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Hello and welcome to Let's Talk About It podcast. I am your host, Apostle Rosemary of RCN Ministries and OSGA Apostolic Network, along with my wonderful husband, Apostle Herbie. We are coming back to you today with episode three of our series for season six, which is voices of the church series in a divided world, is what we're coming from. So at this time on today, we're going to go ahead and we're going to open with prayer at this time.

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Heavenly Father, we thank you, God, for this opportunity. Appreciate you, God. Bless all those who listen in, God Jesus. Anoint the ears to hear, God Jesus, and what the Spirit just said. In Jesus, Amen.

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Amen. So, Lord, at this time, as we enter into season six, I want to add on to this prayer for our opening prayer for season six here. Again, as we welcome you back to season six of RC and um podcast for Let's Talk About It. And again, it's the voices of the church in a divided world. We want to add on to our prayer. So, Lord, where we are committed to strengthening faith, restoring focus, and building families through biblical truth and kingdom-centered conversations. We are living in an hour where truth is being challenged, convictions are being compromised, and the voice of culture is often louder than the voices of the church. Yet, in the midst of confusion and instability, oh God, is still rising or raising up authentic voices that refuse to bow to fear, deception, compromise, or cultural pressure. This season is a clarion call for all believers, to all leaders, to families and emerging voices all around the world globally to stand firm in the truth while walking in wisdom, discernment, spiritual maturity, and unwavering focus on Christ. This season is about more than opinions, God. It is about responsibility, it is about discernment, it is about preserving the integrity of the gospel while strengthening faith, restoring families, oh God, developing leaders, and calling the church back to spiritual clarity and kingdom alignment. In episode one, God, we dealt with Christ over culture. And Lord, we thank you that on today, God, we're going to go even deeper, God. We're going to go deeper, we're going to go higher, and we're going to go in and we're going to deliver that which you have given us to give to the people in the body of Christ. So, Lord, we established the foundation with episode one, Christ over culture, when we dealt with living a countercultural faith. In this season, by confronting the tension between kingdom identity and culture pressure, we discussed the reality that the church is being pressured to conform while truth is being diluted and biblical standards are increasingly challenged throughout the earth. Lord, and in episode two, we dealt with in Voices of the Church series, we dealt with the church and cancer culture, cancel culture, how to how we are to be responding with grace and truth in order to restore and bring back the restoration over the rejection within the body of Christ. And Lord, as we continue to pioneer and cultivate today on episode three, and in this journey of season six, we will keep addressing the spiritual climate of a generation while equipping the body of Christ to remain anchored in truth, grounded in faith, oh God, and focus on the mandate of King of the Kingdom. So again, we say unto you, people of God, welcome, welcome, and welcome again to the voices of the church in a divided world series. All right, my God. We thank you. We thank you all today, God. Yes, Lord. All right, we're gonna go right on into this, my Lord. My Lord. Welcome back to Let's Talk About It podcast, people of God. As we continue with series six on voices of the church in a divided world, and we reflect back on episode two as well as one that I have spoken about already. We examine how culture often chooses exposure over restoration, public humiliation over redemption, and condemnation over compassion. We were reminded that Jesus never compromised truth, but he always never, he also, excuse me, never withheld grace. The church is called to restore, not to destroy. I'm gonna say that one more time. The church, people of God, is called to restore, not to destroy. We are called to speak truth in love, to carry accountability and humility, and to respond spiritually rather than emotionally. But as we move forward, another challenge emerges. What happens, people of God, when believers become so consumed by culture and political divisions that they begin losing their ability to witness? I'm gonna sit that right there. Because, see, we have lost our way within the body of Christ. Everybody is a Christian, but their fruits say contrary. What has happened when many live a conservative life, but they don't vote conservatively? Listen, being conservative, being able to stand on truth and on principles of God does not mean being a part of a political body. Rather, it is considered conservative, Republican, or a Democratic party. It does not matter. Culture has dictated what we have allowed to creep into the church and to contaminate and to pollute the oracles of the gospel. I'm gonna let that sit for a minute. Uh-huh. What happens, people of God, when the kingdom identity that we must possess by having the characteristics and the attributes of our Heavenly Father become secondary to political identity? What happens when our opinion becomes louder than our testimony? Here it is, right here. I'll be the first one to tell you. 11 years now I've had to sever relationships because people begin to be as the scripture tells us in Matthew 24 and 24. For the very elect shall be deceived. That's what I began to see manifest. People were so engrafted and ingrained in the political sphere until they lost their way, but they also lost their ability to minister to the people of God and the body of Christ. I'm hoarse, so y'all go with me. I'm just getting my voice back. But we're gonna bring this, we're gonna bring this podcast this morning. So I myself can identify and stand ten toes down and tell you all today that I severed relationships with every counterfeit Christian. And people ask me, Are you no? I'm not a Christian, I'm a disciple. I am a disciple because a Christian can still hate, can still be a bigot, can still lie, can still curse, can still fornicate, can still put idols and idolatry and politics before God. I'm gonna leave that right there. Let that sit for a minute. My God. That brings us to today's conversation, people of God. Because if the church is going to remain a strong voice in a divided world, we must understand how to engage political issues without losing our spiritual identity. I am telling you, my heart has been grieved over 11 years. I've disconnected with people and I'm not reconnecting. Because once someone has shown you the the the inward parts, what they really hold within their hearts, and the fact that they hold uh political things more than the things of the kingdom, then baby, I'm sorry, I can't, I can't be, I can't, I can't engage. I love you, but I got to leave you. The word of God tells us in Romans 13 and 8, oh no, man, nothing but to love them. For when we have done this, we have fulfilled the law. So I love you, but I can't hate I had this. I got to sever it. I can't even play with it. Listen, I want God to be pleased with me, and so I refuse to denigrade, I refuse to pollute, I refuse to contaminate my faith in the word of God for political gain. I'm not gonna do it. I can care less about networking, I can care less about who likes me or hates me, but we're gonna stand bold on the unadulterated truth of God. So today's episode's title is this, people of God faith in politics, engaging without losing your witness. Because before we are members of a political party, somebody catch this. Before we are citizens of any nation, before we carry any earthly affiliation, we are ambassadors of the kingdom of God first. By God, somebody better hold that there. I pray in apostle praise that this podcast today brings you to a place of redemption and repentance. First of all, just repent that God will bring you into redemption, that he will redeem you back unto himself because you have lost your way. Many of you have lost your way, and our highest allegiance must always belong to Christ. So, people of God, let's talk about it. So, as we step into this conversation today, that has become increasingly difficult to navigate, not only in society, but even within the church. Lord help us, Jesus. Politics. You know what Apostle Herbie and I will tell you? We don't preach politics, we don't teach politics. No, no, no. The word of God, politics has no place in the church, it does not, it's two separate things because you either gonna you got to pick and choose who's your master, who who are you gonna serve? Is politics your God? Is it is God or God be God? Can God be God and you still hold on to politics and you elevate that higher than the things of the kingdom, then guess what? You are backslid and you need to repent. So politics, my God, families have been divided over politics, friendships have ended over politics, associations have ended over politics. Ah my god, this thing is powerful. Churches have been fractured over politics, and unfortunately, people of God, many believers have damaged their witness, trying to defend positions instead of representing Christ. My God, my God, this is powerful. I can tell you all right now, I am a witness to this. I've seen it almost 12 years straight now. It has got to be so crazy. We're living in a nation, we're living in a time of idolatry. We have lost our way. Many, not just in America, many Christians, professing Christians in name only, have lost their way, my God, and walked away from their first love. My God. Now, before we go any further, let me be very clear, people of God. This episode is not about telling you who to vote for, we don't do that. Uh-uh. We vote character, we're looking for something of God in you because every politician lies. I don't care what their affiliation is, everybody lies that are in politics. But guess what? When it comes down to it, or as they say, they pick and choose what they're gonna say. Okay, we don't do that, that's not who we are over here. See, people preach politics when they don't have enough word in them, they substitute the word with political ideology and what they think and what has been taught and what has been passed down generation to generation, my God. What else is passed down to generation? Generational curses. I'm gonna let that sit right there. Somebody's gonna catch that. Listen, people of God, we need to understand one thing. Because in this episode on today, if there was ever a time for believers to walk in wisdom, discernment, and maturity, it is now. It is now, people of God. Now, when we look at this, let's look at it this way: politics versus kingdom.

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One of the greatest mistakes, believers make, is confusing politics identity with kingdom identity. Politics may have influenced society, but but the kingdom governs eternity. We deal with the amplified Bible. For to us a child, a child shall be born, to us a son shall be given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, the mighty God, everlasting father, and the prince of peace. This passage reveals that the government we set upon Christ's shoulders. The teaching emphasis, this prophetic passage revealed Jesus as a promised Messiah and declared that all ultimate authority and government rest upon him, it reminds believers that Christ rule transcend every earthly government, political system, national agenda. Our highest elegance, allegiance belongs to the king of kings. Our key thought, the government rests upon his shoulder, not ours. Okay. The authority, the authority rules and democracy and dominion belong to him, not political system, not administration, not earthly kingdom. To be clear, governmental matters, leadership matters, policy matters. But none of those things should ever take the place of Christ in the heart of the believers. The danger begins when we become more passionate about political outcome than spiritual transformation. When our conversation becomes more political than biblical, when our emotions are more influenced by media than by the Holy Spirit. But the church is not called to be political driven. The church is called to be kingdom driven.

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My God. Excuse me, they have slowly elevated political identity above spiritual identity. Now, somebody need to grab that right there. My God. Sever it. See, we want to play with them, but but that's not what we're supposed to do. Second Timothy 3 and 5 tells us that they are having a form of godliness and denying the power thereof. And then read the last part of that text. See, everybody wants to talk about that, but let's just go all the way in. If we're gonna talk about it, let's put all the lights on. The last part of that text says for these kind of turn away, in other way, in other words, sever it, cut it loose, let them go. Matthew 6 and 33 tells us, but first and most importantly, seek, in other words, aim at, strive after his kingdom and his righteousness, talking about God, his way of doing and being right, the attitude and character of God, and all these things will be given unto you also. King James translation says, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all of his righteousness, and then all these things shall be added unto you. So let's put the teaching emphasis on this. Jesus instructs believers to seek God's kingdom and his righteousness as their first priority. Catch that first priority, not second. First, rather than becoming consumed with political outcomes, cultural battles, or worldly concerns, believers are called to place God's Rule God's will and God's purposes above everything else. Listen to this key thought here. When the kingdom is first, everything else finds its proper place. Then that's what we're talking about. They shall be added unto you. Seek the kingdom. Seek the kingdom. And all these things will be given to you also, whatever you are in need of, to fulfill the will of God upon your life, the mandate and the purpose that God called you and created you for the earth. Jesus teaches believers to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness. Notice what comes first, not culture, not politics, not agendas. The kingdom. The kingdom must remain the lens through which we elevate everything else. Let me help somebody. See, the reason we got people so jacked up and tore up because they have never they have never become one with with with the with with the bridegroom. They never become one with the bridegroom. We're seeing people manifesting because they are walking in the spirit, blind Barnamaeus. They're walking in the spirit of the five foolish virgins. They never were invited in because they were not prepared, because their hearts were not pure. My God, they didn't keep the oil in their lamp. So they couldn't go in to the marriage banquet and sup with him and become one with him and consummate the relationship. See, this is what the problem is. People are professing they're Christians, but they don't have the Holy Ghost. Because if you had the Holy Ghost, there's no way you would be led astray like lambs to the slaughter. Let me leave that long. A teaching point here for you all today is this when politics becomes primary, Christ becomes secondary, and believers must guard against that because the church's mission has never been political dominance, the church's mission has always been spiritual transformation. My God.

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Season with soul, so that so that you will know how to answer each one who questions you. Teaching emphasis. Paul teaches that our speech should be gracious, wise, and seasonal appropriately, so that we know how to respond to every person. This passage is especially relevant when discussing policies. Christians are called to speak truth without hostility and conviction without arrogance. Our key thoughts: you can disagree without becoming disrespectful. Paul teaches that our speech should always be gracious, seasoned appropriately, and able to give wise answers. In other words, you can disagree without becoming disrespectful. You can stand for truth without becoming hostile. You can defend conviction without destroying relationships. If you win a debate, but but demand your but damage your witness, you are lost something more valuable. Listen.

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As we close, come to the close of this episode, we want to challenge you with a simple question. When people observe your life, do they see more of your political identity or more of Christ? That's powerful right there, y'all. Because in this hour, believers must remember who we are. We are people of God ambassadors, we are representatives of the kingdom, we are citizens of heaven, and our highest allegiance belongs to the king of kings and the lord of lords, not political systems of this world. Because remember, all these things of this world is temporal. We should be striving towards the things that are eternal, not parties, not personalities, but Christ and Christ alone. So think about this title that Apostle Herbie and I have come to you with this morning. Faith in politics, engaging without losing your witness. And then that's the title. But the theme of this today is kingdom allegiance over political identity. The scriptures that were used on today's podcast is Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6, Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33, and Colossians chapter 4 and verse 6. Our main quote is this Your miss, your witness is more valuable than your opinion. People of God hear that. Okay ask yourselves. Reflect on this and to respond to these same these same questions that you're asking yourselves. This is a self-examination for each and every one of you listening on today. Ask yourselves have I allowed politics to influence my emotions more than scripture? Do I respond to political disagreement with wisdom or hostility? Is my kingdom identity stronger than my political identity? My God. Many will have to repent. I'm telling you. So here's an activation challenge this week. Pray before responding. Listen before reacting. Represent Christ before defending a position. Listen, people of God. I'll slap it up there quick. PSA, a public service announcement. And I'll do a disclaimer. I let people know if I put something up and I'm speaking truth to I'm just speaking something that's truthful and they get offended, it may be something simple as sharing. I remember one instance I shared some information about how people can get some help. And someone that I had known before jumped under there and tried to, you know, bring negativity and all of this, all of the biases and and and all of this this brainwash ideology under my post. And they they just they it it was all by the time they they finished putting what they put under my post, it was about race. It had gotten about race, and and you know, it was the craziest, foolishest thing I ever seen. And so I politely said what I had to say, and then the Lord told me he checked me real quick. I said it and I said it in a godly way, but I put on there that you know what, I'm putting this up. In other words, I was saying something to the eye to the um thought of I was putting this up, I answered them little no, I'm putting this up for those who may need help with some damages that they may have had. And in other words, I was letting them know, I forget how I said it, but I was letting them know that I don't post anything unless I've researched it and I know it to be fact, and so I really don't post, but this was one of those times that I did because I had people that were talking about it and that were connected to my my my page, and you know, they were looking for help and they were listening to some of the wrong news stations media, and they were getting all these lies that they were telling, you know, to keep the division and hatred and and just for clickbait and all of this. And so that's the reason I put it out there. And when it was all said and done, I I had to uh go ahead and delete the comment so it wouldn't offend anyone on what the person had said, but it didn't it didn't surprise me with the person the the hat said because I already knew who the person was, but still loved them still the same. And when it was all said and done, I ended up blocking the person. But what was so powerful, the Lord let me know. He says it was a two of them, and I clicked it. The Lord told me just to go and see it for confirmation. And I went to their page, and and then the woman got on the other another page, and she said, and one and some of these people are so crazy, one that called themselves a pastor, and I say, My God, help them. And so they were going back and forth, and the Lord told me, He said, See, this is what I'm talking about. So many are getting distracted. But one thing about these, I say this for a reason. One thing about these two women that I knew was this that they were not professing to be Christians, they were not living and saying that they were Christians, so they were of the world, so I didn't expect any different. But what about us that have blown our ability to witness because we act like the world or worse than the world? I want to leave that with y'all. So here's our QA segment. We've got four questions here. Apostle Herbie and I are going to go back and forth before our closing declaration this morning. Number one, you want me to take one, you take two. How do you want to do it? You want me to okay? It's four questions. Question one Should Christians be involved in politics? Absolutely, people. Believers should be informed and engaged, which is what Apostle Herbie and I are. That's why people can't pull a wool over our eyes. We are informed and we are engaged on what goes on with global politics, with global news, because we are connected globally, we pray globally, we intercede globally, we cover globally, leaders and you name it. It's nothing but God. We we just serve, we we steward what God has given us to steward, okay? But we need to be engaged. But engagement should never replace your kingdom identity. I want you all to understand that.

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Number two, can politics become idolatry? Yes, any anything that receives the loyalty and trust that belongs to God can become an idol. My God.

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So if we put men, women, Republican or Democratic Party or independent party, or whatever you want to say when it comes to politics or anything else, anything we put before God becomes an idol. Vehicles, monetary things can become an idol. Our children, our spouses can become an idol. Anything that we put ahead of God becomes an idol. The third question is how do I disagree with someone politically? How do we do it? We do it with grace, we do it with wisdom, and we do it with respect. And you know, I found that to be true almost 12 years now because at one point I saw some of the craziest, racist, nonsensical things on some leaders' pages that really broke my heart. It grieved, I didn't break my heart, it grieved my heart. Thank you, Holy Ghost, that they would be so bamboozled, so bamboozled in hoodweek to fall prey. But again, Matthew 24, 24, they were the very elect that had been deceived. And so when I saw that, the Lord told me, He says, Don't respond to it. You saw it. It's okay. I wanted to show you who these people are because the word of God says, out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth speaks. So when you see people getting out there saying all kinds of stuff, and it doesn't matter what race or culture they're from, and they get races and they get all of this political stuff going, let them run with it, let them run with it. The Lord is just showing you that your season is up with them, and you know what? These same people may come around, they may try to reconnect, but no, no, baby, uh-uh, no, uh-uh, we're good. I love you, but I had to leave you, and I'm gonna keep on moving forth in the things of God. So we respond with grace, we respond with wisdom, and we always respond with respect, people of God.

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The fourth question: what matters most? Representing Christ faithfully.

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That's it. That's what matters most. That's what matters most, people of God. Our closing declaration is this I am a citizen of heaven. I will not be controlled by fear, anger, or division. My allegiance belongs to Christ. I will engage with wisdom, speak with grace, and represent the kingdom well. That is your closing declaration for today. And we thank you all for joining us today on Let's Talk About It Podcast. And again, I am your host, Apostle Rosemary, along with my awesome husband who co-hosts this podcast with me, Apostle Herbie. We're going to deal with episode four next month. You don't want to miss that. It's going to deal with kingdom first, and we're going to help you all understand how to navigate nationalism. Yes, we said it, nationalism. Why? Because there is a thing that has hit the body of Christ called Christian nationalism, and it's not of God, and faith. The theme for that will be heavenly citizenship over earthly allegiance. My God. All right. So again, today's um message was the topic faith and politics, engaging without losing your witness. The theme today is kingdom allegiance over political identity. Apostle Herbie and I want to thank you all for joining us for being with us today. And I want to just go ahead and close out in prayer. So, Father, we thank you for every word that has been spoken and every seed that has been planted during this time together. We pray that what has been released would not fall on hardened ground, but would produce wisdom, growth, healing, maturity, and transformation in the lives of the people. Strengthen faith, restore families, refocus minds and hearts back towards your will and purpose. Give your people, oh God, discernment for this hour. Courage to stand in truth and grace to walk in obedience. We pray for protection over every listener and every household. Cover them spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially. Let your peace rest upon them and let their hand and let your hand guide them throughout this week, God. Father, let us not only hear truth, but let us apply it. Application is key. Let us become disciplined disciples, wise stewards, loving family members, and kingdom-minded believers who reflect Christ well in every area of life. We declare that no weapon formed against your people shall prosper. And every decree, divine assignment, stability, wisdom, and supernatural strength over every listener connected to this podcast. Lord, as we leave this podcast, may your presence continue to go before us, strengthen us, and lead us according to your perfect will. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen and amen. Thank you all for joining us on today. We pray that this be a blessing to you. And remember, you do not want to miss the podcast on next month because it's going to be mind-blowing. So many have been deceived, so many have been misled. And we're going to dissect this down bone and marrow. We're going to bring heaven down. We're going to release the word of God with a two-edged sword, and we're going to cut to asunder every false altar, every false Christianity belief, every false doctrine of devils or demons. We're going to kill it next month. We're going after like the seeds of A. Everything must die. Nothing can be allowed to live. God bless you. God keep you until next month. We love you. And make sure you go on any of the podcast websites. We're on every website. Let's talk about it podcast. Make sure that you follow us. You can support the podcast from there, however, you want to. There's a link that you can click on. You can sew into that. You can also go to our YouTube channels and listen there as well. Everything, you know, everything we always are live at 6 a.m. on that third Wednesday of every month. God bless you. God keep you. May His grace continue to shine upon you. Have a blessed, blessed day.