Volume 26, Issue 5
WisconsinChristianNews.com
Page 7
Blue In the Face (Continued from Page 3)
2) Do we pray and seek God’s face? And by that I mean, do we have an insa- tiable desire to have a close relationship with our Father, through His Son Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit? Or when we pray, do we just take our “wish list” to “Daddy,” offer up quick, vain, meaningless prayers for ourselves and oth- ers — “telling” God what we want, rather than conversing with Him, drawing near to Him...like a child? I frustrate people when I’m asked to lead corporate prayer, because I don’t pray like most of the “professional Christians” do when they’re on stage. If you ask me to lead group prayer, it’s not going to be what you’re used to. Because most people are used to short, concise, quick “prayers” that sound spiritual but have no depth, and leave no room for any real, personal impact. When I pray, I talk to God, then I listen for His re- sponse. Then I reply and lis- ten some more. I don’t make a speech. It’s a conversation, and I believe that’s how prayer should be. That’s what “seek- ing His face” means. 3). Turn from our wicked ways. Most professing Chris- tians don’t believe they have any wicked ways to turn from. They have an attitude of su- periority over the fallen, lost sinners they encounter on the streets every day. This gets back to the aspect of humility. We all need to humble our- selves every day before Almighty God, grateful for what He’s done for us. But we’ll never get there if we never get honest with our- selves, pray and truly seek His face. Most believe they’re basi- cally “good” people. “Good” Christians. Romans 3:10-12, “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that un- derstandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalm 14:3, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Rather than being haughty and smug about our position in Christ, we need to humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, not just acknowledging we’re not “perfect,” but also turning from our wicked
ways. And our prayer should be that of Psalm 139: 23 & 24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Our goal should be Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye trans- formed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and accept- able, and perfect, will of God.” Our world today has mil- lions of man-made laws. We struggle under a burden of rules and regulations, judicial decrees, unjust mandates, federal, state and county laws and local ordinances. Mil- lions of them. But God gave us just ten. Ten simple commands to fol- low. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we even attempted to follow those Ten Commandments? And here’s a challenge for you: if you’re one of those “faithful” church-goers, can you even tell me what those simple Ten Commandments are, without having to look them up? (You’ll find them in Exodus 20). 1) Have no other gods be- fore Yahweh, the one and only true God. 2) Don’t make idols and worship them. 3) Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. 4) Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. 5) Honor your father and mother. 6) Don’t commit murder. 7) Don’t commit adultery. 8) Don’t steal. 9) Don’t gossip, lie about others or bear false wit- ness. And 10) Don’t covet. In other words, don’t jealously desire what someone else has. Now, I’ve written and spo- ken for years about the im- portance of God’s Ten Commandments until I’ve be- come “blue in the face.” Ten seemingly simple command- ments, yet we’ve all broken all ten of them, if not in deed, at least in our hearts, which is equally damning. The fact that most Christians can’t even name all ten in a row shows how casually we regard our so-called “Christian faith.” We should be ashamed, and this should lead to us hum- bling ourselves, praying and truly seeking God’s face, turn- ing from our wicked ways. Is that what’s happening? Of course not. We smugly re- cite 2 Chronicles 7;14, but have no intention of ever stir- ring the Body of Christ to come up with an action plan which would revive a dying, dead and outright apostate so-called “Church.” Most don’t even have any real in- tention of doing any of this in their own individual lives.
Some problems have very simple solutions, but our hardened hearts have become so selfish and conceited, we’re unwilling to give our Creator even a scrap of reverence, awe and obedience. You want to see our nation blessed? You
know what to do. But I’m not holding my breath. I’m al- ready “blue in the face.” Email: Rob@WisconsinChristianNews.com Phone: (715) 486-8066
Yes, we are saved by grace, by the blood of the Lamb, through humble repentance and faith. But that repentance isn’t a one-time “sinner’s prayer.” That confession is only the beginning of a life- time of sanctification. We’re to be transformed by the re- newing of our minds, yet most of us, even Christians, remain complacent, apa- thetic and conformed to this world. When Moses was old, and knew his days on this earth were drawing to a close, he penned a vital warning to his people, which we find in the book of Deuteronomy. I’ve dissected this area of Scrip- ture more times than I can count. I’ve written about it in depth. I’ve done radio commentaries on it that took multiple broadcasts to get through. I would encourage you all to read that book, and espe- cially chapter 28, and really do your best to soak it all in. Because there’s good news and bad news, and herein lies the answer to all of our nation’s problems. Deuteronomy 28 were some of Moses’ last words of in- struction and warning to his nation, but they apply to all nations of the earth, and es- pecially to the United States and Western countries today. Verse 1, “if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I com- mand thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.” Then comes an extensive list of blessings any nation can and will re- ceive. But these amazing blessings are conditional. To receive them, a nation must observe and do all God’s commandments. Yes, even after we walk the aisle and recite the “sinner’s prayer.” But then comes the bad news. If a nation refuses to honor, obey and follow those commands of God, horrific curses will fall upon those people. As I look around America today, it’s easy to see which path we’ve cho- sen, because those curses are abundant everywhere you turn. We did enjoy the blessings at one time in this nation. Now, having aban- doned God and His com- mands, we’re reaping the curses. Most likely, you won’t hear about this in church. Most likely, your pastor won’t talk like I’m talking to you now.
WE PAY CASH FOR GUNS GUNS • AMMUNITION • OPTICS ARCHERY • FISHING
345 Main Street P.O. Box 190 Wild Rose, WI 54984 (920) 622-3312 TomLauritzen@yahoo.com HuntWildRose.com
We will also take your gun on trade!
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5