No Compromising!

I will be the first to admit that today it is easy to grow weary as a believer. With the increase in immoral behavior, compromising of the apostle's doctrine - it has become more difficult to maintain the fire and passion that once was ignited in our hearts when we first heard the gospel!  Many of us have been on the wall claiming a day of reckoning is coming, raising our voices in hopes to spare the people of the coming calamity. However, the voice crying aloud seems to be drowned out by compromising church-goers - professing believers who have no solid foundation nor have the Holy Spirit leading them into all truth. These "church-goers" declare that God is love and if you simply confess your sins, believe in Christ then you will be saved. They have reduced the gospel to a confession versus a heart transformation. They speak evil of those who are warning and admonishing believers to live and walk in holiness. They coddle those who are young in the faith, never speak truth or the gospel to unbelievers, secularists and those who prefer to live by their own laws regarding their lives. 

These "modern" believers or "church-goers" declare that those who are crying out "repentance" are just fanatical holy rollers. You don't have to forsake this life to be a Christian. You don't have to change from doing wicked things to be a believer. They declare you don't have to give up the cares of this life, discipline your body and your spirit unto the obedience of Christ. They declare believers should be quiet and leave other believers who may be in a fallen state to God's judgment. They declare it is okay to have fun and participate in worldly celebrations as long as you add Christ's name to the celebration.  By far, these compromising Christians do more harm for the Kingdom of God than satan himself. 

Scripture declares we are to be holy for our Father is holy. When our heart has truly been changed, we no longer desire the pleasures of this world whether it is sexual pleasures that are outside of marriage, lying, drinking, clubbing, playing favoritism, stealing, fighting, being lewd, rude, obnoxious, displaying bad character, gossiping, bad language and the list goes on. There are many things we do or have done that caused our separation from God. But praise be to the Father for Christ, who has reconciled us back to The Most High. In my ministering and being a witness I can honestly say the greatest disturbance and resistance comes from within the body or compromising church-goers. Albeit, those who are truly born again are walking together but are few in number.  There is a sobering word for this hour and it is to repent and do it without haste. 

Just yesterday I read an article where Kirk Franklin has apologized to the LGBT community on behalf of the black church.  According to Kirk, “I want to apologize for all of the hurtful and painful things that have been said about people in the church that have been talented and gifted and musical, that we’ve used and we’ve embarrassed… and all this other horrible crap that we’ve done,” Franklin said. “We have not treated them like people. We’re talking about human beings, men and women that God has created.” http://thegrio.com/2015/11/12/kirk-franklin-apology-homophobia-black-church-gay-community/

It is not Kirk's place to take a stand for the "black church" and apologize for the way he perceives the black church has addressed the issue of homosexuality. Now, does everyone work in love as they rebuke other believers? Absolutely not, and they should be addressed. But the scripture has not changed in regards to this sinful practice. It is sin and it should be called sin and there can be no apologies for the written word of God. Now Kirk is among many believers who have compromised on the laws and commandments of God. 

One of the biggest compromises we see in the modern church especially in the U.S. is it's stance on being inclusive and a pluralistic church. There's been a really big push to merge all faiths under the guise of coexistence. While on the surface it seems loving to embrace everyone no matter their spiritual belief but the reality is and cannot be changed, there is only one living God, Yahweh, one son and one mediator who is Christ Jesus, Yashua. Thereby, there is only one way to the Father, only one way to have eternal life and that is through Christ.  To suggest otherwise is unloving because it denies others the opportunity to hear the gospel.  We focus more on embracing differences than embracing and sharing the kingdom we have inherited through Christ. 

I admonish all of my brethren to hold fast to your faith and the confidence you have in Christ Jesus. A message was given to the church of Ephesus (Revelation 2:4) that they need to come back to their first love. Yes, it can be hard when dealing with work, family, church and the overall cares of this life to neglect your first love of Christ. However, I urge all to come back to the mission and purpose He has called you to even if it means you have to get in a closet, fast, pray, pray and keep praying until you have been fully renewed and restored.  To the church of Sardis, they were told to strengthen those things that remain (Revelation 3:2), although they may be holding on there is weaknesses among them. We need to be strengthened so we can truly overcome and endure until the end. Whatever area that needs to be stronger in your spiritual walk, seek the Lord diligently to reveal it to you so you can be strengthened and can work to ensure you do not stumble.  

Do not allow the compromising behavior of today's church-goers to harden your heart towards the Father. Do not be dismayed when they rant and rave about pagan holidays, when they post reviews of their favorite narcissistic television shows. Do not engage in meaningless debates concerning doctrine and lastly do not stop sharing your testimony and being light and salt! There are some who need your commitment to Christ so they can receive the gift of salvation. Ask yourself, where would any of us be today had the apostle's not been committed, if someone didn't pray or share the gospel with us?  We can not give up even in our weariness, we can not stop warning even in our frustration and we can not allow the gospel to stop being preached no matter what the world and even church-goers may say. 

In these last and evil days, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. He's still the same now and forever more. May you be renewed in Him - Peace and Love! 

 

The Rainbow Covenant

The Days of Noah

Because iniquity abounded in the land and the sins of men were great, The Lord declared His spirit could no longer strive with men. The level of wickedness was unprecedented, scripture stated every wicked thing imaginable in the heart of men was being committed. There was no restraint to their immorality so clearly they were in opposition of the laws of The Most High.  In the land were murderers, drunkards, lovers of self, idolaters, practictioners of sexual perversion, witchcraft and every other manner of evil. Scripture says the earth was corrupt before The Lord and filled with violence. The Lord repented (changed his mind) about making men (Genesis 6:6) due to the level of evil during this time. As a result of their iniquities, The Lord purposed to destroy all of mankind.

In spite of such evil, there was one who was righteous upon the land, Noe (Noah) and He found grace in the sight of the Lord. Because Noah was righteous, his family (8 souls) were saved during the destruction of all mankind by the great flood. This flood was The Lord's judgment against lawlessness. At the end of the flood when the waters receded Noah made a burnt offering to The Most High which The Lord received. He purposed in His heart at that time never to curse the ground any more for mans sake (although the heart of men is evil) nor will he again smite every living thing and destroy the earth by a flood.  As a sign of this covenant or agreement with Noah and his descendants He set a bow (rainbow) in the cloud. This has now become a token between the Most High God and the earth.

As in the days of Noah so shall it be...

Fast forward generations later to 2015 and evil has grown, the heart of men has waxed colder, immorality has increased/increasing. Yet what do we see? We continue to see the rainbow in the sky as a token of a covenant made millenniums ago. Although the love of many have waxed colder, The Lord has kept His promise or His agreement. Not since Noah has a flood consumed the entire earth and neither has He cursed the ground any longer. As scripture says where sin abounded, grace abounded that much more. Although mankind is much more wicked and evil; they are killing, destroying the earth through pollution, blaspheming the Most High, committing abominations, perverting what is holy (even misusing the rainbow), persecuting the righteous and so much more - His grace is still abounding. It continues to rain upon the earth, the sun continues to give light, the moon continues to rise, the stars continue to shine, even the trees and plant life continue to fulfill their purpose. Oh, His grace really does abound and the unjust as well as the just (those who have accepted Christ and live righteously) benefit from the covenant The Lord made.

As wickedness continues to thrive and increase, we will begin to see less holiness in the land and tons of compromising by believers.  Many will begin to discredit the commandment to be holy because The Lord has allowed significant space and time between the flood and Christ return.  But I must remind all believers that even our longsuffering Father has a limit, which He has already revealed. The wicked will not go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21) and there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17-25, Revelation 21:1).  Furthermore, when The Father says He is holy, believe just that - HE IS HOLY and expects nothing less from us. There are no excuses for not living holy. Just because your "Christian" friend is still getting drunk, lying etc. does not remove the holiness requirement from your life as a believer. When he searched the earth (pre-flood), Noah and his family were found to be righteous. They were not going around cursing folks out, taking things that were not theirs, abusing people, etc. Clearly, Noah was set apart and remained separate from the wickedness of that time.

Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot live a life that is pleasing to The Most High. Remain faithful to His commandments especially in this hour so when He searches the earth for a righteous soul He will find you. There are many who interpret scripture and will tell you "it don't take all that" and actually it takes all that and more. Woe to any man or woman who becomes a stumbling block jeopardizing the salvation of others - the Lord shall smite them greatly. Additionally, do not allow anyone who does not hate sin give counsel regarding scripture as this person has no fear of God (Proverbs 8:13).

No, there will never be another flood as judgment upon the earth but there will be a final judgment of sin and destruction of the earth will come by fire. We are to discern the times and Christ was very clear in Matthew 24:37-39, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." He has warned that the end times will look just like the days of Noah and it is apparent we are living in this time.

Closer to the end...

As we come to the end of this age and closer to the return of Christ, we have started to witness more perversion in the land.  The recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision declaring marriage equality for same sex couples has signified how close we truly are to His return. Sadly, millions are celebrating this decision as a victory for mankind with numerous parades, increased corporate sponsorships and advertisements. Although my intent for this blog is not to focus on the SCOTUS decision, I would like to reference the obvious correlation between the rainbow and the LGBT community.

The symbol used by the LGBT community is the "rainbow" which in their terms signifies pride. An interview in CBS Chicago with Gilbert Baker, the man who created the rainbow flag, reveals the concept to use the colors of the rainbow for the flag.

“The rainbow came to mind almost instantly as an obvious expression of diversity and acceptance,” Baker explained. “The rainbow is a part of nature and you have to be in the right place to see it. It’s beautiful, all of the colors, even the colors you can’t see. That really fit us as a people because we are all of the colors. Our sexuality is all of the colors. We are all the genders, races and ages.” (Source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/06/24/gay-pride-flag-creator-proud-but-humble/)

Satan has deceived millions into believing the rainbow can represent something other than what it was purposed for.  The LGBT community and those who support this cause carry the flag with great pride believing it represents their perverted description of love.  The use of a "rainbow" flag for what The Most High has deemed an abomination is rooted in satanic doctrine. Many, especially believers, fail to acknowledge that The Most High will judge nations. 

Below are several images of how the country has chosen to misuse the rainbow in celebration of the nation's acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle. It is clear the U.S. will be judged for the act of boasting in their defiance of the laws of God and misusing a holy covenant to promote evil. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed the following judgment on Judah and Jerusalem but these words are true for present day, completely summarizing the images for what they truly represent.

"For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves" (Isaiah 3:9).

We are witnessing a time of significant prophetic events that have begun to occur which is why it is imperative to remain watchful in this hour for our redemption draweth nigh. Saints of God, please prepare yourself for the days of peace and prosperity are few - Peace and Love!