Wisdom For Society

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Wisdom For Society</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id230.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Advice for Making the Most of Life"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Being Joyful As A Realist"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“Wisdom for Society.” Ecclesiastes 8:1-17, Berean Bible Church, Oct 28, 2001am</B></div> <bR> <div> We are supposed to influence our society, our world (Matt 5:13-14: Salt (seasoning, preserving) and light (representing the truth, attracting others to it)).<I> </I>How can the church affect society in a meaningful way? How can it make a difference in areas like drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, religious freedoms, justice, poverty and hunger, education, etc.?</div> <div> Here are four essential habits, steps, actions, of people who influence their society.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Respect authority.</B> (Vss. 2-4). Rom 13:1-7 (<B>submit</B>): <I>“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. </I><I>2</I><I> Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. </I><I>3</I><I> For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. </I><I>4</I><I> For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. </I><I>5</I><I> Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. </I><I>:6</I><I> This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. </I><I>7</I><I> Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”</I> 1 Tim 2:1-4 (<B>pray</B>):<I> “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- </I><I>2</I><I> for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. </I><I>3</I><I> This is good, and pleases God our Savior, </I><I>4</I><I> who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Influence appropriately.</B> (Vss. 1, 5-11). Things are not perfect. Know the right time and place. Notice how the world often sees Christians - we have blown it, by being people of judgment rather than people of grace. We have great freedoms to be involved in the process of change (not the role of the church itself, but open to all Christians as citizens).</div> <div> Start locally. Vote. Letters. Run for office. Get involved - All Women's Help Center. Food. Education.</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. Live your life with joy.</B> (Vss. 12-17). Even in an imperfect, problematic world. You are a part of the Kingdom -  live by Kingdom values, with Kingdom hope. People will take notice. 1 Pet 1:3-9 (Joy): <I>Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, </I><I>4</I><I> and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, </I><I>5</I><I> who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. </I><I>6</I><I> In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. </I><I>7</I><I> These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. </I><I>8</I><I> Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, </I><I>9</I><I> for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>IV. Point people to Christ and his kingdom.</B> (Vs. 7, 12). 2 Pet 3:9: <I>The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.</I></div> <bR> <div>      It is Christ and his power that can change individual lives, and by changing lives, he can change our town, our county, our state, our nation, our world.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>