Where Was God?

CBC WHERE WAS GOD? (RE: VA.TECH SHOOTING)

4/22/07

PSALM 2: 1-5

INTRODUCTION: NO DOUBT THE TITLE OF THIS SERMON HAS BEEN ASKED MANY TIMES THIS WEEK BY THE LOST UNBELIEVING WORLD.

WHY IS IT THAT WHEN A TRAGEDY STRIKES PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK: “WHERE WAS GOD”?

THIS SAME CROWD NEVER SEEMS TO WONDER WHERE GOD IS WHEN ALL IS WELL.

LET A WAR BREAK OUT, A TRAGEDY OF WEATHER, OR A SHOOTING SUCH AS OCCURRED IN VIRGINIA AND THEY COME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK ASKING: “WHERE WAS GOD”?

1. GOD IS WHERE HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IN HEAVEN SITTING ON A THRONE OF RIGHTIOUSNESS AS WELL AS A THRONE OF JUDGEMENT. EXTENDING MERCY AND GRACE TO ALL.

PEOPLE SEEM TO WELCOME HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS BUT REJECT HIS JUDGEMENT.

2. THE QUESTION IS NOT ‘WHERE GOD IS’ BUT RATHER WHERE GOD IS “NOT.”

3. HE IS CERTAINLY NOT IN OUR SCHOOLS (KICKED OUT)

4. HE IS CERTAINLY NOT IN OUR GOVERNMENT (KICKED OUT)

5. CERTAINLY NOT IN OUR SOCIETY (UNWELCOMED BY LOST WORLD AND UNWANTED BY THE POLITICALLY CORRECT)

6. NOT IN THE HEARTS OF MANY CHILDREN (WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TEACH THEM HIS WORD IN SCHOOL) NOR PRAY TO HIM IN SCHOOL.

7. MANY WILL CRY: “DO AWAY WITH GUNS”, THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS IS NOT IN GUN CONTROL, THE ANSWER IS IN “SIN CONTROL”.

2 CRONICLES 7:14: IF MY PEOPLE(CHRISTIANS) WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN, AND HEAL THEIR LAND.

I. WE HAVE A RAGE OF RESENTMENT. DISRESPECT, AND RESENTMENT OF AUTHORITY TODAY AS NEVER BEFORE.

(A) MORALS ARE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL, CRIME IS RAMPANT.

1. READ YOUR NEWSPAPER, WATCH YOUR T.V.

2. CRIME, DRUGS, CRIME, MURDER, CRIME, ROBBERY,

MORE AND MORE WICKED EACH PASSING DAY.

3. UNSAFE TO TRAVEL EVEN LOCALLY.*(PERILOUS DAYS)

(B) RESPECT FOR SOCIETY IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

1. PEOPLE USE LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF FOLKS THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW THAT IS NOT ONLY VULGAR BUT TOTALLY UNGODLY.*

2. PEOPLE HAVE NO RESPECT FOR SOCIETY, MANKIND, GOD’S WORD, GOD’S AUTHORITY. GOD’S WILL AND GOD’S PEOPLE.

3. THEN THEY HAVE THE AUDAUCITY TO ASK: “HERE WAS GOD?”

{C} ATHEIST AND INFIDELS DENYING THE FACT OF GOD, AND RAGING AGAINST THE TRUTH.

JUDE: VS. 17-19 MOCKERS IN THE LAST DAYS, WILL SEEK THEIR OWN UN-GODLY DESIRES.

1. WE LIVE IN THE “BARRABUS” GENERATION.

PEOPLE SEEK THEIR OWN PLEASURES OVER GOD’S WORD AND GOD’S WILL. WE LIVE IN THE LAODICEAN AGE FOR SURE.

II. WE HAVE A RAGE OF RESISTANCE.

(A) A RESISTANCE OF GOD’S MORAL COMMANDMENTS.

1. MANY TODAY ARE DEAD TO MORAL STANDARDS.

2. WHEN A MENTALLY DERANGED STUDENT, TOTALLY CONTROLLED BY SATAN, TAKES THE LIVES OF OVER 30 INNOCENT PEOPLE, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH SOCIETY, AND THAT PROBLEM STEMS FROM A TOTAL LACK OF MORAL STANDARDS.

(B) MANY TODAY ARE PERVERTED IN THEIR THINKING.

1. WITH NO SHAME, THEY PARADE THEIR SINS OPENLY AND DEFIANTLY BEFORE THE MASSES OF GOD- FEARING , RESPECTABLE PEOPLE.

2. DEFIANT SINNING WITH NO RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO

ARE TRYING TO LIVE A GODLY LIFE.

(C) DEMANDING THEIR RIGHTS TO A SINFUL LIFESTYLE WITH NO REGARDS OR RESPECT TO THE LIFESTYLE OF THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE.

(D) GOD’S WORD ESTABLISHES SPIRITUAL GUIDELINES FOR RIGHTEOUS, MORAL LIVING.

1. WHEN MANKIND REBELS AGAINST GOD’S WILL AND GOD’S WORD, HE PUTS HIMSELF IN JEPORDY OF GOD’S

III. WE HAVE A RAGE OF GROSS MISCONDUCT.

REPROBATE MINDS THAT CAN SEE NOTHING CLEAN AND RIGHTEOUS.

ISAIAH 59:7>>THEIR FEET RUN TO EVIL.

(A) THEIR INTENTION IS TO WRECK AND RUIN THE MORALS OF OUR SOCIETY. A SOCIETY BUILT UPON GODS WORD AND PROTECTED BY GOD’S PROVISIONS.

(B) THEIR INTENTION IS TO ESTABLISH A PERVERTED NOTION TO A CONFUSED NATION.

(C) JUST BECAUSE A SAD SICK SOCIETY DESIRES TO CHANGE ALL THE RULES, DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOD’S WORD, GOD’S JUDGEMENT AND GOD’S WRATH WILL CHANGE.

IV. THERE IS A RAGE AMONG THE HEATHEN TODAY BECAUSE OF THE REQUIREMENTS GIVEN TO MANKIND FOR CORRECTION.

GOD SPOKE TO ISRAEL IN AMOS CHAPTER 4 VS 6--11 (READ)

EACH TIME HE STATED: “YOU HAVE NOT RETURNED TO ME”

(A) WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR A NATION TO RETURN TO GOD?

1. WILL IT TAKE MORE WARS, MORE SENSELESS KILLING, MORE POVERTY, SHAME,

(B) WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR OUR CHURCHES TO RETURN TO GOD.

1. RETURN TO PREACHING THE SOUND CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE.

2. RETURN TO PREACHING “THUS SAYETH THE LORD.”

3. RETURN TO PREACHING AGAINST SIN AND UNGODLINESS AND REACHING THE LOST SINNER.

4. RETURN TO PREACHING THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE LOST AND THE PENALTY OF DYING LOST AND SPENDING ETERNITY IN HELL.

(C) GOD’S RESTRICTIONS UPON MANKIND ARE NOT FOR PUNISHMENT BUT FOR PROVISION.