On this Sunday following the murder of Charlie Kirk in Utah, Pastor Kyle Corbin read a statement to the congregation (not recorded but shown below, slightly edited due to space limit). He followed this by teaching from Acts chapter 2, focusing on the privilege God gives every Christ-follower: to receive and work with His indwelling Holy Spirit to experience and express the King of Glory to those around us.
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A House Divided - Will Not Stand
This week thousands of people have stepped up to support the family of Charlie Kirk who was assassinated on September 10th. Many spoke up to celebrate his life....
He was a champion for free speech and would debate anyone, with respect for their right to disagree with his point of view while supporting biblical values and often using those values to entice people to examine themselves and their way of thinking. Many have given their lives [to Christ] because of his influence on college campuses and even to the highest levels of government. Mr. Kirk was prepared to address many topics both political and biblical.
And while many have come out in support of both his message and his honoring ability to debate today's norms, many have come out not only to discredit his message but to condone his assassination....As a result, our country has found itself in a war against itself.
Let there be no doubt, this is a war against the principles of God by those who collaborated and have given their allegiance to Satan. Many have been fired from their jobs as their parent companies would not allow themselves to be complicit as their employees applauded this work of cowardice. Even our own Congress in session, as one asked for a moment of silence followed by a request to offer a prayer for the family and for our country to heal from this act of hate, the chamber erupted with a scream of "NOOOO!" And many in our House and Senate chambers are attempting to convey "He got what he deserved."
You all know that I, as Pastor of Shiloh New Covenant Church, will not allow this pulpit to be used for a political voice. I need you all to understand that this act of violence was not just a political assassination. This was a direct attack against the principles outlined in the Bible.
Right now, it is giving the appearance that the devil is gaining ground and taking us all by surprise. The truth of the matter is that the very Bible the enemy is trying to discredit tells of his antics in 2 Timothy 3:1-4. God reveals the plans of our common enemy and this revelation should prepare the followers of Christ to respond. It says:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power."
Acts 2:17-18 tells us:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy."
Because of the purposes and foresight of the Lord, while it may look like we are losing ground to an enemy who is no longer hiding in the background, the very fact that he has exposed himself so flagrantly has opened the door to a season where we will join in and experience the greatest harvest of souls that has ever taken place since the creation of this earth. What Satan means for evil God will turn to GOOD. The division that is so prevalent in this world is the catalyst for mass conversion to faith in Jesus the Christ.
The question you may be asking yourself right now is how will all this take place???
The Answer is YOU!!!
