The Politics of Pilgrims | Part 2

Can we expect the world to agree with us in politics. Listen to Adrian Rogers. There is a Broadway bears the narrow way. There are many there a few we are not of them anywhere up with you. Don't get discouraged that we are not a part of the minute we were part of the many that be something wrong, where it is bill. I'm encouraged because folks were in the minority, and that's where we belong. Welcome to the fine teaching dynamic teaching of pastor and author Adrian Rogers.

As Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. That means our politics may look a little different than others here on earth so easy to become bitter about what people in power do some of the decisions they make. We are supposed to keep our eyes on Jesus supposed to rejoice always in part one of this message.

We were reminded first of our mandate method and mindset as pilgrims of this world, knowing our politics.

What is our resolution. If you have your Bible turn to Philippians chapter 3 is Adrian Rogers present part two of the politics of pilgrims we need to realize that we are children of another world solid talking about the politics of pilgrims out.

Paul wrote this from Rome and prison and Christians. When Paul wrote this letter had no political power, data, and having a citizens in the Roman Senate, they have no political lobby working Rome.

So Paul says look our citizenship is in heaven now what is going to do is going to point out the politics of those once born, and the politics of those twice: he's going to make a contrast. First of all I want you to notice the contrast in antagonisms for many walk, of whom I have told you all for now tell you even weeping that they are enemies, enemies of the cross of Christ. Now we are enemies of an unseen spiritual world ruled over by Satan, but as another world and we may as well face it, they are enemies absolute enemies of the cross of Christ. Now they may not even think enemies but Jesus said he is not with me is against me. He who gathers not with me scatters abroad the preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ of most of the people in this world is foolishness.

Number two, their appetites look in verse 19 whose end is destruction, whose God is there belly was mean by that.

That's a euphemistic way of saying that their sensual broadness, alcohol, sensuality, they they glory in these things notice their affections. The Bible says, who mind earthly things. That's where the mind is a mind earthly things and so Paul is giving a contrast now is he writing from prison.

He talks about their antagonisms. He talks about the appetites he talks about their affections, and he talked about their allegiance notice in verse 20 pulses from politics are in heaven, from which we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now there were those in Paul's day, who said Caesar is Lord Kaiser curios but Kristin said no, Jesus is Lord we will render to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar, but we will certainly not render to Caesar the things that belong to God. I notice also not only their allegiance but notice their aspirations in verse 21, Paul is aspiring for heaven. He's looking forward to a day based looking forward, that when Jesus comes into change our vile body, that might be fashioned like of his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things on himself.

Paul is aspiring from this up from this Roman cell's aspiration is heaven, but there are others. In contrast who are interested in this world and this world affairs. So therefore what is the politics of a Pilgrim number one, we must always remember our mandate.

We must have the right mandate.

Don't add a chapter for if you will, and look in verse three he says nine treaty also proved fellow help those women which labored with me in the gospel now. I have to be careful when you had to be careful that we fail to understand.

We failed.

Remember that our mandate is the gospel. The mandate of this church is still the great commission preaching the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now we're gonna have the right mandate of the right message. Secondly, we're going to have the right method look in chapter 4 and verse 13. If you will hear the same chapter he says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. What we do we not going to do primarily with political power. I am not against political power will talk about that a little bit but friend. If we substitute political power for our inherent power as Christians and believers in Christ we have made a tragic mistake. The apostle Paul says for the weapons of our warfare state.

We have a different welfare, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal that his flashlight, but through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Now we have the right mandate and message.

That's the politics of pilgrims we have the right method and energy that is the power of the Holy Spirit. We then finally we need the right mind set. Look in chapter 4 now and the beginning it if you will.

And in verse four rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Paul is writing from prison. Precious friend, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known until all man the Lord is at hand needed me.

Jesus is coming soon is brads but that's not what he meant he meant God's with me in the cell. He's at hand. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, don't worry about anything, don't go around wringing your hands. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus is so easy for us to go around with headline hysteria is so easy for us to lose our peace to lose our joy to begin the griping carpenter be better about what people are doing what they're not doing about those centers bring them at a something you want centers to base in mice will get used to it. I mean that's that's what they do best centers try to change it without getting him save me like frontage. Billy goes not to but and and that we we get our eyes upon these people up on the sins of those for whom Jesus died, rather than upon the Lord Jesus Christ and failed to rejoice in the Lord. I have made some observations and I've made some resolution that I want to share them with you.

Number one I will not display.

I will not verse four.

I will rejoice in the Lord you read the New Testament and you will find out there is not a negative note. Not one negative note in the New Testament after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and you can bank on my made up my mind I will not despair number two I made up my mind I will not be intimidated. Notice chapter 4 verse one. Therefore, my dearly beloved and long for my joy and crown, so stand fast in the war and bill I'm encouraged because folks were in the minority, and that's where we belong. That's where we belong back in 1979 when I was first elected president of Southern Baptist convention. Jerry Falwell got something started: Moral Majority friend know it's not the Moral Majority is the Masters minority.

We are called the little flock there is a Broadway.

There is the narrow way. There are many bear the few we are not of the many. We're up with you. Don't get discouraged that we are not a part of the minute we were part of the many to be something wrong with us, where it isn't. We need to understand where we are who we are. We are not the great majority. John 15 verse 18 Jesus said of the world hate you. You know that it first aided me before they knew Jesus at the servant is not better than his master. I'm telling you, I will not despair. Number two I will not be intimidated. Number three. I will not be better looking.

You will in chapter 4 and verse eight finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, say on these things friend levitate something some politician is not the enemy about to be more the object of our pity more the object of our prayer, less the object carrack in the cause of our bitterness. The Bible says the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. I will not be bitter.

I did something else I've made up my mind I will not compromise God helping me I will not look in chapter 4 beginning in verse 11. He said not that I speak in respect of want.

I have learned, in whatsoever state I am there with to be content.

I know both how to be a base, and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strength of me says I'm not going to. I'm not going to change when times get hard. I'm not going to change when times get good in good or bad. I made it to now what they're trying to do." Here's to intimidate us in the compromise.

They're afraid of you and people like us because they say you know they just won't band. They won't compromise you know what they say. They say they fail to understand that in America we have pluralism, close, and I want a something they are hypocrites they don't believe in pluralism.

They say they believe in pluralism. They don't believe in pluralism, I dictate how I can prove it.

You go and lead in prayer and pray in Jesus name and see what happens while praying the other way. I'm a Christian and what pluralism says pluralism says a Muslim praise the way he praised all Judaism says, though he praised the way he prays to Jehovah Christianity says I pray the way I pray to Jesus Christ friend that is pluralism. What this world won't send lucrative syncretism that we just done everything down wash everything together. Blame it all together homogenize a whole lot of everything and not much of anything: syncretism and then everything will be fine. We must hold high the flag of Jesus Christ of bloodstained banner of our Prince and King and never ever compromise Jesus Christ was not ashamed of Christ to the contrary. He said I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Next, I will not drop out. I will not do it. Look, if you will, in verse 22.

He says here all the saints salute you. I love this. Chiefly they better of Caesar's household. Now this is interesting going to know what God does is so funny.

Here's my theses are right in his household.

Some of his workers maybe is maybe his valet.

Maybe his guard was a Christian and a wise man said is better light a candle than this to curse the darkness.

It was a dark night out today what will take care of the mess the rising Sun. Amen. And the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what we need to do is not dropout but to step in and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now we are political in the sense that we belong here. Don't ever stop voting why because our government is a government of the people by the people and for the people and therefore it is a government of the people you should participate in because Jesus said render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. This because we are saved does not mean that would be disenfranchised. Jesus himself said, Luke 20 verse 25 render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God don't render unto Caesar the things that are God's. Now, America must be changed, but it will be change from the in side out. I love this saints, and Caesar's household is a story that is come down to us through the years. I suppose that it is rooted in history. Like most stories, it may have changed some, but Caesar had his restless. He had like today we have the NFL.

There were wrestlers in the Greco Roman world, and Caesar had the 40 restless. They were tall, bronze, muscular son crowned men and they would go into the arena and wrestle for Caesar who would sit in his velvet box and battle chant a little song that they would chant to the Emperor and the Emperor loved. They said something like this where 40 restless wrestling for the oh Emperor to win for the victory and from the victors crown, but people love them. They were most popular athletes in the kingdom. They were also soldiers and there came a time when an edict when out from Rome that any Christians who were in the Army should be excised from the Army are executed and so the space in the Roman general said to his troops. He made this announcement, it has come. Edict has come from Rome that you cannot be a Christian and serve in Caesar's army so should there be any of you who are Christians. I would ask you to step forward, but know if you step forward, you will be put to death. If you remain in the ranks you have denied your so-called faith in this Messiah. The lyrics dear Kristin step forwardin the general was not prepared for what happened for like one man 40 men step forward all 40 of those wrestlers had become Christians had been born twice born when Vespasian sought a new that they were the emperors love them a lot been chosen and that everybody in the Empire love them. He said Cyrus stepped back renounce your faith will forget the whole thing not a man move. We all stood there all 40 of the station hip on a plane. He said I know I know men I know that they will not follow through.

I know how to get them to renounce their faith. So Vespasian was in the middle of winter. There and he took all 40 of those men out on the frozen lake and built a bonfire on that frozen lake, and then he made no soldier stripped from the bodies, their armor and helmets their breastplate, their trousers, their shoes stripped absolutely make and said now you to be driven from this far out on this frozen lake in the cold, and you will stay out there until you freeze to death. But if you come back to the fire, you will have remaster faith and you will live. He knew me knew wouldn't be long before they would be coming back to the fire built a fire and he waited and he heard something that amazing.

These 40 man as they began to chant and this is what they chanted. We are 14 wrestlers wrestling for the oh Christ. The win for the victory and from the victors crown. Vespasian said they will turn they will quit when he heard that chant has gotten weaker and weaker as the night got colder.

These men became 40 restless wrestling for the oh Christ, 40 wrestlers wrestling for the oh Christ a win for the victory and from the victors crown. Finally, they can hardly chant Vespasian look through the fire, the light of the fire and he saw one coming across the ice. One of those soldiers blue now slithering like an animal across the fire across the ice coming back to the fireand said I knew it would be coming soon. But then he heard something chant, they began to chant. We are 13, nine wrestlers wrestling for the oh Christ win for the victory and from the victors crown. According to the story.

Vespasian took from his head, his home from his chest.

Breastplate from his legs. The brass from his shoes and ran into the snow in the eyes and shouted at the top of his voice. We are ready wrestlers wrestling for the oh Christ win for the victory and from the victors crown. Paul talked about the saints in Caesar's household the saints in Caesar's household. I don't know about you but I made up my mind I will be a wrestling for Jesus Christ. I want you to be to you.

Let the Congress make the law.

Hollywood run their garbage. And the boys Wall Street take care becoming less tell this world that Jesus is after all this, it will be a with anyway. We just need to go to heaven take as many with us as we can.

Even so, Lord Jesus. Father God forgive us when we get discouraged and we get all upset about how people vote or what they do or don't do.

Surely we ought to be concerned and we can't drop out father. Our politics is in heaven.

As we look for the Savior, we thank you Lord that we are have been and always will be on the winning side that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, pray Lord that you teachers to teach this to our children and our grandchildren. And when we cannot isolate them that we can insulate built a wall of fire about them. The gospel of Jesus and cover them and bathe them with in the strong name of Jesus. Amen. If you have questions regarding your faith in Jesus Christ. We'd love to offer you an insightful resource or website LWF.org/radio and click Discover Jesus you find answers that you might need about your faith as well as a response section.

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Would you go there today LWF.org/radio and click the tab that says Discover Jesus can't wait to hear from you nephew like to order a copy of today's message on CD. Call us at 1877 love God and mention the title the politics of pilgrims. This message is also part of the powerful series. Whatever happened to the American dream if you like the complete collection all seven insightful messages go online LWF.org/radio to order or call us at 1877 love God or you can write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 thanks for studying in God's word with us today remember is Adrian Rogers said Jesus is Lord we didn't vote them in, and we won't vote them out. That encourage your heart today and in this day and age we may be asking is there hope for America. Rogers gives the answer in tomorrow's lesson.

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