2 Chronicles 7:12-14Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will 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.”
Last Sunday, Pastor Kyle pushed “pause” on our sermon series through the gospel according to John to explain the “apolitical” stance that our church takes. Our church does not take sides on endorsing local, state and national candidates or current political issues of our day, unless the Bible and/or the Gospel of Jesus Christ are under attack. We do not avoid the word of God and never abandon biblical truth. We do realize that some churches do take political stances on issues and endorse candidates for the Kingdom of God and that the Lord blesses these Christian soldiers. Our community church focuses on teaching the Word of God and telling as many about the “good news” of Jesus Christ as possible, making disciples with “saving” faith. Our desire to that any person, from any political party, may walk into our Sanctuary door and worship and praise Lord God almighty. That people in our community may hear the gospel Word peached and either find forgiveness and salvation at the foot of the Cross, or deepen their faith by the Word of Truth weekly, while becoming more biblically literate Christians; God’s people.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
It’s easy to criticize, but it is hardest to work what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord. What is the church’s role in public life? The Bible endorses government and some are called into politics, which can be an incredible blessing when they lead with compassion, listen to the people and their vote is biblically uncompromising. Our highest citizenship is in Heaven and our Lord reigns and rules above all. In God We Trust is our national Motto and the solid ground on which we stand.
Romans 3:20-24 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
For the Christian, humbling ourselves and praying looks like (1) checking our obedience in good times and not-so-good times. We are all sinners, so all change begins with our self. Change yourself by aligning your will with God’s before changing your country. We all have a God-given conscience. Get back on track with the holy Word, Will and Way of God. This side of eternity, we shall always have the sinful desires of the flesh from Adam, but God rules. Galatians 5:16 tells us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (2) Making sure financial prosperity never robs our sense of dependency upon God. The concept God said in Deuteronomy 8:11-14 is still true, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God.” Prosperity leads to the tendency of forgetting and not depending on God. Tithing is God’s reminder to us all that everything is Creator God’s and from God to us.
Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on "the politics of heaven" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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