What Can the Righteous Do?

 What Can the Righteous Do? (article by Franklin Graham)

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11: 3)

“If you love somebody-truly love them-you are going to tell them the truth that saves their soul”

-the moral foundations of our nation were founded by Christians seeking freedom to take a stand and practice their faith have eroded so much we wonder what we can possibly do?

1- the righteous must pray fervently

2- know your scriptures that exhorts us to pray for our leaders

3- pray and read your Bible daily, so put it into practice every day (intercede for our nation)

-this is a watershed moment in the moral state of our rapidly depriving and godless culture.

-to satisfy the incessant, sinful cries of the incredibly powerful LGBTQ lobby, the halls of Congress gave their endorsement to an immoral and degenerate lifestyle that not so many decades ago was a criminal act. 

-the Respect for Marriage Act is a deceptive law that threatens churches, Christian institutions, and individuals who hold to the traditional, Biblical view of marriage between one man and one woman.

-sins that were unthinkable (sexualizing children) are now ever present in daily live

-the slippery slope of moral compromise that we warned about for so long has now become a free fall into debauchery and dissolution.

-the pressure on Christians from ungodly leaders and a depraved culture will only continue to increase.

“If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15: 20).

-the world has become an acceptable place for the wicked government to oppress its people, false religions and secular cultures that don’t want to hear the truth of the Gospel.

-God answers prayers according to his will, so pray for our government to make wise decisions that are guided by and informed by Biblical principles.

-God can move kings hearts so He can do it with our leaders, for our ultimate welfare and His glory.

-pursue personal holiness and purity in our own lives and witnesses. God has called us to be holy people, whose lives will be markedly different from the culture around us.

-If there is no difference between God’s people from the culture around us, then our witness for the Gospel is dimmed.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7: 14).

-Christians are called to be salt and light to a rotting and dark culture. Only God can effect the change and transformation that must happen.

-be bold witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ whole lives clearly testify to the saving power of the God.

-Do not fear what others might think of our witness, but rather fear God and trust Him wholeheartedly, whatever may come.

-righteous people  work in God’s strength to make a difference in our communities, schools, and local governments. (ex. Run for office, get elected to the school board, help elect officials who are aligned with godly principles).

-we cannot sit on the sidelines, but do all we can to fight and stem the rising tide of godlessness-Evil must be resisted, not yielded to.

-our future may look gloomy, but our Lord has greater things in store.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Take Back the Pulpit?

“Once people enter our church doors, they might hear about God and even begin a relationship with Jesus. But they don’t know how to walk with God in a compromising culture”

“People need the Word of God that has the power of God to change hearts and lives for eternity” (Franklin Graham).

-the greatest stumbling block in church today is over the second-greatest commandment, where Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We have sacrificed the Gospel in the name of love as defined by the world. 

-loving someone doesn't mean you avoid offending them. Love speaks truth that saves their soul.

-churches must prioritize giving people the tools they need to know how to handle the controversial situations we see today.

Barna’s 7 cornerstones of a Biblical worldview 

“Biblical worldview looks at the world and sifts all information through the lens of God’s word.”

“Scripture informs our thinking and influences our behaviors, guiding our intellect and moral determinations”

“Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind” (Romans 12: 2)

-God is the eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and just Creator.

-Humans are sinful by nature.

-Jesus Christ grants forgiveness of sin and eternal life when sinners repent and profess their faith in Him alone.

-The Bible is true, reliable and always relevant.

-Absolute moral truth exists.

-Success is defined as consistent obedience to God.

-Life’s purpose is to know, love, and serve God with all one’s heart, mind, strength and soul.

Epidemic of Biblical Illiteracy

-Barna’s research showed a correlation between a pastor’s rejections of Biblical doctrine and the failure to practice spiritual disciplines in one’s personal life.

-Barna’s research showed a correlation between possessing Biblical beliefs and a consistent regimen of Bible reading, prayer, worship, and confession.

Culture Watch

-secularism in the church

-worldview dictated by an individual’s preferences, desires, and subjective truth claims.

-worldview says you do what you believe and you are entitled to act upon those truths.

-watch if your pastor has become a leader of the movement away from God toward narcissism.

-many pastors are very tentative or hesitant to preach the full counsel of God’s Word. This leads to Christians who are hesitant to live out their faith  in the public square.

“There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:1).

“To see American culture transformed”

“Will require a time of Christians and pastors devoted to repentance and the Scriptures unlike anything we have seen in more than a century”

-God will continue accomplishing His purposes, asserting the Biblical prophecy is still being fulfilled in this generation even while the times are dire.

-Paul warned about deceiving spirits and false teachers in the latter time and the last days.

-New testament is filled with such warnings, as the Old Testament often warned about false prophets.