What Happens in Vegas, Unfortunately Doesn t Stay in Vegas Pastor Eddie Turner Sunday, October 8, 2017 John 16:33(NLT)- I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. --- What in the world is going on in our nation? -- April 19, 1995 in Oklahoma City, OK; Timothy McVeigh detonated a Ryder rental truck full of explosives, in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The bombing killed 168 people and injured 680 others. Of the 168 killed (19 children who were in daycare in that building) The explosion destroyed or damaged 324 other buildings within a 16-block radius. McVeigh hated the US Government so he decided to take revenge upon innocent people. -- September 11, 2001 (911) 2,996 citizens were intentionally murdered and over 6000 wounded by people inspired by a religion that hates Israel/Jews and America/Christians. -- June 17, 2015 a 21yr old white supremacist, walks into the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC and deliberately shot and murdered nine black church attendees, including the Pastor. His motive was hopefully to ignite a race war. -- Two weeks ago (just 30 minutes from here) a Sudanese Immigrant walked into the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ and started
shooting, killing one and injuring 8 others. A note of revenge for the Charleston SC church shooting was found in his possession. -- 1999 Columbine High School in Colorado- 13 students and teachers killed - 2007 Virginia Tech University- 32 people on the University Campus were killed 2012 Newtown CT- 20 elementary school children killed along with 6 school employees July 20, 2012 at the Century 16 movie theatre in Aurora CO- 12 people killed and 70 injured June 12, 2016, Omar Mateen, called Orlando, FL Police Dept. and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and then went into a nightclub and killed 49 people and wounded 53 others. What in the world is going on in our nation? Unfortunately, what Happens in Vegas will not Stay in Vegas! What is causing these evil inspired tragedies? How should we respond to these tragedies? How can we insure our family s safety? 1). What is causing these evil inspired tragedies?
Evil Inspired Tragedy is the result of sin. It exists; it is real. From Genesis chapter three and the Fall of man until today, suffering and pain are a natural part of the world in which we live. Where sin exists, the consequences of sin are never far behind. We live in a fallen world cursed by sin. unless a revival of repentance and hearts turning to Jesus occursthere will be no lasting peace or security. Matt. 24:12(NIV)- Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. Jesus informs us that one of the characteristics of the last days will be an increase in wickedness. 2 Tim. 3:13(NKJV)- But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. These types of tragedies have been happening all over the world for decades but now they are happening in the United States. Isaiah 5:20-21(NKJV)- Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight. - Lifestyles, behaviors, actions and belief systems which the Bible has warned against for centuries are now accepted and promoted in our nation. And if one voices any disagreement with the things promoted today, they are a hater and called all types of names that use to be
reserved for the most wicked and vile people. What we once called evil is now called good and what we once called good is now called evil. What was once considered darkness is now considered light and what was once considered light is now considered darkness. Are these tragedies, the judgement of God upon America? If someone believes that what occurred in Las Vegas is the judgment of God, they have a misconception of the nature of God. Gen. 18:16-32(NKJV)- Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. 17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him. 20 And the Lord said, Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know. 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 And Abraham came near and said, Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26 So the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27 Then Abraham answered and said, Indeed now, I who am but
dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: 28 Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five? So, He said, If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it. 29 And he spoke to Him yet again and said, Suppose there should be forty found there? So, He said, I will not do it for the sake of forty. 30 Then he said, Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there? So, He said, I will not do it if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there? So, He said, I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. 32 Then he said, Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there? And He said, I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Gen. 18:22-25(NKJV)- 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 And Abraham came near and said, Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Abraham understood that the Lord would not destroy righteous people with the wicked God allowed Abraham to determine the extent of God s judgement- God responded to Abraham s intercession. What occurred in Las Vegas last Sunday night was the result of sin, Satan and living in a wicked world. Unfortunately, Christians are not immune from the attacks of Satan because we also must live in this wicked world. What is causing these evil inspired tragedies?
Sin alive in the earth and Satan working through men How should we respond to these tragedies? 1). Mourn for our nation and the victims of this tragedy We mourn because we empathize with those who are suffering a loss. We mourn because we remember our own pain. Romans 12:15(NLT)- Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. We mourn because we empathize with those who are suffering a loss. We mourn also over the sin in our lives and the sin in our nation. Our nations moral fiber is being broken by sin and our children must grow up in a world far more dangerous and wicked than we grew up in. It s so easy to skip the step of mourning when tragedy occurs and jump straight to the blame game. ------- The Beatitudes (what are attitudes should be) Matt. 5:4(NLT)- God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Mourning over our sin and the sin of our nation produces repentance and repentance produces God s forgiveness and comfort. ---------- The redemption of our nation rest in the mobilization of the church
interceding for a spiritual awakening in our land. 2 Chron. 7:14(NKJV)- 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land How should we respond to these tragedies? 1). Mourn for our nation and the victims of this tragedy 2). Stay spiritually alert ----- John 16:33(NLT)- I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. - 2 Tim. 3:1(NIV)- But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ----- 2 Tim. 3:1(NKJV)- But know this, that in the last days perilous (difficult/hard to bear) times will come 2 Tim. 3:1-5(MSG)- 1-5 Don t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they re animals. Stay clear of these people. John 16:33(NLT)- I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
The Lord s children have supernatural help available to overcome these tragedies, and protect us and divert us from some of Satan s attempts to destroy us. John 16:13(NKJV)- 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. - John 16:13(NIV)- 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come - How does he show us things to come? Rom. 8:14(NIV)- 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. - Rom. 8:16(NLT)- For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God s children. - Prov. 20:27(NIV)- The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one s inmost being.