Charlie's Alive: The Mission Continues

Heaven.

Campus with my wife Erica at University, University of California, San Diego. Come one, come all and ask us questions.

How could I express all my gratitude? I could sing these songs as I often do but every song must end and you never do. So I throw up my hand and praise you again and again. Cause all that I have is your Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And I know it's not much I've nothing a mount fit for king.

Except.

For a heart in hallelujah.

Charlie Kirk, everybody. Oh, it's a little harder than I thought. Charlie. Charlie's assassination was probably the most shocking murder of, you know, really of a public figure in the last, you know, 50 years. But here's the thing. He was not killed for politics. No, he was killed for his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. His politics simply flowed from his convictions of being a sold out for follower of Jesus Christ. That's why he was killed. And this is an attempt to, to silence every Christian out there, every Christian who actually dares to speak biblical truth in the public square that Charlie did so stinking. Well, they didn't kill him because he spoke. They killed him because an entire generation was actually starting to listen. You know, I heard this, this once said that when a tyrant dies, his reign ends, but when the martyr dies, his reign just begins. And the beautiful thing is you can't actually kill a Christian. You can you truly. You can't kill a Christian. You can only change their address. And the assassin assassination of Charlie, all it did was was change his address. Right? Scripture tells us that, that immediately. Right. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. And that's where Charlie is right now. It happened in an instant. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Now this doesn't change the reality of, of what actually happened. So today I want to talk about how we respond to this. Right. Because things feel a little out of control right now. Right. I'm. If you're in the, in the chat with me right now, you know, if you're, if you're, if you're live with us, welcome. It's a little bit of a somber one. I've been traveling a lot this past week just trying to really, just digest a lot that's been going on. You know, everything that every. Everybody's been saying. Got to attend church on Sunday and see some amazing organizations, amazing bodies of believers, I would call it that, that actually stood up for truth. And then I see a lot of others that's barely said anything and we're afraid to call this what it actually is. And that's what I want to dive into today with you guys is really just how do we respond to this? Because things do feel a little out of control right now. Right? But I want to reassure you here that God, God is still in control. God was not surprised by this. And you know, one message that I heard on this past Sunday, I was reminded of the churches in Revelation. And if you join us on Wednesday mornings, you know, Christian has been doing an incredible job at walking us through the book of Revelation, which is a, that is a bugger to get through. Uh, but if, if you look back in Revelation 3, there, there's, you know, the churches, right? The seven churches essentially that, that Jesus either, you know, commends or, you know, kind of condemns or rebukes, right? And there were two churches in there that Jesus didn't condemn, right? Out, out of the seven, there were two. It was the, the, the Church of Smyrna and Philadelphia. And, and Jesus actually praised the, the Church of Smyrna for it's faithfulness, right? It's like, it's, they were under like intense persecution and they, they. He encouraged them to remain faithful even unto death, right? And then he also commended the, the Church of Philadelphia for keeping his word, right? For, for not denying his name and remaining faithful despite having little strength. It says that they had just a little strength and was reminded like, you know, sometimes that's all it takes is that, is that little strength. And then I thought of the other five churches that he rebuked, right? There was the loveless church, right? What is actually love? There's a biblical love. And then there's something that the world calls love. There was the compromising church, right? The, the. They compromised according to what culture wanted or desired, not what biblical truth actually said. Not living continually, living righteously, but giving into culture, right? There's the corrupt church and then there was the dead church. And I'm just thinking of like those five churches. And what we see today here in America is what I really believe is this, this passive Christianity. A passive Christianity, right? And when I think of the word passive, I actually, if you go to the root of, of this, I love to go to the root meanings of words. And it means to suffer, right? To suffer or to allow suffering. That's what passivity is, right? And I see that so much. I know you guys see it in the world today. For those that claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, right? Which I just feel like they are so Deceived right into those Christians. So called Christians, I'm going to say, are pastors who say that, you know, we got to condemn violence on both sides and we all need to repent. Yes, we do. That is absolutely true. But the reality is presidents from both sides aren't getting shot. Public figures from both sides are not getting shot at. Right? Political violence doesn't happen. I heard this. Political violence doesn't happen in a vacuum. It flows from a worldview. And that's what Charlie actually stood on. So if any of you so called Christians had a problem with Charlie Kirk's politics, I would argue that you have a complete misunderstanding of what the gospel actually is, what the kingdom is, who God is, who he was and is to come. You are deceived because everything that Charlie spoke on, his political views were rooted on what the Bible said. They were rooted in truth. And society today, culture today, you know, they tend to like, put us in like these frames of, you know, some people are just victims and they want to continue to be a victim. Or maybe you're a villain, right? Society doesn't ask like, why? What is truth? What is. Right. Charlie was known in the political world, right? Very well known in the political world, but his view of politics was only because of who his Lord is. I'm not even going to say what was, because it's who his Lord is, because he is alive more today than ever. So if you are a Christian, what I want to ask you today is to take audit of yourselves right now. Do you have a biblical worldview, right? A truly biblical one? Or are you just another passive progressive Christian? Because the reality is there really should never be an adjective before your identity of a Christian if you wear that banner of a Christian. I mean, I have even come to the point where I don't even like that term Christian. I'm a sold out follower of Jesus Christ. Charlie Kirk was a sold out follower of Jesus Christ. And so if you are, if you're, if you're maybe even unsure of which camp you're in, am I just a, you know, what, what the world calls a Christian? Am I a passive? Am I a progressive human being here? Or do I have these unwavering truths, truths, right, that, that God has actually laid out? So I want to ask yourself these questions. Who is your authority? Who ultimately is your authority? Because Christians, our authority is God, right? That, that is our, the, the root authority. It's, it's, it's based upon who he is. His eternal character in, in who he's revealed. Himself to be through the Word. This is objective, this is unchanging. In progressive ism, I'm going to call it that progressivism, or progressive Christianity roots its opinions within culture. Right. It's like a theory that it shifts with times, and that's the trends that are happening in the world today. And so, Pastor, I'm going to come at you with this specifically. If you are concerned about offending somebody in your congregation, then that's a problem. Because Jesus himself, he said that he did not come to bring peace, but. But a sword. And every epistle that Paul even wrote, he wrote it to the church, correcting them, leading them back to truth. So if you are just passively allowing your congregations to just accept this and think like, well, you know, when you speak up about politics, what do you expect? That's not what Charlie spoke up about. He spoke about the truth. He spoke about Jesus Christ being God, being the Lord of his life. And you as a pastor, your job is to bring people back to truth, to call it out for what it is. Charlie is a martyr. He was murdered for his faith. Sure. Did he talk about politics? Yes, because he wanted what was best for our kids. Kids, our kids, the next generation to come. He truly had a kingdom mindset, an eternal mindset that, that. That dictated that, that helped him to make decisions in the moment. In. In this. As. As followers of Jesus Christ, this is what we have to do, right? So who is your authority? Is it God? Right. Is Jesus actually Lord of your life? Or are you too worried about offending somebody? Because the reality is being a follower of Jesus is going to be offensive. The fact is, if you're friends with the world, you are at enmity with God. So next I want to ask, like, what is your truth? What is your truth? Because Christians believe that there is absolute truth that's revealed by the word of God. Right? In Progressivism, progressive Christianity, again, we're going to call. This is like something you decide. It's a social construct that you make up. Like your truth is your truth. You do you. Right? The concept is like, you get to believe what you want based upon how you feel. And I don't really give a rip about your feelings because again, as a follower of Jesus, right. This is what it requires. It requires us to lay aside how we feel. There's a lot of things that I don't feel like doing, like loving your enemy. But this is a commandment that this is what we have to do. And this is part of our response is to, to love our enemy. Right. To pray for them. And when you become obedient to God, you become a slave to righteousness. You lay aside those things that have so easily entangled you, you lay them aside and you become a slave to righteousness. You might not like it, but you've given up that right. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you've given up that right. And what is your thought even on humanity? Right? Because as a follower of Jesus Christ, again, a quote unquote Christian here, right? We. We are to affirm all people that in the understanding that they are. They are God's image bearers, right? Because they have the potential for. For redemption, right. As Christians, we're to seek unity in Christ. One body, many members, right? But one body. And progressivism, progressive Christianity, again, we're going to call it this. This fragments people into different identity groups. You know, back to that victim and villain mindset, right? Progressivism, actually, it creates identities. It puts those adjectives before the word Christian, right? Are you a victim? Right. Are you being oppressed? The value is assigned more by status than anything else. And as Christians, justice. What is your thoughts on justice? Because as a follower of Jesus, we're called to seek righteousness and mercy rooted in God's law, right? We are to condemn violence, condemn it not because everybody's a sinner, but because there is actually true evil in this world and there is true good in this world. And it doesn't get gray. It should not be blurry for anybody. So you, Pastor, if you're not speaking this from the pulpit, this is on you. If you are leading astray your flock, allowing them to be sent out with the wolves to devour them, what do you expect is going to happen? When I think of justice, it's like, again, we're to seek righteousness in that mercy, as I mentioned, rooted in truth. And progressivism is about, you know, power redistribution, we're going to call it. Right? And then they justify the violence, the act as a tool of liberation for themselves, right? And as followers of Jesus, we aim for forgiveness. We need to aim for even persuasion, right? Justice with mercy. That can bring about a lasting peace versus division versus resentment versus hostility versus violence as a virtue, right? The reality is this thing, this event, the assassination of Charlie Kirk is bigger than politics, boy. This is. Politics has nothing. This is a spiritual darkness that has come amongst, has been brewing here all over the world, but here in America, no question. That all being said, though I can tell you this, I am encouraged now more than ever, more than ever. As I've been seeking the word of God and asking, like, lord, what does this mean? Right? And you can even think, you go down the path of, like, if God is a good God, how does he allow this to happen? And that's not the question that we have. That's not the question, right. If anything, this proves of good, this proves of God. Right? Evil. There cannot be evil with. Without good. Right? And so the reality is we live in this fallen world. And if you look at even scripture, you don't get the conversion of Saul without the martyrdom of Stephen. Right? Saul actually held their coats, right? It says garments were placed at the feet and on the road to Damascus. The road to Damascus, Saul's life was changed radically. Right? The same Jesus that Stephen trusted, the same Jesus that Stephen trusted as he. As he looked up to heaven, he's literally being stoned to death is the same Jesus that knocked Saul off that horse and became Paul. Right? Right. Of two thirds of the New Testament. Right? Incredible church planter. He started a movement of Christianity that spanned across the world, who only became a martyr himself. So again, the world can feel a little out of control right now. But I promise you this, guys, God is in control. Throw it in the chat right now if you guys are with me on this, because God is still in control. We may grieve, right? But we don't grieve as the world grieves. We grieve with hope because we have a hope. Jesus won. Baby, check out my shirt. This is the end of the story is already written. So we do have a hope. Yes, we grieve, but we do not grieve without hope as the world grieves. We don't raise our fist in anger at God, but with holy hands to God, because vengeance, ultimately, it belongs to the Lord, right? Yes, we can even be angry. Scripture says we're called to be angry, yet not sin. So how do we be angry yet not sin? How do we actually do this as followers of Christ? Right? And I even think of just like, what should. This reality of what actually took place, what it should do to us individually here within the body of Christ? Again, I'm speaking to what I believe are mostly believers. Maybe you're on the fence listening to this, but what does it mean to us that are still here, the ones who still remain? Because God, he wasn't surprised by this. Again, he knows every single one of our days. He knew the days of Charlie. And let me tell you this. Charlie ran one heck of a race. One heck of a race. He went all out, right? And I thought back to even the disciples, they witnessed this type of thing firsthand. First off, persecution of Christians, murders of Christians is not a new thing. This has been, I mean this literally is happening probably right now as I speak. We've just become so insulated of it here in America, right? Where when it finally happens on our soil now, it's like, oh my goodness. And for me I'm thinking, thank God, thank God that there's a reality amongst the body of believers that this is taking place every single day. Christians across the world are being murdered, martyred for their faith because they are willing to stand for truth. They are willing to take a stand for something and they are willing to die for it, right? And when I think, think back to even the disciples, right? Eleven of them at least, they were willing to die right firsthand. They, they knew what happened to Stephen, right? And one by one they were slowly taken out. One was boiled, one was skinned alive. Peter was crucified upside down because it wasn't worth, he wasn't, didn't feel worthy to be crucified the same way Christ did. And what did they do? They continued to preach the gospel. They continued to make disciples. I love this. In, in, in, on our. Every week I get together with a group of guys, just some hand selected dudes here within the King's council and we, we, we just pour into, into the Word and we get to have some amazing time together. And I brought up Matthew chapter 10, which was just a very insightful or impactful on, on what Jesus did, like the, the moment when he sent. Because this is the chapter where he actually sends out the 12, right? And he says to, to literally go proclaim this message. Says as you go proclaim this message, the kingdom of heaven has, has, has come near. This is the message that you are to proclaim the kingdom of heaven has come near, right? He says to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse those who have leprosy, to drive out demons. Freely you have received so freely you can give. This is what Jesus tells his disciples, right? And as you continue on, he says, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be like shrewd as snakes, Be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. He says to be on guard. You're going to be handed over to the local councils, right? You're going to be flogged in the synagogues. He says, on my account. You're going to be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them into the gentiles this is again Jesus telling them what's going to take place here, right? He says, but when they arrest you, don't worry about what to say or how to say it, right? At that time you are going to be given what to say. At that time you're going to be given what to say. For it's not going to be you speaking, but the spirit of your Father speaking through you. And if you even, even continue further on into verse 21 says, Brothers are going to betray brothers, right? Father are going to betray their children. Children are going to rebel against their, their parents, right? And they're going to put them to death. You're going to be hated by everyone because of me, is what he says. But the one, this is, this is like the, the, the linchpin for me. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Are we going to stand firm to the end the way Charlie did? Charlie didn't fear death. He said that, Heck, the main thing he wanted to be known for wasn't about that. Like, I mean in my opinion, he single, not single handedly, but he led a movement, he led a revolution that I believe is the reason why Donald Trump is in office today. You know, had turning point, not done what they did across the nation, across college campuses to rave, raise up a generation that, that whether they know it or not, they are fighting for, for truth, right? You can be a, this is, I don't even think this is my opinion. I think this is truth. You can be a conservative and not be a Christian, right? I, I, I wholeheartedly know that. Right? But I do not believe that you can be a, a Democrat and be a follower of Jesus Christ. I, I don't think that's possible. If Jesus is your Lord, there's no way that you could give in to those things. And if you've been deceived by that somehow, some way, you've got to ask yourself, like, where is the holy conviction? Where is the sanctity of life, right? Where is it that your feelings are hurt so much that you've given into who your Lord actually is, right? We know that it is by grace alone that we have been saved through faith, right? Ephesians 2 tells us this. It's by grace that we have been saved through faith, right? Not by our own doing, because it tells us that's the gift from God. That is an incredible gift from God, right? It has nothing to do with the works, right? Charlie was no more saved than anybody else. That's even, even sitting on their couch. Which is an argument that you could probably make because if you're truly saved, it should lead you to, to acts of righteousness, right? And if you are a passive Christian, if you are, if you are just waiting on God, if you are just sitting around letting life come at you, where is the conviction? What are you doing? Right? Because this is what Ephesians actually tells us. I mean, so often Ephesians 2, 8 and 9 are quoted, but they often stop there, right? Because verse 10, it goes on. It says that we are his workmanship. I love this. The root of that is poema. We are God's poem created in Christ Jesus for good works that he has prepared because beforehand, so we should walk in them. So if you, if, if Jesus is just your savior, I'm, I'm calling you out here and asking you, is he really Lord? Because you, you don't get to choose one or the other. This is a box lunch basket. This, this is, this is what you have to understand. If you are a follower, if you have, if, if you think you've said a prayer, therefore you get to heaven. That ain't how it works. You are called to repent, which literally means turn around, change the way you're going, change the way you're thinking, be renewed, right? The renewal of our mind so we can test these things and walk out. God's calling on this earth, right? I love, I remember one of the first events I went to with Charlie a few years ago. It was a, it was a turning point faith event which some of you know, the King's council, we, we were partners of them on, you know, at most of all of their events. And his favorite Bible verse, I'll never forget this was, was Roman or excuse, not Romans. It was Psalm 97:10. Psalm 97:10. It said this letter, those who love the Lord hate evil. This was Charlie's favorite verse, right? So again, we are called to hate evil, right? If some of you think hate is not a biblical thing, it absolutely is. God hates evil. He hates it. He hates it. And the reality is we live in, in this fallen world. The earth is not a playground. The earth is a battleground. And we are called to be battle ready. I would argue that you should be angry and do not sin, right? Because we are called to hate evil, to hate what's going on in this world. Romans 12:9 says, to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. So this is our response as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to cling to what is good. Not to just to just sit around and mourn. Yes, there is a time for that. There's a time to grieve. But there is a victory that Jesus has already won. And this, I think, is where woke Christianity has failed tremendously. This progressive Christianity, right, they, they fear offense more than they fear the Lord. Because here's the reality. People are not murdered for lying. They are murdered for speaking truth. People are not murdered for lying. They are murdered for speaking truth. And this is why I'm so encouraged now more than ever, because the mission, the mission continues. I would argue it's just getting started. It's just getting started, guys. And the question that I think we should have is, as I mentioned before, it's like not how God could let this happen. God knew this was going to happen. When Charlie came out the womb 31 years ago, almost 32 years ago, his birthday's coming up here in October, he knew this was going to happen. So the question isn't how could God let this happen? The question is, how long are we passively going to let this happen to our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ in America, people, this is happening in America, land of the free, right, that was founded on biblical beliefs. The Constitution was written upon it, right? Like we have to understand what has been taking place and if we don't wake up here to, to the evil that's taking place in America. And I'm speaking to you again, Christian pastors, neutrality, having a neutral option, Neutrality, I'm going to call it that. That is not an option, right? To be neutral in this here is choosing death. Silence is consent on this matter. And I'm calling you to wake up, Lord, awaken us. Awaken us as your church, your body of believers. Give us a sense of urgency in sour to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to understand what it means to be a slave to righteousness, to be bold, to call out evil and stand for truth. Not on politics, but on the fact that a professed Christian, more than politics, more than anything else, what he was going around to campuses, college campuses, is he was declaring, he was declaring Jesus as Lord and as Savior. And I love, I love the fact that moments before he was shot, that's exactly what he declared. He declared Jesus as Lord and Savior. And he goes on to answer another question, ironically, about transgenderism, right? He's going on to answer these questions. In a moment, he's gone. But I believe in that moment again, he was to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, right? So his Death on this earth, right? Let's just be crystal clear. I'm titled. I titled this bad boy Charlie lives, right? Charlie's alive, baby. He is alive now more than ever. More than ever. So. So I think the question that we have to ask ourselves is, am I ready for eternity? If eternity is tugging at your heart, I heard you. Now more than ever to not silence it, right? If God's spirit is calling you, it is time to turn, to repent, to believe on Jesus while there's still time here on this earth, right? Charlie is alive. In John, chapter 11, verse 25, Jesus actually says that. That he is the resurrection in the life. He says, whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and the believes in me shall never die. He's saying this to. I believe it to Martha. And then he asks, do you believe this? That's my question to you. Do you believe this? You, the individual listening to this, wherever you're at right now, do you believe this? See, there is no. There is no my truth, your truth, there is the truth. It is objective. Jesus Christ, right? Charlie lifted up Jesus, right? And Jesus said, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to myself. And this, of course, was him referring to his crucifixion, right? Ultimately demonstrating his love for humanity, that all men would have the ability to ultimately choose him by grace, through faith. And we're watching it happen now, man. God is turning this generation back to him. It's happening, guys. Campuses are being. Campuses are being prepared, right? Applications for Turning Point. If you guys haven't seen this, last number I saw was over 35,000 applications for chapters of Turning Point, right? Churches. I believe what is going to be happening here in the next few years. There truly has been a turning point. I believe church buildings, they're not going to be big enough to hold the harvest. God's going to have the final say in this, right? He's one. He's one. We know that he works all things for the good of those that love him and who are called according to his purpose. It's God's desire that all men have eternal life with him. That is his desire. So if you're questioning if you are called according to his purpose, I'm telling you right now, you are called according to his purposes. And so you have a choice. You can respond, right? You can repent, you can turn and you can choose to choose the way, right? Jesus literally called himself the way. We have that choice now. I believe it's happening across the Country, I believe it's happening across the world. What's taking place? Those that have been. We're marching, I forget, over in Europe, just incredible, incredible wave, I believe that's taking place across the world here. And so if you found yourself maybe on that passive or that progressive Christian mindset, I'm asking you, I mean, just look at the word of God. If you actually, if you actually read it for yourself, if you study it, you understand that to be a Christian means to be involved with politics. No question about it, right? We are to be involved in the public square. We are to help make decisions. If not, we are, what's the point, right? If the point of this life is salvation, if that's the point, he would take us out like that. Charlie would have left when he was five. He received Christ as savior when he was five. Now, the point is that we were created to do good works. The good works that we do aren't necessarily for God. The good works that we do are for man, right? Because we've now transformed ourselves into a vessel to an, an ambassador. An ambassador for Christ to actually do those good works because he wants to use us. I invite you to join the movement. Not the movement of Turning Point, but the movement of becoming a disciple for Jesus Christ. That's what this life is about. There's salvation, right? There's justification, right? And then there's sanctification. That leads to glorification. And if we understand that, that, like this sanctification process means, if you, if, if you declare, if you, if you're thinking Christ is Savior of your life, ask yourself, is He Lord of your life? Right? And if, if he is, then this sanctification is. Yes, we are set apart for those good works. And sanctification is a process, right? It is something that he is going to continually mold us into. He's going to prune us, right? We are going to continually be transformed into his image until the ultimate day of Christ. The, the glorification, right? That, that we get to, to meet our Savior face to face in the question that is going to be asked amongst us. That judgment seat of Christ, that bema seat of Christ is going to be. What did you do with what I gave you? What did you do? I don't think the question is going to be, oh, man, you were, you were so theology. You had a degree in theology, right? You, you knew the, the Word. You knew the Word so well. No, no, no. The question is going to be, what did you do? Were you a doer of the Word? Did you stand for truth? Did you call out injustice? Did you. You stand for righteousness? Did you hold others accountable? Were you bold for your faith? Right? Are you willing to go to death for your faith? That's the question. I believe Charlie had a. A great entrance into heaven. I believe he put on that white robe baby, that every martyr gets to wear. That's the response that I think we are to have here, guys. And I'm going to even just say this. I'm going to just end even a few minutes early today. Here's my, my, my final charge to you guys, if we want to call it that. To hate what is evil, right? To cling to what is good. To lift Jesus high right. To refuse neutrality and to advance in faith, right? Our mission is clear. Our mission is clear. We are to fight evil with good, which is. That can be the challenging part. But this is what we are called to do. Fight evil with good. Not by retreating, but by advancing in faith. Because here's the reality. Vengeance is the Lord's. Vengeance is the Lord's. And ours should be revival. And the mission, the mission of Charlie Kirk, that continues because I believe it is the mission of Jesus Christ, right, to advance the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Now his present rule and reign. Vengeance is the Lord. Ours should be revival. I love you guys. We're going to end it with this video of Charlie.

You are commanded to go do something productive with your life.

Wow.

To go give and to produce and to risk and to then go sow into other people. That is a biblical idea that has made the world a profoundly better place.

It's been a long day without you, my friend and I'll tell you all about it when I see you again We've come a long way from where we began oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again When I see you again.