Gay marriage - civil law or punishment?

We are going to the Word of the Lord and we are going to look in the Letter to the Romans. I would like this sermon to be a little lighter, as I told the brothers in the 9 o'clock service, but it is a necessary sermon, and it is a sermon that has to be preached, before the opportunity and the moment pass, and I want let them know that my desire is to bless you, edify you, strengthen you, and I called this sermon this morning, a hygienic sermon,

in the sense that its purpose is to heal, cleanse, repair us, and as sometimes, as hygienic things are caustic, and it stings when they heal, they hurt, they are bitter, acidic, but they also heal and kill infections, and that is the way the Word of God is many times, it confronts us, it is unpleasant for us to listen to it many times but it enters deep in our hearts, and my desire is precisely to give you the nutrients you need as your main Pastor, and to bless you with the advice of the Word of the Lord, and you will see why I make this preamble within a moment, because the topic is a topic a p Quite strong but necessary in the times we live in, and my desire is to bless you, and there is no mood to criticize anyone, simply to announce the advice of the Word of God in a time that is necessary.

Romans chapter 1, we're going to start with verse 18, and you'll remember last Sunday, I spoke from verse 16 and 17, then Paul transitions to verse 18 onwards, I'm just going to read up to verse 27 and then the rest I will briefly discuss at the end of the sermon.

Verse 18, Paul says: "Because the wrath of God rebels from heaven against all impiety, injustice of men, humanity that justly detain the truth, because what is known of God is manifest to them", that is to say, they it is obvious, perceivable, understandable, because God manifested it to him, because the invisible things, that is to say, that we cannot see, the invisible things of Him, His eternal power, His deity, "become clearly visible from the creation of the world, being understood by means of things made", that is to say by nature, "so that they have no excuse", that is to say, they do not know him, "for having known God they did not glorify him as God nor gave him thanks, but who were puffed up in their reasoning, and therefore their foolish heart was darkened", in other words darkened, "professing to be wise they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God", a God not subject to accidents and deterioration of normal nature, the change aron in the likeness of corruptible man, even of birds and four-legged creatures and reptiles, like those idols that we see in Asia, in China and in others, dragons and serpents, and who speak of this as images of God, then these things change the glory, holiness, sublime character, beauty, harmony, symmetry of that beautiful holy God.

Then he says that for that reason God gave them up to filth, to the concupiscence of their hearts so that they dishonored one another, their own bodies, since they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, honoring and worshiping the creatures before the Creator, who is blessed forever and ever, then look at the consequence of sin, he says that for this reason God gave them up to shameful passions, since even their women changed their natural use, he is talking about sexual use, he is here speaking in very clear terms, they changed the natural use of sexuality even by their women, because it is against nature, against God's biological design, and in the same way the men themselves leaving the natural use of women, that is, the relationship normal between a man and a woman, for which nature designed the male and female body and biology, they burned in their lust with each other, men with men committing shameful deeds, and receiving in themselves my We give the retribution of life to your loss.

Verse 18 and I conclude there: "and since they did not approve of keeping God in mind, God gave them to a reprobate mind", that is to say failed, defective, rejected, "to do things that are not convenient", Father we ask you to give us the just word mixing love with justice, truth with mercy, the recognition of our own sins, that there are things that offend you, and the denunciation of justice and impiety, while we ourselves look at ourselves, we know that we are also debtors and guilty of the grace of Jesus Christ all, give us the Word to bless instead of condemning, to call to repentance instead of consigning to condemnation Father, that is what we want, and to heal our own lives with your Word, so be it in the name of Jesus we ask, amen and amen.

Brothers the subject, I was saying that a subject like this on a weekend, Memorial Day, many are thinking of going to their barbecue after this service, but the Lord has told me that this is the moment in which I should preach this sermon, because there are circumstances that have happened in this nation in these two, three weeks, that it is important now to talk about this while it is fresh in the mind and in the sensibility of our nation, and of yourselves.

I want to talk, it is a provocative subject, and listen to how I have titled this sermon. Homosexual marriage, civil right or punishment, is marriage a civil right as it is presented or a punishment? So I said my brothers, this is a hygienic sermon, from time to time the pulpit of a nation, the pulpits of a nation must be used to give specific direction to the people, in times of crisis and confusion.

Through the ages we have seen that the Church has been that trumpet that sounds when there is injustice on earth, when there are threats, when there is confusion, and people need to orient themselves, the pastors, the pastors, the announcers of the truth of God has to use the pulpit with fear and trembling, a lot of respect and a lot of love, to give him direction. The Word says that if the trumpet does not give a certain sound, if it gives an uncertain sound, then how can people be guided by it? And this is an unsafe time, where a number of things are being preached that have people confused, there is confusion, there is crisis in the air. We are in a time of crisis and confusion, and the people, the people need advice, they need clarity, there is confusion and crisis on Earth. A few weeks ago, a very dear sister of ours approached me with a face that reflected anguish and told me Pastor, I don't like to bother you but I don't know what to do at this time, who am I going to vote for? I don't know and I need your advice, please help me.

And I could see the anguish on his face, and it was like God sent me a messenger to tell me, Roberto, you have to talk about this. I was debating whether I was going to talk about this because there is never a proper time to talk about topics that shouldn't even be obscure, there are so many beautiful things to preach about, it's a shame one has to spend time on these unpleasant things, but they are necessary. And I saw her as a messenger from God, perhaps like Mordecai came to Esther and said look, if you don't speak someone else will speak, and you will lose the opportunity to be used by God, and I felt that God was sending her to confirm my own heart, because many times at this time we pastors are intimidated, there are pastors who are afraid to speak to our Church for fear that they will be offended. Thank God in this Church, I would say 90 something or more, we are clear about certain things, but we are a diverse Church, we have Americans here, people with doctorates, people who come from more liberal backgrounds, people who have not received to Jesus, liberal theologians come here to visit us, politicians and other things.

And it is important that people in this year of defining the Church know what we think, but there are pastors who today do not dare, brothers, to talk about these issues in their churches, because they fear, their people are not clearly oriented regarding these things, that is why I do not want the day to come when I am afraid to speak the things that the Word of God tells me to speak, I want this Church to always be open to the advice of the Word of God, and that those who are with us know what to expect, and what kind of Church it is to which they belong.

So that's why this issue is not just a matter of education, it is also to declare pastoral freedom, to preach all the truth of God. Brother pastors cannot remain silent when there is uncertainty on Earth, if we do so we are in disobedience, and I do not speak about this subject because I want to, if not quite the contrary, as I have said, I am forced to speak, and if I were silent I believe that the stones themselves would have to speak, I think that talking about these issues like homosexuality, homosexual marriage, and many other issues, this is one of the many issues that we have to talk about, any Pastor who silences these issues in this time of Urgently you need to examine your own conscience. Do you do it out of discretion or do you do it out of cowardice? Do you do it because you want to please man or because you don't take God seriously enough, or because you think that simply keeping silent is manifesting God's grace and mercy?

Brothers, when the main executive of this nation, the President, publicly pronounces himself as he did a couple of weeks ago, he publicly pronounces himself in favor of homosexual marriage, the pulpits of this nation must rise in unison and give advice to the people, because the President of a nation is a model. Many young people are going to take their guidelines from that model, he has a great influence on the nation, and he is a very admired man, he is the moral leader in a sense, he should be the moral and spiritual leader of this nation. And when that character says something that one already suspected that he believed, but that for political convenience he had not declared, but he finally feels emboldened to declare what has always been in his heart, to speak out in favor of homosexual marriage, not only that but when he takes up his second term if that happens, he is going to do everything possible to institutionalize this, contrary to what the people, this nation believes, then the truth must be told and the nation's pulpits must get up and say what the Word of God says and that is what I want to do with you today.

I believe that there is a debate right now in the nation, all the polls say that the North American nation is divided 50% in favor of homosexuality and 50% against it, but I believe that it is not like that, and that is dramatic in itself because This indicates that there has been a slide in recent years towards the position of approving homosexuality. I personally believe that the division is not so clear, my own idea is that at least 60% and possibly a little more believe that homosexual marriage is not from God. Now, what happens is that they are not receiving advice, they are not receiving a clear word from their moral leaders, and we are told that if we talk about this we are prejudiced, and we are self-righteous, and then there is a group of people who are in the balance trying to see what they decide, and since they don't see a clear word from the Church, there is a group that says this or that, those who believe that the Word of God is silent out of fear, and then people have no advice , and they slip little by little.

Right here in the Church you ask many of them, they don't know what to believe regarding this, and so if one remains silent, what they are doing is allowing this nation to slide more and more every day in a direction that I believe is going to destroy this nation, and is opening a terrible gap for a demonic manifestation like never before, our sons are falling more and more into the trap of homosexuality every day, our daughters are experiencing more and more with that wrong, and this nation, its foundations are being undermined, and this nation is getting weaker, financially it's heading for disaster, morally as well, technologically, scientifically, nations like India, Indonesia, Brazil, they're progressing much more than this nation while it's nation is going backwards. China is a sleeping giant, because when the foundations of a nation are morally undermined there is also a financial, political and everything else collapse.

If Jehovah does not build the house, the workers watch in vain, if he does not watch over the city. So I as a watchman, they ask me the question, the word, if the foundations were destroyed, what should the just do? They are being undermined by their own leaders, what should we do?, we should talk. I applaud the statement of the Church of God in Christ, the largest Church of African Americans in this nation, which made a statement against President Obama's statement, and I invite you to read that statement on the internet, very educational, very good phrased and elaborate, and I applaud when our African-American brothers go against the grain and say no, we cannot support this President. The President's public support of gay marriage is a slap, I call it, in the face of every Christian who believes in the Bible as the Word of God. It shows a total disregard and disregard for the sensibilities of the Church of Jesus Christ in this nation. Those of us who believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

And when we add that gesture of President Obama to publicly support homosexual marriage, by the way, 30 states in this nation that have submitted a constitutional amendment against homosexual marriage to the citizens' consideration, of those 30 states, 30 have voted against marriage. homosexual, not once has that been lost, why? Because I believe that the American people know in their hearts that this is contrary to God, but there is an intellectual and political elite that often goes above that, and many times judges and politicians go above what a people has decided and impose it on them, like in Florida, anyway. In a supposedly democratic nation, where in the north, in the east, and in the south there is a different feeling, that the polls supposedly support it.

So when we add that to what is happening with the Catholic Church, there is a drama right now in this nation, the Catholic Church is being coerced by President Obama, and this is not an attack on the President, it is an attack on what they show their policies, rather, but the Catholic Church is being forced to pay right now, if he does not change and submit to pressure, Catholics are going to have to pay in their insurance, Catholic institutions, universities, hospitals, all these things, to their employees through their contraceptive insurance, which is totally abhorrent to my Catholic brothers. I personally have a different idea about contraceptives, but Catholics, Catholic doctrine is very clear on that.

And these Catholic brothers see it as something abhorrent, why is Obama determined to lead Catholics to have to pay something? And the Catholic Church has said that if we have to close all our social service centers in the United States, we are going to do it, because we are not going to participate in this, it is a terrible moral and spiritual dictatorship. That makes me think that this President has in mind an open persecution against historical and biblical Christianity in this nation. Why is he so determined to do two things that are not even necessary, what is in his heart to do this? Neither of these two measures is inevitable, he has done it because there is something there, right? It makes me think that he has something very intense there in his spirit, and all these things make me doubt his spiritual wisdom or his long-term intentions. And that's why we have to speak clearly. Contrary to what is said today in many theological and political circles, intellectuals of this nation, the Bible is abundantly clear regarding its position, homosexuality and what God has created, God created a man and a woman. God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Stephen, the Lord created man and woman for marriage.

And then there are many people who say no, the Bible is not so clear on this, they have insisted on doing, wanting to tell the Bible what the Bible does not say, and trying to confuse us, obfuscate us, find 5 legs on the cat about it , then it is important, what does the Bible say about this subject? If homosexuality is rejected by God, obviously homosexual marriage also collapses, because homosexual marriage presupposes that homosexuality is something normal, normative, another sexual option. For this very reason I am going to limit myself to speaking almost exclusively about the biblical perspective on homosexuality, at this time when you need to have times, and clear arguments, to be strengthened in your faith, and in your belief. That's why I just talk.

What does the Bible say? In this clear verse, look, brothers, I repudiate and totally distance myself, listen to this, I totally distance myself from the behavior of that Pastor who was recently caught on the internet. I don't know how many know? Speaking of a totally scandalous way of homosexuals. Because the media really like to take something and put it on and say, this is what the Church thinks, no, that man is something exceptional, I know there are people who think that, but the vast majority of Christians repudiate That Pastor, his conduct seems totally reprehensible and senseless to me, saying that homosexuals must be put in a fence, surrounded behind an electric fence and thrown food at them from a helicopter, that is diabolical, that does not reflect the Spirit of Jesus Christ, and it is minimally imprudent in these times in which the Church must be very careful how it expresses itself, besides that the Bible is very clear, that type of crude expressions is not suitable for the pulpit and the Word of God, okay?

So be clear, our position as a Church is one of deep respect for people struggling with same-sex attractions. Respect but the truth is the truth, if someone enters the Church here and is of a homosexual persuasion or is fighting against that tendency and knows that it is contrary to the will of God, this Church will always say welcome, that we are with you. What's more, I would say hey, welcome to the company of those of us who are fighting against our own deviations and undue inclinations before God, because none of us is exempt from a fight against sin as the apostle Paul says. But the difference is that if you recognize that your fight against sin is that, sin, and not something simply emotional.

The only difference I would say between the Church and the world out there is that the Church of Jesus Christ knows that it needs God's grace and mercy, that's all, and that our sins are sins, and that we have to come daily before Christ to wash us with His blood. But there is no difference, that's why when we preach these sermons we have to do it as the apostle Paul says, look at yourself first, examining ourselves, and with deep humility and transparency, a sense of fragility before God and respect for the people fighting against this.

Now I believe that there is a difference between people who fight against homosexual attractions and a person who has embraced homosexual tendencies and says, no, this is legitimate, there is no problem, quite the opposite, wanting to influence others and change society. to accommodate behavior that is anti-biblical, then that's where the Church has to stop and say, no, wait a minute, we don't believe that, because what is happening today is that the militant homosexual movement is wanting to change the structures of this nation, with the collaboration of its politicians like the President himself, unfortunately, and wanting to structure and install impiety and injustice in the very systems of this nation, practices contrary to the Word of God, we cannot allow ourselves, because if no, they are going to paint us in a corner and they are going to close us so that we cannot open our mouths at any time, that is what is coming, and our children are going to be contaminated s and corrupted by this behavior that should have no place to spread as it is spreading.

So we repudiate that type of behavior that denigrates and insults, and makes fun of homosexual people, that has no place in God's pulpit. Now, what does the Bible say, in a passage like this? I could look up many passages but there is no passage that is clearer to me and more difficult to deny than this passage. I would say that anyone who tells me that this doesn't say what it says is being ridiculously contradictory and stubborn, because the letters and words in this passage clearly indicate a stance and position on homosexuality.

Look at what verse 16 and 17 says, Paul speaks of the grace of God, that grace that justifies man freely through faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, in verses 16 and 17 Paul says that salvation is by faith , not by works, that God has justified man through faith, but then he says in verse 18, first he talks about grace but then he says, "and the wrath of God", first grace and then he says the wrath of God "reveals himself from heaven. The Bible says God is love but is also a consuming fire, God is mercy but is also justice, God is goodness and patience but is also true, and from Genesis to Revelation it is said that wrath of God manifests itself when people persist in resisting God's truth.

Paul is saying here that if one wants to receive Christ by faith and by grace one does not have to worry about the wrath of God, but if one resists the Word and the teaching of the Word of God then one is taking on that wrath, and that condemnation from God. Paul states that those who resist are stubborn and not merely ignorant, these are people who are bent on resisting God's plan for them, look at verse 18, it says here: "the wrath of God is revealed against all impiety and injustice of the men who hold back" in reality the word is those who resist, those who repress the truth unjustly, that is, obstinate people, who insist on resisting, and know, throughout all of Scripture, when people resist the truth. Word of God carries anger, so what he is saying is that they are doing it out of obstinacy and not out of ignorance.

These people have insisted on denying what nature and creation itself tells them about God, his holiness, and his moral harmony. Paul says but look at the creation, the creation I speak of a God of love, a God of justice, a God who is not a coarse, sensual God. My wife and I were in Spain a couple of weeks ago and by chance we went to a museum where, I love the museum, Mornemisa, and there was an exhibition of the work of Mark Shagall, an amazing Jewish painter from the 18th century, early 20th century. XX, and Mark Shagall, when you see the painting of this man, I never knew him personally but looking at his painting, I can tell many things about his character, a man who loved God, loved his people, a brightness, some precious colors, a fear of God, a willingness to hope, an appreciation for human life, love for his family, his wife, his daughter, a number of things that I can tell about the character of this man looking at his painting. And in the same way, when you look at nature, you see the character of God, you see two turtledoves living together all their lives, and you say that you know that God is like that, a monogamous God, in the sense that God created man, God created creatures to live together.

Even animals, one sees the human body and sees that the body has a design, sexually, the sexuality of man is very complementary to that of women, the very male and female anatomy are complementary, the very design of human biology says that God created man and woman says that God created man and woman to have relationships, and everything else is rape. That is why Paul declares that it is against nature, because one looks at the world and sees a generous, moral God, and anything else that denies that is a contradiction of God's character. Anyone who insists on saying, no, God allows homosexual marriage, God allows homosexual behavior, God allows fornication, God allows promiscuity, does not see the purity and holiness of God, and Paul says, those who resist recognize what nature says, they are obstinate, they are stubborn and they carry the justice and condemnation of God.

God is offended by this misrepresentation of his character, and the Bible then says that as a consequence of that He darkened their hearts, verse 21 says: "for having known God", having seen him in his natural manifestations, "he did not glorified nor gave him thanks, but they became puffed up in their reasoning and their foolish heart was darkened" that is, it was darkened, they could not see clearly, and then that darkened heart leads them to make faulty and self-destructive judgments, and the consequence of that darkened understanding to which God consigns a rebellious humanity is the following, then that punishment from God begins to manifest itself in the body of people who belong to that society.

Brother again, it hurts me to say these things because there are many homosexual people who are simply wrong, they are not necessarily perverted people, but they have fallen into that trap and are damaging their bodies. God's punishment is manifested directly on the offenders in their own body, they lower themselves, they dishonor themselves through these shameful practices, which dirty and debase them. Verse 24 says that for that reason, as they concentrated on their own reasoning, verse 24, "God also gave them over to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts, so that they dishonored their own bodies among themselves." That is the terrible thing about these verses. Listen to this my brother. For the Word of God, the maximum manifestation of divine judgment on an inveterate society is precisely homosexual behavior.

For Paul, he says, look at the indication of a total withdrawal from a society is when homosexual behavior begins to abound, because God's judgment has fallen on that society. If you examine Rome, if you examine Greece, if you examine those great civilizations that fell and collapsed, you will see that it is the consequence of a process of gradual deterioration, little by little, and the same thing is happening in this nation, luxury in which this nation lives, moral corruption, the abandonment of the principles of Scripture, has led this nation little by little to move the boundaries, corrupting itself more and more, until today there is an abundance of filth in this nation. nation. Watch any television program, watch the news even, see how this nation lives, the luxury in which this nation lives.

The Word says that the main sin of Sodom was not homosexuality but the abundance of food, and neglecting the poor, and you know, it is what happens, when a nation has a lot of food, a lot of luxury, a lot of leisure, many material possessions As this culture has, it becomes hardened and forgets God, it forgets about justice, it forgets about moral things, and then it falls into the trap of homosexuality, filth and all these other things, it is a cumulative process. And what Paul is saying is that the clearest manifestation of that corruption is unfortunately homosexuality. When a nation celebrates that and takes it to a point of trying to institutionalize it, it has reached the point of its maximum degradation, that is what Paul is saying here.

First men neglect God and dishonor him, God gives them over to a twisted and confused mind, and that confused mind leads them to justify sin, and then leads them to practice things that dishonor them and put them to shame themselves through their practices, that is what this text is saying. So what you are saying, the practice of homosexuality is not a civil right or anything similar to it, it is rather a manifestation of God's judgment, a punishment on a nation, a society, and the people themselves who practice it they debase and dirty themselves, and debase themselves. I don't want that to happen to you or me, or anyone we love. I know that there are brothers that I tell you, I know that some of you here have a brother, there is someone here or some, have a brother, someone dear, a son or a daughter who is practicing homosexuality, and my heart goes after of you brothers, we want to accompany you in prayer, and I tell you continue to love your children, and your brothers and your friends, this sermon is for the Church of Jesus Christ, which I am preaching, so that you receive strength.

I ask the Lord to strengthen your lives, I am not here either wanting to cause you more burden, keep praying for the Lord to change your loved ones. But life is very clear, right? And this is very different brothers, as I say, to what is being taught today, suggesting that homosexual marriage is a civil right, and that homosexuality is just another option, Paul says no, it is a declaration of God's judgment more about a culture. He says that God gives them up to shameful passions, that makes them dishonor their bodies among themselves. It all starts when God darkens the minds of a hardened society, and then they start thinking in a faulty way. Today there are so many sociological, theological, and biological arguments that try to justify homosexuality but they are the product of a darkened and obscured mind that God has abandoned and given over to error.

That damaged mind calls the good bad, and the bad good. Today homosexual behavior is described as a civil right rather than a sin. And the problem is that, as Paul says, these arguments are not based on divine arguments, but rather on the arguments of men. They use their own humanist arguments, devoid of the advice of the Word of God, the eternal boundaries, and then by not having an eternal, biblical point of reference, then they get lost, it is a humanism instead of theism, then already finishing, I clarify something also my brothers, after showing their exhibition number 1 of the degradation of humanity, and saying homosexuality is the main point or at least the main manifestation, says: "for this reason God gave them up to shameful passions, because even their women they changed the natural use for that which is against nature".

In other words, Paul says, the woman is much more chaste than the man, the man is sometimes more given to uncleanness, sexuality, sensuality than the woman, but Paul says they know that, things have reached such a point that even the women changed their natural use of nature, and their men too, they burned in lust with each other, that is the maximum manifestation. But after that Paul says, but there are also other proofs of God's judgment on a nation, and he says here that God gave them up to do things that are not convenient, verse 29, being filled with all fornication, greed, wickedness, full of envy , homicides, contentions, gossips, haters, there is a very long list. Be careful not to think that homosexuality is the only thing, right? There are many sins that we have to attack and that we have to repent of. Homosexuality is only one dramatic manifestation of alienation from a man, a woman, or a society, but there are other sins that we cannot ignore.

We cannot say well, homosexuals are the only ones, no, there are also, there are many other people who, and we here have to ask ourselves, Lord, how can I get closer and closer to Your Holiness and Your call? There is cloth here to cut for all of us and I will finish with this, I am going to ask the musicians to come here and I am not going to disturb them anymore with this teaching, but do think about it, listen to what I am going to say to close now this meditation. No Christian who loves the Word of God or who is watching what is happening in this nation can remain silent about what we are seeing at this time. This is not the time for the Church to be discreet or courteous, or falsely merciful, it must be declared, it is time to speak God's truth.

With sadness and healthy fear, we have to examine each other and look within ourselves, but we also have to announce God's truth with clarity and conviction. The health of this nation is at stake, the health of our children is at risk, and the salvation of millions of people is also at risk, and the freedom of millions of North Americans and Latinos who believe in God are being trampled on at this time, and if we don't take care of ourselves soon the pulpits themselves will not be able to preach as we are preaching because we will be prohibited from preaching about these things as is already happening in Europe, the Anglican Church, that pastors who preach the Word of God are accused of inflaming and inciting all violence, and they can even be put in jail, and that comes if we don't take care of ourselves.

If we remain silent for fear of offending someone who comes from outside, we leave the rest of the people of God who are listening now, and the young people without advice. My young people, the Bible is clear that we need to be faithful to the word of God, and we need to respect the teachings of the word of God regarding sexuality, the Bible calls us to purity, the Bible calls us to control our appetites, and the Bible calls us to the unity of a man and a woman under the bonds and the blessings of marriage, that is what the Bible preaches and that is what we need to practice. Anything else is a violation of the truth of God. And we need, we cannot let anybody, whether it is a movie star, or a super hero, or a journalist, or an athlete, or a President, or a Senator, or anybody else, no matter how exotic they are, leaders into believing something that is contrary to the word of God.

Do not allow any character in this society, a movie actor, a journalist, an athlete, an artist, a President, a Senator, not even a Pastor to make you think otherwise except what the Word of God says, God is a Holy God, God is a pure God, and God expects us to live up to His purity and His Holiness.

I want us to lower our heads for a moment my brothers and examine ourselves, I have to examine myself when I preach a sermon of this nature. If at this moment you are fighting in your life against some bondage, some undue practice, something that you know is contrary to God's will, if there is something that you cannot control in your life, it may be bad thoughts, it may be pornography, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, sensuality, pride, rebellion, resentment, oppression of others, physical abuse of your wife, or your children, anything that you know is contrary to God's will, you know you should not practice it and it is hurting you, it is dishonoring you, I ask you right now that there in your heart you recognize your sin, confess your sin and appeal to the Lord, to the Holy Spirit. Say right now I recognize my sin, and I recognize that this practice does not honor you and it hurts me, and it hurts the people I love, and I ask you to heal me right now Father, renounce that, reject it, say in I do not want your heart, and I repent, and I promise to do Your Will.

And ask the Holy Spirit right now to give you new strength to resist anything that contradicts the Holiness of the God you serve, anything, and renew your vow, as I do from the pulpit here right now, to submit to the Word of the Lord, and let's do it all my brothers, because the Church of Jesus Christ needs to order its life before we speak with more authority about these things, we have to recognize our sin in order to then be able to have mercy on others, and speak the truth of God with authority. So this afternoon Father, we commit ourselves as Your people, have mercy, heal us, enlighten our political and spiritual leaders, raise up Your prophets, raise up Your apostles, raise up Your Pastors and teachers, and give Your Church a respectable voice, and order your house Father, as necessary, and help us to order our houses, and Father we ask you to stop the deterioration of this nation, and that You heal our land, and that you bring us to repentance Father, that Work in this nation to stop the progress of wickedness, and deal with this society.

Father, touch the earth with your power, that Your Will be manifested on earth Father, and have mercy on Your Church, protect us and keep us, protect our children, and keep us from violating Your law Lord, strengthen the foundations of your children and your daughters, those who are struggling with grave and serious temptations Father, strengthen the foundations and bless them, we ask for every person who is caught up in homosexual behavior that you heal their lives, have mercy on them. There are many who are there against their will, send Your Spirit to break those ties Father, there are others who are so inveterate that they can no longer even look at the option of getting out of their behavior, send Your strength Father to destroy the empire of the demons to give them deliverance, and give Your Church power and authority to command the spirits.

Bless us in this meditation, take us with Your blessing Father today, and thank you for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us and washes us from all sin, and that in Him we have hope.

Brothers, while we prepare the Holy Dinner in one more moment, I want to invite each one of you there in your heart, if someone has not received Christ as Lord and Savior, confess now, he is a God of grace and mercy. You do not have to suffer alone, the Lord says that if you repent He is faithful to forgive your sins, receive Jesus and confess him as your Lord and Savior right now, say Lord Jesus, I receive you in my heart and I recognize you as my Savior and my Lord. Confess it there and promise yourself now to walk in the holiness that befits the house of God and the people of God. Thank you Lord we receive Your grace and Your blood now in the name of Jesus, preparing ourselves for the Lord's Supper, which we can do in a spirit of recognition, humiliation and repentance in our hearts. Thank you for the blood that washes us and cleanses us from all sin. Thank you for the Body of Christ, its nutrients give us strength to move forward, and to live as You want us to live. We participate in it with sublime reverence and we give you grace for it in the name of Jesus, amen and amen.