Are You Standing With God or With Them

Are you standing with God or with them addresses God’s concerns for Christians vs. the world. I was attacked in my health for the last seven days while attempting to finish my recent video and this writing. I fought daily to get these projects completed. I ask that you pray for me and my wellness. I desire that you will read what the Lord placed in my spirit. Be blessed and read on Soulful.

In his drive-up sermon-service, Preparing for His Coming Pastor, G. Craige Lewis said it best, “What else is there to preach in the end times other than live right?” Lewis responded with this after several of his social media followers expressed their pleasure in hearing his sermons about getting right with God and witnessing to the lost in this 2020 crisis.

If you value the Lord and are focused on pleasing Him, does this statement resonate with you? Of course, there are other topics to cover aimed at giving God glory that can be helpful to many in this crisis, but his statement resonated with me. We must decide if we stand with God or with them. If we stand with God, our priorities take on His will and preferences.

Like seriously, what else is taking priority above our mind being Christ-focused and sharing the gospel with the lost?

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A Pastor’s real burden is sharing the gospel with the lost—additionally, they help Believers grow in their existing relationship with God by teaching the entire Bible. Unfortunately, too many Pastors and modern churches are focused on popular topics and issues that encourage social media likes and viral video views instead of sharing what’s uncomfortable and truthful.

God called Believers to share the gospel—especially a pastor. There is no better time to go deeper into subject matter that reassures us to line up with God’s will and raise the King’s name higher.

Most of the world’s private and government systems and economy shut down and went into mandatory quarantine. Last I checked, the unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7% (according to the US Beauru of Labor Statistics), and many businesses are on life support. Healthcare, first responders, grocery, and all essential workers are stretching themselves thin. No matter how much stimulus money the government prints, out of thin air, this cannot reverse the spiritual problems we face.

We are in a pandemic y’all! Although it’s now subsiding, and the economy is opened back up—real recovery will take time. For instance, when a tornado/tropical storm hits a community, it takes time to rebuild it. Those that witnessed and survived Hurricane Katrina or any natural disaster can attest to this.

BE PREPARED FOR ALL THAT COMES AGAINST YOU!

We will not bounce back into life as we knew and loved it before Covid-19. The change is visible in airports, restaurants, salons, grocery, and retail stores—even inside the local church.

Change usually is slow and challenging for most people—myself included. No matter how challenging transition may be, it’s no excuse when God speaks. We are to prepare our hearts and minds for what’s ahead. Believers are to stand tall in this and what is to come.

Last Days/End Times

I believe we are living in what the Bible refers to as the Last Days (Matthew 24:11-14, 21-22, Mark 13:32, Luke 21:36, 1 Timothy 4:1, Rev 3:3). The signs are apparent. 

Jesus’ revelation and the victory of end times give us hope both now and eternally. True born-again Believers believe Jesus will usher in His eternal Kingdom once all prophecy about this existing world, from the Word of God, comes to pass. 

Revelation 21:6-8 NKJV says, And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Unsaved people will perish forever because they’re unrepentant of sin and fail to place their faith in Christ Jesus. They are headed for eternal hell while we—the professed believer are quiet on the issue and going deeper in our sins. If the miracle of Christ’s salvation truly saved you, wouldn’t you desire to live right and share this good news with others?

DON’T LET FEAR HOLD YOU BACK! LEARN TO STAND TALL NOW!

Alarming Behavior

Soulful, I am concerned about what is to come in the seasons ahead. My concern is not to be confused with fearfulness. I’m feeling a way about us not picking a side and standing firm on it. We don’t choose a conviction and stand in it. There is so much straddling the fence and crossing boundaries. The children of Israel kept expressing their unfaithfulness to God, too (Ezekiel 16:20-21, 34, Hosea 7:1-4, Jeremiah 5:7-8).

Too many professing Believers are lukewarm or have turned a cold shoulder to God. Witnessing such disloyalty saddens my heart. This hardship is the toughest our world is collectively suffering. I never saw anything of this nature. Yet, people dismiss this current world condition as opposed to taking it seriously. We’re so easily distracted. Like lost sheep, we stray and use the gift of time unwisely. But the Word teaches of a great falling away in the end times. Sadly, many believe we have a relationship with God, and we do not. It’s easy to lose (fall away) from something you never really had (Mark 4:14-20, Matt 7:21-23).

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 NKJV says, Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

In the last decade, I have witnessed soooo many people, that I am personally acquainted with or know of, fall away from the faith. We must not be deceived and walk away from God. His prophecy will come to pass as written, so we must endure until the end.

Get In God’s Presence

When the quarantine initially started, I found myself spending more time on Facebook and Instagram. For years I have never been a fan of Facebook. I found myself using their platform to stay visible with my art business Cure for Bare Walls and, more recently, with Cure 4 the Soul. I always preferred Instagram, both personally and for business, but lately, I grew to dislike the disruption they both contributed to my emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

It’s not healthy to consistently absorb that quick amounts of information into your brain like that.  We all have areas of vulnerability. If we are not careful, the temptation and old strongholds will overtake us. Protect your spiritual diet.

How can we know the mind of Christ if we are distracted and unavailable to tune into His Word? How can we guard against such temptations if we are distracted and unfocused? 

We aren’t using our brain capacity when we spend time on these technology platforms. Their algorithms are designed to strip us of potential and dumb us down. They show us content that they believe will best suit us based on our trends and patterns they’ve tracked over the years.

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Always Stand Tall for God

The Negativity

The combination of constant negative posts about President Trump, perceived racism in the world, Covid-19 conspiracies, and unfruitful memes, marketing advertisements, etc. are depressing. Not to mention the number of posts you read from those you are friends with, but don’t share the same spiritual belief. Likewise, everyone we follow has something they are promoting (a new book, business, course, event, fundraiser, etc.).

Timelines like this are overwhelming to the soul. According to Proverbs 4:23, We have to guard our hearts at all times because from it flows the wellspring of life.

I heard a Pastor say, “get your face off of Facebook and get your face in this book.” The book he asked you to get in is the Bible.

Of course, there are many positive and truthful posts on these platforms, too (i.e., @cure4thesoul). In all honesty, when I need strengthening in tough times or any season of restoration, I don’t run to social media for spiritual food, encouragement, and resources. I run to the Word of God and my prayer closet (Luke 21:36). Jesus is the Word of Truth and the solid rock in Him I am stable and unmovable.

I then read books or watch/listen to specific sermons on YouTube/Podcasts. If Iylana can’t fix it, why would I run to social media in these challenging times to fix anything? God can fix it and He can show you how to live right in these days.

Soul Actions:

Remove yourself from distractions and decide if you stand with God all the way right now.

Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Pray for those that are lost, and ask God for an opportunity to reach them through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

If this writing has blessed you, please share it with two friends. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day.