1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Much is happening in our country that should alarm each one of us.
Consider
Isaiah 5:18-24
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Woes we see here
- Those who are vain in their conceit of sin. Brag about it, are open about it and seemingly have no conviction.
- Those who call evil good.
- Those who call good evil.
- Those who call darkness light.
- Those who call light darkness.
- Those who call bitter Sweet.
- Those who call sweet bitter.
- Those are wise in their own eyes. (Sinful pride)
- Those who drink wine and strong drink.
- Those who reward others for their evil works.
- Those who condemn others for their righteous works.
NOTE: God will bring judgement upon His own people.
WHY? Because they have made mockery out of the word of God.
They have forsaken His way for the ways of the world.
The only cure
- MY PEOPLE!
- Humble themselves.
- Pray.
- Seek the face of God.
- Turn from their sin – repent!
- THEN
a. God will hear.
b. God will forgive.
c. God will heal.
Recent events of our day
- Disney decided to introduce gay and transgender characters both in new movie remakes and in their theme parks. CEO fired.
- Major retailers have decided to push transgender issues.
a. Target – Target has donated $2.1 million to LGBTQ group that pushes school districts to allow children to secretly change gender dailymail.com; Target customers shocked after company features pride items by Satanist partner: Devil is ‘hope’ and ‘love’ Fox News – Target has lost 9 billion dollars this week after people rebelled against the stores stand.
b. Budweiser – featured transgender on their cans – lost 16 billion dollars since.
c. Major news media. CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, FOX
d. Many popular tv shows. NCIS Hawaii, FBI most wanted, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu. (Wikipedia) Netflix and Disney+ lead the trend.
e. Even Hallmark TV. Good news is a new Hallmark type network that has promises to have Christian theme programs called “The Great American Family Network” (founded by Candice Cameron Burr”)
f. School systems – More than 3.2 million US public school students are covered by guidance that blocks parents from knowing whether their child identifies as a different gender in the classroom — which could become federal policy if President Biden’s Title IX proposals are approved in May. – New York Post March 8, 2023
g. Some huge churches. Ohio, New York, California, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida, North Carolina (Durham, Raleigh, Charlotte area) Wilmington has over 2 dozen LGBTQ affirming churches, over half gay affirming and most affirming unmarried same sex couple unions. Several big churches refuse to give their stance publicly – you would know them if I mentioned their name)
Where do I as a pastor stand
- Totally upon the word of God
- I will openly oppose the evil of our day regardless of what other may do or say.
I would rather have a dozen people in my living room on a Sunday.
morning then a church of thousands and NOT STAND AGAINST SIN AND SPIRITUAL WICKNESS IN OUR CHURCHES AND IN OUR COUNTRY.
I CONTEND THAT THESE THINGS ARE NOT POLITICAL ISSUES, BUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES BOTH IN OUR POLICAL LEADERS AND CHURCH LEADERS.
