Shine For The Lord

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Shine For The Lord

Shine For The Lord

II Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Over the past number of years there has been a “right to life” movement across Canada and other places as well. This movement is an ecumenical movement that seeks to bring all religions together for a public march through the streets of communities to speak out against the murder of unborn children. Those who have been paying attention know that this effort has done nothing to stop the murder of unborn children. What it has done is confused people regarding the truth. Many different types of religious groups joined together to oppose this evil action. However, the devil won out and is still winning on this front.
Recently the Muslims have led in a crusade to stop the sodomite agenda in the public schools. A Muslim man is heading up a recruiting movement to bring together 1 million Muslims and other religious groups for a march to demonstrate the “power” of the people and try to stop the evil indoctrination of children with a message that the Muslims oppose.
It is a shame that any parent would allow and often encourage their young children to be exposed to the wickedness of sodomy. Yet too many parents are willing to do this.
Rather than joining with ungodly religious groups to try to oppose the wickedness of sodomy, wise parents would not have their children in the public school, period. God gave children to parents. Some years back Hillary Clinton promoted the lie that it takes a village to raise a child. She wanted the state to take over the parenting of children. Sadly many parents have surrendered their children to the state. They send them off to daycare at a young age and then off to the public school and also to after school sporting events, etc.
Parents assume they are being such good parents because they are both working hard to make money so that they can give their children what they want. Too many parents assume that there are great benefits to maybe have an NHL hockey player or a famous tennis player, etc. Those things are a wasted effort. Those few who make it to the big leagues can make a lot of money. They get their name up in the lights. At what cost? They are taught from young on that money is their god. Money can never buy happiness. Fame can never buy happiness.
Back to our topic, sodomy is an abomination to the Lord. God hates it. It is against God’s design for man. Those who are saved need to speak out against this evil. As we have mentioned before, there are far too many passive Christians. They are Christian in name only. They like the convenience of sending their children off to school so they can be free to do other things, including chasing after dollars.
Our nation is in deep trouble. It is morally bankrupt. Past generations of parents have washed their hands of the important responsibility of raising their children in the fear of God. Every generation has become more pagan than the last.
In our text, we are reminded that there is no common ground between the Godly and the ungodly. There is nothing we can work together on when it comes to spiritual and moral issues. In this wicked world, saved men will need to work in a shop with ungodly men. However, they do not need to put up with an environment that mocks God and exalts evil. They cannot be partners with the ungodly.
Christians need to pray for their pastors. We need Godly men in our pulpits. We need men who are not politicians. We need men who do not study society and see how they can sneak a Biblical truth into different things without offending people.
There is a pseudo Christian musician in the U.S. that travels around holding “concerts.” Apparently he has been opposed in many different places because of his message. Apparently he talks of Jesus and of God, but he does not know them. His phoney Christianity is a threat to the more ungodly segment of society. We are at a time now where tolerance for any brand of Christianity is being rejected. The FBI has been targeting Catholics for some time now. Yet there was a time when it was accepted for a president to be a Catholic. It seemed to be preferred in the U.S. Catholics are not Christians.
True Christians need to know the truth. They need to be reminded of the truth. They need to walk as Christians.
Paul was directed to remind us that when we obey God and separate from ungodliness as we must, then God will be our Father and we will be His sons and daughters. We have talked often of the compromise of New Evangelicalism and of secular Christianity which is sometimes called Christendom. The wicked don’t want any flavour of God. They want humanism. Those who are playing games with a pseudo god are losing favour with the more evil parts of society.
True Christians need to walk separate from the world. True Christians need to honour the true God Who saved them. It is worthless to be persecuted and still end up in hell. Those who are truly saved will be persecuted. However, those who are truly saved can echo the words of the apostle Paul:

II Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

As we see wickedness advancing, let us, those who are born again, stand with the God Who saved us. Let us make His name known and count the cost. We will not win over the world. God is in charge of the saving of souls. As we serve Him faithfully, we can help individuals turn from the lies they have believed, to the truth.

Luke 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

It is worth it to be able to rejoice over that one sinner, rather than be guilty of being a stumblingblock to lost people.
Pastor Bartel

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