Live and Let Live…Really?

 

 

I usually end my messages with a prayer, but this Sunday morning I feel led to start with one. 

I am sure every hate thing on the internet, TV, and media that are being said about our president brings tears to our Lord and savior. Like all believers, President Trump is one of Yours Lord, You love him as You do all of us.

Politics, I mean all politics should be put aside in this hour of need and a corporate pray go forth to ask for a healing of our president and for everyone suffering from COVID.

Heavenly Father, 

So many people are suffering from this virus around the world, and I know you are our healer and our Lord. You have the power to stop this plage in its tracks. I also know there are non- believers and uncontrolled evil in this world. I pray for the perpetrators, for their souls and hearts to be changed and turned to you. I pray for healing to begin physically and spiritually. I ask Lord for an end of this senseless violence and the lies being told to be exposed and the guilty ones punished for crimes commented.  Lord, touch our president this day with your healing hand and all people around him and allow him to continue the task you have given him to do.

I ask this in the precious name of Jesus,

Amen 

Have you ever taken the time to read the comments at the end of a news story? I’m like many people these days, I have a hard time believing the media. To be honest, I only watch Fox news and I know they’re not always right on. At least they are not one-sided with all the negative vile being spewed on the other broadcasts. Some things said is blasphemy, pure and simple. The one’s saying these things will face the wrath of God at some point. You can’t believe in God and condone abortion, same-sex marriage, gender change, and homosexuality. It doesn’t matter if you’re a catholic, Jew, or protestant, they’re against God’s law.  If you go along with and agree these things are up to the individual, then you need to reassess your Christian walk, you’ve taken the wrong fork in the road. YOU CAN’T be politically correct and biblically correct, it’s oil and water. Scripture is very clear about unrepentant sin. Simple, either get right with God or face His wrath, grey area doesn’t hold sway with God. If you believe any of the aforementioned practices are alright, this message is especially for you and a refresher course for others.

God’s wrath is His reaction to sin and evil. Many today have a misunderstanding of God’s wrath in that they compare God’s wrath to man’s anger. Man’s anger is manifested in fits of rage, retaliation, screaming, shouting abuse, and acts of violence. God’s wrath is His reaction to sin and evil due to His righteousness. Don’t compare God’s wrath to man’s anger. Man’s anger is sin. God’s wrath is the result of His righteousness.

Under the old covenant, God’s wrath or His reaction to sin and evil was revealed beginning in the garden when Adam and Eve were separated from His presence because of their sin. His wrath was revealed in the flood that came upon the earth in Genesis chapters 6-8. In the Old Testament, His wrath was revealed through famine, pestilence, drought, and annihilation.

The wrath of God displayed under the old covenant describes and points to the wrath of God that is to come at the end of this age. Daniel has a vision concerning it given to us in Daniel Chapter 8. (Daniel 8:19 NAS) “He said: “I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.” Jesus said (Matthew 24:21 NAS) “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now–and never to be equaled again.” Revelation chapters 5-19 gives a vivid description of the wrath of God that is to come at the end of this age on all those who do not love Jesus.

It is important that servants of Jesus understand the wrath of God that is to come. That is why we are given Revelation. Revelation begins by saying (Revelation 1:1 NAS) “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place”. Why is it so important that servants of Jesus understand the wrath of God which is to come? First of all, an understanding of the wrath to come will motivate us to a life of holiness by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us. Second of all, an understanding of the wrath to come will motivate us to proclaim the good news of God now so that “whosoever” will come to Jesus and be saved from the wrath that is to come.

Signs of the end of this age are all around us. I believe it is crucial today that servants of Jesus understand what is coming.

In Paul’s conclusion of Romans chapter 1, he is not talking about God’s past wrath or God’s future wrath. Paul is talking about God’s present wrath. He is referring to God’s reaction to sin and evil in our day; right now; in the present.

HOW GOD’S WRATH IS BEING REVEALED IN OUR DAY.

(Romans 1:18-32 NAS) “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, {19} since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. {20} For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. {21} For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. {22} Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools {23} and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. {24} Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. {25} They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen. {26} Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. {27} In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. {28} Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. {29} They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, {30} slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; {31} they are senseless, faithless, heartless and ruthless {32} Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”

Please notice the added emphasis in the above Scripture. The wrath of God is being revealed today through God turning people over to their sin. In Romans 1:21-24, we are told that people have exchanged the glory of God for things. The result is that God has given them over to their sin. In Romans 1:25-27, we are told that people have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. The result is that God has given them over to their sin. In Romans 1:28-32, we are told that people have exchanged the knowledge of God for the knowledge of the world. The result is that God has given them over to their sin.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD’S WRATH IS NOT HIS FINAL WORD TO US.

Romans 1:18 talks of the wrath of God being “revealed” to us today. It is revealed to us today through God turning people over to their sin. Please be reminded that God’s righteousness has already been revealed to us. (Romans 1:17NAS) “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”” The opposite of God’s wrath is God’s righteousness. God’s wrath is being revealed to us today through God turning people over to their sin. God’s righteousness has been revealed to us through the gospel; the good news of God which tells us that there is a solution to our sin problem. Jesus is the solution! Jesus died for our sins. After three days in the grave, he rose from the grave re-glorified. Because He conquered death, hell, and the grave, it gives us the opportunity to live victoriously in this life and eternally around the throne of God basking in His righteousness. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to walk in victory.

The moment we place faith in what God did for us at the cross through Jesus, the power of sin is broken over us. Jesus becomes our Savior and we make Him our Lord as we die to sinful self. Sin no longer controls us. Jesus regenerates us into new creatures by giving us the Holy Spirit to indwell in us. We start walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16-26 NAS) “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. {17} For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want. {18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. {19} The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; {20} idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions {21} and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. {22} But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. {24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. {25} Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. {26} Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Beloved, we live in a world that grows increasingly out of step with the gospel. The wrath of God is being revealed in our day through God turning sinful people over to their sin. God has given us everything we need to avoid His present wrath and His wrath to come on all who do not love Jesus. God has given us His Word, which is the authoritative guide for all of our beliefs and actions. He has given us Jesus to be our Savior and our Lord. He has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy lives in the midst of a wicked and perverse world. Live by the Spirit! Walk-in total victory! Be consumed in God’s righteousness instead of being consumed by His wrath! Praise be to an awesome God who loves us!

I hope this lesson has helped you understand your part in a true believer’s walk. How are you doing? Don’t let your political preferences derail your Christian walk, it could be fatal. A vaper is a lot less than all eternity. Don’t let hate or fear choose your destination.

I pray and care about each and every one of you. Until we get together again stay safe and God’s many blessings to you and yours!       Dusty

 

My prayer for you:

I pray God’s many blessings on each of you and discernment for the days ahead. I pray you truly seek the holy spirit in all that you do. I ask the Lord for a cleansing of our nation and a return to our Christian foundation. Forgive us Father of our sins. We ask this in the name above all names, Jesus Christ!

A men

 

2 thoughts on “Live and Let Live…Really?

    1. I do too, but would they read it? unfortunately so many are miss-led by some of the “power ministries” that they believe they can support these acts and still be saved … They believe voting democrat is alright even knowing what they stand for and sanction as a way of life. We as a nation need to vote for what the person stands for not their personality. Continue to pray for the deceived and the deceivers and believe Jesus WILL prevail. Blessings my brother! KEEP LOOKING UP!

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