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Now What?
As we continue to see disturbing changes in our society and our nation's rapid "drift" from our Christian foundation, what are we to do as a church and as individual Christians?
My advice to our church yesterday was three-fold:
- Brace Ourselves For The Future. (2 Timothy 3:1)
Many have said that we are now living in a "post-Christian" era. I would suggest that it is appearing to be more of an "anti-Christian" era.
As our government and courts are attempting to legitimatize the most grievous of sins, we can fully expect increased opposition to the unchanging standards of right and wrong given to us in God's Word.
We must prepare ourselves for increased opposition to our faith and the Word of God.
God has repeated told us to "be strong," "be not afraid," to "stand firm," etc.
I fully expect that in the coming years we will lose many of the freedoms we have taken for granted since our nation was founded.
A growing percentage of our society, and many in the leadership of our nation, are becoming openly hostile to the Christian faith and the Word of God.
We must brace ourselves and endure hardness as good soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Bolster Our Faith In God & His Word. (Mark 11:22)
A Satanic stronghold has gripped our nation and only earnest prayer, fasting, and great faith in God can turn the tide.
There are some victories that can only be won in the spiritual realm with the spiritual "weapons" God has given us (Ephesians 6:10-18)
We MUST search our own hearts as God's people and deal with our own besetting sins that we have ignored, excused and in many cases, justified. When we, as God's people, regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear our prayer and our nation, society, churches, and homes suffer (study Joshua chapter 7).
As our hearts break over what is happening in our great land, rather than becoming angry and bitter, let's channel our emotions to seek the Lord and the filling of His Holy Spirit. We must determine to bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us.
- Boldly Declare the Gospel For God's Glory. (Acts 8:1-4)
As many godly Christian leaders has stated, "the Gospel thrives in pagan, sinful societies."
The church was born and flourished in an extremely hostile society.
God's Word declares that where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.
Now is the time that our neighbors and communities need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We must be filled with the Spirit of God and wisely, compassionately, yet boldly proclaim the soul-saving, life-changing, destiny-altering, purpose-giving, Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please join with us as we give ourselves anew to live for the Lord Jesus, to serve Him diligently and to dedicate the rest of our lives to glorify Christ and share the Gospel with every person on planet earth.
This Saturday, July 4th we are having a very special Men's Prayer Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. We will be focusing our prayers on seeking God's power and intervention in our church and our nation. Please join us on our nation's birthday as we seek to humble ourselves before the Lord.
Next week is our great Neighborhood Bible Time Crusade (July 6-10.) and we're excited about this fantastic outreach to the youth and families in our community.
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to keep up with what is happening around here and, please check out our website at www.mlibc.org.
Bring your Bible and a friend and I'll be looking for you Sunday!
Sincerely, your friend,
Dr. Dennis Leatherman - Pastor
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