Sometimes a preacher must change his message – On the night of Thursday–Friday, April 24–25, 1980, the U.S. launched Operation Eagle Claw to rescue 52 American hostages held in Tehran. Mechanical failures compounded by a sandstorm led to a collision between a helicopter and a C-130 at the Desert One staging site, killing eight U.S. servicemen and forcing the mission’s abort in the early hours of Friday, April 25, 1980. Americans woke up to the horror of our servicemen’s dead bodies being paraded by our enemies. Our nation was stunned.
I was a 23-year-old pastor in seminary. That Friday, I had my sermon already set for Sunday. But I knew the Sunday following this tragedy couldn’t be business as usual. My flock needed their shepherd, however young he was, to bring them a message of hope.
At the time, I was preaching expositorially through the various books of the Bible. I can’t remember what book I was preaching through, but I knew that Friday, I needed a word of comfort for my church. God led me to Habakkuk, where in verse 2 of the opening book, the prophet voices what the righteous have cried out for years…
“O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!” I then started my exposition in verse 12 of chapter one that says, “Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord, my God, mine Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, thou has ordained them for judgement; and , O Mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.”
My title was God Is In Control.
1. God is in control even when life seems unfair. Habakkuk 1:2-2:3
2. God is in control, and the wicked will ultimately perish. 2:4a,5
3. Since God is in control, we can live because of our faith in Him. 2:4
Two points. One, the Bible is ALWAYS our source for comfort and wisdom. Turn to it first.
Secondly, if your church’s pastor fails to even mention the grief felt by Charlie Kirk’s murder, it’s time to re-evaluate a lot of things in your life.
I’m praying pastors step up and seize this opportunity to share the love of Jesus. America is hurting and the Gospel is the only way to heal the hurt.
My pastor, Dr. Matt Brooks (no relation) of FBC Broken Arrow, in his sermon entitled “Walk This Way: Shine His Light” from Ephesians 5:8-14, used Charlie Kirk’s life as an example. Bro. Matt shared 7 things we must do as we expose darkness in response to Charlie’s death:
1. Grieve deeply but not without hope.
2. We show righteous indignation without sin.
3. We commit to speaking the Truth.
4. Love each other deeply. Am I loving those entrusted to me?
5. Expose sin but also offer the Gospel!
6. May we proclaim to never be ashamed of the Gospel.
7. May we live a life that counts.
Bro. Matt ended by quoting another martyr of the faith, Jim Elliot, who said,
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Charlie Kirk wasn’t perfect. None of us is. But he is a great example for all biblical Christ followers.
Let’s all be like Charlie!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach