This Is Our Defining Moment
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Jeff Booth
Defining moments shape both individuals and nations, with decisions at these crossroads having lasting consequences. The church and America are currently at a critical juncture, requiring a return to prayer, perseverance, and God-centered values to overcome challenges and moral decline. True change and revival will only come through repentance, humility, and unity in prayer, as believers faithfully seek God’s guidance and stand for righteousness in their lives and communities.
Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
Defining Moments in Our Lives
Defining moments are pivotal crossroads in our lives where critical decisions shape our future. These moments often determine whether we walk in the permissive will of God or strive for His perfect will. It is imperative to align ourselves with what God desires for us at these junctures.
The Church at a Defining Moment
As we assess the current state of the church in America, it's evident that we are at a defining moment. The body of Christ stands at a precipice, and our obedience and reaction to the divine guidance we receive will influence not only our direction as a church but also the trajectory of our nation. As a society, we are faced with pressing questions about the kind of country we want to inhabit: Will we honor God, or will we delve deeper into moral and spiritual decay?
Historical Defining Moments of Sacrifice
Throughout American history, pivotal moments have required immense sacrifice. The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. Many faced severe consequences including torture, death, and loss of property. This sacrifice underscores the high price of the freedoms we enjoy today—liberties that come at a cost not just politically but spiritually, with Christ's ultimate sacrifice being the foundation for our spiritual freedom.
The Story of King Joash and Elisha
A significant biblical illustration of defining moments can be found in the narrative of King Joash and the prophet Elisha. Faced with impending battle, Joash sought counsel from Elisha, who, although on his deathbed, provided instructions. Elisha commanded Joash to shoot an arrow out the eastern window, symbolizing victory over the Syrians. However, Joash's lack of faith was revealed when he failed to strike the ground with subsequent arrows enough times, resulting in a limited victory against his enemy. This story highlights how often we stop short of God's complete promises due to doubt.
Promises and Responsibilities
God's promises to us come with responsibilities. Joash’s story is a cautionary reminder that obedience to God's word is crucial. Each encounter we have with the divine is a chance to press on, to seek victory over our adversaries, whether they are personal struggles or societal issues.
The Call to Pray and Act
In the contemporary context, we, too, are called to pray fervently and engage actively in our communities and nations. This includes turning our hearts toward God with true repentance and seeking His guidance for revival. Change requires more than mere acknowledgment; it necessitates action and a commitment to the process. As believers, we must make our voices heard through prayer and voting to honor God and pursue righteousness.
The Importance of Participation
It is essential that believers participate in the political process, utilizing their voices and votes to influence the direction of our nation. This goes beyond personal grievances and calls for a collective effort to advocate for Godly principles. We must recognize our responsibility as citizens and believers to uphold justice, righteousness, and truth.
The Legacy of Perseverance
Throughout history, individuals have persevered to bring about change, such as William Wilberforce in abolishing slavery and Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement. Their enduring efforts remind us that commitment to righteousness often requires persistent perseverance, a principle that the church must embody today.
Urgency of Today’s Defining Moment
As we approach imminent societal and political shifts, believers must embody courage and resilience. Scripture consistently reminds us not to become weary in our endeavors. With prayer and concerted action, we can see God's hand move within our communities and across the nation.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
In this defining moment, as a nation and a church, the call is clear: return to God with open hearts, engage in the political process, and refuse to stand silent amid societal turmoil. As we strive to live out our faith, let us remember that every prayer, every act of kindness, and every vote can contribute to ushering in the change we desire to see. Together, by participating fully and faithfully, we can strive toward righteousness, making an indelible impact on our future and that of our families.
-
Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
Discussion Guide: Defining Moments
Reflect on "Defining Moments"
Can you recall a defining moment in your own life where your decision impacted your future? How did your faith play a role?
Historical Lessons
Pastor Jeff mentioned the sacrifices of historical figures like the signers of the Declaration of Independence. How do these sacrifices inspire you in your faith journey?
Biblical Examples
Discuss the story of King Joash and Elisha. What do you think was King Joash's greatest mistake, and how can we apply this lesson to our lives?
Spiritual Obedience
How do you ensure you're living in the "perfect will of God" as opposed to just His permissive will?
Call to Action
Pastor Jeff urged us to participate in prayer, repentance, and revival. What practical steps can you take this week to be more engaged in this call?
National Implications
In what ways do you believe God is calling the church in America to act in this defining moment?
-
Pastor Jeff Booth referred to King Joash and the prophet Elisha from the Old Testament, found in 2 Kings 13:14-19. This historical backdrop places us around the 9th century BCE in the ancient Near East during the divided kingdom period of Israel.
In Israel's northern kingdom, Joash reigned amidst a backdrop of political instability and frequent warfare with neighboring nations like Aram (Syria). The prophet Elisha was a key religious figure during this era, serving as a spiritual adviser not only to King Joash but also influencing broader Israelite society with his miracles and divine messages.
The culture of the time was heavily influenced by a polytheistic society; however, Israel's monotheistic faith set it apart, often leading to internal and external tensions.
Elisha's illness and impending death signaled an era of uncertainty for Israel, as prophets served as mediators of God's will to the kings. The historical significance of the bow and arrow symbolizes the divine pronouncement of military victory, which was a common Old Testament motif indicating God's favor and intervention in battles.
Understanding this context helps us grasp the serious tone of Joash’s encounter with Elisha and the weight of his actions—or inactions—in response to God's directive through his prophet.
-
The Brave King Joash and the Prophet's Last Wish
Once upon a time in the land of Israel, there lived a king named Joash. He was a king who had to face big, scary armies, and sometimes he didn't know what to do. But lucky for him, there was a wise and kind prophet named Elisha who talked to God and helped Joash whenever he needed it.
But one day, King Joash got very worried because Elisha was sick. So sick that he wouldn't get better. Joash loved Elisha because he always brought him messages from God. Joash went to visit Elisha and found him lying in bed.
"Oh, dear Elisha!" cried Joash. "What should we do? We have so many battles to fight!"
Elisha, even though he was very weak, told Joash to get his bow and arrows. "Open the window," Elisha said, "and shoot an arrow out!" Joash did just that. Then Elisha said, "This arrow means you'll win against the bad guys!"
But there was more. Elisha wanted Joash to hit the ground with the other arrows. Joash did it, but he only hit the ground three times. Elisha was upset. He told Joash that if he had kept hitting the ground more, he'd win even more battles!
The story reminds us that when God tells us to do something, we should do it with all our hearts, not just a little. And that we should follow God’s instructions all the way through. Remember, God always helps us—just like Elisha helped Joash in his time of need.
-
I want to talk just for a few moments, about the theme, defining moments. Defining moments. These are moments in our lives that they're crossroads where decisions are made that are critical to the securing of our future, critical to being in the perfect will of God. I don't know about you, but permissive will of God's okay. But I want to be in the perfect will of God.
I want to be right where he wants me to be, and that's the perfect place. And in some case, defining moments are moments that truly do secure freedom for a nation or direction for a nation. I just want to say right up front, I believe the church in America is at a defining moment. I'm not saying Oxford Assembly. I'm saying the body of Christ in America is literally on the precipice, on the edge of a defining moment.
And how we obey and how we react, not react, but how we obey to the Lord's words. And what God is saying in this hour will determine the direction that we go as well as our country is at very much a defining moment. And we need God's help in this hour. We're faced as a nation with the decision, what direction are we going to go? What kind of country do we want to live in?
Will we honor God? Or will we continue down this slope of moral decay and spiritual decay and just go the direction that is opposite of where God wants us to go. There have been defining moments throughout the history of America where men and women have paid the price through sacrifice and obedience and passions. They've risked it all for this idea or this experiment called America. And the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, they concluded that document by stating this.
We mutually pledged to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. And if you look closely, it's not the whole document, but it's part of it. And prior to that covenant with one another, how many know the body of Christ needs to get back to being in covenant with one another. We need to walk together. We need to truly bind our hearts together and walk in the spirit of Christ.
But they said after, and for the support of this declaration, this written document with a firm Reliance on the protection of divine providence. What are they saying? With God's help. With the God of the Bible, with his help. This is what we set forth to do as we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
History would record that their sacrifice. Part of it was five signers were captured by the British and they were tortured as traitors. Nine signers died from wounds or hardships from the Revolutionary War. 12 signers lost their homes and had them burned to the ground. And two signers lost their sons in a Revolutionary War, and another had two sons captured.
Nearly all of the signers of the Declaration of Independence ended up poorer after the war than at the beginning. How many know? They gave it all. They sacrificed it all. What happens over time, spiritually and in the natural, is we tend to forget the price that was paid for us to live the way we live.
The price for us to have the freedoms that we have both spiritually and in the natural, the freedoms here in America. That was a high price that was paid for us to live in this beautiful country that we call America. Likewise, the price for our spiritual freedom, that is much higher. Our eternal destination with Jesus, our eternal home with God the Father, was paid by the blood of Jesus. How many know that's the highest price that could be paid for our spiritual liberty and freedom?
Am I in the right church this morning? Amen. Back to the text. We find here in the text that we read that this is a defining moment in the life of Israel and truly in the life of the king at that time, King Joash. And King Joash wasn't one of the best kings that lived in Israel, but he is king at this time.
And King Joash has a man of God named Elisha who is the prophet for Israel. And if there's one advantage that Israel had over Judah was that they had the prophet of God, Elisha. And we know that Elisha served the prophet Elijah, who was carried away into heaven on a fiery chariot. So this is a powerful man of God. But the problem in this text is that Elisha is on his deathbed.
He's going to die. He has some illness that we don't know exactly what it was, but we know he has an illness that's going to bring him. He's going to die very, very soon. King Joash is aware that the armies of Judah are approaching, and he is worried and he is in need of hearing a word from God through the prophet Elisha. And Elisha is on his deathbed.
The king goes to Elisha and he cries out to him that, you know, we're going to have a battle here. What are we to do? And Elisha on his deathbed. Now, I want to back up here because the Bible says that Joash came weeping over Elisha. And I'm not sure if he's weeping because he's going to die and he wants him to get better and to stick around, or he's weeping because he knows that when he dies, he knows that this illness is unto death, that he's going to lose the protection of God that was found through Elisha.
So he's weeping over this man of God, whichever way it is, and he needs help. Somebody say, I need help. He needed help. And he asked Elisha, you know, what he's supposed to do. Elisha tells him, I have a bow somewhere.
Elisha tells him to go get a bow. And I found out in the first service, because I have issues with directions, that that's east. Am I right? Is that east? Okay, a few people.
Thank you, Gator. So he tells them, the prophet tells the man of God, go get a bow and get an arrow, and I want you to launch it out of the east window. Open the east window. And he looks to the window and he pulls back the bow and he launches this arrow out of the window, just as the man of God told him to do. And as the arrow is launched, the prophet of God cries out on his deathbed, the Lord's arrow of victory.
The arrow of victory over Syria. Now listen carefully, because Elisha concludes by saying, you will completely destroy the Syrians at Aphek. How many know that's a good sign? How many know that's a good word? Don't you.
Don't you love it when you read God's word and he gives you victory, he gives you conquering ability over the enemy in your life, and you take that word and you run with it, right? Well, Joash should be happy about this, and I think he is. But Elisha's not done with him. He says, now what I want you to do is I want you to take the remaining arrows that you have. I want you to take these arrows and I want you to strike them to the ground.
So King Joash takes the remaining arrows and he kneels down in front of the man on his deathbed, the man of God, and he begins to strike the ground with his arrows. And he hits it one time, and he reels back, and he reels back and he smacks again a second time. And Elisha is waiting with anticipation to see what he does next. And King Joash takes those arrows and he reels back and he smacks it to the ground. And then he's done.
He stops. He finishes. And scripture says that the man of God is angry, angry with him over this. And he's angry and he begins to speak to him and he begins to display his anger with Joash and tell him that you've only struck the ground three times. You should have struck the ground five or six times.
But because you only struck the ground three times, you're only going to defeat Syria three times. You would have some commentary, say you would have ground them into the ground, you would have turned them into dust. If you would have done what the man of God said to do, and you would have struck the ground more than three times, five or six times, your heart drops because you know you're going to have to deal with this enemy that God spoke just moments ago through the prophet and said, you're going to totally annihilate the enemy. Right? Did you hear that?
Two of you did. God said through the prophet, you'll totally defeat your enemy. How many know that with promise there's responsibility.
When he gives promises, they're not for free except for salvation coming by faith, there's usually something attached to it. There's faith that's put into works, into action. And Joash didn't follow through. You're reading the scripture and some of you are looking at me and by your non responsive times, it tells me like, what's the big deal? Jeff, he did what the prophet said, right?
He struck the ground with the arrows. Yeah, but there's some information here. It's kind of like one of those if you know, you know situations. If you know, you know. And Joash knew and he failed the test.
See, Joash and Elisha, they'd seen war before, and Joash knew that it took more to win the war than it did to win a battle. And I just want to. I want to step in here just for a minute and echo Pastor Amanda's words. How many veterans are in the house this morning? You're sitting here today.
Can we just show some love to them? Even now?
We don't have to wait till the holiday to show some love. We can show it now. But just want to encourage you once again, invite a friend or family member who's a veteran. We're going to celebrate you and we're going to honor you and pray for you next week. But you veterans know as you served, that to win the war takes more than what it does to win just one battle.
And see, in this day, with Elisha and King Joash, they understood that there would be an initial attack against the enemy. There would be an initial, maybe, maybe it was a, you know, catch them off guard at night or something. But they would take one attack and then they would come back with a second while the enemy is kind of confused and didn't see that coming. And then they'd come back with a third. But they knew history showed them and knowledge of war at that time knew that it would take five, six battles or advances to totally annihilate the enemy.
Joash knew that and he quit. He gave up. He didn't go all the way. Maybe he didn't believe like some of us. Sometimes we didn't believe the word of God that was spoken through the prophet.
Because sometimes, I'm just being honest with you, I can't receive a word sometimes from a man of God for various reasons. But I want the man of God to look a certain way. Hello. Sometimes. Sometimes, you know, weirdness doesn't attract me.
And sometimes we tend to be weird in the church in the prophetic role and stuff. And sometimes I miss the Word of God because I don't like the package. The word of God came through. I don't think I'm alone in this room. Sometimes we miss God simply because we don't like who the message is coming through.
And God will do that. He'll mess with us. He'll send us a package that just doesn't look like, are you serious? God? But he does that.
And isn't that like us? Church, we get a word from the Lord and we stop short of victory. We just go a little bit. See, God really does want to send revival to America. But church, it's not coming our way.
God has protocol. God has principles. God has spelled it out in his Word how revival will come. And it's not going to come without repentance, humility, and turning our hearts totally to the Lord. Totally to the Lord.
See, we have one night of prayer. I don't know what's happening, guys, but we got a really bad ring in this mic. And if I need to go to handheld, let me know because it's distracting me.
I'm getting a little bit older, but I can still hear a little bit.
God wants to bring revival to America. And sometimes we hold. One night, we put the advertisement out there, prayer for revival. Join us at 6:00. We're going to pray for 22 minutes, and it's going to come and we go home and, boy, didn't we do good?
Wasn't that good? And can I tell you, I remember the Brownsville revival took about two years or more of Sunday nights being set aside totally for corporate prayer. The Welsh revival didn't happen without nights and nights of toiling and weeping before God. And the nation was ablaze in revival. The Cane Ridge revivals, they're all birthed by prayer, by hearts.
Hearing the Holy Spirit and acting upon it, hearing the Holy Spirit, making time and making room for Jesus to do what he wants to do, not what we want to do. Our hearts need to turn completely to the Lord, see you fast and pray for your prodigal son or daughter. But do you. Do you strike the ground again and again in the devil's face for the souls of your kids? Do you strike the ground again and again for that marriage that's headed to divorce court?
Do you believe God for his promises? Or you just stop short of the victory? Oh, we gotta. We gotta press in. We gotta stand on God's promises.
I shared this in the first service. I remember my best friend many years ago. We did everything together. Music, life, everything, vacation. And something happened in his life, and he walked away from the Lord and walked away from his wife and boys.
And I was a youth pastor at the time, and we had right out about 200 youth in our ministry. And I was a real big Dr. Pepperaholic.
And, man, I just. I felt like the Lord said, you need to. That's something. You need to fast. And so I remember I told our youth one night, I said, you know, I'm believing God is going to hook him and bring him back and God's going to touch him.
And I remember that I told them, I'm going to fast Dr. Pepper until he comes home. However, I don't know how long that will be, but however, I'm giving it up. And that's pretty minor. Dr.
Pepper is pretty minor. That's all I had at the time. Okay. Use what you got. You know what happened, all these kids.
Pastor Jeff I'm gonna. I'm gonna start. I'm gonna fast coke for my mom and dad to get saved. I'm gonna fast this so that my friend will get saved and start coming to church. This movement began to happen, and it was not.
I don't think it was literally a year. And my friend stood in a baptismal tank like that and. And publicly confessed his sin before his wife and the whole body of believers was restored. To his boys. And he loves Jesus today.
Can I tell you, that was a minor sacrifice on my part, but you've gotta be able to believe God and do it spiritual ways. It's a spiritual battle. I wasn't mad at him. I was mad at the devil for deceiving him. We gotta strike the ground in prayer and fasting again and again and again.
Your daughter is going to be free from addiction. I felt like Lord was saying that to somebody today. Specifically, that as you fast and pray and as you begin to have a discipline of fasting and prayer, that you're going to see that daughter totally set free from the addiction that has bound her for so long. See, we do want change in America, but we got to do it God's way. And Joel, chapter two shows us this.
Yet even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments. God is so. There's some scriptures that tell us God comes into some of our services and he does this. Your music is annoying to me.
Your religious acts, they are. I'm not going to listen to you because your heart is far from me. You do these outward things, but your heart is far.
God says, rend your heart, not your garment. It's not the outward things that touch God's heart. It's your heart that moves him. And he says, God is gracious and merciful. I love this.
See, we have a God who is righteous. And there's a day coming where there's going to be a separation for all of eternity. And he's going to separate the unrighteous from the righteous. It's coming church, and none of us are perfect. But we can stand under the covering of Almighty God because of the cross of Jesus Christ.
We can be covered by grace because of what Jesus did. If we walk in obedience to his word and what he is saying to us, he's gracious and merciful, slow to anger. Oh, he's slow to anger. Yeah. I'm thankful about that in my own life and for our nation that he's slow to anger.
Abounding in steadfast love. You know what a steadfast means? You can't move it. Some of you, you think that God's love wavers on you. It doesn't waver.
He is rock solid. He loves you. He's waiting on you. But he loves you with an unfailing love, right where you are. Right in the condition that you were in.
He loves you and he relents over disaster. God does not want to bring disaster upon America. But he's waiting on us. He's speaking to the church. We're not speaking to the people out there speaking to the church.
And please understand, repentance is not. I'm sorry. Let's do it again. I'm sorry. No, I can.
Oh, God, I'm sorry. I'll do it again. You know, God, I'm sorry. That's an apology without any real ramification of change of heart and action. Repentance is saying, I've been living for my own desires, for the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pleasures of life.
I've been fulfilling my desires. But I hear you calling me and wooing me, and there's a narrow road. I'm going to follow you. That's what repentance is. It's turning from that old life.
Honestly, I love the prayer of repentance and public prayer of repentance. But more than that, I love it when somebody makes a decision to follow Jesus and they just start following Jesus. Hello, somebody. They're starting. There's fruit in their life.
They get attached to the body. They love His Word. They want to learn and know more about him. They want to worship Him. They're thankful.
It's not about the prayer necessarily. That's made at this altar, though. I love the altar. It's how you're going to walk when you leave from here. Are you going to walk in obedience to God's word?
I need to hurry. I've got 15 pages of notes today. I love what I'm seeing across our American university campuses. God's pouring his spirit out upon our campuses. And you know why they're repenting.
Young people don't give a rip sometimes what you think about them, it's like they'll live for the devil, like, wild. But when God gets ahold of them, they'll live for God, like wild. They're not ashamed to say, yeah, I used to do that, that and that, but Jesus set me free and he can do it for you. Even at the University of Florida, they just had like a thousand young people get saved and hundreds baptized, turning their hearts and lives over to Jesus. God is moving, but it takes repentance.
If your heart is cold today, church. Because I'll be honest, I'm tired of just normal church just coming in one way and leaving the same way. We serve a supernatural God who loves to display his power in our midst. I'm telling you, his presence is real. His presence is real.
If we're going to experience revival in America. We're going to have to repent and turn to him with all of our heart. If your heart is cold today, repent and turn to God. If you've strayed from the truth, you can hear the Holy Spirit just draw on you back. He's not condemning you, he's loving you.
Conviction is love. I'm glad and happy for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that corrects me and draws me back to the Father when I stray. I want to bring some hope to some people today who are. You have been consistently, consistently. You've been striking the ground and you're like, when, Lord?
When, Lord? I've been praying, I've been believing. I've been standing on your word, Lord, when am I going to see it? And God's just whispering, keep striking. I've got my timetable.
Keep doing it. Because God's working not only in them, he's working in you. Am I losing my mic? I don't know. You've been fighting for your family.
You've been fighting for your marriage. You've been fighting for that healing. Look at Galatians 6, 9. Do not get weary in well doing. You know this.
For in due season we will reap. If we do not faint, if we don't quit, if we don't give up, if we keep striking, if we keep standing on the promises of God, we're going to see his promises fulfilled in our lives. I have a favorite T shirt. If you look at some of our family vacations, my kids always remind me, dad, you need a new shirt. Because, like, for 10 years in a row, you would see pictures of our family, and I have the same blue T shirt on.
It's the truth. It's just, you know, guys, we all have that one T shirt, right? Well, I have another T shirt that trumps that one. I retired that one. I still have it, but I've retired it to the back of the closet.
But I have this T shirt that says this. I don't know if you have it on the screen. It says, hell can't have what heaven says is mine. Hell can't have. I'll be walking through Sam's.
I'll be wearing that T shirt. And people, they'll come back and they'll say, what did that say? And then we'll have this conversation. I say, hell can't have my peace. Hell can't take my salvation.
Hell can't have my healing. Hell can't have my marriage. Hell can't have my kids. What are you talking about? I'm telling you, God has promises for our families and for believers.
He has promises. And I'm going to keep striking even when I get weary. I'm going to keep praying and standing on the promises of God because hell can't have what rightfully belongs to me.
Let me try to bring this home if I can. I like to sometimes say if the musicians would come because you think we're closing and I don't. We'll just keep going. I want to talk to us about this defining moment that takes place this Tuesday. I didn't really ask for you, but you can sit up here if you want.
You can sit up here. Go ahead, sit. I'm having an illustration sermon now. Would you give these ladies a hand? Seriously?
You know, I just, I want to honor them. You want to. That was a God thing. These ladies are some of the most faithful ladies you will ever find.
Faithful, encouraging, building your faith up, thinking of others ahead of themselves. These ladies are amazing. It's truly an honor to serve with them. But wait till I ask you to play. They are on time.
I love it. I love it. Pastor mentioned that I think it's 30 or 40 million people didn't vote. Christians didn't vote in the last election. 30 or 40.
Barna came out with a report and can I tell you, I don't even want to say Barna's number because it makes that 3040 look like nothing and it, to be honest, kind of hard for me to believe. But just think what would happen if that 30 or 40 million believers would take their vote seriously and stop looking at personalities and look at platform now. Hey, listen, I may ask you for the next 30 minutes to be silent or not 30. Some of you. What?
Because I don't want shouts or jeers, but I do want to share this. The other day my son and I went to vote together and then my mother in law, 90 year old mother in law came home and she'd only been home a day and Terry needed to vote. So I ran her over to vote and I thought the line was going to be long. We got right in and Terry's mother was not so sure she wanted, you know, she was just fussing over it and I said, you ought to just try it. Well, we went in there and the lady said, well, you can help her.
I said, well, I'll step right up.
And so we had to sign some documents for me to help her. And she did a great job. You know those Scantrons where you have to circle that she has the most perfect circles I've ever seen in my life. I'm always outside the line. She's perfect.
But I want to say this about that. I really. It's the first time, my first election when I was 18 to now, that's the first time I went into a voting booth and seriously felt like it was a holy moment. That may seem weird to you. I felt like it was a sacred act, that it had great significance.
It wasn't just filling in a dot, that there was a lot attached to this one, much attached to this election.
There's a few thoughts that I want to share and I'm not going to mention names, but I'm going to just lay out some ideals and party platforms and allow you as believers to let the spirit of God say, where is Jesus in that? Once again, not talking about personalities. I'm looking at platform, and there's no perfect platform. We have what we have to work with and the reason it is what it is because much of the church has not participated in it. As far as voting and actually as candidates and running for office.
I'm going to say that. Okay, I will. Brian, just a minute. I'm going to say it again. Trust me.
I'll say it two or three times because there's people in the back that need to hear it. One party. Listen carefully. One party has actually removed God from their platform. And another party that's not perfect has welcomed the principles of God into their platform.
One party has verbally said, jesus belongs down the street at that little meeting down there, but not in here. Another candidate literally stood up, literally stood up when someone said that and said, that's right, Jesus is king. You have to look at the. You have to look at those things and tell me, which way do I want to go?
One party invites prayer into the White House while the other party lights the White House up in rainbow colors, not to honor God's promise to mankind, but to promote an agenda that is contrary to God's design. One party truly believes that the sacrifice of our children through abortion is called healthcare, while one party believes in the sanctity of life. Where does God fall in that?
I'm going to say this because you can listen to this preacher and 10 other preachers and 10 other preachers are going to have a different opinion. It's America. It seems to be the way it is. We need the body of Christ kind of flowing in the same direction. But what I'm asking you to do is let the Holy Spirit speak to You.
He's inside of you. Let him direct you. And you know what? Oftentimes there are times when I don't like that candidate, Lord. And God says, but I have a plan.
I need you to do this. Hello? God's ways are higher. They are much higher. One party cannot define what a man or woman is.
Believes against God's word that men can marry men and women can marry women and children can have mutilation surgeries without their parents knowledge. One party doesn't believe that at all. I don't know about you, but I want to stick to biblical standards. God has a design for marriage. It's been under attack for many years now.
It's just out in the open. Hello. The devil has a plan for our children and it's out in the open and we need to do something about it. One party believes that our borders should be wide open which allow people from many nations to come to our nation illegally. Some with the right reasons, but many with wrong reasons, which has caused death, which has caused chaos in some of our communities.
Fear. And then one party believes that yes, we do welcome immigrants to America. We are a nation of immigrants. But there is a process. And the process is broken.
But the process can be fixed. And let me just say the process, the process that is currently in state. My wife and I have stood with friends from other countries who have gone through the process to become American citizens. And we have wept. They have taken that journey and they have stood to pledge allegiance to the United States of America.
It works. Even though it may not be the best and needs fixed, it works. And we need to improve upon it, but it works. And there are people who can. We should not dishonor them because they went through that process.
We should have people do the same thing. Just saying. One party wholeheartedly supports and stands with Israel while another party restrains and disdains Israel. There are obvious differences between the party platforms. In this moment, you and I have a decision to make that will honor God or dishonor God.
I believe that. See, during some of the darkest days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln reminded his fellow Americans this. He said, we have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. And with those blessings and the goodness of heaven that's been bestowed upon this nation, there's not only a privilege that we have to live in America, but there is an awesome responsibility of living in America. And we need to be part of the process to fix things.
The body of Christ is under attack in America. Not like it is In. I don't want to. There's real persecution going on in other countries. So when somebody posts something on Facebook about you because you're a Christian, that's not persecution.
I call that something, but I need to be careful. Okay? Okay. That's not persecution. The church that's growing the fastest in the world is in Iran.
It's run by women, it's led by women. There's no organization to it. It's a move of the spirit of God. God moving in the earth. Proverbs 14:34 says, righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
We need to move back to righteousness in this land. We can't continue down this road of moral and spiritual decline. I love how people. You shouldn't preach about this stuff in church. Well, the reason we are in a place we are is because we haven't preached about it.
We don't talk about cultural issues. We have to address it.
It's like you have to address these things. And how do we live in such a culture? We stand for righteous. You need to read James chapter one again and again and again and again. Because hard times are coming to America.
No matter what happens on Tuesday, hard times are coming and the church needs to be able to stand and not waver in an atmosphere of deceit and antichrist. We must be able to stand. You're not going to stand if you don't know God's word. If all the word you get is these little scriptures that I put on the screen or pastor puts on the screen each week, that's not enough. You've got to eat of the Word daily in order to stand.
In these days, as believers in Jesus, we have a call to be salt and light to the world. Matthew 5:13 through 16. And I want to give you four things that I believe to encourage you with before we leave today that I hope you will take to heart and pray on. The first thing that I want to challenge us to do in this defining moment is to return and put a priority, personally and corporately put a priority and a high value on prayer. We need to be a people of prayer.
We need to pray as we never have before. Prayer takes me to a place where, where I know God. Prayer opens up understanding. God speaks to us when we pray. Can I tell you?
Prayer is a two way conversation. Read the word, talk to God, Be quiet. Read the word, talk to God, be quiet and wait for him to speak. He will speak and will knock your socks off and you will Be like, I want more of this. That's why people say they can't pray for very long.
I'm telling you, if you enter into his presence with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, he'll draw you deeper. And nothing of this world tastes like his presence. And knowing him go deeper. You see? Listen, we don't have real change in America.
For many years, I believe this is my opinion. You can disagree. It's all good. I love you. I hope you still love me.
But I believe for many years, the church has been playing. Instead of praying through tears, we've been spending time playing. And we do all kinds of tricks to get people to come to church instead of if they just encounter the living presence of God. That's all you need. Hello?
The truth of his word, his presence. I'm reminded of a couple disciples of the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth. He had a couple that he had sent out to win souls in the area. And it was hard. And you gotta remember these guys were getting rocks and stuff thrown at them.
They were being persecuted for the gospel. England was dark. It was very dark, and sin abounded. And he sent these guys out, and they came back defeated. Not one convert, not one soul.
Nothing happened. And without hesitation, William Booth looked at them and just spoke two words. He looked them in the eyes and he said, try tears, men. Try tears. They knew exactly what he was saying.
They began to pray and weep over souls and weep over their city and cry out to God for souls. And they were sent back, and there was a harvest of souls. We've got to take that arrow of prayer and intercession and strike it again and again so that all of Oxford and the surrounding area knows that there's a living king that loves them and can transform their lives. Our founding fathers knew the power and purpose of prayer. From our nation's beginning through times of war and tragedy, we've been called to pray that the hand of Almighty God would show forth his mercy and intervene with his grace toward America.
And today is no different. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 says, if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, you know it. Then we want him to hear from heaven. We want the healing to come to the land. But we got to do the first part.
We've got to turn to him with all of our heart. The expectation of coming into the house of God. I'm telling you, when Pastor comes back, you ought to have an expectation in your heart that God's going to do something supernatural in this house. You need to have an expectation in your heart the people are going to get saved, the people are going to get healed. An expectation that you are going to encounter God every time you come into the house of God because he wants to meet with us.
Secondly, first of all, we're going to pray. Second of all, process. See, there is a. Within the God given wisdom of our founding fathers, founding documents we have been granted clear and certain processes for bringing about change concerning things in society that we perceive as wrong. Wrong for our land or taking us away from the right direction.
From the local municipality to the halls of Congress and the White House embedded in the laws and governmental processes of America, there are pathways for non violent moral, social and political change. But you have to understand them. You have to understand them. You have to know how things operate and work. And that leads us to point three.
Once you know the process, we need to participate. We need you to vote. Need you to vote. But you know what else we need? I believe with all my heart we need to participate.
I believe with all my heart that there are people under the sound of my voice today. God's called you into public service. It might be in the local government, it might be state government, it might be national government, but God has called you into it. I was saying something in the first service. There was a little guy.
This is really my first time doing walk.
And it. I'll just be quite honest, the first week was a disaster. 30 minutes was good, but I had 30 minutes more to go and I didn't know what I was doing. Okay, but Elaine Walker, where are you? You're a blessing because you made it happen.
But this last week, there's one little guy. It didn't matter what I did. He was.
And I couldn't get him to be quiet. And in the middle of something, I just stopped saying, hey, you. I couldn't remember his name, you. And he just, he froze. And I said, you know what, little man?
Steve Harvey ain't got nothing on you.
You got something to say about everything, don't you? And he's just looking at me and I said, you do, and it's a good thing. I said, I believe God is going to use you some way as a communicator. It might be a preacher, but it might be something else. But you have a way of communicating, young man, at whatever age you are.
10. I don't know what he is, but I'm like, you have a gift. And it just, it struck me, even as I was speaking that over him, it's like we have to speak of our young people and give them hope to know that they can do great things for God. And it's not always within the walls of a church. It's out here in public service.
We have a. One of our sons has always been attracted to the political process. And I remember he was trying to get an internship in Mozambique with the State Department and he had worked on some presidential elections. He had done the door to door stuff for him. And he had our state congressman tell him, you just can't get it, Jack, you're not going to get that position.
Your dad is kind of a nobody in this town and in this state. He doesn't have the reputation, he doesn't have this. He doesn't own a business, he doesn't do that. Your dad, whatever. And that congressman got voted out and Jack got the internship.
And I remember seeing that congressman at an event and I was just like, see. And since that time, I mean he has served in the State Department. He served under two administrations of one of our current presidents in the office of administration. He has served. He went through the pandemic whether you liked it or not.
My son was very involved at high levels with some of the folks who were making decisions over the pandemic. Right, wrong, indifferent. However you see that. My point is this. When people say you're not, there's nothing about you.
And God says, I've got something for you and let me just, I'm just gonna. When he was nine years old, this is just part of my message. I guess I'm just adding this. When he was nine years old, he had a vision of being in Africa, preaching before thousands of people. And the Lord showed him.
He is beside his, his blonde haired wife and two children. God gave him this vision in children's church. Don't think that they're babysitting over there, they're having God encounters in that building over there with children that you may not realize are going on. And two years later he set foot on Africa for the first time. And God burned in his heart to serve the people of Africa.
He oversees a program for the State Department for the nation of Malawi. It's a relief program there in Malawi. My point in saying all that is when God says you're it, nothing in hell can stop you from being it. When God has something upon your kids, it doesn't matter if you got money, don't have money, have a good reputation. If God says it's so, it will be so.
And we have to speak life over our kids. Jack, you can do it. And now he's working on his doctorate at Creighton University. What am I trying to say? God has higher things for our kids, even though we may not have gone as high as they're going, hello, somebody speak over your kids.
Speak the promises of God over them. But now he's participating in the process, and he's active in it. James 4:17 says this. To him who knows to do good and does not do it to him, it is sin.
To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him, it is sin. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. You don't vote on Tuesday. It's kind of like King Joash. He's like, man, I'm just tired.
I'm tired of the political ads. I'm just tired. Whatever, whatever. And God is saying, no, no, no, no, it's not whatever. Participate.
I want to close with a story or two, and we'll get out of here. I'm not sure if you know who Dr. Irwin Lutzer is, but he's a pastor emeritus of Moody Church in Chicago. Had the privilege of leading worship at one of his events at Purdue University many years ago and just kind of followed him ever since. Just a man of God.
Just a real man of God. He tells this story talking about participating, making a difference. And he tells the story that when he was a child living in Germany, Nazi Germany, he was a Christian, and they'd heard stories about things going on with the Jews. And in his words, he said, but what could you do about it, right? What could you really do?
Read a little bit of Bonhoeffer and you'll see some parallels with America. I believe they would go to church every Sunday, and behind the church there would be railroad tracks. And off in the distance, they'd hear a whistle coming, and the train would be coming soon, and the train would go by. And initially they heard cries from the railroad cars, and it disturbed them. And each week they would hear that whistle, and they would know about what time that train was coming.
So when the whistle would begin to blow, whatever's going on in the service, they just grab a hymnal and start singing Shall We Gather at the river, or whatever song they're singing, right? Then sings my soul. Trains getting closer. The whistle's blowing. They're close.
They can hear the screams. Just sing louder, Church, just sing louder. Just sing louder just as I am. Just don't listen to the screams.
So we just learned to sing louder above the screams. But he said, when I go to sleep at night, I still hear the screams. And we did nothing. We did nothing to stop it. And he said, we have to live with that.
You may say, pastor Jeff, that's pretty extreme, man. This is America. That really, really. It's a defining moment. Church.
Participate, man.
Get involved in the process. Finally persevere. When fighting for what is right, we can't stop until we get there. Right? We got to see victory won.
I thank God for William Wilberforce, who fought and persevered through a lot to see the slave trade stopped in England. Thank God for Martin Luther King Jr. And Rosa Parks and others who fought for civil rights in our country. And we're not perfect, but, man, we're a lot better. Some may say we're not better.
I think we're a lot better than the 40s and 50s and beyond before that. Hello. You can disagree. It's all good.
When soon to be president George Washington led his troops into battle during the Revolutionary War. Cindy, you can begin to play.
Washington lost most of those battles. It was difficult. But he persevered and the war was won. He didn't give up. He kept striking.
He kept fighting. We need that spirit of perseverance in the American church today to keep fighting for righteousness, for truth, for the word of God. Some of you have grandchildren that are in public schools, and they're being taught things that you never, never thought would ever be taught in our public schools. You have the years and wisdom and experience to teach them what is right. Y'all with me today?
We have a responsibility to train up our children to let them know the truth of God's word. We may have lost some battles, Church, but we will win the war for Jesus. See, it took 50 years for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, but it got done because of perseverance. You might be going through some really tough stuff right now.
And I pray that God today, a spirit of perseverance in your personal life. Maybe you've questioned God's word. You've questioned his promises. Like you don't see it. I prayed for probably 40 years for my dad to get saved.
And he gave his heart to the Lord before he died. I'm so glad. Now I'm telling you. There were times when I was mad at him. I didn't like the way he lived and said, God, you gotta touch my dad.
I remember one of the last conversations I had with him, said, dad, we can't do anything about our past. You can't do anything about changing the past. But we can have a future together if you would just give your heart to the Lord and by the grace of God, the days following he gave his heart to the Lord. So I know I'm going to see my Father in heaven and we're going to have an eternity that we never could have imagined, because I know myself and my family, we continue to pray. Second Chronicles 15:7 says this, but you take courage.
Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. Can I encourage you today? Don't let your hands be weak. Don't be idle. However God has gifted you, however God has designed you, use your all for his glory and for his fame.
And in due season, your work will be rewarded. His word promises that. I want to close two ways this morning, maybe sitting here and you hear those scriptures from Joel, chapter two. You hear Chronicles 7:14, and you're like, man, I'm just away from God. I've just strayed.
Can I tell you, God's not mad at you. God's not looking to hurt you. He loves you.
Heads bowed and eyes closed, just for a moment. I want to give two altar calls. No one looking around, please. No one moving around in this holy moment, you say, Pastor. Pastor Jeff, I know I've strayed from the Lord, and I just want to.
I want to return to the Lord. And I'm just acknowledging today by uplifting the hand, that I'm giving my heart back to the Lord fully. I'm going to live for him. I'm going to stop living for my own desires. And I surrender my.
With no one looking around, say, that's me, Pastor Jeff. Would you pray for me? Slip your hand up just so I can see it. Then you can put it down. See who I'm praying for.
You can put it right back down. Put it right back down. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.
Can I tell you, God loves you today. He relents and he loves you. I wonder if we could just remain seated and pray together. I won't ask you to stand to do this, but I want to read a scripture. I want us to pray for our nation.
You can look this way. First Timothy, chapter two says, first of all, I urge that supplication, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people. For kings and all who are in high positions. Wait a minute. It says for Democrats only and sometimes.
No, it says for all. God allows certain people to be raised up or brought down. He does that. Our responsibility is not to post on Facebook. Our responsibility is to get on our knees and pray for them that we may lead.
What. What's the result of that? A peaceful and quiet life. Why do we pray for our leaders? So that we and our families, our communities, can have peace and lead a quiet life, dignified in every way.
This is good and is pleasing in the sight of our God, who desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Why do we pray for our leaders? So we have the freedom and liberty to preach this gospel. Why do we pray for our leaders? Because it brings peace to our land.
So it may be hard for you to pray for certain candidates. You need to get over that. I'm going to make a statement, and probably I'll close this. I'll just walk off the stage. I told Pastor Daniel, have the hook ready if you need to get me off the stage.
I believe some of our presidents never did reach their potential because the American church failed. We didn't like the candidate, we didn't like the president. So we're just gonna. We're gonna show them. And we failed ourselves when we do that.
We've failed our children when we do that. We're simply asked to pray for them. Let God deal with their hearts. Let God deal with the decisions out of White House and Congress. Our position is to pray for them and get ourselves involved.
Let's pray. I want you to pray. I want to hear your voice. Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray for America today. We ask God for fresh outpouring of your spirit.
We repent of our sins. We turn our hearts to you. God, we lean into you today. We say our hearts are yours. Have your way.
God, we pray for President Biden right now that you would touch him. God, we ask that you would bless him, Father, in these final days of his presidency. God, we ask you to touch him physically, spiritually, in all ways. Father, we ask for your blessings upon his family. Lord, we pray for Donald Trump, for Kamala Harris.
Lord. God, as they are vying for the presidency, God, we ask for your kingdom to come, your will to be done. God, we ask that you'd protect both of the candidates. We pray that your blessings would be upon them and their families. And, Lord, we don't know them personally.
God, you do so. Father, we ask that you would touch them. And if they haven't confessed Jesus as Lord and truly repented. God, we ask that you would deal with them and you would draw them to yourself. God, we ask on Tuesday that you would move in the nation.
And, God, we ask that the Believers would get out and vote. Lord God, according to your word. What closely aligns to your word, God? May we have boldness and perseverance, Lord, to live for you in these days, Lord. And may you put a spirit of perseverance in us, Lord, to participate in the process, Lord.
May out of this house congressmen and women and senators, Lord, and even presidents arise. Out of this house, Lord God, to lead our nation in righteous paths. Would you stand with me this morning? Could you do that just for a moment? Can you lift your hands?
Heaven say, lord, we thank you for America. We thank you for our leaders. We thank you for the privilege of living here. God help us to live up, Lord, to the responsibility of living in this nation, Lord, and pointing people to you. Let your kingdom come in America.
Let your will be done. And, Lord, may we see a mighty revival of your spirit across this land, bringing honor and glory to your name. May Oxford Assembly, Lord, in this next season, see a harvest of souls that literally blows our mind, Lord God, because it's the work that you are doing in the spirit. We are yours. As we leave this place.
We are your ambassadors. Lead us and guide us to touch our world. For Jesus. In your name we pray.
