When There Is Public Unrest, Christians Must Do Their Best!

                Today as I watch how the events across my country unfold, I am appalled. These are our American people committing horrendous acts of violence and hate. It is one thing to morally decay and not be able to control our fleshly desires, it is another to fade to the point of ruthless killing. Not that any sin is held in higher regard than another, but to rather point out the level which we have fallen seems to be at an all-time high. Our government has once again shown us that they can never be our saviors from this world. We continue to beg for leader after leader knowing the next will only bring the same fate as the last (Ezekiel 7:25). How much longer will we hold on to our idols? How much longer will we wait idly by before our burning fire lighted by God himself burns to hot within us to sit and wait for another judge to save us (Lamentations 5:1-8)? Where is God in all of this and why does he allow it to happen? Why are innocent men having their lives taken at such a high rate (Zechariah 8:10)? Why are the crimes so vicious and cowardly? The answers have been here all along, but nobody would listen when things were smooth sailing. Nobody wanted to pay attention to that old preacher when he told you that it would happen. What is the “that” I speak of? It’s the topic I spoke on in our last article The End Is Sooner Than We Think. Since we have established who and where God is, the question we have to ask ourselves is where do we stand?
              
​             God hasn’t gone anywhere in this (Deuteronomy 31:6 & Psalm 23). As a matter of fact, He was standing beside the shootings as they went down. He standing beside the victims’ families as they mourn. He is standing beside all the officers involved in the many incidents all around our country. He was beside the young man who lost his life because he would not cooperate and He was even beside the young man that was shot by an officer for reaching for the wrong place at the wrong time. God is with us all as we process this from around the globe today. He is with us because we are human and inside each one of us, He placed His seed of desire to be with Him in our hearts. God doesn’t discriminate if we are white, black, Latino, badge, or no badge (Galatians 3:28 & Genesis 1:27). What He sees when looking at us is the crimson stained red blood of His sacrifice on the cross for us. He suffered for each one of us individually as well as corporately. By His stripes we are healed. By His death, the keys of death and hell were taken back. By His resurrection, we are promised eternal life if we believe and accept. Sin will be present in this world until the second coming, as will tribulation and turmoil. The reason we have suffering today is all because of man’s sin. Due to our limited understand as mankind, sometimes we do not understand the eternal effects we have on life because we each face death due to the fall of Adam. What actions we take affect not only us, but man for generations. Our sons and daughters fates get either lifted up or knocked down every time we make a decision for the good or bad. The seeds we sow are those which do not simply go away. There is constantly a threat from the enemy in the spiritual realm, which is the reason our actions tend to affect this world long term. Our words and actions transcend realms from this world into the next. When we speak power to the infirmities and death we empower them, just as when we speak the blessings of God we speak life in them. Our words tell the conditions of our hearts. If we stand for God, we will speak of him to those around us daily. If we proclaim the Lord boldly and confidently, when turmoil arises others will trust us for guidance who are not even believers. The true question is, are you confident enough in your faith to no worry about the turmoil around us? If you are not guided by the light of Christ today God knocks on your heart. All you have to do is answer, pick up your cross, and follow him.
             
              Many of my family members, coworkers, and friends are really concerned with the direction of the world at the moment; but few are taking action. When these events are unfolding in the eyes of those all around us, God is preparing His church for a harvest. The big question is, are we prepared to handle such a harvest? As more events unfold, so will those prodigal children who have been without God for so long turn back. There are also those who will reject God because of the world’s present state, but we must not allow them to prevent the harvest of what comes today. The best way to do this is to simply share our faith and live as the scripture teaches. The light that you shine today just might spark the fire that could change this world for the better. The title of our message says it best. When there is unrest, we must always do our best as fellow believers to bring in the broken hearted. We should have a heart for the lost, a penny for the poor, rags to wipe for the weeping, and a hand for the fallen. We are not above our world if we serve Christ, but rather in it. This place may not be our home, but would you satisfy yourself by settling down in a jail cell? No. You would certainly not. Most newcomers to prison fight sleep day and night, and process thoughts of how they can find themselves quickly on the other side as possible. You know that cell may be where you sleep for a moment, but you also know you can be called at any time to be checked out if you could just find the right answer or lawyer. Today my friends, if you call Christ your saviour you may not have shackles around your legs holding you prisoner to sin anymore; however you are currently serving a sentence in this place of service to God who is not of this world. Your service needs to be on this earth, but your mind needs to be on heavenly things. This may prove difficult, but “with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) Like a special forces unit sent in to rescue their fellow brothers and sisters in arms, we are called to get in and give the Gospel to the lost. We are in the Army of the Lord and we have been drafted. Will you run or will you fight for the outcome of Jesus: Love, peace, justice, honor, humbleness, and righteousness.? There is a lesson in this for all of us, but do our ears hear? Let us begin to speak boldly, and remind men that we are all a fallen creature (Psalm 32). Life or death, we all will be judged in the end. Instead of jumping to conclusions as the media would like us to, let us "lean not on our own understanding" and look for God's will to be done during tragic situations. Be slow to react to attempts at our emotions by the powers of darkness and allow God to shine the light of truth in every situation. God Bless and Shalom!



Ezekiel 7:21-25 (KJV)
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
22 My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
23 Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24 Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
 
Zechariah 8:10 (KJV)
10 For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
 
Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
 
Psalm 23 (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
 
Galatians 3:28 (KJV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus
 
Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
 
Lamentations 5:1-8 (KJV)
5 Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.
2 Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
3 We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.
4 We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.
5 Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.
6 We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.
7 Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.
8 Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand
 
Matthew 19:26 (KJV)
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
 
Psalm 32 (ESV)
32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
   whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
   and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
   through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
   my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
   and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
   and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
   offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
   they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
   you preserve me from trouble;
   you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
   I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
   which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
   or it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
   but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
   and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!