God And The United States Part 1

One reason for us. Jesus phone number for many of us have the idea of God's favor after all were Americans, but as we run the race of life. Let's ask ourselves if God owes us anything.

After examining the evidence, we might conclude that what he owes us is judgment today. Consider what God thinks of the US survey from the Moody Church in Chicago this morning with Dr. Erwin looks her was clear. Teaching helps us make it across the finish line after Luther America is splitting apart at the seams. The intense strife on our streets be a form of God's judgment day. What we need to do is to understand what is happening on our streets.

When you see our history being vilified. When you see statues being torn down. That's not just a random act of violence. There is an underlying philosophy that is governing that to try to destroy our past in order to build a brand-new future on a humanistic Marxist foundation, the unraveling of America deliberately.

Those are the kinds of themes I discuss in my new book entitled, we will not be silenced responding courageously to our culture's assault on Christianity.

We need to understand what is happening in the culture and then we need to know what to do and how to stand for a gift of any amount. This book can be yours. Go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now as we listen to this message. Let us continue to pray in our hearts for the United States of America God bless America. After the 9/11 terrorist attack. God bless America. Sign were everywhere, God was back. The ACLU looked on in dismay as members of the Congress, saying God bless America on the steps of the God was allowed off the reservation he was allowed to enter into American life into mainstream American life once again. He was able to at least get his toll off of the reservation.

But what kind of a God was back well a very tolerant God, a God who accepted everyone no matter what religion you where I'm told that there were two porn shops in Nashville who had God bless America on their marquee's. It was a very tolerant tolerant God, the God who was back was a God who could never possibly judge America only blasts he was only allowed to bless America. He was the God of capitalism, the God of freedom and democracy the God that obviously would bless America because look at who we are as Americans.

Just look at all of the things that America has done, and given the world. Very interestingly, when religious leaders. Some of them, perhaps unwisely suggested that this was a judgment of God that the media began to hyperventilate. I me there is no possibility that this could be God's judgment, God was not allowed to judge. He was only allowed to bless. Now I have to say that such remarks are probably unwise for a number of reasons. Number one, we don't know exactly what God is up to number two.

It may be more of a judgment on the church, then America at large. But anyway, the very suggestion that maybe God would judge Oz was inadmissible. The God who came off the reservation was not permitted to judge, but it's interesting that in the Old Testament God said to Israel, I lay before you two ways. The way of blessing if you obey me and the way of cursing and judgment if you don't and today were saying there's only one side to God's attributes and that is blessing me ask you this question.

This happens to be a series of messages on God and the nations, and this is number five in the series is God actively involved in what happens in nations in terrorist attacks. For example, the Scripture says in Isaiah chapter 45 or seven I form light and I create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster by the Lord to do these things and Amos asks when disaster comes to a city has not the Lord caused it while at strong language. It doesn't mean that God does it, but it does mean that it's part of his providential work. I mean he doesn't let it happen and he could prevent it from happening.

So God is involved. At the end of the day is he not like to do in the next few moments is to invite you to look with me to the 10th chapter of the book of Isaiah because Isaiah is going to give us a window into God's purposes, and we will use the principles that we learned there as a backdrop to do a very very quick discussion of God and America all too briefly, I might add one of the problems with this series always has been that I got more information and so much more could be said, but we will give you an overview as we talk about God and America. Isaiah chapter 10 is very fascinating, as it gives us this window into God's purposes because of the fact that God is going to show us their principles by which he judges nations principles that, if properly interpreted, are still applicable to us today. The 10th chapter begins with God listing some of the sin that he was going to judge them.

Woe to those who make unjust laws to those who issue or press of decrees I need to stop there because someone has said to show us. Show us your laws and I will show you your God and how true that is in the great battle in America is for laws.

It's for the judges it's for the Supreme Court did score who says what can happen then what can happen, but God says woe to those who make unjust laws and then he says to deprive the poor of their rights. Someday I'm going to preach about that because the Old Testament particularly says so much about the poor and got often judges people on the basis of the way in which they treat the poor and then he says those who are cruel and ruthless. They make widows there pray and rob the fatherless, God says that's what's happening in Israel and that isn't a total list of all of Israel's sins, but many of them, and God says for that you're going to be judged and now the principles the principles of God's judgment. First of all, God uses an evil nation to judge his own people.

He uses an evil nation to judge his own people and nation that is more evil than his own people. You'll notice he's going to use Syria versus five and six. Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath send him against the godless nation. I dispatch him against a people who anger me who sees a looped and snatched plunder and to trample them down like mud in the streets. See what God is saying he saying that is Syria is my rod to discipline Israel. It is the club of my anger over what about this nation is Syria. When I speak about is Syria today. I'm not talking about the Assyrians that we have here at the Moody Church you know that we have Assyrians here at the Moody Church in fact one of our staff member is and is Syria. I will give you his full name, but to give you a clue. His last name is Milko completely Syria Iraq. These Assyrians in our talking centuries centuries ago were barbarian. They were ruthless and and they were ruled and they worship the God the God Asher God says they are my club for Israel. I'm going to send them into Israel because my people have forsaken me, and I'm going to use these people to judge my people. Now I can imagine every chariot in Israel during those days. Having a bumper sticker. If chariots have bumpers in the bumper sticker is God bless Israel all that God can do is to bless us preachers today on television. Many of them. Not all of them, but many all that God is willing to do is to bless you.

He'll give you money he'll give you health, that's all.

There's no judgment there is no need for repentance. He's the God who just blesses that he is job like somebody says want you to know today that God can also judge an MD the terrorist attack coming from evil people with a network of fanatics who are evil. God God may indeed use people just like that to humble and to judge America. That is the first principle, there's a second principle of judgment and I might say, by the way, before we go on to it that it's also possible for God to sometimes use better nations to judge more evil ones, we would say that that happened during World War II when the allies ganged up on Nazi Germany and I would say it. Also, when the United States fought its war in Iraq.

So God uses one nation to judge another, but sometimes the most evil nation is his club is rod. There's a second principle, and that is that God judges the evil nation that he uses God judges the evil nation.

It says in verse seven, but this is not what he intends. Who is that he is the Assyrian king of Assyria. What what God is saying is them now. I intend to use Assyria as this rod this club. But he isn't saying in his mind, let's let's obey God, and let's go out there and do something for Jehovah. No no no no, he has entirely different intentions, but this is not what he intends.

This is not what he has in mind his purposes to destroy, to put an end to many nations.

God says that's what his purpose is it is an evil purpose and because his motive is evil and against me. He will be judged. Even though I use him. You'll notice what it says now in verses 12 and 13 when the Lord has finished all of his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem.

He will say I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and a haughty look in his eyes, for he says, by the strength of my hand. I have done this and by my wisdom because I have understanding. I removed the boundaries of nations. I plundered their treasures.

Like a mighty one. I subdued their kings God says he's going to be judge specifically verse 16 says therefore the Lord God Almighty will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors under his pump of fire will be kindled like a blazing flame God says I will judge Syria for its wickedness. Now you say well, but God used is Syria. Yes, somewhere along the line I came across a story that beautifully illustrates this. This juxtaposition between God's will in his sovereignty and human responsibility. There was a nobleman who had a grove of trees that he loved very, very much. In fact, he gave a name to every single tree but there was an evil neighbor who wanted to to do something very wicked to this nobleman so the neighbor climbed over the fence and spent almost all night.

Sawing down one of the nobleman's most cherished trees. But as the wicked man was trying to leave. He ran in the wrong direction and got pinned to the ground and there he was, well, the next morning the nobleman came to look at his trees and he had a man with him and he came across the Felder tree and and this man who was pinned under it said in a choked whisper. He said he said that, I got your tree.

He knew he was going to be punished, but just the idea that he had cut down the nobleman's favorite tree delighted them in the nobleman said the man that I have here is a contractor I want him to build me a summer house and the reason were taking this walk is that I can show him which tree I intended to have him cut down.

Thank you so much for doing my work for me noted that mean that this this evil neighbor didn't get judge.

Of course he got judge because his intentions were evil, but in his evil work.

He still did what the nobleman wanted.

That's the way God is God's is Assyria you're judging Israel but you too will be judged rest in the fact that terrorists, not just in America but around the world. Terrorists will be judged by God in this life somewhat indiscriminately from our standpoint haphazardly because some may live to have a long lives, but in the end God's judgment will be meticulously balanced and we will praise God for ever for the accuracy of his judgment.

Nothing goes unpunished. There's 1/3 characteristic and that is that God's purpose is judgment.

His purposes in judgment is really twofold. But first of all, regarding unbelievers very quickly. Verses 18 and following the splendor of his forests and for tile fields will be completely destroyed is when a sick man wastes the way of the remaining trees of his force will be so few that a child could write them down. He may be talking about the Assyrian soldiers. God says I'm going to show you my power in my ability to even destroy you.

God shows to the wicked. The fact that that they will not repent, even if he shouts from heaven.

Now let's apply this to America where are we here in the great United States, a nation that is been so wonderfully blessed by God after the terrorist attack church attendance increased.

I told now it is lower than ever. But thankfully not here at the Moody church you know that our attendance has been growing during the last years and continues to grow and every time I'm here I see the balcony come out further and further and further and I say God be praised God be praised, but across America today what you find is a decline in church attendance and so what we have is just a blip on the screen the Tribune after 9/11 came out with an article that said it's okay to talk about evil now, and even suggested that maybe we lived in the end of the postmodern age were evil was not admitted into public discourse, but somehow all that is forgotten and lost is not and what we have in our society today is is taking out God's laws, God is being pushed back onto the reservation. The public square is being scrubbed clean of anything that has to do with God. God is not supposed to inform or to govern or to control what politicians might do and that's the nation in which we live, what you know. Regardless of what you think of Judge Moore in Alabama, whom I met yesterday by the way, I was speaking at the promise keepers in Atlanta for Dean thousand men at promise keepers in Atlanta you want to hear something that's good about America.

Think back to what God is doing in so many different areas of this great nation. But Judge Moore who was there was telling us and showing us really and I spoke to one of his attorneys that that constitutionally if you look strictly at the Constitution. Those 10 commandments had a place there in the supreme court building those commandments constitutionally should belong there.

We can argue whether or not this was really the cause to fight in and say this or that, but I'll tell you what is happening is there judges in America today who are no longer interpreting the Constitution and interpreting the law they are making up the law in the United States of America and my friend. That's why it is that when there's a vacancy on the supreme court we find so much political conflict. Show me your laws and I will show you your God. Our laws determine who we are as a country and what direction we are going, you know, I've written a new book entitled, we will not be silent responding courageously to our culture's assault on Christianity and one of the chapter titles is how that the radical left joins with Islam to destroy America. Have you ever noticed that the radical left will never criticize Islam.

Are you aware of the fact that Islamic teaching is taking place in some of our public schools and those who oppose it are called names, hateful, intolerant, and you name it. The reason is because both have a common objective, at least for now, and that is the destruction of Christianity and also the destruction of capitalism and that's why it is that they are cohorts even though they have been radically different teachings. We need to be aware of all of these things, and by the way also warned of the danger of interfaith dialogue and all that that's going on for a gift of any amount. This book can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 ask for the book, we will not be silenced responding courageously to our culture's assault on Christianity. I really believe it will be very enlightening and helpful, and especially give us courage when were tempted to be silent RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 time now for another chance for you to ask Pastor Luzern question about the Bible or the Christian life. All signs seem to indicate dark days coming from the United States for those without jobs, perhaps facing foreclosure. Those days have already come and no doubt the moral climate is sinking fast, very concerned listener of ours emailed this question. Pastor Luther's America under God's judgment. Now, I believe that America is under God's judgment today. Yes, you know. Oftentimes, when we talk about a nation being under judgment.

Today people think that that means that we see judgment only in a terrorist attack or at a time such as Katrina. The tremendous natural disaster which devastated so many, but actually a nation is under judgment when it begins to feel the effects of its sin. Judgment is nothing more than the accumulated effects of sin. All sin has some judgments but when you have a nation that has so turned away from God.

As we have so consciously turned away from God. We see the effects of sin and the judgment of God.

Everywhere we see it in the breakup of our families. For example, the fact that 20 million children will go to bed tonight in America with a single parent in the household fatherlessness because of immorality because of the breakup of the family because of selfishness because we have ignored God's laws. All of this, the effects are clearly seen, and we need to understand that we also see it in the political world where God is excluded from government from law from education and this has its consequences to we look at the moral and the spiritual breakdown we see today that our leaders appear to be absolutely blind to what is happening around them that to his judgment. You know, when Israel was taken into Babylon. They were under judgment, but in the midst of that you have people like Daniel and others who are faithful to the Lord. So we are called to be faithful at a time when our nation is experiencing the consequences of its sin.

And that's a long story.

What faithfulness really means. But yes, God does not wink at sin and we have dethroned God in our culture and the consequences are apparent. Thank you Dr. Luther may the Lord have mercy of the United States of America. If you'd like to hear your question answered. Go to our website@rtwoffer.com and click on ask Pastor Luther or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 struggle over the public viewing of God's law is man led to Chief Justice Roy Moore being ousted from the Alabama Supreme Court.

This is evidence that God is being systematically excluded from public life. Next time more about the judgment of God on America going to win is sponsored by the Moody Church