Mentoring Men for the Masters
104 King Arthur Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

 There are many benefits of the glorious gospel but there is no benefit more powerful, transforming and far reaching than true biblical forgiveness.  The word in Greek means to let go and free another from all sins and charges, in the very same degree Jesus has done for us.  Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”  “Forgiven and forgiving” describe the true Christian person.

Has someone wronged you and are you having difficulty in forgiving them?  Why should you forgive? 

1. The Grace Factor - None of us deserve forgiveness, for we have sinned against God and man (Romans 3:23), but God by His grace given in Jesus Christ on the cross grants to us forgiveness - which is His first great gift.  When we forgive others, it is not because they deserve it but you give it as a gift which God has given you.  Illus:  Some young men in Memphis gave their blood to a lady in the hospital.  When asked why they replied, “Jesus gave His blood for us and we gave our blood for you.” 

2. The Guilt Factor - All are guilty of sin, for all have sinned, and therefore everyone needs forgiveness.  Humans do all kinds of things - strange actions to assuage their guilt feeling.  But only God’s grace can remove that guilt.  See David’s testimony before he repented - Psalm 32. 

3. Grief Factor - If you are unforgiving, you suffer all kinds of grief which may subside momentarily but only to return with even greater pain.  You also grieve the great heart of God (Ephesians 4:30). 

4. Gain Factor - Matthew 18:15.  Not only are you freed when you forgive another, but you gain that brother you forgive and he becomes your greatest friend. 

5. Grouchy Factor - Laden with guilt of Unforgiveness, an individual is ill-tempered, discontented, complaining, restless and forever GROUCHY.  Illus.:  I read of a man who went to a psychologist who asked him, “Do you wake up grouchy?”  He replied, “No, I let her sleep.” 

6. Grave Factor - Unforgiveness makes one sick spiritually, emotionally, physically, and hastens death.  Illus.:  Some years ago I visited the huge Veteran’s Hospital at Duke University and asked the main doctor in charge the condition of the inmates.  He replied, “If all the inmates would forgive, I could discharge  70% of them today.” 

What Is The Extent to Which We Should Forgive? 

1. Forgive Fully - You must forgive all or you are not forgiving at all. 

2. Forgive Quickly - God did not wait to forgive Adam (Genesis 3:9). 

3. Forgive Freely - No strings attached.  Jesus required nothing of us. 

4. Forgive Finally or Forever - Peter asked Jesus if one should forgive the perfect number of times, that is, seven.  Jesus replied, “No, but 70 times 7 or 490.”  Jesus was not counting mathematically, indicating after you forgive 490 times you are free not to forgive 491.  Forgive until forgiveness is your lifestyle.  Ruth Graham, “Marriage is not primarily between two lovers, but two forgivers.” 

5. How Does God Enable Us To Forgive?  

1. He gives us the spirit of forgiveness and agape love.
2. He gives us a task in His Kingdom.
3. He points us to the cross.

Results:

1. Personal Emancipation for yourself.
2. Personal Reconciliation with another.
3. Spiritual Jubilation.  

We speak of a revival as the “roof coming off” of the church.  That means people getting right with God.  But real revival will not come until the walls start tumbling down - the wall between brothers and sisters - and the church experiences the glorious power of forgiveness.

Illus:  Corrie Ten Boom

 Summation:  Be Good to Yourself And Forgive.

 Questions and Answers: 

1. When could a person possibly be justified in not forgiving another?  If that person treated me worse than I had treated Jesus.
2. Why is Unforgiveness so serious?
3. D. L. Moody said Unforgiveness in the church is holding back revival more than anything else.  Do you have evidence that this is true?
4. Put in mathematical terms, how much has God forgiven us compared to what we forgive others?  Matt. 18  52 million vs. $44.
5. Must a person experience the forgiveness of God himself before he can forgive others?
6. In the event one cannot forgive, what is his spiritual state?
7. True or False - “If you love yourself, you will forgive others?”
8. Explain the title of our lesson today, “BE GOOD TO YOURSELF AND FORGIVE.”
9. A subordinate disobeyed General Oglethorpe.  Turning to John Wesley, he said, “You know, Mr. Wesley, I never forgive.”  Wesley’s reply, “Then I hope, sir,  that you never sin.”
10. Who is the only person on earth who can afford not to forgive?
11. Joseph was perhaps the most mistreated person in the Old Testament - also perhaps the most forgiving and forgetting person.  What was his secret?  Genesis 41:51, Names his son Manasseh, meaning “God has made me to forget.”
12. Does God “make us forget?”
13. The apostle Paul wronged many persons?  Did he forgive and forget?  See Phil 3:13-14 and 2 Cor. 5:17.
14. What is the most popular first name for boys in the USA today?  Jacob.  Why would Manasseh be more appropriate than Jacob?

 Jesus asserted that no man knows the “days or hour” He will return (Matthew 24:36).  However, Jesus Himself describes in two ways the conditions that will prevail on earth prior to His return:

1.      The Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24:1-8.  In this passage Jesus teaches that the end time will be days of great deceptions, counterfeit Christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, etc.  This was about spoken AD 33.

2.      The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Rev. 6:1-8) - This records the Risen Christ speaking to the Apostle John and describing the end time under the imagery of 4 Horses: 

a.       The White Horse - the Anti-Christ

b.      The Red Horse - War

c.       The Black Horse  - Famine

d.      The Pale Horse - Death    - This was 60 years following the Olivet Discourse.  When you compare the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 and the 4 Horsemen of the Revelation,  you discover they are teaching the same truth, the first being verbalized in Matthew 24 and the last being symbolized in Rev. 6.  The important thing to note is that both teach that “FIVE GLOBAL INDICATORS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY” will mark the end of the ages:

1. A Growing Spirit of Anti-Christ (Matthew 24:4-5.  White Horse (Rev. 6:2).  In our day religious confusion and counterfeit are raging:  Hippies, Drug Culture, explosion of cults, influx of Eastern religious thought (Hinduism) in the Name of Jesus, the New Morality, New-Ageism, Open Theism, Pluralism, Modernity, Christian Atheism.  Millions are being swept into Oprah’s New Spirituality by which she is channeling   the New Age Jesus. 46 million people in 134 countries view her program weekly.  She says the biggest mistake people make is to believe Jesus is the only way to God and she urges them not to “cling to the old rugged cross.”  She grew up in a Southern Baptist Church in the Bible belt.

2. Escalation of International Conflict (Matthew 24:5-7; Red Horse - Rev. 6:4).  There’s always been wars, but the 20^th   century  escalation is astounding: 
   1. World War I - (1916-1918) killed 20 million
   2. World War II - (1939-1945) - 70 million killed.
   3. Atomic Bomb (1945) Korea (1950)
   4. 9 Nuclear Countries  Vietnam - 58,000 killed
   5. Rise of Terrorism
   6. Nations against nations.
   7. 2 Gulf Wars
   8. 911 - 2900 killed
   9. Afghanistan - Pakistan
   10. Israel attack on Iran pending
   11. World War III looming on Horizon.

3. Unprecedented World-Wide Famine (Matthew 24:7 ; Black Horse - Rev. 6:5)
   1. Famine and hunger are raging in our world: 70 million died of famine in 20^th century.  1 billion go to bed hungry every night.  Experts see world-wide Food Crisis is looming on horizon (Dr. Hayden) while 60% of Americans are over weight.

4. Devastating Disease  (Matthew 24:7; Pale Horse - Rev. 6:8).  Earliest AIDS  in 1959, 1^st case in USA (1981) - gay men.  AIDS has been called the “worst epidemic known to modern man, current pace doubling every year.”  Over 22 million have died from Aids and over 42 million living with it, 40,000 new infections each year in the USA.

5. Overwhelming Natural Disasters (Matthew 24:7).  There has always been earthquakes; and now with crescendo; 14^th century - 137; 15^th century - 179; 16^th century 253; 17^th century 378; 18^th century, 640; 19^th century, 2,119; 20^th century 31, 777 - (Dr. Dan Hayden).

Please note two significant facts about the 5 indicators above:

1. All 5 have and are occurring in our day, and Jesus said, “So when you see all these things, know that the end is near - even at the door.” (Matt. 24:33).
2. Jesus said that these indicators would progress like the labor pains experienced by a woman delivering a baby (Matthew 24:8), and all these indicators have and are escalating at an astounding rate.

Questions and Answers:

1.      Do you believe that the 4 Horsemen are now riding furiously?

2.      My mother who lived to the age of 99, said, “I am not looking for the Undertaker but the Upper Taker.” Was she Scriptural?  Cite book and verse.

3.      After confronting the above indicators, what effect will this have on the way you live?  Be specific.

4.      Which of the above 5 indicators of the end time have you observed  most?

5.      Do you believe the end will occur on Dec. 21^st, 2012, as indicated by the Mayan Calendar?

6.      How did the Mayans reach this conclusion?  They calculated that the sun will complete its 5,125 year cycle through the galaxy when the winter solstice rolls around on Dec. 21^st, 2012.

7.      Did you see the Movie “2012?”  What did you think?

8.      Does the Bible refute the date of 2012AD?

9.      How much of the Bible consists of prophesy?

10.  Do other religions other than Christianity consist of prophesy?

11.  Does a church preach all the Bible if it ignores prophecy?

12.  Do whole denominations ignore prophecy?  Why?  Dr. Dan Hayden, “You will never hear of a Prophecy Conference in a Reformed Church.”  Why?

13.  How can you tell if a person really believes Jesus will come in his life time?

14.  How should we prepare for the “End Time?”

a.       Be sure you have truly repented and been born again (2 Peter 3:9, 15-16).

b.      Live a life of purity  and freedom from materialism (2 Peter 3:11-13).

c.       Be an Avid Soul Winner (2 Peter 3:15)

d.      Live a life of compassionate patience (2 Pet 3:17)

e.       Keep growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). How?

15.  If not ready to go, how much time are you promised in the Bible to get ready?

16.  What one big question should we  be asking concerning His coming again?  Not “Is He coming, but am I going?”  Are you?

17.  Did you know there are 5 classes of person in hell:

a.       Out and out sinners

b.      The moral lost man without Christ

c.       Lost church members

d.      The self-righteous

e.       The procrastinators.

Which is the largest group?  Classify yourself if unsaved.

18.  Did you know our world will never com to the end but only the age (the aionios not the cosmos.) Can you explain?  (Romans 8:19ff; Rev. 21:1-6).

19.  Ilario Pantano and Chris Millis open their political speeches by affirming Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Article 6 of the US Constitution states that “Religion must never be a test for holding public office in the USA.”  Are these 2 brothers violating the Constitution?

20.  When asked “Who is your favorite philosopher, how did Presidential Candidate George W. Bush answer?

 After Jesus arose from the dead, He met with individuals, small groups, and large crowds (1 Cor. 15:6), but He summoned only one person by name to meet Him - Simon Peter - Mark 15:7.  Why?  The Bible does not explicitly say, but I believe it was because we have much to learn from “Loud-Mouth Peter,” which the saga of his life cogently reveals as follows:

 1.      PETER ALWAYS INSISTED ON BEING FIRST IN EVERYTHING: 

a.       He walked on the water first - Matthew 14:29.

b.      HE was the first to confess Jesus as the Messiah - Matthew 16:16-18.

c.       He vowed to Jesus’ face that he was “ready to go with Him to prison and death.” - Luke 22:23.

d.      At the same time Jesus warned that Satan would sift him as wheat (Luke 22:31), but Peter did not let that stop his prowess.

e.       Contrary to his pledge, Peter denied Jesus three times around a “fire of charcoals” and the cock crowed as Jesus had predicted- (verse 61).

f.        Peter was in hiding while Jesus was being crucified.

g.       However, he accompanied his buddy John to the empty tomb after His resurrection and saw the grave clothes - John 20:6-7.

h.       Later he saw Jesus with the rest of the disciples and heard Thomas’ astounding confession - John 20:28.

 2.      EVEN THOUGH PETER HAD ALL THIS EXPOSURE TO JESUS, he decided to quit following Him for he evidently was overwhelmed with guilt and assumed he had “blown it.”

a.       He went back to his old ways of fishing - John 21:3.

b.      He took six other disciples with him - John 21:2-4.

c.       They fished all night but caught “NOTHING” until they obeyed Jesus and caught 153 fish.   - John 21:3 

3.      SUDDENLY THE RISEN LORD APPEARS ON THE SCENE where Peter was fishing.

a.       Jesus was seeking Peter, though Peter was running away from Him.

b.      Significantly he built a “charcoal fire,” cooked fish, and invited the disciples to breakfast.  Why the “charcoal fire?”

c.       Peter had already jumped naked into the water to go to Jesus.  Had he repented?

d.      All seven of the disciples ate breakfast prepared by Jesus. 

4.      HOWEVER, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR JESUS COMING was to meet Peter privately and restore him to fellowship and His ministry.  How did He do it?

a.       He took Peter aside.

b.      He significantly called him “Simon.”  Why?

c.       Jesus asked him three questions.  Why three?

d.      His questions were, “Simon, do you agapao me, do you agapao me, do you phileo me?  Peter answered, “Lord, you now I phileo you.  He could not bring himself to say he was totally committed.  Why?

e.       Jesus then commanded Peter, “Feed my lambs - your converts; “Shepherd my sheep - disciple them; and “Feed my sheep” - sanctify them by the Word - John 17:17.

f.        Then Jesus told Peter he would die by crucifixion.

g.       Peter responded, “How about John” who had been looking on?  Jesus answered, “Don’t worry about John If he lives until I return, but you just “FOLLOW ME.”

h.       Did he? 

Questions and Answers: 

1. Peter quit for a time.  Why?
2. What should Peter have done?
3. Why did Jesus build a “fire of charcoal?”
4. Do you think it reminded Peter of his great sin of denial?
5. Why did Jesus address Peter as “Simon,” and not “Peter?”
6. Did it shake Peter up to be called “Simon?”
7. Peter took six others with him fishing.  Do we see this in local churches today?
8. When the disciples caught nothing, had they forgotten John 15:5?
9. Jesus told Peter that he must die in order to follow Him?  How about us?
10. Does the Bible say Peter was crucified?
11. Is there evidence Peter followed Jesus the rest of his life?
12. What lessons do you think Peter learned?
13. Do you think Peter learned how to treat his wife from his experiences?  The evidence?
14. What did Jesus mean when He asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” -John 21:15.  Who are these?
15. Why did Jesus call fishermen to be His disciples?
16. At the command of Jesus the disciples cast out their nets and caught 153 fish?  Why 153?
17. Jesus commanded Peter to “feed or fish” also to shepherd and disciple.  Explain.
18. What % of professing believers deny Jesus today?
    1. Are you denying Him when you are neutral or say nothing or don’t witness?
19. Do you see yourself in the life of Peter?  What should you do?  What will you do?
20. Specifically what lessons have you learned “what not to do and what to do.”
21. What one great truth do we learn about Jesus from his pursuit of Peter?
22. Do you know any “Peters” who need restoring in MMM?  What is your responsibility?  Gal. 6:2.

 The Bible is Jesus talking to us personally, and He is speaking to us loudly and movingly as we approach Easter.  Last Words are significant when spoken by great men and women, but the 7 Last Words of the Son of God from the Cross are not only profoundly significant, but they are utterly  PERSONAL, PERVASIVE, AND PERFECT IN NUMBER (7).  Let us, therefore, ponder these words, and be able to answer pertinent questions to follow:

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS

Word # 1 – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Word # 2 – “Verily, I say unto you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Word # 3 –“Woman, behold thy son…behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27)

Word # 4 – “My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

Word # 5 – “I Thirst” (John 19:28)

Word # 6 – “It is Finished” (John 19:30)

Word # 7 – “Father, into thy hands I commit (deposit) My Spirit” (Luke 23:46)

1. The Christ of the Cross is the Christ of Astounding Mercy  for prayed, “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do”  (Luke 23:34).
2. The Christ of the Cross is the Christ of Amazing Grace, for He said to ungodly thief, “Verily, I say unto you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
3. The Christ of the cross is the Christ of Adoring Love, for the family, for He said to His mother at the foot of the Cross, “Woman, behold thy son… behold thy mother.” (John 19:26-27).
4. The Christ of the Cross is the Christ of Awful Separation in hell  from God, His Father, for He cries out “My God, My God, why hast Thou Forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) from the Cross,
5. The Christ of the Cross is the Christ of Awesome Human Suffering, for He said on the Cross, “I thirst.”  (John 19:28).
6. The Christ of the Cross is the Christ of Absolute Victory, for He proclaimed from the cross these triumphant words, “It is finished.” (John 19:30), meaning “paid in full.”
7. The Christ of the Cross is the Christ of Abounding  Comfort in death, for He cried out from the Cross, “Father, into Thy hands I commit (deposit) My spirit” (Luke 23:46).

 Questions and Answers:

1.      Is the first word an appropriate word with which to begin a marriage ceremony?

2.      Which word touches your heart most?

3.      Which word speaks great comfort to the dying?

4.      Which word speaks good news to the worst sinners on earth?

5.      Which word warns the person who is trying to work for his salvation?

6.      Which word would you use in depicting the horror of hell?

7.      Which word shows the humanity of Jesus above all others?

8.      Which word reflects Jesus’ devotion to His mother?

a.       Did Jesus worship her?

9.      Did Jesus disrespect His mother in addressing her as “Woman?”

10.  Why didn’t Jesus ask Joseph to take care of His mother?

11.  Which word comforts the person who feels he cannot be forgiven because he has sinned so much?

12.  What convicted the thief that Jesus had mercy on His soul?

13.  Which word indicates we should finish the race?

14.  What group of people made the request, “Sir, we would see Jesus?” (John 12:21)

15.  How did Jesus answer the Greeks and why are His words so significant?

16.  Suppose one has a fear that beyond death, he will suffer in some state of torment, like Purgatory, would he receive comfort from one of the last words?

17.  Why didn’t Jesus turn His mother over to the chief apostle, Simon Peter, rather than John?

18.  Only one of the 7 last words appears twice in the Bible, the 4^th Word in Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34.  Why?

19.  How could any person hear the 7 last words and see the love of Jesus for his soul and the souls of all men and not memorize and meditate on the 7 last words in preparation for Easter?

20.  As pastor I held a service every Good Friday called “Gold from Golgotha.”  Why would I choose this subject?

21.  The thief was not baptized, yet he went to heaven.  Does this mean baptism is not that important?

22.  The fact the thief was not baptized:  Does this disprove the wide spread teaching that one must be baptized in order to be saved?

23.  Does the salvation of the thief on his death bed commend death bed repentance to us today?

24.  Does the word “Easter” appear in the New Testament in the original Greek?

25.  What is the rule for setting the date of Easter?  The Council of Nicea in 325 AD states that Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday that occurs after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox, March 21^st.  Therefore, Easter must be celebrated on the Sunday between the dates of March 22^nd and April 25^th.

 Historically, to destroy marriage, children and civilization Satan has assaulted the family- Hitler, Communism.  His efforts are finally within reach of his goal as his followers are “moving heaven and earth” to institute “Same-Sex Marriage” throughout all 50 States if our Union.  Please observe with me as we identify seven discernible steps in the scenario: 

Observe 7 Factors in The Movement for Same Sex Marriage:

 1.      The Defense of Same Sex Marriage.

a.     First, there were those who insisted on the right of homo-sexual relationships on the basis of their rights as free citizens under the Constitution of the USA and also the argument that homo-sexuals are born that way.  Now these people are logically saying that Same Sex Marriage is a right and must not be denied any citizen of the USA.

b.      Liberal churches and Liberal Courts  embrace Same Sex Marriage.

c.       Conservatives remain silent - Which is worse?

2.      The Denial of The Right of Same Sex Marriage.

a.       The nature of human kind in creation - God created man not just as male alone or female alone, but He created human kind as male and female.  “And God created man in His own image; in the Image of God He created them; MALE AND FEMALE He created them.” (Gen. 1:27). In a word, God did not create Adam and Steve, but Adam and Eve.

b.      God the Father’s Definition of Marriage in the “Original Match.” (Gen. 2:24-25).

c.       God the Son’s Reiteration of the Father’s definition (Matthew 19:4-6).

d.      God the Holy Spirit’s power against such lust (Gal. 5:16)

e.       Experience of civilized societies through history.

f.        Teaching of historic Church: Protestants; Roman Catholics; Orthodox.

3.      The Development of Same Sex Marriage.

a.       The Sexual Revolution:  (1960)“Make love, not war!” shouted the students in the sixties. This mindset made a joke of marriage. Sexually transmitted diseases, including the onset of HIV/Aids epidemic, reached epidemic proportions. 

b.      No-Fault Divorce: The world’s first no-fault divorce law was signed into law in California in 1969. This would prove to be an extremely damaging blow to marriage. Suddenly it was easier for a spouse to legally terminate his or her marriage than to break a pool maintenance contract. 

c.       The Normalization of Cohabitation: Cohabitation was once referred to as “living in sin,” but its rate of occurrence has increased 850% since 1960. 

d.      Granting a Marriage License for Homosexual Marriage: On November 18, 2003, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled that preventing same-sex couples from marrying is not permissible under the State Constitution. Following this ruling, Massachusetts began issuing marriage license to homosexuals on May 17, 2004. 

e.       The Killing of Babies in Mothers’ Wombs: Murder was legalized with the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, resulting in the death of forty-five million babies ¾ a horrific number that grows daily. 

f.        The Legalization of Sodomy: Alas! On June 26, 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution guarantees a right to sodomy. This case is now known as the infamous Lawrence vs. Texas decision. 

g.       The Action of the U.S. Senate: On July 13, 2004, the U.S. Senate voted down an amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Forty-eight senators voted for the amendment; sixty were required for its passage. 

4.      The Devastation of All We Hold Dear.

Marriage between one man and one woman is the foundation of a decent and orderly society.  Also the context in which children should be born and reared.  With this foundation removed, even the righteous can do little if anything to withstand the demise of the family, development of children, etc.

a.       Same-sex marriage defies the definition of marriage given by God the Father in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2:24.

b.      Same-sex marriage disregards the teaching of Jesus on marriage. When asked about divorce, Jesus reiterated the very words of God the Father in Matthew 19:3-6.

c.       Same-sex marriage discounts the teaching of the Apostle Paul. Paul held the same view of marriage as did God the Father and Jesus the Son in Ephesians 5:31.

d.      Same-sex marriage denies the teaching of the historic church ¾ Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic ¾ for 2,000 years. No legitimate Christian body, except the Episcopal Church, has ever endorsed same-sex marriage.

e.       Same-sex marriage disregards the fact that no civilization, no matter how corrupt, has practiced same-sex marriage. Only two countries, the Netherlands and Belgium, have actually legalized “gay marriage,” and only in recent years. [1]

f.        Same-sex marriage deprives males and females of that intimate relationship ordained by a loving God, which is essential to their well-being ¾ physical, emotional and spiritual.[2]

g.       Same-sex marriage develops an environment in which every form of sexual behavior will flourish. “The introduction of legalized gay marriages will lead inexorably to polygamy and other alternatives to one-man/one-woman unions. In Utah, polygamist Tom Green, who claims five wives, is citing Lawrence vs. Texas as the legal authority for his appeal.”[3]

h.       Same-sex marriage will devastate children.[4]

i.         Same-sex marriage will deprive us of our religious liberty.[5]

j.        Same-sex marriage demands the judgment of God upon our nation. Listen to Paul’s ominous warning in Romans 1:26-28 

5.      The Destruction of Foundations of Western Civilization.  Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Marriage is the foundation of society.  When destroyed, all life is thrown into chaos and confusion and children are the chief victims.  

6.      The Defeat of Same Sex Marriage. 

a.     Amendment to the State Constitution.  North Carolina will vote on this amendment in the Republican Primary, May 8^th, 2012.  All other Southern States already have a constitutional amendment to protect marriage  and 29 States in all.

b.      Amendment in US Constitution.

c.       Voice of the pulpits of America

d.      Election of President in 2012 who opposes Same Sex Marriage

e.       National revival in obedience to 2 Chron. 7:14.

f.        Christian marriage where parents model happy marriage for children to emulate. 

7.      The Damnation of Same Sex Marriage.

Arnold Toynbee  researched the history of the 21^st civilization, 20 of whom have fallen because of all forms of sexual immorality.  Do you believe that “All that is necessary for evil to triumph in a nation is for good people to do nothing.” (Edmond Burke). 

Questions and Answers: 

1. Has the acceptance of homo-sexuality as an alternative life style paved the way for Same Sex Marriage?
2. What are the major myths of homo-sexuality?
3. Can homo-sexuals be delivered?  Cite Scripture.
4. Do you know someone who was delivered?
5. On May 8^th, 2012, North Carolinians will vote for or against an amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between on man and one woman.  Same sex marriage is already forbidden by NC statues, so why the need for this amendment?
6. How many states already have an amendment in their Constitution forbidding Same Sex Marriage?
7. If legal for a man to marry a man and a woman a woman, does that open the door for all kinds of bizarre and outrageous combinations: polygamy, incest, marriage to an animal (one’s favorite dog), a monkey, or your favorite horse?
8. Who are the chief victims of Same-Sex Marriage?
9. If a child is brought up in Same-Sex Marriage home, would he be inclined to be a homo-sex and marry his own sex?
10. How could girls reared by two men with no woman around be prepared for a normal marriage?  Or boys reared by two women be prepared for a normal marriage?
11. How did God the Father define marriage in the “Original Match?” Why?
12. How did God the Son define marriage?  Why?  How does the Holy Spirit feel about Same-Sex Marriage?  Why?
13. Do you have a family member in a homo-sexual relationship or a friend?
14. Do you have a friend in a “Same Sex Marriage” relationship?
15. If so, how should you handle the situation?
16. Should a Christian church welcome Same-Sex Married couples?
17. Should a Christian church admit them for membership?
18. At the rate the culture is changing, will one soon be called a bigot who would oppose Same-Sex Marriage?  People opposing homo-sexual relationship are already being called bigots or homo-phobias?
19. Has Same Sex Marriage  been accepted by nations in the past?
20. Is Same Sex Marriage a form of adultery?
21. Is it conceivable that in the not too distant future that many persons will not trouble to be formally married but just live with anyone they choose?
22. Liberal pulpits already accept abortion and divorce as inevitable realities of life, and most conservative pulpits are simply silent on the issue?  Why?
23. What steps can be taken now to stop Same-Sex Marriage?
24. Do you ever hear of the “Three Clobber Scriptures?”
25. March 25, 2012, Joel Osteen said to his congregation that in the Old Testament God was angry with sin but not under the New Covenant and since the coming of Jesus.  This means God was angry with Same Sex Marriage in the Old Testament but Same Sex Marriage is okay today.  Your opinion?