Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Seal Training
Men’s Breakfast Digging Deep Into The Word
Why (h)wī/
Exclamation: expressing surprise or indignation.
Adverb For what reason or purpose.
Noun: a reason or explanation.
Mark 13:7-8 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrow
God is neither the active cause of these events, nor does He passively stand by watching!
Deuteronomy 30:15-18 See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish;
Sin is at the root!
1 Corinthians 11:30 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death”
James 1:14–15 The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. (THE MESSAGE)
Human Choice! The awesome privilege of human choice carries with it vulnerability towards evil and an opportunity for evil to flourish. Genuine love cannot exist unless freely given through free choice and will, and thus man was given the choice to accept God’s love or to reject it.
James 4:1-6 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
The Bible instructs us about the how and why evil came about, it does not tell us why God allowed it.
Romans 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Believers in Jesus have a responsibility to fight against evil, immorality, and corruption.
Ephesians 4:7 …neither give place to the devil…
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you…
Matthew 11:11-15 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
God deals with ALL sin!
Proverbs 14:34 Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (AMP). What is visible on earth is being orchestrated first in the heavenly realms!
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places
What do we need to do in the face of evil?
I. Pray: Prayer is our most important weapon of defeating unrighteous regimes and/or their ruling demonic counterparts that willfully stand in the way of righteousness and want to kill, steal, or destroy.
2 Chronicles 7:14 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 (NKJV). It’s a valid promise for all people for all of time.
We are called to the priesthood: God is looking for a place where He can administer and release His resources through a people. We are responsible to carry out the ministry of reconciliation; proclamation; prayer; serving.
Exodus 19:3-6 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
II. Worship: Focus on the front and rear guard of worship when going into battles…Worship is vital to the defeat of the enemies of God and for peace for your own soul.
2 Chronicles 20:1-30 relates a story in which there was real possibility that Israel (Southern tribe known as Judah) would face extinction.
The report: a great multitude is coming against you…
The reaction and then the response: (1) Fear…(2) set himself to seek the Lord…(3) fast…
Jehoshaphat’s FIRST line of defense: (1) he sought the Lord (2) fasting (seeking the Lord’s wisdom)
He took a spiritual approach to a real world conflict:
Fear not (2x)
The battle is the Lord’s
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord
TOMORROW…watch the Lord move (2x)
III. Community: 1 Peter 4:7-11 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 
Community is walking TOGETHER in Jesus.
Community is one of the key ways we build a support system and survive the tough times.
Community is a shield of protection for one another.
Psalm 91:1-4:  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Micah 4:3 The Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end
Until that day, we need to trust in the Lord rather than to put confidence in man!
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe