Above Reproach: What Can The Righteous Do? Text: Ps. 11 Scripture Reading: Phil. 2:14-16

Above Reproach: What Can The Righteous Do?

Text: Ps. 11

Scripture Reading: Phil. 2:14-16

Intro


King David had great successes in his life (I Sam. 17),

but he also had failures that rocked his world (II Sam. 11-12)

Ps. 11:1-7 (What can the righteous do? – v. 3)For the choir director. A Psalm of David.1. In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your

mountain;2. For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string

To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.3. If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?"4. The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His

eyelids test the sons of men.5. The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His

soul hates.6. Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the

portion of their cup.7. For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.We must trust the Lord for the same reasons when

the foundations of our lives are threatened, shaken

and even destroyed!

Intro


Recent events – Fri. 06/26/15: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that based on Section 1 of the 14th Amendment of

the U.S. Constitution no states are allowed to ban same-sex marriage, thus granting same-sex couples the right to marry across all 50 states.

The White House was lit with the colors of the rainbow in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015.

June 29, 2015, President Obama remarked on the rainbow-lit White House during a press conference and said it was “Pretty cool;” “…a moment worth savoring.”

July 1, 2015: Montana man seeks license for second wife (polygamy in name of marriage equality!)

We can and must trust in the Lord like David did long ago (Ps. 11)!

What are the righteous to do

when evil is called good and

good is called evil (Is. 5:20)?

What Can the Righteous Do?


The righteous must continue to keep their

faithin God:

II Tim. 4:77. I have fought the good fight, I have

finished the course, I have kept the faith;

When evil rises up the righteous look up and rely on God (Ps. 121:1-2).

Faith can overcome temptation (Eph. 6:16) and overcome the world (I Jn. 5:4)!

We know that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).

Saints must continue to teach the gospel for in it is the power of God to change the lives of sinners (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 6:9-11).

God has not abdicated His rule over heaven and earth (Mt. 28:18; Col. 1:16-17)



The righteous must continue

to pray:

I Thess. 5:1717. pray without ceasing;

Saints are to pray for our leaders (I Tim. 2:1-4). We were never promised a supportive government, but that we must pray for our leaders!

When the apostles of Christ faced threats from their people's religious leaders they earnestly prayed, not to escape personal pain and injury, but for the boldness to continue to speak God's word (Acts 4:23-31).

We can pray for the courage of faith to be true to the Lord in the face of those who oppose righteousness and champion sin. (I Pet. 3:14-16)

Paul asked for prayers that he may proclaim the gospel boldly! (Eph. 6:19-20)



The righteous must remain

above reproach:

Phil. 2:14-1614. Do all things without grumbling or

disputing;15. so that you will prove yourselves to be

blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

16. holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

II Tim. 2:24-26: This means being careful in how we answer and respond to the wickedness around us.

We are to be gentle when correcting error! “Speaking the truth in love” – Eph. 4:15



The righteous must be careful not to be

consumed by anger:

Eph. 4:2626. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do

not let the sun go down on your anger,

Ps. 37:1: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.” “Fret” = charah (H2734): “to be hot, furious, burn, become

angry, be kindled, wroth.”

We must not allow the sins of evil people turn us into raving fools! (Eccl. 7:9: “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools”)

The righteous are disgusted by the sins of the wicked as well as by those who condone and comfort sinners (Amos 5:15; Rom. 1:32; 12:9).

But the righteous give place to the wrath of God; they are not drawn into sin by the sins of others (Rom. 12:17-19: God can repay with vengeance better than we can!)



The righteous must overcome evil with good:

Rom. 12:2121. Do not be overcome by evil, but

overcome evil with good.

I Pet. 2:20: Patiently enduring unjust suffering “finds favor with God!” I Pet. 2:21-22: God's “favor” is given to those who follow the example of Jesus when He suffered for us.



The righteous must remember they are living

for heaven:

Phil. 3:2020. For our citizenship is in heaven, from

which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

This world is not our home; our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20; I Pet. 1:4).

Remain virtuous in mind and conduct; “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles...” (I Pet. 2:12).

Innocent before man and God (Acts 24:16). Christians give up their moral credibility when they think and act

like the world while trying to defend what is right! (I Pet. 3:16-17; 4:15-16)



The righteous will exercise

their rights and freedoms as

citizens:

I Pet. 2:1616. Act as free men, and do not use your

freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

It is right to do so (Acts 22:25-29; 25:11: Paul exercised his rights as a Roman)

But while doing so, Christians remember to “honor the king” even while disagreeing with the ruling authorities (I Pet. 2:13-17).

Were Caesars worthy of honor from saints? No, but in that they were appointed by God, as are “the governing

authorities” (Rom. 13:1), they are because saints are to be innocent from wrong-doing (I Pet. 4:15-16).

As U.S. citizens we exercise our right to vote and remove the ungodly from office!



The righteous will obey God

rather than men:

Acts 5:2929. But Peter and the apostles

answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

I Pet. 2:13: God's people “submit…for the Lord's sake to every human institution.”

The exception is “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Just because law “redefines” marriage, saints do not have to accept it or teach it! There are many things our government legalizes that saints cannot condone… Adultery is legal. Remarriage after adultery is legal. But we

preach both as sinful & refuse to wed two people in this situation.

Social Drinking is legal. But we preach against it and will not wed people who engage in it and/or have it at their reception.

Homosexual activity is legal. Same-sex marriage is legal. But we preach against it and do not accept it as a “marriage” but a legal union, and will not perform such a union!



Recent events – Fri. 06/26/15: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that based on Section 1 of the 14th Amendment of

the U.S. Constitution no states are allowed to ban same-sex marriage, thus granting same-sex couples the right to marry across all 50 states.

The White House was lit with the colors of the rainbow in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015.

June 29, 2015, President Obama remarked on the rainbow-lit White House during a press conference and said it was “Pretty cool;” “…a moment worth savoring.”

July 1, 2015: Montana man seeks license for second wife (polygamy in name of marriage equality!)

Remain above reproach in the midst of a wicked

& perverse generation, putting our faith & trust in God!

What can the righteous do in

the face of evil?

Conclusion


The righteous must still call sin, sin! (Is. 5:20-21): I Cor. 6:9-10: Homosexuals and effeminate are called

“unrighteous” and is said they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Rev. 21:8: Those who commit “immorality” will go to Hell! Not “born” that way since one can change (I Cor. 6:11: “Such

were some of you”).

I Cor. 6:9-119. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not

be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,

10. nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

11. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Conclusion


God Defines Marriage, Not Man! Marriage does predate

Christianity, and we do not seek to “define” it, but to stop certain people (activists, government) from “redefining” it!

God created marriage from the beginning with thecreation of man and woman: Mt. 19:4-6: Marriage existed “from the beginning.”

Mk. 10:6-9: Jesus said marriage existed since the “beginning of creation.”

Mk. 10:66. "But from the beginning of creation, God

MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.

God decreed who could get married, not man: Male and Female!

Conclusion


Marriage is the God-sanctioned union for sexual relations

Outside of marriage is fornication! With other than spouse is adultery!

Heb. 13:44. Marriage is to be held in honor

among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

“What can the righteous do?” Trust in God, teach the gospel & the

consequences for sin!

Redefining it paves the way for unions such as bestiality, polygamy, polyamorous, incest and other sinful couples to be called “married” because they “feel” they are in love!

God defines marriageand who can be united

in it, so it is not for manto “redefine” it!

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”

Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17)

Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24)

Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.

10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)

For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),

Pray (Acts 8:22)

Documents

Above Reproach: What Can The Righteous Do? Text: Ps. 11 Scripture Reading: Phil. 2:14-16