What Can the Righteous Do?

City Church of Chattanooga
When the Foundations are being destroyed…
WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?
Pastor Mike Chapman
This was the cry of David in Psalm 11. It is our cry
today as we reflect on the horrific week this has been in our
nation. Who does not feel a loss that is unspeakable?
These tragic events were not just terrorism. They were
evil. They personify the words of the ancient prophet
Jeremiah, The human heart is most deceitful and
desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
(Jeremiah 17:9, NLT).
In today’s message, I will not try to speak
philosophically about the existence of evil and the mystery
of the sovereign providence of God. Today, I would like to
speak to your heart more than your head. What, if any,
personal significance does this tragedy hold for us.
Let us begin by observing how Nehemiah faced tragedy
in Nehemiah 1:1-2:5
TODAY IS A TIME TO MOURN.
When I heard this, I sat down and wept…for days I
mourned.
It is O.K. to cry. It is human and natural.
Mourning is a thoughtful response to painful
circumstances.
John 11:35, Jesus wept.
Romans 12:15, Weep with those who weep…
The grief of a Christian is tempered by hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:13, We do not want you to grieve
as those who have no hope.
Matthew 5:4, Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted.
TODAY IS A TIME TO PRAY.
Nehemiah’s prayer is one of the great prayers of the
Bible, demonstrating to us how to pray in times of crisis.
1. He begins his prayer not with the crisis, but with the
Character of God.
O God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who
keeps his covenant of unfailing love…
2. He confesses sin.
I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even
my own family and I have sinned…
3. He expresses confidence in God’s promises.
Remember what you told your servant Moses…
4. He asks he God’s help.
We are your servants…please grant me success.
IT IS A TIME TO MOVE INTO ACTION.
Send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors
are buried.
Jesus answered questions about tragedy in Luke 13:1-9
about tragedies in his day. He gave the following
conclusions:
1. Don’t judge the victims.
2. Don’t judge God.
3. Judge yourself.
The pressing question is not “Why did these people die?”
The fundamental question for us is “Why are we still
alive?”
Ultimately it does not matter how you die, but if you are
ready to die.
James 4:13-17, Look here you people who say, ‘Today or
tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there
a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How
do you know what will happened tomorrow? For your life is
alike a morning fog—it’s here a little while; then it’s gone.
What you should say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to we will live
and do this or that.’…Remember, it is a sin to know what
you ought to do and then not do it.

Response to September 11, 2001 Events - City Church of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Denomination: Church of God
Author(s): Dr. Mike Chapman

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