Reformation Hope Church Brookfield WI Dr Wayne Sedlak

There are different ways to view a rainbow. The atheist for example may only allow himself to see a rainbow as light refracted into primary colors by water droplets in the atmosphere or one may know the laws of refraction, appreciate the beauty of a rainbow and understand it is a wonderful covenant between God and men. (Genesis 9:13-17)

God covenants with His people through His word. His word is our compass and it is the job of the church to point the needle in the right direction before all nations. The Church is a heavenly institution. As the body of Christ we are on our way to heaven, and while on the way we are a gift, one to another. We are told to handle sin in a charitable manor, to heal, to be a gift. Our example is in Christ who gifted himself on the cross so we might live. If we attend to the building up of God’s house he will build us up. Do more than just talk about it, act it out. Paul tells us to watch what he does so we may see who he is. When we fail to act and allow the compass needle to swing about the distinction of the Church of Christ becomes blurred before the nations. The nations who are failed to be taught go astray. The oppressor stands by our permission. When we let the covenant go we invite the tyrant to take over. Without covenant no matter what else we do we lose.

Genesis 9:13-17 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Our Christian Faith is a practical Faith. The fact is over half of the signers of our Constitution attended a seminary as part of their education. Evidence of this can be seen as one examines the writings of our founding fathers and finds the liberal application of biblical text and precepts throughout. The effect was the Prophetic Word of God unified our Nation. The purpose of the Prophets was foundational in unifying the churches and peoples.

If the church is a mess so will the world be. Bad or false prophets make men vain when approaching the Word of God. By this, sin is given a place to enter. Sin scatters, divides, and tears apart churches, families, society, and nations. One of the favorite tools of sin is its demand for neutrality. The Prophetic Word of God clearly shows us that we cannot serve two masters; therefore, a choice must be made. The prophetic Word of God causes the heart to bow; it brings out the secrets of men. The Word of God in Prophecy is powerful and true, it is a light from which no man is able to hide (Jeremiah 23:22). As God reveals His Word to us it shows us His character.

The Prophetic word of God brings strength to our standard. An excellent example of this is how Noah Webster used the word of God to fashion his Dictionary1 published in 1828. Here are three examples showing portions of his definitions of the words “GRACE”, “SALVATION” and “LOVE”:

GRACE

2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.

And if by grace,then it is no more of works. Rom.11.

3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.

My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor.12.

4. The application of Christ''s righteousness to the sinner.

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom.5.

5. A state of reconciliation to God. Rom.5.2.

6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, &c. proceeding from divine influence.

7. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Eph.4.29.

8. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Eph. 3.8.

9. Eternal life; final salvation. 1 Pet.1.13.

SALVATION

1. The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.

2. Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation.

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2Cor. 7.

3. Deliverance from enemies; victory. Ex. 14.

4. Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19.

5. The author of man''s salvation. Ps. 27.

6. A term of praise or benediction. Rev. 19.

LOVE v

…and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the christian loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for favors received.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind -

Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matt. 22.

2. To have benevolence or good will for. John 3.

LOVE n

The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs from just views of his attributes or excellencies of character, which afford the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute ingredients in this affection, and a fear of offending him is its inseparable effect.

Finally, the nature of false prophets and pastors is to comfort sin. Sin scatters, Christ heals. By God’s grace we are a balm to the world as we apply the Prophetic Word of God in our lives.

*The ARTFL Project

Department of Romance Languages and Literatures

Division of the Humanities

University of Chicago

We better stop mis-teaching Romans 13. We better become a multitude that seeks the honor of a King because the King is honorable. If not he should be impeached judicially.

Can a Civil Magistrate sin?

Saul did. His foolish decree ended up causing his people to sin and his son Jonathan to be condemned to death. As a result of Saul’s actions God turned a deaf ear to his prayer. The people had to make a choice, step back and let Jonathan die (escapism) or rise up on behalf of Jonathan (faithful intervention). Come and hear the choice Saul’s people made and discover how this applies to our lives today.

There is grace in mourning in that God uses it to change hearts. See how this plays out in the public and private lives of our founding fathers.

Romans 13:1-5, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21)

Have you given much thought to the history of July 4th? Beyond parades, picnics, and fireworks? Perhaps you've thought of our forefathers:

Patrick Henry, George Washington, Ben Franklin, or others? Have you studied the forefathers' lives to see what made them sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th in 1776? How did God prepare our forefathers to take that sober--and dangerous--stand so many years ago?

This July 4th take a moment to consider our forefathers and something they had in common. Many of our forefathers--Patrick Henry, George Washington, Ben Franklin, and others--all experienced deep mourning in their personal lives. Patrick Henry mourned the lost of his beloved wife's mind. George Washington mourned the passing of his dear daughter. Ben Franklin mourned not only the passing of a son, but that his other son, William, hated everything that Franklin stood for. Could mourning-- that deep pain that causes one to search God's ways--have anything to do with our forefathers stand on July 4th? Was it mourning that drove our forefathers to draw closer to God and His principles, giving them a burning desire for His government instead of the tyranny of England? If mourning helped to shape our forefathers and the Declaration of Independence, should mourning for the state of our nation be part of our July 4th?

What todays Church needs is the filling, leading and gifting of God's people by His Spirit.

To strengthen and embolden us to deliver the Gospel so that by His Spirit God may move the disobedient towards Justice and Wisdom.

That by that same Wisdom we might be taught how to be Just,Merciful and Longsuffering.,

"Quickening"

Romans 12:1-3, Ezekiel 37:1-14,

Luke 17:1-10

Is it your prayer that God would

quicken you? would make you alive? Not

only in the sense of salvation, but in the sense

of bringing the dry bones of your heart alive to

serving Him well on a daily basis? Psalm 119

records the psalmist's prayer--"quicken me"--

several times just in that psalm alone. It should

be our prayer too; a quickening of His people

according to His word (Psalm 119:25).

Ezekiel 37 records the quickening

of the dry bones through God commanding

Ezekiel to prophesy His word.This pictures God's

quickening of the captive Jews in Babylon. The Jews

are able to return because God's quickening of their

spirits revive them--brings them alive again for the

task at hand. Is that our prayer? That there would be

a quickening of God's people in America and around

the world? Is it our prayer that the Holy Spirit would

quicken our service; that we wouldn't be a lethargic

and passive people? Quickening must be our prayer

for ourselves and for all His saints--that we might actively

serve Him with a Christian liveliness.

Be Not Conformed...Be Transformed

(First Example)

Romans 12:1-3, Psalm 67, Numbers 9:6-10

Have you ever considered what dead bodies have to do with God's command--"be not conformed to this world" (Romans12:2)? What do dead bodies have to do with Psalm 67, where the psalmist is pleading with God to be merciful, "that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations"? Don't all people die? How can a person "be not conformed" in his death? How can ones death make God's "saving health" (Psalm 67:2) be known among all nations?

This first example-- of death and burial--shows how deeply we must renew our minds that we "be not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). If we truly want God's way to "be known upon earth" (Psalm 67:2), then we must seek His mercy and blessing (Psalm 67:1) in the studying--and living--of His word. How Christians handle death (and all its aspects) can show God's "saving health among all nations" (Psalm 67:2b). But do we love deeply enough to reach out to the "nations"? To reach out to our family, friends and acquaintances that know not our Saviour? Let us join the psalmist, pleading for God's mercy to stir such love in our hearts that we would "be not conformed to this world", but would show the world His righteousness, goodness, and love.

Powerful Changes and the promises of Scripture.

Pulpits aflame with Righteousness.

The Black Regiment