Sermon Title: "Sovereignty, Vengeance, and Faith: A Call to Shepherd with Humility"
Scripture Reading:
Romans 12:19-21 (ESV)
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Habakkuk 2:4 (ESV)
"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith."
Introduction: A Heart Check for Shepherds
Beloved in Christ, we live in perilous times, where even among those who claim the name of the Lord, there are wolves in sheep’s clothing—leaders who are cold-blooded, cruel, and unrepentant in their ways. They use their position to oppress, wound, and scatter the flock rather than to shepherd them with love and humility. But let it be known today: God is not mocked! He sees all, and He will repay every act of wickedness done in His name.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, called to shepherd God’s flock under the banner of Reformed truth—today, we gather not to condemn, but to recalibrate. The doctrines we hold dear—God’s sovereignty, His unmerited grace, the certainty of His justice—are not mere theological trophies. They are meant to shape us into ministers who mirror the heart of Christ. Yet, if our zeal for truth hardens into coldness, or our commitment to holiness morphs into cruelty, we have strayed from the Gospel we proclaim. Let us examine ourselves in light of God’s Word.
I. The Sovereignty of God and the Sin of Stolen Vengeance
Cruelty and oppression have no place among the shepherds of God's people. The Word declares in Ezekiel 34:10, "Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand.'" The Lord is watching! Those who lead with iron fists, manipulating and abusing His people, will not escape His judgment.
To you who have been wronged, do not take matters into your own hands. The Lord Himself will avenge. His justice is swift and sure, and no man, no matter his title or position, can stand against the judgment of the Almighty.
You who affirm soli Deo gloria—does your life reflect trust in God’s right to judge? When wronged, do you retaliate with sharp words, exclusion, or prideful rigidity? Remember Saul and David. Saul, obsessed with controlling his kingdom, descended into paranoia. David, though anointed king, refused to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed, declaring, “The Lord will judge between me and you” (1 Samuel 24:12).
God’s sovereignty is not a license for us to act as His enforcers. It is a call to rest in His timing. “Vengeance is Mine” is both a warning and a comfort. When we usurp His role, we betray a lack of faith in His justice. Brothers, does your ministry reflect a trust in God’s wrath, or a hunger to wield it yourself?
II. The Righteous Live by Faith, Not Force
Habakkuk 2:4 echoes through Scripture—a rallying cry for Reformation, yet also a rebuke. The righteous are marked not by doctrinal precision alone, but by faith that surrenders control to God. The Pharisees knew Scripture but missed the Messiah because their hearts relied on rule-keeping, not relationship.
Does your sheathing reflect the “weightier matters” of mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23)? To preach predestination while neglecting compassion is to build a theology without a heart. Faith that does not produce love is dead (James 2:17). The Reformers risked all to proclaim sola fide, but they never divorced faith from its fruit: humility, repentance, and love for the broken.
Despite the darkness, there is a promise for the faithful. Habakkuk 2:4 declares, "The just shall live by faith." The wicked may seem to prosper, but the faithful will endure by trusting in God. The righteous do not need to scheme or retaliate; their strength is in the Lord. Their refuge is in His presence, and their reward is eternal.
Even when we are persecuted, mistreated, and cast aside by cruel leaders, we must remember that our hope is not in men but in the God of justice. Keep your faith steadfast, for in due season, the Lord will lift up the humble and bring down the proud.
III. The Fruit of Faith: Shepherding as Christ Shepherds
Consider Christ, who dined with sinners yet condemned hypocrisy. He was uncompromising in truth but radical in grace. Paul, a theologian of God’s wrath, wrote, “Love is patient and kind; it does not insist on its own way” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5).
Is our ministry patient? Kind? Or does it “insist on its own way” through coercion or contempt? A Reformed shepherd’s strength lies not in his ability to expose sin, but in pointing sinners to the Cross—where God’s vengeance against sin was satisfied by His own Son. If we truly believe in substitutionary atonement, how can we withhold the mercy we’ve received?
Many may rise against the true church of God. False teachers, deceivers, and corrupt leaders may try to silence the truth. Yet, Jesus has given an unshakable promise in Matthew 16:18, "I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
No wicked man can overthrow what God has established. No deception, no persecution, and no manipulation will stop the advance of the kingdom of God. The Lord Himself is the defender of His people, and He will uproot every false shepherd in His appointed time.
Conclusion: A Call to Reformation of the Heart
Brothers, the Gospel we defend is not a weapon to crush the weak, but a balm for the broken. Let us repent where we’ve valued correctness over compassion. Let us lay down the sword of self-righteousness and take up the towel of service. Trust that God will judge—He needs no help. Instead, “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
May our churches be marked not by cold orthodoxy, but by warm faith—a faith that lives, breathes, and loves. For the righteous shall live by faith, and faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).
To the righteous: hold fast to your faith. God will vindicate you in His time. To the wicked shepherds: repent before it is too late, for the Lord will require an account of every soul you have led astray. Trust in God’s justice, stand firm in your faith, and remember—the gates of hell shall not prevail!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, strip us of cruel rigidity. Clothe us in Christ’s compassion. Teach us to trust Your justice, to live by faith, and to shepherd as You do—with grace upon grace.
Lord, we trust in Your justice. Strengthen Your people to remain steadfast in faith. Expose and remove every false shepherd who seeks to harm Your flock. Let Your church rise in truth and power, and may Your name be glorified. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
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