Accepting God’s Man

SERMON STARTER

          The election is now history and history-making things are happening. The campaigns of both parties have been both muddy and bloody. It has left us sorely divided and weary from contention, nasty accusatory ads, “robo-calls” and propagandists disguised as newscasters. It has taken more millions of dollars for these fore-running political contenders to get their message across than any election in the history of our country.

          We have also had to endure lies, sarcasm, contempt and ridicule for the man our democratic process placed into office for the past eight years. George W. Bush has been the most media-defiled, disrespected president in our nation’s history. I believe that God, and not the American electorate, ultimately puts people into office and removes them according to His Will.

He was God’s man and basically did what we hoped he would.

          The economy and not the personality or qualifications of either candidate, decided this election. There is irony here, because both parties in the US Congress are responsible for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle and the subsequent damage to our economic system. The propagandist-whipped media during this election process also negatively influenced our stock market investors to lose confidence in buying and selling, sending stock market prices on a downhill plunge.

          My sermon is a call both to pray and for Christians to act like believers and followers of Christ. We don’t need more whining, bitter racist attempts at humor, sarcasm or contempt. It’s time to step up to the plate and show the world that we can still propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ in a negative or even hostile political environment. It’s to be and to act like followers of the real Savior, Jesus Christ.

          It’s time to “Accept God’s Man” as God’s choice and not ours. Let’s be the Christian nation we have been and still are and not be dependent on who is or is not in office.

A-Men,

Pastor Phil Roland   <><<

Sheepfold Ministries, November 9, 2008

Post-Election Sunday - Pastor Phil Roland

Accepting God’s Man

Various Texts

WORD STUDIES:

The Hebrew word ברכה  “BER-AH-KAH”

“Barak” is a holy word that begins many a Hebrew prayer. ”Berakhot” (blessings) traditionally start with the Hebrew words:

Barukh attah, Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam.

“Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe.”

Traditional Jewish Seder Prayer

Scripture references: Genesis 12:2; Genesis 24:11; Hebrews 11:32-34; Judges 4:6-16;

 

I. WE WHO BELIEVE, OBEY GOD’S WORD

          A. His Word is Powerful - Hebrews 4:12,13

            “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-

            edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints

            and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

            And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and

            open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

          B. To Disobey him is to Deliberately Sin - Psalm 119:11

            “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”

                        1. “Your Word” appears 67 Times in the entire Bible – v.105

                        “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

                        2. The phrase “Your Word” Appears in this Psalm 36 Times

 

II. GOD’S WORD COMMANDS US TO PRAY FOR ALL MANKIND

       A. Willfully Disobey the Lord through a Media-Taught Disrespect

                        1. Media Elite Propaganda Tools

                        2. Big Brother and Brainwashing

       B. Speak Favorably of Others before God in Prayer – 1 Timothy 2:1-4

       ”Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions,

            and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in

            authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and

            reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

          who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

                        1. All Men Deserve our Humble Attention

                                    a. Supplications

                                    b. Prayers

                                    c. Intercessions

                                    d. Giving of Thanks

                        2. Including Kings, Presidents, Cabinet’s, Congress

                        3. All who are in Places of Authority

 

III. PRAY FOR OURS TO BE A GODLY NATION – Ps. 33:12 

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”

       A. God can and will work with an unrighteous man

                        1. Their Sins will be revealed – Luke 8:17

                        “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing

                        concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

                   2. Promise Keepers Million Man March, November 7, 1997

                                    a. Shortly after that Clinton’s Monica Affair Revealed

                                    b. God’s Eye is on those who fear Him – Ps. 32:18

                                    “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,

                                      On those who hope in His mercy,”

            B. God is Sovereign over All Nations and All Men -

                        1. He can work with our leaders or around them

                        2. Show them Respect - Romans 13:7

                        “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due,

                        customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom

                        honor.”

            C. We Select Leaders who Resemble Us

                        1. They Look like we Wish for them to Look

                        2. They have our values

                        3. They have our Defects of Character

                        4. How many more leaders do you want that are just like you?

                        5. Who do you wish for them to resemble?

 

IV. HOW OURS CAN BE A GODLY NATION

        A. We can Walk in Jesus’ Steps

                        1. Talk as He Talked

                        2. Love as He Loved

                        3. Forgive as He Forgave

                        4. Enduring as He Endured

                        5. Praying as He Prayed

                        6. Leading as He Led

                        7. Serving as He Served

                        8. Loving as He Loved

                        9. Dying as He Died

            B. Ask the Holy Spirit to Reproduce in you Jesus’ Essential Features

                        1. Become Like Him

                        2. Make Him your Model

                        3. Study His Life

                        4. Follow in His Steps

 

 

 

 

Accepting God’s Man

Psalm 33:12

12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

13  The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.

14  From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth;

15  He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

16  No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

17  A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,

19  To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.

20  Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

21  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.

22  Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

34:1  I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 

 

Romans 13:1-7

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

2  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

4  For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

5  Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

6  For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.

7  Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

 

 

 

1 Peter 2:13-17

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,

14  or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

15  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;

16  as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

17  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

 

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

2  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

4  who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.