Responding To Haiti

Sermon Text: Ecc. 9:11 / Proverbs 19:17 / Deu. 15:7-11

“Responding to the Haiti Crisis”

Introduction: Recently a major earthquake struck Haiti. The land of Haiti is full of poverty, disease and despair. Scholars are calling it the worst in two centuries. In a land where we are inundated with abundance; How have this affected you? Our refrigerators are full. Our cabinets are stocked with all sorts of goods. Our freezers are packed with frozen meats for Holidays. We must be careful not think of the people of Haiti as (less than us or as deserving more punishment than we do). Haiti is no worse than Hahnville, Boutte, Luling or any area occupied by people. The controversial Pat Robertson has connected the Haiti crisis to sin, if that were true; why aren’t we removing debris too? But for the grace of God, we could be subjects of the same disaster. What if those suffering victims were your very own family? What if they were Jesus, Himself? Remember the words of the Lord, verily I say unto you, “Inasmuch as you done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.” (Matt. 25:45)

Occurrences of Earthquakes in the bible:

• Exodus 19:18 (The Giving of The Law)

• Numbers 16:32 (The Rebellion of Korah)

• I Sam. 14:15 (At Jonathan’s defeat of the Philistines)

• 1 Kings 9:11 (As a revelation of God’s power)

• Psa. 18:7 (The anger of God)

• Psa. 46:3 (As a national calamity)

• Psa. 104:32 (As a sign of God’s power)

• Psa. 114:7 (The presence of God)

• Isa. 13:13 (Speaking of God’s future power)

• Isa. 24:20 (Of the Lord’s future judgment)

• Amos 1:1 (As a sign of coming judgment)

• Nah. 1:5 (As a sign of God’s power)

• Hag. 2:6 (Speaking of God’s power)

• Zech. 14:5 (At the Messiah’s coming upon the Mt. of Olives)

• Matt. 24:7 (Christ speaking of the end of this Age)

• Matt. 27:51, 54 (At the death of Christ)

• Mark 13:8 (Christ speaking of the end of the Age)

• Acts 16:26 (Releasing Paul from prison at Philippi)

• Heb. 12:26 (Quoting Hag. 2:6, speaking of future of judgment)

• Rev. 16:18,20 (End time judgment of modern Babylon)

We cannot know the reason for every disaster that occurs. (Deu. 29:29) (1 Cor. 13:12)

Time and chance happen to them all. (Ecc. 9:11)

• Swift don’t always win.

• Strong doesn’t always win the battle.

• Wise don’t always enjoy the bread.

• Understanding does not always result in riches.

• Skill does not always produce favor.

(We have no control over what, who, where, why and when things happen) We simply don’t know……

Let’s consider the following concerning our response to crisis situations:

I. PURSUE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEART.

II. PRAY FOR THE HURTING.

III. PUT YOURSELVES SUBJECTIVELY IN THE POSITION OF

THE HURTING.

IV. PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE SPARED.

V. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS MERCY SHOWN TO THOSE WHO

REMAINED ALIVE.

VI. PREPARE TO HEAR FROM GOD.

VII. PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER TO GOOD WORKS.

VIII. PREACH REPENTANCE THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

IX. PAY ATTENTION TO THE VOICE OF DISASTERS.

Conclusion: We don’t know why the towers fall at a particular time. We don’t know why the plane crash on a given day. We don’t know why the umbilical cord chokes a baby to death. We don’t know why an elderly Christian woman dies in a tornado. We don’t know why a four year old gets shot on New Year’s Eve while worshipping. But we do know this; except we repent, we shall all likewise perish.