Post Election Thoughts
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Tonight, we are going to depart from the book of Ecclesiastes...
Last night, for just a brief few minutes I allowed myself to view some of the election results. There were a few times through the night that I woke up and my thoughts would be, “I wonder who won.” I was tempted, at those times, to roll out of bed and check my phone for any news. I didn’t do that, however. Instead, I allowed my mind to think about Isaiah 26:3,4.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: For in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
As we woke up this morning, the election, literally was out of our hands and out of our control. (It was never “in our control,” but I think everyone understands what I mean.) But it is not out of the control of God.
The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. - Benjamin Franklin
I believe that God has the allowed the election to come to this so that, at the very least, we as Christian would realize that we must trust the Lord!
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.
At a time like this we can do one of two things: We can either worry or pray.
Why worry, when you can pray, trust in Jesus, He knows the way. Don’t be a doubting Thomas, just lean upon His promise, why worry, worry, worry, worry when you can pray!
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The question then is...
How Should We Pray?
How Should We Pray?
What I am going to share with you this evening is not original with me; neither will these things be new to you. They are truths that we simply need to be reminded of and truths that we should allow to guide our prayers in just a few minutes and to direct our lives as go from day to day. (These aren’t necessarily in any specific order.)
Pray for Your Enemies
Pray for Your Enemies
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Yes, there are those within our country who are the enemies of Christianity. There are individuals who, through political platforms, are seeking to implement policies in our country that are un-Biblical and anti-Christian. As such, they are our enemies. And yet, as such, we are not to hate them or become angry or combative with them. We are to love them, bless them, do good to them, and to pray for them.
Repent
Repent
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
While it is easy to point our fingers at others, we need to consider our own hearts.
Have we loved God with all our hearts?
Have we loved our neighbors as ourselves? Have we loved our families as we should? Have we loved our church family the way we should have?
Have we been completely and wholly obedient to God and His Word?
Turn to and read Psalm 51:1-12.
As we bow before God this evening, we must do so humbly and we must ask God to wash us thoroughly from our iniquity and to cleanse us from sin!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Pray for Evil to be Exposed
Pray for Evil to be Exposed
When I was a student at Pensacola Christian College I had the opportunity, for a time, to be a floor leader. A floor leader was one of two individuals on each hall who were responsible to make sure that the students on that hall abided by the student handbook.
I recall, during one meeting we had at the beginning of the semester, that Dr. Horton said, “Pray that, if someone on your hall is doing something wrong, that they would get caught.”
In the Lord’s prayer, Christ said...
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
In the book of Joshua, Achan’s sin was exposed.
In the book of Esther, Haman’s wicked plot to destroy the Jews was exposed in an unlikely way.
In the book of Acts, Annanias and Saphira’s sin was exposed.
We should pray that, if there are people - on either side of the aisle, Democrat or Republican - who have evil intentions during this post-election process, that their wickedness would be brought to light and exposed.
Pray to Love Your Neighbor
Pray to Love Your Neighbor
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
I like what this writer said:
We have just seen an election with the largest turnout in nearly a century. That election is obviously very close. The nation is clearly deeply divided, between states, regions, even neighborhoods. Many of those close to us believe deeply in very different things. We all need to learn to love our neighbors, and we can and should ask God to help us all do so.
Pray for the Truth to Win
Pray for the Truth to Win
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The only way that our country will heal is through the truth. As we pray for the truth to win let’s also pray that we, as Christians, will be bold, yet loving, in our declaration of the truth.
As we pray...
What Can We do While We Wait?
What Can We do While We Wait?
Do Your Duty
Do Your Duty
We each have responsibilities that, come tomorrow morning, we need to faithfully fulfil:
Responsibilities to our Lord and Savior
Responsibilities to our husband or wife,
Responsibilities to our children or to our parents,
Responsibilities to our employer or employees,
Responsibilities to our church family
Let’s seek to fulfil those responsibilities faithfully!
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Love Your Neighbor
Love Your Neighbor
Put your prayers into action. Look for opportunities to serve others.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Greet others with a smile.
Speak to others with respect. Use their name when possible. Say “Please” and “Thank You.” Say “Yes, Ma’am and No, Ma’am,” “Yes, Sir and No, Sir.”
Hold the door open for someone.
Offer to help someone. (Illustration: Helped Fed Ex driver take heavy package off of truck.)
Check in on an elderly person. Check in on someone who is sick or under the weather.
Make a meal or some cookies for someone else.
Loving your neighbor does not have to be expensive or take much time. As they say, “It’s the little things that count.”
Don’t Let the Media Get Into Your Head
Don’t Let the Media Get Into Your Head
I like how this writer put it...
A lot of crazy things may be said in the coming weeks. A lot of true things that may sound crazy may be said. A huge majority of Americans believes the media lies to them, and it is true. So stop listening to them. Don’t waste time refreshing Twitter constantly, or keeping the news on all day marinating your head in conjecture, lies, and hysteria.
Instead, let God’s Word get into your head!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: For in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Prayer Requests
Prayer Requests
Hi :) would you mind putting Rachel Amodio and family on the prayer list? in the loss of her grandmother and for salvation— I watch their little girl in the mornings. MacKenzie
Praise - MacKenzie Hale through her surgery successfully. Pray for her complete recovery.
Beverly King - Hospital
Dave Depew - Pastor Campbell’s cousin needing kidney and liver transplant