At this point we don’t know which voice will arise above the rest in uniting the world and essentially winning the culture war, but we can be assured that whoever this person is will claim to have the truth on his side. Very clearly this person will have no problem calling good bad and bad he will call good. This will be readily accepted by the collective conscious of a world that has grown weary with conflicting beliefs and inconsistent culture norms. They have grown tired of the many lies claiming to be true where almost every public statement now needs a fact check to unearth deception. This person will appeal to the heart of the populist by staying above the fray, initiating his own fact checker, and claiming to be the only one with the truth. The reality however will be that his form of truth will not set the captives free but will enslave them to his new culture norm.

Dear Christian let us not grow weary in this culture war so that we will readily accept the culture norms of a person promising to save the world. It is not up to us to save the world by giving them the blueprint for moral living from the beautiful teachings of Jesus Christ, especially from His sermon on the mount. Rather it is up to us to call people out of the world, teaching believers how to live in the world, but not of the world. Simply put, we cannot expect the world to live by our culture norms. To do so would bring the world back to a time when the whole western world claimed to be Christian but was far from it demonstrated by their immoral behavior and hypercritical lifestyle. I am encouraged that even the Catholic Church has finally accepted this truth by stating: “The Antichrist deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment.”

So to answer our question the only way to win the culture war is by bringing people to the foot of the Cross one person at a time so that they will not fall for the Antichrist deception, then to coalesce around them and others who have come out from the world. It does little good to debate our culture norm with a world that has all but rejected it. The Bible says, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Mt. 7:6). To put this in its fuller context we are not to carelessly judge others but ensure that our own spiritual house is in order so that we can either remove the speck from our brother’s eye or to recognize the dogs and swine among the flock. The metaphor dogs and swine are those who infiltrate the Christian community with the intention of dishonoring the name of God or shipwrecking the faith of a Christian. Dear Christian, winning the culture war will not be accomplished by debating our holy doctrine with the dogs or by mandating our doctrine for the world to follow, but only by our proclamation of the Gospel.

The election process was of no concern to Jesus Christ, because His method for bringing in the Kingdom would be radically different. Many of His fights with the religious leaders were over this very point. They simply could not understand why He would not take His place upon the throne of Israel, throw off the yoke of the Roman Empire, and institute His laws for all mankind to follow. They wanted to forcefully bring in the Kingdom and require everyone to be subject to its laws. But what did Christ say, “render unto Caesar the things of Caesar and render unto God the things of God.” So apparently Christ had a different way to bring in His Kingdom. It would not be done by force like the Muslim religion or other man made governments to rule the people. It would be done radically different. It is to these principles we must return even in the face of violent opposition.

Let’s be clear, this is a spiritual battle that must be waged if we are to stand firm in the last days. At this point God is still calling people into His Kingdom and away from the kingdom of this world.  Our Job has not changed in over two thousand years. We must proclaim the whole gospel whenever and wherever we go. We must proclaim a Gospel that teaches people how to die to self (deny self), pick up their cross, and follow the King by obeying His laws and serving His interest. Friends, when we follow His ways we will let our light shine as brilliant as the noon day sun that will attract others to Christ and bring glory to our risen Lord. When we follow His unchangeable laws then our righteousness will become our breastplate in our struggle against worldliness, materialism, and the antichrist forces arrayed against us.

Friends, the Kingdom of God is within us and only manifested in the assembly of God’s Holy people the true Church of God. Any attempt to manifest this Church in the governance of man will only lead to legalism, corruption, and bloodshed. On the other hand, following God’s commandments placed upon the heart of every Christian in the Kingdom of God would have a profound effect upon the world as we know it.  To reject excessive materialism would impact our economy more than any elected official. To reject the use and proliferation of drugs would impact the physical and mental health of this nation more than any health care plan pushed by an elected official. To reject the culture of immorality will impact the world more than any of the empty promises of an elected official. To overthrow what is wrong in our world can only be accomplished by doing what is right – one person at a time – obeying our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately there is no help from the media who stoke the fires of contention, pointing out faults with one party while embracing the other as the true savior of humanity. There is no wonder that the masses are confused when they are asked to cast their ballot for another four years of slavery. Other parties have come and gone over the years promising to bring change but never capturing enough democratic votes to make a difference. So things continue unabated while some dream of starting another party or giving new voice to one that’s already there in the mainstream.

Then there are those who think that we should start a new movement throwing out both parties and putting forth fresh ideas, new blood, and a person who has been separated from the establishment. They eagerly look for one who will promise to break off the shackles of bondage and set free the masses. Yet most will look with disdain on such an idea and return to one of the two parties as a dog returns to its vomit. So what happens to the Christian who is caught in this web of deceit and blinded by the world’s rhetoric? What are Christians to do when many of our churches no longer preach against sin, hold their people accountable, and seek to open their eyes to worldliness and the deceptions of our age?

I have sounded the final warning in my book and in the pulpits of this country for over three years now and for the most part the message has seem to have fallen on deaf ears. It appears that many have enjoyed their slavery more than the freedom offered to them by the risen Christ, because they are unwilling to let go of their favorite doctrine or theological perspective of the end times. They are unwilling to let go of their trust in the government to take care of their every need, they are unwilling to let go of their dependence on the world’s professional counselors, they are unwilling to let go of their dependence on their drugs instead of trusting in God alone for their providential care. Most are unwilling to actually die to self and pick up the Cross of Jesus Christ and follow Him. So what can the Christian do?

What is needed dear friends is true revival in our land that will reach around the entire world as a burning inferno that will consume the dross, purify the heart, and set the captives free. And the only way that this revival is possible is making a commitment to preach only the gospel truth in its entirety. I call on all preachers of the gospel to drop those meaningless illustrations, time consuming stories that have no relevance, and bury those time pieces that limit the proclamation of the gospel. Furthermore, I implore every preacher to cast off his notes, open his Bible, and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through him with power to cause his listeners to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. When the gospel is faithfully preached in the pulpits of America then the fire will be lit.

As revival takes root in America you will see the power of the Holy Spirit manifested in various gifts. There will be a turning away from Babylonish administration, and once again a total dependence on Jesus Christ alone. In a true revival everyone will preach the gospel, hold one another accountable, and prophesy the dangers of worldliness and the deception of this age. True revival will lead the church to help the homeless, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and counsel the depressed. Finally, true revival will see a fanaticism for the visible return of Jesus Christ in Glory to rapture His Church and usher in the new age.

“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:5)

And the truth is the good news of Jesus Christ. It is good news that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus Christ is the Messiah who had been prophesied thousands of years prior to His coming. One who would preach the good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. Although He was killed by lawless men by hanging Him on a cross, it was all in God’s plan to use His death and resurrection to bring salvation to the world. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) As Christ hung on the Cross of Calvary all the sins of the world past, present, and future were placed upon Him as He became the perfect sin offering for the entire world. Through faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and by believing in your heart that He was raised from the grave then you too can receive forgiveness of your sins and the promise of eternal life.
True faith is more than just believing the historical facts of who and what Jesus Christ did. No longer do you trust in the works of your own hands. No longer do you trust in the establishment or other world religions. No longer do you trust in your own knowledge or understanding. No longer do you trust in the counsel of the world. Through God’s grace you learn to trust in Him alone. In order to receive forgiveness you must repent. Agree with God that you are a sinner, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23); then repent of your sins by turning away from them. The good news is Jesus Christ will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Power on high to show you your sins and help you to turn away from them and live a godly life.

Then you must be baptized which is an outward act of an inward change that takes place in your life. As you are plunged into the water it signifies your dying with Christ – you choose to no longer live the old life but you put it off by dying to self; then as you are raised up out of the water it signifies that you have been raised with Christ and given a new life in Him. No longer do you live for self but you live for the Lord Jesus Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Corinthians 5:17)
Dear friends, this is only the first step into the Kingdom of God, the step of faith. Although you will encounter many trials and tribulations they are meant for the strengthening of your faith and the outcome is more glorious than words can describe. As a new disciple of Christ you want to read His Word daily (the Christian Bible) allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, convict and encourage you. You want to immediately begin to tell others about Jesus Christ and the good news that He brought to a dying world. You want to spend time in prayer to God the Father and meditate on His Word. And finally you will want to join with other believers in Christ to experience the joy of true fellowship and mutual encouragement.

Friends when you come to Christ the blindfold will be removed from your eyes and for the first time you will see and understand spiritual truth – truth that will set you free.

His Powerful Word is all we need for Life and Godliness (v3) 

The church lives in the age of information and worldly wisdom.  She has drifted away from preaching God’s Word alone.  It is no longer seen as sufficient to meet the needs of modern man.  God’s divine power is all we need for life and godliness.  This is the same power that created the universe and everything in it.  It is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave.  It is the same power that brings life to those who are dead in their trespasses and sins.  But how do we get this power?

It comes through our knowledge of Him – our knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.  And how do we get this knowledge of Him?  We get it through the written Word – the Bible.  We got it first in the Old Testament that prophesized His coming to redeem God’s people.  Then we have it in the New Testament that was written by the Apostles moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle John said that if all was written concerning our Lord Jesus Christ all the books in the world could not contain that information.  But what was necessary for our salvation and living out a godly life during our pilgrimage upon earth was written down.  This was also recognized by all the early Christian Fathers who at that time were very careful not to add anything to or take anything away from God’s Holy Word.

Quote from Early Christian Doctrines, J.N.D. Kelley, “The holy and inspired Scriptures, wrote Athanasius a century later, are fully sufficient for the proclamation of the truth; while his contemporary, Cyril of Jerusalem, laid it down that with regard to the divine and saving mysteries of faith no doctrine, however trivial, may be taught without the backing of the divine Scriptures…For our saving faith derives its force, not from capricious reasoning’s, but from what may be proved out of the Bible.  Later in the same century John Chrysostom bade his congregation seek no other teacher than the oracles of God; everything was straightforward and clear in the Bible, and the sum of necessary knowledge could be extracted from it.  In the West Augustine declared that in the plain teaching of Scripture we find all that concerns our belief and moral conduct; while a little later Vincent of Lerins (c.450) took it as an axiom the Scriptural canon was “sufficient, and more than sufficient for all purposes.”

But then the tragedies of all tragedies happened – the Bible was not given to the common people and it was only interpreted by the Catholic Church.  At which time many unbiblical doctrines were added and many of the clear doctrines were removed so that God’s people were plunged into the darkest era of the church.  It was not until centuries later that God’s Word was rediscovered and given back to the common people as a rule for all of life and piety.

Once again the power of God’s Holy Word transformed His people bringing them out of darkness and back into the wonderful light of His Gospel.  The entire western world took a giant step forward out of the dark ages and into God’s marvelous light.  Once again the Bible became the only authoritative guide for God’s people and revivals swept across Europe and even into this country.

But what’s happened in our day?  Again the church has drifted away from its biblical roots and entered a new era of being lukewarm.  Faith and the Bible are no longer the norm, but the reason of man through the philosophies and psychologies of the world has entered in and has choked the Word of God and the results in the church are devastating.

We see this so clearly in the seventh church of the book of Revelation, which many believe that is a clear representation of the last church before Christ’s glorious return from Heaven.  Here was a church who thought she was rich and in need of nothing.  She had her expensive places of worship, the best of music, and the most beautiful sermons that modern rhetoric could deliver.  Yet she is a church with the form of godliness but has no power to really change lives.  And here is the reason why.  She took the hot teachings of God’s Holy Word and mixed them with the cold and frigid teachings of the world and ended up with a lukewarm church making little or no impact upon the lives of God’s people or the world.  And what does Christ say at this point to the church living in the last days?  Repent or I will spit you out of my mouth.  He tells them to be one or the other – hot or cold but stop combining your worldly wisdom with my Holy Word that can change lives.

And friends, that is exactly the power of God’s holy Word – it is meant to change lives – to grow people from one degree of glory to another.  No preaching should take place in the pulpits of our churches unless it is God’s Holy Word.  It is time for the churches of America to repent.  It’s time to return to clear biblical preaching alone for it is the only thing that will change the heart of man.

If a church is not growing spiritually there is a good chance that it’s dead.  Now I am not talking about numbers, but I am talking about spiritual growth.  We hear so much about numerical growth in our churches today and somehow relate that to a healthy church.  I would rather have a small church that is spiritually alive than a huge church that’s spiritually dead.  You simply cannot equate the two as the same.  However, I will say that a spiritually alive church will attract more because God will add to their numbers day by day.  If God is going to call out the sinners in this area and send them to a church – which one do you think that he will add them to?  He will add them to a church that is alive and growing in Christ by the power and authority of His Word – the Bible.

His Powerful Word gives us great and Precious Promises (v4a) 

There is no hope in the world today and this too has greatly influenced the modern church.  There is no wonder the church has turned to the world searching for hope.  This is one of the greatest dangers facing the modern church – she has lost her hope.  We, like Eve in the Garden, have questioned God if He can really deliver on His promises.

God had promised Abraham that He would make him into a great nation.  He has fulfilled His promise even unto this day.  This promise includes all of Christianity throughout every age for we are His spiritual descendants.  We have seen the fulfilling of the promise made to Israel that they would be a blessing to all nations because of their coming King of Kings after the lineage of King David.   We have seen the promise of the Holy Spirit that has been poured out upon all believing men and women fulfilled at Pentecost.  And since that day we have seen many other great and precious promises fulfilled in the life of believers.  Yet the world wants to take that hope away which destroys our faith in the Risen Lord.

Briefly, I want to look at just one great and precious promise this morning that we as the people of God have misplaced and no longer believe –really believe.  The first promise is found in II Corinthians 5:17, it says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  On the surface everyone in this auditorium will say I believe that, but do you really?  Friends, this is an awesome promise!  This means that when you come to Christ and make Him your Lord and begin to let His Word make changes in your life, you will never be the same.  It means that the old hang-ups will soon pass away.  It means that no matter what your past was, no matter what your environment was, no matter what your daddy or grand daddy did – you will be changed.  Old things will pass away.

Yet, we hear just the opposite in the world today and unfortunately we hear it also in the modern church.  Friends, God promises to change you so much that you will not even know yourself a few years after following Him.  In fact, the Apostle John says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  (Now, watch this!) Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”  (I John 3:2-3)  Friends, the world has robbed the church of its hope for change.

This is seen most clearly in the worldly system of psychology which has entered the church.  It has done so through its literature, through its books, through its counseling and even through its preaching.  This is a tragedy!  For it has not helped people to change by putting off the old life and putting on the new, but it has kept the church in bondage to endless psychological counseling, drugs, and even hospitalization.   We have become a nation that is being counseled.  Over 21% of the nation’s population which is about 44.7 million people is currently being counseled by some form of psychology for some form of mental illness.  This has also been translated into the modern church.

Friends, the world needs to return to its biblical hope by revisiting the promises in Scripture and believing them – believing that God will fulfill His promise.  The Bible says, “Praise be to the Lord…Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.”  (I King 8:56)  God will fulfill His promise.  He will deliver you from the bondage of your past.  He will cure you of all the emotional and psychological problems that disturb you.  He is the one who has the power to do that and He chooses to do it through the proclamation of His Holy Word and your application of it.  Friends, do you really want to change and be all that God wants you to be?  If so, then you just need to begin by believing it!

His Powerful Word enables us to participate in the Divine Nature (v4b) 

What is it that keeps us growing in Christ?  What keeps us putting off the old nature and putting on the new?  What allows us to escape the corruption in the world that causes evil desires?  It is our participation in the divine nature – it is our communion with the risen Lord – it is our fellowship with God the Father – it is our companionship with the Holy Spirit.

It is rather sad that many in the modern church never get to this point.  They have joined a social club.  They like the friendship of the people.  They like doing things with their family.  They like the good music and the participation of their children in worship.  They may even like the sermons, but here is the problem: they don’t really have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  They do not hear his voice.  They do not hear the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  They don’t feel the warming in their heart when the Scriptures are read.  Moreover, when they read the Word of God there is a veil over their eyes.  They don’t understand what they are reading or how to apply it to their life.  Their non-participation in the divine nature has left them in bondage to the old nature following all of its evil desires.

While preaching in a crusade in Riga, Latvia many years ago (in fact two weeks after the revolt in Moscow), there was a Russian military officer with whom I had the privilege to share the Gospel.  After I had shared the Gospel he said it made perfect sense and he would love to receive Christ, but how could he know for sure that Christ is real?  I remember telling him that he just needed to step out on faith believing and then Christ would make Himself known in a very real way.  He said, “I will think about it.”  The next day was my last day in Latvia and I preached my last sermon at the Russian church.  I was surprised to see this same Russian military officer come forward at the conclusion of the service to accept Jesus Christ publicly.  Later I had an opportunity to share with him about his decision.  He said simply, “After you left I prayed believing and Christ made Himself real to me.  I know that He is alive!  So I asked him to be my Lord.”  Praise God for His powerful Word!

Dear friends, it’s time to let God’s Holy, authoritative, sufficient Word change your life for ever- to grow you from one degree of glory to another – and to allow you to participate in His divine nature.  Just imagine the possibilities!  Imagine with me for a moment what would happen if the church would follow this principle of sanctification in the Holy Spirit.  I will tell you that we would be an oddity in today’s world for people would come from all over just to be a part of God working in the lives of His people.  This building would never be big enough to contain its worshippers.  It would be a glorious day indeed.  This participation in the divine nature is a calling to His glory – to His power and majesty – to His goodness – and to His love.

I am sure that is exactly what the Apostle felt when he was on the Mount of Transfiguration.  Listen to his own words, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’  We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.”  (II Peter 1:16-18)

Wow!  Notice that Peter and the other Apostles with them also received honor and glory!  It takes your breath away when you participate in his majestic glory.  It fills you with awe when you participate in His glorious fellowship.  It humbles you when you participate in His divine nature.  Friends, let’s let God be God and respond to His calling today!  He wants this day to be different in your life.  You respond to His calling today to participate in His divine nature made possible by the simple, yet powerful gospel of Jesus Christ.