I'm Nick Kipp and I approve this message

I don't know about anyone else, but I am really tired of political adds. So even though I am not a republican or a democrat, I am a Christian (and I believe that being a disciple of Jesus Christ should defines every thought and action I make). I do not believe that any party or candidate is the answer to our problem. I also believe before we can fix the problem we must define the problem. Here are my thoughts on the problem: America is MORALLY and SPIRITUALLY BANKRUPT. The Divorce rate is somewhere between 40-60% (the numbers varied between ,Barna, Gallop, and a few other divorce stat sites I looked at) Here is what God says about divorce :“For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce,..." Malachi 2:16 or "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matt 19:6 (yes I know God gives 2 acceptable reasons in Scripture sexual immorality Matt 5:31, and unbelieving spouse departing 1 Cor 7:15 {sorry rather than debating the validity of this second exception I just want to say if we are honest most divorces, even in the church do not have either of these 2 reasons}) Secondly as a nation we are okay with something God HATES "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood," Proverbs 6:16-17 (emphasis mine) again statistics vary but between 2500 and 3700 innocent babies are killed annually and since Roe vs Wade appropriately 45-50 million babies have lost their lives. "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb." Psalm 139:13 and again in Isaiah 44:24 "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;" (or Job 31:15, Isaiah 44:2, Jeremiah 1:5) God (the only one truly qualified to define truth) considers them Babies and works of His hands! (additionally the whole rape argument doesn't hold up most of those babies were NOT the result of rape, secondly 2 wrongs don't make a right). Thirdly we have this whole "same sex marriage" issue I just hate when I get the question "do I think it is wrong for 2 people who love each other to get married simply because they are the same sex?" What I think does NOT matter what GOD thinks is the only thing that matters! Romans 1:26-28 "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;" (I want to be very clear here Biblically (in Gods eyes) the sin of homosexuality is NOT worse than any other sexual sin yes all those heterosexuals living and sleeping together outside of marriage just as guilty in God's eyes) And here I believe is the crux of the matter: these problems are just as prevalent in the "church" it should not be surprising when the world acts like the world, but it should be UNIMAGINABLE for the blood bought, redeemed of the Lord, sanctified and set apart, Bride of Christ to do these things or be okay with these things " who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:32 The problem in America is the CHURCH! and the problem in the church is that we have compromised and diluted the Glorious Gospel until it is no longer the Gospel at all. We have taught by our words and lives that you can love Jesus without obeying him! ("If you love Me, keep My commandments..." John 14:15 or John 14:21,1 John 3:22, 1 John 5:2-3) this concept is completely foreign to Biblical Christianity. We have also diminished how despicably wicked sin is (Sin is infinitely wicked in the sight of a infinitely holy God) When a Holy and Just God made his perfect and sinless Son the atoning sacrifice for sin, God poured out the full fury of his righteous wrath on sin and Jesus willingly drank the full cup of Gods wrath in our place! (See Isaiah 53, 2 Cor 5:21, Matt 26:39) to quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer"we should never make cheap what was so costly to God". I know there are Godly men who are a lot smarter than I am who believe it is too late, that we have already lost the chance of returning America back to a "Biblical Worldview" Honestly I have no idea if it is too late (and to be completely honest my concern is not whether America will return to a Biblical Worldview but rather if the "professing church" will) Billy Graham shared a comment from his late wife a while back in which she said "If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” Again I am not smart enough to tell God what he has to do (in due respect I believe Ruth Graham was making this comment based on the character of God and not as a order) but I do know that I have responsibility as the head of my household to make the stand that "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) I firmly believe that battle for America is happening in our homes today! Will we in our homes and in our churches Pray, Humble ourselves, Turn from our wicked ways and back to God's ways, will we live and teach that being a Disciple of Jesus Christ means "Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:20 emphasis mine) Will we believe, live out and boldly proclaim the Glorious Truth of the Gospel: that the Just and Gracious God of the universe the one who will judge the living and the dead looked upon a hopelessly wicked and sinful people and chose to send His Son, who willingly and obediently came and took our place on Cavalry's cruel cross, That the Glory of God demanded that the sins I/we have committed against a Holy God be paid for, That Jesus drinking the full fury of Gods wrath satisfied the justice of God and made a way for sinners to be forgiven without justice being shortchanged. That in the death, burial and resurrection the penalty and power of sin was broken! Now we have been offered the GIFT of Salvation, when we accept this gift we are Justified in Christ, we are bought with a price we are no longer our own but rather have been adopted into the family of God, and now the life we live we now in faith is one of OBEDIENCE. That we are NOT saved by works but we are saved TO work and that our lives should now be a new creation in Christ Jesus, no longer conformed to the pattern of this world but continually being renewed by the Holy Spirit, as we are being sanctified!So in conclusion as for me and my house we will fight to represent Gods view of marriage in our home, we will value all life, ultimately we will strive to be obedient in all things so when people see our life it will be clear that we are "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" 1 Peter 2:9-10 While I believe this is the only hope for our nation, I KNOW this is the only way for my family and home! May God be forever glorified in my life, my home, and my family!! (Gospel references, 2 Timothy 4:1, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:25-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1:18-19, John 1:12, 1 John 5:1-3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2)

Confession and Accountability

Over the past few months God has been dealing with me a lot about my lukewarmness. Scripture says "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." Eph 5:15-17 (NIV) I have been disobedient to this passage too many times to count. I have failed to make the most of every opportunity so many times. I may not know exactly what God's will is for my life in regards to ministry and a job, but I do know that His will for my life is to be like Jesus "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." Luke 6:40 (ESV) And here is the truth of the matter I want to be like Jesus, the American Jesus, the one who is easy and comfortable, the one who would waste His time on movies and video games not necessarily on bad things just trivial things. I want to be like Jesus minus the cross. Honestly I want to experience the "deeper life" to live like the book of Acts in all the good stuff, the miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I want to avoid the suffering if at all possible. I am convinced to live life the way Jesus called us to live it the cross is not optional it is a requirement. "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23 (KJV) Scripture tells us to confess our faults one to another (James 5:16) And so I am confessing that I have been disobedient to God's Word instead of living worthy of the high calling of Christ Jesus I have wasted countless hours on the trivial, I did not lay aside the weight that so EASILY entangles me (Heb 12:1) I don't want to continue to waste my life. I want to live totally and completely for the Glory of God. I want to live a life radically abandoned to, and for, Jesus Christ! Last night I watched "the passion of the Christ" and I cannot stop thinking of the Leonard Ravenhill quote "Are the things you're living for worth Christ dying for?" After watching the movie and taking time to examine myself before taking communion I repented of wasting my time (along with a lot of other things) Now I want to in obedience make the most of every opportunity. I want to be able to say in truth "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) So here is my second reason for writing this, not only to confess my faults but to ask for accountability. I know its easy to talk about living radically for the Lord, not always so easy to live it out. Hebrews 3:13 says "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."(KJV) I want my life, my marriage, my parenting, my words, my actions, my thoughts, to all be pleasing in God's sight. And I have asked God for his grace and His strength to live like this. so while "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Philippians 1:6 I am in obedience to Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25 asking for my brothers and sisters to challenge, encourage and hold me accountable. I not only welcome this I NEED this.
His Servant
Nick