Election Day Sermon, Applying Biblical Principles to Government, Pastor Bryan Longworth, Covenant Tabernacle

We read this morning from Psalm 33 about how Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and that nations are not protected by the multitude of their army or the power of their military force but there protected based on the protection of God God's sovereignty and that is most often based on whether that nation is obeying God's word or violating God's word.
In Proverbs 14:34 we read, “righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” and in Proverbs 28:12, we learn, “When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.” (Ref. vs. 28) (NKJV)
With something so important as the course of a nation, the course of a state, the course of a County, the course of a city, with something this large at stake, you would think that God's people would show up. You would thing that God's people would study to know the issues and would go out and exercise their right to vote. I believe that we have a responsibility to vote for godly men to rule over us. There are over 65 million evangelical Christians, yet in any given election only half or maybe less vote! In fact many Christians aren't even registered to vote. It's amazing when you look at the differences in some of the political races and the margin versus the amount of Christians not even registered to vote in those states. Here in the state of Florida, over 600,000 evangelical Christians are not registered to vote. That’s almost enough people to get the Florida ProLife Personhood Amendment on the ballot. We’re going to go to them so that we can register them so that they can sign the person had the Florida ProLife Personhood Amendment.
It is important that we realize it is important whether a nation obeys God or not. The people that we elect to rule over us hold important positions of power. We need to vote based on biblical issues based on their positions and we need to vote that way as opposed to voting for our pocketbook which sometimes happens.
Christians did come out strongly in 2008 but they voted for what they thought was hope and change a boy we sure have gotten some change, but we need some hope, and we actually need more change to return back to the founding principles
William Penn said, “Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them; and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men than men upon governments. Let men be good and the government cannot be bad. . . . But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn. . . .[T]hough good laws do well, good men do better; for good laws may want [lack] good men and be abolished or invaded by ill men; but good men will never want good laws nor suffer [allow] ill ones.”
[William Penn quoted from: Thomas Clarkson, Memoirs of the Private and Public Life of William Penn (London: Richard Taylor and Co., 1813) Vol. I, p.303.]
Matthias Burnett instructed his congregation, “Consider well the important trust . . . which God . . . [has] put into your hands. . . . To God and posterity you are accountable for [your rights and your rulers]. . . . Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights and prostrating those institutions which your fathers delivered to you. . . . [L]ook well to the characters and qualifications of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust. . . . Think not that your interests will be safe in the hands of the weak and ignorant; or faithfully managed by the impious, the dissolute and the immoral. Think not that men who acknowledge not the providence of God nor regard His laws will be uncorrupt in office, firm in defense of the righteous cause against the oppressor, or resolutly oppose the torrent of iniquity. . . . Watch over your liberties and privileges - civil and religious - with a careful eye.”
[Matthias Burnett, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Norwalk, An Election Sermon, Preached at Hartford, on the Day of the Anniversary Election, May 12, 1803 (Hartford: Printed by Hudson & Goodwin, 1803), pp. 27-28.]
Charles Finney warned, “[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it - and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics].”
[Charles G. Finney, Lectures on Revivals of Religion (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1868), Lecture XV, pp. 281-282.]
As we look at this election season and as we look at the presidential preference primary that is coming up for the Republican Party this Tuesday, if you are registered Republican and haven’t voted yet, I encourage you to go out and vote and let your voice be heard. We’re going to look at some of biblical issues surrounding this campaign and look at the various candidates and see how they match up to God's word , the Bible, because we do have a responsibility to vote for men that would uphold righteousness. We’re going to examine where the candidates stand on key issues such as: whether the candidates fear God and are just, whether they will defend the sanctity of human life, whether they will defend traditional marriage and the family, and whether they support limited or expansive government.
As Christians, we have an obligation to vote for godly men to represent us; however, electing the right man as president will not redeem America. To turn things around, we need to turn back to God with all of our heart, all or our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength. We need to look into the perfect law of liberty (the Bible), examine our lives, families, churches, cities, states, and nation in light of God’s word, and where needed, we need to amend our ways. We need to humble ourselves, and pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked way so that our God can hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:13-14.)

12/5/10 Sermon, Has the Government Exceeded Its Biblical Authority, the Constitution, limited Government, founding fathers, food safety bill, bake sal

Has Government Exceeded its Biblical Authority

We have seen ever increasingly the ever expanding role of government in America. This expansion has greatly accelerated in the last two years as President Barack Obama has aggressively pushed his radical, socialist agenda.

We've been told, you can keep your own health plan. That much is true; however, it will cost you 40% more to do so. Why? Because I now have to pay for the extra coverage that I don't need but the government mandates. Since insurance companies can't charge the individuals needing the coverage extra, they have to charge everyone extra.

Recently the federal government in a lame duck session passed outrageous acts that expanded their control over our lives by passing the food safety act which gives the federal government the right to shut down small farms and even gardens and a bill that regulate bake sales at schools and includes a push to provide breakfast, lunch, and supper for school children. These acts and most of the other things the federal government does are unconstitutional. Look in the constitution and the Bible, and you won't find the authority for 95% of what the federal government does.

But it's not just the Federal Government that's at fault. In Florida, someone who wants to paint someone's fence has to go to four government offices in different locations and pay fees to get an occupational permit. You shouldn't need the governments permission to work!

You can't change your windows in your own house without the governments permission. You can't change your doors in your own house without your governments permission. In some cities, you can't hold a yard sale or change your hot water heater without a permit. Pretty soon, you'll have to get the governments permission to change your toilette seat.

How did the founding fathers make it without permits? How did their houses stand up. How did they make it without welfare? How did they survive without Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security? How did they send their kids to college without government loans? How did they make it without government regulation?

In November, the American people said enough is enough. We're taking our country back! As we move forward, let us look at what the Bible says about the size and scope of the government and taxes.

Has Government Exceeded its Biblical Authority Sermon Notes

Opening Passage – Psalm 18.

What is the Biblical Role of Government

1 Samuel 8:11-20.

Romans 13:1-7 – “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” (NKJV)

Who is Your Protector?

“Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” Ezra 8:21-22.

In Whom Do You Trust?

Psalm 18:2, 30, 35 – “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. ³⁰ As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. ³⁵ You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.”

Who is Your Provider?

Matthew 6:31-34 -- “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

What’s at Stake

Luke 22:24-27

Sermon, Has the Government Exceeded Its Biblical Authority, the Constitution, limited Government, founding fathers, food safety bill, bake sales at school, permits, occupational licenses, taxes, regulation, tea party, Revival, Reformation, Great Awakening, Repentance, Restoration. Pastor Bryan Longworth, Covenant Tabernacle Worship Service. Prolife, pro-life, abortion, Repentance, Revival, Reformation, A True Move of God. Join us as we worship the King of King and Lord of Lords and call the church and our city, state, and nation to repent before a holy God. For information about Covenant Tabernacle, Port St. Lucie, visit Covenant Tabernacle's website http://www.CovenantTabernacle.com.