The basic message I wanted to communicate was that the message of Hope and Life is ultimately about the Glory of God.
While the planners were hoping for more people this morning. I added some comments in my message to help put the event in perspective. These comments are italicized below.
Here are my notes:
This morning we are here to be a voice for the voiceless.
I entitled this message God helps those who cannot help themselves.
Now you may have heard the saying “God helps those who help themselves.”
While many say this is their favorite verse, it is not a bible verse. As a matter of fact the message is anti-biblical.
- It is a shame that we have to have prayer vigils like this. Why?
- It is a shame that we have to debate in government courts decisions like Roe v. Wade. Why?
- It is a shame that Emmanuel Baptist Church has a biblical counseling ministry. Why?
- It is a shame that organizations like the Pregnancy Center of Toledo have to use some of their resources to convince women not to have abortions. Why?
- It is a shame that we have to have ministries like the Daughter Project. Why?
It is a shame that in this world we have to make a stand FOR what God has made SO CLEAR!
Read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:2 – 12.
The message of the Beatitudes stands in stark contrast to the message of this world!
That is what I want to talk to you about this morning.
The beatitudes refer to how blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are in need, those who desire righteousness, those who are merciful, those who are pure in heart, those who are persecuted.
The Bible says: blessed are those who submit to God and His ways.
The world says: Get whatever you want whenever you want it however you want it!
But here is part of yesterday’s 40 days for life devotional.
“You are not your own,” Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 6. God alone owns us. While He entrusts us to the care of one another, He does not allow any human being to own another.
A Southern California abortionist, James McMahon, once explained how he justified killing children after 20 weeks gestation by the process known as partial-birth abortion.
He did not deny that this was a child, but rather asked, “Who owns the child? It’s got to be the mother.” The struggle over abortion is really a struggle over the dominion of God. The Christian individual, and the Christian Church, cannot sit idly by when others declare that God is not God.1st Corinthians 6 is an interesting chapter because
the first part is about having no lawsuits among those who follow Jesus Christ
the second part of the chapter is about sexual immorality.
This chapter reminds us it is about what God has done and wants to do.
He is the one who saves and He is the one who deserves the glory.
Verse 20 says “So glorify God in your body.”
This life is not about our rights and our desires.
It is about God’s sovereignty.
The issue of abortion is not merely a political issue.
The issue of abortion is not merely a social issue.
The issue of abortion is not merely a physical issue.
Now I am thankful for those of you who are here for political, social and physical issues.
BUT I want you to know the reason I am here, and it is what I believe is the greatest reason is because abortion is a DOXOLOGICAL issue.
Let me explain what that means.
This life and this particular issue are about giving praise to God for who He is and what He has done.
John Piper quote: “God is weaving human life in the womb in his image; don’t kill what he is creating.”
God has set the example by saving the weak and the powerless, US.
As a matter of fact, God in his grace saved me when I called out to him and said that I was a sinner, I was His enemy.
Each of us is a sinner, an enemy of God, but we must realize the one solution to our sin problem is Jesus.
Romans 5:6 – 8: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
As we go to prayer let us remember that the first thing we need to do is submit to God and determine to do things God’s way.
- We can sign petitions
- We can show up at rallies
- We can hold signs
We MUST pray because it is God who sent Jesus Christ to died & raised him from the dead so that we could have eternal life, if we believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only way to heaven.
While it would have been great to have more people here this morning, we must remember it is God who does the work.
You may have heard the saying "God plus one is a majority." Let me correct that saying. "God is the majority."
You may have also head people talking about being on the right or wrong side of history" when it comes to certain issues. I am here to say the most important thing is not being on the right side of history. It is being on God's side.
It is about God receiving the glory He deserves.
