The Veil of Deception: Truth Is Not a Conspiracy Theory — Shane Idleman

I'm going to talk about an interesting topic tonight. Many of you have seen the announcements and you're looking forward to this. In short, the title is The Veil of Deception. Truth is Not a Conspiracy Theory.

The Veil of Deception and the Need for Discernment

I know it's a little long there, but I really want to focus mainly on the veil of deception. There's a veil of deception that has fallen upon our nation and of course, the world. And I want to talk about that.

I think the pulpits right now should be speaking, should be preaching on issues that are very relevant so we can prepare, we can educate ourselves, we have discernment and wisdom and we understand like the sons of Issachar, they could discern their times.

However, I don't know if I'm going to get through it all. And I think there's going to be part two next week because what I want to talk about this week is the veil of deception, what's going on, what it means to us, what does the Bible say on how to strengthen ourselves, and then next week, God willing, go into more practical application.

How do we act in this type of environment? And what does it mean going forward? And let me say this, we are drowning in information while starving for wisdom, amen? We are drowning in information. We've got so much information and we don't know what to do with it, but we are starving for wisdom.

So here's what we need to do. I believe we don't want to be naive and we don't want to be gullible and believe everything out there and believe every YouTube video and every conspiracy theory and every, you know, we don't want to be naive and gullible.

That's not healthy. But we also don't want to shun everything. And what I mean by shun everything is, you know, write it all off as a conspiracy theory, or just say, you know, no, that's not true. And we shun it off or we embrace everything.

We have to find that middle ground. And here's why this is so important. Deception actually has to be veiled initially. The devil doesn't come out and show you how he's deceiving. Deception has to be veiled.

It has to be covered. It has to be hidden at least initially. And I like Isaiah 33, six. I memorized it about 20 years ago and it's been a huge comfort for me. And Isaiah 33, six, God is reminding the people that when difficulties come, he said this, wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times.

In other words, how are you going to stay stable? How are you going to have a solid foundation? Wisdom and knowledge, that's going to be your stability. So as believers, we have to have wisdom and knowledge.

We can't believe every YouTube video. We can't believe every article. We can't believe every story out there because it takes some investigating. It takes some looking into and we have to use wisdom and properly evaluate what is going on.

And we shouldn't be surprised. How do we think an unregenerated, godless, sin-loving, Christ-mocking culture is going to act? They're going to act just like we are seeing today. But I do want to remind you this.

When I'm going to talk about this, when do we ignore conspiracy theories and when do we pay attention? Well, here's what we have to remember. If it's true, it's not a conspiracy theory. If it's what's going on, it's not a conspiracy theory.

If these things are really happening, it's not a conspiracy theory. It is truth. So what we're seeing is a massive amount of information, everything from the virus and the pandemic and skewed numbers and the World Health Organization and FOSSE and Dr. Birx and all these, just tons of information.

And you see some, like Drudge Report has really shifted in the last year. It's all about fear and keeping the economy down until November, trust me on that one. And it's about, then Fox News says this and other places say this and the Washington Post and the New York Times.

And we have so much information, but there is a truth out there, I believe, if we seek God and we're open to constructive criticism. But my main question tonight is this. When should we be involved? When should we take note?

In other words, when a conspiracy theory is the truth, at what point should we be involved? And I think the Bible speaks to that. I'm gonna get to that in just a minute. But you have to remember this.

Christian Responsibility for God-Given Freedom

You might not take an interest in politics, but politics is going to take an interest in you. There's no way to remain silent. We have to keep this wonderful gift of America that God has given us. We have to steward it.

We have to fight for it because freedom is never free. And the pulpits, what I'm doing now is what pulpits have done throughout the centuries, especially in America. It's the silent pulpit that actually gets us in trouble.

And I love reading the story of our nation's history. And I don't know how many of you know this, but in 1787, what was that? Maybe 10, 11 years after the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution was drafted.

And a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, one of the founders, she said, what have you given the people? And what she was talking about was, what have you given the people? A republic or a monarchy? Have you given us a king again, a monarchy?

Or have you given us a republic? And you have to remember, or maybe you don't remember, you have to realize something. America, what God did in our nation was unheard of. There's no nation out there. They were ruled by monarchies.

They were ruled by tyrants. They were ruled by tyranny. They were ruled by injustice. And the founders, according to God's word, were actually giving the people the freedom. They were giving the people to self-govern.

And it's interesting. He said, so what have you given us, Mr. Franklin? And he shot back. He said, we have given you a republic, if you can keep it. And see, that still applies today. And I believe, you know, this really isn't about patriotism or American pride.

What it is, it's about Americans who are proud of what God has done. It's about people who are proud of what God has given us. It's about people who realize that this is going to affect our children and our grandchildren.

And if we don't say anything, if we don't do anything, then that is going to fall back on us for remaining silent. So we have to keep it. We have to steward it. And I believe it's Eric Metaxas who wrote a good book with that title, If You Can Keep It.

And it talks about our nation's history. So I wanna recommend that. And I also wanna recommend my book, One Nation Above God. One Nation Above God, guess what? It's a free download. So all you negative Nellies out there saying I'm just mentioning a book for the money are way off.

It's a free download. We've had thousands and thousands and thousands of downloads on that book, One Nation Above God. It talks about our nation's heritage. We just wanna get that information out there.

When Christians Should Reject Conspiracy Theories

So when do we say something? I guess I should clarify. Conspiracy theories. Boy, I could be here for an hour. But I'm not talking about flat earth. I'm not talking about NASA doctoring photos and they really didn't go to the moon.

I'm not talking about Illuminati's. What I'm talking about right now is what actually is going on. What we see the CDC and the World Health Organization and Gates and the push for vaccines and all this, that's not a conspiracy theory.

These are all facts that are happening right before our eyes. And the church should lovingly but powerfully be bold and do their due diligence and look into what is actually going on. That's how you keep a republic.

That's how you prepare people. You don't go as a lamb to the slaughter in this case. You go to that fight from a biblical perspective. This is how we fight our battles with praise and worship and fasting and prayer and seeking God.

Because I think if God gave us this gift to be passed down for our children that we are to contend for that gift. And it really is the freedom of religion. This is what this is about. America was built on freedom, yes, but the founders linked religion with it, a love and a fear for God.

That's how you keep it. You remove God, you are set on a course of destruction. That's what we are seeing today. So here's when I believe we should say something and we should do something. And when the pulpits cannot remain silent.

For example, I'm not gonna spend a sermon on this view that the world is flat. I don't go there. I don't think that's correct. I've got a lot of reasons why, but I don't go there. I don't go there on the NASA photos.

Because to me it's a lot of wasted time. It's a waste of energy. It gets us nowhere. There's a lot of crumbling and complaining and you don't wanna believe everything you see on YouTube. But when we're talking about what we're going through right now, let me tell you this.

Defending God's Character and God-Given Rights

When it's an attack on God's character and his word, I have to get involved. I have to say something. When it's an attack on God's character and his word, we have to say something. When it's an attack on God-given freedoms, we need to say something.

Now it's interesting, people say Christians have no rights. We should have no rights. This is not our world. We are just, we should just lay down our lives. We have no rights. And technically, there's some truth to that.

Because I don't come on the scene going, this is my right, this is my right. I'm called to die to self. I'm called to follow Christ and give up my rights. However, God-given freedoms are something different.

When God says I want this for my people, that's when you do fight for it. And that's why the framers use that wonderful phrase in the pursuit of life and liberty and happiness. These are God-given, the freedom to live.

That's why we come against the slaughter of innocent children. The freedom to be pure and innocent. That's why we guard our children. God-given freedoms have to be fought for. Even Paul fought for that.

Well, Shane, what are you talking about? Well, he said, I appeal to Caesar. I am a Roman citizen. I have this freedom. I have this God-given right. And we can fight for those things. I believe the freedom to worship is something to fight for.

I don't think God says, you know what, just give up that right. You will never see that a Christian is called to be a doormat. I mean, in life, they say you're either the steamroller or you're the pavement.

And there's some truth to that. And I believe we need to drive that steamroller sometimes. And we need to say, okay, God wants us to stand up for these things. God says, I want you to worship me. I have called, and you know what?

I'm gonna take a lot of rabbit trails, and I prayed, God, please, just let me not throw my opinion in here much, but this is important. Who opens the churches in our nation? Not the government. Not the governor.

Not local officials. God and God alone says when churches are to be open. And so how does he do that? He initiates boldness through spirit-filled believers that are passionate about opening God's churches, but still, still recognizing that we wanna do it the right way.

Because if you do the right thing the wrong way, you're in trouble. That's not always good. You have to do the right thing the right way. And God wants us to protect those God-given freedoms, the freedom to worship.

Why would God want us to just give up the freedom of worship and bow to an atheist society? Go ask North Korea how that's working. And you talk to persecuted Christians in China. I have. They say, Shane, pray for and appreciate and thank God for your freedoms.

Because those need to be fought for. And also, we need to fight and stand up. Now, I'm not talking about bearing arms. I'm talking about prayer closets. I don't wanna see gun safes full. I wanna see prayer closets full.

Protecting the Innocent and Opposing Legalized Sin

That's how you do this battle. You need God on your side, not Smith Wesson, not Remington, not a three-inch Magnum, not a 12-gauge. You need God on your side. Here's when we fight as well, when it harms or oppresses the innocent.

This is why we cannot remain silent about abortion. Why can abortion clinics across our landscape be open, but churches are closed? This is asinine. So when it harms innocent children, so that's why I think Christians can speak up about Fosse and about Bill Gates and about vaccines and about what they're trying to do because it's going to hurt the innocent and oppress the innocent and our children and our future generations.

And then finally, this is obvious, but we need to stand up when sin is to become legally sanctioned. What do I mean by that? When they're going to legislate sin, we have to stand up to that. In other words, when they legislate a gay marriage, it's okay to say that's not right.

When they're trying, I don't know if you're aware of this, but there are so much perverted laws that are trying to be passed in Sacramento and California. We need to, if you have no other reason to pray in Fosse, we'll give you a list because they're trying to push sexual perversion into our school districts.

They want 10-year-old girls to have an abortion and not have to tell their parents. They want 10-year-old, 11, 12-year-old kids to experiment with same-sex attraction and not feel condemned. They want to get all parental rights out of the way so the state control, and if your blood doesn't boil, then I don't know what's wrong there because there's a righteous indignation that wells up inside of us, and we say not on our watch when sin has become legally sanctioned, the church must be the voice of conscience.

Martin Luther King Jr. said that, that the church is the moral conscience of the nation. She's not the master, and she is not the servant. We are the conscience of the nation, and that's why it's a good time to remind you that just because something is legal does not mean it's lawful, and this could fall into opening up churches as well.

Legal does not mean it's necessarily right in the sight of God. Now, I've done a video on that. I'm not gonna share it there. I've got a radio interview coming out next week as well on why I think it's biblical for churches to open at some point.

You can look into that on our YouTube page or my YouTube page, and I go into more detail. I don't want to do that now, but there's things out there that are, I'm seeing things that now teachers want kids to get disinfected at school gates.

Can you believe that? Let's spray them down with like, and let me just tell you, this is a side note from a health perspective. This stuff we're washing our hands with and spraying all over the place is not good for the body.

It's not good for your lungs. It's not good for your cardiovascular system. It's not good for your immune system. It's not good for your skin. These are toxic. They're called neurotoxins. They're not good for the body, so we're worried about this virus.

The death rate is extremely low. The numbers are skewed. People are lying, and we're using all this stuff that is actually just as harmful for the body. It makes no sense. Also, we're seeing things where dentists or doctors now want you to possibly drop off your kids, and then you come back and pick them up when their doctor's appointment is done.

I could think of a cuss word on that one, but I don't think I'm gonna go there. I don't think, no, that's not gonna happen. That is not gonna happen. You see, because here's what happens. Here's why I get passionate.

When the church remains silent, and when pastors are cowards, and people don't wanna do anything, the state goes, let's see how far we can push this. Now the church is quiet. Let's keep pushing, and let's keep pushing.

At some point, you gotta push back. That's how wisdom and stability and knowledge will be the stability of your times. And I don't know how many of you have heard of this one, but it's great as far as demonic elements are concerned.

Government Overreach and the COVID Contact-Tracing Proposal

HR, what they mean by, the HR is the house bill. HR, six, six, six, six. You can't make this up. This is a bill they're trying to pass. If you don't like President Trump, you better thank God for that man.

You better thank God for people who wanna stand up for religious freedoms. And that will get me about 12 different mean emails, and I don't care. I'm not listening to them anymore. We are speaking the truth in love.

It says this, HR 666. To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to eligible entities to conduct diagnostic testing for COVID -19, and related activities such as contact tracing through mobile health units as necessary at individuals' residences, at your homes for other purposes.

So here's what it is, contact tracing, HR 666. I don't think it's gonna get through. It has to be passed in different areas. But what they want to do is they want a person to be identified who has COVID and trace who they've been in contact with.

And if possible, you can watch the guy in Ventura County saying, we can go into your home and we can remove your children if you're sick and put them in one of our safe houses. Oh, I bet you can. And, or we'll keep your kids there and we'll take you away until, come on.

How many people are, stop drinking the Kool-Aid. That's what we need to, hashtag, hashtag. Stop drinking the Kool-Aid. Stop being so dead and desensitized to this, thinking that this is for your benefit.

It's not. It is demonic at its core. The Ventura County, Ventura County. Listen, I don't make this up. I don't watch a YouTube video and say, oh, that must be true. Look at it. It's written, it's there, it's available.

If a family only has one bathroom in Ventura County, we will physically remove the infected family member from their home if the others test negative. Words do not describe the stupidity, the overreach.

This is overreach. I don't know how many of you know this, but Fossey, who is involved with the CDC and the World Health Organization, Dr. Fossey, they've been interviewing him. At a Georgetown University, at Georgetown University in 2017, you can watch this clip.

He warned of a surprise outbreak during Trump's administration three years ago. He said it in this. Now, why is this? Well, because all of these organizations are connected. Fossey actually owns the patent for elements of the virus.

This is what's interesting. The receptors on the virus, don't take my word for it, just look into this. The receptors on the virus were bioengineered and they used elements of SARS -1 and HIV receptors.

These are the spikes that penetrate the cells. That's why they think this was manipulated and bioengineered because these spikes grab onto, for example, the lung and they won't let go. This was meticulously engineered somehow and they combined them for SARS -2.

It's what we call COVID -19. It's very, very interesting. And so why do we have to be aware? Because numbers are skewed. They're giving out false numbers. There's irrational reactions. There's inconsistencies in policies and there are severe overreach of authority.

The death rate is not even close to what they said. The amount of people infected is possibly millions and so that lowers the death rate even more. So we know that there is an agenda and let me say this loudly and clearly.

This is not about a virus. This is about an election. This is not about a virus. This is about shutting down the churches. This is about the certain political party taking advantage. The motives are crystal clear.

Think about this for a minute. Just happened recently. They want mail-in voting now for November. You know that? And so they tried it here when Mike Garcia just ran last week and our governor actually opened up a booth for walk-in voting in Lancaster because it looks like Mike was gonna win and he did.

So how can they open it up in the midst of this but then foresee to close it November? This is shenanigans on steroids. And why do they do it? Because the church is silent. People are silent. And again, it's not a conspiracy theory if it's true.

Vaccines, the Mark of the Beast, and Bodily Health

Now let me just talk to you briefly. I'm getting so many things, questions about vaccines, you know, and it's an interesting topic. I do wanna be careful here but you have to remember something here. This looks like it's well-planned out somehow, some way.

You know, the dots are gonna be connected but COVID, they're suggesting obviously that stands for that they are going to a certificate of vaccination, an ID, the COVID ID, that's the ID. And of course, now you hear Bill Gates talking, we need a worldwide vaccine.

We need to get everyone with this vaccine and they won't be able to buy or sell anything or go out in public or fly without this. Come on folks, wake up, wake up. Now I don't know if that's the mark, you know, when the mark of the beast comes, depending on what your eschatology is, you're going to have to worship Satan.

You are rejecting God. So I think too many Christians are fearful. It's not gonna be, ah, we snuck it in you. No, it's gonna be clear rejection of God. And I don't think we need to just roll over and let, well, the Bible says it.

Well, the Bible also says fight. The Bible also says do business until I return. How do you know God doesn't warn us so we take action? It doesn't ever say these things, oh, well, I better cower down.

But it's interesting about vaccines. I emailed my friend, Dr. Daniel Pompa. You can look up his YouTube videos, very knowledgeable man. And I wanted to run some things by him and he agreed. What happens is vaccines actually stimulate the wrong immune system.

The Th1 is the lifetime immunity when you get the disease and your body fights it, just like God designed us. Th2 is the temporary immunity, which is the vaccine stimulates. And this is why you need, have you heard of booster shots?

Because it's only temporary and you need booster shots. This is why many influenza vaccines do not work. And your body begins to create hyperimmunity and autoimmunity and the vaccines are actually, can be very dangerous.

Now, why are known toxins added to vaccines like mercury and aluminum and I believe retroviruses, why? Because they stimulate the body's immune system. Now, I'm not gonna get into immunology and the biochemics of the body and epigenetics and all that stuff, but suffice it to say, when you put in mercury and you put in these things, your body says, what is that?

And it shoots up an immunity and that immunity then goes and kills the bacteria that they also gave you in the vaccine. That's not how God designed us. And trust me, trying to get mercury out of your body, you have to go on some fasting programs and take charcoal things and all kinds of stuff to pull these toxins out of you.

So this stuff is not healthy. And most of them have aborted fetal tissue in them, why? Because it's the vehicle of the natural tissue. See, the vaccine has to have a natural tissue to be able to get into the cell of our cells and that's kind of like the, I call it a rider.

They ride that natural tissue to get into our body. That's why they put aborted fetal tissues in these vaccines. Now, of course, I get the emails. Oh, Shane, what about polio? Well, guess what I did and you can do.

I went to the CDC graph for polio and it shows how it went up after the introduction of the vaccine. And you'll also see it was already down due to herd immunity. This stuff is out there if you want the information.

What am I trying to say? A healthy immune system is far more valuable than a vaccine. Why are they not talking about, have you ever done research on high dosages of vitamin C, of D, of B, of how God designed us?

Did you know that they used to use intravenous vitamin C drips to fight cancer? The natural remedies are out there. God has created us, our natural immune system, to fight off these viruses. And also, I know a lot of people are concerned right now because our president said backing vaccines and we'll let the army do it and people are like, oh no, I knew it, I knew it.

Hold on. If he would have said he's against vaccines, the national media would have chewed him up and spit him out and his approval ratings would have dropped considerably. What he's doing is he's playing chess.

He will not, I believe, ever allow mandatory vaccines. I know people close to him and so do others that I talk to and this is a chess game. He's gotta be strategic. He just took all the ammunition out of the left.

How? Let's get a vaccine, let's let the military handle it. They're fired, they're ready to explode against him. It's gone. He's playing their game. I hope you realize this. So, after that introduction, what is my point?

Psalm 94 and the Spiritual Battle

My point is Psalm 94 and I can't wait till part two next week. Psalm 94. Now that we know this stuff, Shane, what does God's word say about it? Well, in Psalm 94, he was going through a similar type of things.

Pandemics aren't new to us and pandemics happened whether it was a disease, whether it was famine, whatever it was, God's people went through these things and so he cried out, oh Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs.

Oh God, to whom vengeance belongs. Shine forth, rise up, oh judge of the earth. Render punishment to the proud. Lord, how long with the wicked? How long with the wicked triumph? Is anyone saying that today or is it just me?

How long? I mean, I think the day's going good and then you read the news the next day and then you say, okay, well, finally, the stay at home order's over. Now you have three more months. Oh, I dropped that again.

I'm just gonna leave it down. That was, oh, I don't need any water. And I just, I mean, I gotta, I'm gonna check if this is real but this, one of these counties that is explaining how they're now, they're opening up tennis, okay?

But when you drop the ball, you can't pick up and throw it to the person. You have to kick it with your foot. I mean, we have lost, if that's true, don't hold me on that but we have lost our mind. We have lost our mind.

See, where are the watchmen? God used to raise up the watchmen. So what we see here, pride and wickedness go together. That's what's going on and these are heart issues. These are heart issues. So everything I just mentioned, our battle is spiritual.

I wanna remind you again, our battle is spiritual. Yes, I understand protesting. Yes, I understand little mean mimmies. Is that what they call them? Mimmies or whatever. Those little things they do on Facebook and I, yeah, you just wanna tell people off.

You just wanna show, but here's how we fight our battle. Sometimes God looks at the meek and mild who's praying and fasting and not popping off their mouth every day on Facebook. Something I need to work on.

I know, understand, pray for me. But our battle is spiritual so our weapons must be too. This is how I fight my battle. So Christians, if you're upset like I am, why don't you fast and why don't you pray?

I see so many people in Costco and food lines and just consuming and consuming but there has to be a point of desperation when you cry out to God and say, God, I'm not eating today because I need to hear the heart of the Father.

Oh God, our children, look at what they're doing. Oh God, we plead the blood of Jesus Christ and you begin to be spiritually hungry for more of God. That's how you fight this battle. I mean, I love people, they're down there protesting and they're eating food and this and that.

It's like, come on guys, that's okay but we need to be praying and fasting. God has a remedy. There's a remedy for this. I told you before a few weeks ago, the book of Joel, when these locusts come and when the land is devoured and we are lost, what are we supposed to do?

Well, have a feast. No, he said, call a sacred assembly and fall on your face before God and begin to humble yourself with prayer and fasting and afflict that wicked heart and afflict the pride and arrogance and come humble before my throne.

Isaiah's Warning Against Oppressive Laws

Verse four, they utter speech, these evil workers. They speak insolent things. What are insolent things? Insulting and haughty. They are brutal in their behavior and in their language. When they say church is just like entertainment, then you don't know what the church is.

All these workers of iniquity boast in themselves. I'm gonna turn to Isaiah 10 for just a minute. Check this out. Woe to those, God says through Isaiah, woe to those who make unjust laws. Woe to those who issue oppressive decrees to deprive the poor of their rights and to withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

So what did God tell Isaiah? Hey, shh, shh, shh, don't say that. Just roll over, let them walk all over. He said, no, Isaiah, he said, he told the prophets, he said, sound the alarm, raise the watchmen up.

Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, always calling the watchmen to stand on the wall. And when you see the enemy approaching, you call out to my people and you warn them, I've set you as a watchman, not a coward.

Now, where does that come from? It comes from the filling of the Holy Spirit. Cause Shane Eidelman, without the filling of the Spirit, would be the biggest coward out there. You've gotta get to a point and say, God, whatever you want.

And I had somebody ask me a day, and I did mean it. I said, well, what happens if you get arrested? I said, well, I get arrested. I'll go on a fast in jail. The food's not that great anyway. I'll write a book.

I mean, we can't live by the fear of man. Now, we don't go out and look for this stuff. We don't shake our fist at this and say, come and get me. We say, God, whatever your will is, but I'm gonna stand here as a watchman.

Jesus' Truth, Boldness, and the Prophetic Calling of the Church

I think it was Leonard Ravenhill, A .W. Tozer said, if Jesus had preached the same message that many of our pastors preach today, he would have never been crucified. And that is so true. What got Jesus crucified?

Saying hard things. I mean, this idea that he was just some pacifist going with the flow, you gotta read your Bible. I don't see that at all. I see the embodiment of God's attributes are there full of love and grace, but full of truth and boldness.

You brood of vipers, you whitewashed tombs, I love you, you sinner, turn, repent. It just encapsulates the heart of God. And then verse five, they break in pieces your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage, your heritage.

They slay the widow and the stranger and they murder the fatherless, yet they say, the Lord does not see us, nor does the God of Jacob understand, understand you senseless among the people and you fools, when will you be wise?

In other words, wake up, wake up, guard your heritage, guard this gift that God has given you. And he who planted the ear, shall he not hear? He who formed the eye, shall he not see? He who instructs the nation, shall he not correct?

Basically saying, oh yeah, he will correct. And when God brings out the correction rod, there is no release. He told Job, when I imprison a man, there is no release. When the correction hand of God comes, nothing can stay that process, nothing can hold back the hand of God except a humble and broken people praying and crying out to God.

The Lord knows the thoughts of man, they are futile. In other words, God will expose the unfruitful works of darkness. This is so funny, I see this on Facebook, people say, don't worry, don't worry Shane, just be quiet, God will expose the unfruitful works of darkness.

Exposing the Unfruitful Works of Darkness

God will, don't worry. And I said, well you know what, you better read Ephesians 5 .11 again. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness, instead, we expose them. Yes, God will expose them, but Paul told the church in Ephesus, you expose the unfruitful works of darkness, you call out the sin, you stand as a guard, you stand as a watchman, you hold the line.

Having done all, stand, stand therefore with your loins girt about with truth, the truth of God. You stand there and if they have to come against you, then they'll at least come against you standing and holding the ground for God.

And expose them, that word means to reveal the true, objectable nature of someone or something. I am called, think about this, as a pastor, I am a coward. I am a derelict of my duty. I should lose my license if I was a doctor, if I did not expose the unfruitful works of darkness.

What is that? To reveal the true, objectable nature of someone or something. You watch this, we have so allowed the fear of men to take over. You go listen this week to the top, and if I'm wrong, send it to me, the top 10 preachers in America.

They have the largest audience. I double dog dare you to find where they are warning a backslidden nation. What are they doing? It's encouragement. We're the head, not the tail. Go get them, team. God will see you through.

And that's good in context, but he also calls you to expose the unfruitful works of darkness. That's part of your calling, that's what the pulpit is for. And I'm not gonna belabor this point, but the pulpit used to set the tone of our nation.

The pulpit used to be the conscience of the nation. Where do people learn about politics? From the pulpit. Why are they trying to silence that? See, where else are you gonna get truth? The World Health Organization?