Take your Bibles this morning and turn with me to Psalm 33. We'll read the entire psalm. There's a particular verse that's sort of the center of attention in this psalm, and it's verse 12. In fact, we ordered t-shirts recently for some folks in the church. On that t-shirt, it says, America needs Jesus. And it says at the bottom, Psalm 33, 12. This is the verse, Psalm 30 through 12, blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. We'll read the entire psalm as we go through the message, but I just wanted to point out that verse to begin with. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Let's pray. Father, thank you today for the privilege to share your word. We ask that you might give enablement to preach this message, Lord, It's a little bit of an unusual message because it's talking about, we speak about the upcoming election. And so I pray that you might give clarity of thought and may it be received well and you would use it to speak to our hearts. If there's someone here today, Lord, who has not trusted Jesus as their Savior, I pray that they might understand that is their greatest need. to know the Lord personally, because you died for them on the cross of Calvary. You loved them so much that you gave your own son to die and take their place on the cross, pay for their sins, and then rise from the grave. You did that for all of us, Lord, and I pray that if there's someone here who has never yet responded in faith to you, that they would do that today. Give an amen to bring the message, and may you have your will in each of our lives, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Today I want to deliver to you what might be called an election sermon. Before anyone objects to the idea of an election sermon, we need to understand that election sermons have been a part of American history for many years. They've been preached by men of God since the late 1700s. The ministers of those early years of our country considered it their duty as a preacher of the word of God to give direction to their people from God concerning what was on the ballot or what they were considering in those days. They wanted them to make wise decisions as they exercised their right and their duty to vote. The same is true today. I have never shied away from my duty to speak out against sins of our day and to give counsel from God's word concerning those sins. Early voting in the United States has already started. It's in progress. My wife and I voted a week ago. And it ends on November the 5th. So if you're gonna vote, you only have till November the 5th. Every Christian who is eligible to vote, I believe, should vote. They should exercise their right to vote and do that. It is estimated by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University that 41 million Christians will not vote this year. That's very sad. Here are some of the reasons that they give. They do not like either candidate. They say their vote won't matter. or they say that they distrust the whole voting system. And there's reason to distrust, I understand that, but still, we should vote. But your voting, or your not voting, does matter. You see, I believe that America is at the time in our country where we must make a choice. We have two diametrically opposed systems or ways of thinking, and we must make a choice. And so your vote does matter, and if you don't vote, that also matters. Now why does it matter if you don't vote? Let me give you some reasons. You enjoy the benefits of American citizenship. And many have fought and died to give you that privilege and to continue to make you free. And when you do not vote, you are really being unthankful for the sacrifice of those who've gone before you and have paid the price so that we could still be free. Another reason is, when you do not vote, you are failing to do your part to elect the best candidate. And usually it's true that of the two candidates or three or however many it might be, there is one who is better than the other. We've never really been faced with a decision of a perfect candidate and one that's imperfect. We've never had that. And if I was running for president, it'd be the same thing. It wouldn't be perfect. And so we don't have that. But when you fail to vote, you're failing to say which you think is the best. Your failure really matters. You don't have any right to complain about the results if you don't vote. So if you don't vote, don't dare say anything about the results because you didn't do anything to change it. If the election results lead our country in the wrong way, you are partly responsible for the problems it will cost your children, your grandchildren, and future generations, because elections do have results. Do not allow your distrust in the system or the people to cause bad results in the future. Your vote does matter. Another reason is this year there are some biblical principles on the ballot. If you fail to vote, you are refusing to state on which side you stand. Christians are to stand against the wiles of the devil. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 6, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. We see that playing out in the United States today. They're evil forces, for sure, fighting against us as a nation. But the Christian is to fight the devil, gird about with the girdle of truth. That means we stand for something. We're to have the breastplate of righteousness. That means we live right. We're to have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. That means we share the gospel. We're to have the shield of faith, whereby we might squinch all the fiery darts of the wicked that he throws at us. We're to have the helmet of salvation, knowing that we're saved, and we're to have the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We use the Word of God. And I believe that a Christian who's fully dressed in the armor of God cannot stand by and say, well, it doesn't really matter if I take a stand or not. I think you need to make your voice heard. Of course, there's many more important ways to make your voice heard than voting, but it is important. You might say, I do not like either candidate. I understand that. There are things I do not like about the person for whom I've already voted. But when I see the direction that the other side will lead us as a country, I have to say, I want to make a stand. I want to let my voice be heard. I believe that's needed. I voted for the best, which I believe are the two candidates of the best of the two. There are a lot of issues at stake. and this election. But it's very important we understand that these are very critical. And all of these issues I'm gonna mention, or some of these issues I will mention this morning, and I'll mention five of them, have to do with biblical principles. And so I believe we're faced with biblical principles in this election today. Let's take the two sides, and I'll just call them the left and the right. And I mean, I'm glad I'm on the right. That's a good place to be on the right. But they're not always right. But it's just considered today the left and the right, the liberal, the progressive, and the more conservative, the left and the right. So let me just mention it that way. First of all, the left. Here are the biblical principles at stake. There are five of them that I'll mention, and I'll mention where each side stands. First of all, the left is pro-abortion through nine months of pregnancy. That is clear, that is true. They're for abortion through nine months of pregnancy. The other night, Friday night, we got home Friday night, and I stayed up and listened to two speeches. one from the Democrats and one from the Republicans. I listened to both speeches. And in that first one, the Democrat, the left, they talked about abortion rights. That was the main thing that they talked about. Instead of talking about taking the life of a baby, they talked about reproductive freedom, which is freedom, really, to murder. Reproductive freedom. They speak of the right of the woman to do what she wants to with her own body. They never mention about the body that they do something to inside of their body, and that's the baby. They want to reinstate Roe versus Wade. Now, one of the preparations for our vacation, this is not a very good preparation, at least your wife or husband wouldn't think it's so, But before I left, I printed off the platform of both political parties. I didn't quite get all of the Democratic Party printed off because it took so long that I ran out of ink. And it was 100 pages. I took that so I could read it. And then I copied off the other, and it was 22 pages. And that was the difference. Since that time, I have read most all of that. And I've tried to see what they stood for. And they speak of the right of, they speak of the intention of the left to reinstate Roe versus Wade. They spoke of the intention of the left to make it very easy for you to cause an abortion through medication. Every way they can, they want a woman to have the right to kill their baby. That's very clear in their publication. Psalm 139 tells us in verses 13 to 16 that God is the one who forms the baby in the womb. God says in Psalm 139 that before the baby is ever formed, God knows what that baby is going to be, knows its characteristics, knows everything about that child. In other words, God is making the baby. So when you step in and say, no, you're saying, God, I don't like what you're doing. I'm going to get rid of it. But it's supported. They are in favor of doing that. And they want to reinstate Roe versus Wade. Also, there's another issue, and it's the LGBTQ plus agenda. On the left, they approve gross immorality of all kinds. They talk about the transgender madness. and they are very in favor of that. They talk about sex change surgeries for minors without parental consent. They talk about sex change surgeries for inmates who are in prison paid for by the government. They talk about sex change surgeries for illegal aliens paid for by the government. They want schools to promote homosexuality, and they do that through their textbooks. And gender transitions. They encourage a child, if they feel like they're a boy, but they feel like a girl, or they're a girl, they feel like a boy, to go ahead and change to what they want to be. And they think that's all right. The Bible is clear that homosexuality and homosexual acts are an abomination to God. The Bible is very clear on that. And the Bible is also clear on this, that God is the one who determines the sex, the gender of the child, and there are only two, there are not many. and God determines before birth what that child will be. And it's God's decision, not yours. God makes that choice, but they are against that. Another issue that's a biblical issue, I believe, is law and order. And on the left, they weaponize government against those who disagree with them. And yet as we saw in the year 2020, I believe it was, the riots for cities were torn down, all kinds of things done, and it was okay. It was all right. And they justified it. And yet they are against those who would stand against them and willing to weaponize government to go against them, to censor them, to shut them up, to do anything. They were behind the defund the police movement. They are behind and in favor of sanctuary cities. You say, what is sanctuary cities? Doesn't the Bible say something about cities that God set aside for the protection of people? Yes. but they're not sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are where people can come who are criminals and they can release the criminals on the streets and nobody is able to do anything about it. Law and order is out. You can't go after a criminal if they're in a sanctuary city. They're in favor of that. But God says, it's a biblical principle because God says government is instituted not by man but by God. and it's instituted for a reason, and that is to bless those who do right and to punish those who do wrong. God says it's to praise those who do right and to execute wrath upon those who do wrong. If you want to look it up, it's Romans chapter 13, verses 3 and 4. God says that's the goal of government, that's the role of government. And so God is for law and order. God is for punishing people who do wrong. And you say, well, what is wrong? God tells us what is wrong. God's word tells us what is wrong. And so God says, I set government to do that, to punish those who do wrong and to award those that do right. There's another issue that's a biblical issue, I believe, and that's the toleration of anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is when people are against Jewish people, hatred against Jewish people. I'll never forget when I first went to college, my professor, my math professor, I started off with this desire to be a math major, you know, and to go in mathematics and to sort of make a living at that. That was all right until I got to college calculus, and that changed my mind. But we had these guys who were Arabs, and they were in the engineering department. And the main teacher at that college in the engineering department, and also he was with some of the math, was a man who was a Jew. And I remember, they found out he was a Jew and they were upset. And I asked one of them, I said, do you know Jews? No, I don't know him, I just know I hate him. He was a atheistic Jew. But after a while, they got to like the guy. But they had a hatred for Jewish people because it was ingrained in them. Well, there's that anti-Semitism in our nation today. It's centered a lot in colleges and the college professors, many of them are very liberal and progressive. And they tolerate that. They actually promote it. And so this, on the left, there's that tolerance for anti-Semitism, and there's also that weakness and support of the Jewish people. It's a biblical issue because God says in Genesis chapter 12, verse 3, I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee. God says we are to bless the Jewish people. We're to love the Jewish people. And they are God's chosen people. God still has a plan for them. And then there's another issue I believe that is a biblical issue. And that's the whole thing about families. On the left, I believe there's an animosity towards traditional families. They're against the rights of parents to educate their children as they see fit. So much so that, you remember some time ago, that parents stood up and objected to the teachers and the school boards and objected to the liberal philosophy and the progressive ideas and the woke philosophy. They stood up against that and they were called domestic terrorists. Domestic terrorists. They are opposed to school choice. And I read it in black and white in their statement. They are opposed to school choice. What's school choice? That's allowing a parent to make a decision where their children want to go. Why is it that the left is so intent in getting free education? They have it K through 12. Why do they want to give free education to at least first two years of college or even more? Why? Because they want two more years to indoctrinate, and that's what schools have become, indoctrination places. indoctrination towards the wrong philosophy. And they are opposed to school choice. In other words, they don't want parents to have a choice to where they send their children. They don't want that. Why? Because they don't want parents to be able to educate their children as they see fit. And so they're opposed to it. You see, God instituted the home. And God is the one who said that children are to be in subjection to their parents, not to the state. The Bible is the book that says in Ephesians chapter 6, that fathers are to train their children up in the way they should go. It says that they are to... to instruct them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It's the father's responsibility, the parent's responsibility. And the children are to honor their parents. And yet this philosophy comes in and does not support that at all. Now those are five areas I believe are biblical principles where the left is on the wrong side of biblical principles. Let's take the right, on the right. Let's first of all deal with abortion. Generally speaking, they are opposed to abortion, not as much as I would like for them to be. It's because of Supreme Court justices appointed by the president that Roe versus Wade was overturned. The left is very much opposed to that. The right seems to be in favor of that, of letting it go back to the states. Some allow exceptions. I don't really agree with that, but they allow exceptions. And I believe a baby is a baby, however it got there. You know, God made the baby, and I just don't believe in the exceptions, but on the right, there are many who believe in exceptions. But they are opposed to late-term abortions, absolutely opposed to late-term abortions. On the left, they are not. Exodus 20, verse 13 says, Thou shalt not kill. That's an individual killing another individual. Thou shalt not kill. Can government do that? Yes, government has given permission to capital punishment. It's clear in the scripture. But it's the government. It's not an individual taking another individual's life. And so thou shalt not kill. Another issue is the LGBTQ plus agenda. And here's the statement on the right. We will keep men out of women's sports, ban taxpayer funding for sex change surgeries, stop taxpayer funded schools from promoting gender transitions, and restore protections for women and girls. Now that's not as strong as I would like it to be on the LGBTQ plus agenda, but it's sure a lot closer than the other side is. And I believe that we need to make a choice where we stand. Another issue is on the right, they're stronger on law and order. They're against weaponization of the government. Here's a statement. We will cut federal spending to sanctuary jurisdictions that release dangerous criminals into our streets. We will restore safety to neighborhoods by replenishing police departments, restoring common sense policing, and standing up to Marxist prosecutors. As Romans chapter 13 says, we're to reward the good, punish the evil. I believe the right, you might say, is more in line with the scripture on that. Another scriptural principle we mentioned that's concerning the left is anti-Semitism. Here's the statement from the right, we might call them. Support revoking visas of foreign nationals who support terrorism and jihadism. We will hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against Jewish people. And so it's very clear, I believe, that it's stronger against anti-Semitism than the left is. And then the last One is this, concerning family values. Here's the statement on the right. Promote a culture that values the sanctity of marriage, the blessings of children, the foundational role of families, and will end policies that punish families. They support universal school choice in every state. They support homeschooling for children, for families equally. So if a family wants to homeschool their children, then the dollars will go to them doing that as well. And so the parent makes the choice. Now, I believe this more accurately supports the Bible instructions concerning families. And so, when you make a choice, you have to decide. America is going to make a choice by November the 5th. The choice will be to the left or will be to the right. Now, these are five areas that I've mentioned this morning, which I believe the Bible speaks about. But there are other important issues at stake, such as, and some of these the Bible speaks of as well, but let me just list them. Freedom of speech, that's at stake. Religious liberty, right to bear arms, border security, taxation, inflation, secure elections, Isn't it interesting that in the state of Virginia, the other day, a federal judge came down and ruled that you have to put back on, I think it was 1,600 people who are not citizens, put them back on the roll. What? Non-citizens to vote, and you want them to vote? That's not right. That's not constitutional. So that's a very, very important issue, is secure elections. Military strength, energy policy, wasteful spending. In other words, we have to say, we must make a choice. We must make a choice. Therefore, if you are eligible to vote, I believe you should make sure that you do. Now, let's consider some things that are and will be true regardless what happens on November the 5th. I think this is very important. Things that are true and will be true regardless what happens. I thought it interesting this morning in the Sunday school class, we were talking about Josiah. And a man of God prophesied before Josiah was ever born that he would come on the scene, and he would do great reforms in Israel, and he would tear down altars, you know, the false gods and all this. And it says, and the prophet gave the guy's name before he was ever born, just like God did for Cyrus, you know, before he was ever born. In other words, God knows the result of November the 5th. God already knows. God already knows who's gonna win. And we as Christians need to know some things that are true regardless who wins. First thing is this, right will still be right, and wrong will still be wrong. Regardless who wins, it will still be wrong to have another God before God. It will still be wrong to take God's name in vain. It will still be wrong to kill. It will still be wrong to steal. You don't legislate morality. You don't decide what's right or wrong by a political party. God decides that, and it'll still be wrong to kill, it'll still be wrong to steal, it'll still be wrong to lie, it'll still be wrong to commit adultery, it'll still be wrong to dishonor your parents, it'll still be wrong to covet, and you could go on and on. Things that God says are right are right. It doesn't matter who's in charge. Also, there's some things that'll still be right. Some things will be wrong, some things will be right. It'll still be right to tell the truth every time. It'll still be right to love God. It'll still be right to obey God. It'll still be right to live a holy life. It'll still be right to be kind. It'll still be right to be tender-hearted. It'll still be right to be thankful. It'll still be right to be long-suffering, and you could go on and on. Things are still right that are right because God says they're right. That won't change. But then there's another thing. Worry will still be wrong for the Christian. Now, I believe that's sometimes something we do wrong, facing an election like this. You ever met a Christian who says, oh, I'm so worried about November the 5th. I don't know what's going to happen. I've got a t-shirt the other day, and I bought it down in Pigeon Forge, and I was being a little political, I know. It was right before we went down into Gatlinburg, and it said, Trump Vance. I looked around and I didn't see anybody else with shirts on. And my wife said, you're brave. Well, I guess I am. And I had all kinds of people saying things. You know, one person stopped the car, they were going down the street in Gatlinburg, and they said, Trump. I said, what, what? And he was looking at me. And he said, well. And sometimes, though, we get caught up with this, you know, and we get worried that it's not going to go our way. I remember when it didn't go my way on various elections. But we're not to worry about it. God says in Philippians 4, verse 6, be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And God will give us peace. And we as Christians shouldn't worry. We sometimes do, but we shouldn't. And if it doesn't go the way we want it to go on November the 5th, guess what? It was the way God wanted it to go. Does that mean I should have voted that way? No, no, no. You should always stand for what you think is right. But God knows what he's doing. He sometimes has a reason putting some people in office. Well, he always has a reason. But God's the one that does that, and so we shouldn't worry. We are not to worry about the election. We're to pray, we're to trust the Lord, we're to vote, but we're not to worry. Psalm 37 says it well. It says this in Psalm 37. Verse 1, fret not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee desires of thy heart. Commit thy way to the Lord, trust in him and he shall bring it to pass. and he shall bring forth thy righteousness as a light and thy judgment as a noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him. Fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth wicked devices to pass." The Lord says, don't worry. Trust. Trust me. So regardless what happens November the 5th, Christians should not worry. Another thing. We are to rejoice in the Lord and praise Him. Notice what Psalm 33 says. Now we'll start going through the Psalm. Look at it in verses one to three. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, for praise is comely to the upright. In other words, after the election, if it doesn't go the way we want it to and we go around with a sad face, the Lord will say, that doesn't look good on you. The Lord says, you know what looks good on a Christian? Rejoice in the Lord. Praise Him. Give Him credit. Give Him praise. Say, the Lord knows what He's doing. And then it says, praise the Lord with harp. Sing unto Him with a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto Him a new song played skillfully with a loud noise. Praise the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord. Praise the Lord. Sing unto the Lord. God wants us to do that. Philippians 4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. Regardless what happens, rejoice in the Lord. Election results should never take away our song. They sometimes do, but they shouldn't. Election results should never take away our song. Rejoice in the Lord. And there's something else that's true, regardless what happens on November the 5th. God is always right, and God is always good. Look at verse 4. For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. God is the one who will ultimately decide because He's the one who sets up kings and takes them down, and He makes no mistakes. Daniel chapter 2 tells us that. In verse 2, verse 21, it says, He removeth kings and He sets up kings. So what happens on November the 5th, God will do it. God will do it. He removes kings, he sets up kings. Daniel 4 verse 17, he giveth it to whomsoever he will, and I like this, and setteth up over it the basis of men. So there's no room for pride. And you know, whoever wins, there's no room for pride to say, wow, look at me, I did it, I did it, and that'll probably happen. But God says, no, don't do that. I set up the basis of men. And that'll be true on November the 5th, regardless who wins. God sets up the basis of men. He said, I just know what I'm going to do with you. You're not that important, but I chose to use you. And so God's always good, always right, and we have to trust him for that. Verse five says, he loveth righteousness and judgment. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. And November the 6th or November the 7th or whenever we find out who, we can look around and say, isn't God good? The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. The sun will still come up in the morning. It'll go down in the evening. The Lord will still send rain. The Lord will still do things he always does. The Lord is good to everybody. And then there's another thing. The earth should fear, all on the earth should fear the Lord. Look at verse six. The word of the Lord By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and the host of them. By the breath of his mouth, he gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He layeth up the depth and storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." If the election doesn't go the way you want it to, it should have no reflection on God. You'd say, God, oh, He's so great. We stand in awe of Him. We fear Him. You see, the Bible says, let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. By His breath, He made the heavens. I mean, just spoken into existence how great He is. And He's the one that made the seas and brought them all together, how great God is. And God is a great God, and He's a good God, and we should fear Him. We should stand in awe of the Lord. Another thing that's true, regardless what happens on November the 5th, God will bring about His will regardless who moves against Him. Look at verse 10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught. That's good to hear, isn't it? All these people planning these things that we know are not right. God says, I'll bring their counsel to naught. For he maketh the device of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. The Lord is the one who does what is right. And it doesn't matter who moves against him, his will is going to be accomplished. We know that to be true. Then notice another thing. God sees all that man does and he assures us that all are powerless against him. Look at verse 13. The Lord looketh from heaven, he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation, he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike, he considereth all their work. There is no king saved by the multitude of a host. A mighty man is not delivered by much strength, and horse is a vain thing for safety. Neither shall he deliver by his great strength. You see, it doesn't matter what man does, God sees all that. And God says all their devices, all their planning, all their strategy means nothing. God's gonna do what God wants to do, and no man's a match for him. Let me read you some passages, Isaiah 31. Verse one, woe to them that go down to Egypt. for help, and stay on horses and trust in chariots, and that they are many, and the horsemen, because they are very strong, but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord. Woe unto the person that doesn't seek the Lord. God says to those who are enemies against God and righteousness and all that, woe unto that person who doesn't seek the Lord. And then in 2 Chronicles chapter 32, Verse 8, he says, With him as an arm of flesh, and with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah. He said, More are with us than are with them. You can rest in the Lord. And then one thing more, God is ready to deliver all who fear him and hope in his mercy. Look at verse 18 of Psalm 33. It says this, behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them the hope and his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive from famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord, for he is our help and shield. For our hearts shall rejoice in him because we have trusted in his holy name. Let the mercy of the Lord be upon us according as we hope in him. God is ready to deliver all those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. His eye is upon all those that trust Him, and He's ready to do something special for them. I like it, 2 Chronicles 16, 9, it says, the eyes of the Lord run to and fro to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. God's looking for people to bless. And He will do that even after November the 5th. God is ready to deliver us and He will. He's promised to do it. So do not rejoice in a political figure or trust in a political figure. Our trust is not in a person. Our trust is in the Lord, the God of glory, the Almighty God, our trust is in Him. And then we'll close by verse 12. that key verse, it says this, blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Yes, it's important to vote, and we should, but a change in leadership will not bring the blessing of the Lord. Now, I personally as you probably know, voted for Trump. A lot of things I don't prove about him, but my hope is not in that. My hope is not in a change of leadership, because a change in leadership will not change the United States. What does God say? Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Not blessed is the nation who votes conservative, Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. If this nation ever changes the way it should, it'll only be because they made God their Lord, and they follow Him. Now, that probably is not going to happen. In fact, I'm sure it's not going to happen. But it can happen to us individually. Blessed is the person whose God is the Lord. And if God's your Lord, you can be victorious. It doesn't matter what happens. God wants us to do what's right, stand for what's right, but to trust him because he never fails and he will never lose. Let's pray. Father, thank you today for reminding us that you're in charge. Lord, we are always to do what's right. We're always to make decisions that are right. We are to choose right. But we thank you, Lord, that you're the one who decides everything, and you'll work all things together for good to those that love you. Now, it might be, Lord, there's someone here today who's never trusted Jesus as their Savior. I pray that they might understand the only way to real blessing is to make you their Lord. Trust you, what you did for them on the cross of Calvary, come to you in repentance and faith and call on you to save them because you can make them your child and give them victory forever and ever. And I pray they'll do that today. We ask in Jesus' name, amen.