Surviving a Shutdown

Introduction

Saturday marked the 22nd day of the partial federal government shutdown, which started on December 22, 2018. (So, it’s been happening since … last year … as in, the government hasn’t been fully operational in 2019.) At the moment, this is the second longest shutdown in United States history; come Saturday, it will become the longest.

Before we go on, in case, perhaps, you haven’t had access to the internet or TV at any point during the past 21 days and are asking yourself, “Wait, why is the government shut down in the United States?” the gist of it is: Donald Trump, border wall, political theater. The Trump administration is essentially holding the government hostage until the president gets what he wants.

According to the online CNBC report on Saturday, January 9, 2019, the partial government shutdown became the longest funding lapse in U.S. history Saturday, as it dragged into its 22nd day.

Congress failed to break an impasse this week over President Donald Trump's demand for more than $5 billion to build his proposed border wall, even as 800,000 federal workers started to miss paychecks Friday. The closure of nine federal departments will last at least 24 days — and likely longer — as Congress does not convene again until Monday.

Talks about reopening a quarter of the government fizzled out this week, amid Trump insistence on funding for a barrier that Democrats have repeatedly refused. The Democratic-held House has passed bills to temporarily fund the government, but the GOP-controlled Senate has refused to take them up amid the president's veto threat.

The impasse could move to a more polarizing phase, as Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency to circumvent the legislature.

Lawmakers and the White House appear far from forging an agreement to reopen the government. As the partial closure drags on, it is expected to cause economic damage due to missed paychecks, which may disrupt mortgage applications, food assistance programs and consumer sentiment. If the shutdown continues for two more weeks, its estimated damage to the economy of $6 billion will top the $5.7 billion Trump seeks for the wall, according to S&P Global Ratings.

The current funding lapse tops the previous record of 21 days set in December 1995 and January 1996, caused by a budget standoff during the Clinton administration. The damage from the partial shutdown that started last month is expected to be more limited than some previous closures as it affects about one-fourth of the government.

Congress passed a bill Friday guaranteeing back pay for federal workers — which Trump said he would sign. During other previous shutdowns, particularly in the 1970s, workers did not face furloughs.

Purpose: The purpose of this sermon is to help us to understand God’s terms and conditions for true, authentic - survival. To prepare a person’s heart and mind for survival. I want to share God’s terms of agreement to our experiencing revitalized and rejuvenated survival in the church. I want us to see how we can experience survival.

I. The Survivor (If my people, who are called by my name…)

·Neil Anderson says, “People cannot consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with what they believe about themselves.” Do you know who you are? You are somebody in Christ. In Christ you are accepted…you are secure…you are significant. In Christ, I AM ACCEPTED; in CHRIST, I AM SECURE; in CHRIST, I AM SIGNIFICANT!

oIN CHRIST…I AM ACCEPTED…I am God’s child…I am Christ’s friend…I have been justified…I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit…I am complete…I AM SECURE…I am free from condemnation…I cannot be separated from the love of God…I am hidden with Christ in God…I am a citizen of heaven…I can find grace and mercy in the time of need…I AM SIGNIFICANT…I am the salt of the earth…I am the light of earth…I am God’s temple…I am God’s workmanship…I can do all things!

II. The Survivor’s Responsibility (…shall…)

·Humble, pray, seek & turn are all words used in the imperfect mood that expresses an action, process or condition which is incomplete. It has not happened and yet, and God gives us the power to accomplish each one.

oHumble Themselves ~ we come before God admitting that I am a sinner, I am messed up, I am dusty… (ELABORATE!)

oPray ~ What is prayer?

▪Prayer is our direct line with heaven.

▪Prayer is a communication process that allows us to talk to God!

▪He wants us to communicate with Him, like a person-to-person phone call.

·Cell phones and other devices have become a necessity to some people in today’s society. We have blue tooth devices, blackberries, and talking computers! These are means of communication that allow two or more people to interact, discuss, and respond to one another.

▪If our survival depended solely on our prayer life, would we survive? Would we make it?

oSeek God’s Face ~ Rick Jordan said, “We should seek God’s face and not his hands.” Seek God’s presence, will, who He is…Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

oTurn from their Wicked Ways ~

▪turn means… to repent, turn means to change directions, go another way

▪wicked ways…an offense to God’s moral standard…

III. The Survivor’s Outcomes

·Hear – after humbling & praying

·Forgive – after seeking his face

·Heal – after turning and repenting of our sins

Conclusion ~ You are a survivor…so let…

·… the sleeping folk - wake up,

·… the lukewarm folk - fire up,

·… the dishonest folk - confess up,

·… the disgruntled folk - cheer up,

·… the depressed folk - cheer up,

·… the estranged folk - make up,

·… the gossipers - shut up,

·… true soldiers - stand up,

·… the dry bones - shake up,

·… the church members - pray up...

·… the saints - lift Jesus up…

I AM A SURVIVOR! (R.G. Lee)