I have had a very difficult time writing this article. My heart and spirit are so full of what the Lord would have me say, but I feel I do not have the words to express my thoughts. My hope is that the Holy Spirit (as in all of our articles) can communicate my heart to your heart. At the heart of this article is my resistance and opposition of God working in me and in the earth. When we speak (or even write) against what God is doing in the earth we are opposing God Himself and this my friend is very dangerous and troubling to our soul, heart, and spirit. God has a plan and He will bring it to an end even if we do not want to see it happen. Our wants and desires never really play into God’s plan and purpose in the earth. Oh God may slip some events in our lives to reveal to us more of His longsuffering and grace, but in the end God’s plan and purpose will be brought to the end that has been in His heart all of the time. In my life I see and even understand some events in the world that I know God is at work in, but in my flesh I resist what God is doing and find myself repenting time and time again. Now the repenting is good, but that is not what God is after. If the very best we can do is repent then so be it, God will honor that, but repentance again and again is not what God is after, oh no my friend, God is after submission, obedience, and acceptance the first time in our lives so we can have our heart settled and move with God correctly. If our heart is not at rest then we will be anxious and not established in the spiritual principles of God, ultimately we will move contrary to what God is doing and get off track. I see this moving in my life and am compelled to write this article. I guess I am not the first person to oppose God, Jacob was good at this too. In Genesis we find Jacob wrestling or opposing God. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast wrestled with God, and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-28) Now I want to go on the record to say I do not believe Jacob physically wrestled God (Almighty), but I do believe he wrestled with a man or an angel sent from God. From these verses I can see wrestling with God is not a good thing to do. Many Christians are taught Jacob was the winner, but as I read these verses all Jacob got was a name change and for the rest of his life Jacob had to walk with a limp as a reminder for his disobedience. I wonder what Jacob would have gotten from God if he would have submitted and not wrestled? I guess we will never know. This is one of the rewards (something we get from God out from our behavior) we get when we wrestle or oppose God, we miss out on God’s best for our lives. I do not know about you, but I want God’s best for me and my family for this we must be obedient and not oppose God.
Now there are two areas I would like to discuss in this article, I am sure there are more and maybe in your life they are different. When I study the Bible I do not see many of the things the nominal religious (mainstream denominational and non-denominational churches) church of today say are in the Bible. For example, I do not see a mighty end-time revival (word “revival” not found in the KJV of the Bible) that most preachers (on TBN and other Christians TV networks) and pastors of big mega-churches talk about. But I do find, in the Bible, what I believe to be the description of the apostate church and its new age contemporary prosperity Gospel message as described in 2 Peter 2. Peter begins Chapter 2 by warning the Church at Rome and some in Asia Minor of her habitual drifting away from God and His ways into a contemporary selfish, self-seeking church as it interfaces with worldliness and a humanistic philosophy. Serving God for what you can get out of it. God’s plan is for the church to influence and change the world, but sadly what we see today is the world influencing the church and slowly transforming it into the apostate church in 2 Peter 2. Ungodly worldly thinking has subtly crept into the church transforming it into a place of self-exaltation and self-gratification. You see, there were false teachers who dealt in half-truths regarding the Christian faith and Peter’s letter provided a clear response to them as it exposed their lies and deception. As today 2 Peter 2, mirrors the same worldliness and humanistic philosophy. My friend there is nothing new under the sun. Peter writes, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) and at the end of the Chapter Peter writes, “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:” (2 Peter 2:12-14) When was the last time you heard a message from God on this Chapter? Yet it is there all 22 verses, judging and condemning all of those who would pervert the true Gospel message of Jesus Christ. Now here comes the twist, I believe God is using TBN (and other Christian TV networks) and the mega-churches to usher in the apostate church as described in the Book of Revelation. There has to be a deceptive religion (one world religion) that the world will worship for the events of Revelation to take place around. And again I believe God is using the TBN, etal and the mega-church crowd with all of their money hungry, arrogance, and presumptive heart condition to usher in this one world religion, yet when I speak out against TBN, etal I am speaking out against God and His plan and purpose for TBN, etal. Why would God do it this way? To use a so called Christian TV network and mega-church structure to usher in the one world religion I do not know, but I do know I am not God and His ways are not my ways. The solution for me was the same solution for Jacob, to submit to what God is doing and willfully throw our lives in the very capable hands of God. To guard our lips and heart, but speak out the truth in love to see people turn from their deception. Karen made the observation (and I most strongly agree) people who are deceived by their denominational and non-denominational doctrines and religion cannot recognize the truth when they hear it. The power of these lies in their lives must be broken by the power of God and this will only happen when we speak the truth in love and then as the Holy Spirit speaks to their hearts. When I was wrestling with the Lord over the loss of a good friend who walked away from our friendship of over 30 years, because I would not do what he wanted me to do, God told me, “do not worry about <name>, let me worry about <name>, you worry about following me. Jesus gave the same advice to Peter, “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:20-22) Great advice for us all to heed.
The second area is near and dear to my heart. Many know I am retired from the U.S. Navy after 24 years of dedicated, faithful service to God and country. I will be honest I love my country in which I live. I was raised (unlike many children today) to respect my government and those in authority over me. Now I want to make it perfectly clear, I do respect our government, I wish no ill will or harm to come to President Obama or any member of the Congress or Senate, but when I study the Bible I do not see America or any country like America around. I am confused because I see denominational and non-denominational churches canvassing for political position, money, and influence, but we as Christians have the truth that transcends politics. We are the lighthouse set upon a hill in great darkness. We have the message of truth, grace, and forgiveness in Christ Jesus not the government or any politicians. When we get involved with the political struggles of the day we willfully pull ourselves out of the spiritual high ground God has placed us in. Jesus never got involved with any of the political social issues of His day (the Roman occupation, slavery, taxation, feeding the poor, etc.) nor did He encourage His disciples or the people who followed Him to. Jesus was above this and He expects us to be above the political social issues of our day. Jesus kept telling the people who followed Him, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36) do we really believe this verse? If so, why do we dig our heels and hearts into the earth and do everything (like buying the finest car and home) we can do to make our time on earth overly eased? Bigger is not better, even in the things of God. If so, why are the churches of today so involved with politics? Especially the African American churches in America. I have many wonderful African American pastor brothers who preach the message of redistribution of wealth and social justice while ignoring the message of the Gospel. Not only the African American churches, but white churches canvass for promotion and give money to governments (Local, State, and Federal) and politicians for favor and influence so they can spread their agenda and power. They push the philosophy of social involvement (code words for a social Gospel) i.e. global warming, human overpopulation, and the entire “green” movement. The Southern Baptist Church (the biggest evangelical denomination is America) has softened their position on sodomy and lesbianism while endorsing and collecting money for global warming international efforts. What ever happened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ? All of this is evil and ungodly it is destroying the moral fiber and soul of America. Now here is the twist, I believe God is using these immoral leaders of the church and our present government who lack integrity and truthfulness to bring America to her knees in repentance, and if she does not repent then God will remove her candle stick from the world, American will be no more. America was raised up by God not to spread freedom and democracy in the world. Freedom and democracy are man-made terms not biblical terms. God operates in restrictions and limitations not freedom and democracy. In God you cannot do what you want to do and go where you want to go and really be used of God. America was raised up to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and when we stop doing this (as we almost have) America will be no more. America use to be #1 in sending missionaries, but now America is 13th and fading fast. I really believe President Obama and his government has been raised up by God to serve as a vessel of dishonor to bring America into judgment and wrath if she fails to turn back to God, because of America’s continued waywardness to God and His word. The Supreme Court has passed law after law that is in direct conflict to God’s word and now God’s laws have been replaced or totally forgotten in the heart and minds of most Americans, well my friend God does not play second fiddle to man. Just because the Supreme Court makes a law it does not over ride the truth of the word of God. America through the years has been turning her back on God. It has been a slow progressive deliberate drifting from God and in the 20th Century, especially in the 1960, America’s counter culture era things really began shifting in over drive. America today rests in her military might, but even the greatest military (chariots and horses) ever assembled can not stand against God’s judgment. America must get back to the heart condition in these verses, “Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.” (Psalms 20:6-9) before it is too late. Personally (and I hope I am wrong) I think it is too late for America. I feel America’s best days are behind her because the collective of the churches in America, the core fiber of any nation has sold their souls for fame, money, and power. They have thumbed their noses at God and said we know better. The humanistic purpose driven denominational (and non-denominational) churches playing a contemporary new age Christian rock and roll music that glorifies a self-centered man and exalts the physical virtues (strengths) of man has forgotten, it is not about them, but about humbling ourselves before a righteous and holy God. They are drunk on themselves, they have merchandised the Gospel, “For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:3-5) But still in the face of all of this truth, in my heart and in word I oppose God when it comes to the pulling down of America; call it selfishness, call it blindness, call it what you wish, but I find myself getting angry at God when I see God working out His plan and purpose for America. In my heart I know what God is doing, but I do not like it. Please pray for me. At the heart of these two issues is the selfishness in my heart. When we get upset with God over issues likes these it is because we have not gotten our way, our selfishness is screaming, “I want my way.” When we oppose God it is our selfishness that gives ear and voice to our desires. Let us allow God to kill these in us before it is too late.
