PHOTO: Sermon Index
There are endless stories of individuals who have arisen from the ashes. Their heroics and comebacks are found in all fields including the military, sports, politics, education, law, business, etc.
But how does a nation or culture or world, for that matter, arise from its present state of filth, injustice, and frankly, godlessness.
With an individual, a mentor of great acclaim could sit down with his son or daughter and gently explain how their failings are affecting themselves and others. Or, the kind old soul could simply take them out behind the woodshed or read them the “Riot Act.”
But who can do this for a great company of people? What does it take to reach a wretched corporate soul?
No amount of “kindness” works because what we’ve come to call “kindness” is thinly-veiled hatred disguised as watered-down truth. And if we believe that Jesus is the truth, we are simply dressing him up for acceptance rather than with the robe of righteousness that He wears. He simply flings off the politeness we offer as an immodest dressing of eternity.
To call a country to arise, we must call them to the truth and remain there. In other countries, we might be beheaded for such exactness. In America, we are beheaded in a lesser way. We are told we have no intelligence nor tolerance.
If this makes us back off, shame on us. For the corporate soul to be won, the leaders and the individuals must be spoken to truthfully.
Jesus called the religious elite “white-washed sepulchers” and “sons of hell.” Revivalist Jonathan Edwards likened us to grotesque serpents and spiders dangling over hell.
And yet, the cry is to be “culturally relevant.” Now, who does one believe?
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: The truth can be harsh and beautiful as a portal. Dishonoring eternity by shutting the door of truth closes portals. How can a corporate soul arise without banging its head on such a low ceiling?
He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them…Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?’…Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto white washed sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 NLT, John 14:5-9 NIV, Matthew 23:27 AKJV,