Good Trouble

I must begin this morning with a shout out. 38 years ago on Aug 1, I was busy walking the halls of Wiesbaden Army Medical Center in Germany working on bringing my baby into the world. On Aug 2 at 4:43 in the morning, weighing in at 9 lbs 7 ozs and 22” long, my baby boy made his entry into the world and he has been a joy in my life every since. Happy birthday James Allen.

Matt 21:12 - 15 - 12 Jesus entered the temple courtyard. He began to drive out all those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be called a house where people can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7) But you are making it ‘a den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11) 14 Blind people and those who were disabled came to Jesus at the temple. There he healed them. 15 The chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did. They also saw the children in the temple courtyard shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” But when they saw all this, they became angry.

A civil rights giant was laid to rest on Friday, U.S. Representative John Robert Lewis. And at his homegoing service there were two recurring themes. The first is the title of my message this morning, “Good Trouble”.

Representative John Lewis was known for saying, “Let’s get into ‘good trouble’. Now when you hear the word trouble it typically comes with a negative connotation. So to say let’s get into “good trouble” would seem to be an oxymoron. But when you look at his life you see good trouble in action.

Sometimes when the “establishment” gets comfortable with the status quo, even when the status quo doesn’t recognize the needs of everyone, there needs to be some good trouble.

Sometimes when those in leadership fail to look out for those for whom they are responsible—there needs to be some good trouble.

Sometimes when those who are sworn to serve and protect, forget they are to serve and protect everyone, not just selected ones, there needs to be some good trouble.

Sometimes when we forget our mission and get complacent doing things as usual—there needs to be some good trouble.

Rep. Lewis followed the example of Jesus, speaking out on the injustices of the time, whatever time it was. He didn’t just speaking out in the 60’s, he didn’t just make the speech in the March on Washington and fade into the woodwork; he continued to speak out, he continued to work, he continued to protest, he continued, to make a difference.

This chapter begins with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem in which he enters to the shouts and cheers of Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to the Son of David, and when the people asked, “Who is that?” the reply came, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee”.

His time was drawing short and there were still some things he had to do before his final assignment was completed. When he gets there, rather than going to the court or the palace, Jesus goes to where he is King, Jesus went into the temple because his Kingdom is spiritual.

And when he gets there, there are some things going on that had nothing to do with the spiritual things of God, some things that didn’t belong in the temple. Don’t we still have that today? Weren’t there still many things we were doing in our church services that had nothing to do with the Kingdom of God and

• God has come in and driven out those that were buying and selling

• He has flipped over the tables of the money changers who were cheating the people

• He’s knocked over the seats of those selling doves for sacrifices

• He’s closed the doors of the church building, driving us out into the places we were called to — into the streets, in this case into social media platforms to get the message out to the people of God, to those who may otherwise never hear it.

• He pushed us out of our comfort zones and forced us into places some had never been before.

• He stripped church down to what it was meant to be in the first place, Jesus — and him crucified

Be careful when you get into a pattern. Not that all patterns are bad, but when you get stuck in a pattern, sometimes we call it a rut, you start missing things, you start to lose people and you become ineffective and dare I say even irrelevant.

In this particular passage of Scripture, the people had lost sight of what the Temple was for, while yes it was true the people needed the money changers and those selling doves and those who were buying and selling goods, because some had traveled great distances to get to the temple and couldn’t carry all they needed for the journey so they had to buy things when they got there.

You know how we do when we travel, especially when we’re traveling on an airplane. There are some things you can’t take with you, so instead you save money to buy those things when you get there. And jacking up the price for the tourists is not new, it’s been going on for centuries, but Jesus said, you’ll not do it here.

Jesus said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer...”

• The church is to be a house of prayer

• it’s to be a place where people come for healing

• it’s to be a place where people come for forgiveness

• it’s to be a place where people come for help

• it’s to be a place where people come for acceptance

• it’s to be a place where people come for deliverance

• it’s to be a place where people come—for love

Jesus goes on to say “…but you are making it a den of robbers.”

• Instead the church had become a place where people came for a show.

• The place from where the Word of God was given to God’s people, became a stage instead of a sacred desk, to be treated with honor and not as another place that just anyone can stand.

• Instead it became a place of name it and claim it

• Instead it became a place to prey, p-r-e-y on the people of God instead of a place to pray p-r-a-y for the people of God

• Instead it became a place to be seen and lifted up and the message of Christ got lost in translation.

God has overturned the tables of the traditional church and taken us out of our comfort zones. There are those fighting to get back to business as usual and God is saying,

• not yet, you haven’t gotten the lesson;

• not yet, you haven’t gotten the message;

• not yet, you haven’t destroyed the old mold,

• not yet, you have not had a change of heart

• not yet

• For those marching in the streets, continue to march because those in power have not yet gotten the message.

• Keep marching because America has not yet gotten the message that Black Lives Matter.

• Keep marching because America has not yet gotten the message that all men and women are created equal.

• Keep marching until Black parents don’t have to give their children and teenagers the speech about how to come home alive if and more likely when singled out and stopped by the police for no other reason than the color of their skin.

• Keep marching until we all truly overcome, but someday has not yet come.

The good trouble John Lewis spoke of was about troubling the minds, hearts and spirits of those who would refuse to do the right thing when it comes to people of every color and nation, when it deals with how God’s children are treated and not mistreated.

And when Jesus put out those who were there for the wrong reasons, who came with selfish motives, who came with impure hearts, who came to take advantage, when all those people were gone, Jesus began the true work, he began to heal the blind and the lame.

• Sometimes, you have to get rid of some practices,

• Sometimes, you have to change some traditions,

• Sometimes, you have to delete some positions, and

• and sometimes, you have to sit some people down

… so the true work of the church can go on.

Yes, there are some people in the church that are more interested in having their way, than they are with saving souls. Some want to spend more resources on doing inreach rather than outreach. Yes we are to bring the lost, baptize them and teach them, but then we are to send them back out to bring more in. Our assignment was meant to be a never-ending circle, not a get all you can, can all you get and sit on the can kind of Gospel.

It’s time the church get back to the business at hand, saving souls, bringing the lost back into the Kingdom of God, recognizing we were all made in God’s image, He loves us all and His desire is that none be lost.

Now here’s the thing, even when you’re doing the right thing, when you’re getting into, good trouble, there are those who are not going to be happy with what you’re doing, there are those who are going to have a problem with you.

Verse 15 says, “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became angry...”

When you begin to shine a light on wrongs, when you begin to expose unethical behavior when you begin to call out corruption; get ready for a fight, because the forces of evil are going to fight you with everything they have and they will not fight fair, even to the point of trying to take your life.

There will be those in leadership, those in high places who will not like what you’re doing but what you need to remember, is the weapons of your warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. You need to remember to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Continue to peacefully protest but suit up, put on the whole armour of God, so you can stand against the attacks of the devil. Understanding you’re not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Suit up, you’ve got to put your armor on,

• Put the belt of truth around your waist - in order to speak it and to recognize it, so you’ll know what’s real and what’s a ploy to distract you from the true objective

• Put on your breastplate of righteousness — you go in the righteousness of God, because yours is as filthy rags

• As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

• Take your shield of faith so you can quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

• Then don’t forget your helmet of salvation and make sure you put it on.

• Put the sword of the Spirit in your hand, which is the Word of God and don’t just let it be a prop, read it, eat it, digest it, hide it in your heart so you don’t sin against God

• And perhaps most importantly, pray in the Spirit at all times, in every prayer and supplication. While prayer may seem passive, there can be nothing more powerful than talking with God in heaven, the Creator of the entire universe, everything in it and everyone on it. The One who is truly, ultimately, completely and forever in control.

• Stay alert, always persevere in prayer for all the saints.

It won’t always be fun, it won’t always be easy, but when the goal is accomplished, it will be worth it. What’s the goal? Winning souls for the Kingdom of God.

I said there were two themes in John Lewis’ homegoing—the other was “vote”. He was one of the driving forces behind the Voter Empowerment Act, securing everyone’s unhindered right to vote.

Our system and rights are being heavily challenged right now, polling places are being eliminated in largely black populations, gerrymandering in districts to control the outcome, filling the airwaves with doubts and lies about mail-in voting and throwing away and disqualifying ballots.

I’m here to tell you today, don’t fall for it and don’t stand for it. If your vote wasn’t so powerful, they wouldn’t be doing so much to keep you from using it. Men and women were beaten, bled and died for you to cast a ballot. Please don’t dishonor their memories and efforts by failing to do that which they fought so hard to secure for you. Some of them died before they could cast their vote, if you’re alive, if you’re eligible, register and then cast your vote.

I have two appeals for you today, if you’ve never accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, this is a good day, while you have breath in your body make this decision that will affect not just the rest of your life on earth, but your life in eternity. Death is not the end, it’s the beginning of your last chapter. Where will you spend the last chapter of your life. In Duet 30:19 as Moses spoke the things of God to the children of Israel, the same call goes out to you today, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”. You see, the decision you make today doesn’t just affect you, it can affect your generations to come, it just takes a simple prayer.

Lord Jesus I confess that I am a sinner, I believe that You are the Son of God, that you died for my sins and I’m asking you to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I surrender my will to your way. In Jesus name I pray amen.

If you prayed that prayer for the first time, congratulations and welcome to the family.

The second appeal I’m going to make is, if you’re eligible, but are not a registered voter, get registered. And for all registered voters, VOTE.

If you need help registering to vote, wherever you are, contact me at [e-mail] and I will help you get registered.

If you made that quality decision to give your life to Christ contact me at the same email so we can pray and rejoice together.

Please keep in touch, drop us a line or a comment and let us know you’re out there. Share the message, our goal is to reach as many people as possible with the Word of God and you can help. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram and you can connect to all three by going to our website www.lovechristianctr.org and clicking on the outreach tab.

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Purpose to get into good trouble and make sure you vote. God bless you