Beyond the Ballot Box 

Pastor Phil Derstine 11-3-24

Bold prediction of what will happen, day after Election?

  • NOTHING… will Change – Despite politician promises.
  • Nation is polarized – Deep seated divisions.
  • The Problems that plaque us run deeper than politics – “PEOPLE are the Problem!”

Last Day’s promise of Perilous Times

  • Matthew 24:6 “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen but the end is still to come.”
  • II Timothy 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
  • Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (31) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Story of David & Bathsheba

    • II Samuel 11:1 “And it came to pass… at the time when kings go forth to battle… David tarried still at Jerusalem.”  (King David sinned when he stopped fighting)
  • This is a time when WE need to stay in the Spiritual Battle!
    • Sin aways takes you further than you want to go…  and keeps you longer than you want to stay!
  • David fasted & prayed 7 days for the life of his son… but the child died.
  • Then David got up, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, worshipped God, then went home and ate. (God forgave and blessed him with another son – Solomon)
  • Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  
  • Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

God is about to do Amazing Things! (Expect Miracles!)

  • Joshua 3:5 “Joshua told the people, Consecrate (sanctify) yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
  • John 17:19 (Jesus) “I sanctify myself…”
  • James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you… and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

What do these Memorial Stones mean?  (Your Testimony)

  • Joshua 4:9 “Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood.” 
  • Joshua 4:22 “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, What do these stones mean? Tell them, Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.   (24) He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the   LORD your God.”
  • Build an Altar of Stones – that represent the Miracles that God has done in your life!

Examples of Miracles (stones) that Changed Kings and Nations

  • I Samuel 17:37 (David & the giant) “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
  • Daniel 6:26-27 (Daniel in lion’s den) “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.  For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.  He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.  He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”  
  • Acts 16:29-30 (Paul & Silas in prison) “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul & Silas.  He then brought them out and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
  • Daniel 3:25  (Hebrew Boys in the fire) “Look!  I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God. (29) Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
  • Hebrews 11:7 (Noah) “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

The Fear of the Lord (Holy Fear)

  • Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech, do I hate.”
  • II Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
  • II Corinthians 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.