Restoration Through Spiritual Alignment and Hope
Summary
In reflecting on the familiar nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty, we find a profound metaphor for our current societal condition. Humpty Dumpty's fall and the inability of the king's men to restore him symbolize the brokenness of our world and the inadequacy of human systems to mend it. Our culture is fractured by racial, cultural, and social divisions, compounded by a global pandemic. Despite the efforts of powerful leaders and institutions, the chaos persists, revealing a deeper, spiritual problem at the heart of our troubles.
The story of Humpty Dumpty parallels the narrative in 2 Chronicles 15, where a lack of peace and widespread conflict are attributed to the absence of the true God, failed spiritual leadership, and a disregard for divine law. This spiritual void has allowed a destructive virus to permeate society, leading to chaos and disarray. The solution lies not in political or social reforms but in addressing the spiritual root of our problems.
To begin healing, individuals must align themselves with God's principles, practicing love and kindness towards others. Families play a crucial role in instilling values of righteousness and justice, shaping the future of society. The church must serve as the moral compass, boldly proclaiming God's truth without compromise. As a nation, we must strive to be truly "one nation under God," aligning our actions with His will.
The metaphor of a sinking submarine underscores the urgency of our situation. Like the sailors who asked, "Is there any hope?" we must seek hope in God's promise of restoration. Jeremiah 29:11-14 assures us that God has a plan for our well-being and a future filled with hope. By returning to God and seeking Him wholeheartedly, we can become previews of the coming kingdom, embodying His values in our culture.
Ultimately, the restoration of our nation depends on our willingness to align with God and become full-time disciples of Christ. While we await the return of Jesus, we are called to be salt and light in the world, influencing our culture with God's truth. Let us do our part to reverse the direction of our country, recognizing that this is a God issue and that the answer lies in our hands.
Key Takeaways:
1. The story of Humpty Dumpty illustrates the brokenness of our world and the inadequacy of human systems to fix it. Our societal divisions and chaos reveal a deeper spiritual problem that must be addressed. [03:06]
2. In 2 Chronicles 15, the absence of the true God, failed spiritual leadership, and disregard for divine law led to widespread conflict. This spiritual void is the root cause of our societal issues. [05:52]
3. Individuals must align with God's principles, practicing love and kindness towards others. This personal responsibility can change the atmosphere and begin the healing process. [08:19]
4. Families are crucial in instilling values of righteousness and justice, shaping the future of society. The church must serve as the moral compass, boldly proclaiming God's truth without compromise. [09:46]
5. The urgency of our situation is likened to a sinking submarine. God's promise of restoration in Jeremiah 29:11-14 offers hope. By returning to God, we can become previews of the coming kingdom, embodying His values in our culture. [13:49]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Humpty Dumpty's Fall
- [01:04] - The Inadequacy of Human Systems
- [02:17] - A Shattered Culture
- [03:54] - The Spiritual Virus
- [04:25] - No Peace in the Land
- [05:10] - God as the Source of Distress
- [06:08] - The Role of Spiritual Leadership
- [07:38] - Personal Responsibility
- [08:33] - The Importance of Family
- [09:59] - The Church's Role
- [11:29] - One Nation Under God
- [13:02] - The Sinking Submarine
- [13:49] - God's Promise of Hope
- [14:58] - Previews of the Coming Kingdom
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- 2 Chronicles 15:3-6
- Jeremiah 29:11-14
- Psalm 89:14
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#### Observation Questions
1. In 2 Chronicles 15, what were the consequences of the absence of the true God and failed spiritual leadership? How did this contribute to the societal chaos described? [05:52]
2. According to the sermon, what does the nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty symbolize about our current societal condition? [00:47]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of families in shaping the future of society? What specific values are they encouraged to instill? [09:02]
4. What metaphor does the sermon use to describe the urgency of our situation, and how does it relate to the hope found in Jeremiah 29:11-14? [13:02]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon suggest individuals can begin to address the spiritual problem at the root of societal issues? What personal actions are recommended? [08:19]
2. In what ways does the sermon propose the church should act as the moral compass for society? How should it communicate God's truth? [10:26]
3. What does it mean to be "one nation under God" according to the sermon, and how does this align with the principles in Psalm 89:14? [12:06]
4. How does the sermon interpret the message of hope in Jeremiah 29:11-14 in the context of our current societal challenges? [13:49]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your personal alignment with God's principles. What specific steps can you take this week to practice love and kindness towards others? [08:19]
2. Consider the values being instilled in your family. How can you actively contribute to teaching righteousness and justice within your household? [09:02]
3. How can you, as a member of your church, support its role as a moral compass in your community? What actions can you take to ensure God's truth is communicated clearly and lovingly? [10:26]
4. In what ways can you contribute to creating a "one nation under God" in your community? Identify one action you can take to align your actions with God's will. [12:06]
5. The sermon uses the metaphor of a sinking submarine to describe our current situation. What are some practical ways you can seek hope and restoration in God during times of personal or societal distress? [13:02]
6. How can you become a "preview of the coming kingdom" in your daily life? Identify one area where you can embody God's values more fully. [14:58]
7. Reflect on the urgency of the spiritual problem described in the sermon. What is one immediate change you can make in your life to address this issue? [06:50]
Devotional
Day 1: The Brokenness of Our World
The story of Humpty Dumpty serves as a metaphor for the brokenness of our world and the inadequacy of human systems to fix it. Our society is plagued by divisions and chaos, which are symptoms of a deeper spiritual problem. Despite the efforts of leaders and institutions, the persistent turmoil reveals that the root cause is spiritual in nature. To address this, we must look beyond political and social reforms and focus on the spiritual void that has allowed these issues to flourish. [03:06]
Isaiah 59:2-4 (ESV): "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you see brokenness? How can you invite God into that space to begin the healing process today?
Day 2: The Spiritual Void
In 2 Chronicles 15, the absence of the true God, failed spiritual leadership, and disregard for divine law led to widespread conflict. This spiritual void is the root cause of our societal issues. When God is absent, chaos ensues, and human efforts to restore peace fall short. The spiritual leadership of a community plays a crucial role in guiding people back to God and His principles. Without this guidance, society drifts further into disarray. [05:52]
Hosea 4:6 (ESV): "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."
Reflection: Reflect on the spiritual leadership in your life. How can you support and encourage them to lead with integrity and faithfulness?
Day 3: Personal Responsibility in Healing
Individuals must align with God's principles, practicing love and kindness towards others. This personal responsibility can change the atmosphere and begin the healing process. By embodying God's love in our daily interactions, we can influence those around us and contribute to a more harmonious society. It starts with each person taking responsibility for their actions and choosing to live according to God's values. [08:19]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Identify one person you can show kindness to today. How can you demonstrate God's love to them in a tangible way?
Day 4: The Role of Families and the Church
Families are crucial in instilling values of righteousness and justice, shaping the future of society. The church must serve as the moral compass, boldly proclaiming God's truth without compromise. By nurturing these values within the family unit and reinforcing them through the church, we can create a foundation for a more just and righteous society. The church's role is to guide and support families in this mission, ensuring that God's truth is upheld in all aspects of life. [09:46]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church's mission to uphold God's truth? What role can your family play in this effort?
Day 5: Hope in God's Promise
The urgency of our situation is likened to a sinking submarine. God's promise of restoration in Jeremiah 29:11-14 offers hope. By returning to God, we can become previews of the coming kingdom, embodying His values in our culture. This hope is not just for the future but is available to us now as we align ourselves with God's will and purpose. By seeking God wholeheartedly, we can experience His peace and restoration in our lives and communities. [13:49]
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek God's restoration? How can you begin to trust in His promise of hope today?
Quotes
"Mr. Dumpty's world was shattered; it was broken into pieces, and he needed it to be fixed. What's interesting about the rhyme is where Mr. Dumpty went for help. He went to the big house. He came to Washington DC because all the king's horses and all the king's men got involved and they passed to fix Mr. Dumpty law. They wanted to rectify this brokenness of his world. They funded it so that there would be the economic resources to implement the law to repair the damage." [00:42:50]
"The tragedy of the nursery rhyme is that not only was Mr. Dumpty's existence shattered, but the most powerful system in the country was not able to repair him. So it not only was there the disaster of Mr. Dumpty, but there was the disaster of all the king's horses and all the king's men, that the systems, the government, the White House, the Congress, the courthouse, and all of the other factors were not able to fix his dilemma." [00:94:64]
"There is a spiritual problem and until the spiritual problem is addressed all the other problems will continue in disarray. In Second Chronicles 15, it talks about there being no peace in the land. It says there was no peace to the individual, it says there was no peace when it went home to his family, it says there was conflict in the cities, then it went on to say there was conflict nation to nation. Sounds familiar, there was shattered brokenness everywhere." [00:250:56]
"It says there was no true God, that is, the true God had been looped out. His name was being used but his person, principles, and policies were being ignored. It says there was no teaching priest, the spiritual leadership had failed, and because the spiritual leadership had failed it created a vacuum in the society that brought an evil virus into the lives of people and into the social structures of society." [00:349:60]
"Until we get the church house fixed so that we are bringing back the spiritual, none of the others can have a long-term solution, and we will be dealing with symptoms, not the cause. So what do we do? How do we begin to address the crisis that we face? Well, first of all, as individuals, you must make the personal decision that you are going to align yourself up properly." [00:441:36]
"You take the simple principle that Jesus told us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. If you thought about with what you say and what you do if that was done to you, would you appreciate it? And that should affect how you relate to your neighbor. God tells us to love God but to love our neighbor, that is to seek their best well-being." [00:482:48]
"The family is the place where values are to be transferred for righteousness and justice. God told Abraham, raise your children in righteousness and justice, a moral standing before me, and equity with other people. When you put those two together you address racial challenges and cultural challenges and class challenges because you are combining the twin towers of God." [00:532:88]
"The churches should be the conscience for the culture. It should not back away from bringing to the society God's point of view on every subject. You see, God has spoken and he has not stuttered. There are two answers to every question, God's answer and everybody else's, and everybody else is wrong. It is the job of the church to speak God's truth." [00:595:60]
"If we would become one nation not using God's name, but respecting his person, adopting his principles, and instilling his policies, that's what it means to be underneath God, to be in alignment with God. When you bring God's name without being in alignment with him, you're just having a private conversation with yourself. So the challenge for America is a spiritual return." [00:723:52]
"America, we are that submarine, and we are sinking very fast, and the question that we all should be asking is, is there any hope? That's why I want to leave you with Jeremiah 29:11-14. Have a plan for you saith the Lord, a plan for your well-being and not your calamity to give you a future and a hope." [00:808:88]
"One day, the whole world will be brought into alignment at the return of Jesus Christ. In the meantime, we are to situate ourselves as what I call previews of coming attractions. Those are always the hot clips of the upcoming show, fight scene, love scene, etc. It's designed to make you see the whole show or want to see the whole show." [00:860:16]
"When we decide to do that, because we have accepted Christ and decided to follow Christ as his full-time disciples, not as part-time saints, when we have biblical influence of salt and light in the culture, it won't change everything but it can change enough so that we can see Humpty Dumpty put back together again." [00:910:40]
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