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Sovereign: In Public Affairs
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Focus: God’s sovereignty in our public affairs gives us reason to continually trust in Christ.
Truth (we need to embrace)
Test (of where our deepest hopes lie)
Trust (in God’s sovereignty and eternal plan)
The Truth We Embrace
We need to embrace the truth that even as we do our part, God is sovereign in the public affairs of humanity.
What is the sound theology that we need to embrace?
God is sovereign in public affairs.
Daniel 2:19-23
“Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.”
The Test
We need to know that results in the public sphere test our hearts regarding the sovereignty of God.
What is a sound reaction?
How Did We Respond?
It is a surprise to no one that some people are elated and some people are mad.
It is especially not surprising to God
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Both our heart sicknesses and rejoicing are tells indicating where or in whom our hopes have been placed.
Because the church of Jesus Christ is serving an eternal King who is neither voted into nor out of office, our character and mission remain the same no matter who our public servants are.
Make sure that your hopes are placed in Jesus even as we work with men and women for the benefit of our cities, nation and all who live in it.
Be humble in victory.
Be gracious in defeat.
Why?
“Stability, predictability and manageability were never meant to be security for us. We were made to hide ourselves in him.”
-Ruth Chou Simons
What remains true today whether you feel like you are one whose heart is sick because of the possibility of election results or rejoicing because of the historic advances that have come from it, God is sovereign in what is happening.
What is still true of the church by God’s sovereignty:
We are still those who worship Almighty God as king by the authority of his written Word.
We are still those who are charged to live by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
We are still those who are committed to bearing fruit in keeping with repentance when we miss it.
We are still those who fight for Biblical justice.
We are still those who live at the feet of the cross of Jesus forgiving others who sin against us just as we have been forgiven.
We are still a people who fight as one man for the faith of the gospel.
We are still those who are peacemakers to see people reconciled with both God and one another in Christ.
We are still those who are to go into all the world to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us.
These things will never change.
For all humanity, the ultimate tree of life is in the paradise of God, which will never be found on earth in its present state, but will be enjoyed by all who accept Christ’s invitation to life.
This is where our true and lasting longings are fulfilled - the very things for which people strive.
Until then, it will only be momentary glimpses because of the sin in the world perpetuated by the evil of fallen men and women.
So what are we to do?
Trust
We need to participate in God’s public sovereignty through prayer and testimony of his truth.
What is our sound responsibility?
1 Timothy 2:1-7
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle ( I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Second City Church - Sovereign, Pastor Rollan Fisher 2020