GO BEYOND THE NORM AND THE STATUS QUO!

The world has steadily become a darker and much more sinful place. We daily see sin and corruption all around us!  Satan has now gone far beyond the norm to engulf and entrap the world.“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).  There are few people who do not understand that these are the “dark” days described in the Bible as the “end times.”

MY LORD, WE WILL FIX OUR EYES UPON YOU AND TRUST IN YOUR SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL. “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

A few years ago “sin” was presented subtly to the world, was hidden in darkness, and lived in secret!   People were once ostracized for open sin, and now it is openly advertised as a normal way of life.  To show “shame” for sin is now out-dated and confessing corruption as sin is seldom considered. To admit guilt for sin is not acceptable to the world. Flaunting sin is the conduct of the hour! Satan has deceived the world into thinking there is no sin, satan, or hell.

OH LORD, WHAT SHALL WE, YOUR CHILDREN, DO?  YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL SALVATION AND LIGHT. “Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7). 

Openly talking about God and condemning sin is called “hate speech” by the world. The church of Jesus Christ may only be a step away from persecution. Some churches are not in conflict with sin. Many churches have been moved to silence by political correctness. A large percentage of the world does not believe in a real satan or hell.  It is no wonder that sin is rampant! In view of all this, do we bear a responsibility to God?  The answer is a resounding “Yes!”

OH GOD, FILL US TO OVERFLOWING WITH YOUR SPIRIT AND RAISE US UP TO CARRY YOUR GOSPEL MESSAGE TO THE WORLD.  WE WILL TAKE YOUR LIGHT AND YOUR “GOOD NEWS” TO A UNRIGHTEOUS AND DYING WORLD!!  YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMISSIONED US AND GIVEN US YOUR AUTHORITY, SO WE WILL DERIVE OUR STRENGTH AND WISDOM FROM YOU. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

The Spirit and the Word tell us to resist the devil, and he will flee from us. It is up to us to resist satan from entering our lives, the lives of our family, and every soul around us. We know the devil is real, and hell is not a figment of our imagination. We are at war, and the necessity of battle is evident. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

THEREFORE, WE WILL SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD SO THE WORLD CAN SEE CHRIST IN US! WE WILL LOVE THE SOULS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD AND PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION.  WE WILL MAKE GOD’S WORK OUR OWN PRIORITY, AND WE WILL CARRY HIS BURDENS FOR THE SOULS OF THE LOST.  NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL!! WE MUST DO GOD’S KINGDOM BUSINESS.  HE IS OUR SOVEREIGN KING AND LORD.  HE WILL “PUT WITHIN US TO WILL AND DO OF HIS GOOD PURPOSES.” WE WILL DESTROY THE WORKS OF SATAN AND BEAR GOD’S IMAGE TO THE WORLD. 

We cannot live in the world and not have sinfulness presented to us as the normal way to live, dress, and think. We are going to have to “go beyond the norm” and totally obey God’s righteous laws.  We must be separate from the world and keep ourselves untainted by it. Have you noticed that almost every form of news and entertainment media is now geared to lowering the bar of decency and morality? Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you’”(2 Corinthians 6:17).

DEAR GOD, WE DEDICATE OURSELVES AS YOUR AMBASSADORS.  WE WILL LIVE TO PRESENT THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.  WE ACCEPT OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WORLD.  WE WILL LIVE AND CONDUCT OUR LIVES IN A GODLY MANNER.  WE WILL WALK IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS AND FULFILL YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  WE WILL SEEK TO CARRY OUT YOUR WILL AND PURPOSES FOR OUR LIVES. WE WILL LOVE YOU WITH A PURE HEART!

We cannot live by the dictates of our natural flesh and please our God.  Satan knows that sin defiles and corrupts the soul. He also knows that “sin” separates us from God. He is surrounding us with sensual sound and pictures to beckon us to destruction and separation from God. The whole world is filled with provocative enticements.  Addiction, moral sin, and the break-up of the family are the normal ways of life lived by the world’s standard.  Even our laws are being geared to allow anything that man desires.

WE WILL PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND TAKE HIM ALONE AS OUR LIFE. WE WILL ARM OURSELVES WITH GOD’S SPIRIT AND DIVINE WORD.  PRAYER AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO CHRIST AND HIS LIFE WITHIN US WILL BE OUR COVERING.  WE WILL WAIT ON OUR GOD TO RECEIVE WISDOM AND EXPECT THE SPIRIT TO REVEAL HIS PURPOSES AND PLANS FOR OUR LIVES.

The only place of safety is in Jesus Christ, who has overcome the world. Christ is our Savior and our life. We are safe in Him alone. We are not of this world, but we are citizens of the “Kingdom of God.”  Our king is God Almighty and no man or nation is any match for His power and greatness. We shall take the dominion and authority God has given us and we will exalt our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the world!

“All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations” (Psalms 145:10-13).

Satan has thrown down the gauntlet and we shall pick it up in Your holy name, oh Lord, our Savior and King.  Your word declares:“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).We will fight the good fight and finish the course You have laid out before us.  Nothing can separate us from Your love.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, we are weak, but You are strong.  Often we are foolish, but You have all wisdom.  You know the beginning from the end.  All the secrets of satan are known to You.  Nothing is hidden that You cannot make plain or whisper in our ear. You will give us everything we need to win this battle for Your namesake.  You will withhold nothing from those who walk uprightly before You.  Help us always to follow You and wait upon Your wisdom and knowledge. Give us power and the fullness of Your Spirit! Make us mighty overcomers for Your glory!!!  Through Your grace and power we will win this battle over satan.  “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever” (Psalms 30:11-12).

AMEN.