August 15, 2021

The Church is a Sleeping Giant

Passage: Romans 13:1-14
Service Type:

The church is a sleeping giant

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

The Church is a Sleeping Giant

The church has become complacent for so long that issues such as homosexuality, adultery, abortion, hate, riots in our streets, destroying of our constitution, deception, twisted truths, have crept in and tied us down.  A remnant has been struggling to get free, but the resistance has felt so insurmountable so we just ignore it.

Rom. 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

There is a spiritual war raging in America right now, and for the most part, the church is asleep, or at least unwilling to engage.  We need to:

  1. Reclaim the Gospel!  Not about success but about freeing us from sin!
  2. Reform the Family! One man, one woman, Family Discipleship, raise our children to fear the Lord
  3. Restore Trust in Leadership! Establish biblically qualified Pastors in our churches who will preach the whole counsel of God and equip the saints.

Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them

It’s time for Christian to stand up and be counted.

 

  1. Our Nation was founded on Christian principles

Examples:

The colonist embarked on a “sacred cause” to mandate regular church attendance and to those who blasphemes God’s name were to be put to death.

Early colonial laws and constitutions like the mayflower compact incorporated biblical texts.

The Declaration of Independence proclaims “we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal and they are endowed by their creator.

The Puritans thought the two institutions of church and state should work in tandem to support, protect and promote Christianity.

Between 1774 & 1815 there were 1,400 government-issued calls for nationwide prayer during key moments in America’s development. The 1st was the meeting of the continental congress.  John Adams wrote his wife how a prominent pastor opened the meeting in prayer.

Throughout history God’s had has been evident in making America the beacon of freedom and democracy it is.

 

  1. Our religious liberty is a right and must be protected.

I Peter 2:16  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Gal. 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

III.  It’s time to wake up America

America has become like a ship without a rudder.  The church has become thick skinned and quite immune to what is going on in the world. 

Stagnation and deterioration has crept in to our spiritual lives, it begins in the mind when we let our thoughts, attitudes and desires become shaped by culture. Spiritual erosion like this is dangerous because it occurs so slowly that we’re often unaware it is happening.

Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

I Cor. 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

IV.  Pastors are not feeding their flock.

Jer. 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Ez 34:2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Discouragement has crept in, churches are being poorly attended. We are losing the next generation at an unprecedented rate. People raised in church are walking away.

Heb. 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

  1. Pastor are commanded to preach the word

II Tim 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

John 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

VI.  Do your part

A.  Be a godly influence in your church

I Tim 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Matt. 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

B.  Commit to study the scriptures

Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

C.  Take a stand

Is 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Conclusion:

Alexander Hamilton said “Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything”.

Rev. 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Church wake up!  Your deeds are unfinished in the sight of God!

 

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