Apathy towards the word of God is at an all time high even though most everyone (North America) has a bible or access to one online. As I talked about yesterday, everyone may have a bible but the word of God is lost in the ruins of the temple. The sad part of this journey is how few people there are sounding the alarm. Like the days of the Old Testament there will be those sounding the alarm and those saying, everything is okay. We are in a similar day to when the false prophets were deceiving people. “Jeremiah 6:13 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. 15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.” Relax be happy, God won’t send the enemy against us. Jeremiah 14:13 “But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place. 14 Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. 16 And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.”
If you read 2 Peter 2 yesterday, you will see the same message. I think every generation says that can’t me. Like this researcher / statistician who said, the church is not dying it is in transition.” I do agree with the word transition as the church is transitioning from a holy people to unholy. He goes on to say, “I don't believe the situation is quite as dire as many are making it out to be. Actually, no serious researcher believes Christianity in America is dying. Not one.” People who stand on the word are saying otherwise. Yes Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” That statement was based on Peter saying You are the son of God. That means we put everything into Jesus and his word. Since many do not rely on his word in our day how can we believe that the enemy will not be allowed to attack?
Because of the great unbelief and disobedience of the church we are under attack. I find it strange that the church does not want to admit it. All you have to do is look around and see what is happening. 2 Kings 9:22 “When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?” Revelation 2:20 “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” This battle with the spirit of jezebel is a huge battle in the church today. We have this happening because we have left the highway of holiness. The only way back on is to repent. But since many are dressing the wound as not serious, people are not turning from their wicked ways. Romans 10:21 “But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Jeremiah 5:2 “Though they say, “As the Lord lives,” yet they swear falsely. 3 O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.” Right now the church is under attack. When you look across the church you see mental health issues, cancer and sicknesses of all kinds, apathy, lifestyle choices and many other sexual issues and that list could go on and on. At this point we have no power to defeat this enemy. This tells us that the church is not where it is supposed to be. The church refuses to acknowledge the presence of the demonic. Jesus said in Mark 9:29 “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Isaiah 1:15 “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.”We are not seeing prayers answered as seen in scripture. I am not saying no prayers are answered, but it is not happening as described in the bible.
It is not hard to see how the word of God has been set aside. In todays church so much effort is spent trying to win the lost in a way that is not offensive. It is the blind leading the blind. “Francis Chan humbly confesses to “hiding things about Jesus” in order to make his teachings more palatable, attractive and appealing.” He said, “Here’s what I had to repent of: I had felt the need to soften a lot of Jesus’ statements, because in my arrogance I think, “Okay Jesus, I’m not going to say that like that. Trust me, people will like you more and be more willing to accept you if I say it like this.” Notice he repented. This palatable gospel is happening all over the church. In an effort to win the lost many have watered down the gospel as to not offend anyone but in the process have offended God. Not only are leaders doing this, Christians are not willing to give themselves up for Jesus. This narcissism has crept into the church. Feed me what I want to hear, don’t offend me or I will just go somewhere else. Many also will not listen to the conviction brought by the Holy Spirit.
There is devastation in the church across the country.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Daniel 9 “at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Matthew 24:5 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. Daniel 11:31 “they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”
We must stand firm but this is not happening by many. Churches are dying and churches are growing as man praise what there hands have made. But there is very little if any power present. Yes some churches are growing and people are being saved, but what are they being transitioned into. Have they changed radically or do they just go to church? Is the power of the Holy Spirit present as described in the bible. If you are totally honest with yourself you have to say no. This is why we are calling for revival. But this means turning from our wicked ways and we are back to square one as people do not think their ways are wicked. Do not deceive yourself into thinking that just because Jesus came as Immanuel (God with us) 2000 plus years ago means that we can walk away from the word of God and not obey it completely. God will not tolerate this behaviour.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Daniel 9 “at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Matthew 24:5 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 24:10 “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. Daniel 11:31 “they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.”
We must stand firm but this is not happening by many. Churches are dying and churches are growing as man praise what there hands have made. But there is very little if any power present. Yes some churches are growing and people are being saved, but what are they being transitioned into. Have they changed radically or do they just go to church? Is the power of the Holy Spirit present as described in the bible. If you are totally honest with yourself you have to say no. This is why we are calling for revival. But this means turning from our wicked ways and we are back to square one as people do not think their ways are wicked. Do not deceive yourself into thinking that just because Jesus came as Immanuel (God with us) 2000 plus years ago means that we can walk away from the word of God and not obey it completely. God will not tolerate this behaviour.
Jesus said I am the way, the truth and life. This is the only way. This is the highway of holiness. Isaiah 35:8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.” In order to return to the heart of worship we must get back on the path of Holiness. God said, Be holy because I am Holy. What do you think will happen if you don’t? Remember we are still serving the same God as the scriptures proclaim. Jesus said in Revelation 3:16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Do you know how many lukewarm people there are in the church? Just as Israel was vomited from the land so will we. There is this great deception that a lukewarm life is all you need to get by. This path will lead you to death. Proverbs 1-9 tells us there are two paths. One leads to life the other death and there is much deception on the path that leads to death. Many do not know they are even on it. Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Job 24:22-23 “But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life. 23 He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways.”
We are living in the end times. We must ask ourselves if we are prepared to meet Jesus. Don’t answer to quickly. Ecclesiastes 5 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
We are living in the end times. We must ask ourselves if we are prepared to meet Jesus. Don’t answer to quickly. Ecclesiastes 5 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
Prayer: Lord, help me to stand firm in these last days. Do not let me be lead astray and fall. Lord, help me to understand the magnitude of the onslaught of the enemy but also help to understand the power that is available to all who believe. 2 Chronicles 32:7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” 2 Kings 19:19 “Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.” 35 That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.” The battle is the Lord's
Please read 2 Thessalonians 2
