Showing posts with label morality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label morality. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Franklin Graham Decision America Tour - How Long Will We Have Religious Freedom?

Decision America Tour
 “What will our religious freedoms be in a few years?” 

Dear Friend,

I’m getting ready to head to Concord, N.H., for our fourth Decision America Tour prayer rally. I know it may be bitter cold—but it will be worth it to stand in prayer for our nation. If you live in that area, I hope you will join me for the event. If not, please pray that believers there will be emboldened to be salt and light.

Last Tuesday, I stood before 3,500 people in front of Florida’s Historic Capitol for Tallahassee’s prayer rally. I was moved by their great concern for America and by their burden to see our nation turn to God.

That same day, in buildings not far away from us, several legislators introduced the Pastor Protection Act in the Florida House and Senate as a measure to protect pastors and churches in that state from government sanctions if they refuse to serve weddings that violate their beliefs. If we don't all begin taking a stand for biblical truth and morality, where will our religious freedoms be in a few years? 

 
Youth PrayingNearly 450 miles away—and 24 hours later—a crowd of 4,200 people joined us in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, next to the Old State Capitol, to pray for our nation. There were many children and youth in the crowd—and they are one of the primary reasons why I’m doing this. Unless God heals our land, what kind of country will our children and grandchildren inherit?

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham
Franklin Graham

P.S. Many churches in the first three cities brought vans and buses to the prayer rallies, and I encourage you to do the same. Check out the tour schedule at DecisionAmericaTour.com.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
—Proverbs 14:34, NKJV

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

God's Answer to the Moral Insanity of the World - Dr. Michael Brown

God's Answer to the Moral Insanity of the World


(Flickr/Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon)
In the Line of Fire, by Michael Brown
What is God's answer to the moral insanity of the world? Jesus the Messiah, crucified and risen. Jesus the Messiah, the Lord of all.
God's answer to human rebellion remains the same as it has always been: the cross of Christ. That must be the answer we proclaim to the world, without shame or doubt.
It is true that we are in the midst of an unprecedented moral and cultural decline in our nation, and it is true that there is no political or social solution that can turn the tide.
But it is also true that the world has been crazy since Adam's fall, in a constant state of alienation from the Lord (Eph. 2:1-3; remember that Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, was guilty of fratricide, murdering his younger brother Abel).
Why should it surprise when sinners sin and when the ungodly commit godless acts? Why should it surprise us when the darkness resists the light?
John wrote that the whole world is under the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), the god of this age, whom Paul tells us has blinded the minds of those who do not believe (2 Cor. 4:4).
Is it any wonder that the world hates God and His Word?
Certainly, it is right for us to be grieved over the sin of the world, and it is right for us, as children of light, to expose it (Eph. 5:11-14). But it is wrong for us to expect a political leader or party to turn America to God or even to expect the secular media to report righteously.
We alone have the antidote to our nation's moral malaise. We alone have the solution, and it is found in a person, the Lord Jesus, and in a message, the gospel. Transformation comes through Him.
Last month, on May 13, I devoted an entire two-hour broadcast on "The Line of Fire" to the theme, "Such Were Some of You," asking callers to share their testimonies, and the testimonies they shared were extraordinary, moving me to tears.
I also asked people to post a short note on Facebook, sharing what the Lord had delivered them from, and there too, the responses were overwhelming.
Janet posted, "Suicide at age 19. I will be turning 60 years old this month."
Delcio wrote, "All sort of vices, prostitution, porn, lies, killing myself or anybody else, ultimately Hell. In short, he saved me from my old self... (sinful and destructive nature)."
J. D. added, "Occultism, porn addiction, terrorizing women, writing violent music. He's our deliverer! Free 7 years now!"
Michael wrote, "Jesus saved me from heroin, a life of homosexuality, and hell. He saved me from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and one day the very presence of its existence. He saved me from self so that he could be magnified in me whether by life or by death."
Terry posted, "Drug dealing, pot smoking and growing, cocaine snorting, licentious lifestyle that had me bound for the eternal torments of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Other than that, I was a good ole boy according to the world's standards."
Natalie said, "He saved me from suicide, partying, gossip, drugs, and a completely lost mindset."
Thomas added, "Insanity; He has miraculously saved me from death 3 or 4 times."
ADee wrote, "Alcohol, promiscuity...myself."
Rachael posted, "Sorcery, occultism, adultery, alcoholism, addiction to prescription drugs, anxiety, fear, depression, etc."
Jozaninazoj said, "Satanism and witchcraft."
And on and on it went, by the hundreds, as believers from every hellish and hopeless background called and posted with amazing testimonies of the grace of God.
What happens, then, when the numbers of those transformed by the gospel multiply and grow? What happens when the thousands become millions and the millions become tens of millions?
That's when we have a brand new Jesus Revolution, a gospel-based moral and cultural revolution that will rock this nation to its very foundations. It is the revolution America must have.
I'm all for proper political involvement and righteous social action, and these do play a role in cultural transformation. But that role is small compared with the role played by a fresh outpouring of the Spirit on the church accompanied by the preaching of the cross and resurrection, the message that is foolishness in the eyes of man but represents the very power of God in action.
That alone is the path to a national awakening, and without the fearless and compassionate proclamation of the gospel, there will not be a holy counterculture revolution, a pushing back of the tide of godlessness.
So let us seek God earnestly with prayer and fasting, knowing that revival comes from Him, let us conduct ourselves as true followers of Jesus, not being conformed to the pattern of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2), and let us share the good news about our Savior whenever and wherever we can: Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, rising from the dead to declare His victory, and ascending to the right hand of the Father. He is the Lord of all.
Let the revolution rise!
Michael Brown is the author of 25 books, including Can You Be Gay and Christian? and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show "The Line of Fire." He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2015

I Will Not Sell My Soul for 'Success' - Dr. Michael Brown

I Will Not Sell My Soul for 'Success'


Dr. Michael Brown
Dr. Michael Brown










In the Line of Fire, by Michael Brown
I absolutely believe in the glorious, overwhelming success of the gospel, but I will not sell my soul or compromise my convictions for the sake of carnal "success."
I encourage you to stand strong in your resolve as well. It's better to be scorned by this world than to lose your integrity.
Recently, a young pastor wrote to me with a heavy heart.
He had been invited to a closed leadership meeting, with many well-known pastors in attendance. He explained to me that they talked openly about not using entire verses or passages from the Bible in their sermons and that it was fine to pull snippets of verses and to build entire messages from them, as if too much of the Word would drive people away.
He said that they instructed the leaders in attendance not to speak on sin, judgment, conviction, obedience, morality, etc., stating that it is not our job to convict of sin, only the Holy Spirit's job, as if the hundreds of verses in the Bible dealing with these issues were irrelevant, and as if they knew better than Jesus and the apostles, who often preached with words of deep, biting conviction as they labored together with the Holy Spirit.
And of course, he wrote, they told the other leaders to avoid politics and political issues, which is similar to the mindset of those who chose not to get involved in the divisive slave-trade controversy in centuries past or to oppose the Nazis last century.
This, they said, was the path to follow if you wanted to be "successful."
I categorically reject such a definition of "success."
It has nothing to do with the true success of the gospel, which I love and revel in before God.
To be absolutely clear, and so that no one thinks that this is a matter of "sour grapes," I am not speaking about any particular ministry and I have no idea which pastors and leaders were at this meeting. I love and embrace the expansive blessing of God.
By God's grace, I have had the privilege of preaching in some of the largest and most influential megachurches in the world, and their growth was the result of the work of the Spirit in their midst, not the result of carnal techniques.
One of our ministry school grads, Daniel Kolenda, has taken over the leadership of Reinhard Bonnke's Christ for All Nations, and Daniel regularly preaches to crowds of multiplied hundreds of thousands. Praise God for Spirit-anointed, Jesus-exalting, Word-based success!
When God opens new doors for our ministry on radio and TV, in print and online, or when He blesses our material with greater circulation and impact, I rejoice and take this as an answer to prayer, as providing another avenue to advance the work of the kingdom. Onward and upward in Jesus' name!
So I am all for growth and numbers and prosperity when it comes from heaven as a gift from God, although I know that often, the most significant gospel work is totally hidden and obscure, taking place behind closed doors, with God using unknown saints who live in the midst of persecution and poverty. Their lasting fruit will put most of us to shame.
That's one reason Jesus said that many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first.
Remember, it was the church of Laodicea that Jesus rebuked saying, "For you say, 'I am rich, and have stored up goods, and have need of nothing,' yet do not realize that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17).
In stark contrast, He said to Smyrna, "I know your works and tribulation and poverty (but you are rich). And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tried, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:9-10).
In the same way, He rebuked Sardis, which had a reputation for being alive but was dead (see Rev. 3:1) and commended Philadelphia, which had little strength but had not denied His name (see Rev. 3:8).
What would our worldly minded leaders have told these congregations? And how would they have rated the "success" of these different churches? Obviously, their perspective would be a lot different than the perspective of the Lord.
Without a doubt, we have different callings and emphases, and while we should all do our best to be faithful to God's Word and "balanced," it's clear that one may be called to emphasize evangelism, another social justice, another holiness, another grace, another family and another the Spirit, just to mention a few. Some congregations excel in administration and management, while others excel in building community, and still others excel in sending out missionaries.
That's what makes the body of Christ a truly functioning body.
Let us learn from each other however we can, and let us complement each other in the work of the ministry, honoring one another as colleagues rather than criticizing each other as competitors.
But let us not deviate from the high calling of God, let us not form a theology that bypasses the cross, let us not water down the Word, and let us not mistake earthly growth and "success" for the blessing of God.
In the words of Charles Spurgeon, one of the most truly successful gospel preachers of all time, "Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and popularity."
Don't sacrifice your soul on that very seductive altar.
Michael Brown is the author of 25 books, including Can You Be Gay and Christian? and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show "The Line of Fire." He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience.
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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Moral Compass by Mati Shoshani (Revive Israel)

Moral Compass

By   REVIVE ISRAEL

Being a follower of Yeshua requires communicating our personal version of the message of salvation. In addition, our calling, both personally and collectively, is also to be a moral compass to society, by voicing our values, standards, and understanding of “right and wrong.”
Isaiah chapter 40 speaks of a need to prepare the way of the Lord, of changing the terrain to allow for his coming. The passage is quoted in Mark chapter 1 – as John the Baptist’s call for a moral revolution becomes the precursor to the appearance of Yeshua.
Yeshua himself was a man calling for a moral revolution. He often criticized the legalistic discussion of ritual commandments, yet emphasized the values and morals behind the words of the Torah. An example of this is found in Mark 10 where Yeshua sets a higher standard of morality as it relates to the covenant of marriage.
As an Israeli Messianic Jew, I ask: who’s deciding on our society’s morality and ethics? Is it us, the followers of Yeshua, or others? If we look at some of the most important questions to our society – godliness, financial integrity, ownership of the land, marital standards – it’s clear that we are not those setting the tone on these topics.
We are required to tell people what we believe, when an issue involving moral values comes across our path. This does not always require sharing the gospel, although it might in certain cases. It means that we clearly state that we believe that something is wrong, or right. It is as simple, and hard, as that.
The people of Israel are hungry for moral content, for a clear image and vision of the goals we need to aspire to as a society. We have that content, through the Bible, Yeshua, and the Holy Spirit, and I believe it’s time we penetrate society with our message.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Pathway to Liberty: The Forefathers Monument - Kirk Cameron movie "Monumental - In Search of America's National Treasure"

The Forefathers Monument in Plymouth, Massachusetts



Liberty requires Faith, Morality, the Rule of Law, Mercy, and Education and can only be obtained and sustained through the Gospel; resulting in self-government under the headship of Jesus Christ. 

An excerpt from the Kirk Cameron movie 'Monumental', showcasing The Forefathers Monument with Marshall Foster. An inscription upon the monument states,

"National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty."


The monument was built over 130 years ago. It is made of 180 tons of solid granite.

Kirk Cameron & Marshall Foster


Faith is pointing upward to God

Righteous Laws

Education and The Word of God

Pathway to Liberty - The Liberty Man

Forefathers Monument



This is Kirk Cameron's partial description on the film's website:
"I’m retracing the footsteps of our Founders from England to America in the hope of discovering our true “national treasure.” I want to listen to them, to learn from them. Because I suspect Forefathers knew we were a forgetful people, that someday we would lose our way as a nation. So they left us a map that would guide us back to the source of America’s success.

I've already completed the first part of my trip, and I’m happy to say, my hunch was right! What I've discovered already is amazing! The key to transforming our nation and securing our children's future is not complicated. Best of all, it’s not hidden away like something out of the Da Vinci Code. It's been right in front of us all along, and I can’t wait to show it to you in this film."
Cameron asserts that such a key is manifest in the National Monument to the Forefathers in Plymouth, Massachusetts, which is a large statue commemorating the Mayflower Pilgrims. Co-writer Marshall Foster ascribes to this statue the contextual validity of Monumental's message, based on the statue's symbolism and engraved dedication. According to Foster, "The monument depicts Faith, and Faith is pointing to God and has an open Geneva Bible in the right hand and a star of wisdom".