Sermon Notes

Introduction

1. A very serious and heavy message. Adapted from one preached by Lou Engle.
2. Why abortion is the most critical issue of our day…there are other issues just like there were other issues during the time of slavery but there was none more important. This is a spiritual issue with a thin covering of politics over it. It is an issue of right & wrong (not including abortions due to rape, incest or endangerment of mother’s life), light & darkness, God & the devil.
3. Charles Finney in 1850’s: Consequently, the silence of Christians upon the subject is virtually saying that they do not consider slavery as a sin. The truth is, it is a subject upon which they cannot be silent without guilt. The time has come, in the providence of God, when every southern breeze is loaded down with the cries of lamentation, mourning and wo. Two millions of degraded heathen in our own land stretch their hands, all shackled and bleeding, and send forth to the church of God the agonizing cry for help. And shall the church, in her efforts to reclaim and save the world, deafen her ears to this voice of agony and despair? God forbid. The church cannot turn away from this question. It is a question for the church and for the nation to decide, and God will push it to a decision.”
4. There is grace, forgiveness, restoration, hope and love if you have had an abortion or supported it. WE follow a savior and king who loves forgiving and restoring. There is no condemnation when you enter into God’s presence through the blood of Jesus.
5. There are many ways to address this issue: philosophy/logic, science, Biblical perspective of when life begins, etc. I want to address the consequence of shedding innocent blood from a Biblical perspective.

Blood Has A Voice

1. Gen.4.10f
   1. Abel had a destiny in God on this side of eternity and it was cut short.
   2. Humans are eternal and to intentionally take an innocent human life is to cut short that person’s destiny…the dream/desires God had in mind for them. They are experiencing injustice…they experience mutilation and death.
   3. Those children are still alive and their voices cry out for justice.
2. Rev.6.10; 19.2 – innocent lives taken that are crying for justice.
   1. These voices are heard by God every day and He promises them justice.

Murder of Innocence Pollutes the Land

1. Num.35.30, 33; Gen.9.5-7
2. Abraham Lincoln Quote: Second Inaugural address: Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the slave's two hundred and fifty years of (unrewarded labor) shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash (of the slave owner) shall be paid by another drawn with the sword (on the battlefield), as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
   1. He understood that the Civil War was God’s judgment on the North & South b/c of the shed blood of the slaves.
   2. I we don’t deal with the injustice of the shedding of innocent blood then God will. Reference the message on Aug.23 about the Growing Offense Towards God. 
3. Biblical examples
   1. Judges 9 – Abimelech & the citizens of Shechem killed the 70 innocent descendants of Gideon and later they pay with their lives for the injustice.
   2. 2 Sam 21 – King David, the famine and the injustice of King Saul against the innocent Gibeonites. David brought justice for this injustice and the famine was lifted.
   3. 2 Kings 9 – Jehu killing the family of King Ahab due to their slaughter of innocent blood during Ahab’s reign.  
4. Num.35.30, 33; Deut.19.11-13
5. Manasseh
   1. 2 Kings 21.2-3, 5-6, 10-11, 16
   2. 2 Chr.7.13-14
   3. 2 Ch.33.10-17
   4. 2 Kings 23, 24 & Jer.15 – though he repented the land had not been cleansed from the murder of innocent people. As a political leader he opened the door to a national sin/injustice that was never dealt with by human justice.
   5. God had mercy on him, but God’s justice equation on Gen, Num & Deut was still in place. He repented and sought God’s forgiveness, but he didn’t deal with the shedding of innocent blood. Since the earthly courts did not bring justice then the Courts of Heaven brought justice.
   6. Why Amy Comey Barrett’s confirmation is so important. If the shedding of innocent blood (over 60 million) is not overturned by courts on earth then it will go before the Court of Heaven and justice will be served on this side of eternity.

The Church in America cannot Testify Against Herself

1. Matt.23.29-34
   1. These religious leaders were patting themselves on the back saying that they would never have killed or persecuted the prophets God sent to Israel as their forefathers did  – Jeremiah, Hosea, Malachi. They were saying that they would have stood with these prophets. Jesus is saying that one greater than all the prophets is now among them and they will crucify him. They are testifying against themselves before God.
   2. Likewise, – we say we would have stood against slavery and for freedom & civil rights that if we lived during that time…we would have stood with Ab Linc, Fred Doug & MLK. WE make monuments to our heroes of justice and then we vote for those who stand for injustice against the weakest and most innocent. It is a mockery. We are testifying against ourselves before the court of God.
2. 2 Cor.6.14 – 7.1

Our Response

1. This is a spiritual battle; satan hates humans b/c we are the image of God and especially those who follow the One who defeated him. As Satan looks upon humanity, all he sees is his enemy and all he wants to do is destroy them. By inspiring abortion, he has turned humanity against itself.
2. Laws that legalize sin open the doors for the demonic and then divine justice. When King Manasseh legalized sin and the sacrifice of babies, it opened the door to the demonic and eventually divine justice. Our vote has spiritual consequences.
3. Intercession – Ps.106 & Moses stood as the intercessor; Abr did the same for Sodom; we do the same for our nation; we are crying out for mercy. I believe it’s the only reason we have not experienced greater measures of divine justice.
4. There is blood that speaks louder than every voice – Heb.12.24 – and it is crying out for our forgiveness. Jesus is able to save, heal and restore.

Communion

1. We have the blood of Jesus that cries out louder than the voices for justice.
2. We need a spiritual awakening and a blood washed America!

Scripture References:

Gen.9

⁵ “And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. ⁶ If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings^[a] in his own image. ⁷ Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth.”

Num.35

³⁰ “All murderers must be put to death, but only if evidence is presented by more than one witness. No one may be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

³³ This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land.

2 Cor.6.14-7.1

¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil^[a]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
     and walk among them.
 I will be their God,
     and they will be my people.^[b]
 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
     and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
 Don’t touch their filthy things,
     and I will welcome you.^[c]
 18 And I will be your Father,
     and you will be my sons and daughters,
     says the Lord Almighty.^[d]”

7 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.