Showing posts with label iniquity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iniquity. Show all posts
Monday, November 14, 2022
A Desolate House*
Has America become a desolate house? Regarding more on this question, I hope to soon be publishing my book, "The Late Great United States", because I believe that both the nation and the church are missing the Word of God. I also challenge you to see the documentary "Monumental", from Kirk Cameron, as well as reading Jonathan Cahn's books, "The Harbinger", and "The Return of the Gods". In seeking the answer to the question asked at the beginning of this message, Proverbs says: "As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come." (Prov. 26:1-2). "A fool" is defined in scripture as someone who says in their heart "there is no God" (Ps. 14:1). While we hear the atheists proclaim this more and more, even believers act like a fool when they go against the Word of God! We hve seen the resulting signs of a curse come to this land, as Proverbs warned: the pandemic, economic, political, and weather crises, and so on. The prophet Ezekiel was told to prophesy the Word of the LORD to the mountains of Israel, that because of her sins, Israel's enemies have caused the nation to become desolate: "...the enemy hath said against you, 'Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession'...because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people..." (Ezek. 36:1-3). The LORD then prophesied that this enemy that took joy in the shame of Israel will experience His jealous wrath. These enemies are natural but also spiritual, and seek the high places of the land. Demons are real, and we have given place and permission to these enemies to inhabit our land. What caused this desolation by the hands of an enemy to fall upon Israel in the first place? The LORD revealed to Ezekiel: "...when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it. And I scattered them among the heathen...according to their way and according to their doings I judged them." (v. 17-19). The LORD added that wherever He scattered His people, they continued to profane His name in those nations. He would restore Israel, not for the people's sake, but for the sake of His holy name, for which He had pity. He would sanctify His great name, which His own people had profaned among the heathen, by restoring His people to their own land (v. 20-24). Not only would the LORD restore His people to their land, but "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments; and do them." (v. 25-27). The LORD, in sanctifying His own great name, also promised to make David (referring to the Messiah), "my servant", the one King over them, their one Shepherd, to be their Prince forever: "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions...so shall they be my people, and I will be their God." (see Ezek. 37:21-28, see also Hos. 3:4-5). Israel, among other things, had been worshipping idols. We still worship idols today when we make anything more important than God. Israel sinned before the LORD and profaned His name. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, scripture says - and the wages of sin is death. The prophet Hosea also wrote what the LORD said about His people, which we see today also: "...there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land, By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children...I will change their (His people's) glory into shame...they set their heart on their iniquity." (Hos. 4:1-3, 6-8). We see this desolation of our land taking the form of an unrelenting attack against our children, as Hosea wrote above, with lies and twisted perversions. America, church, have we become a desolate house? Jesus spoke about certain disasters that had befallen groups of people in Israel in His time. He said that those victims were no greater sinners than others, "... but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Lk. 13:1-5). Jesus also told the parable of a man who had a fig tree that failed to yield expected fruit for three years. He ordered his vinedresser to cut it down so it wouldn't encumber the ground while producing nothing. The vinedresser asked the man to allow him to dig around and fertilize the tree for that year, and if it still did not produce, then it could be cut down. (v. 6-9). The LORD is not quick to judge or destroy, and will give the time and opportunity for His people to show Him the fruits justly expected by Him from their lives. Most of those who refused to hear Jesus' words were the religious leaders of His time. Jesus severely scolded the most religious of the people telling them that they cared for the outward appearance of righteousness only, while inside they were full of corruption, like tombs. These same religious leaders criticised Jesus for healing on the sabbath, when even a common animal, Jesus told them to their shame, deserved comfort and care even on the sabbath. Certainly, He said, a descendant of Abraham was entitled to be loosed from the bond of infirmity on the sabbath (v. 10-16). He warned them when asked if many would be saved, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (v. 23-24). He said that the door would be shut, and many would come knocking and asking to be let in, but shall receive this answer from the Master, "I know you not, whence you are." (v. 25). These who are shut out would include those who had seen Him, and eaten with Him, but nevertheless, He would not know them, and instead say, "...depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity". While others would enter into the kingdom, these would be thrust out, "And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first, which shall be last." (v. 26-30). These people felt assured in their place in the Kingdom of God based upon a meaningless and hypocritical outward appearance of righteousness, but they would find that they were mistaken. (see also Mt. 23:1-28). As Jesus continued on His journey toward Jerusalem, He reminded them that Jerusalem killed the prophets of God, while refusing to be gathered "under Jesus' wings": "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, You shall not see me, until the time come when you shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Lk. 13:31-35, see also Mt. 23:29-39). The LORD leaves us a time and an opportunity to turn back to Him. In 2 Chron. 7, the LORD answers Solomon's prayer as the work of the new temple is completed. The LORD makes this promise: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land...mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place...and mine heart shall be there perpetually." (v. 11-16). That "place" was the temple, but we are the living temple of God. However, to Solomon, the LORD said, "...if thou wilt walk before me , as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father...But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; then I will pluck them up out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations..." (2 Chron. 7:17-22, excerpt). We know that Solomon did not walk after the LORD as his father, David, walked, and after Solomon's reign ended, the nation became divided, and many of the kings that followed established idols in the land. We are doing the same things as Israel did. We have just had an election in this country, and we voted for our choices. Will it change anything? The only thing that will change the desolation of our house is "If My people..." from 2 Chron. 7, which we read above. We recently honored our veterans, including those who gave their lives in service to this county, as we should. When will we honor Jesus, who died for us? God's people, for now, are being given the time and opportunity to repent, that God might heal our land. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/13/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Scoffers Beware*
This is a follow up on the theme we discussed last week. We discussed the new abortion law that New York State has enacted that reaches a new level of wickedness. Scripture teaches that man is encouraged in this kind of wickedness because they think that the judgment of God has not come, and will not come. Peter warned that these are scoffers who will come in the last days:
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Pet. 3:3-4
Peter wrote that these scoffers of judgment deliberately ignore that fact that God had indeed sent devastating judgment previously in the form of the flood, and Peter assured that fire is now reserved for the judgment that will come against ungodly men (v. 7).
Though some mock the idea of the universal flood, physical evidence, including the fossil record, is abundant indicating that large land masses were indeed flooded by water.
Jesus also warned that in the last days, it would be as the time of Noah, and Sodom and Gomorrah in regard to judgment of mass destruction (Lk. 17:26-30).
Peter taught that those who scoff at the judgment of wickedness do so in pursuit of their own lusts (desire/craving for what is forbidden, of those who seek forbidden things). New York State, and the United States have become these scoffers of which Peter warned as they enacted these wicked statutes because of the lusts of men, and because they feel falsely secure in the belief that there will be no judgment from God. For this, these scoffers should beware of the warnings of scripture.
Peter went on to warn as we have noted previously, that God is slow to judge, not because He is slack in performing His word, but because He desires to give men the time and opportunity to repent, not willing that any should perish in judgment (2 Pet. 3:9).
We have an excellent example in scripture of this patience regarding judgment. After God entered into a solemn covenant with Abraham and his promised future descendants, He spoke to Abraham prophetically regarding the land which would be given to Abraham's seed. The habitation of the promised land would be delayed until the fourth generation of Abraham's seed. This delay would be because "the iniquity (perversity, depravity, crimes, great guilt) of the Amorites ("prominence, publicity") is not yet full." (Gen. 15:13-16). The judgment against the tribes of Canaanites for their iniquities, would be delayed until it had grown so great, that it could be wait no longer.
What was involved in the iniquity of these Canaanite tribes? We get a detailed description from the book of the Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 12. We do not treat the books of the Apocrypha with the same weight as scripture, but as they line up with the scriptures and bear witness to the scriptures, we can gain insight from them. These books were written during the time of the Old Testament, before the birth of Christ, and at one time they were included in the King James Bible. As an example of the value of the information these books can contribute, this is a quote from 2 Esdras 7:28 (KJV):
"For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that shall be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within 400 years."
Regarding the Amorites mentioned by God to Abraham, and their iniquity before God, The Wisdom of Solomon says, in part:
"Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious workes of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices;
And also those mercilesse murderers of children, & deuourers of mans flesh, and the feasts of blood;
With their Priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and the parents that killed with their owne hands, soules destitute of helpe:
That the land which thou esteemedst aboue all other, might receiue a worthy colonie of Gods children.
Neuerthelesse, euen those thou sparedst as men, and didst send waspes forerunners of thine hoste, to destroy them by little and little.
Not that thou wast vnable to bring the vngodly vnder the hand of the righteous in battell, or to destroy them at once with cruel beastes, or with one rough word:
But executing thy iudgements vpon them by little and little, thou gauest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a naughtie generation, and that their malice, was bred in them, and that their cogitation would neuer be changed....
But they that would not bee refourmed by that correction wherein he dallied with them, shall feele a iudgement worthy of God.
For looke, for what things they grudged when they were punished, (that is) for them whom they thought to be gods, now being punished in them; when they saw it, they acknowledged him to be the true God, whome before they denyed to know: and therefore came extreme damnation vpon them."
The iniquity of the Amorites, for which judgment came, though delayed for the chance for repentance, included very much the same iniquity that we see practiced in our land now, including the "merciless murderers of children". The above excerpt from The Wisdom of Solomon confirms scripture in that the judgment would come little by little in order to provide an opportunity to repent. However, in a warning to be taken today also for the scoffers of these last days, judgment would not be delayed indefinitely, and would surely come.
An important truth for the people of God to know and understand in all of this, the LORD strongly expressed to that fourth generation of the children of Israel when it was time for this judgment to fall on the Amorites, that they would prevail over the Amorites not because of their own righteousness, but because God was righteous in His judgment against the "odious" iniquity of the Amorites:
"Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth not this good land to posses it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people." Deut. 9:3-6
In The Wisdom of Solomon, the murder of the children, whether sanctioned by those in authority, or by the parents themselves, was odious. In Scripture it is called an abomination (Prov. 6:16-19). Judgment, though delayed, should not be mocked or scoffed upon, but the longsuffering of the LORD towards us should be used as the opportunity it is-the merciful opportunity extended to us for repentance for ourselves, our state, and our nation before it is too late. "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
*The above is based upon the 2/3 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Pet. 3:3-4
Peter wrote that these scoffers of judgment deliberately ignore that fact that God had indeed sent devastating judgment previously in the form of the flood, and Peter assured that fire is now reserved for the judgment that will come against ungodly men (v. 7).
Though some mock the idea of the universal flood, physical evidence, including the fossil record, is abundant indicating that large land masses were indeed flooded by water.
Jesus also warned that in the last days, it would be as the time of Noah, and Sodom and Gomorrah in regard to judgment of mass destruction (Lk. 17:26-30).
Peter taught that those who scoff at the judgment of wickedness do so in pursuit of their own lusts (desire/craving for what is forbidden, of those who seek forbidden things). New York State, and the United States have become these scoffers of which Peter warned as they enacted these wicked statutes because of the lusts of men, and because they feel falsely secure in the belief that there will be no judgment from God. For this, these scoffers should beware of the warnings of scripture.
Peter went on to warn as we have noted previously, that God is slow to judge, not because He is slack in performing His word, but because He desires to give men the time and opportunity to repent, not willing that any should perish in judgment (2 Pet. 3:9).
We have an excellent example in scripture of this patience regarding judgment. After God entered into a solemn covenant with Abraham and his promised future descendants, He spoke to Abraham prophetically regarding the land which would be given to Abraham's seed. The habitation of the promised land would be delayed until the fourth generation of Abraham's seed. This delay would be because "the iniquity (perversity, depravity, crimes, great guilt) of the Amorites ("prominence, publicity") is not yet full." (Gen. 15:13-16). The judgment against the tribes of Canaanites for their iniquities, would be delayed until it had grown so great, that it could be wait no longer.
What was involved in the iniquity of these Canaanite tribes? We get a detailed description from the book of the Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 12. We do not treat the books of the Apocrypha with the same weight as scripture, but as they line up with the scriptures and bear witness to the scriptures, we can gain insight from them. These books were written during the time of the Old Testament, before the birth of Christ, and at one time they were included in the King James Bible. As an example of the value of the information these books can contribute, this is a quote from 2 Esdras 7:28 (KJV):
"For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that shall be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within 400 years."
Regarding the Amorites mentioned by God to Abraham, and their iniquity before God, The Wisdom of Solomon says, in part:
"Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious workes of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices;
And also those mercilesse murderers of children, & deuourers of mans flesh, and the feasts of blood;
With their Priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and the parents that killed with their owne hands, soules destitute of helpe:
That the land which thou esteemedst aboue all other, might receiue a worthy colonie of Gods children.
Neuerthelesse, euen those thou sparedst as men, and didst send waspes forerunners of thine hoste, to destroy them by little and little.
Not that thou wast vnable to bring the vngodly vnder the hand of the righteous in battell, or to destroy them at once with cruel beastes, or with one rough word:
But executing thy iudgements vpon them by little and little, thou gauest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a naughtie generation, and that their malice, was bred in them, and that their cogitation would neuer be changed....
But they that would not bee refourmed by that correction wherein he dallied with them, shall feele a iudgement worthy of God.
For looke, for what things they grudged when they were punished, (that is) for them whom they thought to be gods, now being punished in them; when they saw it, they acknowledged him to be the true God, whome before they denyed to know: and therefore came extreme damnation vpon them."
The iniquity of the Amorites, for which judgment came, though delayed for the chance for repentance, included very much the same iniquity that we see practiced in our land now, including the "merciless murderers of children". The above excerpt from The Wisdom of Solomon confirms scripture in that the judgment would come little by little in order to provide an opportunity to repent. However, in a warning to be taken today also for the scoffers of these last days, judgment would not be delayed indefinitely, and would surely come.
An important truth for the people of God to know and understand in all of this, the LORD strongly expressed to that fourth generation of the children of Israel when it was time for this judgment to fall on the Amorites, that they would prevail over the Amorites not because of their own righteousness, but because God was righteous in His judgment against the "odious" iniquity of the Amorites:
"Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth not this good land to posses it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people." Deut. 9:3-6
In The Wisdom of Solomon, the murder of the children, whether sanctioned by those in authority, or by the parents themselves, was odious. In Scripture it is called an abomination (Prov. 6:16-19). Judgment, though delayed, should not be mocked or scoffed upon, but the longsuffering of the LORD towards us should be used as the opportunity it is-the merciful opportunity extended to us for repentance for ourselves, our state, and our nation before it is too late. "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
*The above is based upon the 2/3 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
Monday, January 29, 2018
Our Role in the Days of Sodom
Jesus spoke of a spiritual unawareness and indifference to the judgment of God, especially as His coming draws near:
"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus it shall be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Lk. 17:28-30
Life went on as normal in Sodom, not acknowledging that utter destruction was about to fall.
The days we live in are very similar to the time of the destruction of Sodom-not only because we have followed after their sexual sins, but because our spiritual condition now is very much like theirs then:
"Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom (meaning "burning, conflagration"), pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good." Ezek. 16:49-50
Since we can see how our current condition mirrors Sodom's, what is the role of the Church in these days?
First of all, not everyone is unaware of the real and present danger of impending judgment. The people of God are being warned by the prophetic voices and messengers that the LORD has placed in our midst, according to His specific promise and His foundational precepts:
"Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" Amos 3:7-8
We see this exact principle in the example of Sodom. As the time grew near for Sodom's destruction, the LORD made it a point to appear to Abraham in the form of three men, as Abraham sat in the door of his tent in Mamre (meaning "strength, vigor, the effort needed to hasten one's self or lift one's self up) at the hottest time of the day. As was the custom of that time, Abraham offered these strangers his complete hospitality, and bowed himself to the ground as a servant before them. Abraham then hastened and ran to provide the men with every comfort (Gen. 18:1-8).
At the close of this prophetic visit, the strangers began their journey to Sodom, as Abraham led them on the way. The LORD then asks this question, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" (v. 17). The LORD told Abraham that He had heard the cry from Sodom and Gomorrah, and the grievous sin, and He had come to see for Himself the truth of their sinful condition. Abraham delayed the LORD, and began to intercede with Him, asking Him if He would destroy the righteous with the wicked. As Abraham continued to intercede, he obtained the LORD's agreement down to the presence of just ten righteous in the city. The whole wicked city would be spared if there were ten righteous within it (Gen. 18:23-32).
On the other end of the story, Abraham's nephew Lot ("covering, veil"), living in importance in Sodom, also received the visit of the strangers with the same hospitality that Abraham had shown them. When the strangers had told Lot that he and his whole household must leave Sodom immediately, Lot went to tell his sons-in-law. They treated the urgent news as a joke, and refused to leave with Lot (Gen. 19:14). Even Lot sought to delay leaving the city. When morning came, the angels tried to hasten Lot, lest he be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Lot and his immediate family lingered still, and had to be dragged out by the angels of the LORD (Gen. 19:15-16). He then argued with the angels about how far he should retreat from the doomed city!
Our prophetic voices, and our warning messengers are telling us in the Church, that the day is drawing near when we will see calamity come upon another, modern-day Sodom that is present around us. Our role, like Abraham, is the role of intercessor. The LORD stops at our tent doors to give us just this same opportunity to delay Him, and entreat Him. Others may mock, and continue going about their daily lives as usual, but we should heed the warning, and hasten to enter into intercession with the LORD. Some, like Lot, sit in comfort in the midst of Sodom, not stirring themselves to intercede. They also receive the warnings, and the benefits of the intercession of others, but they do not act upon them with the necessary urgency and obedience.
The LORD knew He could depend upon Abraham, and the promised descendants that Abraham would teach in the ways of the LORD (Gen. 18:19). Is the LORD, with this same confidence, also able to depend upon us with His urgent business? This is our role in these days of Sodom.
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Prayer of Intercession:
Heavenly Father, we reach out to touch Your arm, in order to intercede with You to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Wash us in Your Word, and in Your Spirit. Purify and sanctify us by the blood of the Lamb. You have called us to be the righteous whose presence preserves the city. You have promised us that if we, Your people, who are called by Your name, humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, You will hear from heaven, forgive us, and heal our land.
As the day draws near for the revealing of the Son of man, we, Your people, desire to stir ourselves up, and fulfill the role that You have for us in this generation. In Jesus' name, we bring this intercession to You. Amen.
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
At the close of this prophetic visit, the strangers began their journey to Sodom, as Abraham led them on the way. The LORD then asks this question, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" (v. 17). The LORD told Abraham that He had heard the cry from Sodom and Gomorrah, and the grievous sin, and He had come to see for Himself the truth of their sinful condition. Abraham delayed the LORD, and began to intercede with Him, asking Him if He would destroy the righteous with the wicked. As Abraham continued to intercede, he obtained the LORD's agreement down to the presence of just ten righteous in the city. The whole wicked city would be spared if there were ten righteous within it (Gen. 18:23-32).
On the other end of the story, Abraham's nephew Lot ("covering, veil"), living in importance in Sodom, also received the visit of the strangers with the same hospitality that Abraham had shown them. When the strangers had told Lot that he and his whole household must leave Sodom immediately, Lot went to tell his sons-in-law. They treated the urgent news as a joke, and refused to leave with Lot (Gen. 19:14). Even Lot sought to delay leaving the city. When morning came, the angels tried to hasten Lot, lest he be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Lot and his immediate family lingered still, and had to be dragged out by the angels of the LORD (Gen. 19:15-16). He then argued with the angels about how far he should retreat from the doomed city!
Our prophetic voices, and our warning messengers are telling us in the Church, that the day is drawing near when we will see calamity come upon another, modern-day Sodom that is present around us. Our role, like Abraham, is the role of intercessor. The LORD stops at our tent doors to give us just this same opportunity to delay Him, and entreat Him. Others may mock, and continue going about their daily lives as usual, but we should heed the warning, and hasten to enter into intercession with the LORD. Some, like Lot, sit in comfort in the midst of Sodom, not stirring themselves to intercede. They also receive the warnings, and the benefits of the intercession of others, but they do not act upon them with the necessary urgency and obedience.
The LORD knew He could depend upon Abraham, and the promised descendants that Abraham would teach in the ways of the LORD (Gen. 18:19). Is the LORD, with this same confidence, also able to depend upon us with His urgent business? This is our role in these days of Sodom.
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Prayer of Intercession:
Heavenly Father, we reach out to touch Your arm, in order to intercede with You to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Wash us in Your Word, and in Your Spirit. Purify and sanctify us by the blood of the Lamb. You have called us to be the righteous whose presence preserves the city. You have promised us that if we, Your people, who are called by Your name, humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, You will hear from heaven, forgive us, and heal our land.
As the day draws near for the revealing of the Son of man, we, Your people, desire to stir ourselves up, and fulfill the role that You have for us in this generation. In Jesus' name, we bring this intercession to You. Amen.
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
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