The Deacon Body expresses gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s continued blessings keeping our church family safe and free from serious physical complications related to the COVID 19 virus. We rejoice with you in our return of in-person worship and ministry this past Sunday morning. It was good to welcome 72 of our people back to renew fellowship and corporate ministry together. We were blessed to have 3 guests join us on site during the worship hour. We continue our praying for and trusting in God’s protecting presence to keep us safe and well during these days of continued resistance to the COVID 19 virus.
 
As you pray about how you will continue to serve the Lord these days, please allow the Deacon Body as spiritual leaders within our church family to encourage you to remain diligent in:
 

• Regularly Washing and Sanitizing your Hands
• Wearing your Mask
• Staying Separated by the Recommended Distance

 
We do not believe these sensible recommendations violate individual rights or freedoms. These are prescribed solutions that work and keep people well. These are no different than taking a prescribed medication for an illness or maintaining distance from others when you have a cold. This is not a matter of infringement, but simply a way to serve the health needs of others. The Bible says, “…with humility of mind regard one another as more important that yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:2-3). Let others know how much you love them by taking care to follow these simple but important principles.
 
We desire for everyone to feel at home when they worship and serve the Lord at Grace. If you feel hesitant to return to in-person worship, or uncomfortable following the recommendations given above, please continue to worship in fellowship with your church family through our online worship gathering. You can register your presence with us each week online by simply sending a text or making a comment. We would love to hear what you have to say and what God is saying to you through His word. This present difficulty caused by COVID is not ultimate. It will pass and we will be back to our regular routines and practices when it is safe and reasonable to do so. Until then, let’s keep our church family in unity, working together for the glory of God and the building of His kingdom at Grace.  

This morning my sermon on the gospel as God’s power is taken from Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” The gospel of Jesus Christ is first and foremost a gospel of POWER.
 
What kind of power do we have in the gospel?
 
Paul says it is God’s power.  Imagine that. When we have the gospel, we have the power of God.
 
I spent some time this week attempting to learn more about the power of God. I will preach to you today the details of what I learned about the character and quality of God’s power, but I want you to have these scripture passages for you own study and reference. I have listed them below so you can put them in your Bible:

• Gospel Power Created the Universe and All that is – “God made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom…”  (Jeremiah 10:12-13)
• Gospel Power Reveals Who God is – “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power, and divine nature. So, they are without excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)
• Gospel Power Raised Jesus from the Dead – “…For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12).
• Gospel Power Gives Us Hope – “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
• Gospel Power Works Within the Believer – “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20)
• Gospel Power Reigns Forever – “And they said, ‘WE give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.’” (Revelation 11:17)

 
When Paul says that the gospel is the power of God, we believe that God’s amazing power has come to work in all those who believe in Jesus. It works within Christ’s church. It is the power that causes unbelievers to be saved. It involves them in partnership with all that God is doing in the world today. God’s power is not like the world’s power, “He that is in you is greater than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God’s power is the only power that can transform people into God’s children. The truth is, we possess the only real and lasting power there is because we belong to God. All other power lacks sufficient energy to meet the spiritual desires and most basic needs of life, liberty and right standing before God. Our nation and our world today are in desperate need of gospel power that comes directly from God.
 
When you know Jesus and claim Him as your personal Lord and Savior, you have a right to exercise God’s power through your practice and sharing of the gospel of Jesus. Let others see Jesus in you. That’s real power!

​As I watched the events of Wednesday unfold, I saw the Christian Flag limp and dragging the floor being carried into the Senate Chamber. Later on, I saw a flag with the name JESUS carried casually around outside the Capital Building. Sometime later, I saw a tee shirt worn by somebody with the emblem of a Bible worn over a chubby belly with the words "Holy Bible" on the front. Seeing those words and emblems in that context seemed out of place and somewhat strange. I have been thinking about these images since Wednesday.
 
A question comes to my mind every time I go back and reflect on what I saw. The question is,
 
"Would Jesus be a part of an insurrection?"
 
Every time I think about it, the same answer comes to mind, "Yes, He would."
 
Jesus participates in insurrection, because He has already participated in them, but not the way you might think.
 
Don't forget about the first coup attempt when the angel Lucifer decided he wanted to replace God in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:9). Now, if you believe in the preexistence of Jesus (Colossians 1:17), and I do, Jesus had to be a part of God's take-down of the devil and the devil's removal from the portals of glory. Jesus participated in the clean-up after Satan along with his minions were thrown out. Jesus was the remedy, not the cause.
 
Then, as if the devil didn't learn his lesson, he tried it again when he tempted Eve to take a bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Satan led an insurrection in creation by attempting to overthrow what God had commanded Adam and Eve to do (Genesis 3).
 
Remember what God did?
 
He threw the serpent out of the Garden along with Adam and Eve. He placed an angel at the front gate with a flaming sword in his hand to guard His garden and the tree of life so nobody could ever again usurp His authority. Yes, Jesus was there and participated once again in casting Satan down and putting him in his place.
 
The New Testament is full of Jesus throwing Satan out of places and people. The devil always tries to take over. Jesus cast demons out of people 12 times during His ministry. He commanded them, once He foiled their takeover attempt, to keep quiet about it. He sent a bunch of them into a herd of pigs that committed suicide jumping over a cliff and into the sea (Matthew 8:28-32). Mary Magdalene had 7 demons that Jesus cast out making her whole again (Luke 8:2). Jesus did not participate in the take-over side of Satan's insurrections. Instead of insurrection, He made the restoration and clean-up side happen. He put back together what Satan tried to tear apart.
 
The most profound hostile takeover attempt of Satan was when the angry mob, believing and acting on the blatant lies of the Pharisees and Sanhedrin counsel saying Jesus was an imposter. The crowd screamed and clamored to Pilate in their hate filled rebellion, "Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!" Jesus let them have their way. He laid down his life as a ransom for many (1 Timothy 2:6).
 
They along with the devil thought their coup attempt was a success, but not so. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave once again cleaning up the overthrow that Satan had tried. The tomb is empty. Sin and death is no more and ole "Mister Nasty" is once again thrown down.
 
Yes, Jesus has a place during an insurrection. The Bible is welcome. The Christian Flag belongs wherever hostile takeovers take place. These are not a cause. They are the answer to insurrection. Jesus is a reconciler, a peacemaker, a redeemer who cleans up the mess, calms the waters and restores order. Jesus fixes the chaos and hatred and bloodshed that insurrection leaves behind.
 
One more point. The apostle Paul confessed that insurrection is a daily problem in his own soul. He does not do what he knows he should do, and then he turns around and does the very things he knows he should not do (Romans 7:18-20). Paul cries out, "O wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?" Paul, needs help cleaning up the rebellion and insurrection in his own life. Listen to His victory confession, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Jesus wins! His life is saved! The rebellion is over and through Jesus his soul is no longer controlled by chaos.
 
Man! When it comes to insurrection, I want to be on the Jesus side of it. Satan, and chaos, and insurrection have no chance when Jesus is there.
 
Pastor Mike

​According to my count, we now have 14 of our worship leadership, including family members, who are under quarantine due to COVID infection. As a result, it has become necessary to make the hard decision to return to online worship beginning next Sunday, December 20th. This is especially disappointing due to our joy in coming together to celebrate the Christmas season. Since being diagnosed COVID positive this past Sunday morning, Robbie and I have been forced to approach this Christmas season in a completely different way.
 
For one thing, we are separated by 17 steps between the downstairs part of our home where I am, and the upstairs portion where Robbie is. I’m positive and Robbie is not, so we talk to each other these days by phone. Robbie prepares food and I pick it up at the top of the stairs. I must let her know when I need to come upstairs to take my medicine so she can put her mask on and step away from the area where I am going to be. The space where I am is certainly quieter, but it is also lonelier. I don’t like the feeling of separation especially at Christmas.
 
We have not been able to shop for our family yet. We cannot go out of the house and we cannot be together to do any shopping online. We like to Christmas shop for our grandchildren together. It may be that we can get our shopping done in a few days when I am COVID free, but it will be a last minute kind of thing where we will be rushed and robbed of the full enjoyment of it.
 
Prior to testing positive, God had given me every sermon topic that He was leading me to preach throughout the Christmas Season. I was able to preach the first sermon and have the second ready to preach, but missing two weeks puts me behind with the second sermon to preach online next week. I cannot wait to preach even though I’m behind in the schedule God gave me. Thank you, Bradley Elliot and Earl Pirkle, for your friendship and able leadership to preach for me. I give thanks for able preachers in our church and area who are eager to be called on when needed.
 
Thank you, Chuck Whitehead and Deacon Body for your prayers and leadership during this difficult time. Your support and continued ministry in contacting your families is essential. All of our deacons have been called to serve the Lord and His church. They all are committed to lead our church fellowship and keep us together in ministry and outreach. I am confident that during this return to online worship, our fellowship will continue to thrive through the leadership of our Deacon Body and your diligent devotion and loyalty to the Lord.
 
COVID has been more of an inconvenience than a crisis in our family. My symptoms have been mild and I give God praise for His healing hand of mercy. None of those among us who have tested positive have been critical so far. Praise the Lord! To give enough time to get everyone past the quarantine requirements and account for spread to other family members, we need to allow 6 weeks to pass. We plan at this time to worship online until Sunday morning, February 7th. God is already speaking to me about our coming back to in-person worship with an emphasis on reconciliation. He has led me to 2 Corinthians 5:20. We will call our first Sunday coming back together, “BE RECONCILED TO GOD SUNDAY.” Praise God for His ministry of reconciliation which brings us back together and binds our wounds with His amazing love and mercy.

Today our church family lights the Peace Candle in our continued celebration of the Advent Season. Remember how the angels glorified God by singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14). Peace comes to us through Jesus who gave His life to make us right with God. We have peace through Him because He is our “Peacemaker.” Get rid of any strife or enmity in your heart that hinders you from realizing the peace of the Lord. Put down revenge and hatefulness and pick up the mantle of God’s peace. Let your mind and your heart rest in Jesus. He will give you His peace. It surpasses all human understanding (Philippians 4:7).
 
The church will be called into Business Conference at the end of the worship service on Sunday, December 13th. The purpose of the conference is to present to the congregation the year-end financial statement for approval. The church will also vote to approve the 2021 Church Budget which will guide the work and ministries of our church for the first 6 months of the year. With the pandemic still upon us, the Stewardship and Finance Team determined to only budget the first half of the year and then make revisions for the second half based on the pandemic situation and financial outlook over the remaining 6 months. The church ministry calendar, events and ministry forecast continues to remain uncertain. We trust that the outlook and opportunities will be much improved by June of 2021.
 
The financial standing of our church has been strong thus far. Income has exceeded the 2020 budget projection. Our people have continued to be faithful. In fact, a substantial balance has accumulated in our general account due over the year. The Stewardship and Finance Team has been led to unanimously recommend that $45,000 be transferred from the general fund and applied to the mortgage debt on our property and facilities. By this transfer, the building debt will be reduced from $445,000 to a bit under $400,000 which will save the church $21,000 in interest over the loan’s three-year term. The church will be asked to approve this recommendation in the business conference on December 13th.
 
In addition, the Stewardship and Finance Team also asks that our congregation consider a special offering for the purpose of debt reduction through the end of the 2020. You may be in a position where God could lead you to give over and above your regular tithes and offerings a year-end gift to be added to the transfer amount from the general fund. Your special gift will be tax deductible. Every cent will be applied to the debt whether it is $1, $100, $1,000 or more. Please pray about what the Lord may lead you to contribute to this debt eliminating opportunity.
 
We serve a God of peace. He does not intend that His people live under the bondage of sin, fear, worry, or debt. As we light the “Peace” candle this morning, praise the Lord for the peace we enjoy in Jesus. While the world battles outside, we have the peace of Jesus abiding in our hearts. May His peace rule in your hearts this Christmas season.

​Have you noticed that people are putting their Christmas decorations up in their yards early this year?

​I’ve heard that people are tired because of the fear and separation created by the pandemic. The country is weary of political divisions. Many folks are having to manage now with less money and job insecurity. Maybe the reason Christmas decorations are being put up early is because we are ready for a change to a more peaceful and more kind time of year. Maybe people are ready to hear the angels sing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14)
 
I am tired of meanness. This COVID pandemic is not kind. It is mean and deadly. People have learned how to be mean toward others who have a different opinions, or wear different colored skin, or speak a different language. Go ahead and admit it. It has become difficult these days for families to even sit down at the same table together to share a meal without someone getting upset by the conversation or some different point of view. Some wear masks and others do not. Some voted this way, and some voted another way. Meanness is not foreign even among people who are supposed to love each other. Meanness today is as rampant and deadly to friendship as COVID 19.
 
My friend, T. Richard Davis died this week. He was 96 years old. T. Richard, as we used to call him, was one of the kindest men I have ever known. He lived by the Biblical standard, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32) T. Richard’s kindness flowed out of his humility. Every time you talked to him you felt better after the conversation. He had a way of getting underneath you and lifting you up. He made you feel like your idea mattered and that what you had to say was worth his full attention. T. Richard Davis was without doubt a “Kind Soul.”
 
The Advent Season is a season of kindness. It expresses in four separate Sundays, beginning this Sunday and ending with our Christmas Eve service, the kindness of God express in:

• Hope – November 29
• Preparation – December 6
• Joy – December 13
• Love – December 20
• Jesus Christ – December 25

 
One thing is for certain. God showed His wonderful kindness toward us in sending Jesus to save us and teach us how to be kind to others, “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, buy the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:4-6)
 
That’s what I’m praying for this Advent Season. I’m praying for a rain shower of kindness that will lift us up out of the mess we are in. I need a good dose of God’s kindness right now. Let the kindness of Jesus flow out of heaven on Grace Baptist Church this Christmas.

​“TO GATHER OR NOT TO GATHER” that is the question my family is wrestling with during these days of social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing. It is a real heartache that children, grandchildren, friends and loved ones are having to question whether it is acceptable to come together to share grandma’s turkey and dressing and be thankful for God’s rich blessings during this season. Some within our family say, “Yea, let’s get together like always.”
 
Then others say, “I don’t think it is the wise thing to do.”
 
During a season of thankfulness, the family is further divided out of caution rather than disagreement. I don’t like it, but that is what we must contend with these days.
 
Can we be thankful during a pandemic?
 
I’m sure a quarter of a million people will have a hard time being thankful when they have lost a loved one to death because of this virus. I understand that at any one time 75,000 people are hospitalized nationwide as a result of COVID. Thanksgiving from a hospital bed or an ICU room will be almost impossible. How about all those doctors, nurses, first responders and essential healthcare workers who are bone tired and fearful for their own health. They may have a hard time finding thanksgiving in their hearts. Maybe I can be thankful for them. Listen to what God’s word says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
 
Does the “EVERYTHING” in this verse include a pandemic?
 
Absolutely! We can be thankful in spite of sickness, economic downturns or even isolation and fear that accompanies the present crisis.
 
Robbie and I have decided that we will have thanksgiving in our family no matter what the children decide to do. We are going to cook the turkey and make the dressing along with the wonderful side dishes Robbie prepares from family recipes that have been passed along to us over the years from our parents and grandparents. If need be, I will dish up the food, take it to the kids and leave it on their front doorstep. We can have a family “ZOOM” thanksgiving gathering to share with each other the blessings we have received from the Lord. I can read thanksgiving prayers and benedictions from God’s word online. I will compose a thanksgiving prayer and send it to the entire family. Let’s be thankful even though we may not be able to be together. Thanksgiving is a pathway for the peace of God to invade our lives.
 
We need a double portion of God’s peace, don’t we?
 
Let’s find ways to be more thankful this season than ever before. Let’s kill the pandemic with thankfulness. Maybe God may use thanksgiving like a 95% effective vaccine. A good shot of thankfulness may be what we all need right now. 

The Sermon on the Mount is the believer’s standard for living in today’s world. I have been thinking a lot about that lately.
 
How do I want my children and grandchildren to remember me?
How do I want God to judge me when Jesus comes again to establish His kingdom?
 
It is more important to me for Him to say, “Well done good and faithful servant…” (Matthew 25:23), than what friends, family and even fellow citizens say about my life. Don’t get me wrong. It is important what others think about me, but I am more focused these days on what God will say than any other person I know. To this end, Jesus holds up the standard of righteousness as a kingdom of God principle.
 
Is it possible to meet that standard in a world filled with so much animosity, greed and untruth?
How can a person ever be righteous enough to please God?
 
The truth is, we can’t. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). Our righteousness is as “filthy rags” according to according to Isaiah 64:6. I am unrighteous due to my many sins and I need God’s help to ever hope to be righteous enough to meet His standard.
 
That’s why Jesus is so important to me. He is my righteousness. His blood covers my sins so that I am righteous through the blood of Jesus on the cross, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). I am declared righteous through the blood of Jesus. Being made righteous through the blood of Jesus describes my kingdom character by my faith in what He did for me on the cross. I didn’t earn it. I received it the moment Jesus entered by heart and became the Lord of my life. So, I am a righteous person to God through faith in Jesus and qualify for citizenship in His eternal kingdom.
 
Righteousness is incomplete if I only strive to be right before God and slack up in my determination to do right in my daily life. It simply does not work to say that you are righteous when your actions say you are not. Righteousness means that you trust Jesus to make you right before God and then you dedicate yourself to do right every day. The Beatitude says, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness…” Righteousness must be your purpose and goal in all the decisions you make and the lifestyle you choose.
 
That’s what the rest of the Sermon on the Mount teaches us. It tells us that it is not enough to simply not murder someone. It tells us that kingdom people do not lend themselves to hate or belittle other people because that assassinates their character and reputation. Jesus says kingdom people do not commit adultery because they don’t ever look upon other women with lust in their hearts. Kingdom people do not worry or strive for excessive wealth because God takes care of them like He does the birds of the air and flowers on the ground. Kingdom people live differently than worldly people. Kingdom people keep their eyes on Jesus and not on the kingdoms of this world.
 
Are you a kingdom person?
Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
 
Guess what. If you do what the Bible says, “You shall be filled…”

​God continues to bless our church by sending new people to worship with our fellowship every Sunday. This past Sunday, we welcomed 4 new families to the worship service. You know that God is at work when you see new faces at church. Of course, God blesses His church through faithful and increased tithes and offerings received from hearts overflowing with love and commitment to what God is doing among us.
 
Our church family has consistently given over and above the goal established through the church’s 2020 Budget. As of this past Sunday, the Budget goal amounted to $133,167,60. Gifts received have exceeding that number by $7,184.64 because total contributions amount to $140,352,24. In addition, our Building and Renovation account has grown to $290,449.68. Grace has been abundantly blessed by God as a church whose members practice good biblical stewardship.
 
Of course, God has blessed our fellowship with new members and recent salvations. When have seen Bradley Swanner and Aubrey Mendez walk the isle to express their faith in Jesus Christ and present themselves has candidates for baptism and membership into the Grace Church family? While attendance has leveled to around 90 to 100 each week due to the pandemic, God continues to demonstrate His blessing upon us through new faces, good stewardship and people coming to faith in Jesus and membership in the church.
 
There is another clear sign of God’s hand upon us. When young folks recognize that God has worked in their lives to call them into kingdom service, you know that He is done something wonderful within the church body. God has called three men to serve as Deacons within the Grace church family:

​Ken Grindle – Unexpired 2-year term
Josh Dixon – 3-year term
Weldon Rogers – 3-year term

 
Weldon was ordained to serve as a deacon by our church 4 years ago. Ken and Josh are newly elected deacons who will be ordained to serve. The Ordination Counsel will meet on Sunday afternoon, October 25th at 5:00 pm to pray with and consider the scriptural basis for ordination with these newly elected deacons. The Bible says, “Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:8-9). The purpose of the Ordination Counsel is to understand better what Ken and Josh believe about the Bible, Jesus, Salvation, the Church and other great doctrines we hold dear. Once the Council approves, they will be presented to the church for ordination which will take place on Sunday morning, November 1st. The Deacon Body will lay hands on these men to encourage and pray for them. The church family will approve of the Ordination as recommended by the Ordination Council and set these three apart for deacon service within the church family.
 
Set these dates aside and plan to be a part of what God is doing in our church to show us His presence and power calling people to step up and step out as devoted followers of Jesus. We sincerely praise Him for every good gift that comes from His hand.

I am continuing my reading through the Bible like many others in our church. Yes, I am behind in the schedule, but nonetheless, I am pressing forward. This week I am reading the prophets and today my time was focused on the great and terrible DAY OF THE LORD. Listen to what Isaiah said about this fearful day, “Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible…Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:9-11, 13)
 
The Day of the Lord in this instance is a description of what God was about to do to Babylon for its disregard for God. Babylon was God’s instrument of judgement against Israel when it failed to follow God’s direction. Now judgement was coming back on them for the same sins Israel had committed 70 years earlier. Isaiah called the judgement of God on Babylon, “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see” (Isaiah 13:1). Talking about “What-Goes-Around-Comes-Around.” This is a prime example.
 
God’s judgement is a recurring theme in scripture. Wherever and whenever people willfully sin and disobey God’s divine will as it is revealed in His word, judgement follows. Do you believe we are living in a period of God’s judgement? What we are seeing take place all around us is stark and catastrophic like what the Bible describes as the Day of the Lord. A pandemic has infected over 7 million people in our country claiming more than 211,000 dead. Even if you disagree with the exact numbers, you must accept the fact that this disease is extraordinary in its scope and severity. The Day of the Lord is anything but, “business as usual.” The size of this illness falls in the catastrophic category like what the Bible describes as covering the light in darkness and shaking the heavens and earth out of their normal steady paths. My goodness, even the President and those around him have been shaken and disrupted by testing positive.
 
Wildfires, hurricanes, racial unrest, and chaos in the streets this year have been unusually abnormal. The Day of the Lord is a time when what is normal disintegrates into the abnormal.  God’s judgement is disruptive. It causes people to wonder about things and question what they see. Can you tell that I believe we are looking at our world today in the light of God’s righteous judgement? I believe He is saying, “Be careful. Things could become a lot worse.” Truly, the Day of the Lord would be worse than anything we have seen so far.
 
But, don’t quit reading with chapter 13 in Isaiah. Keep on until you get to chapter 14. There, Isaiah says, “For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob” (Isaiah 14:1). God’s judgement is progressive. He judges not to destroy, but to restore. Yes, Israel was judged by the way God used Babylon to attack their arrogance and pride. Now, after repenting and returning to God, the Babylonians themselves would be rescued by God’s restoration of Israel. Out of God’s judgement comes HOPE. God keeps His promises. God is not finished with us. He will restore if we will only repent. Pray for the repentance of America and for our restoration to faithfulness in God’s sovereign rule over our nation. The Bible says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). God is not done with us yet. Keep on praying and keep on trusting.