### ** Introduction**
Video Ill.: Pray and Trust — Freebridge Media
(Transcript of video:
Sometimes it’s difficult to see God in America.
The principles on which we were founded
Are no longer the principles by which we live.
We have slowly forgotten
Where our freedom came from.
We have abandoned our first love
And turned our backs on our faith.
As election day approaches
Many of us are filled with indecision.
How do we make a choice
When we can’t see the hand of God?
The truth is
There are times when we simply need to pray
And trust in God
Because even in the chaos
He is sovereign,
He is Holy,
He is Faithful,
And He is Lord.
It’s time to Pray and Trust.)
This morning, we are just a couple of days away from one of the great things that makes our country truly special: our national election day.
https://www.rd.com/list/political-jokes/
To break some of the tension around politics in our country today, Reader’s Digest shared some comedic political relief:
A politician running for office once said to his friend, “My poll numbers are dropping. Do you think I should put more fire into my speeches?” To which his friend replied, “Actually, I think you should put more of your speeches into the fire!”
Someone once asked, “What’s the most unfair thing about American politics?” To which someone answered, “We get 50 choices for Miss America, but only two for the president of America.”
Do you know what the difference is between Thanksgiving Day and Election Day? On Thanksgiving, you get a turkey for a day, but on Election Day, you get a turkey for four years.
I read that the only accurate statistic on Election Day is this: 100% of Americans think 50% of Americans have lost their minds.
In all seriousness, all across our country, as we await the outcome of the ballot boxes, there are many emotions and feelings. Many are anxious, nervous, and uncertain about lies ahead.
But as we have studied over the past few weeks, no matter what happens, God is still in control. God’s kingdom is eternal and unshakable.
No matter what happens, we as the church still need to strive to stand unified. Our unity is not found in this world. Our unity is based on our shared identity in Jesus — we are all sinners saved by an amazing grace.
No matter what happens, we should be humble, unlike many in the political realm today. Humility dismantles pride and invites healing in our world.
No matter what happens, we must choose kindness and compassion. By choosing kindness in our speech and service, we demonstrate the love of Christ to a world desperately in need of hope.
No matter what happens, we, as the church, should live lives full of charity and generosity, which can transform lives, communities, and our world.
This morning, I want to share with you four things that we can do on Tuesday to live out our faith beyond the ballot box. Our hope is in God’s sovereignty and unchanging purpose.
### **I. As we prepare for election day, we need to pray. **
In A Speech Made In 1863, Abraham Lincoln Said, ...
By Jeff Simms
Copied from Sermon Central
In a speech made in 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."
There is one absolute remedy to worry and fretting over uncertain times — prayer: putting our worries and concerns in God’s hands.
Paul said it this way in Philippians 4:
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4, NLT)
**Key Idea**: Prayer invites God into our hearts, bringing peace in uncertainty and aligning us with His will.
It Depends Whose Hands It's In
By Jeffrey Sturdivant
Copied from Sermon Central
It all depends on in whose hands we place our concerns. A poet one time captured this idea:
A basketball in my hands is worth about
$19
A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is
worth about $33 million
It depends whose hands it’s in
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6
A baseball in Mark McGuire’s hands is
worth $19 million
It depends whose hands it’s in
A tennis racket is useless in my hands
A tennis racket in Pete Sampras’ hands is a
Wimbledon Championship
It depends whose hands it’s in
A rod in my hands will keep away a wild
animal
A rod in Moses’ hands will part the mighty
sea
It depends whose hands it’s in
A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy
A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty
weapon.
It depends whose hands it’s in
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands
is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s
hands will feed thousands
It depends whose hands it’s in
Nails in my hands might produce a
birdhouse
Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce
salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it’s in
As you see now it depends whose hands
it’s in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your
fears,
your hopes, your dreams, your families and
your relationships in God’s hands because
It depends whose hands it’s in.
From Chat GPT
During World War II, on May 24, 1940, Allied troops were cornered at Dunkirk, France, by advancing German forces. As a response, King George VI of the United Kingdom called for a National Day of Prayer. Churches were filled across Britain as people sought divine intervention. Miraculously, weather changes and strategic miscalculations by the Germans allowed over 338,000 troops to be evacuated from Dunkirk, across the English Channel to Britain, safely over nine days.
This event, often termed the "Miracle of Dunkirk," is just one example of the power of collective prayer in providing peace, hope, and clarity during crisis.
This morning, as the election looms ahead of us, we need to pray. Pray for guidance. Pray for peace. Pray for protection. Pray for unity. Pray for humility. Just to name a few things that ought to be on our lips.
When we give our concerns and cares to God, He will protect our hearts and minds. He will guide our lives. He will bring peace into our souls and situations, calming the storms within us and around us. This peace surpasses understanding, anchoring us firmly even when circumstances are uncertain or overwhelming.
If you are worried, anxious, or feeling uncertain about the future, put your whole trust and faith in Jesus, giving over each and every concern through prayer. May Tuesday not only be election day but a national day of prayer for us as well.
### **II. We need to trust God. **
The Psalmist said in Psalm 46:
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!? I will be honored by every nation.? I will be honored throughout the world.”
(Psalm 46, NLT)
**Key Idea**: Trusting God means surrendering our fears and believing He is sovereign even when we cannot see the full picture.
Consider the story of Daniel from the Old Testament.
As a young man, Daniel was taken captive and brought to Babylon, a foreign land with very different beliefs and practices. Even the food was different. Despite the pressure to conform to Babylonian customs, Daniel remained steadfast in his faith in God.
Daniel didn’t eat the Babylonian meat and food. Instead, he, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all ate vegetables. And, God blessed them. As a matter of fact, they were promoted to working in the palace for the king because of their integrity and strength!
Many times God blessed Daniel with the ability to interpret the dreams of the kings.
Many times God was honored by the life that Daniel lived.
Daniel still put his faith in God, even when faced with the threat of death in the lion’s den because he continued to practice his faith. Three times a day, Daniel would open his window facing Jerusalem, and would pray to God. King Darius had issued a law that made it illegal to pray to anyone except the king.
So Daniel was thrown into the den with the lions.
Through his unwavering trust and prayer, God not only protected him but also used Daniel’s faithfulness to reveal His power to the rulers of Babylon.
Even during turbulent times, prayer and trust in God provide peace, clarity, and divine intervention.
This morning, do we trust God that much? When things get tough, do we run, or stand firm in our faith like Daniel? Do we truly put our faith and trust in God?
On Tuesday, as we pray, we need to place our trust in God.
### **III. We Need to Vote. **
https://www.christianpost.com/news/over-32m-christian-churchgoers-likely-wont-vote-in-2024-study.html
More than 100M people of faith could sit out 2024 election: study
Leonardo Blair
October 10, 2024
The study: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CRC-Release-Pre-Election-1-Oct-12-2024-Final.pdf
Dr. George Barna, a longtime evangelical pollster, estimates that over 104 million people of faith, including 32 million “self-identified” Christians who consistently attend church at least once a month, will not cast a ballot during this election cycle.
The most common reason for not voting: two-thirds simply had a lack of interest in politics and the election. Over half (57%) of the respondents in the study said they dislike all the major candidates, while 55% felt none of the candidates reflect their most important views.
At least half of all respondents also felt like their one vote wouldn't make a difference and have grown weary of the controversial nature of the voting process now.
Barna argued, "It's not only voting for the next president, but also determining who will hold many other federal, state and local offices, and what will happen with numerous referenda."
He added, "In a society where a huge majority of people want their lives to make a difference, and millions of Americans lament the lack of options for making their life count, what a sterling opportunity November 5 represents.”
Barna uses this data to speak directly to ministers and pastors:
"The 32 million Christians sitting in the pews each week who refuse to vote are a gamechanger. It's low hanging fruit for pastors as they try to motivate those congregants to carry out their civic duty and honor God through their influence for things that matter in our culture.”
This is why I have felt it important for us to talk about the election.
Half of Christians feel that their vote will not matter. That is a view held by many Americans.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-power-of-one-vote/
Can one vote cannot really make a difference? After all, more than 158 million people voted in the 2020 presidential election. In the face of such astronomical numbers, it may not feel that a single vote matters; but the truth is it does. Center for American Progress’ analysis of election data for U.S. Senate elections from 1976 to January 5, 2021, U.S. House elections from 1976 to 2022, and state office-level returns in 2016 compiled by the MIT Election Lab reveals that while large margins decide many elections, key elections often come down to just a handful of votes:
From 1976 to January 5, 2021, more than 85 U.S. Senate elections were decided by less than 3 percent of all votes cast.
From 1976 to 2022, more than 410 U.S. House elections were decided by less than 3 percent of all votes cast.
In the year 2016 alone, more than 340 state office elections were decided by fewer than 500 votes; of those, more than 85 were determined by fewer than 100 votes.
Although the data analyzed for this report did not cover local elections, local elections often come down to exceptionally slim margins. For example, in November 2021, 18 local elections in Ohio—12 candidate races and six local measures—ended in a tie.
Each vote does count.
We tend to think that this is new, but even President Reagan emphasized the importance of every vote:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3iBHJhBlN00
Video Ill.: President Reagan
As followers of Christ, we are called to make an impact on this world. Jesus said it like this in Matthew 5:
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light || to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5, NLT)
One of the greatest ways we can be the salt of the earth, be the light of the world, is to get out and vote. This is probably the greatest privilege we have in our country — to elect by vote our leaders.
This morning, we all need to vote.
**Key Idea**: Voting with discernment allows us to support values that align with God’s kingdom, influencing our society for good.
Preacher LaVon Koerner wrote this poem called “Are You Barring God from Voting?”:??This may be a little-to-deep,
And it may even cause some to lose sleep.
For many, this concept may sound foreign
Many often misunderstand, how God is
Sovereign.
We envision God’s sovereignty as Him
ruling from the throne,
Doing whatever He wants to do, while to us,
it’s unknown.
Certainly, we should all know that God is
all-powerful,
But that doesn’t mean all things are
allowable.
Wrongly thinking that God will just do
whatever He wants to do,
We each have a God-given and trusted
responsibility for evil to subdue.
God can and has limited himself to our free-
moral agency,
That’s why the world is a mess because of
our complicity.
God wants to work through us for this world
to redeem.
We, God and other Christians are to work
together as a team.
God’s desire is to accomplish His work
through us,
And not ignoring or always going around
us.
Long story short, God wants to vote through
us,
As we pray what is right to expand the
kingdom of Jesus.
We are each privileged to echo the voice of
God,
That’s how we can, with God, redeem a
world that is flawed.
So, in short, for us not to vote, is preventing
God to vote.
And we would be failing, God’s will to
promote.
Our colossal failure can tie God’s hand,
Restraining His love and His will to expand.
I know this poem was a little heavy,
But not voting affects the lives of so many!
So, please give voting some serious
thought,
Enabling God’s loving will to others being
brought.
Now, this morning, I’m not going to tell you how to vote today. I believe that is everyone’s own personal decision. However, I encourage each of you of voting age, if you have not already voted, make sure to let your voice be heard on Tuesday.
Before you go into that voting booth, pray, study the candidates from the local level to the national level. Do not just listen to the words of the advertisements on TV or social media feeds. Do your own research. Find out for yourself what the candidates believe. Look at their record. Look at their history. Look at the words they say. Look at how they act.
Vote according to your conscience. Vote according to Scripture.
Someone has said that “If Christians are not engaged with politics, decisions will be made by people who think God is irrelevant and the truth of God’s word does not exist.”
Yes, it is OK to vote according to our spiritual beliefs. The rest of the country is voting based on their world view. Vote based on a scriptural and Godly world view. Exercise your American right to contribute to the future of our nation.
### **IV. We Need to Rest. **
After we have prayed, have placed our trust and faith in God, and have exercised our right to vote, we need to put it all in God’s hands, and find rest.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:
28 …“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11, NLT)
**Key Idea**: Rest is trusting God with the outcome and surrendering our anxieties to His care. True rest is found when we rely on God’s unchanging sovereignty. Give it all to God.
The truth of the matter is that once we have done all we can do, our power to change the outcome of the ballot box is limited.
We cannot control the future.
We do not have the power to change the future outside of prayer and casting our ballot.
That uncertainty can cause stress and frustration in our lives, especially if we see it taking days or weeks to give the final tallies.
But when we place our trust and hope in God, we will find rest. We must allow God’s peace and rest to fill our lives.
We need to rest.
Remember: God is in control. God will always be in control.
May we set aside our anxieties and worries about the future and find peace and rest in God.
### **Conclusion**:
This morning, In just two days, we will witness one of the defining aspects of our democratic republic: our national election day. As Christians, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the chaos, uncertainty, and choices that seem to push God further from the public sphere. But today, I urge you to face this season not with anxiety, but with peace. Ground yourself in prayer, trust deeply in God’s sovereignty, take action by voting, and find rest in His promises.
Remember, God’s Kingdom stands eternal, transcending any outcome. Through faith, prayer, and trust, we boldly affirm our hope beyond the ballot box and live as beacons of His light and hope in this world.
