Continuing Micheal message on Praise and Prayer, he asks: What’s the difference between a Christian and a disciple? A disciple is disciplined to follow in his master’s footsteps and to act according to his master’s commands. The world’s political class reflects the popular culture of the times … they do not influence the culture. Nehemiah said that worldly leadership are a reflection of the culture. Are we as men and women of God salt and light in this sinful , or do we reflect the values of the world? God judges all cultures by their sexual sins. See the book by Richard Simmons III “Love at First Sight.” According to Simmons, sexual “hook ups” are the expected norm for young men and women in our culture. They learn to treat each other as objects to sinfully gratify their own selfish pleasures. The “hook up culture” says that you can’t allow your emotions to enter into a hook up or you’ll pay a heavy emotional price. The biblical standard is that “the act of marriage” is the consummation of the intimate union and ultimate expression of love between a man and a woman in holy matrimony. So shall the two be made one flesh. This concept is contrary to the popular secular culture’s notion that erotic sexual hook ups should have no sense of emotion, intimacy, shame, guilt or beauty.
The sin of pornography has had a major impact on the culture and has indoctrinated many young women into the belief that hook-ups are the norm for sexual intimacy. Young men exposed to pornography get to the point that they become impotent and cannot become aroused by a real woman. In our godless culture, there is no sexual behavior that is considered immoral. According to Dennis Prager, if the Christians go down, our culture goes down. Sexually active teenage girls are three times more likely to be depressed and three times more likely to commit suicide than those who are not sexually active.
Repentance is turning from the sinful world and unto God. When we confess our sins, they no more have power over us. For if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our righteousness is not in our own flesh, but only in Jesus Christ. For He who knew no sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we made the righteousness of God in him. According to James 5, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
The only solution to the problem is prayer. Jesus prioritized prayer among almost everything else. The disciples’ request to their Lord was, “teach us to pray.” Jesus said that it was written in Isaiah 56:7 For God’s house should be called a house of prayer. He didn’t say my house should be called a house of fellowship, service, praise, or discipleship. He prioritized His house as a house of prayer. Elijah, a man of passions like ours, prayed. When he prayed according to God’s revelation, the rains stopped for three years.
The Lord exhorts us to be men and women of prayer. He has called us to intervene in prayer for those to whom we minister in the name of Christ. As long as we can pray, we can have a supernatural impact in the spiritual battle. As the Apostle Paul said, pray for us, that the word of God may have free course and be glorified in us as it is in you. Prayer is giving your heart to God. Talk to God. Lead with prayer. Make it one of the most important things in your life. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord.
May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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