Subject: Now What?
by Rick Welborne
2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (NKJV)
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
--As I prepare this sermon we are still a few days away from the elections and the results…what do we do if our person wins and what do we do if our person loses?
1. Pray for the person who has been chosen whether you like them or not or whether you voted for them or not.
A. We pray for them and support them as our governing authorities.
Romans 13:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
--Sometimes we do not get what we want…we get what we deserve…If we do not pray earnestly and we live in a compromising way, God will turn us over to our enemies.
--We pray for them and submit to them unless it contradicts what God has commanded and instructed us in His Word. As an example look at what the disciples said when they were forbidden to speak in Jesus Name.
Acts 4:17-20 (NLT)
17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
--There comes a time when we must do what God wants us to do whether man approves or not. We should fear God a whole lot more than man.
Matthew 10:28 (NIV)
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
B. We pray for them even if they are anti-Christian.
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
--Sometimes I think we forget the environment that Jesus and the disciples lived in constantly…we think we have it bad when we are called names or not allowed to have a manger scene.
--We think we know what persecution is, but in comparison, we actually have no glue. We feel the pressure of giving up a few rights…they felt the pressure of giving up their lives.
--Jesus and all the disciples, except for John, died a martyr’s death. Thank the Lord we have not yet come to that place, even though Christians in the middle east have, yet we pray for those who persecute us.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
C. We pray because whoever wins, our nation and families will be deeply divided.
Matthew 12:25-30 (NIV)
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
--Democrats, Republicans, Independents are people, and people are souls, who need to be saved by the Lord.
--I wish some of us would be as zealous for Christ as we are for our political views…no political party ever died for you on a cross or wrote your name in the Book of Life!
--This portion of scripture concerns me for America because every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined and every city or family divided against itself will not stand.
--Jesus came to unite us…He wants all of us to be with Him…wants everyone to be saved!
2 Peter 3:9-12 (NKJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
--We pray because, as people get saved, families will be divided…at least, temporarily.
Luke 12:51-53 (NKJV)
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.
52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.
52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
--I know this kind of division…as long as I lived like a hellion at my house…things were acceptable. My dad would be angry in front of my mom but privately would encourage me to sin.
--I was 17 when I graduated from high school and that night my dad gave me a fifth of Jack Daniels Whisky to take with me on my date.
--When I would leave the house to go out on the town, my dad would pull me aside and encourage me to find a girl to mess around with.
--When Jesus came into my life and dramatically saved me our house became divided overnight. When I told him I gave my heart to Jesus Christ…he knocked me flat of my back.
--Don’t ever talk about Jesus or salvation in our home again…of course I continued to break that rule.
--One of the ways I knew I had been born again, and had become a brand new creation, was because for the first time in a long time, I truly cared about my dad…I loved him and wanted him saved.
--Before that I would imagine ways of getting rid of him because of his abuse of my mother and siblings.
--He would spit on me (which I hate), he would slap me in the face, and he would kick me in the stomach while he was sitting whenever I would mention Jesus.
--Sometimes through the tears I would tell him that I was going to love him into the Kingdom of God…our house was divided.
--God calls me into the ministry and, eventually, I quit my job at the paper mill (which he was so angry about) and go off to Bible College…He was hitting me with his fist as I was backing out of the driveway.
--Needless to say, receiving Christ into my life brought division into our home but division was needed for my parents to see the difference Christ could make in a person’s life.
--I go to Bible College, I go with a heavy heart knowing my parents are unsaved, and I go giving my parents to the Lord…by the way…He is the Savior, not us.
--Three months later I run into a friend at school who is from my hometown and he tells me he saw my father the previous weekend. He gave him a message to give to me…Tell Ricky I am praying for him! What?
--I call and my dad gives the testimony of how he and mom went to church and gave their hearts to Jesus Christ…I went home the next weekend…dad shares with the whole family…Rick, your influence…Wow!
2. Realize that God can do with this person in authority what He wishes.
Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV)
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
--Wait a minute, Pastor, are you saying God can use someone who is so contrary to everything we believe and stand for.
--This is probably something we do not want to hear but history bears it out…the church grows more when it is under persecution than it does in times of comfort.
Quote: Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.
--It appears that the newly birthed church in Acts was getting comfortable with growth and being in Jerusalem. God had to send persecution to scatter them to the ends of the earth. Death of Stephen:
Acts 8:1 (NKJV)
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
--Both people running for office need to have an encounter with the living God…imagine a truly born again leader in the White House!
3. Ultimately, we must realize that God the Father, God the Son, and God Holy Spirit are in control of this old world and us!
--Notice the phrase…Like you!
Exodus 15:9-11 (NKJV)
9 The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'
10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
9 The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'
10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
2 Samuel 7:22 (NKJV)
22 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
22 Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
1 Kings 8:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
23 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;
23 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
1 Chronicles 17:20 (NKJV)
20 O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
20 O LORD, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
2 Chronicles 6:14 (NKJV)
14 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
14 and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
Psalm 86:7-10 (NKJV)
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.
9 All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.
7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.
9 All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.
Psalm 89:6-8 (NKJV)
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
8 O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
8 O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.
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