What Now?
Our Trust
Psalm 146:1-10
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
Joshua 5:13-15
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
I know that many people are disappointed, scared and hurt. God is not a xenophobe, mysoginist or racist. He is no respecter of persons and He is righteous, loving and just. God is and forever will be on His throne. So do not fear, but pray. As the church, we had work to do before the election and we have work to do after. The world was fallen before November 8th, separated from a holy and just God, and it is separated today. The gospel was God's peace making, reconciling and restorative answer before shifts in power, and it is continually our mission now. Let's unify to heal and to be peacemakers who sow in peace that we might raise a harvest of righteousness to the honor of God. This is Jesus' charge to the church.
Matthew 5:2-9
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Romans 13
Exodus 22:28
“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people."
2 Chronicles 7:13-16
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.
Christ stands in the gap as our intercessor. He cares about all the issues.
We undoubtedly have work to do as the church, because neither side fully represented the kingdom of God.
Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
Proverbs 21:30
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
Our Temperment
1 Timothy 2:1-6
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.
The issue is what is in people's hearts. This is what we depend on Jesus to change.
Our recent events expose issues that were under the surface of our society for years but now are brought to the surface. The events expose the idolatrous notions of our hearts and where we place our ultimate trust, to whom we look to fix our world.
In issues being exposed, this can be our finest hour.
Our responsibility now is to be the church and do our part, in humility, faith and grace, to help economically, academically and socially to bring about the order that Christ's kingdom represents.
May God be seen as in charge, that it is our responsibility to pray and the focus should forever be the gospel.
Romans 12:14-18
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
James 1:19-21
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Avoid the poison - take a break from the inciting that comes from social media if it is causing you to sin.
Second City Church: What Now? Sermon 2016