What has gone wrong in this world? The answer is simple. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
We can give lip service to God all we want, but unless we die to self, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, our faith will be a secret, hidden even from God. If you love darkness and the evil therein, you can’t love God with all your heart and soul.
God told Moses, “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil” (Deuteronomy 11:13-14).
God will bless those who love and honor Him. Is that only an Old Testament command? A scribe asked Jesus what was the first commandment of all. “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and will all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30).
How do we love God? We obey Him. How can we obey if we don’t study Scripture? It seems as if modern preachers are afraid to preach Scripture from Genesis through Revelation. It’s all God’s truth, but the darkness of evil in this world has made it wrong to step on toes and call sin, sin. If a preacher preaches about the literal six-day creation, that flies in the face of the lies taught by public schools. If a preacher preaches that a little girl is genetically born a female and a little boy is genetically born a male, again, that flies in the face of the evil darkness that is sweeping over the land. People love darkness.
Many preachers have little to do with Scripture because if you aren’t politically correct, you lose the tax-exempt status. The almighty dollar is more important than Almighty God. If preachers preach that sexual sin is an abomination before God, then the congregation might be upset and stop putting money in the collection plate. Christians must return to Scripture. We can’t please God and please the world. It’s better to please God.
The Old Testament gives many examples of God doing mighty works after His people returned to a covenant relationship with Him. Joshua led the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land, and their first battle was at Jericho. Before he led them to battle, he first led them back to a right covenant with God. During their exile in the very pagan land of Egypt, the people had picked up the pagan ways and forgotten to honor God. When Abraham was called, the covenant God made with him and all his children was that all males were to be circumcised. While in Egypt and wandering 40 years in the desert, the people had forgotten this covenant, and it was time to reaffirm it. It would hurt, but they had to be right with God in order to honor Him and be blessed by Him. After the men were circumcised according to God’s covenant, Joshua understood that they had to remember all that God had done for them….
God brought them out of bondage in a pagan land. “And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho” (Joshua 5:10).
After God was put in the proper place in the Israelites’ hearts, He showed up. “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay, but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15).
God had led the Israelites through their wanderings, but after their hearts had been made right in the sight of God, God was made real. Joshua saw the pre-incarnate Christ.
Joshua led the Israelites in the conquest of the land which God had given them through the covenant with Abraham. When the battles were over, Joshua had words of wisdom to share with the people. “If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:20-21).
The people meant the words, but it wasn’t long until the time of the judges came to Israel. The recurring theme during that time was Israel following pagan ways and being less than obedient to God. God would always raise up a man, or in one case, a woman, to protect Israel. People would be obedient to God, and His blessings would flow, but then they would allow the influence of pagan cultures to lead them astray. Children would be sacrificed to demon gods, and the true God of all creation would be ignored.
God is always willing to forgive those who are truly repentant, and we see that pattern throughout Israel’s history.
King Ahab and his evil Queen Jezebel led the Northern Kingdom of Israel to destruction. In spite of many prophetic warnings, they continued in the worship of pagan gods and were destroyed. These gods and goddesses (real demons) required child sacrifice and sexual perversion.
Do you see the parallel between the evil that is permeating our life today and the judgments of God in the past? Even those who claim to be Christian live with a “significant other” with no covenant of marriage. Babies are sacrificed, and it’s called “a mother’s right to choose.” Children are taught it’s OK to have two mommies or two daddies with no regard for God’s truth. Gender is now erroneously taught as being a choice. We are living in a very pagan, God-rejecting society and wonder why evil is so strong. Go back and read John 3:19. People love the darkness of Satan even though that darkness causes us to stumble, fall, and hurt ourselves.
There is a pattern in Scripture showing that God is always ready and willing to forgive the sin we embrace.
King Solomon built the Temple, and when it was finished, it was a magnificent building to honor God. Solomon had many problems in his life and was far from perfect. He had a weakness for pagan women. This allowed the gateway for pagan worship in Israel. God honors His promises, and a promise to King David, Solomon’s father, was that his kingdom would never end. So, God didn’t send judgment upon Solomon, but over the years, Solomon brought on his own judgment. None of his treasure, wives, or worldly pleasures brought any joy to his life. God had not forgotten Solomon, and after the Temple was built, God spoke to him and made a conditional promise:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Does that promise only apply to the Jewish nation? The truth of those words is for all people. We cannot claim to be Christian while embracing all manner of sin. As Christians, we need to repent of the sin that grips our life, and serve Jesus. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
Jesus also said, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). Embracing sin is not loving God, but serving mammon.
We must return to Scripture. It’s very obvious what happens when God is ignored and Satan is embraced. Illegitimate babies are created, then either raised by a single mother or murdered in the womb. Men have no idea about the responsibility of supporting a wife and family. Drug and alcohol abuse is prevalent, which increases mental illness, demon possession, and crime. Children are taught that gender is a choice and they might even really be an animal; they are encouraged to be a dog if they think they are a dog. Everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes.
Scripture is God’s word, and Christians need to walk away from congregations that tickle ears and teach a watered-down version of Scripture. We are living in the very last of the last days. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Shame on those pastors who compromise God’s word, and shame on Christians who don’t study (not just read through) Scripture. The times are very evil and treacherous.
The Old Testament tells of Solomon dedicating the Temple and reading God’s Law publicly so all could hear. Eventually, the Temple was destroyed, but God would eventually restore it. Even though he lived in the Kingdom of Babylon, Nehemiah was heartbroken over the destruction of the Temple. The king allowed him to return to the Jewish capital of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall of protection, then the focus turned to rebuilding the Temple. He had men working with him who loved the Lord. When it was all restored, the first celebration was the observance of Passover.
After some time, the people returned to their land, stood in the street, and asked Ezra to bring the book of the Law of Moses. Ezra did just that. The people were hungry to hear God’s Law as given to Moses and had great respect for hearing it.
“And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law” (Nehemiah 8:3).
We need this same heart today. A desire for God’s word and men who are not ashamed to openly declare their faith and lead others to a closer walk with Jesus.
We are in a time of great sin amongst “Christians,” and that’s a sad comment on our faith. God knew this time would come, but that doesn’t mean He approves. The Apostle Paul, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, wrote a letter to a young pastor named Timothy and encouraged Him to preach God’s truth.
“Preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
Don’t wait for someone else to start. Be a leader and eschew the erroneous teaching of the “name it and claim it” lies, the purpose-driven mistruth, and the opinion that you can sin all you want and then ask forgiveness and sin some more. Be the man or woman to lead a return to Scripture. Return to the pure word of God. Humble yourself before God and allow Him to rule over your life.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Recommended prophecy sites:
www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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