Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, August 10, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN GOD IN RELATION TO OUR COURTS
Scripture Reading: Genesis 18:17-21
Text: Genesis 18:19
Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Introduction: GOD BLESS AMERICA! That is my earnest prayer! Truly, God HAS blessed America, but I fear that we have turned our backs on the Author of our many blessings! In many ways, it seems that we have FORGOTTEN GOD, which brings to mind the scripture:
Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Let’s not forget God!
I believe one of the areas in which we have forgotten Him is in relation to our courts! When we pray for our leaders, we certainly need to pray for the men who sit as judges across our country.
Do you know that God has a great deal to say about judges and judging?
- judge 170 verses
- judged 61
- judges 51
- judgeth 16
- judging 6
- judgment 285
- judgments 125
Pay attention, people, to God’s emphasis on the matter. God’s first choice for rulership over Israel was not for a king, but for JUDGES. As a matter of fact, one whole book of the Bible is called JUDGES!
I preached this morning on God’s promise to Abraham. In our scripture reading this evening, God said that He was going to warn Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. Their MAIN abomination is that which has been identified by the name of the city, SODOMY. In Leviticus, God said that some nations were VOMITED out of their lands for their sexual sins! In Hebrews 13:4, God said that He would JUDGE those who disobeyed His authorized safe-sex practice: MARRIAGE. Marriage, by the way, is only with a man and a woman in the Bible.
God said that Abraham would COMMAND his children and that they would keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and JUDGMENT!
God commands that everyone judge RIGHTEOUSLY:
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
There are many areas in which our judges are headed toward wrong judgments, such as in the spanking of children for discipline. However, here are some significant areas in which many of our courts have exercised UNRIGHTEOUS judgment and ruled AGAINST God!
I. SCRIPTURES
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 (Read)
The scriptures are
A. The supreme standard for ALL laws
B. The sourcebook for true scholarship
C. The secret to real success – Joshua 1:8
II. SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER
2 Kings 1:7-10 (Read)
James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
A. For direction in education
- Madalyn Murray O’Hair
- Government education (public schools) – now are SCHOOLS FOR FOOLS (Psalms 14:1)
B. For deliverance from enemies
C. For daily needs
III. SLAYING IN MURDER
Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
The above commandment was given as God entrusted human government to Noah and his offspring (Dispensation of Human Government).
Evidences that we have forgotten God:
A. The slaying of unborn babies – Proverbs 6:16-19
B. The sentence – anything other than execution
C. The slowness of execution – Ecclesiastes 8:11
IV. SEXUAL SIN
Leviticus 18:22-28 (Read)
Evidences that we have forgotten God:
A. Shacking up
B. Swapping mates
C. Sodomy and related sins – Leviticus 18:22