Post-Election Plans

God is bigger and more powerful than any politician or political party. Even bad choices we make become building blocks in his hands.

Daniel 2:20–21a (NLT) ²⁰ [Daniel] said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever,  for he has all wisdom and power. ²¹ He controls the course of world events;  he removes kings and sets up other kings.”

King Nebuchadnezzar had to learn:

Daniel 4:32b (NLT) “…the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.”

God is sovereign! Even though we have free will and make bad choices.

He will usually give a nation the leaders they deserve, then work through those leaders to redeem his people.

Many of you are familiar with the promise of:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV) If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

This is typical of how God works with any nation:

Jeremiah 18:7-10 (NLT2) ⁷  “If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, ⁸  but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. ⁹  And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, ¹⁰  but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.”

The root problem in America is not “out there” – it’s within the walls of our churches.

As in marriage, we cannot change the other person. We must allow God to change us – to make us more like Jesus.0

Often, the other person will change as a result.

Our focus at All Souls:

Know Christ and Make Him Known

Our Strategy:

• Go.

The Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT2) ¹⁸  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…

We will Be and Make Disciples.

• Love.

The Greatest Commandment:

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) ³⁷  Jesus [said]: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸  This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We will worship God and Serve others.

• Together.

The Great Community:

John 17:20-21 (NLT2) ²⁰  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. ²¹  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

We will connect with and care for each other.

Mark 12:38–44 (ESV) ⁴¹ And [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴² And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. ⁴³ And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. ⁴⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

What would it be like for all in All Souls to be all in?

Elections have consequences. But they don’t hold a candle to what can happen when we live into being the People of God we are meant to be. We have more important work to do than our elected officials. Let’s go all in.