Setting Our Hope in God

Dougwas the real lights on a hill with suddenly the prevailing culture.

God promotes moral values and ethical standards right and wrong in a way which says there are no absolutes. There is not such a thing as absolute truth. Everything is relative, and so are values or ethics of morals are no longer.

Generally speaking, rooted in God's word to the Bible but interchanging personal circumstances and beliefs so know the mentor is your own dream.

Believe what you like. Be true to yourself and the result is that in our culture. I believe the unthinkable is happening right before us in the last 25 to 30 years there has been a dramatic change. I would argue a dramatic decline in the in the moral standard. The spiritual standard of this nation. A glaring example is the view of biblical marriage.

The view of family, marriage and family are not the ideas of some man of Congress or the president of the judges of the Supreme Court, but rather in the beginning of the great God that we bring singing about two steadfast who's everlasting. Yes, who is good for good. He made us male and female and manager coming to Scripture and reinforced by the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament, and which is been the building brought block of human civilization done through the years as now being changed the idea of manage that idea of who you can moderate the idea of what is mileage is not based not on God's word but on people's evolving views. Students are not asked to think how foolish this is. Students are not asked that perfect throne can imagine in my classroom. Mrs. McDonald sing to me.

Now what do you want to be addressed now.

My thinking on my him on it order of the think of the confusion and think of the reality that that is happening now in our culture. Paul who writes to the Romans, which was also decadent society regarding their declining moral standards. He says claiming to be wise, they became fools, and haven't we developed and aren't we living and in an increasingly foolish since signing, I ask you, you think you're wiser than God.

Do you think that this book of the Bible is no, I don't date it can be rejected, marginalized, ignored, depending on your personal preferences. On the way you want to live how important it is the church like Calvary church the school like Calvary Christian Academy states very clearly as were very hard that we believe that the Bible is truth. Jesus said that to prayer to his heavenly father John 17 verse 17. Your word is truth, not that it just points to truth that contains the truth but it is truth. God's word is truth. God is a God who is true is reliable and faithful is all wise, submissive, so the Scriptures are given to us. Paul writes that the inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. How can a young man a young woman be trained in righteousness. That's really the question which is asked in some hundred 19 verse nine. How shall young man live a clean life.

Was it possible for an 18-year-old are leaving Charlotte going to as secular university or college. I was it possible for that individual to live a clean pure life. The answer is given some hundred 19 verse nine. By living it according to your work, but according to the culture, but according to his own desires with a carving to God's word. Therefore, the city of this, we must be diligent parents, grandparents, to teach our children biblical truth and we must make sure that we ourselves are bidding this truth is on Calvary. We put great emphasis on parents bringing up their children.

As Paul says in Ephesians 6 in the fear and admonition of the Lord, I realize that is a huge responsibility for parents. I realize it's a huge responsibility for school like Calvary Christian Academy, but we believe that this is a living book. It's the word of God. We believe that God will help us God will give us all of his friends all of the guidance all of the resources. All of the wisdom we need as we humbly follow his work investing in the next generation so we invest in our children's ministry and youth ministries and archer Child development Center and champ in the scams that you thought about and know in Calvary Christian Academy. I went to the stand as we read from Psalm 78 versus four through eight, Psalm 78. Here is the ancient Hebrew Scriptures 3000 years old, but how they are needed today. Read them with me. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established the testimony in Jacob, and appointed the law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children that the next generation might know them.

The children yet unborn and arise and tell them to their children so that they should set that hole in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments, and that they should not be like the fathers stubborn and rebellious generation a generation whose heart was not steadfast who's spirit was not faithful to God, thank you. Please be seated doing these verses we read that hard hearts characterized the past generation will be a Bible that again open it to Psalm 78 verse eight that they should not be like the fathers in that generation is described as a rebellious and stubborn generation.

Think of it I generation in Israel for God's the works of God and his wonders. Verse 11, they forgot his works on the wonders that he had shown them here is ancient Israel, and they have lost the sense of wonder of God working in and through them.

They to call them the blessings of God for granted. The stories of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage going through the Red Sea, the heavens open another in the wilderness and the reigning diving manner. The ready food of angels. The rocks that gushed with waters.

The fall of Jericho going into the promised land. All of that. It seemed, had become a bit of a bore the spiritual heritage became remote, stale, unexciting, rather than following the Lord, rather than trusting the Lord with all of their hearts, their hearts, ancient Israel became stubborn and rebellious. I did that come about. They ignored or rejected the word of God and as they did that this is ancient Israel, the unimaginable, then happens the truth of the living God that we been singing about God from everlasting to good God, the gracious God, the God who delivered them. The godhood provided for them. The godhood led them by the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God, the God of Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob. The godhood given them supernatural victories over their enemies. Yes to God. As we read in verses 23 and 24 who opened the doors of heaven and read dying on the manatee eats that God was never exchanged for worthless idols versus 56 and 50 through 58 verse 56 of Psalm 78 that. Yet they tested the rebel against the most high God and did not keep his testimonies but turned away and acted treacherously like her father's they twisted like a deceitful bowl for they provoked him to anger with her high places. They moved him to jealousy with their idols rather than the people of God who had been told that they were to be a light to the nations that God would bless them, and they in turn would be a blessing to the nations even today. Remote patient nations of the world that God's grace was going to fall on Israel and that through them.

His mighty power is glorious works would be known to all of the nations. Instead of that instead of impacting the culture for God with the do the coveted the idolatry of the neighbors. They mimic that and then reimburse the Javert covets with unbelievers have given who could someone believe and say well know this person may live like the devil, but they've got it pretty good. Maybe they're right and I'm wrong. I am faithfully serving the Lord and this character is living in defiance of the Lord, but he's getting a promotion they're getting the blessing and stand in a subtle way in a terrible way. The devil is threatening our hearts, but rather than focusing on God's will begin to look around means and those of restlessness. Isn't this what is happened.

This was the Canaanite station of Israel. They first tolerated the sin of the Canaanites, they knew was wrong. They knew the Old Testament.

They knew the 10 Commandments they tolerated, then the acceptance and then they are embracing and practicing it, and in so doing, they lose their spiritual identity is the people of God, and they certainly will lose their spiritual vitality to see how it happened. You see any problems with ancient Israel to where we are in the states, not just in the United States and the United Kingdom and Europe and Canada. What we would call the last to see what is happened.

Would you say the country United States is rebellious and true before our very eyes. Yes, particularly over the last 20 or 30 years were seeing a spiritual and moral decline in our nation.

Remember coming to this country.

Looking at the crying in God we trust wonderful as a nation that is trusting God and I don't need to remind you of God's favor on this country has ever country been so blessed is the United States of America.

Think of the grace of God. Think of the way God has led. I think since it's finding. If you know even a little of the wonderful history of this country. Yes, I know that our dark areas.

Yes, I know not everyone was following God. I understand that but that was in this country. The favor of God, and God bless this country and from the United States led the gospel is going forth throughout the world with I think largely speaking with forgetting God. Many who are raised in Christian homes live their lives as practical atheists or they wouldn't say that anything is about their life is really no different from the unbeliever next door. They may embrace a shallow cultural Christianity, they may follow in an unthinking way the traditions of the church may have embraced the high up on the falls for spreading the gospel, but they do not know Christ in our hearts, they have not been saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and many over the years and I say yes churches like Calvary church that would become spiritually complacent that we become lethargic and I think we take God for granted. Javert have a friend who takes it for granted. A very good visit or relative when you wake up one day and you think you know I've known so-and-so for for 15 years and the I think were friends, but I suddenly realize it's all a one-way streets, that they call me in an emergency, but I think the taking me for granted somebody nice feeling is it with all that experience. Could you imagine taking your you to God for granted.

Throughout Scripture, particularly the Old Testament and would be singing about it the prophet say over and over again. I garden that is no one like me.

I'm the only rocket you know anyone else. When Elsa can citizens do know anyone else who died on the cross for you and was buried, and rose again. Anyone else is there anyone who can compete with his God, and were now taking him for granted we go through the motions asked me and saying I am yes we can quote a verse of Scripture, but our hearts are hollow. What's happened is it was ancient Israel compromise keeps into our hearts, which one of us could say that will exempt from that compromise keeps into her personal life's homes and lives the way the way we do business there really is no difference.

We wake up and we think nuclear public on the wrong and overall country. Yes, this wonderful country that I love is in moral and spiritual decline in the time that we the people of God woke up time that we repented is the time as Paul would say in Romans 13 to put on the armor of light so covers commitments with God's grace and with his help is to invest in the next generation so that they will say their hope in God. That's what were doing and can I say the obvious and you say you know we don't need your dollars. We with others before you may have heard by the North and some to know your hearts personal faith in the Lord Jesus and allegiance to him are essential. God does not have any grandchildren. Troy is celebrating that he was brought up in a Christian home I could do the same wonderful godly Christian parents does not make us authentic followers of Jesus Christ know the Scripture makes it very clear that what is needed from each one of us is a dynamic personal saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So John that the opening of his wonderful gospel in John one says, but to all who received them as Christ to all who received him and believed in his name we give the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God's supernatural regeneration, a work of God in the soul of man and woman and boys and girls as we receive the living Christ as we embrace Christ as we trust him and realize that we come from our sin and realize that Christ died for our sins and rose again and we ask him to be our Savior and our Lord the promises to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved much of all of you have called in the name of the Lord is a well that's why we're here. John visit. I welcome you. We appreciate you coming so much whether you've come for 30 years, or whether is your first time here, but as your pastor, I have to challenge you. Do you know Christ you know Christ you truly trusting in Jesus Christ as your personal savior mourned over your sin repented of your sin or have you created a very comfortable pseudo-spiritual cultural Christianity. When you say you love Jesus but you ignore his commands. Are you setting your hope in God I love her. The psalmist says that the going to teach their children will teach their children who will teach the children yet unborn. Think somewhat yes the commandments, but to set their hope in God best person to listen to that. My hope is in our Lord Jesus Christ which would open our lunch this week with a man and is only about one of his relatives two years ago and that he was a great basketball player and that he is playing a college and he was one of the top college players and he was planning to play professional basketball in the NBA and then just as I was coming towards the end of his college career. During a game. He fell in a split second, his basketball career. Suddenly the top level is over and thing might happen to some of you have major view view view puts life efforts into your job into your business into your career into your hobby into your support going to the bank one day and you get told all in a nice way and giving a little compensation, but basically you fear God, remember a man coming to see me as I can't believe Johnny said I invested 30 years of my life and to the split second and told to go pretty sad isn't it. If you've set your hope in your business if you set your hope and your family. If you've set your hope in your possessions you little nervous. He watched what woke watching the stock market got done and think what would happen.

Put your hope in anything or anyone other than God, you're doomed.

Listen to Timothy first Timothy six verse 17 as for the rich in this present age. Charge them not to be holiday. Not to say their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, notice the uncertainty of riches is a lot poorer doesn't bother me is a point doesn't it on who or what you setting your hope.

But he says on God, who richly provides us with everything to then Peter talks about a living hope in first Peter one a living will is what I want that whole and open myself and my achievements in my ministry know my hope was to be in God. Your hope is to be in God is an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and on fading so because we believe this passionately and it was do I trust most of his new Calvary church as the people of God were committed to invest in the next generation.

Why do we have the camps to teach them how to sink unbelievers can teach people how to sing, why do we have transporters to teach kids soccer is a good sport. By the way, so I'm all for that but unbelievers can teach people to play soccer and perhaps even do better than we can all this is done so that children and young people and adults will set their hope in God, the unchanging on the on changeable rock life is difficult.

Life is top. I hated every week is devastating as to what happens in the lives of people. And we, as pastors we pray for you and we help you blots you in the midst of the difficulty are to do what to say your hope in God and unchanging, and unchangeable rock and so how important it is and I thought was thrilling wasn't it to hear from Darden and Troy were doing at Calvary Christian Academy is to teach our children the word of God not only to teach it, but to display Jesus. That's a little more difficult not only to teach the word but to live and I would tend to pray with famine Jewish parents that you have that priority that you put worship on the Lord's day with your family as a priority. That the next generation might know them. The children yet unborn. So that's why were praising God today for Calvary Christian Academy as Dowd had said, reluctant convert. I first heard about it now pursuing other schools in and I never really had Christian schooling to attend to this country. I thought enough. These are these Americans were little skills are just forming the little holy Bible's and and and protecting and living life as if it is not big bad world out there sure if I agree with that. Listen Calvary Christian Academy is not going to be a holy Bible is going to be holy, but is not to be a bubble.

It's not God calls us to be light and salt Calvary Christian Academy in one of the things my heart rejoiced when I heard it is mission of using what's mission. No are some Christian schools that only have students who come from alleged Christian homes that so we have nice little well behaved Christian kids exist. Of course some of the worse kids I've met come from Christian homes, but that's the feeling we have these nice little well behaved Christians some kind of little clones of the reality, of course, of course, we will accept children from Christian homes but will also accept children with joy from non-Christian homes.

We do that already.

For over 40 years with with the child development center. It also is emotional and we have children right now in our CDC that come from all over the world, parents of different religions and you say well do we compromise our faith.

No, we very carefully explained as will do at Calvary Christian Academy that we are a Christian school. It's got that right in the name were going to teach your children. This book, we believe that Jesus Christ is God and so on and trust that we will receive some such children and that they in turn will go to their families. Remember when I was coaching a champ here five euros soccer which is by my level not the assistant coach had sent his children to CDC and that he said to me, you know� John will get to know each other set, so there's something different about Calvary was actually saying, hope, hope, placing one hoping that he will say in a positive way and he said that he said I need to speak with you. Submit appointment come to my office in the dissent that he said you know I got to church on my life and he said my my my daughter came back from from CDC and started talking about John 316 said had no idea what is John 316 is and went to Barnes & Noble and asked if they had the book on John 316 and in the providence of God.

Mike Saucedo has written a book on John 316 and I was able to share the gospel. Here is a family that does not understand the gospel. That little girl is taking the word of God sharing with the parents that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. So we are committed to the gospel committed to the word of God and also committed, as has been said, with academic excellence. That was one of my questions I had designed as we discussed, this was the school committed to academic excellence. I'm a big believer in education and to do it with excellence not just as a kind of add honor to have a kind of school likes is a kind of year-long VBS no. We go to teach children, but were going to do it in the context of the gospel and the word of God and so we believe we have in the dominant disappointed Troy. We believe we've got a great staff of teachers, of whom shepherds I've met them all interviewed all of them and I believe that we have a business associate Calvary. We have outstanding teachers and shepherds trained yes, but also who love Jesus Christ and our goal at Christian Academy is that our children then will be raised to serve God in their generation and they will tell their children to set their hope in God.

The children yet unborn goal is not to raise Boys and Girls Club who can go into Harvard Law school. Every quarterback for the Panthers of the Manchester United beat badly.

So we did a couple good players for soccer. Our goal is to humble some of these are young men and young women. I go to Harvard will they be outstanding sportspeople.

They may well be will train them in all walks of life. Whatever God has a plan for them that he leads us in the paths of righteousness for his namesake that we will seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. John Wesley was and that this is a conclude John Wesley had always considered himself a Christian. Until the day he was in a ship going over the Atlantic in the terrible storm and that he was very, very afraid in this elite run, they realize there's a group of people. The only people in the ship who were not afraid of the storm and it turned out they were Moravian missionaries and asked one of them, were you not afraid Fred said the man. Why would I be afraid. I know Christ and gazing upon Wesley. He said that it endlessly. Do you know Christ John Wesley.

This religious man for the first time realize that he did not know Christ and to learn that secondhand religion will not do in the storms of life and you must already have. We went to that meeting and there were breathing the preface of Luther's commentary to the Galatians and he felt his heart strangely warmed and he did know Christ. I asked you.

Do you know Christ was a rights the world is waiting to write you an authentic voice of voice from God, not an echo of what others are doing and saying what an authentic voice. We want to be authentic. We have that in our mission statement. Too many Christians too many churches are mere echoes of the culture compromise and tolerance and political correctness and make me feel good about myself over challenge is this children know Christ who are well educated and that the will be raised up to do what I trust that we are doing to tell their children to say their hope in God and so that generation and the generations yet unborn will understands that there is a God and he is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to seek and the law Sam 48 states that you may tell the next generation that this is our God, our God forever and this is our hope, our hope is in the Lord from this day and for ever more. Father, under God, we thank you for this hope that we have another vein. Hope you the true and the living God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ not pray each person here may set their hope in you. We confess fatherhood. Sometimes we are tempted to say their hope in things ourselves are achievements or possessions of comfortable lifestyle they there be an awakening in our hearts in this church.

Again, we thank you for this opportunity brought to us that you graciously brought this to his father.

We were not seeking it.

Thank you for your grace, that we can be part of this great school as we think of the weeks and the months in the years ahead the floor. Jesus Christ doesn't come children and young people setting their hope in God bless us. We asked following Christ