Romans 1:16

Hey, just a few things I wanted to announce before we get into the Scriptures today. First, thank you to those of you who joined us yesterday at Maranatha Chapel for our memorial for Rich Gary. We had a wonderful time honoring his memory, and I appreciate that so many of you came out. Thank you also to those of you who brought finger food. We had exceedingly abundantly above anything we could ever ask for, so that was awesome.

Please continue to keep Mare and her family in your prayers. We greatly appreciate your prayers. Also, tomorrow, please be praying for our harvest parties. We have seven or eight of them going on at various connect group houses throughout the area. If you're interested in being a part of that, you can come talk with us at the connection point after the service today. We want to reach out to our community and our neighbors, so we have these harvest parties as trick-or-treaters are going around for Halloween. We also have some treats that we'll give to the parents, and people are having games in their front yards. We'll have one at our house because we have a great house for trick-or-treaters, so that'll be awesome.

Over the last year or so, we've been sharing with you about a trip that we were planning and preparing for—a tour of Israel and some of the areas where the journeys of Paul took place in the Book of Acts. We're leaving this Tuesday, so please be praying for the group that's heading out on Tuesday morning. This means that over the next two weeks, we will have a couple more guest speakers. I encourage you to invite some friends to come because we have some great guest speakers lined up for the next couple of weeks.

Next Sunday, my good friend Dr. Mickey Stonier will be coming to share here at the church. If you've been here for a while, you've heard Mickey before. He was here a couple of years ago. He is a pastor at the Rock Church in San Diego with Pastor Miles and has pastored at Horizon Christian Fellowship with Mike McIntosh for about 35 years. On top of that, he has also been a chaplain with the emergency medical and law enforcement community for a very long time. He, along with Mike McIntosh, was the key chaplain on the ground at Ground Zero in New York after 9/11. He has an amazing testimony and has just written a book that talks about ministering to people who are going through times of grief and trauma. He has his PhD in psychology, and I think it will be a great message.

This will be a great opportunity for you to invite someone to come. Make sure you don't miss it. Mickey is a great friend of mine and a mentor. The following week, another good friend of mine, who pastors a church in San Diego, Dr. Chuck Allers, is going to be here. He has a PhD in Islamic studies and has a lot of great information that he wants to share. I think it will be a great message. So, in the next couple of weeks, we have some good guys coming out to share with you. I am looking forward to that.

With that, would you open your Bibles to the book of Romans? Romans is in the New Testament, right after the book of Acts and just before the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians. If you don't have a Bible, you can raise your hand, and one of our ushers will bring you one. We are going to read from two verses in Romans chapter 1, verses 16 and 17 today. If you would, please stand with me for the reading of God's Word.

Romans chapter 1, verse 16: There the Apostle Paul writes, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"

Father, as we consider your Word today and think about the applications and ramifications of these things, I pray, God, that you would continue to transform us by the renewing of our minds. Lord, do such a work in our lives that we, just like the Apostle who wrote these words, would also not be ashamed of the gospel, the good news of who you are and what you've done.

May we be those who shine like bright lights that cannot be hidden in a dark world—a world that is in desperate need of your grace, goodness, peace, and forgiveness. God, do a work in us. I am more convinced than ever, as I look at our nation and the world, that what our world needs more than ever is your good news of the gospel. So, God, do a work in us that we would be those who have been transformed by the gospel and also those who are declaring it.

So work in us, we pray. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all those that agreed said, "Amen." You can be seated. Amen. We had been driving for many hours.

It was a late Sunday afternoon in late summer. The sun was shining over rich farmland as far as the eye could see. It was one of those extremely stereotypical situations. We were driving in a VW van, and as we traveled along the motorway, every sight, every smell, everything my senses were taking in was completely new. I had never been there before, and it felt like being a small child experiencing everything for the first time.

On either side of the road, there were huge trellises with long vines, twenty feet tall, almost ready to be harvested for hops. We had just passed a sign with names like Dachau, Nuremberg, and Munich on it. As we drove east towards Austria, I thought to myself, this is where it all happened. This is where it all went down. It was one of the greatest events in history—a great historical showdown between two competing forces. This was the epicenter from which a group of great names like Wycliffe, Huss, Beza, Tyndale, Zwingli, Melanchthon, Knox, Calvin, and Luther sprang forth and shook the world of their day.

If you've heard those names before, you know that I'm not talking about what took place on that very same ground in the 20th century, during the two world wars that happened in that region. I am referring to another shaking event that occurred many years earlier in the 16th century, known as the Protestant Reformation.

I'm sure that all of you are aware that tomorrow is a holiday in our nation, and many people will put on costumes and go door to door for Halloween trick-or-treating. However, it wasn't until I moved to Germany in 2003 that I realized October 31st is more than just Halloween. There is another holiday that takes place on October 31st. We may not necessarily celebrate it here, but in Germany, they certainly do.

Before I moved there, I had some knowledge of the Protestant Reformation. I had never really studied it too much or gone in-depth into what took place. I knew names like John Calvin, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, and Martin Luther, but I...

I didn't know a whole lot about what they had done and what had happened through them until I was able to go there and see some of the places, some of the sites. It wasn't until I stood before what is called the Schlosskirche, or the Castle Church, in Wittenberg, Germany, that I fully grasped those things. I heard exactly what took place there in Wittenberg 499 years ago.

Maybe you don't know the history, and that's okay because it's not exactly something that we dig into too often—the history of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31st, 499 years ago, in 1517, there was a great pivotal event in church history that has really shaken the world in such a phenomenal way. It was on that day that Martin Luther, not Martin Luther King Jr., but Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk from Eisleben, Germany, began to circulate a document that was a complaint against the Catholic Church.

This was a phenomenal thing because he was, at that time, a Catholic monk and theologian, and he was a teacher, a professor at the University of Wittenberg of biblical studies. Here was this German Catholic monk who put together this document and began to circulate it. He first sent it to the Archbishop of Mainz in that area, and then he nailed it to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany—the 95 Theses. It was a list of 95 complaints against the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church.

You may have heard the phrase before, "the shot heard around the world." It's almost like the hammer heard around the world as he nailed that to the door of the church. You may wonder, why would he nail it to the door of the church? Was it like an eviction notice? What was he doing here?

During that period of time, the door of the church served as a bulletin board for the community, where various announcements and documents would be posted. By bringing this document there, he was making it available for public circulation—his complaint, his argument against some of the practices of the church. It transformed and shook much.

When you look back on that event that took place on October 31st, 1517, almost 500 years ago, it is clear that it had a lasting impact.

Years ago, October 31st became celebrated as Reformation Day in Germany. It is important to recognize that this date is not really the launch of the Reformation; rather, it was a tipping point, a turning point in the Reformation. The Reformation actually began before that, not in the 16th century, but in the 14th century.

You may be wondering why I am bringing all this up and trudging through this kind of history. I am not here to give a history lesson on the Protestant Reformation today, even though tomorrow is the celebration of Reformation Day. The reason I am discussing this is that, as I look at the things going on in our world 500 years later, I genuinely feel that we are in a time that calls for another serious Reformation.

The Protestant Reformation began, as I mentioned, before Martin Luther and his actions in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31st, 1517. It began with other figures like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, specifically at the end of the 1300s, in 1377. During that time in the 14th century in continental Europe, there was no separation of church and state. That concept did not exist. There were state governing authorities, such as princes, kings, and lords over various regions in Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, and Austria. However, above them was the church.

Conflicts arose between these regional leaders and the church, which held incredible authority. Although these lords could dictate what would happen in their territories, the church dealt with matters of eternity. Being excommunicated from the church meant you could do little in society at that time, as the church wielded extreme power.

In 1377, a significant event occurred: a split in the church, known as the Great Schism. The church was divided into two factions, not over theological issues or differences in belief, but over political issues. The Catholic Church, headed by the Pope, was now split in two, with one pope in Rome and another in France.

For the next 30 years, especially until there was a council to deal with these issues, there was conflict, known as the Thirty Years' War. There were many problems occurring, but it wasn't a theological issue; it was a political divide within the church. This political divide in 1377 had a significant impact on society. It shook society to start examining the issues within the church.

At the same time, other significant developments were taking place. Up to that point, when people gathered for Mass or came together for church, they would hear the priest speak not in their native language but in Latin. All the scripture was in Latin as well. However, during this period, there were movements to translate the scriptures. In England, John Wycliffe translated the first English Bible, allowing people to read the scriptures on their own. As they began to read the scriptures, they also observed the church, which was politically divided and corrupt in many ways. This period of church history did not reflect a good witness of Christ at all.

Individuals in England, through John Wycliffe's ministry, began to examine the Bible alongside the church and realized that things did not add up. Following Wycliffe, in Prague, there was Jan Hus, who also translated scripture. He, along with others, looked at the scriptures and the church and concluded that they did not align. This was the beginning of the seeds of reformation, which would bear fruit 200 years later when Martin Luther emerged. There was a great shaking and a significant transition during this time.

The political divide in the church in 1377 gave rise to a massive theological renewal, with individuals like Wycliffe and Hus leading the charge. This movement continued to challenge the false teachings and poor witness of the church. The political structures of the church were corrupt to the core, and the theological positions were in error.

Why do I bring this up? Because I believe we all sense the need for a new reformation. Why do I feel this way? Well, because of this: does anyone have one of these? I was going through this the other day and found it quite interesting.

I'll be very honest. I don't like to talk politics from the pulpit because, as long as I'm here at the pulpit or pub table, this pulpit is going to be biblical, not political. However, it's amazing to me as I look at some of the things that are happening. I've been getting a lot of emails while I've been out for a few weeks, and all the emails have a common theme. They all have to do with politics. Many people are asking, "Pastor, when are you going to say something about politics?"

It's really interesting to see the variety of opinions in these emails. One email from someone in the church states that Donald Trump is evil and wicked. Another email argues that we have to elect Donald Trump because Hillary Clinton is wicked and evil. Then, I receive another email saying we can't do that because Donald Trump is so bad. Yet another email suggests we shouldn't vote for president at all because neither candidate is good. This is all coming from within the church, so we are politically divided, just a little.

There is a common theme in these messages: "Pastor, what are you going to say about these things? When are you going to tell us how to vote?" Well, just so you know, I will never tell you how to vote. I'm not really interested in discussing what's at the top of the ticket, whether it's the president or vice president. However, I do know that Psalm 2:4 says that God beholds the nations. He looks at the politics of the nations and laughs in heaven. This year, we've given Him a lot to laugh about.

While I'm not interested in discussing presidential politics, there is something about this document that seems bigger than I remember in the past. I've mentioned that you now need two stamps to send this in. There are some things that interest me, but before we get to that, there's a passage of Scripture that came to my mind as I was thinking about these things this week. It's found in the Old Testament, right about the middle of your Bible, in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is a big book with 66 chapters. Right after the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon comes this significant book of Isaiah.

We will be in Isaiah chapter 5. As you're turning there, I want to give a brief history of what was going on 2,800 years ago when Isaiah spoke these words to his nation. He challenged the power of his day and spoke to the authority of his time. As he looked at the nation of Israel, it was in chaos.

The nation was falling apart, and the political sphere of the nation was corrupt. It is really interesting that when Isaiah wrote this, in Isaiah chapter 5, 2,800 years ago, the nation had a king by the name of Uzziah. He started out really well, with super high public opinion polls. Things were thriving at the beginning of Uzziah's reign, which lasted for more than 50 years.

However, at the end of his reign, he got it in his head one day that he felt he was being held back as the king from what he believed he should be able to do. He thought, "I'm the king. I'm at the top. I should be able to do whatever I want." One day, he decided that he wanted to go into the temple, a place where only the priests could minister before God. He figured he should not be withheld from doing that. If he wanted to go in there, he could.

So, one day he woke up and thought, "I'm going to the temple today." He went to the temple, wanting to enter the place where God said, "You cannot pass this unless you're a priest." Seventy priests came out to try to stop him, saying, "King, you can't do this." But he insisted, "I'm doing it anyway. I'm the king. Nobody tells me no." He pushed his way in, and as he was trying to enter the temple, the priests noticed something appearing on his forehead. He was struck by God with leprosy, which meant he was now to be isolated from the nation because of his sin.

He lived the remainder of his days in isolation from all the people due to the political corruption. You could say it was a scandal; it would have been in the tabloids in Jerusalem if they had those things back then. Isaiah was observing all of this, and it wasn't just the king; everyone in the nation had departed from God.

He wrote in Isaiah chapter 5, verse 20: "Woe to those." That word "woe" can mean doom is certain. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight. Woe to men mighty at drinking wine. Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink. Woe to those who justify the wicked for a bribe and take away justice from the righteous man."

Isaiah was looking at a system that was corrupt.

He's looking at a political nightmare 2,800 years ago, and he says, "This cannot continue long. Woe to you who call evil good and good evil." This may not be an unfamiliar passage to you, or maybe you've never seen it before. However, I have heard this come up from time to time in political discussions.

On Tuesday, I was sitting in my office, and I broke this thing open. I started flipping through it and looking at it. As I mentioned, I wasn't necessarily interested in the top of the ticket, but I began examining these state propositions. I thought, "Wow." Maybe you haven't looked at this yet. In fact, if you're not planning on reviewing this until you step into the little booth to vote on Tuesday, November 8th, you might be a little shocked. You might find yourself asking, "Wait, what is this?"

Take, for example, Prop 57. What does Prop 57 have to do with? It has to do with reducing criminal sentences for juvenile felons. We can argue the pros and cons of this. We can discuss the virtues and vices of this issue and go back and forth all day long. However, as I was looking at this and thinking about it, I found myself going around on the internet trying to find information about who says what regarding this proposition.

I found a website that lists what those in favor of it are saying and what those against it are saying. As I read both sides, I sometimes found myself agreeing with one side and disagreeing with the other. It left me uncertain about where to go on this whole issue.

What I found myself thinking as I read through this is that we have a problem in our nation that has to do with justice. Isaiah had a problem in his day that also revolved around justice. In verse 23 of Isaiah 5, it says, "They justify the wicked for a bribe and they take away justice from a righteous man." Righteous people are convicted when they shouldn't be, while unrighteous people are let off when they shouldn't be.

At the very least, Prop 57 tells us that we've got a problem with justice in our nation. I would suggest to you that one of our major issues, one of the root causes of this problem of justice, is that we've rejected the concept that there is an actual moral truth. Morality has become relative. This has been the case for a very long time, and it's increasingly becoming more relative.

Someone will say, "This is right," and another will respond, "How can you say that's right and that's wrong? Because I think that's wrong and I think that's right." What do you call evil good and good evil?

We can't even call evil evil anymore because it's all become relative. I moved from Proposition 57 and kept going down the line until I got to Proposition 60. I read it and thought, really? We're actually voting on this? Have you read this? Have you looked at Proposition 60? A few of you have.

Proposition 60, what's that about? It's about adult film performers. Really? This is on the ballot? It's very hard to research something about this on Google, but I did come across a very interesting article from 2003 in The Guardian. This was 13 years ago. The Guardian writes that the U.S. leads the world in pornography, producing about 211 new films every week. Los Angeles is the center of this film boom, and many of those in the trade are otherwise respectable citizens. Since they are otherwise respectable citizens, apparently we need some regulation. I guess we need OSHA to go in and regulate some things within the film industry. And so we get to vote on this, Proposition 60. Wow.

I kept going and got down to Proposition 62, the death penalty initiative statute. What's this? Well, we want to repeal the death penalty. Now, I understand that in this very room, there are differences of opinion on this issue, and I respect that. However, I do want to point out one thing: Genesis chapter 9, verse 6, where God instituted the death penalty. You might ask, he did? Yes, let me read it to you. It says in Genesis 9:6, "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed." You might wonder why. Well, he tells us why: "For in the image of God, he made man."

God says this is important. Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed. Why? Because I, God, created man in my image. You see, when God created in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, he created humanity uniquely. In the image of God, he created them male and female.

And therefore, God places upon us His own value and dignity. He values life very highly. Therefore, if someone kills someone, then they are to be put to death. There are restrictions on this that God has given as it relates to premeditated first-degree murder and manslaughter. You can read about that when you get into the Levitical law. There are statutes and standards for these things.

But why is it that we have such a conflict in our nation with the idea of the death penalty? Well, again, it goes back to the idea of a moral law and a moral lawgiver. It also relates to the recognition that we all have that the justice system, even in a nation with a fairly good justice system, doesn't always bring justice. Sometimes, people who didn't commit the crime do the time and die, while sometimes people who did commit the crime are released. If it doesn't fit, you have to acquit.

Then I got down to Proposition 63. It limits individuals' ability to buy ammunition; they first have to be licensed to do so. Again, you can have varying views on this, but I just find it interesting. Felons are considered good, adult film stars are considered good, the death penalty is considered bad, and ammunition is considered bad. Interesting.

But that's not even my favorite. Proposition 64, page 2, is the marijuana legalization initiative statute. What's this? Yes, let's legalize recreational pot and give a whole new meaning to higher education and high school. You just go, wow. It's not just in the state of California that this is being voted on. Obviously, it was already passed in Colorado, Washington, and then Oregon. Now it's on the ballot in California and eight other states.

This means that if, on Tuesday, November 8th, it passes in all of those states—which is possible, though maybe it won't—then more than 30% of Americans will live in states that have recreational access to marijuana. It will likely force the United States Supreme Court to vote on this at a federal level in the next session. Just go, wow. This is interesting.

Then I got to Proposition 65 and 67. I guess this is so important we needed two of them because apparently plastic bags are...

Really bad. Felons, good. Adult film stars, good. Death penalty, bad. Ammo, bad. Pot, great. Plastic bags, bad. I guess we're going to need to reduce our use of plastic because the film industry is going to need it.

I mean, I'm sorry to be crass, but this is insane. It's just strange to me. I felt like I was reading fiction while I was reading. I was like, this is the ballot? Wow. Again, I go back to Isaiah chapter 5, but I want to read it in a different version briefly. Isaiah 5, verse 18 from another English version says this: "Doomed to you who use lies to sell evil, who haul sin to market by the truckload, who say, 'What's God waiting for? Let him get up and move so we can see it. Where's God? I thought he said we shouldn't do these things. Where is he?' Woe to those who say such things. They say, 'Whatever the Holy One of Israel has cooked up, we'd like to check it out. Where's God?' Doomed to you who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness in place of light and light in place of darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Doomed to you who think you're so smart, who hold such a high opinion of yourselves. All you're good at is drinking. Champion boozers who collect trophies from drinking bouts and then line your pockets with bribes from the guilty while you violate the rights of the innocent."

Now, it's interesting that the typical response of many Christians when we see things like this is to say, "We can't let these things pass. If we let these things pass, then it's going to devastate our nation. It's going to be the end of the republic. It's going to be the end of the nation." I'm here to tell you that the very fact that these are on the ballot is an indication that something's wrong with us as a people. It takes more than 400,000 signatures in the state of California to get an initiative on the ballot. It takes more than 600,000 signatures to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot, which means that every single one of these propositions came about by someone signing a petition.

When you walk outside of Vons and someone asks, "Hey, will you sign this petition?" you might respond, "Yeah, sure, what's it for?" However, normally, you don't even ask that. You just think, "Oh, yeah, sure, whatever." It takes signatures to get these things on the ballot. These petitions are the thermometer, not the thermostat. What do I mean by that? They tell us the temperature; they don't change anything. They simply indicate where we are as a people. They are the symptom, not the cause.

Every year, especially during presidential elections, we get a glimpse of the pulse of our society and state. Many times, people wait to get these propositions on the ballot until a presidential election because they know turnout will be higher. Every four years, we can peek in and see what is going on in our society—things that you can't see on a normal, everyday basis, but you might sense that something is wrong. Then, all of a sudden, you realize, "Whoa, something's really, really wrong."

For example, this past Friday, I went to the doctor for my first cholesterol test. I was very glad to hear that my cholesterol is low. I'm good, and I'm happy about that. However, I wasn't too thrilled about the whole process of taking blood. I complained to my wife, who is a nurse, and she texted me, "Suck it up." I'm serious; I can show you the text message.

Internally, I might not know what's going on, but I can get the test results back and see the numbers—HDL, LDL, and so on. Or maybe you're not feeling quite right; it seems like something isn't working properly with your heart. They put the electrodes on and do an EKG, and now they can see what's wrong. That's what these petitions do; they tell us what's going on. They provide insight into the framework and mindset of the people in our state—the state of our state.

As has been said, you may have heard it before: "So goes California, so goes the nation." Whatever passes on November 8th and whoever is elected when we wake up on November 9th will indicate where we are as a people. It tells us something about who we already are.

So what then? I finally get to this little piece of paper in your bulletin. I'm going to do something I normally don't do: I'm going to give you three points right after another. Point number one: There is a theological reason for our political divide.

In 1377, there was a political divide. Yes, the church was in power, so the political divide took place within the church. However, what it exposed was a bad theology problem. The people didn't know who God was. They didn't know what God had said. Therefore, they opted to do what was right in their own hearts and minds. Just as during the time of the judges in Israel, there was no king in Israel, so everyone did what was right in his own eyes. There is a theological reason for our political divide. As we look at all the things that are going on in our nation, it goes back to our misunderstanding, or lack of understanding, of who God is and what He says.

Point number two: our political divide must drive a theological renewal. What we need today, again, is a John Wycliffe, a Jan Hus, a Martin Luther. We need Christians to understand who God is and what God says from His Word. We need a theological renewal. We need to be driven by looking at all that is going on in the nation.

What typically happens, especially since the moral majority days and the Christian coalition days of the 1980s and onward, is that when we see these things, the church jumps up and becomes politically active. We need to become politically active, and I think most Christians have come to a place of realizing that political activism has not really done much. Look at what has happened in the nation since then. I suggest to you that we need more theological engagement.

Point number three: only a theological renewal will bring about the reformation we need. So, what should we do? Remember that Paul, the apostle who wrote Romans, lived in a time of massive political corruption—political corruption off the charts. He was writing that letter, the letter to the Roman Christians, to those who lived in the capital of the empire, where, at that very moment when he was writing, there was an individual rising to power by the name of Nero, who epitomized political corruption.

He trumped every one of the politicians we have in our day. Paul writes to him, and it wasn't just Paul; Peter, James, John, Bartholomew, and Thomas, all the early apostles, lived in this politically corrupt world. Paul writes and says in Romans chapter 13, "Submit yourself to the government." What should we do?

Well, Paul says in Romans chapter 1, verse 14, "I am a debtor to both Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unwise. So as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also." He didn't gear up for political activism; he geared up for biblical proclamation. He was ready to preach the gospel to those in Rome. Why? Because he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also for the Greek. In it, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Those words, "The just shall live by faith," were the very words that transformed that Augustinian monk named Martin Luther. The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Point number four: We must maintain an unashamed gospel focus. That's what Paul did. He was not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God. He was ready to preach the gospel to those in Rome. He maintained an unashamed gospel focus.

What happened? If you read through history, you'll find that over the next 200 to 300 years, the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ completely revolutionized the world of his day, even to the point of completely crumbling that which had been set up in Rome as the structure of Rome, through the preaching of the gospel.

I take you back briefly as we close to Isaiah. As Isaiah was looking at the corruption of his day, he was pronouncing woe and judgment as he observed all these things happening in his time.

Because King Uzziah had also become corrupt, it led the nation toward corruption. He forced and imposed his will, and God struck him. For the next decade and a half, he spent time in isolation as a king shown to be corrupt. The entire nation was grieved.

In Isaiah 6, right after Isaiah pronounces woe, it begins with these words: "In the year that King Uzziah died." There was a political vacancy; the throne was empty, and the corrupt power was gone. The nation was probably deflated. Yet we see this: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up."

We need to remember that Jesus is on the throne. Our focus needs to be on the fact that Jesus is on the throne, not on the offices of Washington. I understand that this often becomes our focus, but we need to lift our eyes and realize that ultimately we are accountable to a much higher authority in heaven.

What this world, this nation needs, is not another political savior. Politicians cannot save. This nation needs Jesus. It needs the power of God through the gospel. Sin is real, and hell is an actual place of judgment, which every single one of us deserves. Inwardly, we are just as corrupt as every politician we see on TV. When you start promoting yourself, your corruption will come out somehow, in some way. The things you said in private will come out. The things you did in private will come out.

Then we point the finger and say, "Oh, look how bad they are." No, it's just us on display. What does our world need? It needs Jesus. We all deserve the judgment of hell, but Jesus came. He lived a perfect life and died a brutal death.

Why? For me, for you. He rose from the dead that He might forgive and save us. When I look at these things, it grieves me, but it reminds me of what Sacramento, what Washington, D.C., what Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and all the legislators in Congress need: the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the power of God.

Though we live in a time where our society is increasingly gearing toward saying that we are all nuts, I get to be called the leader of the nuts. It's awesome. We believe in the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ, that He is in heaven. We need to not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. One day, God's judgment will be revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness. I don't know about you, but I don't want anyone I know to be under the wrath of God. I want them to know His forgiving grace. Amen?

Let's stand and pray to that end. Father God, we need You. Sometimes it feels like we need You more than ever, but we always need You more than ever. Jesus, I pray that You would remind us of Your supremacy, that You are King of kings and Lord of lords, and that You are seated upon a throne in heaven. I pray that this reality, this truth, would in some way set our hearts and minds at peace.

Though we find ourselves in the midst of a nation and a world that is lost, unmoored, and drifting about in the tide, headed for rocks, I pray that You would help us to be those who are lights shining in the darkness, mouths speaking forth the grace and truth that You've given to us. Many of us standing here in this room today have experienced Your saving grace and power in our lives through the gospel. So, God, would You help us to not be ashamed, but to speak with boldness and to share these things with clarity to anyone we have an opportunity to share them with.

God, strengthen our hearts and our minds in You. Help us to be fully established upon You and Your word. As we look at the political conditions and divide in our nation, God, would You drive a new renewal theologically? Drive in us first a passion to know You and to know Your word.

We thank You, Jesus. Maybe as we're standing here this morning, you have never put your faith in Christ. You've never asked Him to give you His grace and forgiveness. If you'd like to do that today, I want to give you an opportunity to do so. Jesus died in your place, in my place, to take the punishment for our sin upon Himself. He rose from the dead, declaring that He has completely paid the price.

If you want to receive His grace and forgiveness today, would you just lift up your hand wherever you are? Is there anyone here this morning who would like to receive the forgiving grace of God? Anyone here? Praise the Lord.

Father, we thank You for Your grace. Help us to go from this place with that grace to share it with all we come in contact with. We praise You, Jesus. Amen. Thank you.