HOPE FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS

June 30, 2013

“When Your Concern For Your Nation Intensifies” was the title of a sermon I heard today.  The sermon was presented by Pastor Mark Cain of Village Bible Church.

So what do we do about all of the things in our society that sadden us?  Pastor Mark mentioned many of the issues that can make one wonder just where we are headed: lack of morality, abortion, ungodly living arrangements, euthanasia, etc.

The answer Pastor Cain gave was not surprising.  It came from the Bible.  Isn’t that where we are supposed to look for our answers? He found a great answer.

“When your concern for America intensifies, calm that concern through the theology of Psalm 46.” (I took the liberty to make two changes and add a link to Pastor’s statement. At the top of the link is a description of the comic strip that Pastor Mark shared. Click on the pic to enlarge it.)

Here is your answer:

Psalm 46

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God the Refuge of His People.

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, [a]set to Alamoth. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength, [b]A very present help in [c]trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the [d]sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. [e]Selah.
 
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her [f]when morning dawns. 6 The [g]nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He [h]raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
 
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, [i]Who has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “[j]Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the [k]nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 46:1 Possibly for soprano voices
  2. Psalm 46:1 Or Abundantly available for help
  3. Psalm 46:1 Or tight places
  4. Psalm 46:2 Lit seas
  5. Psalm 46:3 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
  6. Psalm 46:5 Lit at the turning of the morning
  7. Psalm 46:6 Or Gentiles
  8. Psalm 46:6 Lit gave forth
  9. Psalm 46:8 Or Which He has wrought as desolations
  10. Psalm 46:10 Or Let go, relax
  11. Psalm 46:10 Or Gentiles (1)

Pastor Mark calls the Psalms “God’s Pharmacy.”  This Psalm shows why.

The Psalm is a song or poetry set in three stanzas.  Each stanza ends with the word “Selah.”  As the good pastor stated, no one knows for certain what the word means.  Many feel that “Selah” is word that means pause.  Pausing is always good for reflection.

Dr. Cain broke the Psalm into two sections.

1. (vv. 1-3) GOD IS (a way of saying “theology”) so personally present there is no reason to fear the cataclysmic chaos.

2. (vv. 4-11) God is so powerfully present He can overrule any national threat.

The conclusion:

“Peace and security are not the absence of threatening circumstances, but the close presence of our powerful, personally involved God.”

I appreciate men who are not afraid to dig for God’s nuggets.  I am fortunate to know Christian leaders of integrity, men who are not afraid to talk about moral issues that enter the political arena, in my community.  I must list a few: Pastor Doug Jones of The First Free Will Baptist Church (and head of The Watchmen of Garland County), Pastor Ken Carney of The First Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Bill Carter of Antioch Baptist Church, and Pastor Larry Spader of Living Faith Church.  These are a few of the twenty or so pastors that I have met in my county who are men of God.  Guys like this are getting harder to find.  I am grateful to God for His faithful servants.

The sermon reminded me of THIS POST about a great man of faith who gave his life for his convictions.

Our nation’s celebration of Independence is not far off.  God has richly blessed our nation in the past.  Psalm 46 is a great scripture upon which to dwell in the present.

CR

(1) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046&version=NASB

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