The Danger of Powerless Christianity
We live in perilous times
When good men do nothing, wickedness will prevail
When the pulpits in America are filled with cowards and those who bow their knee to Baal, it creates a dynamic where wickedness will increase.
What is the people of God to do?
Proverbs 28:1 New International Version
28 The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
God has not called us to be silent
God has not called us to hide out
The word bold here means to be confident, to trust, to be sure
The people of God are called to be bold because of our trust and faith in Jesus Christ
Today we have men who stand behind pulpits who are like a ringmaster at the circus
They have appealed to the flesh of humanity, they have compromised the word of God
They speak nothing of repentance or the reality of hell
They build ministries for their own purpose and their own fame
They are unwilling to confront the wickedness of our day and talk about the issues that stand before us
We have a woman in Kamala Harris who is running for president
She is nothing more than a puppet for the globalist elite
She has partnered with planned parenthood and desires to ascend the highest office of the land
Like Jezebel and Hillary Clinton before her she is empowered and influenced by a spirit that feeds of the blood shed of the unborn and innocent
A vote for her will truly mean the end of liberty and freedom in this nation as we know it
But sadly, in this hour many who stand behind pulpits will say nothing about this
There are even so called shepherds and pastors who have paraded her in their churches
They have aligned themselves with Jezebel and have shown themselves for what they truly are.
But what are the people of God to do?
Paul writes these words in 2 Timothy 3:1-5
2 Timothy 3:1-5 New Living Translation
3 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
· Everything mentioned by Paul speaks to the times we live in
· Today people love themselves and love their money
· They are boastful, proud, arrogant, and scoff at the Living God
· They are disobedient to parents, and hold nothing sacred
· They are without self control and they are cruel
When Paul speaks about the last days he speaks about the time after Jesus resurrection
It covers the time period from the Lord’s resurrection to His soon return
Throughout the church age we have seen these things Paul has mentioned
The Roman empire Paul lived under had a culture immersed in these things
But as we have moved toward the return of Jesus these things have continued to escalate and today, we see these things increasing all around us
In verse five Paul states They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
· The word power is the word dynamis and it means force specially, miraculous power ,ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
· The power Paul speaks of was spoken of by Jesus in Acts 1:8
Acts 1:8 New Living Translation
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
· It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to accomplish the purposes of God
· It is The Holy Spirit who empowers us to live for Christ
· To be a witness for Jesus Christ
· To see our lives changed to reflect the image of Christ
In verse five Paul says
They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
· How many today have an outward form of religion but it is simply dead powerless religion
· To follow Jesus Christ is to know freedom, deliverance, healing, and restoration
· To draw near to Jesus Christ is to know brand new life
· It is impossible to draw near to Jesus Christ and not be changed and impacted by who He is.
There is nothing more than the enemy would desire that the church remain silent on issues that are prevalent in our culture
Whether it is abortion, human trafficking, or perversion filling our educational system and impacting the lives of our children, it is the result of governmental decisions and practices that care nothing about the good of a nation and people, but instead desire to destroy a nation that is built on freedom and liberty.
What this nation and the world needs in this hourly desperately is a church and bride that walks in the power and fullness of The Holy Spirit
If the church fails to be the voice of the Lord in the culture we live in, the only voice the people of the world will hear is that of the enemy
As followers and believers of Christ we are called to be His hands and His feet.
We are called to impact the by ways and highways as followers and disciples of Jesus Christ
Matthew 28:18-20 New Living Translation
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This mandate has been given to all of us
All of us have been called to carry the message of the gospel and to make disciples
How do we access the power of God that is available to us?
1. Prayer
a. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ we have access to the throne of grace
b. We draw near without fear and with confidence
c. As we daily seek the Lord in prayer our hearts and minds become one with His
d. Jeremiah 29:13 Christian Standard Bible 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.
e. Those throughout the pages of scriptures have demonstrated that the great purposes of God are always accomplished through prayer
f. Jesus Himself demonstrated this in His own life
2. The power of God is accessed through His word
a. Psalm 119:105 New Living Translation 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
b. As we spend time in God’s word we are transformed by the power and might of The Holy Spirit
c. Reading, meditating, memorizing
d. As we spend time daily in God’s word we are not only changed but we are positioned to be equipped and used by God for His purposes
3. The power of God is accessed through The fullness of The Holy Spirit
a. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
b. It is The Holy Spirit who provides the power
c. It is The Holy Spirit who accomplishes the works of God through us
d. How do we receive The Power The Holy Spirit has?
i. We seek after Him
ii. We build deeper intimacy with Him
iii. We cry out in prayer
iv. We ask to be baptized in His power and His presence
When we are baptized in The Holy Spirit it opens the door for the power of The Holy Spirit to move in our lives and through us
What does the world need today?
It needs the church to be who God has called her to be
He needs the bride to be bold and filled with The love of Christ
The world needs the trust proclaimed and to hear the heart and mind of God through His sons and daugthers
The hour draws late and our King is coming
May we be found to be the bride He has called us to be
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