotic ruler

Issues in order contrary to the Word of God we stand on the Word of God And it will happen again

Whether it be some kind of Ordinance about speech where you're not allowed to speak about gender and and say that a man is a man if someone self identifies differently

You're not allowed to say the truth Disobey that order

What do you do if somebody that you care about is claiming a different pronoun than the one with which they were born?

Do you graciously say what they ask you to say which you know to be a lie

No, you tell the truth you see hermeticism Gnosticism monism this hegelian

Dialectic of bringing all things together into one is meant to eliminate distinctions

Why do you think it is that there's no longer male and female ontologically in our culture?

It is the goal of those who oppose Christ to eliminate the distinctions the distinctions are where wisdom is found and the greatest and highest distinction is the distinction between us and God Ultimately, that's what they're trying to bring down So in closing, how do we apply these things?

Well? Don't have your head in the sand Don't just assume the best of rulers

It's not in keeping with human nature from the beginning of time Rulers who gain power more and more power over a culture will become more and more authoritarian

So be aware of that. That's the biblical teaching and be on guard against rising authoritarianism

Five things that we can do How do we resist the first thing is trust God?

Because if we become fearful, we'll make the kind of errors that they made in the text When they were afraid of Rome coming to conquer them we live with confidence and without any fear and This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed according to Philippians 1 29

But that we will be saved in that by God number two We walk wisely

We're not recklessly tearing things down and tearing things apart. We're trusting in our God and The weapons of our warfare are spiritual not carnal number three everybody here has to devote yourself to making disciples if you think everything's going to go on in this culture and Everything will be fine the way we're going you're mistaken.

We need an army of Christians making disciples Vacation Bible school this year should be filled with hundreds of kids

I think we had like 12 last year because we barely put ourselves into it this year.

It's all hands on deck right To change the culture. It's by making disciples.

That's how you win the culture war fourth You've got to speak up They want you to be silent and they'll shame you into it, but we are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ Romans 1 16 and Lastly disobey tyrants

If they order us to lock down. Hey guys, you know, we have a group of pastors that meets once a month and We've got dozens of us now if they ever order the church to lock down again

Together we all stand and say no They don't have authority to do that We're blessed in this area that there are some godly men who are willing to Stand and all of us need to be willing to make that stand.

You guys want to know what happened to he and fam? That Vietnamese man

Can't leave you hanging on that one. He's in the prison camp until finally they let him go, but he has to stay in country

He and 53 others Desiring freedom desiring to be openly able to preach the gospel

Have arranged for a ship to take them to Thailand 54

Vietnamese Mostly Christians The night before two nights before they left the

Viet Cong knocked on his door Four soldiers saying we hear rumor that you're about to leave

He denied it and they went away That night the

Lord laid on his conscience that he had lied and He had determined to tell the truth the next day just before sailing the

Viet Cong soldiers arrived again and They pounded on his door and they say we hear rumors that you're leaving

This time he openly admits yeah, we're going and And the four soldiers lean in and say we want to go with you true story

And what makes it even more amazing when they set sail? 58 individuals fleeing

Vietnam to Thailand There was a storm on the sea Massive storm cyclone level and He and Pham says that if it weren't for those four

Viet Cong who were trained in sailing all Of them would have perished Pham made it to the

United States of America and became a businessman The Lord delivered him from the clutches of the enemy

And so I want to pray in closing for the United States of America To give thanks for what the

Lord has given us in the freedom of this country And I want to pray that we would stand strong to keep it free.

Let's pray Father God, we thank you for your providence that you have given us this country to live in As bad as it has gotten in many ways.

It's still the best country on earth Thank you for the United States of America. Thank you for the

Constitution for the Bill of Rights for the Supreme Court Which holds in check tyrants who have

Intended to put legislation into place which would trample on individuals the

Equality Act Stopped by a very slim majority in the legislature

Thank you God that you have given us freedom up until this point We thank you for this country and now

Lord we ask that you would keep it free We pray that the United States of America would not descend into despotism

We pray against authoritarian rulers that their plans and their plotting would fail we know

Klaus Schwab and Soros are plotting a global government and That their lackeys in the

United States are willing to submit to their rule But we pray against them in Jesus name

We pray that America would remain free And we pray that this church would have the freedom to continue to preach the gospel

It is outlawed now in Israel to speak the name of Jesus but we pray for the freedom of Israel and Lord we pray for courage

To make disciples in a wicked and depraved generation in Jesus name. Amen Oh Fountain of beauty eternal the father the spirit the son

Sufficiently endlessly generous Magnificent marvelous

Oh Creation is brimming with thankfulness Mountains exultant they stand the seasons rejoice in your faithfulness

You crown every matter with color you paint every shade in the sky

Each day the dark wakes and I'm cool Oh sure

His love Endure Forevermore Magnificent marvelous

What grace that you entered our brokenness You came in the fullness of time

How far we had fallen in righteousness But at birth from the mercies of Christ Your cross is our door to redemption

Your death is our fullness of life A day our gift is worth the price

Magnificent, marvelous, matchless How great, how great, how sure

His love endures Forevermore Magnificent, marvelous, matchless

You died in your resurrection

You led us to infinite heights Could anything sever or take us from You Magnificent, marvelous, matchless

How great, how great, how sure

His love endures Forevermore Magnificent, marvelous, matchless

How great, how great, how sure His love endures

Forevermore Magnificent, marvelous, matchless Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think

According to the power at work within us To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus Throughout all generations forever and ever.

Amen Unchanging, ever faithful To His covenant of grace

Be His people, Christ did ransom To the glory of His name

Now ascribe unending worship Now ascribe immortal praise

To the God whose kingdom cometh Blessed be

His matchless name Now ascribe unending worship

Now ascribe immortal praise To the

God whose kingdom cometh Blessed be

His matchless name Blessed be His matchless name

O church, arise and put your armor on Hear the call of Christ our

Captain For now the weak can say that they are strong In the strength that God has given

With shield of faith and belt of truth

We'll stand against the devil's lie Whose battle cry is love