The Origins of Us vs Them

The sermon today is titled, The Origin of Us versus Them. And the subtitle, or could be the title, How the World Works. The history of how the world works is both spiritual and physical domains, is based on the us versus them reality. In today's world, almost everybody is against someone or something. In the Hank Williams Jr. song, which is titled, I'm For Love, he summarizes to some degree what the world is about. Mothers against drunk drivers, the pope is against the pill, the union's against the workers and working against their will, the president's against the congress, the senate is against the house, people are against politicians, and I'm against cats in the house. And then at one point he says, the devil is against us all, which is very true. And then he says, but I'm for love. And so God is love, and love will produce the fruits of God's spirit. The Bible definition of the kingdom of God, according to Romans 1417, and this is something that should be reviewed at the Feast of Tabernacles every year, is what is the definition of the kingdom in Romans 1417. It says that the kingdom of God, I could quote it, but let's read it, for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Another way of describing the us versus them mentality is that the history of the universe revolves around good versus evil. And of course that happened at a certain point in time which we will identify. Another way of describing us versus them mentality is that the history of the universe revolves around that, as we have noted, and another way is truth versus lies. Another way is to describe the history of the universe is light versus darkness. So let's go to John 1, the Gospel of John, chapter 1 and verse 1. Read the first five verses there. And John 1 and verse 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So there you see very clearly, as you heard in the sermon, two two beings. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. And Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. Now we want to go to John 9 and verse 5, John 9 and verse 5, where Jesus in essence says that He is the light of the world. In John 9, As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. And of course, the church is challenged to be a light on a hill and hide not your light. And we have the word of light in our laps today, or we have brought it along with us. It is the word of God. So I'm now going to read Psalm 119 verse 105. Psalm 119 verse 105. In Psalm 119 and verse 105, Psalm 119 verse 105. The psalmist writes, Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Now God is the creator of all things through Christ. So we have seen that Christ is light, but yet there is darkness in the world. And how did that come to be? And how did the world wind up being patterned along the lines of us versus them?

So let's go now to Colossians chapter 1. In Colossians chapter 1, we'll see very clearly that God is the one through Christ that created all things. And we could ask ourselves, and we will ask again, did God create a devil?

In Colossians chapter 1, and we'll begin in verse 12, giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us fitting to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. So this contrast between light and darkness, between good and evil, this thing of us versus them permeates the whole Bible, who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. As we have said many times, this is our chance to live under the law of God in the flesh. If we're in the kingdom of God, we will not be in the flesh because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Verse 14, So God has given Christ control over everything but himself. There are many scriptures that bring that out. For it please the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Verse 16. No, verse 19.

I got ahead of myself there. I was for the lead 17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in things he might have the preeminence. So he has a preeminence in all things, except that he does not have preeminence over the Father. And 1 Corinthians 15 brings that out very clearly. For it please the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him, were reconciled to God by the death of his son, were saved by his life. That's Romans chapter 5 and verse 8 or 9. I say whether they be things on earth or things in heaven.

So all things were created by God. Christ, as we have read, is the light of the world. Yet we must be called into his marvelous light. Once darkness entered into the world, now to be in the light, you have to be called of God. And it's called his marvelous light. If you'll turn to 1 Peter 2 verse 9, we'll see that very clearly that we have been called into God's marvelous light. And we are to be the light of the world. In 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 9, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people, that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. So the whole world gropes in darkness until they are called into, or one is called into, God's marvelous light. So did God. Once again, we pose the question, so did God create the devil and demons? When creation was completed, God said, this is Genesis 1.31, God said it was very good. It was very good. There was nothing wrong with it. Physical creation was complete. We turn to Job 38 now, and we see that God created the spiritual domain before he created the physical world. And Job 38, and we'll start in verse 4. Job 38 and verse 4.

And Job 38 and verse 4.

And Job 38 and verse 4.

And Job 38 and verse 4.

And Job 38 and verse 4.

And Job 38 and verse 4.

And Job 38 and verse 12. Take a scroll and...

Ezekiel 38. I'm in 38, not 28. In Ezekiel 28 verse 12, Son of man, take a lamentation against the king of Tyre. So the king of Tyre is a type of Satan the devil, and say unto him, Thus says the Lord God, You sealeth the sum full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Satan must have been a most magnificent creature when created. As we shall see, he was one of the anointed caribs that covered the ark. You have been in Eden, the garden of God, every precious stone what you're covering. Verse 14, You are the anointed carib that covers, and I have set you so you were upon the holy mountain of God. You walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. And some have speculated that Satan, he's called, and we'll read that scripture, or mention it later, in Ephesians 2 verse 2, where it says that Satan is a prince of the power of the air. He said, You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created. Perfect! He was created perfect. So God did not create a devil. Till lawlessness was found in you by the multitude of your merchandise, and the king of Tyre is a type of, and the king of Tyre and Tyre was known for its trade in merchandising. They have filled the midst of the earth with violence through, and you have sinned. Therefore I will cast you out as profane, out of the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering carob, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. How many people look at the mirror and say, Oh, I'm so beautiful. I'm so handsome. I am so this, that, or the other. Satan apparently did that because of your beauty. You have corrupted your wisdom, so it was very wise, by reason of your brightness, so that wisdom was corrupted when he sinned, and I will cast you to the ground. I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. You have defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude of your lawlessness. So we see very clearly that Satan was created perfect, and he became the author of lawlessness and iniquity. He was given, as we have seen, a very high and lofty position, at the right hand, or being right at the throne of God, not at the right hand, being right at the throne of God, as we have seen there. The anointed carob covers. Us versus them is one of the great paradoxes of all ages in that the one who became Satan initially, what was his name initially? His name initially was Lucifer, which means light bringer. And then upon him sinning, his name was changed to Satan, meaning the adversary. And here we see the paradox of all ages in that the one who became Satan was once named Lucifer, which means light bringer. He rebelled and became the Prince of Darkness. The us versus them mentality began. That's the origin of it with Satan's rebellion. When Satan rebelled against God, in Revelation 12 we see that his tail drew. We'll go there, Revelation 12 quickly. In Revelation 12 we'll see that his tail drew a third of the angels. So a third of the angels joined in his rebellion.

In verse 1, chapter 12, there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with sun and the moon under her feet and her head, and on her head, a crown of 12 stars, evidently representing Israel and the 12 tribes. And she, being with child, cried, surveilling in birth and pain to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven, behold, a great red dragon. And Satan is often equated with the dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head, a depiction also of the beast in Revelation 13.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, the angels, and did cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered for to deliver her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth the man-child that was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. Of course, now Jesus Christ, after paying the penalty for sins, now sits at the right hand of God, making intercession for each one of us. So here we see that now the scene is set for the us versus them mentality in the spiritual realm.

Satan drawing a third part of the angels. Now we go to Isaiah chapter 14, and the famous account here of his rebellion, Isaiah 14 beginning in verse 12. Isaiah 14 verse 12. And how are you falling from heaven, O Lucifer? We mentioned that earlier, Lucifer, which once meant a light bringer, has now fallen, drawing a third part of the angels with him. Now in some religious, so-called religious circles of our day, and it has been perpetuated throughout time, that Lucifer is made into the Savior, and Jesus Christ is made into the adversary.

But of course, we know that as a lie. O Lucifer, son of the morning, you are cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations. The son of the morning, perhaps, refers to the morning star. Of course, Jesus Christ is the bright and morning star of all times. Revelation 22. For you have laid, and for you have said in your heart, I will ascend unto heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high. And some translations and commentaries mentioned that actually his goal was to replace the most high, not to be just like him, but to take the place of God.

Yet you shall be brought down to Hades, to the grave. In this case, it would be shield, is the Hebrew word in the Old Testament, to the sides of the pit. From time to time to the present, the us versus them battle has ensued. According to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4, verses 3 and 4, Satan is the God of this world.

And perhaps everyone in this room basically that above the age of, picking age 20 or whatever, can quote that scripture that Satan is the God of this present evil age. You know, what a challenge. Going back to what I talked about before in the announcements, virtually everything that any minister could bring forth in the Church of God for those who've been around for decades, you've already heard in some form or another. You've heard it from somebody else, or you've heard it from me, but there's still more to be gleaned and more to understand, and to understand the times and discern the times in which we're living, and that the times are critical, even though we live in a almost like a cocoon protected from the evils that are extant in the world, especially in the large metropolitan areas of the world.

So Paul says that Satan is the God of this present evil age. Repentant sinners and believers have been reconciled to God, as we've mentioned two or three times, through Christ, through His sacrifice. Repent faith in the sacrifice of Christ, and they are now charged to walk in light in the path of light which is revealed by the Word of God. And we read Psalm 119 and 105 about the Word of God being a lamp to His feet and light unto His path. So it is through the Word of God, as Christ told Satan in Matthew chapter 4, the great temptation, it says, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

I think sometimes even the brethren tend to forget the fact that Satan is alive and well on planet earth, and he is very active now. He's probably more active than he's ever been. Satan and the fallen angels, demons, are very much alive, wreaking havoc all over the world, causing chaos, confusion, every evil work, from UFOs to individual possessions. The new name for UFOs is Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. And so those, there were some pilots who testified before Congress in the past couple of weeks about what they had seen as pilots with regard to the UFOs. Oh, and they use the term UAP. It's sometimes called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. The Apostle Paul, in absolute terms, states that the ultimate battle for each person is supernatural. So we can't dismiss the us versus them part of it, beginning with the rebellion of Satan and drawing a third part of the angels. And what his goal is, is to be worshiped. We have to be on guard, and we have to realize what we're up against. Now let's review this in Ephesians 6, verse 10. Ephesians 6, verse 10, about where the battle really lies. Ephesians 6 and verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. So in view of that, we are admonished to put on the whole armor of God, which the rest of the chapter 6 is taken up with, putting on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand. Now let's go to Ephesians chapter 2. We mentioned this early, the prince of the power of the air. We used to hear a lot about the prince of the power of the air and and much about it with regard to how Satan might influence different ones. I'm not sure that Satan can insert ideas into our consciousness. Perhaps he can when we begin to make ourselves open to the influence of Satan the devil, as many people do with their various activities in pursuing the spirit world. So in Ephesians 2 verse 1, And you hath he quicken, or made alive, who were dead, you were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, for in times past we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the air, the prince of the hour, the prince of the power of the air, the prince of the power of the air. It is absolutely amazing. I watched four documentaries yesterday and the day before, two one day and two yesterday on artificial intelligence. What is going on in that world? It is absolutely unbelievable how that they are now able, in artificial intelligence, able to do what is called deep learning and learn to figure out problems themselves. One example they gave was we didn't know that artificial intelligence could translate Bengali, the language of Bengal, into English and they had never worked on it, but through the database that was already there, the artificial intelligence figured it out, and they could interpret Bengali. They were asked to summarize the New Testament. In five seconds they summarized succinctly the New Testament, and it goes on and on with regard to ability to do deep learning. This is where the future resides and people are determined to be involved in this.

So we need to ask ourselves, and we'll talk a little more about artificial intelligence in a moment, we need to ask ourselves if we tuned into the prince of the power of the air. If we had the ability, we could, you know, many of us have wireless, basically everyone has a wireless cell phone in their pocket or nearby, and there's nothing other than what's in the air to pick up the signal, and if you have the right software, you can pick up that signal, and you can talk to somebody, as I did yesterday in Canada, no problem at all, or any part on the face of the earth. So the battle of us versus them began with humans in the garden of Eden when Satan deceived Eve into partaking of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the battle continues to the present day. The world is divided into two camps. One camp believes and trusts in God, understands God's great plan, purpose, and providence. I would venture to say that less than one percent, you may be able to figure this out differently. They say there are about eight billion people on the face of the earth today. I would say that less than one percent of the world's population really understands the great questions of life and their implications. I listened to the preachers today, and they're filled with zeal and are on fire in many cases. However, they do not understand the seven great questions of life. Does God exist? Who is God? What is God? What is His purpose? And the corollary to that is who is man, what is man, and what is His purpose. You understand that. You know that. That you are destined to become a glorious radiant spirit being in the kingdom of God. And even though they are zealous, they don't really understand those questions. Of course, perhaps in the day of their visitation, they will understand that. About the closest they come to the truth is to decry the sins of the day, call on people to repent and believe in Christ, and He will do the rest. In some of these televangelists, they have amassed fortunes, and you can view documentaries about them on YouTube and various electronic devices as well. It is unbelievable what they have amassed with regard to wealth from airplanes and homes to other things. And it seems that the majority of scientists, academicians, and political leaders of the day, in virtually every area of concern, have proposed a solution and an explanation for all things apart from God. Basically, they provide illogical explanations for the origin of physical existence and cultural norms. I would say, basically, today there are no cultural norms. In the large cities today, and even some of the leadership in the Democratic Party and others are now very concerned about the crime wave that is threatening the large cities, where people are going in and, in essence, looting stores and walking out with, over the course of time, tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods. When it comes to morality, their basic solution is toleration of all social moral norms. They advocate toleration and acceptance in the name of equality and love. In the physical world, they deny God as creator of the universe. In the spiritual domain, they don't understand that God created humankind for a great transcendental purpose. When all is said and done, humankind is made themselves into God. And, although many are valuing and promoting artificial intelligence, how wonderful it's going to be, and how it's going to make life easier for so many people, that these hard math problems that you might have encountered, you don't have to worry about solving those artificial intelligence solve it for you in a second. Or, maybe it takes five seconds.

So, when all is said and done, man is made himself into God, but yet at the same time, they basically reduce human beings to animals. And we have the survival of the fittest. They call Mother Earth, they call the Earth Mother, or Gaia, G-A-I-A, and claim that it is a living organism. But the Earth doesn't have any life and consciousness. It's just there. Of course, it's being abused in some cases. The so-called intellectuals and academicians and zeitgeist of the times have perpetuated a false narrative concerning the origin of all things and the great laws that govern the universe and the moral behavior of humans. A false narrative. According to academicians and scientists, humans have been reduced to animal status, as we have mentioned. They're just another species. They don't know who they are. Their identity has been stolen.

I just saw a TED talk yesterday, postulated that the greatest threat to humanity is the digital revolution, which makes life-altering decisions based on algorithms. So many of the decisions are based on those algorithms. In short, artificial intelligence is the digital revolution. And as I mentioned, I watched four documentaries, and it's unbelievable what robots are now able to do. Stored in these computers are millions of pieces of data about you and everything on Earth. They know where you live. They know what you like, what you don't like. They know if you're a conservative liberal. They know whether or not you are a conspiracy theorist or not. And we could go on with they know. They know it all.

College and professional sports coaches are now using this data and relying more and more on what they call analytics to manage their teams, to coach their teams. It's fourth and one on the goal. Are you better off to kick a field goal or to go for a touchdown? Well, the analytics say it's better to go for a touchdown in the long run. Though you may be stuffed there on the one-yard line or the six-inch line, it's better to do that. Baseball, do you leave the pitcher in or do you let him pitch to the left-handed hitter? Or do you bring him to a left-handed pitcher for against the left-handed hitter? And so on and it goes. So analytics is beginning to make all the major decisions that are being made in the financial world, especially. They analyze vast, vast millions tons of data and make a decision. So the digital age artificial intelligence will become more challenging. Another thing of the them. And they gang up on individuals trying to live by godly principles and make it appear as if he or she is the epitome of evil. See, Jesus was a victim of this strategy when they accused him of being illegitimate. They cynically would say, oh, we be not born of fornication. In reality, they hated what he stood for. They viewed him as a threat to their ungodly behavior. Let's go to the epistle of Jude. You probably haven't turned there today or next week or last weekend either. In Jude 1 chapter verse 8, in Jude verse 8, likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, speak evil of dignities. There's no one escape from being spoken evil of in today's world. Everyone is fair game. There are no heroes. There are no leaders. We're all just mush.

Yet Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil, he, disputing about the body of Moses, dare not bring against a railing accusation against Satan, only saying the Lord rebuke you. I mean, can you imagine such a thing?

But those speak evil of those things which they know not, but what they know naturally as brute beasts in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them, for they have gone the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the era of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsay of Korah. These are spots in your feast of charity. When they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear, clouds they are without water, cared about a wind, trees whose fruit withers without fruit, and twice dead plucked up by the roots, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wondering stars whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And it goes on and on. You can read the rest of the chapters. It's a very succinct summary of the way the world is at the present time, and that them have the upper hand. Why are we witnessing this collapse of society? Well, the prophet Jeremiah gives the answer very clearly. If you go to Jeremiah chapter 5 verse 21, we'll start. Jeremiah 5 verse 21.

Jeremiah 5 verse 21.

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding which have eyes and see not, which have ears, in here not. Fear you not me, says the turtle, and will you not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it, and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail, though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. But these people have a revolting and rebellious heart, and they have revolted and gone. They have gone, as it were, over the hill. I could read the rest, but in the interest of time, go to verse 22. Verse 29. Verse 29. Shall I not visit you for these things, says the Lord, shall not my soul be a binge on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land. Now, this word wonderful here, that's the only time in the Old Testament that it's translated as wonderful. Most of the time, it is translated a different name as a thing that is not good. I don't know why the King James translator is translated wonderful. A horrible thing is committed in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests be ruled by their means, and my people love it to have it. So that's the reason, the way, why the them way outnumber us. They love it. And if you stand up from Jesus Christ to anybody, you go back to through the Bible of Cain killed Abel, Nimrod built a city revolt, and against the commandment of God, Korah's rebellion, Absalom and Adonijah against David, it goes on and on for those who stood for that which was right. My people love to have it so, and what will you do in the end thereof? Unless they repent, of course, is that they are going to vanish.

Now, another dimension has been added to what prevails in society today of the them, and that is the live and let live is a thing of the past. You will conform or become the object of scorn. Perconform or become the object of scorn. Become prey. Even the so-called whistle blowers who came forth to tell the truth received death threats to themselves and family members. And you should hear the testimony of whistleblowers in the congressional hearings on the UAPs, the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, better known in the past as UFOs. Of course, the government has kept this under wraps for decades, not wanting the public to know, but now it's out there in the public domain. Some of them, some of these whistle blowers, and it's not just with unidentified flying objects, it's other things as well. They receive death threats for telling the truth. And you know that Isaiah prophesied that a time would come in which evil is called good and good is called evil in Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 specifically. You know, Jesus Christ healed the person who was blind from birth. And when the leaders of the day came and asked the parents, well, who healed this person? They would not answer. They said, well, ask him he is of age. And they wouldn't answer for fear that they would be cast out of the synagogue. And social ostracism is one of the greatest fears of human kind. So, God says that vengeance is his. And we read from Jeremiah chapter 5 that all these things will be brought into judgment. He will bring everything into judgment. God says, love your enemies. God says, to love others as he loves us. Now, this brings us to the critical question of the ages. Who will tie the bell on the cat's neck?

You cannot communicate with people who have whole deep-seated beliefs who are blinded to the truth. They will not accept it. You cannot read certain chapters of the book of Leviticus, which plainly says that man should not lie with man and woman with woman. Or, verse Corinthians 6, where it says that certain peoples and behaviors will not be in the kingdom of God. You can't rationalize those scriptures away. You can't do it. You have to stand with the less than 1%. I don't know if that's an absolute figure or not, but I would say that it's close. The Bible says what it means and means what it says. Yet, in the face of the Zot Gosh of the times, we are commissioned to take the gospel to the world. Jesus ate with publicans, tax collectors, and sinners, and was roundly condemned by the Pharisees for doing so. Yet, he never compromised on anything. You can hardly find a more stern rebuke than that of Jesus when he took the leaders of the day to task in Matthew 23. Here we are trying to reach a lost and dying world in which the peoples of the world are in desperate need of the knowledge that leads to understanding the purpose, plan, of human existence. Satan is now in control. He is the god of this present evil age. The moral narrative that the public is awash in is that of Satan. One could say that them are winning. The us, what do we have? Well, we have the Word of God, which is a more sure word of prophecy. We know that if we stand fast, we're going to win. We can take comfort in the fact that God is going to make sure that the gospel is going to be preached to the whole world. We often quote in Matthew 24.14 that the gospel will be preached to the whole world, and then the end will come.

We have that task to try to preach the gospel to the whole world.

God is not going to leave the preaching of the gospel to every person on earth, just to humans. If you turn now to Revelation 14 in verse 4, you will see that we almost never talk about Revelation 14. It's quite difficult to understand it completely, and we're not going into the understanding of it in totality, but just to bring out one point that is given here in Revelation 14 verse 4.

Speaking of the 144,000 in verse 4, These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb, wheresoever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God. You can't look upon God as a human being, yet there are 144,000 seals that live over into the millennium. Verse 6, And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven. This is our key verse for the point we're making. I saw another angel fly into the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation, kindred and tongue and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea and the clowns of waters. So you have the three angels' messages. You could read the other two and the rest of the chapter yourself. Now, exactly the time order of all this is still open for debate, I'm quite sure. So in the midst of all of this, the us versus them, we understand the plan, the purpose, the providence of God. As we have noted, Jesus communicated with them, the they or the them of his day, in that he did not insulate himself from them. Yet, as we have noted, Christ boldly condemned them. So we have been called to represent God and Christ at this present evil age. We are to be ambassadors for Christ. That's why we had Ambassador College, is because of the Scripture in Corinthians. We could ask ourselves, am I an ambassador for God and Christ? And am I an ambassador for us? I include myself. I don't think we remotely understand the high office that we've been called to. To be an ambassador of one country to another is a great honor. Do we understand the importance of our appointment as ambassadors to the great royal family, or of the great royal family of the universe? There's none greater. We are ambassadors of Christ. So we must strive to overcome reflexive human nature. That is, to respond to whatever the situation is in a reflexive manner, but instead respond in a godly manner. That does not mean that we tolerate evil. There are a thousand reasons, more or less, as to why, in many cases, we don't speak up. When we hear something in a sermon that we don't agree with, do we speak up, or do we let it go? Or do we even notice what is truth and what is not truth? The caution is ever, put your mind in gear before you speak. So we need to develop a love for the truth, and if we don't develop that love for the truth, we will be deceived, and God will send you grand delusion. So, brethren, these are sobering times, even though we live in this cocoon that we live in. If we don't do what we need to do, we will become victims of the digital world and its false narrative, and them will win over individuals. But them will never win over everyone, because God has reserved and will see us through if we remain faithful. So we close with Romans 8.31. What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Yes, the us. We're going to win.