WOULD GOD VOTE FOR YOU?
[Candidates for Revival]
EZEKIEL 22:30
[This will be presented over several weeks...]
[much of outline courtesy Life Action Ministries.]
Introduction
God chooses to use ordinary people who are yielded to Him to accomplish His purposes in this world that we live in.
We were nothing and even less than nothing before God found us and changed our lives!
Isaiah 40:17
All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
We were great big zeros! But God chose to do a work in us for His honor and for His glory!
1 Corinthians 1:26-29–“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
The Word of God reveals to us that God is constantly seeking for men, women, and young people who will give themselves totally to Him!
Yesterday we went to the polls to choose the leaders of our various levels of government. When we went to the polls, we chose government leaders based on their past performance, their future plans, and their ability to lead.
Hopefully, we also want to know what candidates believe and where they stand on various important issues. We want to know if their actions match their rhetoric. We want to know if we can trust them to do the right thing. We want to know if they have a long-term record of good decisions. We want to know if they have been and are going to be agents for positive change in our land.
By the way, we should choose candidates based on God’s values. If we don’t elect leaders that reflect God’s values in their lives, then we are in jeopardy of bringing further reproach on our land. Proverbs 14:34–“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Imagine if you will, God entering a polling booth, but rather than presidential or congressional candidates, He finds your name as a candidate. What you are running for is that person that Ezekiel is talking about here.
Someone to make up the hedge.
Someone to stand in the gap.
The question is, would God vote for you?
While God may not be casting a ballot, He is nevertheless looking for representatives. He wants men, women, and young people from every walk of life. He is searching for those individuals who meet His criteria for becoming catalysts for revival.
He is looking for those who will reflect His values, represent His philosophy, take the action necessary to carry out His will, and meet the conditions for an outpouring of His presence.
The real power to change the world isn’t in the hands of the politicians; it rests with the people of God. It rests with those who have experienced the life-transforming message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
God has a master plan that goes far beyond our limited comprehension.
1. He wants to save sinners.
2. He wants to revive His Church.
2 Chronicles 16:9–“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”
God has promised to show Himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him! Let’s check our record on some key issues that are in the forefront of God’s platform for our lives!
I. THE WAR ON EVIL. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
The war on terror in this world was in the forefront this election year.
However, there is a related war and a much greater war that is raging and that has been going on since the garden of Eden. That is, the spiritual battle against Satan and his forces.
As God looks at our war on evil, would He say that we are waging an effective war against the darkness in this world?
A. Are We Strong In The Lord And In The Power Of His Might?
B. Are We Armed With The Whole Armor Of God?
1. Truth. (Belt)
2. Righteousness. (Breastplate)
3. Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. (Shoes)
4. Faith. (Shield)
5. Salvation. (Helmet)
6. The Word of God. (Sword)
C. Are We Using The Divine Weapons Of Prayer And Scripture To Wage War Against The Enemy Of The Souls Of Men?
D. Is The Light Of Christ That Is In Us A Source Of Hope To The World Around Us?
Matthew 5:14–“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
II. HOMELAND SECURITY.
Would God say that we have set up the necessary defenses in our life to prevent the Devil from intruding on our home turf?
1 Peter 5:8-9–“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
A. Are We Actively Screening What Comes Into Our Home Via The Various Communication Outlets? (television, radio, internet, books, magazines, etc.)
Just as the terrorists are actively looking for any soft spot in our homeland defenses, so Satan and his cohorts are looking for soft spots in our defenses.
B. Are We Guarding Who Our Close Friendships Are With?
1 Corinthians 15:33–“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
C. Would God Say That We Are Keeping A Lookout For How The World, The Flesh, And The Devil May Subtly Influence Our Families?
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23–“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
THE WAR ON EVIL, HOMELAND SECURITY. . .
III. HEALTH CARE.
Would God say that we are faithfully attending to our spiritual health and to the spiritual health of others?
A. Are We Growing And Maturing Spiritually As We Should?
2 Peter 3:18–“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Too many Christians are spiritually malnourished!
Some are malnourished because they have no spiritual food to feed on.
Some are malnourished because they refuse the spiritual food given them.
B. Are We Involved In Spiritual Exercise?
1 Timothy 4:7-8–“. . .exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
Too many Christians are spiritually weak because they’re not as involved in spiritual exercise as they ought to be. I call them ‘Spiritual Couch Potatoes!’
I can’t overemphasize the importance of maintaining daily devotions with a time of prayer and a time of reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing the Word of God!
Faithful Church attendance, faithful devotions in the Bible and prayer, witnessing–All of these are Spiritual exercises we need to be involved in!
C. Are We Seeking Input From Godly Mentors, Regarding Our Spiritual Well Being?
There are some of us who go to doctors and there are others of us who are reluctant to go to the doctor with anything. Sometimes we live in denial that anything is wrong. As long as we deny that we have a problem we won’t go.
The same thing goes for the spiritual realm!
Philippians 3:17–“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
Philippians 4:19–“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
D. Are We Involved In Guarding The Spiritual Health Of Others?
1 Thessalonians 1:6–“And ye became of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”
Hebrews 10:24–“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
1 Timothy 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.”
An often forgotten part of The Great Commission is discipleship!
THE WAR ON EVIL, HOMELAND SECURITY, HEALTH CARE. . .
IV. EMPLOYMENT.
Ephesians 4:1-3–“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
A. Would God Say That We Are Actively Employed In His Service?
I can tell you that the present unemployment rate among Christians is pathetic and it is totally unacceptable with God!
The only acceptable employment rate in God’s service is 100%!
We have too many Christians today who are unemployed for God and who just want to live off of the benefits provided by those who are employed.
Even if we have to be “underemployed” for a while, we ought to be employed to keep our work ethic what it ought to be!
B. Would God Say That We Are Seeking Opportunities To Employ Ourselves In His Service By Serving Others And Reaching Others With His Love?
Matthew 28:19-20–“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
C. Would God Say That We Are Joyfully Employed? (i.e. Serving In A Biblically Sound Local Church)
God does not want a Christian to be involved in places of employment in this world that do not bring honor to him.
But understand that neither should a Christian be serving in a Church that does not bring honor to God. He wants us in a Fundamental, Biblically sound, local New Testament Church!
THE WAR ON EVIL, HOMELAND SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT ...
V. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. (Luke 12:34-48)
Would God say that we are making the best use of our God-given gifts, abilities, and resources to further His kingdom?
1. Everything that we have, we have because God has allowed us to have it!
2. All that we have belongs to God, not us!
3. We are to use all that God has given to us for His honor and His glory!
4. Each of us are stewards who have been given differing amounts from God!
5. Every one of us will give an account one day of our personal stewardship to God!
1 Corinthians 4:1–2–“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1 Peter 4:10-11–“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
THE WAR ON EVIL, HOMELAND SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. . .
VI. JUDICIAL RESTRAINT. (Matthew 15:1-9)
Do we seek to understand God’s laws with an eagerness to apply them and obey them or do we tend to alter them to fit our own preferences, desires, and behaviors.
In this country we are seeing a proliferation of judges who are legislating from the bench rather than interpreting our constitution and applying the laws of this land as they have been since this country was founded.
But listen, we are also seeing God’s people doing that which is right in their own eyes ignoring the clear teachings of the Word of God! [approaching God’s law “Cafeteria Style!”]
Luke 6:46-49–“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
CONCLUSION
So where do you stand on these issues that are important to God?
THE WAR ON EVIL, HOMELAND SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, EMPLOYMENT,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JUDICIAL RESTRAINT.
Other future topics include…
Abortion? [discipleship. Not letting our new believers die on the vine!]
Marriage?
Balanced Budget?
Education? [spiritual]
Foreign Policy? [missions]
Are you REALLY on the right side of these issues or is your talk just a bunch of rhetoric.
(i.e. Your talk is right, but there is nothing in your life to truly substantiate your position?)
How about if God were in the ballot box to vote as to whether you are going to heaven or going to hell, which do you think it would be? Well, I can tell you exactly what it would be.
If you don’t have Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Bible says you are condemned.
John 3:18–“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
1 John 5:11-12–“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
