Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…Yesterday was a great day at Grace Church-St. Louis. Pastor Ron Tucker and Wes Martin shared the stage in a round table discussion to set-up the upcoming message series entitled, “Faith for the New Year”. One thing I admire so much about our church is the Pastoral Staff does not shy away from tackling social issues, or the depraved state of our culture and how it all fits into the Biblical prophecies regarding end-times. Since I have written numerous blogs regarding the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of our culture, I would like to pick up on that topic again and add enlightening information I took away from yesterday’s message at Grace Church.
The Bible is a one- of -a- kind book. Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy:3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” In other words, it is our “owner’s manual” for life. But the Bible is also a book of world history – history that is supported in secular writing. However, the most unique aspect of the Bible is its prophetic content and the proven accuracy of such prophecies. There are prophecies that have predicted events with pin-point accuracy hundreds, even thousands of years before they happened.
Psalm 2 was penned by David about 1000 BC. It predicted the coming of Jesus Christ, but it also reinforced the proclamation that has been sounded since the earliest Prophets: “Repent. Turn from your sin and turn to God.” The psalm talks about the depravity of mankind, but it also shows God’s abundant mercy when we repent. As you read this, ask yourself, “Does the spiritual darkness of our culture sound like the one described in the opening paragraph?
Psalm 2: “Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans? The Kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, and free ourselves from this slavery.” Man has turned against God. (Worldly thinking and human wisdom has been elevated above God’s ways. Man wants to free himself to become his own god.)
“But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, my holy city.” The King proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father’. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.” (God laughs at Man’s attempt to elevate himself above His way, and he proclaims the answer to be Jesus Christ.)
“Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of your pursuits – for his anger can flare up in an instant.” (A warning is given, and this warning is applicable to any Spiritually bankrupt culture; continued rebellion will result in the wrath of God.)
“But what joy for all who find protection in him!” (There is good news in the face of imminent destruction. Our God is a merciful God; He wants to save us from ourselves. The answer is repentance; a willingness to turn from our sinful ways and turn to Jesus Christ.)
An appropriate writing to accompany Psalm 2 can be found in the Book of Joel, written around 700BC. The first part of Joel tells us about God’s wrath on a people who, like today’s culture, turned their backs on Him. Chapter 1 is about the army of locust that destroyed all the crops and vegetation. But chapter 2:12-14 is a call to repentance. “That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time! Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you. Who knows? Perhaps even yet he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this terrible curse…”
In this latter part of Chapter 2:30-32, Joel is definitely referencing the second coming of Jesus when he writes: “I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth – blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn bloodred before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives. And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
When we read these words, is the handwriting not on the wall for any person or culture that turns away from God? And history confirms these prophecies. The Bible is resplendent with accounts of blessings that come to those who faithfully follow God’s ways, but it also contains accounts of people and civilizations that have fallen because of their refusal to accept his Sovereignty. Let’s look at the fall of the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires, or the Third Reich or Imperial Japan? While there are many worldly contributors to those events, such as desire for wealth, more power, and more control, the root cause was turning away from God. When a person or nation expunges God from his rightful place and exalts human thinking and human wisdom, he withdraws both his blessings and his protection.
Historically speaking, I believe our country is way beyond a political solution to its myriad of problems. No doubt new leadership and new policies will definitely be a welcomed change, but the crux of the problem is still wrapped in moral decay and a prevalence of lying, cheating, stealing, corruption and especially, the concerted effort on the part of the Liberal Progressive Agenda to stamp out Jesus. (To learn more about the Liberal Progressive Agenda –LPA, visit my blog entitled “The Unmentioned Enemy” 12-7-2015.) This was predicted in 2Peter 3:3, “I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire.” Unfortunately our culture has become both numbed down and dumbed down by policies and biased information that makes such behavior seem almost natural.
But the good news is…the Prophet Joel also gives us the solution to our situation in chapter 2:15. “Blow the trumpet in Jerusalem. (America) Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring everyone – the elders, the children and even babies. The priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, will stand between the people and the alter weeping. Let them pray, ‘Spare your people, Lord! They belong to you. Don’t let them become an object of mockery.” I believe our hope is in a concerted effort by the Church to come together and pray unceasingly for mercy on our country. The time is now to experience the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. Church…it’s OUR time.
Please feel free to respond to this post and please “like” and share it with other social media friends.
May God Bless Ya…
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
Leave a Comment