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. (Ephesians 6: 12)
As Christians, we are engaged in a great war. This war was initiated by Satan, in the Garden of Eden, and this war continues until this day. This war is a spiritual war, but the evidence is in the physical world in which we live, and the evidence is overwhelming.
God wants us to be more than flat lines on an EKG. But how can we be more than flat lines if we do not know that a war is raging?
In the United States, we have never had to fight for our churches, and neither have we had to fight for our right to assemble in worship of God on the Lord's Day.
In total, we have never had to fight for our faith. We have never had to struggle. We have inherited buildings that others built, sit on furniture that others furnished. We have our comfort designed with thermostatically-controlled heating and air-conditioning, padded pews, carpet floors, and stained-glass windows. We installed timers on worship so that when the bell rings God's time is up.
In America, and over the past fifty years, did churches just become too churchy? Did our interest shift to starched shirts and spiked heels, too much perfume but not enough rouge? Did church become more about Me instead of He? Did we become self-absorbed in walking the straight and narrow that we would need breathalyzer tests to stay on a straight line?
The United States is now a flat line on an EKG, gasping for its last breath of freedom. Our nation is dying because our churches are dying. Our wounds are internal, self-inflicted. Satan is sniffing at our children while people across America do not even know that the devil is here. And because we have forgotten the Lord our God, a beast will arise to rule over us.
Have you ever participated in a sporting event when people do not show up to compete? That they are just there on game day to wear the uniform? They are never in the fight; never in the struggle. They are just there: their name on the roster. For after the game, they just trot along home, and glad that they were seen on a team.
Is this what happened in churches? Did church become a social center and a fashion show where people do not arrive to compete? They are just there on game day to wear the uniform? Never in the fight; never in the struggle? They are just there: their name on the roster? For after the game, they just trot along home, and glad that they were seen on a team?
Our nation is in trouble because God's team went to sleep. We became complacent. We stopped competing. We forgot about our enemy. We are engaged in a great warfare, yet we forgot about our enemy? Did church became something to do one day of the week? Have we been sleepwalking in paradise?
Look at us now. Look at all the evil across the land.
Perhaps we are not too late to turn the ship around. Our cry for help must come quickly. And if God's people will pray, perhaps God will hear our SOS. Help is available, if we desire God.
If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7: 14)
As Christians, we are engaged in a great war. This war was initiated by Satan, in the Garden of Eden, and this war continues until this day. This war is a spiritual war, but the evidence is in the physical world in which we live, and the evidence is overwhelming.
God wants us to be more than flat lines on an EKG. But how can we be more than flat lines if we do not know that a war is raging?
In the United States, we have never had to fight for our churches, and neither have we had to fight for our right to assemble in worship of God on the Lord's Day.
In total, we have never had to fight for our faith. We have never had to struggle. We have inherited buildings that others built, sit on furniture that others furnished. We have our comfort designed with thermostatically-controlled heating and air-conditioning, padded pews, carpet floors, and stained-glass windows. We installed timers on worship so that when the bell rings God's time is up.
In America, and over the past fifty years, did churches just become too churchy? Did our interest shift to starched shirts and spiked heels, too much perfume but not enough rouge? Did church become more about Me instead of He? Did we become self-absorbed in walking the straight and narrow that we would need breathalyzer tests to stay on a straight line?
The United States is now a flat line on an EKG, gasping for its last breath of freedom. Our nation is dying because our churches are dying. Our wounds are internal, self-inflicted. Satan is sniffing at our children while people across America do not even know that the devil is here. And because we have forgotten the Lord our God, a beast will arise to rule over us.
Have you ever participated in a sporting event when people do not show up to compete? That they are just there on game day to wear the uniform? They are never in the fight; never in the struggle. They are just there: their name on the roster. For after the game, they just trot along home, and glad that they were seen on a team.
Is this what happened in churches? Did church become a social center and a fashion show where people do not arrive to compete? They are just there on game day to wear the uniform? Never in the fight; never in the struggle? They are just there: their name on the roster? For after the game, they just trot along home, and glad that they were seen on a team?
Our nation is in trouble because God's team went to sleep. We became complacent. We stopped competing. We forgot about our enemy. We are engaged in a great warfare, yet we forgot about our enemy? Did church became something to do one day of the week? Have we been sleepwalking in paradise?
Look at us now. Look at all the evil across the land.
Perhaps we are not too late to turn the ship around. Our cry for help must come quickly. And if God's people will pray, perhaps God will hear our SOS. Help is available, if we desire God.
If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7: 14)
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