Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. Amen, thank you for tuning us in. I'm Darrell Bailey, Service for Christ, here for we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus, the Lord and ourselves, your service for Jesus' sake. Thank you as we get into our Sunday night message on the series that we've been on, Amen, counting down from the top. We are starting up with Exodus chapter 20, verse 17. We talked about you shall not covet it. And it deals with our relationship with others. It deals with our contentment. We also talk about Exodus chapter 20 verse 16, you shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. And it deals with telling the truth. And not only when we look at our vertical community in society, we see the family dynamics. And so, We also look and we see that we've talked about Exodus chapter 20, verse 15, that deals with our integrity in our relationship with others. Counting down from the top, you shall not steal. We've also, we talked about Exodus chapter 20, verse 14, fidelity. As we look at, you shall not commit adultery. And now, tonight, in our fifth series, counting down from the top, we're talking about you shall not murder. Exodus chapter 20 verse 13, it deals with life and it deals with societal harmony. And so, when we looked at this, we're looking at here, Sunday night, May the 5th, 20,023, the 27th of Nissan, 5784, the Hebrew calendar, as we deal with the fifth in our series, counting down from the top. Here tonight, we talk about the gift. from God, life, amen. The gift from God, life. And so I'm glad, take your Bibles over to Exodus chapter 20, verse 13. Exodus chapter 20. Verse 13. I'm glad as we read from the wonderful Word of God in just a minute, but before we go any further, let's open up with a word of prayer. Gracious, merciful Heavenly Father, we gather from every corner of the world that we come before you, humbly seeking your guidance and wisdom as you open our hearts and minds to your Word. May we explore the depths of your commandment against murder and may your spirit guide us in understanding and applying your truth to our lives. We ask all of this as we take the wonderful word of God and apply it to our lives in Jesus' mighty name, amen. You know, in a world plagued by violence and bloodshed, the commandment says thou shall not kill in Exodus chapter 20 verse 13. And it resonates with a profound significance But you know when we look and we realize that life is a gift from God and only He has the authority to take life because we're made in God's image. Murder is an attack against God and protecting life is the responsibility of every member of society, not just the public officials. And so the issue here is premeditated murder, which Jesus said could have its beginning in anger. In Matthew chapter 5, what American is shot, stabbed, beaten, estranged to death, strangled to death every minute? And it seems that no matter where you turn in our society or even in our world, there's murderers. And on the television, in the movies, as fiction, it's on the streets, it's next door, as the brutal reality. And with a murder rate of 10 in every 100,000, your chances of being murdered are far greater than your chances of dying in an airplane or automobile crash. Murder is a horrible crime against God and against our fellow man. It may be the greatest offense of all given the enormity of death and follows thereafter. Imagine taking a person's life and that person going immediately into hell. The sixth commandment says thou shall not kill. And it literally means thou shall not murder. You see, while all murder is killing, not all killing, not all killing in murder because murder is more than just taking a life. Murder can be defined as a premeditated, intentional taking of another human life. Accidental killing would not be classified as murder. Take an example from the Bible. We know that God gave Israel regulations for the cities of refuge in Numbers chapter 35, verses 11 through 28. And when we look at that, we're still reminded that the gift from God is life. And so these cities, to which someone who had unintentionally killed another human could flee to avoid the venger of blood. And if you were involved in an automobile accident and accidentally killed another human, then you would not be a murderer. Capital punishment would not be considered murder. But God, in his word, lays down the principle that for certain offenses, man has the right to terminate another life. Why? Because in Genesis 9, verse 6, who so sheddeth man's blood? By man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man. I'm glad in Numbers 35, verses 16, 17, and 18, he says, and if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer, and the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he smite him with the throwing of stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer, the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he smite him with a hand weapon of wood, Where all he may die, and he die, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death. And then, not only Genesis 9, 6, Numbers chapter 35, verses 16 through 18, but Leviticus chapter 24, verse 17 says, And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. Whether or not you personally agree with capital punishment or not, it's plain to see that the Bible authorizes it in the cases of murder. Killings that take place in the exercise of just war would not be classified as murder. Throughout the history of the world, nations have had to defend their borders or other weaker nations against aggressive enemies. Even God at various times has ordered his people onto the field of battle, and those who kill in just war, they're not murderers. However, those who engage in brutality and atrocities are murderers. Killings that are the product of self-defense cannot be classified as murder. Often, police officers must kill in the line of duty. Homeowners may have to kill an intruder to protect their home and their family, and these people are not murderers. But sometimes people are attacked and must defend themselves, and when they kill the attacker in the process, they're not classified as murderers. However, there are times when killing is murder, and that is what this commandment speaks to, and that is what we want to look at when we look at it tonight. I'm talking about the gift from God, life. And I'm glad when we look at the thought about this, we see the divine gift, life's sacred origin, amen, when we look at this. And so we want to honor human life, amen. We want to be able to do the right thing. The Jews were allowed to defend themselves in Exodus chapter 22, verse two, and the law made concessions for accidental death, but murder was a capital offense. And so, I'm glad we hear the four powerful words that are commanded from God and no one that is needed. It says it's a matter of life and death. And I'm glad that when we look at this, we're reminded that the command, thou shalt not kill, answers some of the topics and questions that we're facing right now, questions which deal with self-defense. Honey, going to war, abortion, suicide, and euthanasia. And so the capital punishment are all affected by this command. And what is the command? Thou shall not kill. And it's actually rendered, thou shall not murder. Because the Hebrew language possesses seven words for killing. And the word raksak, raksak, appears in 40 verses of the Old Testament. This word is used to signify premeditated murder. In this country alone, 29 people are murdered every hour. That means around 700 a day, around 25,000 people per year that are murdered in this country. How does this also does not include all of the babies that have been murdered by abortion in the past days and presently? The first person born into this world was a murderer, and man has been plagued ever since with this sin and crime. Murder is a God-confronting sin. It tears away at God's image or His creation. And so, as I said a while ago in Genesis 9, 6, "...whoso sheddeth man's blood by a man shall his blood be shed for in the image of God made he man." Murder is a crying sin. There's three sins that cry out to God. Oppression, amen, because the psalmist says in Psalms 12, five, for the oppression of the poor, for the signing of the needy, nor now will I arise, saith the Lord, I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. And so we see oppression, but also we see another of the three sins that cry out to God, and that is sodomy. Because in Genesis chapter 18 verses 20 and 21, the Lord said, because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which has come up unto me, and if not, I will know. Leviticus 18 verse 22, thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, it is an abomination. And Leviticus chapter 20 verse 13, if a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination and they shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be upon them. And so, When we look at the three sins that cry out to God, oppression, sodomy, but also bloodshed. In Genesis chapter four, verses nine and 10, and the Lord said unto Cain, where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not. Am I my brother's keepers? Let me cut in there. Yes, we sure are. We are our brother's keepers. Pick him back up in verse 10. And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, but he cries out to God for his sin of murder. And so, Murder is a diabolical sin. It's an act in the shadow of Satan himself. Murder, as we look at this, is a cursed sin as well. And so, we see that it's a wrath-procuring sin. It beckons the revenge and retaliation of others. And so, murders in the Bible were committed in a number of ways. With hands, Joab killed Abner. With a tongue, the command was given to put others to death. The Jews falsely accused Jesus Christ, and with the pen, David wrote the command to Joab to allow Uriah to be killed. Boy, by schemes and plans, Jezebel plotted Naboth's death, and by consenting to another's death, Saul consented to the death of Stephen. And so, As Christians, we are to guard ourselves from these sins that lead to murder. What are the sins that we should be on the lookout for? Uncontrolled anger, number one, because anger boils in the veins and can lead to murder. Envy, because Joseph's brothers envied him. And so envy and murder are cousins. And envy begins with discontent against God and it ends in injury against man. Cain was discontent with God and he killed Abel. And so envy will not quench its thirst without blood. And so when we look at the sins that we should be on the lookout for, uncontrolled anger, envy, but hatred is another one because it's a vermin which lives upon blood. And I'm telling you, when we look and realize that each and every one of us, we see that in the Old Testament, how the blood was shed and how things begin to transpire. All murder is killing, but all killing is not murder. If a thief breaks into a home, A person's not to be punished for defending his family, himself, or his property. Killing an animal for food is not murder. And as all killing cannot be considered as murder because it would mean that God would be one and we know that it's not true at all because does the Lord ever take life? Yes, he takes life in the judgment for sin. And I'm glad in Genesis chapter 38, he took the lives of two sons of Judah. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before God. The earth swallowed Korath, Nathan, and Abram for rebellion. Uzziah touched the ark and was smitten. In one night, 185,000 Assyrians were smitten to death. He slew the firstborn in Egypt and Pharaoh's army. He smoked the king Herod for presumption and pride and took his life. Ananias, Sapphira, lied to the Holy Spirit. They were smitten. Does God ever authorize human government to take life? Does God approve of capital punishment of criminals? You better believe he does, yes. Government is ordained by God. In Daniel chapter two, verses 37 and 38, he said, thou, O king, art a king of kings, for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory, and whosoever the children of men dwell, the beast of the field, the fowls of heaven hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And so, I'm glad God raised up Pharaoh of Egypt, Cyrus and Pilate. He put these ones in power. And so, God's not the giver of life and has the right to take. As God is the giver of life and has the right to take life in judgment, God delegated the right to government for maintenance of social order based upon righteousness. And those who want to abolish capital punishment are Individuals who seem to be wiser, more loving, more merciful than God himself. I've heard a lot of folks like that. They think they're wiser than God. They want to overdo the government. They want to overdo democracy. They want to bring socialism into the United States of America. And God forbid on my watch that I'd ever sit back and let that happen. And they are more concerned about the criminal than the victim. disregard for the Word of God encourages and creates more bloodshed. And so the divine gift, life's sacred origin, we see life a precious endowment from God. Amen. And when man, when we go through life, we realize that the evolutionists tell us that man evolved from some lower life form that in fact life began on some beach where somehow some lifeless blob of a protoplasm somehow began to live. This little living blob somehow began to change and eventually all of the life of the earth came from these humble beginnings. hogwash. God's Word, however, has a different version of these events, because what God did in Genesis chapter 2 verse 7, and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. And note that man was made in the image of God. And David, as he looked at the origins of human life, David said in Psalms 139 verses 13 down to verse 16, for thou hast possessed my reins. Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I'll praise thee for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee. And when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth, Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. I'm glad Job's friend Elihu's version of his own beginning That he talked about in Job 33 verse 4 the Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life It's plain that these verses that mankind is the product of a creative genus of Almighty God the Creator and since God controls the entrance of man into life He stands the reason there and so life is a precious endowment from God but secondly Under the divine gift of life's sacred origin, we see the sovereignty of God in the beginning and the end of life because we must concede that God himself is in control of us. He's the one that establishes the boundaries across which no man can cross. It seems clear that men can do certain things that will shorten their days. By the same token, obedience to the Lord will lengthen a man's days upon the earth. And I'm glad that these things are subject to a sovereign God. No man has the right to deliberately and intentionally end the life of another except it be for those things already mentioned. God is the giver of human life and he alone must be the taker of that human life. And when we take it upon ourselves to take the life of another, we've placed ourselves in the place of God. And we've tried to assume His position, His power, and we've tried to step into an area in which we have absolutely no business. Not only does murder intrude into God's business, amen, the divine gift, life's sacred origin, But secondly, we see the tragic interference understanding murder's impact. Boy, I'm gonna tell you, murder can be carried out in many ways, but we define murder violating the sanctity of life, the unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another. That is what murder is. And I'm going to tell you all of the variables that go with it, that when we disregard, have a disregard for the word of God, it encourages and it creates more bloodshed. And so God authorizes government to execute capital punishment. Amen. And I'm glad in the Old Testament, the death penalty was implemented for murder, adultery, incest, sodomy, rape, witchcraft, blasphemy, false doctrine, rebellion toward parents. To execute a criminal under government authority was not considered as murder when the criminal was truly guilty. God's two attitudes toward killing is seen in David's life. As king, David was representative of the government, an instrument in God's hand to bring judgment on the nations as an individual. And when David ordered the death of Uriah, God charged him with murder. What about war? Should nations ever declare war? Yes, there's times when it's necessary. The Bible reveals that war is a judgment of God upon the nations, especially when a nation is evil and when it's wicked. And when Israel rebelled against God, Assyria was the tool of God's judgment, amen. And so, I'll tell you, When we look and realize that war is caused by two key reasons, the sinfulness of man and the wrath and judgment of God. If there were no sin in the world, there'd be no war. War is the consequence of sin. And the first child born into the world was a murderer. Ever since this incident, the feet of men have been swift to shed blood. Interesting that the first man to reject the substitutionary blood was the first to shed human blood. Cain rejected a blood sacrifice to the Lord, and as long as nations reject the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, the blood of mankind will continue to flow, especially in all of them Muslim nations across the world. Does God enjoy war? No. He hates it, but he uses it because war is God's judgment upon sin. Some claim that war is wrong because Jesus said, love your enemies. How can you love your enemies and go to war with them? But the answer is the same way a father who loves his children but he spanks them when they are bad. And it's the same way a doctor who loves his patient but operates causing pain and bloodshed for the good. It's the same way a police officer can love and care about a criminal and yet arrest him. It's the same way Paul loved Peter and yet rebuked him. And it's the same way that Jesus sends an unrepentant soul to hell whom he loves for whom he died on the cross. Do you realize that when Jesus returns to this earth, he will declare war, and he'll do that which the Jewish zealots wanted him to do when he was here the first time. And so, in his first coming, Jesus became the Redeemer through his death on the cross at the hands of his enemies. But as his second coming, he will become the ruler of this world through the death of his enemies. Boy, I'm gonna tell you, if you've ever been in a World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, You're not a murderer. You were fighting under the authority of the United States of America, and you were fighting to set men free from tyranny or overthrow tyrants. You have nothing to be ashamed of. But I'm going to tell you, when we look at the issue of suicide, what about killing yourself? Is suicide wrong? The current thought of today is there's nothing wrong with suicide or mercy killing, according to 49% of Americans surveyed by one of the national research councils. But it's up. And I'm glad that we look and see that the results in the United States, how many people kill themselves every year and how horrible it is to know that suicide is the eighth cause of death in the nation of our teenagers. One third said they seriously considered killing themselves and have made plans to do so. But I'm going to tell you how horrible this is, that when we look and realize that suicide, as is now the second leading cause of death among our kids, we need help. And at the time, God, when we look and realize that we've taken God out of our schools, the Bible and prayer were banned and leaving our kids without hope and stability and truth. Our kids are killing themselves and one another in our schools, and sometimes on a massive scale. And our educators are still looking at what to do, but they know not what they're going to do. They're wondering, how they can solve the problem. But when you leave God out of the solution, you have no solution at all. Jesus is the source of life. He's the living water. The stagnant pools of humanism and evolution have left our generation anemic, hopeless, violent, barbaric, beast-like, focused on the destruction instead of construction. You know what? We're being taught that they come from apes. Why should we be surprised when they mate like apes, kill like apes, and public educators need to wake up? I don't care who you are. I don't care who let that book be wrote and put in our system. Why do people attempt or commit suicide? There's a number of reasons why they do that, and that is they hope for attention. They're looking for somebody and some attention by doing this. They're hurt. They're hurt. Some people are hurt by broken relationships or disappointments. In San Francisco, the beautiful gate bridge was for many people. The bridge opened in 1937. There have been a thousand confirmed suicides. The bridge accounts for 10% of all suicides in San Francisco. But what's interesting is the side that the people jumped from. Reports indicate that almost every person has jumped off looking at the city instead of the ocean. And the final gaze at the city seems to indicate that each one was taking one last look for hope. Can you imagine? People are not only hurt by broken relationships, but they're hurt by words. And it's sad that when you look at the life and all of the hurt that's taking place in America, we see the hope for attention, the hurt, but also health problems are a third reason for suicide. Some struggle with a disease or suffer from pain and they decide to just end it all. They're in so much pain and agony, they're not even in their right mind. They cannot bear the suffering anymore. Job struggled with some of these feelings. You know what? The end of it all belief has become very popular in the United States. And so it's sad that many people Hope for attention, hurt, health, habits of sin, guilt and depression from sinful living lead people to the brink of death. What's the use? They say, I've ruined my life. And many times this cycle begins in the fashion of ungratefulness to God, to parents, to others, stubbornness and rebellion, where they become defiant and hard, the wrong crowd that they seek support in their sin and all of a sudden, ease of guilt that they rebel in that support, the sensuality that people lose morals and the heart gets harder, guilt from sinful living, depression, suicidal tendencies. Boy, I'm going to tell you, the hollowness of the world of this worthlessness and emptiness that people attempt suicide to test a person's care and affection for them or they're attempting to establish communication with them. But you know what? They just want to get out of the way and not be a burden to anyone anymore. How sad that it is. People. that attempt to commit suicide from the hope for attention, for the hurt, for the health, the habits of sin, the hollowness and the hopelessness that is there. And so suicidal people maximize their problems and minimize their achievements and minor setbacks are considered as major ones. and they put unrealistic expectations upon themselves. The teens do this very well. Kids do this very well. But can a Christian get depressed and suicidal? You better believe they can. Have you ever heard of the hymn, There's a Fountain Filled with Blood? Boy, William Cople, Coper, who wrote and was the assistant to John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace. Cofer had in his past heard some preaching that convinced him that he was not saved or among God's elect and he felt that he could not be saved and that God had rejected him forever. And he became deeply depressed and he tried to kill himself by slashing himself with a knife. Unfortunately, though, he failed in that attempt. Through the Bible, through counseling, through love from John Newton, he was able to understand that truth and go on with his life. You see, the Lord Jesus Christ can rebuild your life. He can give you hope when you're hopeless. And so, I'm glad that each and every one of us, for your despair from hurt and health problems, the Lord can and will give you peace, praise God. And I'm glad that for your guilt from sinful habits and addictions, the Lord can give you hope and give you strength to meet that need, amen. Are you struggling with hollowness, feelings of emptiness and worthless? The Lord Jesus can satisfy your soul. Paul said, but my God shall supply all you need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The psalmist says, for he's satisfying the loneliest soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. God's people have so much to live for. Everything we need mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually is found in Jesus Christ. It's wrong to commit suicide, and you better believe it's wrong. God makes it very clear that suicide is wrong. Why? It goes contrary to the natural instinct of self-preservation. It is doing our own will and not God's will, and it's doing what is right in our own lives. It is an act of cowardice and avoiding the suffering that God has allowed to mold you and make you and others around you like Christ, and it is prohibited by the commandment, thou shall not murder or kill. And when the jailer was going to kill himself, Paul cried out to him. In the result of impatience, we're to endure affliction and not get ahead of God. It's harmful to others that suicide sets a bad example to follow and do the same thing. And so, when Saul fell on his sword, the armor bearer did the same thing. Suicide hurts the ones that leave behind the most. They're the ones that suffer for the selfish actions. They are condemned by the example of good men and women who have suffered in the issue of euthanasia. This is wrong. You may ask, well, what is euthanasia? Well, It's formed by good death or happy death, because euthanasia is the act of painlessly ending the life of a person for reasons of mercy, and its roots are found in the abortion movement that is cheapening human life. If the unborn are not important, then what prevents the long-born, well-worn, from being important? That's what's being decided today. It's sad that it could affect your mom and your dad, and especially our young people in the future, that if euthanasia becomes law, like abortion on demand, then the state and politicians may eventually decide that when life is no longer worth living, oh, you're 80? We need to put you down. Oh, you're 90? Let's put you down. We need to eliminate you. You see, nobody needs that. It doesn't matter if when parents are informed that a baby in the womb is deformed or will have a handicap or a Down syndrome, mothers are asked, do they want to abort their baby that has these conditions? Let's get this into our heads, folks. Just because a child or a person has a handicap or Down syndrome, deafness, blindness, lameness, mental retardation, it does not make them hopeless, useless, or cheap. Euthanasia. Euthanasia becomes a national law. out there that can, over time, can put on the elderly a terminal illness and governors can continue to try to use their influence of the law to go ahead and take out the elderly as if it's a right to make them die as a duty. That is so wrong. You know what, you better be careful about these things in the future, because that is one of the things, the consequences of right to suicide philosophy is what we're talking about. Oh my goodness, a person seeking suicide that would legally be entitled to be left alone to kill themselves without help or intervention. Doctors have stated that some attempts at suicide are challenges to see if anyone cares about that person. Boy, if they ain't some crazy things. What a person believes about euthanasia is determined by their view and sanctity of human life. God's point of view and the humanistic, secular view of life are not the same at all. What does God's words say about life and death? Deuteronomy 30, 19 says, choose life. Job 33, Elihu reminds Job how God often brings a person back from the point of death to a healthy life. In verses 19 through 22, speak of suffering. In verses 24 down to verse 30, speak of saving power. In Psalm 68, 20, David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, states the issues having to do with death are in the hands of the Lord. Matthew 9, 12, this verse indicates the doctor has his place of service to help prolong life. And so, in Psalms 103, verse 3, some want to kill those who are diseased. This verse indicates the Lord heals all diseases and He can heal if He wants to. Psalms 118, verse 18, points out that the Lord can chasten and have the power over death. The power of death is to be God's, not ours. Philippians 2.27, Epaphroditus was on the deathbed, suffered, and God raised him up. In 2 Samuel 1.14, we find the Amalekites spoke the words of a true believer. In Euthanasia, he said he observed that Saul was dying, so he went ahead and killed him off. But David's response to the Amalekite story of mercy killing was one of outrage. David not only put that person to death, but he accused him of assassinating the king. And the Bible not only teaches that it is God who determines the issues regarding death, but those who are seriously sick and suffered in the Bible desires not to die, but to get well and recover by the hand of God. Listen, you're listening to the voice of a pastor that has had to do suicide. I've had to do the funeral of suicides. I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know what I'm preaching about. Think for a moment that if Job believed in euthanasia, we would not have the book of Job. His wife told him to curse God and die. I'm glad that he didn't listen to her and Job would have missed out on God's miraculous blessing, healing of his life and all the vital lessons that he wanted Job and us to learn together. Job acknowledged that God would bring him to death at his appointed time and God was in control of his life and not Job. And so, the tragic interference understanding murder's impact, unveiling the horrors of murder and the divine gift As we said, physical murder, the personal murder, the act of suicide that's transpiring, that's taking place, Abe man. The physical assisted murders that it talks about, the prenatal murder of abortion that's out there. How horrible all of these things are, man, that are happening, Abe man, as we look and realize that this is horrible. There are lessons to be learned through suffering which are valuable to the sufferer and to others who watch their life. Patience, faith, compassion, mercy, waiting on God, that needs to be learned. You don't end somebody's life. One doctor said that many of his dying patients grow in leaps and bounds in their character. They finish all the unfinished business in their life. I saw some people that's never fought to live in all their ability than those that are going through cancer, those that are going through implants, those that are going through very difficult times, and yet they keep fighting the fight because they know that God will take them when He's ready. And when we resolve the old, broken relationships and all of the blessings of life, I'm glad God's way of extreme physical suffering is never mercy killing. I'm telling you, I'm glad that when we look and realize that we are obligated to keep someone alive, amen, because it allows the patient, as we go through life today, a good doctor will know how to distinguish between prolonging life and prolonging the act of dying. Each case is different. It's not all cut and dry. Doctors know those kind of things. And so, what did I say, the prenatal murder of referring to abortion? that the Bible, that life begins at the very moment of conception according to Psalms 139 verses 13 through 16, Jeremiah chapter 1 verse 5, Luke chapter 1 verse 41, and yet our society seems to view the unborn human as just so much waste material to be thrown away at the mother's convenient. That's sad. You know what? What does the Bible say about this? When does life begin according to the scriptures? I just told you. Psalms 139, verses 13 through 16. Jeremiah chapter one, verse five. Luke chapter one, verse 41. And so, I'm glad. The child in the womb is considered a life and it's known by God. For thou hast possessed my reins. Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are thy works that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect. And in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. I just read to you Psalms 139, verses 13, 14, 15, and 16. And I'm telling you, the child in the womb is considered a life known by God, because life begins at the very moment of conception. Every one of us, as we go through life today, and we realize how powerful that it is, we see the divine gift, life's sacred origin, and the tragic interference of understanding murder's impact. But lastly and closing, I see beyond the act, of imploring the depths of murderous consequences because justice in murder and restoring harmony to God's gift, murder carries with it a penalty. Jesus stated that murderers will be punished. Others have been caught, tried, and convicted. Some of these are in prison. Others have and will pay with their lives. But this is a part of murder. Many murderers have received Jesus as their savior. and they will still die for their crime. Is that fair? Yes, it is. I'm going to tell you. Carla Faye Tucker in Texas, she murdered two people while high on drugs and was sentenced to die. She was saved and became a model Christian and prisoner, but many thought that she would have her sentence commute. but she was executed just a couple as all others are are executed because there's a price on murder justice in murder restoring harmony is one of those things a man and so You know what, when we go against the things of a child, I'm glad Isaiah was called from the wound, amen. And I'm glad that when we look and realize that even as Esau and Jacob struggled within Rebekah and inside her wound, amen, as we look at the life of a baby and the gift of what it does, I tell you, when we kill the unborn, We're looking at what I'm talking about. Thou shalt not kill. We're not to murder someone in Exodus chapter 20, verse 13, amen. And so, when we get ready as we close out, as we, the Bible condemns the shedding of innocent blood, amen, or child. And so, each and every one of us, as we go through life, we begin to realize that here is one of the most precious things. How do we debate these deceptions? deception. Every person has the right to choose. Well, it'd be unfair to restrict a woman's choice by prohibiting abortion. Well, if any person has a right to choose, then does every teenage boy have a right to rape any girl in the school or neighborhood if that is his choice? Huh? After all, it's his body and neither you nor I have the right to tell him what to do with his body based on this reasoning. He is free to choose and it's none of our business what choice he makes. That's the kind of America that's growing up today. We have no rights to impose our morals upon him, whether I like the choice or not. We should have the freedom of choice. That's what people are teaching in America today. And the response of this thinking is the raping of an innocent teenage girl would ignore her rights? Yes, because all of this abortion violates the rights of that little baby that cannot defend itself, a young teenage girl. You may think you're innocent, but you made the choice to have that conception. And when you did this, you're trying to kill a little baby that cannot defend itself. I'm telling you, I believe in the virtue of pro-choice. Think about the laws against false advertising and man's right to free speech. If his choice is not restricted, we could be swindled, deceived, and cheated. Laws against discrimination infringe on the freedom of choice and those out there. When others' rights are at stake, particularly when lives are at stake, any decent society must restrict an individual's freedom of choice. We have laws against nudity in public, public urination, prostitution, drugs, et cetera, because they harm society. Most of America is not pro-choice when it comes to murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, and child abuse. But when we oppose the right to choose rape or child abuse, we're not opposing something that is right, but something that is very wrong. And so, when we go through life today, a lot of us go through that deception. Abortion is a decision between a woman and her doctor, and it's no other person's business. Everyone has that constitutional right to privacy. Did you know that there's nothing constitutional about the right to privacy? Because the right is nowhere found in the Constitution of the United States of America. And it was declared by the Supreme Court in 1973 as a right higher than an unborn child's right to live, because is privacy a right? Yes, but listen to me, but society recognizes that some rights are higher than others. Does one person's right to privacy outweigh another person's right to live? No. What would you think of a man that defended wife beating on the grounds that what I do in the privacy of my home is nobody else's business, but it's my business? You say that guy's crazy. Well, if the wife filed charges and the police would tell that guy, you're under arrest. Abortion advocates, uh, as we look at what happens in somebody's house and we look at the right to privacy, the truth is abortion isn't done in the bedroom. Even if it was, child killing in a bedroom will be no different than child killing in the streets and the abortion clinics. And so, we look at all of the things that go through life, of all the deceptions, all these things. Every woman, they say, has a right to control her own body and do what she wishes with it. Well, you know what? When we think about that, when we think of all the 750,000 to 1 million females each year in the United States or more that do not have control over their own bodies, this is the number of girl babies killed in America each year by abortion. but the woman's right issue, what about the nearly 25 million females at the time that when we look that have been killed from abortion and these that have been denied their rights to choose and the right to control their body. They were denied the right to have life and if they could come back, they would not support the horrors of abortion. Boy, we could go on and on about all of these things, but as I conclude, the judgment and murder confronting the spiritual and moral ramifications. I'm going to tell you something. There are three degrees of murderous guilt, all of which can be manifested without a blow being struck, secret anger. The spiteful of those unrestrained outbursts of violent, abusive speech murders more than the act of flesh. It's an attitude of the heart. How do we insulate ourselves against breaking this commandment? It's simple. All we need to do is practice God's plan for unconditional love in Matthew chapter 33 verses 37 down to verse 39 and absolute forgiveness for others in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 32. If there has been a murderous spirit in your heart, that needs to be repented of right now. Whoever you're angry at needs to be forgiven. That anger needs to be released. And it's far better to suffer some injury than to be guilty of murder. And so, as I close out, and as we're reminded of the divine gift, life's sacred origin, the tragic interference understanding murder's impact, and beyond the act, that we explore the depths of murder's consequences, we begin to realize that as we close out, And we realize also how bad murder is in America today and all of the things that we're dealing with that goes along with this, how sad that it is. As I get ready to close out, I want to challenge every one of you. how that you can promote the sanity of human life in your community by advocating the policies and practices that protect and preserve life from conception to natural death, supporting the organizations that provide alternatives to abortion, and engaging in conversations that inform the dignity and the worth of every individual. Not only that we can actively promote the sanctity of life in our community and beyond, but secondly, I want to challenge you in what ways that we can cultivate a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation in our relationship. Because by practicing humility, seeking reconciliation and resolution in our conflicts, extending grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged us. We can foster healing and restoration in our relationships. And thirdly, I want to challenge you. How can you guard against harboring attitudes of anger and resentment that may lead to destructive behaviors? by regularly examining your own heart and thoughts and seeking God's guidance and strength through prayer, through meditation on his word, actively choosing love and forgiveness over bitterness and revenge, that you can protect yourself from the corrosive effects of the murderous intents that are all over America today. And so, we need to remember the obedience of God's commands. that we safeguard ourselves against the sinful acts and acknowledge God's sovereignty over life and embrace his plan of love and forgiveness. Because doing this, we can combat the destructive forces of hatred and violence that threaten to engulf our war, that we can commit ourselves to honoring the sanctity of human life and the culture of compassion and grace. Here, the gift from life, the gift of God, life. Amen. As I close out, I hope and pray as we count down from the top and as we've talked about the gift from God, life, the fifth in this series, I hope and pray that you got something from this message. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the clarity and the wisdom found in your word regarding the sanity of human life and against murder. Grant us the strength to resolve, to uphold your commands, seek reconciliation, forgiveness in all of our relationship. May your grace sustain us as we navigate through the journey and the complexities of life in a world that's marred by violence and sin. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name. Amen. God bless you.