Living in the Light of God's Truth after Charlie Kirk's Murder
Living in the light of God’s truth after Charlie Kirk’s death
Mosaic Fellowship
9/21/2025
Psalm 34:18
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 42:5
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation[c] 6 and my God.
Intro:
• Surprised by how much Charlie Kirk’s death has affected me. (I don’t completely know why? Because I am a young Dad also, because I am a Christian also? Because my students are celebrating it…maybe share Gonzaga story?) I’m confronted with my own cowardice in sharing about my walk with God ….example from Wednesday lunch and not praying with unbelievers)
• Myself and millions have been reeling since this happened a week and a half ago and are wondering how to live going forward? There are so many voices saying what to do and as Christians we look to the word of God as our anchor in the storm. (verses about shsy are you downcast oh my soul,,, look upon God etc.)
• Book of Philippians (which I read the day after he was killed) was so perfectly relevant that I asked Dad if I could share what I read and saw in that letter so that we too can hear the truths of God in the midst of suffering, evil, pain and heartache.
• Phillipians was written by Paul in Roman prison (or house arrest) to the Christians in Philippi. What did he say to them from a position of experiencing restraint, suffering, persecution, opposition by the powers of darkness to the call of God on his life to be the apostle to the gentiles.
Truths from Philippians:
1:30
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
What is the conflict that Paul is engaged in?? How is this conflict the same one that the Philippians are experiencing in their suffering for Christ? (answer: he is talking about the conflict with the dark powers of the unseen realm)
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Acts 20:22-24
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by[d] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Biblical Truth: There is a cosmic battle waging around us at all times for the souls of human beings. Paul experienced this conflict in every city he went to preach and evangelize to, he says he is experiencing it now in prison in Rome, he says that the Philippians are also experiencing the same conflict in their suffering for Christ.
That Truth applied to Charlie Kirk’s Death:
This is the same conflict that Charlie experienced at every college and campus and died from. He is a casualty of a spiritual war. We see human conflict but there is a much deeper, more sinister, hidden darkness that is always roaming to inspire evil actions and thoughts in all of us.
A spiritual war is at hand and some people have just realized it for the first time by seeing Charlie get killed and the subsequent celebration from people online.
(Gonzaga story of me hearing students say they were so happy upon hearing Charlie was dead.)
Theo Vaughn video quote: 8:16
What Theo is describing is exactly what Paul is describing in Ephesians 6:12.
So if you too have been feeling this weight of present evil, it is accurate and right to feel that way and now you know why you feel that way. Because there really is a conflict waging between God and evil forces and we are involved in it.
Application: armor up. If there is a war at hand, don’t get caught unarmed and unprepared. Get engaged in the fight. Perhaps your feelings to reengage with church and your bible is because you saw the ever present evil at work in our world and you don’t want to be caught unawares. Ps. Getting involved in this battle will result in more suffering and possibly death for some of us. But this is not the life we live for. We live for the second one, like Paul and Charlie did.
The Opposing Lie that the enemy is trying to pedal: there isn’t really a cosmic battle at hand. Don’t get so worked up, go back to watching TV and drinking too much beer.
1:7
7 It is right for me to feel this way [a thankful joy for them] about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Biblical Truth: Paul is partaking of grace (experience a work of God in him) in his imprisonment and in his faithful witness of the gospel as a prisoner,
AND….
The Philippians who know of Paul’s imprisonment
ARE ALSO partaking of grace (experience a work of God in them) through his suffering and trial.
That Truth applied to Charlie Kirk’s Death:
So many have acknowledged an unanticipated effect of Charlie’s murder upon our souls. It has moved people to go to church who have never gone before or not gone in years. People have been compelled to open their Bibles for the first time in their lives. I hear of people determined to be better Dad’s and husbands, to not waste any moment of their lives in light of the evil that befell Charlie Kirk (I feel the same btw).
What is this?!?!
Paul describes this as a grace of God awakening our souls to what truly matters. To Himself. When the fruit of a feeling or compelled thought is to pursue holiness, righteousness, God, we can assuredly say that those feelings and thoughts are a work of God in a us; we are “partaking of grace” in those awakening moments.
Application: if you have been strangely affected by Charlie’s death and feel like you need to take life more seriously and open your Bibles and go to church, and be more involved in your kids lives and be more intentional and loving with your neighbors and be more courageous against lies and evil, don’t ignore this grace of God upon your life! Do what you are feeling you need to do more of to live more deeply. Don’t chalk it up to just being a bizarre feeling that will hopefully pass with time. What you are feeling is God at work on/in you. Respond to his Spirit moving you by obeying and opening your Bible, asking Him to speak to you about where he wants to use you in his kingdom advancement.
Personal example: don’t do what I have done for a week and go hide in the garage etc. because you are sort of embarrassed that the life of someone you never met has affected you so much.
The Opposing Lie that the enemy is trying to pedal:
The heavy effect that Charlie’s murder has had on your life is a really weird thing that you should just ignore and eventually it will pass. In the meantime, distract yourself with old hobbies you used to enjoy like watching TV shows and surfing social media endlessly. It is not a divine stirring, but a strange, irrational feeling of your own making that you can get over with time if you don’t give it any attention.
1:12
12 I want you to know, brothers,[e] that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
Biblical Truth: Paul’s metric for a successful life was one thing: how well his life advanced the good news of Jesus to this broken and evil world. Not how much money he had saved for retirement, not how many degrees or honors or awards or papers he had published. Not his popularity and so on.
Therefore, he is looking at his imprisonment as an eternal win, not a loss! He is encouraged by the kingdom effect that his imprisonment has had on making the good news of Jesus Christ known to the imperial guard and all the rest who know of this imprisonment. He is rejoicing in this suffering!
2:17
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
2 Timothy 4:6
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
Luke 22:20
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
-COMMUNION TIME!!!-
That Truth applied to Charlie Kirk’s Death:
Charlie’s metric for a successful life was the same thing. If you have seen any of his videos they almost always inevitably turn into a mention of God or Jesus or his Christian faith.
12 I want you to know, brothers,[e] that what has happened to [Charlie] has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole [whole world] that Charlie was a Christian martyr, killed because he declared Jesus as King and wanted all to be lead to repentance and reconciliation to God.
The Opposing Lie that the enemy is trying to pedal: Charlie’s life is now less impactful than if he had lived because we (the powers of darkness) successfully killed him and stopped him from speaking of God any longer.
Me: We have seen in the last week and a half how this is a total lie, the exact opposite is true.
1:14
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word[g] without fear.
Biblical Truth: Other Christians have become more confident to speak the word of God without fear BECAUSE of Paul’s imprisonment. Huh?!!
I would think Paul would have pointed to miracles performed through him and Peter and Barnabas as the reason other Christians to be encouraged in their own boldness to speak the truth of God and declare the good news of the gospel to the world. But he points to HIS SUFFERING, his persecution, his imprisonment!!! How could his imprisonment INCREASE courage in others seeing him be restrained? Shouldn’t it decrease boldness and increase fear? That is certainly what the opposing kingdom of darkness was hoping would be the effect of his imprisonment…and eventual beheading.
BUT NO. We have experienced in the last week and half exactly what Paul is talking about here but with Charlie Kirks death. Seeing a brother in Christ killed because they were bold in declaring truth has the opposite effect when God is moving.
That Truth applied to Charlie Kirk’s Death: I am now more fired up to do exactly what Charlie did his short 31 years. So many people feel more awakened spiritually. Just read about the thousands of people saying “I’m going to church for the first time in years, decades. I opened my Bible this week because Charlie was martyred.” That is the result of GOD doing here today, what he did 2000 years ago with Paul.
The Opposing Lie that the enemy is trying to pedal:
The church will be weakened by imprisoning Paul or killing Charlie. Fear will increase and less with speak about God and truth with boldness.
1:15
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
Biblical Truth: Paul talks about his imprisonment like it was a deployment, an assignment. “Where were you stationed for the defense of the gospel? Paul’s Answer: I was put in a Roman prison.”
Put there by whom?! Paul saw his imprisonment as an assignment, his assignment, from God. He was not in the wrong place, he was not supposed to be in any other country, he was put there for kingdom advancement.
That Truth applied to Charlie Kirk’s Death: Charlie was on assignment from God too. The more you watch his videos, the more you see that he was living into what God made him to do. He was given an intellect, an ability to converse, a courage, a clarity of thought and speech that clearly was being used by God to speak the gospel to the college generation.
The Opposing Lie that the enemy is trying to pedal: God’s plan for Charlie’s life was thwarted by an evil act. The kingdom of heaven was defeated in this act and the kingdom of darkness advanced.
1:15
3:17
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Biblical Truth: Don’t just observe passively, imitate the courage of PAUL…and Charlie. Armor up and make a difference for His Kingdom advancement here on earth while you have breath.
That Truth applied to Charlie Kirk’s Death:
The Opposing Lie that the enemy is trying to pedal: You aren’t a Paul or a Charlie Kirk, you are weak small insignificant, riddled with sins and cowardly. Who do you think you are that you could make any eternal impact?
(but it’s not us, it’s the Spirit of Jesus Christ at work in us…and just like demonic powers are looking for souls to dwell in and use, so. Is. The living God.)
Closing Song: It is Well
-Benediction-
3:8
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.