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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!!!
o MANY AFTER THE FAVOR OF MEN,
o THE APPROVAL OF MEN,
o THE LIKING OF MEN
o BUT I WANT THE FAVOR OF GOD
WE MUST STRIVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE AND IN SPITE OF ALL ELSE
WE MUST SEEK THE HEART OF GOD AND THE FAVOR OF GOD BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THE FAVOR OF GOD
IT MEANS MORE THAN THE FAVOR OF MAN!!! IT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME!!!!
KNOW THAT IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE SEEK TO PLEASE HIM.
IN THE CHURCH TODAY - THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANT TO GET AHEAD SO BAD THAT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING
IF GOD DOESN’T BUILD THE HOUSE - THEY THAT LABOR - LABOR IN VAIN!!! THAT BUILD THE HOUSE!!!
IF GOD HAS NOT PROMOTED YOU, YOUR WORKS , YOUR EFFORTS WILL SOON DISSIPATE
THERE’S ALSO THE PRESSURE TO CONFORM, AND LOOK LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE!!!
o PRESSURE IN OUR THINKING,
o IN OUR, IN OUR DEVOTION - IT’S DON’T TAKE ALL OF
THAT!!!
o THERE’S EVEN PRESSURE IN OUR OBEIDENCE
PEOPLE, MANIPULATING PEOPLE, TRYING TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF THEM - ALL BECAUSE OF PRESSURE
o GET GOD’S HEART, NOT HIS HAND!
o FORGET THE OPINIONS OF MAN!
o GOD WILLS THAT WE BE LIVING EPISTLES IN THE EARTH
AND IN THIS LAND.
o 1 PETER 2:9 “YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL
PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT
YE SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH
CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELLOUS
LIGHT:
IN ADDITION TO BEING CALLED TO:
1. REPENTANCE - MT. 9:13 - .....I did not come to
call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
2. INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST - GAL. 1:6
3. TO SEPARATION - ROM 12:2
4. BAPTISM - FOR POWER: ACTS 1:7-8
5. TO BE EQUIPPING - TO BE EFFECTIVE
WE’RE CALLED TO SHOW FORTH
1. God’s praises
2. The Holiness of God
3. Be God’s demonstrators
4. Godly character
5. Christ in the earth
YOU’VE GOT TO GET A DETERMINATION IN YOUR MIND THAT WHEN THE PRESSURE’S ON - YOU WON’T BEND, BOW, OR BREAK!
WHAT TO DO WHEN UNDER PRESSURE!
1. CAST YOUR CARES ON GOD!
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for
he careth for you.
2. EXPAND YOUR THINKING OF GOD:
Isa. 26:3 - “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee...
3. KNOW WHERE YOUR VICTORY LIES: EXPAND YOUR FAITH:
1 Cor. 15:57 - “But thanks be to God which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 3:20 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think......
Abundant means: “marked by great plenty; amply supplied: abounding; occurring in abundance: ample
4. EXPAND YOUR LOOKING TO GOD:
Heb. 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus the Author and
finisher of our faith.Ps. 55:22 - The Lord never
leaves nor forsakes His own.
5. RESIST THE DEVIL.................
With prayer 1 Thess 5:17
With the promises of God - 2 Peter 1:4 - Whereby
are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises”
With perseverance - 1 Peter 4:13 - But rejoice,
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s
sufferings”
With Praise - Ps. 113:3 - From the rising of the
sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s
name is to be praised.
PREACHED BY REV. MICHELE HUDSON AT
Beloved St. John Evangelistic Church
2601 W. Lehigh Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19132
Sunday, August 20, 2000
7:45 AM Service
