Sermon: We Give Our Heads and Hearts
#1605
Mark Schindler
Given 03-Jul-21; 78 minutes
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transcript:
The majority of those who have grown up in the Republic of the United States of America and have gone through its formal school systems, whether parochial or public, started out each school day with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Even today our own grandchildren, at least in the elementary schools, begin their school day this way. Although, I understand from what they have told me that there are a few in some of their classes that refuse to stand because, as we all know, disrespect and disunity is the order of the day.
However, some sincerely recite: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands; one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
I think it is significant that “under God” was only added to the pledge way back when I was a boy in 1954. But it actually was not new, but actually reinserted. Not exactly in those words but the original pledge simply said: “We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag.”
This pledge of heart and mind to God and country were composed as a simple declaration of unity under God by George T. Balch who had endured the horror of a Republic that had been viciously divided into its individual parts as a captain in the Civil War.
By the 1880s after a remarkable lifetime, though little heralded lifetime of service, he became a staunch advocate and teacher of patriotism in the New York City school system. He determined this simple motto needed to be an important piece in maintaining the blessings of unity with daily focus on God and country together.
Those words he drafted during those years in the 1880s in connection with his efforts to instill a sense of loyalty and patriotism in children became a standard, used not only in the schools in New York, but in schools in other states.
We are going to get back to George T. Balch a bit later, because I think we can see an important lesson from his life. But for right now I would like to continue a little bit more of the history of the evolution of the pledge that had originally been conceived by this remarkable, yet unrecognized man with a focus on God and country.
Although these words by Balch were the true genesis of the pledge, history has always credited a Baptist minister by the name of Francis Bellamy, who considered himself a Christian socialist, with the idea for the pledge and it is the main body of words repeated today.
But there was quite a significant change, as God was removed, and by a preacher no less!
Francis Bellamy considered George Balch’s words, “too juvenile and lacking dignity.” So in August of 1892 as part of the 400th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America, Bellamy proudly composed the following words that were first used in public schools on October 12, 1892 in conjunction with the World’s Columbian Exposition, which was the World’s Fair that was held in Chicago that year.
His words, without any acknowledgment of the Creator were: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Remember George Balch’s words of true patriotism: “We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag.” Notice the subtle change. Rather than pledging total allegiance of heart and mind to God and the country as His blessing for unity, the pledge shifted to the republic of men for the sake of social justice.
Although Balch’s pledge was still recited in conjunction with the Bellamy pledge for many years, in 1923 it was finally set aside completely. I am sorry I am taking so much time going through this, but I believe it is quite relevant to the sermon today. Perhaps a coincidence, although I personally believe, in my own opinion, God was giving us some interesting indications of just who and what this blessing was in some interesting ways.
In the 1880s, after a lifetime of diligence and an eye toward what chaos does to unity, George Balch determined to maintain unity with a daily reminder of a pledge of heart and mind to God. But as the United States entered what was considered at the time the lewd “Gay Nineties” and drifted into the chaos of the time, God was apparently considered not worthy of recognition and a preacher put Him on a back burner to social justice and individual liberty.
To me, it is also interesting that the original pledge of heart and mind to God remained in conjunction with the other until 1923 and the licentiousness of the roaring twenties. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or maybe not. How coincidental is it when a nation or a people lose focus on the real source of unity, that truth that is causing us so much problems. Men by and large always forget the real source.
I want to read to you a quote from a 1968 college textbook entitled Government and American Society. It says:
To stand on a thesis that our ‘republican form of government’ connotes a limitation on majority will, that it bears an ill-defined implication that the people are somehow restrained in their power to govern themselves is to confuse the form of government with the basic source of power. A nation may have a republican form of government but so long as the ultimate power resides in the ‘will of the people’ the concept of democracy will not be undercut.
I read that excerpt to you from what was being taught in universities in 1968 because I wanted you to see the fatal flaw that has been common to all governments throughout history. They all have failed to maintain the correct vision on the source of power, even though some may initially recognize that source.
In the United States, although still missing the real source, the initial source of power was determined to be in the Constitutional law and not the will of the people. Brethren, please do not get hung up on this specific example of the form of Constitutional Government of the United States and the perversion of its earlier intent. I am merely trying to give us a very real example of drifting without focus on the proper source of power.
You need to keep in mind that this government was set up by men. They were brilliant and for the most part of sterling character, but they were still carnal. They were not God’s elect, as you are, but they were certainly used by God to establish something that was better than almost anything before it—but only to accomplish what He has purposed!
Some of those men even recognized the fruit of a God-ordered government. John Adams, as an observation of the fruit that is produced by a God ordered government, in reference to God’s chosen people Israel, is quoted as saying:
The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.
Although a little iffy about conviction as to the absolute source of power within the nations, John Adams still makes an interesting observation. In this quote we can see a bit more than a hint of the insight God made obvious to those men who He used to form the government with an eye toward what the fruit of a God-sourced government produces, as they understood it in their own carnal way.
But again, Adams knew they were up against the wall because carnal nature never changes. He wrote: “While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill—little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.”
His warnings continue. On the need for sterling character required in its leaders, John Adams wrote: “Because power corrupts, society’s demand for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.”
On the reason for this demand for great self-control of leadership in morality and character, John Adams wrote, with God-given insight: “Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak. Power always thinks that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all His laws!”
Of course, the insight that John Adams had was not concerning godly power and strength but the power of pride that is produced in the carnally-minded men that lose sight of who is really in charge.
These thoughts are then naturally followed by his most often quoted statements regarding individual responsibility within a government that can ever remain sound and united where he said: 1) “Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people” or without diligent work to preserve and understand the law. 2) “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Just as there is a need for sterling moral character and self-control in its leadership, the same must be part of the work of its citizens. Brethren, I asked you a few minutes ago not to get hung up on what I have used for this introduction as the point of this sermon. As Jesus Christ, who was absolutely one in purpose and thinking with the Father, told us within the words of His prayer to His Father, as recorded in John 17, “we are to be in this world but not part of it.”
Although there is no government of this world that rules without God’s permission, it is important to remember this John Adams quote: “While all other sciences have advanced, that of government is at a standstill—little better understood, little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago.”
This includes the United States of America! Though perhaps a bit better from inception to suit God’s purposes as carnally run governments have gone, from its outset, it too was constantly at war with God and losing focus within its inconsistent submission to the Great God that gave it life in the first place.
As carnal-minded men continued refusing to submit to God’s Word, while determining for themselves what they thought was best, even the preachers subtly veered away from a God-focused society in favor of carnal-minded “social justice.”
With this in mind, let us begin to pick up what God’s Word tells us what He expects from those who have been set apart by Him to focus on being holy as He is holy, not on righting the ship of the sinking governments of men.
So at this point we are going to put together some very well-known scriptures that we need to consider as our life or death issues during this time when chaos, confusion, and division rages all around us.
We will begin with God’s Word to us from Peter and Paul.
I Peter 4:12-17 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Brethren, trials are coming in a greater measure all the time and there will be things that you never even imagined that you would have to endure. Along with the physical pain many are enduring, all are experiencing the emotional and mental trials of trying to deal with an incredibly hostile, divisive, and immoral society that continues to try to divert our focus away from our responsibilities to become holy as God is holy and divert them to the earthly things that have no solution now.
Even for those who claim to be “under God” in their efforts in this world, are they really? Do we really understand that this is part of the reason the Father and Son have left us to live in a world that we are not to be a partner to? We are here to make choices that will either keep us focused on Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, holiness, or to get caught up on the earthly things. This is no small matter! This is exactly what our lives are about right now!
Let us continue to consider are separation from this unholy world by turning to II Corinthians 6.
II Corinthians 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”
Brethren, it is hard to get clearer than this! God’s elect are not to be part of the problems of the world that is enmity against God. This is not a suggestion; it is a command! How do we expect to keep our focus on God if our head is spinning and we are all over the place trying to get involved in governments that are practiced no better now than they were 3,000 or 4,000 years ago, as John Adams said?
We are to be separate! It is commanded that we make the right choice to obey God because you cannot become holy as God is holy if our focus is not completely on the Kingdom of God and its King, who is the only answer to all of these problems. Let us continue to drive this home as we turn now to Colossians 3, verses 1-5.
Colossians 3:1-5 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
In the KJV it says, “set your affection on,” which may better express the need for disciplining ourselves both mentally and emotionally. There is more here than a mere disciplined way of thinking. We have been created in God’s image and emotion is an important part that cannot be separated from intellect.
The phrase translated “with mind” in the NKJV and with the word “affection” in the KJV is the Greek word phroneō. It is Strong's #5424; and it means to exercise the mind. But it goes on to add some very interesting aspects of exercising the mind, where it further states: “it is to entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be mentally disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively to interest oneself in with concern or obedience: set the affection on”
We all have a certain level of affection for our country but in exercising our minds to keep our focus where it belongs, we need to ask ourselves: is our affection more for country and this world than for Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God?
A few weeks ago, in the Friday night Bible study taken from John Ritenbaugh’s sermon on the sixth commandment, John addressed making the correct choice in following God’s Word. He spoke at length about Moses’ and David’s poor choices in going to war when they should have trusted God and His Word to fight their battles.
These two great men of faith made poor choices and I wonder what part emotion may have played in their poor choices. Setting our mind, setting our affection on God rather than anything else is one of the significant keys in overcoming our own pride.
None of us are probably close to the faithful consistency of a Moses or a King David, but “to whom much is given much is required” and each one of us has been set apart from this world to become holy as God is holy.
By diligently and carefully considering our beloved Brother’s Word and that of the Father with an earnest desire to please Them we will set our affection on Them and make the right choices more often than not as we make our way through these chaotic and evil times at the end.
We are going to continue look into this in a minute with God’s instructions to His elect as stated by the apostle Paul in Romans 13, where the key verses for us will be verses 11-14. But before we go there, I want to make sure Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew 5 are fresh in our minds.
Matthew 5:13-14 “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. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Let that sink in for a bit! Our righteousness needs to be pretty high, not in ourselves, but because we serve Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”
What a simple instruction, but yet how good are we at doing this?
Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Now please turn with me to Romans 13 with those thoughts, commands from our Savior Jesus Christ to those with His Holy Spirit, with Him dwelling in them.
I would like for us to see these verses within the context of the whole chapter. This whole chapter frames the world under God’s direction, the world in which we live now and the choices we need to make to live in it as only those elect God has now placed into His Family can do, to live as Christ told us to live, filling His law to the full.
Romans 13:1-10 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. [How hard is it to believe that these days!) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 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. 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.
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Consider what Jesus Christ said about those commandments from the heart.
Romans 13:11-14 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Is not trying to get involved in this fulfilling our own lusts? This has been a wonderful country and a blessing, but where is our affection? On Christ? This country? Or on the world?
All we have just read is an overview of what God expects from His elect in faithful submission within a world not our own, as we work diligently to learn to make the right choices in a world of chaos and confusion with no time to waste.
Please turn to Romans 8 for a summary of what we have been looking at up to this point in the sermon. We will be reading God’s words to us as recorded by the apostle Paul in Romans 8, verses 1-12, and brethren, let us keep it clear in our heads that this is not a mere suggestion to those who have been set apart to be holy as God is holy now, but rather a command to make right choices, with the right focus in a carnal world that is enmity against God. Because it is within this world that God is preparing His elect for Jesus Christ’s return.
Romans 8:1-12 here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [Hold onto that, there is our peace in this time of chaos!]
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
Set your mind; set your affection. . . Jesus Christ did not ask our Father to leave us in this world that is ultimately anti-God, to focus our affection on it or any part of it, but rather that we could make the right choices focusing on Jesus Christ and do things just like He did!
Our focus of head and heart in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, must be on Jesus Christ and choosing to live according the letter and the spirit of the law in a world that has no real hope of unity, until the return of Christ.
The elect of God are called to live in this world to make the choices that will unite us through the Spirit of Jesus Christ that has been generously given to His small flock that is under judgment now to be holy as He is holy, making the choices that bring it.
This brings us to the critically important section of this sermon for all who have been called by the Father to His Son united with Him; one nation, one language, one banner.
We will now be turning to and spending quite a bit of the remainder of this sermon in the book of Daniel. We are going to be reading quite a bit, but I want us to clearly get it in our heads that beyond what John Adams said about the science of government being at a standstill and little better practiced now, but as God sees it, it has actually been steadily going in the other direction. This needs to be clearly in our sights as we may be tempted to join the contentious debate to hang on to what we consider better than anything else before it.
Please remember as we go through this that we are not looking at this as citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Trinidad, Zambia, South Africa, the Philippines, or any other nation on the face of this earth but rather as God’s holy people united in head and heart by Jesus Christ as citizens of the Kingdom of God, right now!
Daniel 2:26-30 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.”
Daniel 2:31-35 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”
Keep this in you mind brethren, because Daniel is talking about governments, they will be crushed like chaff and no trace of them will be found!
Daniel 2:36-45 "This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold. But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; (that is what we are looking forward to brethren) and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
We are going through this because I want you to see that this is God’s purposed design, and His purpose puts us in an awkward place in the middle of things, which gets even worse. We are facing incredibly difficult times that Daniel talks about as they go through the centuries in chapter 7.
Daniel 7:1-8 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.
And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.”
Daniel 7:15-27 “I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: ‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. [Keep in mind what happens with God’s people during all of this and what God purposed to happen to them during all of this’] Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom.
And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. ‘But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
Brethren, you want to be part of the government? Just wait! The kingdoms will be given to the saint of the Most High, in the time that God determines.
I wanted us to see that throughout all this time governments are becoming worse than better, as well as to see that God’s holy people are not only going to be without power but on the run, faithfully looking to God for His protection, while making choices to faithfully obey every Word of God as one united Body in Jesus Christ.
Now let us go to Daniel 11:40, where we see the prophecy that started back in Daniel 10:10 regarding different things that would happen with physical Israel through time continuing all the way to this point when God focuses Daniel’s attention on days that are right around the corner for us right now.
Daniel 11:40-45 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.”
Daniel 12:1-7 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
I would like to read that last verse from the Amplified Bible.
Daniel 12:7 (AMP) And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right and his left hand toward the heavens and swore by Him Who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half a time [or three and one-half years]; and when they have made an end of shattering and crushing the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
We very well may be living in the final days leading up to the Great Tribulation that all of us have probably had in our sights since we first were called into the Body of Christ. As a matter of fact, one of the most prominent themes that God used to draw many of us into our initial association with the church was the mysterious book of Revelation and the many inexplicable details the apostle John saw and heard in the Day of the Lord.
However, the problem is that as much as we have been anticipating being eyewitnesses to the reality that John could only roughly describe from within his own circumstantial perspective of a Jew living in the Roman Empire in 100 AD, tribulation is much easier to anticipate than to endure.
As a matter of fact, God even gives us some warnings, both directly and implied, about just how difficult it would be to endure those times. We certainly have not seen anything yet compared to what lies ahead for this world as whole, but each of us are feeling the pressure mount within all the circumstances of our lives, with pain and sufferings, both physical and emotional.
Not only are we seeing the nations around us becoming divided and ineffective but essentially what we are seeing in Daniel 12:7, God’s holy people continues to diminish significantly as the shattering and crushing of the corporate church of God continues God’s process of scattering His holy people into smaller and smaller groups with less and less group power. So where should our focus be right now? Well, it cannot be on the process of tribulation. Actually, I want to go Amos 5 and see what God says about focusing on the tribulation.
Amos 5:16-20 Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, says this: “There shall be wailing in all streets, and they shall say in all the highways, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They shall call the farmer to mourning, and skillful lamenters to wailing. In all vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through you,” Says the LORD. Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! For what good is the day of the LORD to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?
We cannot focus on that our focus must be on Jesus Christ and by extension all the others that God has separated into His Body, becoming holy as He is holy, regardless of where God has scattered each and every one of us and that the power of the holy people actually is not much power at all in the end because it suits His purpose in preparing the Bride of Christ.
This is going to take a great deal of effort to make the right choices, to serve the Body, wherever and whenever we have the opportunity to do so, as a light in a dark world, even though the effective work of the corporate body will be crushed.
The work of Jesus Christ living within His holy people will only grow, as our relationships with Him and with one another grows. We are all being given the opportunity to make choices constantly in faith and trust in God, using our God-given gifts even though little recognized or even acknowledged now.
I told you in the introduction to this sermon that we would get back to George T. Balch because I thought there was a good lesson for us in his life story. George T. Balch (not to be confused with George Balch, the noted admiral during the Civil War. This is a different fellow altogether.) is less than a footnote in history. It is hard to find much on him, but I did finally found an article about him in the annals of the United States Army Ordnance Corp website.
The Ordnance Corp is the branch of the Military responsible for maintaining the supplies to the troops and mainly the large transportable armaments. You may think it strange that I am using the example of someone responsible for supplying the weapons of war, but it is not what he did but how he did it.
The article states in part:
Captain Balch's most significant service to the US Army Ordnance Corps clearly took place between September of 1863 and September of 1864, during which time he served as the Army's de facto Chief of Ordnance by order of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.
In September 1863, Brigadier General James Ripley was obliged to step down as Chief of Ordnance. Many problems had developed during his tenure, most notably his continuing refusal to utilize and promote newly developed weapons for the Army. President Lincoln and his Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, disagreed about who should take his place. The Civil War had reached a critical stage in the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, and it was imperative that the Army's Ordnance Department continues to provide the best possible support to the combat branches. Lincoln wanted to elevate COL George D. Ramsay, Commandant of the Washington Armory, to the post of Ordnance Chief. Mr. Stanton, strenuously resisted and sought to promote Captain Balch, then an assistant in the Ordnance office.
Lincoln and Stanton compromised. Ramsay was promoted to brigadier general and given the title of Chief of Ordnance, but without his knowledge, Balch was placed in charge of the office, Chief of Ordnance, and was given substantive control over its operations. Ramsay was a figurehead chief, while Captain Balch made virtually all-essential decisions. For a year, Balch, operated as Chief.
Stanton's biographers, Benjamin Thomas and Harold Hyman, have stated that Balch, though nominally Ramsay's principal assistant, was actually Ramsay's "overseer." With Stanton and Ramsay, his two superiors, continually quarreling, Balch, a most capable officer, was caught in the middle of an impossible situation.
In light of this fact, the long-forgotten Captain Balch deserves great credit for having kept the Ordnance Department functioning smoothly and effectively at this critical juncture during the Civil War. He made certain that urgently needed weapons, munitions, and equipment were kept flowing to the front lines. He left the affairs of the Ordnance Department in such excellent shape when he departed for his next assignment that its accounts were the first to be settled after the Civil War.
In September 1864, Captain Balch was transferred to instructional duties at West Point for the academic year 1864-1865. He then was placed in charge of the Charleston, SC Arsenal, where he began the task of bringing that facility back into full operation following the destruction done to it at the end of the Civil War. He resigned from the Army in December 1865. Placed in an extremely awkward situation in the middle of the Civil War, Captain Balch performed his duties in an outstanding manner.”
The article then goes on to describe his later work in life in the private sector, also consequential in use of his extraordinary talents but unrecognized. Through time he humbly began his efforts to remind the children of what a nation needed to have focus and attention, and to be unified as a nation in head and hearts.
The article ends with the following paragraph:
Captain Balch's service to the Ordnance Department and his country during a most critical time in its history has never, because of its unusual nature, been properly recognized, and he is deserving of induction into the Ordnance Hall of Fame.
Brethren, this man did not get caught up in the politics of the day but just humbly used his God-given talents to do what he could in playing one of the most significant roles toward victory “during a most critical time in this his nation’s history,” and then tried to focus a nation on the real source of its unity! I hope you can see the lesson for us, as we head into the most critical time in the Kingdom of God’s history, at least as far as men are concerned.
As we read there in Daniel 12:7, God’s church is going to continue to be scattered and corporately ineffective, by God’s design. But what are we going to do individually in this most critical time in history? Are we going to use our God-given gifts, His Holy Spirit, to focus our heads and hearts of affection on Jesus Christ and by extension on all the beloved scattered brethren, who are being created in God’s image to be holy as He is holy?
Turn with me again to Romans 8 and what needs to be the focus of our heads and hearts during this most critical time.
Romans 8:15-17 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Unlike Balch who was not even noted, our glory is before us, it is incredible!
Romans 5:18-27 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly [earnestly, affectionately] wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
All of you out there that are suffering though so many trials and tribulations and pain, and think that God is not hearing your prayers, your groaning before His throne may be unintelligible to you, but through Jesus Christ it is being heard, loud and clear.
Romans 8:29-31 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Without any doubt the United States has been one of the richest, most powerful, and productive nations that ever existed. When we think about this even the poorest in this country have had more access to wealth and freedom and those things than anyone else in the world before us. But it is good to remember that, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Have we ever considered that we may be among those rich and are trying to maintain something that God is in the process of destroying because we have set our affection on this world rather than the Kingdom of God? Even though we have an affection for the United States and for our own countries, wherever they are, that affection cannot go beyond and affect what we are to be doing as firstfruits.
Our Great God has given the ability, an opportunity, to pledge our allegiance to the only truly united nation under God with real liberty and justice tempered with mercy for all. United now as one Body, through Jesus Christ, no matter where we are physically. Get that in your minds, brethren!
We are being scattered and shattered and the corporate structure under the Worldwide Church that had this great work, and even this work that the Church of the Great God is doing right now on the Internet, that is going to be shattered, we will not be able to be of much help, apparently at God’s design. But what are we doing as we are absolutely certain that we are one united Body in Jesus Christ, but only if we earnestly and seriously give our heads and hearts to God with the greatest of affection.
We will close this sermon with what God expects from each one of us in this time of scattering as we can see this work unto holiness in these words from the apostle Paul.
Philippians 1:3-14 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment [to make the right choices], that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Brethren, we still need to be a light in a dark world, just as the apostle Paul. How much preaching was he doing when he was chained to a wall in prison? He was doing a lot because his message was attractive to those who were around or with him. By his conduct and by his words as he had the opportunity.
Philippians 1:27-30 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Philippians 2:1-5 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind [head and heart] be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-16 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
At this most critical time in history, at a time when we feel emotionally torn like we are caught in an almost impossible situation, let us truly give our heads and hearts to God and His Kingdom; one country, the Kingdom of God; one language, the truth of His Word; and one flag, as King David wrote in Psalm 20.
Psalm 20:5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
As we saw back in Daniel 2, all the governments of this world will be ground into chaff and blown away when God is through using it to build His Family. His Kingdom will stand forever!
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