Standing Strong in an Ever-Changing World
Scripture Reference: Isaiah 5:20-21 & Hebrews 12:12-15
Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on November 25, 2018
Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson
Illustration—
A young woman graduated college with a degree in Education. She got her first job as a first grade teacher. On her first day teaching, she wanted to explain to the class that she was a liberal atheist and convince her young students that being a liberal and an atheist was the right way to be. She stood before her new class and stated, “I’m a liberal, lesbian atheist. Who wants to be just like their teacher when they grow up?”
Not really knowing what those terms were, but wanting to be just like their teacher, little hands began to go up all around the class; all hands except one. A little girl named Gracie chose not to raise her hand and go along with the crowd. The teacher asked Gracie why she had decided to be different from the rest of her class.
"Because I'm not a liberal, lesbian or atheist,” replied Gracie.
"Then," asks the teacher, "What are you?"
"I'm a Christian,” was Gracie’s reply.
The teacher is a little upset now and her face had turned slightly red. She asks Gracie why she was a Christian.
Gracie replied, “Well, I was brought up knowing and loving Jesus. My mom and dad read their Bible to me every night before bed and before I say my prayers. My mom is a Christian, and my dad is a Christian, so I am a Christian."
The teacher is now angry. “That's no reason," she says loudly. "What if your mom was a moron, and you dad was a moron. What would that make you?"
Gracie paused, then smiled and said, “Then, I’d be a liberal, lesbian atheist!"
Transition—
Even though this was a fictional story, the moral of the story should ring home with our culture today. We are living in a generation that is tolerate of everything. If you want to be a homosexual; then more power to you. You want to be a raging liberal; then go ahead and express yourself. We live in a society that condones bad lifestyle choices, but is critical of anyone who disagrees with the norm of society. It is perfectly fine to mock Christian teachings, but don’t insult the Islamic teachings. It is okay to condemn the people who truly love our Country, but praise and call those heroes who take a knee at football games and burn our American flag. We are living in a generation full of people who are selfish, undisciplined, easy offended, immoral, and happily call good evil and evil good.
This morning if you’ll take your copy of God’s Holy Word and open them up with me to two different passages of Scripture. The first passage can be found in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 5, and the other passage can be found in the Book of Hebrews, Chapter 12. As you’re finding our passages today, please join me in prayer.
Nearly 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed this warning…
Isaiah 5:20-21—
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!”
There is a special word in that text that is repeated twice. Actually, in Isaiah’s full writing on this subject (verses 8 through 30) this word is used seven times total. That word is “WOE.”
The Gospel of Luke records Christ speaking “WOES” no fewer than thirteen times. The Gospel of Matthew records Christ speaking “WOES” at least twelve times. The “WOES” are found throughout the Book of Revelation, especially from chapters 8 through 12. This word is so important, because it is not an expression or a feeling. Woe is used to signify impending judgment, condemnation, and the approaching wrath of the Almighty God.
My friends, now look to whom the judgment, condemnation and wrath are coming for. First Thessalonians 5:9-10 proclaims that “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). While it is true that God did not destine us from wrath, we choose it because our actions. From this Scripture, the LORD tells us to whom that wrath is coming.
1. First, judgment is coming for those who call evil good and good evil.
a. Do we not live in that current society today?
b. It has been said, “A wrong deed is right if the majority of the people declare it not to be wrong.”
c. Homosexuality is deemed okay, but it is called “judging” if you speak out against it.
d. The sanctity of marriage is no longer between one man and one woman.
e. It is deemed wrong to hunt or kill animals, but it okay to murder unborn children.
f. There were once laws forbidding adultery, now it the norm.
g. Divorce and ‘shacking up’ were once considered sin, especially in the church.
h. We have twisted, inverted and perverted Scripture to make it say what we want it to say so we’ll feel less guilty as a generation.
i. Even in the church, we’ll allow people to preach, sing, play instruments, or lead who are living vile and immoral lives.
2. Second, judgment is coming for those who put darkness for light and light for darkness.
a. I believe this refers to those who call sin not a sin. They change God’s Word to make that which God judges seem as okay.
b. There was a teaching that was actively taught in the church long ago. It was the teaching on Abstinence and no sex before marriage. Today that
teaching is sadly silent, but God’s Word clearly teaches that fornication (sex before marriage) is an abomination.
3. Third, judgment is coming from those who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
a. James 3:8-11, “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we
curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought
not to be this way. 11Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?”
b. How many times have we sit down in front of a television lately and been entertained by the filth that comes from it. We ignore the cursing and
pervasive talk.
c. One man exclaimed to me that he loves Stand Up Comedy. He told me that the comedians are really vulgar in their speech, but he tolerates it to
hear the jokes.
4. Fourth, judgment is coming for those who are wise in their own eyes.
a. Proverbs 26:12—Do you see a man who is wise in his own opinion? There's more hope for a fool than for him. (ISV)
These Scriptures were written to that Jewish Nation 2,700 years ago, but how sad it is that we’ve never learned from their mistakes. This generation has fallen right back into the same failures as the Jewish Nation. Now, please turn with me to Hebrews 12. Here we are going to find out what God does require for us; and how to escape the judgment.
Hebrews 12:12-15—
“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness,
without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully
lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this
many become defiled;”
There is the hope that we need as God-fearing believers. This is how we refrain from replacing good with evil or twisting and perverting Scriptures to fit our own personal beliefs. It is found in verse 14. We are to pursue peace with all people, and HOLINESS…why? Because without which no one will see the LORD!”
That word “HOLINESS” is what we are called to be as Christians. We all born sinners. We were all born with the sin nature attached to us. My late cousin (sadly he passed away a few years back) was a homosexual. He often told my family that he was born that way. I was talking with him at his house one afternoon a few years back and he happened to mention to me that he was born being a homosexual. I thought for a minute and states that he was right. He was born a sinner, but Christ tells us to be born again. Once we are born again, that old sin nature is gone away.
John 3:5-7, Jesus told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
First John 2:16 declares, “Because everything in the world, the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world” (1 John 2:16).
Romans 12:1-2 declares, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
The Bible says: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.” God has not changed. His standards have not been lowered and cannot be lowered just because mankind wants it lowered. God still calls immorality a sin, and the Bible says God is going to judge it. We cannot conform or look like this world. We must Stand Strong in this Ever-Changing World. Even if it means that we often might stand alone. The more I keep studying God’s Word and believing on Him in faith, I’ve learned that:
? Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us."
? Psalm 118:6, "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
? 1 John 4:4, "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
Our Strategy for Standing Strong in an Ever-Changing World
1. Every day make a commitment to crucify your old self. (Likewise count yourselves also to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lust (Romans 6:11-12).
2. Every day decide to remain holy. That you’ll refrain from that which is a sin and not allow yourself to take it (through the eyes, heart, mind, ears, etc.) which is unholy.
3. Every day devote yourself to God’s standard and submit to Him. Call sin what it is and don’t make excuses.
4. Every day break free from those spiritual chains that bind us. Those chains are unforgiveness, unrepentant sins, self-centeredness, etc.
