Something that is very apparent is that the world has changed dramatically over the last 5-10 years. Where previously the norms were more based on Biblical truths, it is now based on whatever the individual thinks is the truth. There are two interesting Scripture passages that come to mind:
Gal 5: 16-21 - 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious:
· sexual immorality (immorality, fornication, adultery)
· impurity and (lustful thoughts)
· debauchery; (indecent actions, pornography)
· 20 idolatry and (worshipping idols, chasing after things rather than God)
· witchcraft; (sorcery)
· hatred, (hostility)
· discord, (become enemies and fight)
· jealousy, (resentment when others are favored)
· fits of rage, (anger, temper tantrums)
· selfish ambition,(all about me)
· dissensions, (creates division, senseless arguments)
· factions 21 and (separate into apposing groups/parties)
· envy; (desires what others have)
· drunkenness, (addiction)
· orgies, (carousing)
· And the like.
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 1:24-26 - 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
Both these verses very well cover what we are seeing around us. It is nothing new. It happened in the New Testament and is happening now
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 - 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time
The tragedy is that the human race is not learning out of their own mistakes or out of history. It is as if we are deaf, blind and dumb to learn from the past. But as the Scripture says: It is because we do not have the Spirit of God in us.
The only problem is that whether we acknowledge it or not, truth remains true, irrespective of what we believe. The consequences remain the same. And our children have to be raised in this crazy world. My personal observations, based on the fact that I have step-grandchildren, the one set being raised in the ways of the Lord and the other set not, of the youth are as follows:
1. Children raised in the ways of the Lord
a. They have a solid foundation of what absolute truth is (Bible)
b. Tends to live Godly values
c. They respect their parents and older people
d. They understand the roles of the man and woman in society
e. They tend to be hard working (with some exceptions)
f. They value and appreciate what they have
g. They are not demanding by nature
h. They tend to have a higher calling to serve others
2. Children not raised in the ways of the Lord
a. Ungrateful (entitlement attitude)
b. Disrespectful to older people (Call parents on their first names, shoots down old people’s values, want to be served first, etc.)
c. Do not accept gender difference
d. Poor learning spirit (closed minds to options other than what they believe)
e. Disregards views different to theirs (their truth is the only truth)
f. Expects you to adapt to their views (pressure to change your beliefs to align with theirs)
g. Tend to be lazy and unwilling to help (why should I help)
h. Does not take responsibility for their actions (tends to avoid facing consequences of their actions by creating diversion to take the eye off the problem)
i. Money is all that counts (tend to want the latest and greatest and if not given will sulk or use manipulation to get what they want)
j. No higher calling (tends not to care about others)
k. Tends to be unhappy
l. Sexually promiscuous
Proverbs 1:7 - 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 12:15 - 15 The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
It is not really surprising. See what they have to contend with (in no specific order):
1. Abortion on demand even up to the birth of a child. It is murder. There are many couples that cannot conceive and are desperately looking for babies to adopt. The “hassle” of bearing the child is too much for them so they just cut the life of the child without giving it a chance to live.
2. Abortion as a method of birth control. If you don’t want a child, kill the baby. There are so many ways in which to prevent pregnancies before a child is conceived. They do not opt for birth control. A mere lack of self-discipline.
3. The world does not value life anymore. We have seen so many random killings in schools and shopping centers or drive by shootings. If you dislike someone, just kill him instead of addressing the problem. Many people do not even know that they have upset you. God said on the cross: “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” We should have the same attitude. Forgiveness is the most freeing experience. Forgiveness is to find out you were the captive, not the other person.
4. Promiscuous lifestyle of their parents and celebrities as example for children to follow. We see couples getting in and out of bed with multiple partners one after the other. The reason given is that they are incompatible or have fallen out of love. It is in fact lustful actions that do not lead to sustainable marriages. Marriage is work. It does not come automatically. But a successful marriage brings real benefits to both parties.
5. Infidelity in marriage the norm. Blame the partner for your infidelity. No trust in marriages. It is estimated that 60% of men and 40% of women have affairs in marriage. And it is increasing every year. The latest norm is that if you have an affair, it is not your fault. It is the partner’s fault as they do not satisfy your needs in the marriage. What has happened to: “Thou shalt not commit adultery?”
6. Gender transition lauded although it does not work in 90% of cases leaving people with regret for the rest of their lives. This fact is ignored. It is a psychological issue. It is complex and it is not a quick fix. A person that did the transition from male to female and again back to male receives thousands of letters every year from people that went the transition route and have huge regrets. This is denied by doctors that do the transition surgery and process.
7. Children choose gender transition without parental approval. Research shows that children are only capable of making a balanced decision after 18 years of age. Below that they are not emotionally developed to do so.
8. Word of God no longer seen as the truth or foundation of life lessons. Truth is what you believe. Truth is without any foundation for such beliefs.
9. Blasphemous and foul language on media the norm, including using God’s name in vain. It amazes me that people have to swear to make a film popular. Contrary to this belief the programs that do not fall for this lie is more popular than the other films.
10. Pornography freely available on media. Blatant sex scenes in films. No more a shame if watched. Spices up the marriage. Big companies benefit out of this, including child pornography. Men brag about their addiction. It is a huge reason for divorce. It treats the other person as an object of pleasure rather than a person that was created in the image of God. Wife swapping (swinging) and orgies are now rife in many communities. Sex without real love does not satisfy. Lust makes you want more perverted sex. How e.g. can you watch your wife/husband having sex with someone else’s husband/wife? That is perversion of the highest degree.
11. Modern music with blatant blasphemous or sexual content. Children say they do not listen to the words, just the music. That is a lie. Listen to when they copy the song. They sing the words. These words indoctrinate their minds and they will do what the words say.
12. Living together without being married becoming the norm. In the eyes of God that is fornication. Statistics have proved that people living together before marriage, have a far greater risk of divorce. Soul ties are created. Out of marriage it is negative soul ties and end up as bondage negatively impacting the marriage if the bondage is not broken through Christ.
13. The glorifying of having children out of wedlock in media. Now called “love” children.
14. Homosexual marriage and lifestyle glorified by media without sharing risks. What irritates me is that the media lauds these actions.
15. BLM and other organizations forcing you to adhere to their beliefs. Freedom of speech and choices no longer an option. A magistrate has been fired twice and has lost the court appeal when he said that the best way to raise a child is with a loving father and mother. Stats prove that e.g. an absent father causes harm in particular to the boys. It is quoted by some that gayness can be caused by the absent father syndrome.
16. BLM and other organizations encouraging violence and destruction of properties under the label of “peaceful demonstration” without any thought of the effect it has on people subject to the destruction. Even in our country people demonstrate “peacefully” and destroy infrastructure and buildings. In a recent event Christians had a peaceful demonstration in our country. After the demonstration the streets were clean, no damage to any property. Why do people think that by destroying they will be better heard? They are effectively criminals. Yet they are very seldom arrested or convicted.
17. BLM and other organizations shaming people that do not agree with their views, even to the point of demanding dismissal. This is a vindictive act. Why should we believe what you believe? We are supposed to respect each other’s views.
18. Gay rights now more important than normal human rights. The latest development in USA with their equality act effectively will discriminate against Christians if they express their Bible based views. Fortunately, the time of Jesus’s return is imminent.
19. Breaking down of family values and structure although statistics prove that the best way to raise a child is in a male/female marriage with a loving family. The LGBT activists deny this and the world is now allowing gay parents to adopt children or have children with a surrogate mother. They even admit through their actions that there is a gender difference through their actions when it suits them. Double standards that shoot their “truth” in the foot.
20. Gender equality without recognizing the differences or roles determined by God. My personal opinion is that they lose the uniqueness of them being different and live out their lives that Christ intended for them. Man and woman were created to be different. They were created to have different roles. They are equal in value. Women are natural born lovers and nurturers because of their emotional component that they were born with. Men are logical and end driven. We were made to complement each other. Women are given a title of honor in the Bible: “Helper”. Only the Trinity has that title. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God would not lightly give this honor to women for nothing. The man reaches his epitome if he is a servant leader. Again a God-given task.
21. You can do anything as long as it does not “hurt” anybody, what a myth! You are always affecting someone with your actions. Whether that is positive or negative. They justify out of marriage sex as being consensual sex and therefore do not hurt the other person. The fact is that e.g. in the woman’s case they steal her virginity that is not theirs to take.
22. Math is racism. Encourages the myth that 2+2 does not equal 4 and if you insist, it is racist. Ludicrous. Everything a white person does is considered racist. Whatever a non-white person does is justified because of past atrocities. They forget that un-forgiveness is bondage. If you cannot forgive your fellow man, how can you expect God to forgive you?
23. Blocking of reports on Twitter, Facebook, Google, etc. on prolife and reports that criticizes the move away from ultimate truth. People have begun to accept the lie as the truth. Predicted in God’s Word. They are bluffing themselves. It is interesting that the Christian faith is being singled out. No other religion is being persecuted this way. Are they afraid of us? Are they afraid of the truth?
24. Social media banning any books that is considered prejudiced against gender transition, homosexual lifestyle, or Biblical quotes that declares the truth, potential corruption of President Biden, etc. Outrageous. Free speech in USA now a thing of the past! Free speech is now “re-classified” as agreeing with an organization’s beliefs.
25. 63% of Biden voters claim that God is not all powerful, perfect and just. The nations are becoming Godless. We see this happening worldwide. Fortune tellers and psychics are now called upon whilst the Word of God have the real answers. In my country the leaders worship forefather spirits. Effectively listening to foreign gods that is part of the evil one’s army.
26. Dramatic increase in teenage pregnancies, depression, drug abuse, alcoholism and suicide. A sign of a very sick society. With no solid foundation that helps them cope with the stresses of life, they search for answers and find it in “things” rather than the creator. My heart bleeds for the youth.
27. Satanism increasing and considered a legitimate religion whilst the atrocities that accompany their religion are known and not denounced. They sacrifice babies and children in an attempt to appease the evil one. It is one of the things God hates. It was the practice of heathen nations.
28. Call for freedom to administer self-death (euthanasia). Only God has the power over life and death. I know it is rationalized as the people suffer pain. But suffering is God’s way of building faith. In addition medical science has developed a myriad of medication to treat pain. Euthanasia is the same as suicide. Not within the perfect will of God.
29. Increase in the murder of parents and siblings. Rebellion against authority and God. This is predicted in the Bible. The amount of children that claim that the “voice” inside them or the evil one encouraged them is an attempt to avoid facing the consequences of their actions. But it also shows how Satanism has infiltrated our society.
30. People can protest in their thousands but governments keep churches effectively close. Persecution of another kind?
31. Pastors now apologize for Biblical truths to satisfy the demands of the LGBT community. They are forsaking the Word of God for appeasing the masses. The gay lifestyle is an abomination in the eyes of God. They also bless same sex marriages that are also an abomination in the eyes of God. Their disregard for the Truth and thereby confuses the youth and older people. These pastors are part of the shaking of family values. I shudder to think what will happen at the day of judgement to them. They are false preachers. Without calling sin sin, there is no way in which people will come to repentance and a life free of condemnation.
32. And many more.
I do not judge people that live in a world of make belief. It is indeed a sad state of affairs. All people are born in the image of God and we are commanded to love them irrespective of what they do. God did this with us. We should give the same grace to people that believe different than us. Our witness should be of such a nature that it should make them jealous of the joy and peace we have in following Christ.
Is it any wonder that the youth is confused? The example set does not give them any solid foundation to build values on. Anything goes. Parents role have become more difficult than ever before. To teach your children the ways of the word is countered by group pressure not to conform to Biblical norms.
Matthew 10:21-22 - 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
John 15:19-21 - 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
Ephesians 4:18 - 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
It sure is a crazy world. It is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The end is near.
2 Peter 1:20-21 - 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The question is: What must/can we do about it?
1. Witness with your life: Someone once said: That to proclaim the Gospel without saying a word, is the greatest witness you will ever be. Someone also said that: You may be the only Bible someone sees.
This places a huge responsibility on us to live our Christian life the best we can. Our joy, love and confidence will have an effect on others. I can testify to this in my own life. That is what witnessing is about
1 John 3:18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Galatians 5:22-26 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other
Philippians 2: 14 –16s - 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Philippians 2:1-4 - 1 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, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Matthew 5:13-15 - 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
2. Stay with what the Bible says. It may be difficult, but we have the Holy Spirit that is the Spirit of Truth that lives with us and gives us the power to resist the evil one. The Bible is the Truth. Believe and apply it although you may be hated for it. The Bible brings life, the worldly values brings everlasting death.
1 John 4:4-5 - 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
Philippians 4:8-9 - 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Titus 2:11-13 - 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
Colossians 2:8 - 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 - 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 - 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[a] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
2 John 6-8 - 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
3. Be prepared that things will get worse. The evil one will continue with the deception and take a lot of people with him. That is his strategy. If you read revelations, the evil one is desperate and will therefor increase his attack on the believers.
2 Timothy 3:13-15 - 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:24-26 - 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
4. It will not be an easy road. In fact you may be ridiculed and sidelined for your Biblical views.
John 12:39-40 - 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”
John 15:18-19 - 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Mark 13:12-13 - 12 “Brother will betray brother to death and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
5. But then, you are on the winning team. It does not matter how “clever” they may project themselves as being, the truth is the truth and:
Romans 14:11 - 11 It is written: -“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
Philippians 2:9-11 - 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The struggle we have today is evil, lies and deception is convincing people that God and His Word is a lie. Our struggle is not against people.
Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
6. Even so called Christians will follow the world view and will entice you to follow; it drives me crazy how inconsistent many Christians are with their worldview. Many Christians claim to believe in God and to trust the Bible as being God's Word, yet, as soon as the Christian worldview stands in the way of something they want to do, it gets thrown out the window, only to be recovered the next time it becomes convenient. This is the lukewarm faith Jesus spoke of. We cannot be apathetic to these changes.
Revelation 3:16 - 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
1 John 2:15–16 - 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life 3—is not from the Father but is from the world.
7. Sin causes the world to be crazy; Sin is what is wrong with the world. This world, as wonderful and amazing as it still is, is completely screwed up. It is not completely what God intended it to be. While it still contains beauty, and still provides what we need for life, it is a warped and faded image of what God created. We brought sin and evil into the world. We are responsible for all that is wrong in the world. We are completely messed up and infected with a deadly plague.
Nothing in your life should be separated from the fact that you are a Christian, a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. We should be on fire for God. Our role is to warn people of their folly. We do not have the power to change them, but we always have the hope that they will listen and follow God. We need to plant the seed. It is God’s responsibility to convince them of their folly.
Ezekiel 3:18-20 - 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself. 20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.
2 Corinthians 4:4 - 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
8. Be careful not to follow their ungodly practices. It is easy to follow the world. Advertising and the natural man, wants to follow other gods, such as money, status, etc. These things do not bring happiness. But it is difficult for us to resist this. With the false prophets preaching prosperity it can entice one to think that prosperity is the promise of God for faithful children. Definitely not. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in right living. If we don’t we will spiritually die. These things can become a god in your life. David struggle with the concept that the ungodly seem to have it better financially than he himself. But at the end he had to admit that it is better to be in the arms of the Lord.
Romans 8: 7-13 - 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus 4 from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.12 So then, brothers,5 we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Deuteronomy 6:13-15 - 13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and He will destroy you from the face of the land.
Deuteronomy 11:16-17 - 16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.
What is heartbreaking is that Israel, although they were warned, adopted the pagan beliefs and they forsake the Lord. Even Solomon, the wisest man, ended his life worshipping the foreign gods of his many wives.
9. Evaluate the prize at the end of life: Being a true Christian, born again, ensures that we have eternal life. A gift from God. Following the world ends in not being able to see the kingdom of God. That is not worth it.
Romans 8:12-13 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
1 Corinthians 6:8-10 - 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:4-6 - 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 5:3-6 - 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Matthew 5:12 - 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
10. Pray for revival: Although I placed this as the last item, it is in reality the most important action we can do. When the power of the Holy Spirit is released in revival, He becomes a powerful force to counteract the work of the evil one. Amazing things happen during revival.
I want to take you back to the day of Pentecost when the disciples started sharing the true Gospel to the people. 3,000 people accepted the Gospel that day. In all probability most of them were involved in crying out a few weeks prior to that: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” during revival the Holy Spirit comes in all its power and people’s resistance to the Gospel disappears.
Acts 2:40-41 - 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
We also saw the amazing fact that they started speaking in tongues. Each person heard the Gospel in their own language although the disciples were unlearned fisherman. Gifts are bestowed upon people during revival.
Acts 2:7-11 - 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[a] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
I want to take you back to some of the great revivals in modern history. In England, when one of the preachers during the revival, passed by towns in the country, just the presence of the Holy Spirit caused people to go on their knees and repent. No human intervention, only the Holy Spirit.
In my own country, Andrew Murray was preaching the Sunday. During his service, the people started repenting and praying in tongues. He wanted to stop it and the Lord revealed to him that it was the work of the Holy Spirit, and one of the greatest survivals started.
We can expect great things to happen when revival takes place. As Peter said:
Acts 2:16-21 - 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 8 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 9 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Just be warned, the evil one will attack you and try to discourage you from praying for survival.
Ephesians 6:12 -For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Revival starts with us. It also normally starts with the prayer of one person but needs to expand to more people, a mighty army of the Lord. And the army needs to be prepared against the attack of the evil one!
Ephesians 6:10-17 - 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
We need to persevere with our prayers. God listens and will act when the time is right. We cannot change people. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that must be released by God to get people to accept Christ and renew their minds and change their behavior.
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