Good News October 2017 Broward

LIFEPOINTS 10 october 2017 Good News • broward edition Problems in the Pulpits of America As I hear people going about their day, I sense a general resignation to the reality that this world is on some level falling apart and people seem to long for an answer or a leader to make things better again. considering all of this, it could be worse…we could have porous borders. Some say nothing will really improve until we name the enemy with specificity. others call for a congres- sional Declaration of War. Some want boots on the ground and others seek to increase air attacks. cer- tainly, many practical actions need to be addressed but it still remains true that we cannot solely “trust in chariots and horses” (Psalm 20:7). our enemy isn’t simply ISIS or an ideology or radicalized knuckle- heads. our constant enemy throughout history isn’t just people. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (eph- esians 6:12 NIV). Relevancy If you lean towards the bible being irrelevant for life today, per- haps you need to take another look. the everyday use of biblical and prophetic words like lawlessness, persecution and evil are definitely on the rise. Perhaps the time has come, and now is for the church stand as tall as ever…on her knees in prayer. the christian church is often concerned with diluting the doctrine of the church in the name of rele- vance. I have news for pastors and bishops and denominations that think they have the authority to change the nature of God and the revelation of God in the scripture. You are well out of your authority. You are far beyond your pay grade. the church that seeks to dilute the scripture is the church that dilutes the potency of the church and dilutes the power of sin. When you dilute the power of sin you dilute the need for a Savior and confession, repentance, redemption, for- giveness, redemption and restoration. In part, the condition of any nation is a reflection of the church in that nation. “righteousness ex- alts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The Word the time has come and now is for church leaders to preach and teach the word of God as written or get out of the way. Failure to ac- tually read a legislative bill before it is voted upon has caused a colos- sal mess. Failure to read the New testament prior to preaching messages is a huge mess as well. People need grace and mercy and the love of God. these precious realities are available to those who know they need a Lord. Some churches have removed sin from their vernacular. People are now wondering why they are walking in shame and pain without realizing its root cause. the lack of biblical preaching and the presence of condoning sin as God defines it is really hurting people and our nation. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 timothy 4:3). How can a people come under conviction when church leaders have removed the need for forgive- ness? “… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 chroni- cles 7:14). Pray for our church leaders to walk in the calling they once had — the calling to be proclaimers of truth that glorify God rather than the proclaiming a personalized version of a book that has been and is being used to radicalize people into loving, gentle, ambassadors for christ. Dr. Gary Hewins is the President of Lifepoints.org, www.lifepoints.org , a coaching and consulting ministry to ministry leaders and preachers and the Senior Pastor of Community Bible Church in the picturesque mountains of Highlands, NC. Dr. Gary Hewins Lifepoints President