Understanding the Times
As Christians we are living in perilous times. Our adversary, the devil, has schemed on us and placed many functional traps in the way. Many of those traps seem to be working, as we see the numerous baits with which we are lured. Christians are in a battle. Spiritual warfare is real, and so are the casualties. The Christian home is under attack. There are deliberate and well calculated strategies to exterminate this nation from being called a Christian nation.
Times have always been perilous
• God has always operated with vile men by giving them choices. Look at what God says in Genesis 6: 5-6 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
• In Genesis 19, God gives a sad account of perilous times in which Lot lived. Two angels went to Sodom one evening. Lot took them in and started preparing a meal.
What followed was a picture with which we can relate today. Let us read it:
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof” (Genesis 19:4-8)
The angels left Lot with a warning that has been sounded by many men of God living in this era: “For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.” (Genesis 19:13)
How will Christians survive in these perilous times?
How will you survive?
How will your children and grandchildren stand?
What will your family do?
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1. What did Joshua do in his time that can help us today?
Read Joshua 24:15: And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord
• No one accidentally walks with God. You will have to purpose in your heart to walk with God. You will have to make a choice to follow God. You will not achieve this without dedication and commitment. You must be persuaded in your heart that you will not make it without God.
• God heals homes. God heals nations. God heals people. BUT Christians have to pay the price.
God’s presence will make the greatest difference in your life in times such as these.
2. What can we learn from the account of Obededom?
David purposed to bring the ark of God from the camp of the Philistines back to Israel. As they got to “Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”
David was afraid. He did not take the ark of God. The ark was taken to the house of Obededom where it abode for three months.
2 Samuel 6:11 and 1 Chronicles 13:14 report that “the Lord blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.”
• Two people can be raised in similar circumstances yet turn out different because of the presence of God. Two families can do so much together yet live very different lives because of the presence or absence of God. Two sermons can be preached from the same text yet have a totally different effect because of the presence or absence of God.
• Today, God’s presence will make a difference in your Life, in your children, in the life of your spouse, in your home, your place or work, and this nation.
Your family, children, or spouse will remain the same without God’s presence.
You have the power and opportunity to seek and walk with God. You can influence the destiny of your home, your children, your church, and even your nation.
3. Will you purpose in your heart to take your place and be a Christian who will seek to walk with God and embrace His presence?
It is easy to become an idle talker and a critic without even stopping to realize that such behaviors dishonor God. Will you pay the price to have God’s presence in your life/home/church/nation?
What is God’s promise and desire for His people as we see in the Scriptures below?
2 chronicles 7:14: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Ezekiel 22:30: And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none
Psalm 24:3-6: Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Seek God. Return to Him! Let Him crown your life and days with His presence.