Sermon
Lanier Christian Church
September 11, 2016 (Also Hamilton Mill Christian Men’s Breakfast – 9/10/16)
David Simpson – Sermon Series: Signs of Life - #3
Signs of Life: I will not Yield
Isaiah 42:8
Fifteen years ago today, on a Tuesday, America was shaken to its core. The tragic events of September 11th will live forever in the memories of those of us who remember that terrible day. Over 6,000 people were injured that day and 2,996 people lost their lives – passengers on planes, workers in builders, first responders who rushed to the scenes of tragedy. It was the worst tragedy in our nation’s history.
For the first time ever, fifteen years ago, I opened the doors of the church for prayer on a Tuesday. For the first time ever, we devoted our entire Wednesday Bible study to prayer for our nation. For the first time ever, I led a prayer the following Thursday for those who were present where I get my hair cut. For the first time ever, the principal at Gainesville Middle School called on my wife to lead the teachers and faculty in prayer that terrible day and for several days after. For the first time ever, our church attendance surged like no other time as people sought comfort. For the first time ever, I prayed for our nation’s leaders and first responders and military for weeks on end. For the first time ever I was scared for my children and the world they would live in.
Thankfully, fifteen years ago we knew WHO to turn to. We turned to Almighty God and the strength and courage that is found in Him. Fifteen years ago we found comfort in verses like Psalm 18:1-3
“I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
And I have been saved from my enemies.”
And yet, today, fifteen years later, and after thousands of lives have been lost in the fight against terrorism, the battle continues. Who would have ever thought that we would live in such perilous times?
Therefore, the prayers must continue, and we must never waver in standing for the righteous truth that our faith is built upon, and we must always live boldly for our God.
This is the third sermon on my sermon series about signs of life…signs we see along the highway that can imply spiritual truth. I pass yield signs every day as I travel down the highway. You do too. This yield sign (PHOTO) is just up the road from the church, almost within sight of our driveway. Good drivers know to yield to oncoming traffic. It is a basic rule of the highway.
But there are times over these 15 years, when we have yielded as believers, and we should not have done so. Instead we should have spiritually obeyed the road sign that says: “Keep Moving.” (PHOTO) Keep moving forward in your faith. Instead we have often yielded in the years since September 11, 2001. For instance….
We have often yielded our prayer life.
When is the last time you prayed…sincerely prayed…for our Country, Our President, Our Military, Our First Responders? Is it on a daily basis like it was fifteen years ago? But, lest I accuse others of yielding, I must start with myself.
Have I prayed with the same fervor I did the days after the 9/ll tragedies? Do I seek the Lord’s blessing for our government and military? Do I seek the Lord’s protection over our first responders be they EMTs, Police or Firefighters? Do I pray that the Lord would increase our strength and courage as we fight evil? Do I pray that the Lord would increase my faith against the evil threat of terrorism?
I prepared this sermon after our bulletin was printed. I want you to compare our prayers today to what they were 15 years ago. (PHOTO) “Pray for our President, Leaders, Military, Rescue Personnel and the World.” None of those are listed in our prayer bulletin today.
Today, I must choose not to yield. Can I honestly say?.... I will not yield my prayer life. I will not allow apathy or despair to rob me of a prayer life that seeks the Lord above all and prays specifically for the many needs around me. I must not be complacent in my prayer life. Yes, I must yield my life to the Lord and HIS will, but I must not yield the life giving connection I have with the Almighty through prayer.
I want to be more like the apostle Paul when he wrote to the Colossian church:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you... - Colossians 1:9
So, on this 9/11 anniversary, Do not yield…do not stop praying.
We have often yielded our loyalty.
We had a patriotic fervor fifteen years ago that united us as a nation… all colors, all languages, all economic levels, even most nations – we were united. Today we have football players who will not stand for the National Anthem. Today, our nation seems to be extremely divided over numerous issues unlike the unity we experienced fifteen years ago. Today our world seems to be so divided. We have yielded our passionate embrace of unity for issues that divide.
But, it has not just been our nation that has lost it’s loyalty, but the church, as well. Our highest attendances as a church were in the years immediately following 9/11. There seemed to be a unity, a vigor, a passion to serve the Lord like I’ve never seen. In fact our lower parking lot was constructed during this time, because we no longer had room around our building for parking. Fifteen years later, there are still plenty of seats available each Sunday. Our parking lot is not crowded. Thankfully we saw a new record attendance last Easter of over 300 people, but our weekly attendance falls far short of that. Many do not see the need to be loyal to church anymore.
Eugene Peterson – the one who wrote the paraphrase of the Bible called The Message said that today: “People learn to shop for churches; there is no loyalty to the church. They’re consumers being attracted to one product or another. I think it’s sacrilege, to tell you the truth, it really is.”
My friend, the church doesn’t need shoppers, we need loyal servants. Our passionate desire to worship God and serve Him seems to be missing in many a Christian’s life all over our country. Many are not as loyal as they once were to the Lord’s church. Too many have allowed excuses to crowd out commitment, when fifteen years ago the tragedy of 9/11 caused commitment to the Lord to rise above any excuses. Perhaps all of us would do well to pray as did David of Psalm 51:12… “Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”
So, I must choose. I will not yield in my desire to unify with other believers and work for the cause of Christ. I will not yield in my commitment to worship and serve my Lord who gave all for me. I will not yield my passionate desire to follow the Lord every day. I will not yield in my loyalty to the church.
So on this 9/11 anniversary…Do not yield…Do not yield in offering your complete loyalty to God, as well as our commitment to make this a better nation.
We have often yielded our faith and dependence on God.
Members of congress sang God bless America on the late afternoon of September 11th, 2001. They have sung it again on certain anniversaries of September 11th since. But today we have a divided congress and little talk of dependence on God from our government officials.
Sadly, the church is no different. For many Christians, their faith and loyalty and dependence on God has waned since 9/11 fifteen years ago. You and I can name many whose commitment is no longer obvious to the Lord’s church, whose faith appears weak. Many churches and cathedrals are no longer filled to capacity with people seeking Almighty God.
George Barna the researcher of all things church related found: “…the intense surge in religious activity and expression in the weeks immediately following 9/11 has led to no significant or lasting result.” He went on to write: “Few congregations led people to a serious and prolonged period of self-reflection and personal change.” (internetmonk.com – Sept. 5, 2011 – “How did 9/11 affect Christian faith in the U.S.?)
This should not be! We must choose. I will not yield on my faith. I will not yield on my dependence on God. I will not yield in my desire to seek Him every day of my life. We must choose to not yield to doubt and lack of dependence on God. Faith is the victory. John wrote in 1 John 5:4 – “…this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
Billy Graham spoke at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on Friday, September 14th, 2001. In his sermon he said:
Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost. But now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation; or to choose to become stronger through all of this struggle, to rebuild on a solid foundation.
And I believe that we are starting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God. And in that faith, we have the strength to endure something as difficult and as horrendous as what we have experienced this week...
I agree with Billy Graham. Our foundation IS our trust in God. Are we still building on that solid foundation? We have a choice. Almighty God has set the ultimate example. He yields to no one.
Isaiah 42:8 (NIV)
I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
I will not yield, says Almighty God. As His children, may we never ever yield on offering our constant prayers before God. May we never yield on offering our loyalty to God. And, may we never yield on our faith in God. On this somber anniversary, may we commit anew to building on the foundation of our faith, so that we never suffer from apathy, hesitancy or disloyalty to the one who loves us most and the one that holds our nation together. May His glory never be yielded in my life, his church, or this nation.
PRAYER
By David Simpson
