OPEN: (A sermon given just prior to the California recall vote on October 7th 2003).
How many of you have heard about the upcoming recall vote in California? (A resounding number of people raised their hands). Well, I don’t how you could have avoided it. But it has been an excellent example of American politics. There has been vast confusion, an abundance of mudslinging advertisements and personal attacks and there has been the attendant “media circus.”
As I thought about that situation there in California, it occurred to me that everyone who is voting that recall will be doing so in the belief that their candidate is the best… and that the others are either less competent, incompetent, or demonic. And that reminded me of a story I read several years ago:
A candidate for city council was doing some door to door campaigning, and things were going pretty well, he thought, until he came to the house of grouchy old man. After the he gave his little speech, the old man growled, "Vote for you? Why I’d rather vote for the devil!"
At this point, the candidate realized he didn’t stand a chance of swaying the old man, but with a smile he said: "I understand. But in case your friend is not running, may I count on your support?"
APPLY: When we cast our votes (in city, state and national elections), we do so under the belief that we have the power – thru our vote - to change things. And, in America we’ve been often reminded that our votes can be more important than we might suspect.
Back in 1984, the California Secty of State compiled this list:
In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England
In 1649, one vote caused Charles I of England to be executed.
In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
In 1876, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic.
In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the Presidency of U.S.
In 1933, one vote gave Adolph Hitler leadership of the Nazi Party.
In 1960, one vote change in each precinct in Illinois would have denied John F. Kennedy the Presidency.
Our votes do make a difference. And we who are Christians should honor this sacred privilege and vote at every opportunity.
I. BUT (that said) we need to realize that there are 2 inherent weaknesses in the Democratic process. There are two problems that plague the voting public.
1st Problem: We are voting for mortals.I don’t care how moral and upstanding the politician is that we vote into office… he’s still a sinner. He’s still prone to the same weaknesses and sinful tendencies and the same temptations as the rest of us.
These politicians are not God… they ARE mortal. They do not walk on water. They do not perform miracles… and they will disappoint us.
2nd Problem: When we Christians vote, there are times that - when we cast our vote… we often do so under the mistaken belief that the candidate, or the party for which we vote has the power within themselves to change the course of our city, state, or national destiny
That’s not true. And it has never been true. And some of our best politicians have recognized this
ILLUS: Benjamin Franklin once addressed an assembly struggling with a decision with these words: "In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth and scarcely able to distinguish it when it is presented to us - how has it happened that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?"
ILLUS: Abraham Lincoln "It is the duty of nations (as well as of men) to own their own independence upon the overruling power of God . . . and to recognize the sublime truth announced in the Holy Scriptures (and proved by all history) that those nations only are blest whose God is the Lord."
ILLUS: In 1984, Ronald Reagan declared: "Without God... there IS a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure...If we ever forget that we are ’One Nation Under God’, we will be one nation gone under."
(pause) If we ever forget…” (pause)
II. Why would we forget that we are a “nation under God?”
Our money, our pledge of allegiance, many of the sayings on the public buildings throughout Washington D.C. proclaim this desire to be a nation under God. How could we forget?
Well, actually, even with that overwhelming set of witnesses, even we who are Christians can literally forget God’s power over our nation… if we put more faith in our politicians than we do IN God
ILLUS: The Old Testament has an interesting story about Israel’s experience with a national referendum. The nation was in uneasy, and it had good reason to be uneasy. They had enemies threatening them on every side. The prophet of God who was their leader at the time (Samuel) was growing old and soon would be unable to guide them as a nation. And his sons who might succeed him were no bargains. They were corrupt and selfish boys.
The people looked the situation over and came to a conclusion that they needed a King. Every other nation had one… and they wanted one.
On the face of it, that made sense.
Having a King symbolized their desire of strength
Having a King meant they could feel they were on equal footing with the nations around them.
Having a King would give them the feeling of security and power in an unsure world.
In reality, however, Israel was uncomfortable. They were uncomfortable in waiting for God to supply their needs in His time. They wanted - what they wanted - NOW!
And because of this, they had not bothered to approach God and ask for His leading in this issue
They hadn’t called for a time of national prayer and fasting to ask for His opinion. They simply held a vote and decided that that was all they needed to do.
God later told Samuel: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but THEY HAVE REJECTED ME as their king.” 1 Samuel 8:7
What was the problem?
The problem was that they had put their faith in an earthly politician…and they had taken their eyes off of God. They mistakenly believed that the “candidate” they had chosen would supply for them. Supplying something they felt God would not: safety, power, and financial security.
Now, don’t get me wrong…
I believe that Christians ought to be involved in the political process
I believe Christians should NOT ONLY vote but actively work in the system to bring about righteousness in our nation.
BUT, it is a dangerous mistake to put more faith in politics, and politicians, and political parties than we do in God.
It’s an easy trap to fall into.
IV. Now, how do we know when we’ve started relying more on God than on politicians?
Paul gives us a pretty good thing to watch for when he writes:
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. –
II Timothy 2:8
QUESTION: Have you ever known someone who gets so involved in politics that they get into arguments all the time about it? (many raised their hands).
My dad had a policy at our home: no one was allowed to discuss religion or politics. Do you have any idea why? (I let them answer). That’s right. People get into literal fights over those topics.
Now, if you find yourself getting wrought up about politics so that you are angry and argumentative, that’s a pretty good sign that you’re faith is less in God than it is in your politics.
ILLUS: The story’s told of the man who had lived in a small town and had been a staunch Republican all his life. Now, he was 90, and his health began to fail. His doctor told him: “George, I’m sorry to tell you this, but, from the state of health, I’d say you’ll not live out the year."
The next morning, the old man asked his son to take him to the courthouse so he could change his registration from Republican to Democrat.
"But Dad," protested his the son, "you started this town’s Republican Party and attended every function. Why would you want to become a Democrat?"
The old man replied: "Son, if someone has to die, it might as well be one of them."
Some people get so fired up about politics that they can be very unpleasant to be around
If a Christian ever finds themselves engaged in a discussion about politics and find themselves getting angry or getting caught up in a heated debate where their temper is getting out of hand… it’s a pretty good sign they’ve taken their eyes off of God and put their hope in a politician or political party.
V. Therefore, Paul tells us a method we can use to correct that kind political shortsightedness:
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” I Timothy 2:1-2
Pray for all the politicians… even the ones you don’t like. Especially the ones you don’t like!
Gerald Flurry has written: “Prayer is political action. Prayer is social energy. Prayer is public good. Prayer shapes more of our nation’s life than is formed by legislation. That we have not collapsed into anarchy is due more to prayer than to the police. Prayer is a sustained and intricate act of patriotism in the largest sense of that word--far more precise, loving, and preserving than any patriotism served up in slogans…. The single most important action contributing to whatever health and strength there is in our land is prayer.”
You see, our DECIDING vote, in any election…
– is NOT the one we make in the privacy of the ballot box
– It’s the vote we make in the privacy of our prayer closets
(I repeated this)
The vote you make on your knees/ has the power no ballot box can equal.
But why?
Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart (or the Mayor’s heart, or the Governor’s heart, or the Presi-dent’s heart) is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”
In other words, God has the power to direct the decisions of our leaders… even the bad ones
And when we pray… that power of God is unleashed.
V. If that’s so… what should we pray for?
· We should pray for the success of “whoever” is in leadership
When Israel was held captive in a pagan nation, God told them to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:7
· We should pray for healing of our land
2 Chron 7:14 “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.”
· Pray that the decisions of these leaders will lead in such a way that we can reach more and more people with the message of Christ’s love.
That was the major thrust of Paul’s comment to Timothy when he wrote: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, (why?) that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4.
So… we’re going to set a portion of our worship aside to pray for our leaders
1. City officials (time period of about 5 minutes) some suggestions:
· Mayor
· Police and Fire Departments
· Judges
· City Council
2. State officials
· Governor
· State senators and representatives
· Those within the “bureaucracy”
3. National leaders
· President
· His staff
· Senators
· Representatives
· Unelected bureaucracy
CLOSE: BRITAIN’S NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER – Dr. Dobson - Focus On The Family
May 24th, 1940. A half million of Britain and France’s soldiers huddled hopelessly at Dunkirk, waiting for their inevitable death or imprisonment at the hands of the Nazi war machine.
It was at that desperate moment that the churches of Britain called for a national day of prayer. It had been suggested during April, but the Archbishop of Canterbury had opposed it. He said he didn’t want the call to prayer to be misinterpreted - whatever that meant.
But with the alarming deterioration of the military situation in France, he and many others decided that it was, indeed, time to pray.
On May 23rd, numerous political leaders, newspaper editors and King George the 6th issued a call for a national day of prayer to be held on Sunday, May 26th.
No one could have anticipated what was to happen during those 3 momentous days.
Just 24 hours after the call for prayer, Adolf Hitler inexplicably ordered his armies to halt - to the surprise and dismay of even his own generals. Two days later, on May 26, the nation gathered to pray. Church attendance skyrocketed, including a large gathering at Westminster Abbey, during which people pleaded with the Almighty to spare their husbands and fathers at Dunkirk.
Former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain wrote this in his diary: “May 26. Blackest day of all… This was the National Day of Prayer.” In reality, it turned out to be one of the most dramatic turning points of the war. At 7 o’clock that evening, a critical order was issued to attempt a desperate evacuation of Dunkirk. Every tiny vessel and private craft was sent across the often treacherous waters of the English Channel with orders to rescue as many men as possible before the arrival of the Germans.
Hitler’s armies remained largely in place NOT ONLY on the 24th, 25th and 26th, but, incredibly, until early June.
To this day, no one knows exactly why. The Fuhrer held victory in the palm of his hand, yet he prevented his combat troops from finishing the job.
Some have speculated that Hitler didn’t want to risk unnecessary losses in a final battle.
Others think Hermann Goering prevailed upon Hitler to let his Luftwaffe get the credit for destroying the British and French armies.
Yeah sure. The bloody dictator who never gave anyone a sporting chance.
Frankly, there is a more valid explanation.
There is a more valid explanation. Hitler’s armies were halted… halted by the same God who shut the mouths of the lions during Daniel’s night of peril.
Just as the Lord heard the prayers of the Israelites so long ago, I believe He was listening when hundreds of thousands of believers in the United Kingdom were praying for divine intervention.
For 9 critical days, the Germans were content to shell and bomb Dunkirk from the air and from a distance. Meanwhile, large numbers of Allied soldiers were scrambling aboard the little boats and yachts.
On May 29, 47,000 were rescued; on May 30, 53,000; on May 31, 68,000; on June 1, 64,000.
In all, 336,000 men found their way to safety in the British Isles!
