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A United Church in a Divided America

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A United Church in a Divided America

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A United Church in a Divided America

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After a very contentious campaign President Trump was inaugurated and has started to do his work as President. But he faces a daunting task made harder and more difficult by a very divided America. What can WE learn from this that applies to our private lives and even, corporately, to the Church?

Sermon Notes

A partial set of notes and Scriptures used: 

Would we fight for or against the New President and his policy choices?
Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But for now my kingdom is not from here." 
This is NOT our fight, it is not God's Kingdom.
What should the tenor and tone of our conversations be at work, in our families, here and among friends?

HOW should we express our views and feel about those who oppose such policies... 

What are the BIBLICAL Principles that apply and we should be focusing on?
1 - WE are pilgrims on this Earth and our citizenship is in Heaven
2- We look to GOD as our King and guide.
3 -  We esteem others better than ourselves and keep our views in perspective.

1 - WE are pilgrims on this Earth and our citizenship is in Heaven
Pilgrimage sites...  
Heb 11:13  All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth. 
(Heb 11:14)  For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.
(Heb 11:15)  If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back.
PILMIGRAGE.... defined.
(Heb 11:38)  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
(Heb 11:39)  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
(Heb 11:40)  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
We are on a journey with a very special DESTINATION in mind. We have to build our lives... 
I am continually sobered by the number of people who abandoned this Journey.
(Mat 7:13)  "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
(Mat 7:13)  "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
(Mat 7:14)  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Joh 17:15  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 
Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 
Joh 17:17  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 
Joh 17:18  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 
Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 

Christ NOT sent to overthrow the corruption of Rome or the Jewish leadership... 
We are not sent to embrace human ideologies... but to be sanctified by HIS WORD, to LIVE by it, to LIVE IT and be Transformed by IT.

George Washington ... farewell adress... aliances
Jefferson inaugural address... entanglements.

(Php 3:20)  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Php 3:21)  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
2 - We look to GOD as our King and guide.

(Joh 16:5)  "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'  "Quo Vadis Domine"??

Joh 13:36  Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." 
Joh 13:37  Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." 
Joh 13:38  Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. 

Peter was not actually and really prepared at THAT time to truly follow... 
Paul: Imitate me as .. 

Eph 5:15  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 
Eph 5:16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 
Eph 5:17  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

Do you understand what the will of the LORD IS FOR YOUR LIFE?  Maybe there is a difference between your will and HIS?? 
Philips translation
LIVE LIFE knowing that YOU have purpose and your life has meaning... therefore SEEK His Will for you personally so you can live by it.

(1Sa 8:1)  Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.
(1Sa 8:2)  The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
(1Sa 8:3)  But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
(1Sa 8:4)  Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
(1Sa 8:5)  and said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."

(1Sa 8:6)  But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
(1Sa 8:7)  And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
(1Sa 8:8)  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
(1Sa 8:9)  Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."
(1Sa 8:10)  So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.
(1Sa 8:11)  And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.
(1Sa 8:12)  He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
(1Sa 8:13)  He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
(1Sa 8:14)  And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.
(1Sa 8:15)  He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants.
(1Sa 8:16)  And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
(1Sa 8:17)  He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.
(1Sa 8:18)  And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day."

Where are the great wealth centers, the wealthiest live??
Washington DC !!! Fits the warning GOD gave Israel.

(1Sa 8:19)  Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us,
(1Sa 8:20)  that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
OUR KING will "solve" our problems, he will take care of us !!! mmmm Just like TODAY!!

I must solve my problems... Executive orders will NOT solve MY problems though we hope he will solve at least some of the nation's problems.

Some campaing problems will NOT be executed... 

3 -  We esteem others better than ourselves and keep our views in perspective.

(Php 2:1)  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
(Php 2:2)  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
IF one member of God's Church things Pres. Trump will be good and another that he will be bad... how can we be of ONE mind?

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 
Php 4:9  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 
THESE are the more important matters worthy of our study, meditation and discussion. IF we can agree on the BIG THINGS we can be of like minds.

HOW about focusing things ABOVE and not things below... THE IMPORTANT MATTERS.

DOES this FB post rise to the level of knowing Christ Crucified and ALL IT IMPLIES??

PROV.  "A soft answer turns away wrath"

(Pro 14:15)  The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.
(2Co 5:17)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
(2Co 5:18)  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
(2Co 5:19)  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
(2Co 5:20)  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
(2Co 5:21)  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

KEEP THESE issues in perspective. Focus on the IMPORTANT THINGS.

(Eph 4:1)  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
(Eph 4:2)  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
(Eph 4:3)  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Eph 4:4)  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
(Eph 4:5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
(Eph 4:6)  one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
(Eph 4:7)  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

MUST Learn to listen to and respect the lesser matter opinions and keep the ABOVE perspective.

LET US USE THIS TIME and OPPORTUNITY WISELY.
 

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