"There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)
It seems that there has been an oversight. God forgot to mention, in the book of Matthew, that there is another road that people can travel. If the narrow road is too confining, but you're just not comfortable on that broad road, try the middle road. You can learn all about it in this brief video from Francis Chan.
"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14 (NIV)
This statement scares me. Most people in this world, it seems, are not interested in finding the narrow road that leads to life--they prefer that broad, comfortable road that leads to destruction. Why is that--what's wrong with the narrow road? For one thing, it must take some work to locate it because only a few "find it". Once you get there, you have to stay on the path--there's no room for wiggling or wandering off-- God wants you to follow His directions. It can be a lonely path--there is no large crowd of travelers sharing the journey-- but you are never alone because the One who cleared the path is walking with you.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13 (NIV)
God says we have two choices in this world--two roads that we can follow--which way do we go? Even though He tells us up front which road to choose, the wide gate is still the popular choice. Why is that? There's lots of company on that road--many have chosen to travel on the broad road. It's easy to just follow the crowd. You're not confined on the broad road--plenty of room for every belief and philosophy of life. There's lots of freedom--everyone is pursuing their own selfish desires--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
If you find yourself wandering aimlessly with a large crowd of people, you might want to check your GPS.You won't find God on the broad road--He doesn't go there and He doesn't want you to go there either, because it leads to destruction.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)
Jesus is the only one who can bring peace on earth.
Merry Christmas and God’s blessings to you all!
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and Set us free. Please
Come back and rule our nation, be number one in our nation.
Amen!'
"Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life." 2Chronicles 15:17 (NIV)
Asa's obedience to God was almost perfect, but not quite. He failed to tear down the places of idol worship that had been used by previous kings. Our obedience matters to God--it should be instant and complete. In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers put it this way:
"Beware of ever thinking, "Oh, that thing in my life doesn't matter much." The fact that it doesn't matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God...You say, 'I know I am right with God--yet the "high places" still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life he causes you to doubt?"
"But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you." 1Corinthians 5:11-13 (NIV)
God wants his church to be holy and pure. He expects our obedience in this matter. It gives God a bad name when His people knowingly live in sin. Paul also tells the Corinthians that a little yeast will leaven the whole batch of dough--in other words, sin in the church only grows. See what Francis Chan has to say in this brief video:
"I said, 'Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.' But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies—trusting in your military might, believing that great armies could make your nation safe." Hosea 10:12-13 (NLT)
God is speaking through the prophet Hosea to Israel--it could very easily be America. What kind of seeds are we sowing? Greed, immorality, hatred, violence, abortion--just to name a few. Our nation has believed the lie that we don't need God. We can take care of ourselves. How is that working for us?
"Now is the time to seek the LORD". We break up the hard ground of our hearts by letting God examine us, and by confessing our sin. Sin in the church is the major obstacle to revival. We can't expect anything from God until we've dealt with it!
"Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
"Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Proverbs 1:23-33 (NIV)
"Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him." Daniel 9:13-14 (NIV)
What is America's response to disaster? Relentlessly pursue and bring to justice the guilty party (this, of course, does not work in the case of natural disasters!) and vow to rebuild whatever has been torn down. No one suggests that God's judgement might be the cause and that repentance would be the proper response. More and more Christians are thinking it's true--that God's judgement has fallen on America, but very few will come right out and say it. What are we afraid of? That people who are already hostile to God won't like Him if we say that He is not only a God of love, but also a God of judgement? That those same people will think we are radical lunatics to preach such nonsense in this "enlightened" age of reason?
God has called us to be His witnesses. If the ship is sinking, shouldn't someone sound the alarm? How will people know the proper response if they don't understand what's happening?
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
This is the key to the Spirit-filled life--crucifying the flesh so that the life of Christ can live in me. Not many want to do this because it means giving up control--it means surrender. In My Utmost for His Highest (updated edition), Oswald Chambers describes it this way:
"After the decision to be identified with Jesus in His death has been made, the resurrection life of Jesus penetrates every bit of my human nature. It takes the omnipotence of God--His complete and effective divinity--to live the life of the Son of God in human flesh. The Holy Spirit cannot be accepted as a guest in merely one room of the house--He invades all of it. And once I decide that my 'old man' (that is, my heredity of sin) should be identified with the death of Jesus, the Holy Spirit invades me. He takes charge of everything. My part is to walk in the light and to obey all that He reveals to me."
"On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:4,5,8 (NIV)
What is it that enables us to labor in prayer with a broken heart for God's Church? What brings about powerful conversions when men of God speak? It doesn't come naturally, but supernaturally. In revival accounts, authors continually refer to the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the missing ingredient today. How can we expect God to pour out his blessings on our fleshly efforts?
In the verses above, Jesus commanded his disciples not to do anything until they had received the promised Holy Spirit. If it was that important to Jesus, shouldn't we think twice before doing anything for Him in our own strength?
"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a den of robbers." Matthew 21:13 (NIV)
There was a time when churches met weekly for prayer. During the great revivals, people cried out to God until the wee hours of the morning, without concern for comfort or loss of sleep. What has happened? Today, it's hard to find a church that still holds a weekly prayer meeting. Yet the times are desperate. If ever our country and the church needed prayer it's now. Earthquakes, famines, floods, natural disasters of every kind are more and more frequent. Nations war against each other and the threat of nuclear war grows. Christians are persecuted, thrown into prison and even murdered--wickedness abounds. Our children are killing each other on campuses across America and there is no public place that can be considered safe. All the things described as being evidence of the end times are here--NOW--and the birth pains are growing stronger by the minute. Why are the pastors not sounding the alarm? Why are they not calling their people to prayer? The silence in the church is deafening.
"He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor... " Isaiah 59:16 (NKJV)
"Almost every night there has been a shaking among the people; and I have seen nearly 20 set at liberty. I believe I should have seen many more, but I cannot yet find one pleading man. There are many good people; but I have found no wrestlers with God."
William Bramwell, Revivalist
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16 (NIV)
Charles Finney told the story of a town that had not seen revival in many years--the church was nearly dead. A blacksmith in that town was at work when he felt a great burden to pray for the church. He closed his business and spent the entire afternoon in prayer. He then went to the pastor and asked him to call a church meeting, to which the pastor reluctantly agreed. That evening, the house where the meeting was to take place was overflowing with people. No one spoke at first. Then one man cried out for someone to please pray for him. That cry was followed by another, and then another, until it was discovered that people were under conviction from every part of town. All those who came under conviction stated that it began at the very time that the blacksmith had been praying.
"Put on sackcloth, you priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD." Joel 1:13-14 (NIV)
How many of us can say that we weep and cry out to God for the souls of the lost, for the condition of America? Not me, I am ashamed to say. Oswald J. Smith says that revival praying--prayer that moves the heart of God--is like giving birth: it doesn't happen without hard labor. As I read the accounts of great revival preachers, that is the one thing they all had in common. They labored long and hard in prayer, with powerful results. I want to pray like that. If the condition of our world breaks God's heart, shouldn't it break our hearts too? Can we really expect God to be moved by our brief and shallow petitions?
"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 1Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)
"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." Acts 5:42 (NIV)
What was the overwhelming message of these revival preachers who were used so mightily by God? It was the message of Paul and Peter, the message of the early church--repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ. Their passion was to reach the lost and to bring about repentance, and they never failed to see results. Not only did they see results, but peoples' lives were forever changed and they became devoted to God. How different things are today. It seems to me that we don't hear that message much anymore--as if it's too much to expect people to respond to it. And those who do respond, quickly learn that God is just one more thing they have to fit into their busy schedule. Why is this? I think there is something missing in most of today's preaching--it's the Holy Spirit's power and anointing. When He is in control, the pastor doesn't have to convince people to become Christians, or to make Jesus the Lord of their lives. Instead they ask, as the man in Acts did, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
"And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV)
Paul stated it perfectly--It's really not about fancy speech or persuasive words. As you can see from the account of the Welsh Revival, and the story of Charles Finney, sometimes the cries of the people were so loud that the preacher couldn't even preach. This experience was repeated over and over again in various places where revival had broken out. When revival comes, it will be because the power of the Holy Spirit has come down, not because the pastor had a great sermon. The most eloquent words will fall flat if the Holy Spirit is not behind them.
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power..." 1 Corinthians 2:4
"The Spirit of God came on them in mighty, convicting power, and a Revival started. It then spread to the surrounding country until finally nearly the whole of the Eastern States was held in the grip of a Mighty Awakening. Whenever Mr. Finney preached the Spirit was poured out. Frequently God went before him so that when he arrived at the place he found the people already crying out for mercy. Sometimes the conviction of sin was so great and caused such fearful wails of anguish that he had to stop preaching until it subsided."
From The Revival We Need by Oswald J. Smith
"Because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NIV)
"It was 1904. All Wales was aflame. The nation had drifted far from God. The spiritual conditions were low indeed. Church attendance was poor. And sin abounded on every side.
Suddenly, like an unexpected tornado, the Spirit of God swept over the land. The churches were crowded so that multitudes were unable to get in. Meetings lasted from ten in the morning until twelve at night. Three definite services were held each day. Evan Roberts was the human instrument, but there was very little preaching. Singing, testimony, and prayer, were the chief features. There were no hymn books; they had learnt the hymns in childhood. No choir, for everybody sang. No collection; and no advertising.
Nothing had ever come over Wales with such far-reaching results. Infidels were converted, drunkards, thieves, and gamblers saved; and thousands reclaimed to respectability. Confessions of awful sins were heard on every side. Old debts were paid. The theatre had to leave for want of patronage. Mules in the coal mines refused to work, being unused to kindness. In five weeks 20,000 joined the churches."
From The Revival We Need by Oswald J. Smith
"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:41-42 (NIV)
Being set apart for God's purpose and allowing Jesus to live His beautiful life through us is what will lead to a great harvest of souls. When unbelievers see something different about us--something different in our attitudes toward money and the things that money can buy, something different in the way we face adversity and show love to our enemies, they will be drawn to the Christ in us. They will recognize that there is a power at work in our lives that they cannot explain, yet they are drawn to it. Today, our focus in the church is on the wrong thing. Vance Havner said it this way:
"If the time, money, and effort spent in trying to work up evangelism in lukewarm churches were spent in calling the churches themselves to repentance, confession, cleansing, and empowering, evangelism would be the natural result. We are trying to produce the results without the cause, the fruit without the tree. The New Testament epistle writers concentrated not on stirring up Christians to evangelize but rather on developing healthy Christians through spiritual food, rest, and exercise. Healthy Christians are naturally soul-winners, by life and by lip."
Quotation taken from Repentance as a Church Priority by Vance Havner. For more information on the author, visit www.vancehavner.com.
"Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, "Spare your people, LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people." Joel 2:15-18
The prophet Joel has some instructions for God's children--how they can appeal to God, receive His forgiveness, and avoid His wrath. We would all do well to heed those instructions because God is not pleased with America. Joel's first order is to call a serious prayer meeting. This meeting isn't just for the faithful few--he wants everyone to participate: not even the children are excused, or those getting ready for a wedding. Next, the priests are to lead the people in repentance--to humble themselves and seek forgiveness for their sins as well as those of the people. They are to come to God weeping, broken over their sin. Joel then tells the priests just exactly how to pray--how to persuade God to show mercy when they really deserve judgement. What is the final petition that moved the heart of God? It's about His name. He wants the nations to know Him. The mercy He shows to His inheritance will bring great glory to His name.
We should pray the same way--that revival in our church, our community, our nation will bring great glory to God and no one else!
How can we, as set-apart Christ followers, bring honor--not shame--to the name of Jesus? Paul gives us the answer in the book of Philippians:
"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:1-13 ( NIV)
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—" Romans 1:1 (NIV)
When you think about the early church, what was it that made them so effective in reaching their world? They had no seminary degree, no special evangelism training. In fact most of them were just ordinary men. Peter preached and 3,000 were saved. Today we rejoice if one person makes a decision for Christ. Just as Paul, was set apart for the gospel of God, so were the other disciples of that time. What does it mean to be set apart? It means that you have turned your back on the world and the things of the world. You are dedicated to God's purpose for your life. It means that you have crucified your flesh and that Jesus now lives his life through you. You no longer rely on your own strengths but on the power of the Holy Spirit.
How can one person make a difference in today's world? By being set apart for God's purpose--by being different from the world. That means trusting God in difficult circumstances, having peace when others are panicked, demonstrating love to those who curse you, experiencing joy in the midst of pain, refusing to compromise on what you know to be true, showing Christ's love to a hurting friend, giving your best in every situation. In other words, let Jesus live His life through you. There's nothing attractive about someone who is living their life for their own selfish gain, most of the world is doing that. But to let Jesus shine through you brings light into a dark world. He is the power source!
"Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:7-8 (NIV)
God has a complaint against Israel--they have forgotten His goodness toward them. In response, they give some outrageous suggestions as to how they might get back in His good graces. Are they being sarcastic, as if they knew there was nothing they could do to please Him? God's answer is both simple and profound--in fact, they already know what is good. This is what God requires:
"To act justly"--just do what's right. Treat people as you want to be treated, honor the law, be fair.
"Love mercy"--don't just show mercy, love it. When we realize God's mercy toward us, we will love showing mercy to others.
"Walk humbly with your God"--when we really grasp our need for forgiveness, when we have a correct view of who God is and who we are, we will desire to walk with God and we will do it humbly.
Three simple things--that's all it takes to please your Father. It's really not asking too much.
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)
It's easy to become discouraged when you have been earnestly praying for something and God is just quiet. Our human nature wants to see results. His silences are always for our good--to teach us patience, perseverance and faith. We all know that God is always working, whether we see it or not. Prayer lays the groundwork for powerful movements of the Holy Spirit--it is the firm foundation on which God can build a lasting work.
Our God is a God who sees--El Roi is His name. Just picture His eyes searching the whole earth to show Himself strong on your behalf!
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five of them were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep." Matthew 25:1-5 (NIV)
Jesus tells this story to illustrate what it will be like at the time of His return. Not all will be prepared for that hour. In fact, those waiting for His return will fall asleep when He takes longer than expected. When the bridegroom's arrival is announced, they wake up. Everyone looked like they were ready, but looks can be deceiving. Half of them had the Holy Spirit (oil) and half did not. Those who did went in to the wedding banquet. Those who did not were rejected by the bridegroom.
This story is a wake-up call for all of us who have been sleeping. Most people in our churches have lamps but we don't know if the person sitting next to us has oil for his lamp. That is why it is so important for us to let people know the bridegroom is coming soon!
In verse 13 Jesus says of His return: "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."
"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV)
The world today is experiencing most, if not all, of the signs of the Last Days mentioned in Matthew 24--wars and rumors of wars, uprisings, famines, earthquakes, an increase in wickedness, false prophets and persecution, just to name a few. Yet in many churches it is business as usual. The pastor is preaching about love and peace while half the people in church are not prepared for Christ's return. There is no talk of the signs that are everywhere, no urgency to share the gospel with the lost, no repentance on the part of believers. The Bible says that the people of Noah's day were completely caught off-guard and were destroyed. Jesus tells us that it will be the same when He returns to earth. Is this not scary?
"'Don't say such things,' the people respond. 'Don't prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!' Should you talk that way, O family of Israel? Will the LORD's Spirit have patience with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting...Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, 'I'll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!' That's just the kind of prophet you would like!" Micah 2: 6,7,11 (NLT)
The children of Israel rejected the message God sent through the prophet, Micah. They refused to believe that God would punish their rebellion. Micah points out that, if they would face the truth about themselves, they would not have to fear what God had to say to them. But, in their disobedience, Micah suggested that a prophet who preached "the joys of wine and alcohol" would suit them perfectly.
Does this sound familiar? Read what Paul said to Timothy on this very matter:
" For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)
Many people today prefer a softer message--something uplifting. The call to repentance is often viewed as harsh--preachers don't like preaching it and church members don't like hearing it. Yet this is exactly what is needed. Pray for our pastors to have the courage to confront sin, even if it means offending some of their members.
"Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear. The Sovereign LORD is making accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple. Look! The LORD is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth." Micah 1:2-3 (NLT)
Do you remember a time when one of your parents said, in frustration, "Don't make me come down there!" It was the last straw--your disobedience pushed them over the edge. Here we see the children of Israel and Judah are in serious trouble with their Father. Their rebellion runs deep throughout Israel, all the way to Jerusalem. Micah says that their wound "is too deep to heal." God has been warning them about their disobedience through the prophets, but the prophets get no respect--the people do not believe them. Now the LORD, himself is coming down to bring judgement.
What about God's children today? His Word warns us of the consequences of rebellion. He says we are to "be holy, because He is holy". Are we responding to the message of repentance we find in the Bible? Do we fear God or do we think we can get away with our disobedience? Hebrews 10:31 says, "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
" Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush." Jeremiah 6:15 (NIV)
What are the things that should cause us to blush? Do the same things that made us blush ten years ago, have the same effect on us today? Are we continually putting ourselves in situations where we should be blushing but aren't? God wants us to live holy lives--he chose us and set us apart for His purposes. Do the places we go, the movies and TV that we watch, the words that we read, honor God, or should they make us blush? Would we be comfortable having Jesus right there with us as we watch an R-rated movie? Because He is there--we take him everywhere with us. Even our thoughts are known to Him, whether we speak them or not. Ask God if there are some places He'd rather not go with you, some conversations He'd rather not be a part of, some books He'd rather not read. Maybe we need to remember how to blush.
"This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
What are the "ancient paths"? The NLT says they are the "old, godly ways". They are the truths of the Bible. In our churches, and in our own lives, the ancient paths may be overgrown with weeds while the world's path looks like a super highway. Almost everyone is traveling the super highway today--not just the world. It's so easy to find because it's wide and well-traveled, and you don't have to search for it, or clear away the brush and weeds along the way. What are these weeds that are choking the ancient paths and making it hard for us to find the "good way"? The weeds represent our sins that have separated us from God--it is impossible to travel God's path without clearing them away. Many just prefer to take the highway.
Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
"She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel..." 1Samuel 4:21 (NIV)
These were the dying words of Eli's daughter-in-law as she gave birth to a son. She named him Ichabod which means "The glory of the Lord has departed from Israel."
Israel decided to take the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines, thinking it would give them victory. But they were overwhelmingly defeated and the Ark was captured. The Ark, the symbol of God's presence, was like a good luck charm to them. They had lost sight of the fact that only the God of the Ark could save them. The Ark itself was powerless without the presence of God. The glory of The Lord had, indeed, departed from them and they didn't even know.
Today, we are engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy of our souls, but many of us do not realize that God is not with us. What is it that causes God's glory to depart? Isaiah 59:1 says,"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God." It is repentance that will bring about the return of God's glory to the church and to our individual lives.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
Would you be willing to be a fool for God? Vance Havner said, "If the preaching of the cross is foolishness to the world--those who preach foolishness will be considered fools for doing so." Elijah must have looked like the world's biggest fool as he poured water all over the altar he had so carefully rebuilt. There, in front of a great multitude, he bet everything on God. How many of us want to help God so that He (and we) won't look foolish if He fails to light the fire? Where is our faith? Most of us do not really expect to see God do miracles--we have such low expectations. God came through because Elijah took his hands off and let God be God. Today we survey, get feedback and calculate the risk before we do anything--and that is the problem. It's us doing it--not God.
"O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O LORD, answer me! Answer me so that these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself." 1Kings 18:36-37 (NLT)
The whole purpose of the showdown on Mt. Carmel was to confront the people of Israel with their idolatry. When asked to choose between the God of their fathers and Baal, they couldn't make up their minds. So--Elijah called for a contest between Yahweh and Baal. Whichever god sent down fire and consumed the sacrifice would be the true god. After the 450 prophets of Baal had failed to coax their god to act, it was Elijah's turn. That's when he did the unexpected-- he poured water on the altar--on the wood and the sacrifice, and then dug a trench around it and filled that with water. He called on God and expected God to do something great in response, something that only God could do. And God came through--the entire sacrifice and everything around it was consumed by fire. How many of us have that kind of faith? Do we act like our God is big and able to do anything, or do we really not expect much from Him?
George Mueller once said, "Expect great things of God and great things He will do!"
" I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms..." Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)
Things have changed alot in two thousand years. Why is it that our churches today have so little resemblance to the early church? What is missing in 2013 that was present in the first century A.D.? Think about it--when Peter preached a message of repentance to the Jews, three thousand were saved. Today we preach about "love" and no one comes forward. The early Christians were filled with joy, despite hardship and persecution. Today many in the church are in despair, prisoners to addictive and sinful behaviors with no hope of overcoming their problems.
Somewhere along the way, a message got lost--it's "Christ in you the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Every pastor who is born again can preach with the power of Peter on Pentacost. Every believer has the power within him to overcome sinful behaviors. How wickedly cleaver the enemy is--getting us to trust in our flesh and forget the power of God within us. How different would our churches be today if we actually believed that the power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us?
"With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of The Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them." Acts 4:33-34 (NIV)
It's easy to get comfortable in our rut. We get into a routine and things become predictable. No surprises--things are running smoothly and we like it that way. So what happens when revival actually comes to a church? It's hard to imagine, but not everyone may be happy about it. The pastor himself may not want to rock the boat. There's a price to be paid and, for some, the cost may be too high. Some who liked the status quo may leave the church, taking their money with them. When the church is operating under the power of the Holy Spirit, some things may get turned upside down. When members become interested in knowing and doing the will of God, money designated for a building program may now be given to the poor. Some will give up wealth and prestige to serve God on the mission field. People who have been radically changed no longer care about being politically correct--they speak out boldly for God, sometimes drawing critcism and persecution from the world, or even worse, from the church. Sin is not tolerated--it is dealt with. Christians will fear God more than they fear man. No more backbiting, divisions or gossip. They will think differently, talk differently and act differently than the rest of the world. They will not love the things the world loves or fear the things the world fears. They will have joy, even in the most difficult circumstances. People will know that they have been with Jesus.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
"Search me, O God, and know my heart." Psalm 139:23
After reading about the churches in Revelation, one thing is clear to me--Jesus wants us to be ready for His return. Repentance was and is His over-riding message to The church. That repentance has to begin with me. And you. I want to direct you to the one cry.com website. If you will follow the link below, you will find a resource called Draw a Circle. I hope you will prayerfully read through this booklet at your own pace. Don't rush--take time to reflect and allow God to search you. If you do, you just might end up having your very own personal revival!
www.onecry.com/media/filer/2012/03/07/draw-a-circle-digital.pdf
This resource is used with the permission of onecry.com.
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Jesus is talking to the church here--not to the lost. And He's not just talking to the church--He's talking to individual church members. Notice that He says, "If anyone..." Jesus is looking for one person to open the door. How ironic that we could be in church, worshipping the Risen King, while Jesus is standing outside, waiting to be let in! Who will open the door? It should be the pastor, it might be a deacon, but it could be just an ordinary member who hears his voice and lets Him in. It could be you!
"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." Revelation 1:3 (NIV)
Let's take a look in the mirror. Even though the letters to the seven churches of Revelation were written almost 2,000 years ago, the same problems exist in our churches today. We can zoom in a little closer and say that we, as individuals, have some of those very same problems. We may not worship at the altar of Baal, but many of us worship jobs, possessions, children and grandchildren, even our leisure pursuits. Is our church focused on building a monument to itself instead of serving the poor? Do we spend liberally on ourselves while robbing God of His tithe? Does our church, or do we, tolerate false teachers or look the other way instead of confronting sin? Is the love of The Lord waning in our church or in our own life? Worse yet, are we among the living dead? Is the Holy Spirit missing from our church?
I encourage you to read the Book of Revelation--especially chapters two and three, where Jesus addresses the churches. Do you see your church? Do you see yourself? Ask God to show you what needs to be changed in your life and in the life of your church. Repent. Don't criticize--pray for your church and your pastor. Jesus concludes each letter with the admonishment, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." We need to get our house in order. He is coming soon.
"See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Revelation 3:8 (NIV)
Jesus was pleased with the church of Philadelphia. He had placed before them an open door for ministry that no one could shut. What was it about them that earned Jesus' praise? It wasn't that they had great strength--they were a church with little strength and had to rely on God. The church had two qualities that are at the top of God's list: they kept His word and did not deny His name. How hard it is to do those two things--back then, and now. Jesus admonished them to "Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." This speaks to finishing the race well. When it comes to perseverance, we are our own worst enemy. In his book, Messages on Revival, Vance Havner says:
"If ever our souls need to be on guard it is today. The temper of the times demands it. The world is chloroformed by the prince of darkness and Christians slumber in spiritual stupor. Our natures demand it. We are lazy and inclined to float downstream instead of to swim against the current. Forgetting the things which we have heard, we drift away from them. The heart must be broken up and sown with good seed and cultivated if there is to be a good harvest; but we are disposed to let the weeds grow."
"I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! Revelation 2:9 (NIV)
Jesus had only praise and encouragement for the church at Smyrna. They represent the persecuted church--and we in America have no idea what that means. The Christians there had lost their employment and their belongings because of their unwillingness to compromise their faith. Today in America, we think we are taking a strong stand for Jesus if we have a Bible tucked away in our desk at work or wear a 14 carat gold cross around our neck. The church at Smyrna was facing more than loss of income or belongings--they were facing death. In that day, people were required to worship Ceasar. Those who refused were sentenced to a horrible death. But Jesus assures them that He knows their circumstances. He reminds them that it is the second death (God's final judgment) that is to be feared and that they will not be hurt by it. For all their poverty and hardship, Jesus says they are rich--their treasure is in heaven. Where is yours?
"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)
Jesus knows the works of the Laodiceans--they reflect the true condition of the church. Hot water is soothing--cold water is refreshing--lukewarm water is disgusting and good for nothing. Jesus is about to spit them out! These people are in danger of being rejected by Christ! What's more--they don't even know it!
The Laodicean church described themselves as being rich, wealthy, and in need of nothing. Jesus described them as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. This is scary--these people don't have a clue. They think their fine building and expensive furnishings are money well spent, when what they really should be buying is treasure in heaven. Their exquisite clothing and fancy jewelry mean nothing to Jesus--He wants to see them dressed in robes of righteousness. They are so blind, they think they have everything when the reality is that they are destitute. What is missing in this church is Jesus--this is the church of the Laodiceans, not the church of Jesus Christ! If Christ isn't in the church, can He be in their hearts?
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and him with me." (Revelation 3:20)
"I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive--but you are dead." Revelation 3:1 (NLT)
Jesus pronounced the church at Sardis dead, although those in the church and the surrounding neighborhood apparently had not noticed. They had a reputation for being alive--there was movement, there was activity, but they did not meet God's requirements. Nothing they did was reaching the heart of God--not their prayers, not their worship, not their service.
What is the prescription for revival?
"WAKE UP!", Jesus says. "Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead...Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief." (Revelation 3:2-3)
"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." Revelation 2:20 (NIV)
The church at Thyatira looked good on the outside, just as many churches do today. They had love for God and love for each other. Jesus commends them for their deeds, their love, their faith, service and perseverance--and they were growing in these things. But inside the church it was a different story. A woman named Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, was leading God's servants into sexual immorality and idolatry. This woman was evil, yet she was allowed to prophesy and teach Satan's "deep secrets". Why would the leaders of the church tolerate such obvious heresy? How does this apply to us and to the church today?
I think this is a stern warning to pastors and leaders to jealously guard what is being taught in their churches--just because someone calls themself a prophetess doesn't mean that they speak for God. There is a tendency today to be all-inclusive--to tolerate things that God condemns, leading many people astray. There is no compromise with the Word of God--we cannot add to it or take from it. This truth is the very thing that causes the world to categorize Christians as narrow minded and hateful but, in the end, is our loyalty to God or to the world?
"But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin...Repent of your sin or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Revelation 2:14, 16 (NLT)
The church in Pergamum was located in "the city where Satan has his throne". That could be almost any city in America today, with a few exceptions. In spite of that, they remained loyal to Christ, refusing to deny Him even when one of their own was martyred. God approves of shining His light in a dark place--it's a hard assignment though, to keep those evil influences out of the church. That was the problem at Pergamum--they allowed people into their church that thought it was okay to believe in Christ and not give up their sinful habits. They, in turn, were causing others in the church to sin.
Don't we see the same thing today? We are so afraid of offending people. Couples living together outside of marriage has almost become acceptable in the church. Dabbling in pornography, drinking, watching impure movies and television programs--all these things cause others to stumble. In his book, Messages on Revival, Vance Havner says, ,"We sin when we tolerate what God condemns and look some other way instead of dealing with it...Sometimes we become so sentimental about offending one person and so sorry for him that we risk the health of a whole church." He also says that we do harm to the offender by tolerating their sin. We lead them to think they are right with God when they really face His judgment.
To paraphrase Jesus' message to Pergamum, and to us--Repent! If you don't take care of this problem, I will!
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)
The church in Ephesus was doing everything right--or so it seemed. Jesus commended them for their deeds, their hard work and perseverance. They didn't tolerate wicked men, they put false apostles to the test, and endured hardships in Christ's name without growing weary. Sounds like a resume most churches today would be proud of. But Jesus, the One who knew them intimately, saw something serious that no one else could see--their love for Him had grown cold. All the good works could not cover or make up for this painful loss. It was so serious that, if they did not repent, Jesus would remove their light and His presence.
Let's make it personal. What was it like when we first loved Christ? Did we love Him extravagantly, not caring what it cost us? Did we serve Him joyfully, considering it a privilege rather than a duty? Did we give out of a heart overflowing with gratitude? Where are we now? Are we bogged down in the details? Just going through the motions? Finding our satisfaction in other things? Jesus has the remedy for those of us who have forsaken our first love, but it's not optional: remember and repent--do the things you once did!
"Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent." Revelation 3:3 (NIV)
So who is Jesus talking to when He says "Repent"? He's not just talking to churches that have long since died--he's talking to every church and every Christ follower. Most of us act as if these words were meant for someone else. Specifically, Jesus' letters to the seven churches in Revelation are addressed to the angels or ministers of those churches. Why would He be writing to them, unless He expected the ministers to lead their churches in repentance? The pastors are to set the tone for those who are under their leadership. Revival should start from the pulpit. Jesus addressed those letters to the ones He held responsible for the condition of the churches. It has been said that a church will be no more spiritual than its leader. That does not mean we have no personal responsibility for our condition. But the pastor is the leader--if he is satisfied with business as usual, his church will be too. If he is not broken over sin, it's hard for the people, themselves, to feel that "godly sorrow that leads to repentance".
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 2:7 (NIV)
If you had one last opportunity to share some final words with your loved ones, what would they be? Wouldn't you want them to be the most meaningful, most important things you could think of? Wouldn't you want to warn them if they were headed down the wrong path? Jesus' last words to the seven churches in Asia can be found in the book of Revelation (chapters 2 and 3). He wrote a letter to each one and commended them for the good they had done. One thing about Jesus, though--He sees everything. In five of the seven letters, He gave them the same advice--"Repent". These letters are written for us--that we might see ourselves and our churches as Jesus sees them. We need to take God's word seriously. I think Jesus wants us to get ready for His return, but most of us are too in love with the world to care. We are the "Bride of Christ"! He expects her to be spotless and without blemish. How will it be if He returns for His Bride, only to find her with her hair disheveled, her veil ripped,and her gown and shoes muddy?
Jesus said, "Repent".
"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" Psalm 85:6 (NIV)
Many think of revival as a week of church meetings with a guest evangelist, scheduled far in advance and focused on reaching the lost. Some do get saved. The rest of us are fired up for a few weeks, then things settle back to "normal". This is not what revival is. Most of the people I know, myself included, have never witnessed the real thing. The fact that the word itself starts with "re" should tell us something--bringing back to life something that was dead or close to it. Vance Havner says, "Revival is a work of the Spirit among God's own people whereby they get right with God and with each other." This is not the same thing as evangelism, although salvation of the lost should result from revival. It starts with God's people--maybe in the heart of just one person--realizing just how far from God they have drifted. God has so much more for us than we typically experience--we are content with crumbs, when God wants to invite us to a banquet! Prayer plays an essential role--it's been said that no great movement of God takes place without it. When people get things right with God, they will get right with others: marriages and family relationships are restored, forgiveness is asked for and given, genuine love for each other overflows. When the church looks nothing like the world, people of the world will be drawn to God. That is revival!
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)
Our country is deeply divided over many issues. Our default behavior seems to be to criticize anyone we don’t agree with, but what does that really accomplish? Is that approach leading to ‘peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity’? Praying for all people, even those we don’t agree with, pleases God ‘who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.’ Paul’s advice to Timothy was inspired by God—why not try it?
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4 (NIV)
This is the church in America. We love the world and all its toys. But let’s get personal. What consumes the majority of our time? Is it reading and studying God’s Word? Are we ministering to the widows and orphans? Are we caring for the needy, setting the oppressed free? Are we showing love and compassion to a hurting world?
God doesn’t want us isolated from the world—He wants us to be in it, but not defined by it. Is our allegiance to God or to our own selfish desires? Would we skip church to attend a sporting event? Do we waste time doing mindless things on the computer? Are we caught up with having the latest toys and gadgets that are so prized by the world? I confess to you that these questions are convicting to me. It’s easy to get caught up in the attractions of this world, but when we do, we are investing our time and money in something that is perishable—it will have no lasting effect on anyone. And, it is seductive. We cannot play around with it—it leads to adultery. God takes it seriously, and so should we.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1John 2:15 (NIV)
“For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy; ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)
Repentance is the message for the church in America. Why is it not being preached? I believe we are like the frog in the pot of warm water. The water is gradually getting hotter, but we haven’t noticed—in fact, it feels pretty good. We have become comfortable with our little sins to the point that we don’t even recognize them as sins. We think that some of the things in God’s word are optional. Do we realize it is sin…
To worry—“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…” (Matt. 6:25).
To speak carelessly—“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” (Matt. 12:36).
To not show mercy—“judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful” (James 2:13).
To prefer the things of the world over God—“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?” (James 4:4).
Vance Havner once said, “The times are desperate, but we are not.” The church is worldly and lethargic—we do not take God, or His Word, seriously. James 4:17 says, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” We will not see revival until we are broken over our sinful condition.
Isaiah 57:15 says that God lives in a high and holy place, but also with the contrite and lowly in spirit—to them He will bring revival.
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.
Then when you call, the LORD will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel of their sins!
Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
pretending they want to be near me.
‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
“Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
and you don’t even notice it!’
‘I will tell you why!’ I respond.
‘It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even when you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.
What good is fasting
when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the LORD?
Isaiah 57:1-5 (NLT)
“Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:
should you not fear me?” declares the LORD.
Should you not tremble in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,
An everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;
they have turned aside and gone away.
They do not say to themselves,
‘Let us fear the LORD our God…’
Jeremiah 5:21-24 (NIV)
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.’ But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Jeremiah 6:16-19 (NIV)
God’s people stood at the crossroads—they had a choice to make. They could choose their own way or God’s way, the path of destruction or the path of blessing. As angry as God was at their rebellion, He still called them to return to Him. Even as He warned of the coming judgment, He offered them a way out. He made it clear which path they should choose, but they refused to listen.
Are we, the church, standing at the crossroads today in America? We hear what God says in His word, but we don’t really believe there are consequences for not following Him. We continue to ignore His warnings, thinking that God surely would not bring destruction on our nation.
James 1:22-25 says this: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
Yesterday and Today
“To whom can I speak and give warning?
Who will listen to me?
Their ears are closed so they cannot hear.
The word of the LORD is offensive to them;
they find no pleasure in it.”
“From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace’, they say
when there is no peace.
Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish them,
says the LORD.
Jeremiah 6:10,13-15 (NIV)
“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2 (NIV)
The Bible tells us that we do not always know how to pray. Sometimes our prayers remain unanswered. Sometimes they are not answered in the way we expected. Most of this is out of our control—God is the one who sees and knows best how to give us what we need. But we do have control over whether or not we are living a holy life. According to Isaiah 59:1-2, unconfessed sin will keep God from even hearing our prayers. It’s not God that has the problem, it’s us. How can we be humble if we are unwilling to confess our sin? How can we seek God’s face if our sin causes Him to hide his face from us? How can He hear from heaven and heal our land if our sin makes it impossible for him to hear us?
James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
.
“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.” Luke 6:45 (NIV)
There is an 800 pound elephant in the room, and everyone is pretending like it isn’t there. It’s a little word—only four letters, but people hate, even refuse, to speak it. The word is spelled E-V-I-L. In today’s world, most would like to have it erased from the dictionary. But it’s there—whether you acknowledge it or not. The Bible says it’s all about what is in our heart: “For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22 NIV) We all have the capacity for evil—not everyone is controlled by it. God is the one who can help us with this problem—all of our attempts to change these heart issues ourselves usually fall flat. Only He can change a heart. But most people don’t want His help. They prefer to think that man, and the world he lives in, can be perfected by the wisdom of man. I don’t see much progress, do you?
“How long, O LORD, must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry,
But you do not come to save.
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look,
I see destruction and violence,
I am surrounded by people
Who love to argue and fight.
The law has become paralyzed,
And there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous,
So that justice has become perverted.
Habakkuk 1:1-4
This Plea to God was written by the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk It describes the condition of God’s chosen people in the 7th century B.C. Does this sound familiar? God was well aware of their sin and took strong action to correct it. Do we really think America can escape God’s judgment without repentance?
“I trust in the LORD for protection.
So why do you say to me,
‘Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?’
But the LORD is in his holy Temple;
The LORD still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth.
The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked.
He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked.
punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous LORD loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.”
Psalm 11 (NLT)
As I study the Bible, and as I watch events that are happening in the world, I can’t help but come to the conclusion that difficult times lie ahead. The world that we grew up in no longer exists. Changes in the way people view marriage and family, the acceptance of abortion, sex and violence in movies, television and the internet, and legalization of drugs are not changes for our good. I realize that some of you may not agree with that opinion, but I ask you to consider this: What lies ahead for your children or grandchildren? What values do you hold sacred? What will our world look like in 10 years? 20 years?
God says that there will be an end to the world as we know it, when Jesus returns to judge the earth. How will we know when that will be and what are the implications for us and our loved ones? This is what the Bible says, “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2Timothy 3:1-4) I think that these things are evident in our world today and will only get worse as the time of Christ’s return approaches. When we see these signs, along with others mentioned in the Bible, we will know that the end is near. God is a loving and forgiving God, but He is also a God of judgment—there will be serious consequences for those who reject Him, and great suffering lies ahead for those who do not acknowledge Him in those last days.
When you see the ultrasound of your unborn child or grandchild, the beauty of a sunset, the uniqueness of every animal, plant or person, the majestic mountains or the rhythm of the ocean, the sun, moon and millions of stars and galaxies, can you really question the existence of an amazing, creative, all-powerful God?
The God who created these things is the author of the Bible. Maybe you find that hard to believe. God says it takes a child-like faith to believe in Him—like a child trusts his or her father. This is one case where our education and intelligence can hinder us rather than help us. But, that doesn’t mean we have to abandon our intellect—many brilliant men and women have set out to prove the Bible false and ended up knowing it was true. We are human, He is God—what makes us think we can explain everything He is and does?
I love every one of you and want you to be ready for the difficult times that are coming. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
”When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
God speaks. He tells me what to write for this blog, and He gives me the words to say. Some are encouraging, but some are hard. When I write what God tells me, it is not just for those of you who are reading the blog—it’s for me. He wants to change me, too. Some of the very things I write about are hard for me to do. As I have been writing about the last days and having a burden for those that don’t know Christ, God has been speaking to me about my family. Some of my children, their spouses, and my grandchildren do not know Jesus. I confess to you, as I have to God that, when it comes to my family, I fear man more than I fear Him. I love them all and want them to know God’s love for them more than anything in this world. But I hold back, because I fear their rejection. In my mind, I know that it is God that I should fear—He is the one I should want to please. But as Paul says, there is another law at work in my body, waging war against the law of my mind. I know, in my flesh, I can’t change this. But I also know that Jesus, living in me, is able. Please pray for me, as I pray for you.
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT)
“But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.” 2Peter 3:8-10 (NLT)
“For see, the day of the LORD is coming—the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it. The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light. I the LORD, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty.” Isaiah 13:9-11 (NLT)
“Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?” Amos 5:18-20 NIV)
Have you ever heard someone say, “I just wish Jesus would come back!” Maybe you’ve said it yourself or at least thought it. In the book of Amos, God rebukes us for such thoughts or statements. Although Christ’s return will bring an end to the things we despise about this godless world, what does it mean to those who do not know Jesus? They will be judged and sentenced to an eternity in hell. That day will bring unmatched grief and anguish to an already hurting world. I believe God wants us to stop thinking of ourselves and have compassion on those that face a perilous future. The evidence that we are in the last days should give us a sense of urgency to reach as many as possible before it is too late.
