The Light Unto the Darkness

1. The Light Unto the Darkness 2Co 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2. Joh 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Joh 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Joh 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

3. Joh 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. Ac 26:18 'to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

4. “The city of Houston has issued subpoenas demanding that a group of pastors turn over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender identity or Annise Parker, the city's first openly lesbian mayor. And those ministers who fail to comply could be held in contempt of court.” Retrieved from http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/45770-city-of-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons

5. Houston Mayor Annise Parker (right) and her long-time partner, Kathy Hubbard, at their wedding ceremony in California, where same-sex marriage is legal. (Facebook)

6. Constitutional?

7. The Real Question is: Is it Righteous?

8. Ge 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Ge 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

9. 1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, norhomosexuals, nor sodomites,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

10. Ro 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness

11. The Bible Says It’s • Shameful • Sinful • Debased • Unnatural • Vile • Error • Unrighteous • Wicked

12. Responses "The city's subpoena of sermons and other pastoral communications is both needless and unprecedented," Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christina Holcomb said in a statement. "The City Council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions.“ "Political and social commentary is not a crime," Holcomb said. "It is protected by the First Amendment."

13. Responses "We are not going to yield our First-Amendment rights," Welch told me. 'This is absolutely a complete abuse of authority.“ Rev. Dave Welch is the executive director of the Texas Pastor Council.

14. Responses "The state is breaching the wall of separation between church and state," Perkins told me. "Pastors need to step forward and challenge this across the country. I'd like to see literally thousands of pastors after they read this story begin to challenge government authorities—to dare them to come into their churches and demand their sermons."

15. Responses This is the moment I wrote about in my book, God Less America. I predicted that the government would one day try to silence American pastors. I warned that under the guise of "tolerance and diversity," elected officials would attempt to deconstruct religious liberty.  Tony Perkins

16. Notice Much of the focus seems to be placed on our supposed “responsibility” of fighting for our political “rights” and resisting unconstitutional orders. These rights and responsibilities are guaranteed by certain political documents.

17. Declaration of Independence “…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

18. Declaration of Independence “…That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —”

19. Declaration of Independence “…That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

20. Declaration of Independence “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

21. Declaration of Independence “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown…”

22. Are These Biblical Principles?

23. Romans 13:1 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.

24. Romans 13:3 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.

25. Romans 13:5 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.

26. Mr 12:17 And Jesus answered and said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.

27. Ac 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men…”

28. Paul’s Relationship to a Hostile Government

29. Ac 25:11 "For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar."

30. 2Co 11:32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. Ac 9:23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

31. Ac 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Ac 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

32. Ac 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, "Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman."27 Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes." 28 The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship." And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."

33. Ac 16:37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."

34. How Do We Respond?

35. Pray Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

36. Pray Acts 12 1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

37. Pray 1Ti 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

38. What’s more effective than any Poll, Petition or Protest? Prayer

39. Pray 1Jo 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

40. Pray James 5:16b “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

41. Speak the Truth

42. Ac 4:18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

43. Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

44. Ac 24:24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."

45. Mt 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.12 "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

46. Mt 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

47. Mt 5:15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

48. The United States of America is not God’s city on a hill. The church is. Se salt. Be light.