Sunday February 3, 2021 PM

Current Events, Human Sin, and the Church’s Unstoppable Gospel

Hey, hey, hey, what's with all the noise? What smell?

Stench.

Super stench.

Oh, that's the other thing I got to have him look at. I'm going to call him tomorrow because we've got problems out in the gym, we've got problems.

In the

It's like, we want to it's here, and when you go around that corner, it's right at that corner.

Yeah, I need to have that figured out. Well in light of our current events, current events, the Bible is clear. When we see disorder in vile practices, then we can be confident that sin is at work regardless of anyone's claim to know or represent God's will.

When we see traits like purity, and gentleness, and reasonableness, and mercy, then we can be confident that God is at work even through imperfect beings. That's what's happening. But it's not just been this last month, it's not been this last year.

It's been since Adam. It's been throughout the human history. We're going to start with a word of prayer, and then we're going to sing number 380. Just a closer walk with thee. Heavenly Father, we thank you that we are able to gather.

We're able to gather here. We're able to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We're able to find comfort in the confidence that we can share each other's burdens. We can be of one heart, one mind, one soul in Christ.

So this evening Lord, we just ask that you would bind us together, and keep us close.

To you.

May we find all we need in your presence. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. Just a closer walk with thee. We'll sing all three verses, and the chorus, refrains. But thou art strong. Jesus, keep me from all wrong.

As long as I walk, let me walk with thee. Jesus is my plea. Just have a lot to say, don't they?

Amen.

Gamaliel’s Counsel and the Church’s Freedom in Christ

I'm going to read a couple of articles, portions of a couple of articles to you. One is from Decision Magazine. The title of this article is, An Unstoppable Church in an Unstable World. And this gentleman who wrote, his name is Robert Morgan.

He's a long time pastor. He says, As I ponder the state of America and the condition of the world, I've found comfort in a handful of words spoken 2 ,000 years ago by a non-Christian. His name was, is it Gamaliel?

Gamaliel. A leading Jewish rabbi in the New Testament days. He witnessed the ministry of Jesus and was aware of the reports of our resurrection. He watched as thousands of people began turning to Jesus.

He was in the ruling council when the Jewish leaders asked their iconic question about the 12 disciples in Acts 16. What are we going to do with these men? That's still the question, isn't it? What in the world can the world do with these Christians?

The critics simply don't know what to do with us. To paraphrase famed preacher Vance Havner's words in a sermon I heard him preach a few years ago, they can't take away our wealth because it's stored up in heaven.

They can't take away our freedom because we're free in Christ. They can't take away our happiness because our joy is within us. They can't defeat us because we're more than conquerors. They can't silence us because the word of God cannot be chained.

They can't kill us because we have eternal life. What can we do with people like that? Gamaliel answered the question saying, I advise you leave these men alone. Let them go for if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You will only find yourself fighting against God. He was right. We need to, in this day and age, in this current events, remember we have an unstoppable, unassailable gospel.

And we are part of it. We are not to live in fear. We're not to live in anxiety and worry and upset and anger and stress and disappointment and disillusionment. We have so much to be thankful for. We are His.

And He is the victor both days past, days present, and days eternal forward. I have to be reminded of that. I was on MSN today, which you know is not conservative. And I read something that just, I just, I banged on my desk.

And then I realized, this is fleeting. These men who think they're so smart, they will pass. And they'll face judgment. Eternal judgment. And then I remember those who are living in third world countries where their persecution is much more real and much more tangible and much more close than ours.

And their faith is strong. I want my faith that way. Also, a portion of another one, this is Christian healthcare newsletter from Samaritan Ministries. In Act 17, there's a sermon on Mars Hill. We are called the fifth to live for Christ during such a time as this, not shrinking back.

It is no accident that we're living in this time. And we're experiencing these things. The calming voices of reason and reconciliation are being drowned out by shouting and screaming and protest. Let it be that way.

We don't mind. And I'm going to read you this one last short section before we take prayer requests. The gospel calls us to transfer our hope from the temporary to the eternal. From the created things in human institutions to the, and when I read this, I went, ah, to the uncreated God.

We are to transfer our hope to the uncreated God and his divine kingdom. First Peter 1 13 commands us to set our hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. When I first read that, I, I kind of glad I just went by it.

Uncreated God.

Hmm.

Nobody I know created God. He, he is the alpha and omega. The beginning and the end. He was and is and will be.

He's, we are the creation.

Isn't that wonderful? I mean, that's just the way it should be. So again, the Bible is clear. When we see disorder and vile practices, then we can be confident that sin is at work. Regardless of anyone's claim to know or represent God's will.

But when we see traits like purity and gentleness and reasonableness and mercy, then we can be confident that God is at work. Even through us. Imperfect sinners. So amen to that. Any thoughts or comments?

Prayer Requests and Physical Relief

I want you to notice that, that Mrs. DeForce is back with Among the Living and here tonight in tag. Amen to that. And I know we have a good report about your not needing surgery on the shoulders, but maybe something more minor on the neck.

Okay.

Because it's what's causing the pain in the shoulders. None of you out here have ever experienced that, right? Got something out back there and it shows up somewhere else. Any prayer, what are your prayer requests tonight?

A sheath.

Well, it used to be. And you'll know it.

No.

Stop hurting. So amen for chiropractors and physicians. And we appreciate them. We are an amazing creation. That way we can do. Well, how's this go, honey? Ears, nose, shoulders, knees and toes. I want to see you all stand up and do that.

Well, we'll pray for Paula and then she gets some relief. Who else do we need to pray for?