Don't Bend, Bow Or Break

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COMPROMISE AND OMINOUS DAYS VERY MUCH DESCRIBE THE TIMES IN WHICH WE LIVE TODAY.

SECULARISM, MATERIALISM, MORAL BREAKDOWN, INTERNATIONAL CHICANERY AND CONFLICT ARE PREVELANT IN TODAY’S SOCIETY.

IT IS SO TODAY THAT THE COURTS PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINALS MORE SO THAN THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS.

AND THOUGH WE DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT MUCH THERE ARE THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, THAT:

1. DENY THE WORD OF GOD!

2. ARE CRITICALLY OF OUR LORD

3. ENDORSE SIN OVER HOLINESS AND SANCTIFICATION.

INTERESTING ENOUGH, THE APOSTLE PAUL WARNS US IN 2 TIM. 3: “BUT KNOW THIS, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES WILL COME: FOR MEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, UNLOVING, UNFORGIVING, SLANDERERS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, DESPIERS OF GOOD, TRAITORS, HEADSTRONG, HAUGHTY, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD, HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER,”

FROM SUCH PEOPLE, PAUL SAYS “TURN AWAY!!! - HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.”

NOW JUST WHAT DOES THE WORD PERILOUS REALLY MEAN?

IN THE GREEK, IT IS THE WORD - CHALEPOS (khal-ep-oss). IT MEANS HARSH, SAVAGE, DIFFICULT, DANGEROUS, PAINFUL, FIERCE, GRIEVOUS, HARD TO DEAL WITH.

THIS WORD VERY PLAINLY DESCRIBES A SOCIETY THAT’S BARREN OF VIRTUE BUT ABOUNDING WITH VICES. IT DESCRIBES VERY POINTEDLY OUR WORLD TODAY. FOR WE LIVE IN A TIME THAT IS VERY BARREN OF VIRTUE AND QUITE ABOUNDING IN VICES.

JESUS WARNS IN MATT. 24: THAT THERE WILL BE:

1. RELIGIOUS DECEPTION,

2. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL UPHEAVALS,

3. NATURAL CALAMITIES,

4. DISLOYALTY, AND PERSECUTION

ALL OF WHICH ARE PRECURSORS OF THE END TIMES.

AS WE LOOK AROUND US TODAY, WE FIND THAT THERE IS MUCH COMPROMISE IN HOUSE OF GOD:

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THERE IS MUCH PRESSURE AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE SUCCUMBING TO COMPROMISING SITUATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, AND VERY MUCH TRUE, IS THE FACT THAT THE LOVE OF MANY HAVE GROWN COLD.

THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY WHO HAVE ABANDONED THE FAITH BECAUSE OF MANY TEMPTATIONS, AND WHO WERE ONCE COMMITTED TO THE THINGS OF GOD BUT NOW HAVE GROWN COLD -

WHY? BECAUSE AS THE APOSTLE JOHN RECORDS - "THEY LOVE THE PRAISES OF MEN MORE THAN THE PRAISES OF GOD! (John 12:42-43)"

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH PRESSURE?

1. WANT TO BE ACCEPTED BY OUR PEERS,

2. WANT TO HAVE COMRADERY WITH THOSE OF LIKE SPIRIT

NOTE: OUR STAND FOR GOD AND OUR CONVICTION FOR GOD SHOULD MEANS MORE TO US THAN EVEN OUR LIVES. BUT TOO OFTEN - IT DOESN’T.

WHAT KINDS OF PRESSURES ARE PRESENT WARRING AGAINST THE GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY?

1. PRESSURE TO BE SUCCESSFUL

IN JOSHUA 1:8 MEDITATE IN GOD’S WORD DAY AND NIGHT AND OBSERVE TO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT - THEN WE WILL MAKE OUR WAY PROSPEROUS, AND THEN WE’LL HAVE GOOD SUCCESS.

PS 1 SAY: BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKS NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDS IN THE PATH OF SINNER, OR SITS IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL, BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND IN HIS LAW HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT.

THE RESULT: HE SHALL BE LIKE TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER, THAT BRINGS FORTH ITS FRUIT IN ITS SEASON....

A PEOPLE WHO COMPROMISE THEIR PRINCIPLES FOR THEIR PRACTICES, SOON LOSES THEM BOTH” - Unknown!

2. PEER PRESSURE - CONSTITUENCY OR FRIENDSHIP

3. SOME STRUGGLING / WANT ACCEPTANCE BY THE BRETHREN

4. IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR SELF WORTH AND YOUR SELF VALUE -

A. KNOW WHO & WHOSE YOU ARE YOU WON’T GIVE IN SO READILY TO THE PRESSURES OF ACCEPTANCE BY YOUR PEERS!

RESULT: REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DO - YOU HAVE A CONVICTION AND A STANDARD AND THAT YOU’RE HAPPY WITH GOD.....

IF NOBODY WANT’S TO BE YOUR FRIEND, YOU’RE STILL HAPPY WITH GOD!

UNDERSTAND BELOVED, NOT EVERYONE IS GIVING IN TO LIFE’S PRESSURES - THERE ARE STILL SOME PEOPLE CRYING HOLY!

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING AFTER THE HAND OF GOD - THERE ARE SOME WHO WANT TO KNOW THE HEART OF GOD!!!

PROVERBS 14:34 SAYS: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT KNOW THAT THEY ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR SELF WORTH AND YOUR SELF VALUE AND WHAT GOD HAS DONE TO MAKE YOU - YOU WON’T FEEL THAT YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE AND COME DOWN TO THE STANDARDS OF MEDIOCRITY AND APATHY TO APPEAL AND APPEASE MEN!

YOUR LIFE WILL BE CENTERED AROUND PLEASING GOD, AND YOU’LL BE MORE CONCERNED WITH BRING GOD GLORY THAN WITH THIS WORLD!!!

ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND HOW GOD SEES YOU - IT MATTERS NOT IF OTHER’S ACCEPT YOU OR NOW - AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE FAVOR OF GOD!!!