“Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it.
“If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”
Those were the words of Charles G. Finney, a leader in the Second Great Awakening, recorded on Dec. 4, 1843. Those words were true then but are especially prophetic for our generation. Immorality is prevailing in the land. There is a decay of conscience. The media lacks moral discrimination. The church is degenerate and worldly. The world has lost its interest in religion. Satan rules in our halls of legislation. Politics are corrupt—and the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away.
History Repeats Itself
Yes, those words are true today, they were true 171 years ago—and they were true thousands of years ago in Isaiah's day. Indeed, history continues to repeat itself as spiritual leaders are struck blind in their disobedience to God's Word. Many are hearers—and preachers—of the Word but have deceived themselves by not walking in truth (see James 1:22).
The spirit of the world has invaded our church—but some pastors embrace carnal Christianity and are unwilling to confront sin for fear of losing tithes to an ear-tickling church. Their conscience is seared with a hot iron (see 1 Tim. 4:1) so they can't see how their compromise is affecting the flock—leading them down a broad path that leads to destruction (see Matt. 7:13). I sometimes wonder if God has given some pastors and prophets over to a reprobate mind (see Rom. 1:28)—or at least left them in their blindness and slumber. Isaiah put it this way:
“Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; They stagger, but not with intoxicating drink. For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers” (Isa. 29:9-10).
Although many in prophetic ministry are sounding the alarm, blowing the trumpet and stirring souls to wake up and understand the signs of the times, many in pulpits are blind watchman who are just out for greedy gain. Isaiah prophesied to the irresponsible leaders in his day:
“All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory” (Isa. 56:9-11).
Will History Repeat Itself Again?
Saints, immorality is prevailing in the land. There is a decay of conscience. The media lacks moral discrimination. The church is degenerate and worldly. The world has lost its interest in religion. Satan rules in our halls of legislation. Politics are corrupt—and the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away.
But here's the good news. History repeats itself. Just before the first two Great Awakenings people thought the church was done for. Many thought there was no hope. But with God there is always hope. God is a God of hope (Rom. 15:13). I am hoping—I am believing—for another Great Awakening in this land. I am hoping—I am believing—that the pastors and prophets will repent from their ear-tickling messages. I am hoping—I am believing—that the remnant will rise up in intercession for this land so that God will intervene.
I've been called a false prophet for hoping and believing. So be it. If we cannot hope for another Great Awakening, then we may as well give up. We have Christ in us, the hope of glory (see Col. 1:27). Church, it's time for us to wake up as individuals and begin hoping and praying again despite the darkness we see all around us. It's time to walk by faith and not by sight (see 2 Cor. 5:7). It's time for us to release believing prayers because our intercession is what can turn this around.
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33:18-19). Amen.
I know that we can have an outpouring for salvation and all that stands for on an individual bases. God will anoint you if not your church or who ever. He will use you if you intercede and get up in His face and don’t take no for an answer. But one must take the good with the bad. But I know that some will get true salvation. Some just want to stand in your fire, or the Fire that comes off you because of your time with Jesus. But He will Pour out salvation, because of you who stay in prayer. Mike
Yes, I also have been called a counterfeit and evil when I was called by God to take His Word to a Pastor. The Pastor himself called me counterfeit and a woman he was sweet on (not his wife) called me evil. The Holy Spirit was strong in me and kept my mouth shut when God wanted it shut and had me speak when He wanted me to speak… as I submitted totally to Him. I knew I was in the middle of a mess and would not endure if I did not obey Him. The Pastor never did listen to me, but as I left counsel with he and his wife, having had cancer, he was concerned about his health. He asked me how long he would live. I thought it odd that he’d ask a “counterfeit” such a thing. The Holy Spirit gave me the answer and I told the Pastor. I’ve had a strong “seer” anointing since I was 16 years old and have always felt like an outsider. Being able to “see,” is not easy and it has caused me great pain and also great joy. Others seem to see the light of Jesus Christ in my eyes and His love, which I pray for continually… to be a vessel and ambassador for Him. I’ve been in a very lonely place — the wilderness, much like Jennifer has spoken of in her life.
No one seems to understand that I can’t just go and sit in church and listen to heresy or watch debauchery before my eyes and see the spider webs on the walls (in the Spirit) and make this a place called my home of worship. There is no church that I know of in the area where I live that truly adheres to the Word of God. I believe I am called by the Holy Spirit to go into these places like Jonah went to Nineveh and call for them to repent. I am waiting on the Holy Spirit to lead me there when all of our hearts are prepared. I also believe He will have me start right where I left off in this little church where I was originally called for their sake and the sake of the Body of Christ. The churches are not without hope. They are without direction. I personally blame myself as much as the pastors for the shape of the churches. Because I’ve been concerned about man’s treatment of me and being treated like an outcast, I’ve sunken backward into oblivion and I don’t want to be there anymore. We do learn humility. That is for sure. But we have to learn that we don’t go in our own power and the ramifications for our obedience to God, The Father, through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit are in His capable Hands. My job is to obey. I’ve been too worried about my own thin skin. We walk in love, but carry the Word of the Lord where God sends us. I repent for being worried about myself and not worried about the church and my brothers and sisters entrenched within it, held captive by pagan worship of strange festivals and doctrines. It is time to step out and be who God called me to be. Thank you, sister Jennifer. I respect you greatly and do look forward to your instruction to aid me in this. Blessings.