A Crooked and Twisted Generation

Philippians 2:14-16 ESV

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

We, as followers of Jesus Christ are not to be people who go around grumbling and complaining about everything and everybody. We are not to be people who go around trying to pick fights with people just for the pleasure of being argumentative. But there are people like this. And I am not claiming absolute perfection in this area, for I can’t claim that I am perfect in my speech at all times and in all ways, even though I am walking with the Lord in faithful obedience to him day by day.

But let me say this here. Sharing the truth of the gospel and confronting the lies of Satan and exposing the fruitless deeds of darkness are being regarded these days as “negative,” and we are being told that we are not to be negative but that we are to be positive and upbeat people at all times. But if you might recall, the people of old said the same things to the prophets of old, telling them to stop confronting them with the Holy One of Israel, but to tell them sweet things, and things to make them feel good.

So this Scripture is not teaching us that we have to go around being upbeat all the time, always telling people only what makes them feel good. For it that were true, we would have to throw out most of the Scriptures. For all throughout both the Old and the New Testaments we are taught to put off lies, sexual immorality, adultery, stealing and cheating, etc., and we are to put on moral purity and faithfulness and honesty, etc. And we are to speak the truth in love, and we are to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness.

And we are to live morally pure and upright and godly and holy lives, in the power of God, and in obedience to our Lord, so that we can shine as lights of the truth of the gospel in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, which has now infiltrated much of the gatherings of the church, or of what is falsely being called church here in America. For so much of the church has altered their gatherings and the gospel message in order to attract the people of the world to their gatherings, and that is all backwards.

For the purpose of the gatherings of the church is to gather together those of genuine God-given faith in Jesus Christ for their mutual encouragement and edification and spiritual growth and maturity so that they can then go out into the world and to share the truth of the gospel with the ungodly, which includes with those making false professions of faith in Christ. For so many professers of faith in Jesus Christ are not living the faith they profess, for so many of them are buying into the lies of the enemy.

So, what is the truth of the gospel that we should be sharing with the ungodly of this world? It is what Jesus said:

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.’” Luke 9:23-26 ESV

And this: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Video Talk

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My Sheep  

An Original Work / June 24, 2012  

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full… 

They know my voice, so they follow me.

https://vimeo.com/114938263