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Pastor Mike Mounts |
How Great Is Our God! Introduction Quite frankly, my head has been
spinning over the past couple weeks. I've experienced a gamut of
emotions. I am outraged and angered. But at the same time my heart is broken.
When I first saw th initial video of Planned
Parenthood and the harvesting of the body parts of aborted babies, I was
totally shocked. It put a knot in my stomach and brought tears to my eyes. As
if (since the 1973 Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion) 55 million
aborted babies aren't enough, now they have to dissect and harvest babies
body parts like you would in a Biology class? And then they put the various
body parts and human tissue up for sale? When you think it can't get any
worse . . . it does! It sounds to me that it's
possible some of the babies are even born alive and killed after birth. The
purpose of this (so they say) is to keep all the human tissue viable and
useful. And on top of it all, Planned Parenthood and liberals everywhere deny
it or defend it. They're trying to once again spin it as a "war on
women." No! It's actually a war on unborn babies! It isn't a planned
parenthood at all; it's planned infanticide! Although it has become a
political issue, it is first-and-foremost a biblical, and therefore a moral
issue. Therefore, as your pastor, I have every right and responsibility to
address it. Emotionally, I was ready to
address this topic on August 2. Of course, I would have addressed it biblically,
just as I will today. But I just wasn't ready. This is a topic far too
important on which to just "unload." I have sought to get all of this
in perspective: a biblical perspective. That's what we must always do. This
is a "teachable" moment for each of us. Immediately my mind went to Psalm
139:13-16. For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully
made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very
well. My frame (skeletal system) was not hidden
from You. When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest part of
the earth (figurative for the
mother's womb). Your eyes saw my substance, being yet
unformed. And in Your book they were all written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none
of them. Then, of course, I considered Psalm 139 in
its entirety. We will do that. But doing that, we will most
of all be reminded of the greatness of our God, and in turn, our relationship
and accountability to Him. We will also discover that although He transcends
us in every way, He is a personal and knowable God. Quite frankly, that's the issue.
That's the bottom line. When mankind no longer acknowledges the true living
God (as He reveals Himself in the Bible), continues to override what
conscience he may have, and suppresses the truth; he opens himself up to some
of the most heinous and absolutely repulsive deeds imaginable and
unimaginable--to even do those things that are contrary to nature itself! (
But simple as an introductory message,
my thoughts have gone to several other passages; and we will look at them
over the next few weeks. Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin." The apostle Paul reminds us, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become
new. (2 Cor. 5:17) Since this is the case for every
believer, and based on the context of Ephesians 4:25-32: when we speak, where we speak, how we speak, and why we speak are just as important as what
we speak. Even our work and our income
take on a brand new dimension when we become a child of God. Its purpose is
more than just to earn a paycheck and to fill our coffers. Paul said that the
purpose is so "that (we) may have something to give him who has
need" (Ephesians Do we see the practicality of
Christianity? It impacts our speech and our work. But our new life in Christ
also affects our attitudes and our emotions. Many of the things we once
loved: we now hate. Many of the things we once hated: we now love. Many of
the things we thought were important to us: they have now taken on new
meaning. A biblical worldview has taken the place of a secular worldview.
Many of the things we may have once passively dismissed. Many of the things
we may have once passively dismissed: the now outrage and agitate us - and
rightfully so. Such things that are an absolute affront to God and His
holiness, such as: The teaching of evolution in our local schools (as if it
is a scientific fact), increased lawlessness and the disrespect for civil
authority, the Supreme Court decisions to legalize abortion and same-sex
marriage, and now, the blatant mutilation of aborted babies. All of these
things, and even more, should deeply trouble our souls. The Psalmist wrote,
"You who love the LORD, hate evil!" (Ps. 97:10). It's as if Paul, in the same breath,
says, "Be angry, and do not sin." We must be extremely careful.
Even a righteous indignation, if not under the control of the Holy Spirit,
can lead to bitterness, wrath, clamor (war-cry), slander, and malice, and
ultimately grieve the Holy Spirit of God (Eph. You can check out the rest of this message
and the one's following it in this four part series by selecting the links at
the top of the page . . . |
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