As I go to prayer, we can't forget about the 17 families that lost their
children in Florida. What a horrific loss. Can you conceive of getting a phone call
as a parent that your child has been killed? And so I'm gonna pray for those
families. But a number of people have asked me this week, "Why is this happening?
Why is this happening?" There is a cause-effect relationship.
2nd Chronicles chapter 15 verses 3 to 6 says, "In those days there was no true god, no
teaching priest, no law. There was no peace to him who came in or to him who
went out." It says, "Citizen rose up against citizens. City rose up against city.
Nation rose up against nation, for God troubled them with every kind of
distress." So here is why it's happening and here is why it will
happen more: the further you remove God,
the more chaos fills the vacuum. It's as simple and as difficult as that, because
when you remove God, you remove his value system. See with God, it's not just a name.
It's a value system. And when you lose that value system, nature abhors a vacuum,
filling that space of the absenteeism of God because he's been dismissed from our
culture, from our schools, from our politics, then that empty space of his
exclusion is filled with evil.
Now, we know we've got to be responsible, and we do. We take security responsible.
We've added to our security here. We've added to it across the street, because we
know that evil is present. And so, we will do our part, but all the security in the
world—you could have a police person in every aisle—if people don't care about
their lives, they not gonna care about yours.
Because what you're living with today is the dumbing down of the conscience.
The dumbing down of the conscience. And as more people's consciences dumb down,
the more chaotic they will be at a younger age. And so that's why it is
absolutely critical. The Bible has a cause-effect relationship. The Bible says,
"If you shed innocent blood, more innocent blood will be shed." So, the more abortions
you have, the more violence you'll see. See, so all of this is
interconnected theologically and spiritually. The world doesn't recognize
that. It's critical that we as Christians recognize that and do our part in
bringing God, in an appropriate, responsible, kind, non-force way, but to
bring God back. When God left the school, chaos entered in. Wherever God is removed,
chaos will fill that space. In your life, in your family, in our culture. So, we will
do our part as a church for you—for our community—to get God back in the
proper place, so that we can bring ease to a chaotic world. Father, as we prepare
to hear your word in a moment, I thank you for Fellowship Christian Academy. I
thank you for the parents, the staff, the alumni,
and the investment we're making. I thank you for our public schools, particularly
those who are seeking to do it in the right way. That you'll protect them and
our students there, and that we will do our part to invest in the lives here
locally and beyond. I pray for seventeen families that lost loved ones, that the
God of all comfort will heal the wound in their heart. I think about the coach
who stepped in front of the bullets, and who was a Christian, and gave his life so
others could live. Father, I just bless your name. And we
know the cause and effect relationship; I just pray that we will respond to it as
things get worse and worse. So Lord, in the meantime we're going to give you the
honor due your name. We're gonna worship you. And now, Lord, be
glorified in the remainder of our service, in Jesus' name. All God's people
said, amen.