Sermon Transcript — January 25, 2003
Well, today I want to share with you probably the longest sermon you have ever heard because you have the handout. You have all the slides. There are lots of pictures in here and if a picture is worth a thousand words, you're going to get at least 40,000 words in pictures. Now, there are scriptures that I've given in the notes. You'll see, whatever you have in front of you you're going to see up here. This is the updated version. This has the most recent information. There may be a few little additions, but not significant. I will not read every scripture – there are probably about 32 to 35 scriptures in there. I will not read all of them. I will merely refer to some of them, some of them I will read. But I feel that this sermon is a very important sermon considering the climate of the times in which we live. The title of it is "The Four P's – Power, Position, Politics and People".
First of all, let's talk about Power and my strategy through the whole sermon is to take each one of these points and show you what the Bible says about power – is it good or bad? Is there power or not? And what's wrong with power? What's right about power? And the same way with Position, Politics and People.
Let's take a look at some of the definitions here on power. First of all, you'll notice #3 and I skipped #2 and I skipped the ones in this New World Dictionary that I didn't feel were applicable. But #3 says 'Great ability to do". That's what power is. "Great ability to do, act or affect strongly; vigor, force and strength." Also, #4(a) says, "The ability to control others; authority, sway, influence."
When you think about power, you think what is this? Is power of God? Well, let's take a look. Power may be used for good. Power may be used for good. God is almighty. Notice Matthew chapter 28 and verse 18. Is power of God? Yes, it is. So it's not that power is wrong. People who have power must use it in an effective and appropriate way. But, in Matt. 28:18 we read:
Mat. 28:18 - Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth.
So God Almighty / Jesus Christ are all-powerful. One of the names of God in the Old Testament is El Shadday – the Almighty God. So, is God all-powerful? Yes. And, of course, Isaiah 40 - let's look back there as well. Isaiah chapter 40 and notice verses 25 and 26. God says this after He thunders about His greatness and the power that He has. Verse 25 He says:
Isa. 40:25 - To whom then will you liken Me, or shall I be equal? says the Holy One. He's talking about power, might and majesty. And in verse 26 He says,
V. 26 - Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that brings out their host by number... He talked about all the stars and the sun - the moon, the stars, all the heavenly bodies - and how great that was. He said: ...He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; no one fails. God is strong in power!
So is power of God? Is it a godly issue? Yes! Power is of God. Now there are natural powers – "nature". The sun, for example, warms the earth. You have also manmade power with electricity and other means. There can be no power, by the way, except it be of God. That's hard to understand. How did Saddam Hussein have an army that used to be almost a million? God allows that power because in Romans 13 and verse l, if you'll notice, we find:
Rom 13:1 - Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power... there is no power ...but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Now, it doesn't mean that God sanctions the use of them, it doesn't mean that God directs the use of them, it means that that power is there because God is all-powerful and allows it.
Let's look at the next slide. Here we see the power of the sun. The power of the sun. In one second more energy is generated than all that man has used since his creation. You want to know how powerful the sun is? More energy is generated in one second than all of man's usage of power since his creation. You want to know another fact about the sun that gives you just a sense of the awesomeness of the power - and, of course, God made the sun. It's ninety-three million miles away. If you had an ice cube one-and-a-half miles square – so let's say, if you drive from here all the way down to the freeway.
I'm not saying it's 1 1/2, maybe it's close to one mile, maybe 1 1/2. And you square that distance and you make that a frozen sheet of ice and then you extend that ninety-three million miles to the sun. The sun, at its full strength – now, mind you, 1 1/2 mile thick ice, 93,000,000 miles in length – the sun at its full strength can melt it entirely in thirty seconds. That's the power of the sun and, of course, the power of your God who made it!
What do you see here? Here we see the power of a twister. So here we see the feared power of a tornado.
And here is another view of a tornado. People down in the south when you see this what do you do? You head for the ditches! You get out of your car if you're driving and you jump in the ditch. Very fearsome. Hundreds of people are killed by these types of twisters. But they devastate whatever is around them. Again, the power of earthquakes and others are shown in nature. And, of course, man makes power. He has generating stations that make electrical power, has nuclear stations, too.
But power has a negative side if abused. Power has a negative side if it's abused. Let's take a look. Satan, the Devil, of course, is called the prince of the power of the air. It talks about him coming down, when he was thrown back from heaven - and he's going to try it again – having great destruction. He wants to go after and destroy. That's his sense of using power.
But I want you to notice a couple of scriptures. I'm only going to refer to the first one; I'm not going to go to it. You're familiar with the case of David. Here was King David. He had everything. He had everything, but he wanted more and so he wanted Uriah's wife. And after taking Bathsheba and she sent him a note, "By the way, David, I'm carrying your child." Now David had to cover it up. So he used his power to bring back, to authorize a furlough for Uriah who was on the front line fighting the Philistines. Bring him back. So he brought him back. He tried to get him to go to his wife so people would think that he generated that little child. And, of course, he wouldn't do it. He was so fiercely loyal to his fellow soldiers - so fiercely loyal to David and Israel - he didn't do it. So he got him drunk. It still didn't work. And finally, when he wouldn't go and cooperate, he sent him back to the front lines with a message: put him in the front, in the heat of battle and then retreat so he would be killed. That was an abuse of power!
Also we could read this in Matthew 20, verse 25. Gentile rulers, many times, abuse power. They use their power upon people. They use their power against people. They use their power for their own selfish means. But in Matt. 20:25 we read:
Matt. 20:25 - Jesus called... His disciples. Remember, that's when there were arguing who was going to be the greatest among them and that's when the mother of the sons of Zebedee, James and John - the mother, Mrs. Zebedee - went to Him and said, "You know, I just have one little, small favor to ask. Let my two boys, the one sit on Your right hand and the one on Your left in the Kingdom." He said, "I can't do that." And when the other disciples heard about it – there's rumors – when the other disciples heard about it, what did they do? The got upset! So then He gave this statement. He said in verse 25, But Jesus called them to him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them... and that's a sense of power ...and they that are great exercise authority upon them. Some translations put it they like to lord it over them and the other is to exercise control over them or power over them.
Now, we also see, of course, in Matthew 24 – I'm not going to read it – versus 6 and 7, you're familiar with Jesus Christ's statement that at the end time there would be wars and rumors of wars - wars and rumors of wars. Are we hearing rumors of wars? Yes. Almost every day we hear of rumors of wars, in fact we hear them from several fronts. And also, He talked about nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. What's that all about? It's the abuse of power.
Let's take a look at some other powerful machines, the North Korean Army on parade. You know that they have a million-man army. A million-man army. That's human power!
Over here, you see the female brigade, the female corps marching proudly. Soldiers. Combatants.
Here you see missiles being paraded through the streets.
And here, you see their army moving with their 'a la goose-step' march.
And, of course, the United States has an armed force with some 500,000 active with about 625,000 in reserve. And that's the armed forces of America today including the Naval as well as the Air Force.
And there we see the power of the weapons that can be used. That huge explosion came from this cannon. They are more powerful all the time. Some of them can hurl – what did they say? The SS Missouri can shoot at sixty miles?
Here you see the power of the Navy – aircraft battle groups and an aircraft carrier. Each of these can carry about 60 warplanes. So the United States is not even worried about not having any bases over in the Middle East. They would like to have them. It would make it easier for pilots to land more easily onto surface, but each of these can carry 60 warplanes.
These are planes from old. Can you imagine if you were on the ground and you heard wave after wave after wave of planes rumbling overhead carrying unfriendly bombs? Of course, all bombs are unfriendly.
The modern Air Force – B-2's (I think these are B-2's), the Stealth Bomber that flies under the radar because of its way of being created, the design.
And, of course, Air Force One. The person on this plane has great power because from there he has his command center and he can give the word to unleash the nuclear weapons. This is all power.
And here we see an atomic blast of power. Now what was used at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki? 20-kiloton bombs. To give you an idea, they were atomic bombs, which used fission instead of fusion. A 20-kiloton bomb. One kiloton is equal to one thousand tons of TNT and so since this was a 20-kiloton; it was equivalent to 40-million pounds of TNT. Phenomenal, okay? Let me read to you just quickly, its effects. "The first atomic bomb to be used in warfare and dropped on Hiroshima on August 19th, 1945. TNT had been the most powerful explosive known to man until July 18th, 1945 when the Atomic Age was begun. That bomb that was dropped killed over 80,000 people in Hiroshima – over 80,000 people in the initial explosion and more than 120,000 died in the next twelve months. One out of every five babies born in Hiroshima – or from that time to the present – have either been dead at birth or have been horribly deformed. Every one (and this was probably in the 70's – this quote comes from) every one of the 110 ships in the Hiroshima harbor were destroyed when the bomb dropped." The percussion of it, the wave of it just blasted 110 ships into nothing. But see, that's nothing by comparison. In Nagasaki the blast there was to destroy factories. "1.8 square miles were devastated. It injured 40,000 people (this is the bomb in Nagasaki) and 40,000 were killed or missing since it was built." But I want to read you one more. See, because now they just haven't stopped at kilotons, because now they have what are called megatons. A megaton is a thousand times more powerful and, in fact, the hydrogen bomb uses the atomic bomb to set it off. It is a thousand times more powerful. How powerful is a 100-megaton bomb, which Russia exploded just in test? How powerful is a 100-megaton bomb? All the gunpowder, TNT, dynamite, nitroglycerin made since the discovery of gunpowder are not equal to 100-megatons. To equal a megaton bomb – just one – you would have to drop one of these every day for thirteen years! That type of power is out there waiting for someone to abuse it.
That's a black and white blast of the same, another view of that awesome cloud. If you're anywhere near it within 12 to 15 miles it just singes your skin. Many people were just totally liquefied – couldn't even find them.
Okay, let's move on to Position. So, power may be used for good - it's of God - or it can be abused. Look at position - position or rank. Position is certainly endorsed by the scriptures. However, some do not use their positions or rank in a godly manner. In the world, in the church, anywhere – we can all abuse it – in the family.
There is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Revelation 19:16. Is there position? Yes, there is position. There is father and mother. Exodus 20, verse 12 – that is a position that a person occupies - the head of a family, patriarchs. There is also respect for elders, the pastors shown - Leviticus 19:32, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. So there is a respected position there. There are also civic rulers – Romans 13 verses 3-4 and 7 – that God talks about the civic rulers.
And, of course, there are godly rulers. I'd like to read that one. Exodus 18 and verse 21. See, there is no problem with position. Again, it's what a person does in that position when they have the opportunity. One father I knew, when he dealt with his children, do you know what he used to do? He had this old chair that he had gotten. It was the biggest chair in the house and he was the only one allowed to sit on that chair. And when his children messed up, had a problem, he would sit on that chair and they would come before him for him to render some judgment. Now I'm telling you, that's an abuse of power. That's an abuse of power. But notice Exodus 18:21:
Ex. 18:21 Moreover you shall provide out of all people able men... remember the consultation that Jethro had with his son-in-law, Moses? He said, You're getting tired, Moses. You're doing it all yourself. Look. Appoint other people, ... able men, such as fear God... There's a key. You always know that it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God ...men of truth, hating covetousness; place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. So there's power, again, but it's godly power, God sanctioned. Those who rule over people, right? They must be able. They must fear God. They must love truth more than anything else. They must hate covetousness. So position, yeah, it's okay. The Bible talks about position being okay. Position's important.
President of the United States, George W. Bush, the Commander-in-Chief of the most powerful armies in the world right now - a very important position. Position's important.
Abraham Lincoln, one of the most respected presidents in the United States who had to deal with very difficult issues in his day. And, by the way, he lived from 1809 to 1865. He was President from 1861 to 1865.
Here's Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who in that position earlier would have been over the United Kingdom, over the British Empire and now she's still well revered as Queen of the British Commonwealth.
Sir Winston Churchill, a great statesman. He lived from 1874 to 1965. Winston Churchill was Prime Minister during the crucial time of World War II from 1940 to 1945. Right after the war, believe it or not, he was booted out by his government and came back in 1951. He was so well respected in the United States of America the he was made a citizen, an honorary citizen in 1963. But I want to read to you what he says about politics and politicians. "Someone once said to Winston Churchill, 'What qualifications must one have to become a politician?' He replied that the politician must be able to foretell what will happen tomorrow, next month and next year and then to explain afterwards why it didn't happen." The United States used to have a policy, the government didn't have to tell the truth (a legislator was going to introduce it and I didn't check it out whether it's been passed or not) but the politician said, "You can't lie to us, but we can lie to you." Somehow, that's not fair.
Here you see King Hussein, the first King of Jordan, who certainly was instrumental as a stabilizing force in the Middle East and his son has continued that effort to try to bring peace. He certainly has been a friend of America, King Hussein of Jordan. My wife and I and many of you may have had the privilege of actually having some snacks served to us, some hors d'oeuvres, on his palace grounds when the church used to meet in Jordan. His wife met every single person who was there from the Feast. They all shook hands and had their picture taken with them.
But position can be a source of pride. You know the case of Herod. I'd like to read it. Acts chapter 12. Position can be a source of pride. Position can be taken and abused. But notice in Acts chapter 12 and verse 20. Here's Herod Agripa I.
Acts 12:20 Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus... great name to have for someone who introduces you ...Blastus, the king's chamberlain their friend, they desired peace... they were in trouble, the surrounding countries were in trouble ...because their country was nourished by the king's country... depended on it.
V. 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in his royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and he made a speech to them.
And verse 22 And the people gave a shout, saying... Huh, they are trying to make points, right? ...It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. I'm sure he sat up there saying, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
And verse 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: but he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
So, again, it can be a source of pride. Notice Acts 25 – I like this one, too. Acts 25 verse 23. Paul had already appealed to Rome, but Festus, needed to have a reason why to send him. So he wanted him to come before King Agrippa to give his story again so he could write down and figure out why he was sending him, why this man was appealing to Caesar. So notice when Agrippa was about to hear him, this puppet king.
Acts 25:23 - And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp... he had to come with great pomp ...and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
So, again, the aspect of vanity being in that instead of using it for others. 1 Timothy 3:6 talks about the ministry – talks about an office in our church – and you know one thing it says? Don't put anybody new in there unless he be lifted up with pride because pride can come with position or power.
1 Samuel 9:21, lets go back and look at a humble king. 1 Sam. 9 verse 21. You remember, they wanted a king so God said, Okay, give them a king. I'll pick him out. Go, take Saul. Saul was the biggest guy – head and shoulders above others. Notice how he felt at the time.
1 Sam. 9:21 – And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite... why did you come here? ...Am I not a Benjamite of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?... we're just a tiny, little tribe ...and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak so to me? Why have you chosen me?
But, then notice in 1 Sam. 15 after he was in power, after awhile what happened. I Sam. 15:17 – remember he decided, God said, Wipe out everybody in this land, these Amalekites, everybody: animals, people, children – everything – women – everything. He wiped out almost everything. And when Samuel went to deal with him, Samuel grieved. Samuel liked Saul. But he went to see him.
1 Sam. 15:17 - Samuel said, When you were little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed you king over Israel?
You see, position can sometimes breed pride. Let's take a look at some of those that have certainly fallen into that category.
Dictator Fidel Castro rules Cuba – some not-so-good men of rank we see here. He was born in 1926. He spawned the revolutionary spirit. He's done his countrymen some good personally, but their economy is in shambles.
Here's another. Remember Idi Amin Dada of Uganda? Remember the movie, 'Raid on Entebe'? That's the guy. He reigned from 1971 to 1979 and used his military power and might to depose the ruling individuals. Under his reign, thousands of his own people were killed who opposed him. And he kicked out some 50,000 Asians from his country because he wanted to have control of his country. He fled when his countrymen finally rose up with the help of outside forces. He fled and is probably living somewhere if he hasn't died already. He was, by the way, the heavyweight boxing champion of Uganda. Now, of course, I don't know what he used – did he bite the ears – what did he do? I don't know.
This is a younger version of Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein was born in 1937. At one time he had 955,000 in the army, in his armed forces. After the Gulf War that dwindled somewhat, but he was born in 1937. He still exists. He gassed his own people. He is ruthless; he cuts people's tongues out if they speak against him. Look at all those medals - the reason I chose this picture. I often wonder, these guys give themselves all these medals. I wonder, are these guys – do they really earn those medals? Or do they just say, "You know, I'm king now. I get all these medals." You wonder sometimes.
Again, an aspect of vanity: two notorious leaders from the past. As badly as we feel about Adolph Hitler who, by the way, lived from 1889 to 1945, who ruled Germany as dictator from 1933 to 1945. He killed about six million – some say up to fifteen million – certainly gassed six million Jews. But some say he killed about fifteen million in the process.
And this guy: about thirty four million. He was so ruthless that even one of his ruthless followers decided to strike his name from every pylon and to take his body that was buried in Red Square and bury it at a common cemetery. That's how evil this man was – Joseph Stalin. From 1929 to 1953 he was the Russian despot. But you know what, under his reign – Joseph Stalin – he had four million men in his armed services. That was with the U. S. S. R. Rank is important to some. So you notice all the spaghetti on the hats. You want to know whose rank is high, look for how much spaghetti they have on.
Here we see the pomp of the military might marching through.
And there we see officers' uniforms, various ones, officer's dress uniforms to indicate their rank.
Let's talk about politics. I draw your attention to a couple of these, in particular the ones that I underlined, of what politics is because a lot of times we think politics is bad. When you talk about politics you are really talking about government. It is about government. That's what politics is. And so you see here… What is politics? 'The science and art of political government,' political science. The encyclopedia that I have, the World Book Encyclopedia 1999 Dictionary actually says it's just 'the science of government', the science of government. It just merely means government. Did you know that the Bible talks about government? Remember, 'of His government there will be no end'? And the word there is government. You have government mentioned several times. In fact, in the New Testament, Philippians 3:20 where he says for our citizenship is in heaven, that's the same word – POLITEIA. It has to do with government: 'political methods; tactics; sometimes specific crafty or unprincipled methods, usually when we say "Somebody's playing office politics"' - it says here – 'politics – scheming for power and status within a group'. That's how we usually think of politics.
But politics, as such, is not a bad word. It's what happens to that politics, what happens to people as they try to understand the use of power – what they do with it. And so you see a political rally. As I said, politics is not necessarily a bad word. Politics – everybody "Whoop!" – you getting out, cheering.
Now, what about being political? Politics may be good if it is about governing people effectively. Examples – some good ones. Col. 4:4-6 he said you should speak with grace. Let your speech be seasoned with grace to those that are without. Don't give them the sharp, two-edged sword. Let's speak kind of temperate. Put a little tip on the end so it doesn't hurt so much. So, again, there's a time when you become crafty. Jesus Christ said to be wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove. Also, 1 Corinthians 9:19 the Apostle Paul said he became all things to all people. He tried to understand where they were coming from. He tried to relate to them. He was crafty. He was being wise, but he was being crafty and wise for good, not crafty and wise for self – and there's a huge difference.
Remember the case of Ruth and Boaz? Boaz was crafty. Ruth 2:14-19 – remember the situation there where Boaz really liked Ruth, but he didn't want her to know it. She asked if she could follow along behind the reapers and he told the reapers, "Drop some of the good grain along the way." And so, as she followed, "These reapers are really sloppy! I'm really gathering up." And she had all that because he was being crafty, but he was being crafty for a good reason. All right? So there is a good use of politics. There is a good use of power. There is a study of power. There is an understanding of power.
I thought this was cute. Sometimes, politics are easy to understand. "I'm hungry." He has all the food. "Stop talking politics!"
If politics is about conniving and scheming to advance one's own self-serving agenda, it has no place in Christianity.
Examples – bad ones: Adonijah - remember, he was there at the gate trying to get people to vote for him in 1 Kings 1 verses 5-9. He was trying to exalt himself as king. "Hey, vote for me." "Hey, look at me!" And he was finally found out. He was dealt with.
Rehoboam – remember Rehoboam? He wouldn't listen to all sides and follow what was right. He wanted to do his thing so he found those individuals who would give him his answer.
And then, of course, you have down at the bottom what David said in his final words, but I also would relate to you what Peter did. Remember in Galatians 2, Peter was eating with the Gentiles and as soon as he heard James and some of James' party from Jerusalem – Jews were coming up – he immediately bolted out of there and stood aside from them. And Paul said, I had to accuse him, to speak to him to his face because what he did was hypocritical. See, he was trying to do the politically correct thing. "If I'm a Jew, what am I doing eating here with gentiles? I'd better get out quickly because Jews are coming. Don't think I should be doing this – even though I believe it." So he was being crafty but in a negative way and it said it caused other people to be deceiving as well.
But I'd like to read with you over in 2 Samuel 23 and verse 3. 2 Samuel 23:3 because these were the final words of David - some of the final words of David - his advice.
2 Sam. 23:3 - The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men... that's position, right? And political and being in a political position. ...He that rules over men must be just... He must be righteous. He must be fair. ...ruling in the fear of God. He's got to realize there's somebody up there he's got to answer to. And, notice if he does that.
V. 4 - And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining.
I want to share with you how the New King James puts it:
V. 3 - The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just,
V. 4 - ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning... boy, when you see that first light of the morning ...when the sun rises, a morning without clouds... a nice clear day ...like the tender grass springing out of the earth... when the grass starts to turn its lush green ...by clear shining after the rain.' So it is like a clear day after the rain, it's so fresh. That is what He is like.
Okay. So politics can have its down side, too.
Nakita Kruchev. Nakita Kruchev was a legendary, shoe-banging tyrant, although the story I read, he really didn't bang his shoe, he banged his fist. He took off his shoe, put it on the desk and if there was another bad statement, he was going to bang it. But, apparently, the statement was said after that he didn't, but he still had his shoe there so people had him pounding the desk with his shoe in his hand as well. So the story is, he didn't really pound it. But anyway, Nakita Kruchev – he was the ruler of Russia from 1958 to 1964 and he wasn't as ruthless as Stalin, but he did get rid of all of his competitors. Notice what he says. "Politicians are the same all over." And this is, again, the abuse of politics. "They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river."
So, empty promises. We just saw the news last night and Hillary Rodham Clinton was up there talking and they asked her husband, "Well, is she going to run?" "No. No, she won't run." So the commentator said, "Well, she says that, but can you believe a politician?"
Politicians should hold the politics – the governing reigns of the people - in high esteem. Unfortunately, they don't. And so you see in politics, the Democratic and Republican Conventions. You see a political rally to try to rustle up votes and drum up support.
You see another political convention – I believe this was a Republican Convention in 1996.
Former President Jimmy Carter, "Vote for me." Out trying to stir up support for himself.
Let's come to the People. So politics: politics is about governing, right? Politics is about governing. You can govern people in a right way or you can govern people in a wrong way.
Let's look at people, the citizens, the church members, the ones supposed to be benefited by power, position and politics. They are (plural) individuals of any group. People could be the team. People can be various and sundry ones. Psalm 79:13 talks about God's people being like a flock of sheep, His flock. 1 Peter 2:25 I will read. 1 Pet. 2:25 we read this:
1 Pet. 2:25 - For we were as sheep... as sheep. I think, last week I believe my son-in-law gave a sermonette about goats – was it last week? – goats and sheep. And some people came up and said, nobody said anything about dumb. I never find in the scripture where God calls His people dumb. And we are right: sheep are dumb, but He never calls them that. But He does use wonderful characteristics about sheep. Sheep need to be led. Sheep need to stay in the flock. They need to be guided. But here, he says, For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. So we have a shepherd, okay? - and God's people are likened to sheep.
Matthew 9:36 I won't read. Jesus Christ lamented when he saw people who were scattered in His day. Remember he had compassion on them because they were like sheep having no shepherd.
So, the people - what about the people? People long to be led in the proper direction and to have a good life. What about the people - people from all backgrounds. Here you see from one of the Middle Eastern Turkish area backgrounds. People from all backgrounds want to have a good life. It's not just Americans.
What about the people? Families: Rick Berendt and his family, one of our elders in Edmonton has six children – his wife and six children. We saw them at the Feast. Families want to lead a good life.
What about the people? Why, even students of all ages want to live a good life (it's ABC by the way, if you didn't know).
What about the people? Why, even office workers want to have a good life, too.
What about the people? Children want to be happy, too.
You see, people are like sheep, needing a shepherd to be led or they go astray. People can turn ugly and rebel without proper guidance. Here you see this guy flicking rocks or Molotov cocktails.
Here you see a whole riot, the building on fire.
Without guidance, without proper guidance over in Jeremiah 4 verse 22, let's turn there real quickly.
Jer. 4:22 - For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children... not Scottish, but sottish ...they have none understanding... they don't understand ...they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
And you know what God says in Isaiah 3? He said, Your leaders, those that lead you, cause you to err because the masses need to be pointed in the right direction. The masses need to be led in the right direction, encouraged to go the right direction, taught what the right direction is, encouraged to go that way. And it doesn't take a Superman. It doesn't take a Superman. They need humble shepherds to care for and guide them.
1 Thessalonians 2 the Apostle Paul said, Like a nursing mother I tried to care for you. Like a nursing mother.
It also talked about in 1 Timothy 3:5 that a man, if he doesn't know how to rule his own house, how can he take care of the church of God?
In Hebrews 13:20, I do want to read. Heb. 13 and verse 20, notice.
Heb. 13:20 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant... Jesus Christ is that overall, great shepherd of the sheep.
Here you see this man kneeling down and praying, you see his sheep in the background.
Here you see a tent. Feeding, leading caring comforting.
Acts 20:28 – the Apostle Paul pointed out to those in Ephesus, the Ephesian elders, he said that this is God's flock, you'd better take care of them. We apply it to the church. You can apply this to any leader.
Acts 20:28 - Take heed therefore to yourselves, to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood. To take care of them, to look after them, to feed them, to nurture them.
So you find those scriptures. And, of course, Isaiah 40:1 says 'comfort you - comfort you my people'.
Here you find a shepherd amongst his sheep. Jesus Christ was a faithful shepherd.
John 10:10 Jesus Christ did not come to lead His people into war, into warfare, into trouble. He did not come to take advantage of His people.
John 10:10 - The thief comes not, but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, they might have it more abundantly. And then skipping down, He says in verse 11:
V. 11 - I am the good shepherd...
V, 26 – But... some ...believe not, because they are not my sheep,
But in verse 27 He says, - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Jesus Christ is that faithful shepherd that we can look to and learn from. And, you know what? When people all over the world have power, position and politics being employed in a proper way, the people all over the world will feel the results.
Here are people up in Beloit, WI having a nice dinner together organized by them up there. But I just thought they are having a happy and joyous time.
Proverbs 29:2 says when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. And Psalms 144:15 tells us that Happy is that people...whose God is the LORD. Happy are the people.
In summary, Power can be Godly and used properly is a blessing. Position is something that is shown to be absolutely acceptable in scripture, but pride may enter and a wrong attitude ensue. Politics is about governing, but there is no place for self-serving craftiness in Christianity. And People – people deserve to be served and cared for as well as led.
In summary, the Gospel is about Power, Position, Politics and People. We preach a Gospel about the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? It's going to be the government that breaks in pieces and consumes all the kingdoms of this world, eventually. And God has called you and me to be kings and priests to help effectuate that – in a position in that kingdom with power (because all power is given to Him in heaven and earth, He'll give it to us) and He wants us to lead the people. Remember Isaiah 30 verses 20 and 21 that when people start to go to the left hand or to the right, their teachers won't be removed into a corner. They will come and say, 'This is the way. Walk you in it.'
Rev. 11:17 Jesus Christ is going to be King of kings and Lord of lords over all the earth. He is going to be proclaimed. And they said, we are thankful that You have taken Your great power, and have reigned.
Micah 4 they are going to come to be taught of us. So God wants us to use His power to teach people about His governing ways and to serve them in the world tomorrow.
Before I conclude, I want to show you about 50 seconds of a film clip from the movie, 'Dave'. Dave was an impersonator of a President of the United States who was stricken with a stroke, who had bad deeds in office. They just had Dave stand in for a while. Well, as time went on, he began to make some pretty good efforts and do some good work, but at the end he realized he would have to resign because the guy he was impersonating was a bad dude. And I'd just like to play this last clip because I think it captures what a leader who's in position in government and his relation to the people is all about. So, watch this 50 second clip from the movie, 'Dave' and then I wish you a wonderful Sabbath.
"And while on the subject, I'd like to apologize to the American people. You see, I forgot that I was hired to do a job for you - and that was just a temp job at that - forgot that I had two hundred and fifty million people who were paying me to make their lives a little bit better and I didn't live up to my part of the bargain.
"You see, I think there are certain things you should expect from your President. I ought to care more about you than I do about me. I ought to care about – more about – I ought to care more about what's right than I do about what's popular. I ought to be willing to give up this whole thing for something I believe in."