Restored Faith and Spirituality in Trouble Times
Introduction
Just before writing this text, a serious minded young man asked me, Bishop, Is it not true that, " a generation who allows truth to slip and does not take a stand for righteousness, only leaves the next generation to inherit a failure and fallen truth." I said to him, no truer words have ever been spoken! What one generation of people leaves undone, the next falls as a prey to the failure of the undone past generation. The problem becomes a double task to fix. Often the generation that inherits the fallen truth, undone deeds and errors of the preceding one, falls victim to the sins of its Fathers. The bibles speak of the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children.
It is indeed challenging and an alarming thought, but the facts regarding our fallen sins have come home to haunt us. My friends, we are facing a daring and alarming reality, our 'End' is coming with a swift judgment. God must judge the ways of men and the unlawful acts committed against Him. Our Fathers have sin and left us with an issue to deal with the rebellion of departure from our Maker. Unless the Church, the Nation change it ways, God's judgment is certain.
You would say to me "these are harsh and strong words." Yet, years ago Bible prophets pointed to the end and death of then existing nations. Amos wrote about 760 B.C., "The end is coming upon my people," the prophet didn't mean that the nation would pass away next morning, or even next week. As a matter of fact over thirty years elapsed before the Assyrians captured Samaria. But the prophet saw catastrophe coming. He recognizes the unmistakable signs of approaching disaster. Likewise, about 630 B.C., when the fall of Judah was still 20 years away, the prophet Zephaniah declared, "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasted greatly." (Zeph. 1:14)
About 595 B. C., when Babylon was at the height of its power, the prophet Jeremiah said of it, "Thine end is come" (in other words, "death is upon thee"), although the Medo-Persians did not overrun Babylon for another fifty (50) years. What the prophet meant was that judgment upon Babylon was certain and irrevocable. Appalling sins had made its death inevitable and near. The Judge of all Nations would not tolerate it much longer.
Death is upon our Nation, America. The evidence is over-whelming. I am not saying or writing this to frighten us but to warn us for a moment of change. As we look at the deaths of past civilizations, they went through similar experiences as America. They were long in development, bloomed briefly, then past away quickly. They constantly allow themselves to fall into a moral collapse. They rejected God in a wholesale way. They allow any sin to exist. As the bible says of Sodom, "they feared not the warnings of the Lord."
America and the western world progress have risen higher and higher each year. It is not our progress that killing us, but our sinfulness. Our departure from God! This civilization, richest and most prosperous of all time is dead spirituality. The Evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham stated in his book, World Aflame; "our interests are centered in ourselves. We are preoccupied with material things. Our supreme god is technology, our goddess is sex. We give more thought to what we wear, what we eat, what we drink, and what we can do to relax than we give to what we are."
America and the western world are on its deathbed and it is only a matter of time we are placed in an open grave if we don't turn to Our Maker, THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTLY! Let it be said, that as a people in the western world and eastern hemisphere, our grave may be open, pallbearers are standing at the door, the last rites are about to be given, the eulogy is about to be pronounced and the memories of our existence is about to be banished in outer darkness, never to be re-lived again; BUT LET ALSO, this question be asked; Will God in His mercy postpone judgment a little longer?
Yes, we are dying and perhaps died, spirituality, morally, religiously, economically, socially and politically in many ways. Is it too late for reformed? Are we so close to the dust of God's Judgment that a revival is impossible? Will we return to God? Is it to late for a return? We know God has a penalty for sin! Will God resurrect us as a Nation or have the soul of this nation and the world been eternally committed to the Judgment of an Eternal God?
Jesus Christ, the King of the Nations is about to come and rule the world! This book is about those plans placed in order for His coming. You will not want to miss this reading! It is a revealing and unfolding planned events staged by Our Lord to prepare us for the climax of all ages. The present church's Age is at the very heart of these plans. Please journey with us for the trip. Your life, your ministry, your church may experience an impact! We are really in an exciting time. Lets' flip the coin and see what's on the other side.
Chapter One
The Obituary
In the year of Our Lord, fourteen hundred and ninety-two, a daring Spanish Explorer named Christopher Columbus discovered the soil of North America. Because of religious scrutiny in Great Britain, a few devoted believers in Jesus Christ decided to leave their homeland and journey to this new frontier. Upon their arrival they proceeded to organize themselves. With God's help they founded 13 colonies. Their social, economical and national life was founded upon their religious convictions and faith.
These thirteen colonies were under the rule of their Mother Country who constantly threatened and endangered their new land and freedom of worship to God. Therefore, they declared in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy-six, July the 4th, a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. By this time, many colonies had been borne and a powerful, freedom loving, God fearing nation began to emerge. For the well being of this new nation, the leaders of America, under the guidance of God, after sincere and pensive prayer prepared the Declaration of Independence.
It Read:
"When in the course of human events, it become necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Law of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the curses which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
In the summer of our Lord Seventeen hundred and eighty-seven, on September the seventeenth, the Constitution of the United States was signed and submitted to Congress.
It's preamble read:
"We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Now established, this nation began to spread herself from the blues Atlantic to the peaceful Pacific. She had many foes and challenges. But in every conquest God gave her the victory.
God established a great system of trade and commerce with intent of sharing and giving to others. Her schools were established with the convictions of training men for the ministry of our Lord. Her influence for good was felt around the world within a few short years. There was an image projected by America in every land, among every people, creed and color that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. America's Ambassadors of good will carried a message of devout religious, humanitarian convictions to many lands. Immigrants have sailed the sea and air from the four corners of the earth to touch and live on this soil.
The bloom in America has been unmatched by any civilization of the past. This growth began to appear around two hundreds years ago with the invention of the steamship (1807), followed by the steam printing press (1814), the reaper and binder (1834), the telegraph (1837), the sewing machine (1846), and the telephone (1876). As the 19th century drew to a close intriguing new blossoms appeared in the form of electric lights a laborsaving devices, also motorcars and other products having internal combustion engines. Then came Kitty Hawk and the dawn of the Air age.
As the main stem of progress rose higher and higher, it became ever more radiant with new inventions. In the 1940's, America discovered nuclear fission which open the door not only the possibility of nuclear bombs but of a new source of power to move the wheels of industry, to heat and light cities, and to obtain fresh water from the sea.
What has hindered our progress or retarded our success? Have we not become the greatest empire on this planet in a few short years, unmatched by any empire of past history? What is so great about America? Some say our land has made us great. When Katherine Lee Bates stood atop Pike's Peak and looked across this great land, she wrote these words in song, "purple mountain majesties," and "the amber waves of grains" ... then concluded that God had shed His grace on this land. We cannot deny the rich natural resources of this land called America. The water, the timber, the oil, the soil, the climate, the metal and ore all reflect from sea to shining sea. America has taken her God given resources and grown much greater than any nations compared with such resources. The American system of free enterprise has produced a mass economical power with produce in every sort flooding the world creating millions of jobs, producing incomes unmatched by any nation on earth.
What stands, as a monument to every society of world is America belief in individual freedom and liberty? Freedom of human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion. The totalitarian regimes of history speak to us of the tragic of their government. But America has healed many wounds and scars of broken people under such government and offered a better way of life. Yet, this way of life goes back to the foundation of this nation and God's providential hand upon her. Despite all the social ills and other problem this nation has had, America with its remarkable design and built have always seen to go forward. Again, the roots in her spiritual heritage always seen to prevail. Our success obviously is not an act of chance or fortune. The Almighty God places us in time.
Is America greatness in her people? It has to be said that the men and women who labored, cultivated and build such a Nation have made America great; but the real truth of the matter is, AMERICA GREATNESS HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF HER FAITH, RELAINCE AND DEPENDENCE UPON GOD. America greatness is because of the Creator. We didn't just happen to be great, God was and is the greatest in America. Thomas Jefferson once asked, "Can the liberties of a nation be secure, when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?"
Nation Under God
Perhaps, as we look back in our beginning at our Faith in God, there is one phase that would describe the message and creed of early Americans, perhaps it would be "A Nation of People (under God) established for the freedom to worship God!" There is a crisis before us in this land. Not simply a crises of survival or defense; our real crises is our relationship with our risen Lord. Does Christ reigns in our nation? I am afraid that we face ruin if the answer to these questions is in the negative. We may very well face the death of a nation. GOD STILL JUDGES SINS OF A NATION AND A WORLD. We have but to read and look at the pages of the Bible to see that this is true. The Psalmist cried years ago, "righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." He states further, " 'the wise shall inherit glory but shame shall be the promotion of fools." In our glory, will we die shameful? In our power, will we die weak? In our riches, will we die poor? In our knowledge, will we die ignorant? In our religion, will we die profane? This book is about a deathbed experience and revival! Let it be said and understood that this nation, the western world and our entire known world is on it deathbed. Is our death in vain? We need not die in vain and be banished into an eternal morn and await an eternal banishment from the God who once we so noble endeared. Our doom is truly futile when we ignore the warnings to return before it is too late.
Just before writing this text, a serious minded young man asked me, Bishop, Is it not true that, " a generation who allows truth to slip and does not take a stand for righteousness, only leaves the next generation to inherit a failure and fallen truth." I said to him, no truer words have ever been spoken! What one generation of people leaves undone, the next falls as a prey to the failure of the undone past generation. The problem becomes a double task to fix. Often the generation that inherits the fallen truth, undone deeds and errors of the preceding one, falls victim to the sins of its Fathers. The bibles speak of the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children.
It is indeed challenging and an alarming thought, but the facts regarding our fallen sins have come home to haunt us. My friends, we are facing a daring and alarming reality, our 'End' is coming with a swift judgment. God must judge the ways of men and the unlawful acts committed against Him. Our Fathers have sin and left us with an issue to deal with the rebellion of departure from our Maker. Unless the Church, the Nation change it ways, God's judgment is certain.
You would say to me "these are harsh and strong words." Yet, years ago Bible prophets pointed to the end and death of then existing nations. Amos wrote about 760 B.C., "The end is coming upon my people," the prophet didn't mean that the nation would pass away next morning, or even next week. As a matter of fact over thirty years elapsed before the Assyrians captured Samaria. But the prophet saw catastrophe coming. He recognizes the unmistakable signs of approaching disaster. Likewise, about 630 B.C., when the fall of Judah was still 20 years away, the prophet Zephaniah declared, "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasted greatly." (Zeph. 1:14)
About 595 B. C., when Babylon was at the height of its power, the prophet Jeremiah said of it, "Thine end is come" (in other words, "death is upon thee"), although the Medo-Persians did not overrun Babylon for another fifty (50) years. What the prophet meant was that judgment upon Babylon was certain and irrevocable. Appalling sins had made its death inevitable and near. The Judge of all Nations would not tolerate it much longer.
Death is upon our Nation, America. The evidence is over-whelming. I am not saying or writing this to frighten us but to warn us for a moment of change. As we look at the deaths of past civilizations, they went through similar experiences as America. They were long in development, bloomed briefly, then past away quickly. They constantly allow themselves to fall into a moral collapse. They rejected God in a wholesale way. They allow any sin to exist. As the bible says of Sodom, "they feared not the warnings of the Lord."
America and the western world progress have risen higher and higher each year. It is not our progress that killing us, but our sinfulness. Our departure from God! This civilization, richest and most prosperous of all time is dead spirituality. The Evangelist, Rev. Billy Graham stated in his book, World Aflame; "our interests are centered in ourselves. We are preoccupied with material things. Our supreme god is technology, our goddess is sex. We give more thought to what we wear, what we eat, what we drink, and what we can do to relax than we give to what we are."
America and the western world are on its deathbed and it is only a matter of time we are placed in an open grave if we don't turn to Our Maker, THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTLY! Let it be said, that as a people in the western world and eastern hemisphere, our grave may be open, pallbearers are standing at the door, the last rites are about to be given, the eulogy is about to be pronounced and the memories of our existence is about to be banished in outer darkness, never to be re-lived again; BUT LET ALSO, this question be asked; Will God in His mercy postpone judgment a little longer?
Yes, we are dying and perhaps died, spirituality, morally, religiously, economically, socially and politically in many ways. Is it too late for reformed? Are we so close to the dust of God's Judgment that a revival is impossible? Will we return to God? Is it to late for a return? We know God has a penalty for sin! Will God resurrect us as a Nation or have the soul of this nation and the world been eternally committed to the Judgment of an Eternal God?
Jesus Christ, the King of the Nations is about to come and rule the world! This book is about those plans placed in order for His coming. You will not want to miss this reading! It is a revealing and unfolding planned events staged by Our Lord to prepare us for the climax of all ages. The present church's Age is at the very heart of these plans. Please journey with us for the trip. Your life, your ministry, your church may experience an impact! We are really in an exciting time. Lets' flip the coin and see what's on the other side.
Chapter One
The Obituary
In the year of Our Lord, fourteen hundred and ninety-two, a daring Spanish Explorer named Christopher Columbus discovered the soil of North America. Because of religious scrutiny in Great Britain, a few devoted believers in Jesus Christ decided to leave their homeland and journey to this new frontier. Upon their arrival they proceeded to organize themselves. With God's help they founded 13 colonies. Their social, economical and national life was founded upon their religious convictions and faith.
These thirteen colonies were under the rule of their Mother Country who constantly threatened and endangered their new land and freedom of worship to God. Therefore, they declared in the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and seventy-six, July the 4th, a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. By this time, many colonies had been borne and a powerful, freedom loving, God fearing nation began to emerge. For the well being of this new nation, the leaders of America, under the guidance of God, after sincere and pensive prayer prepared the Declaration of Independence.
It Read:
"When in the course of human events, it become necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Law of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the curses which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
In the summer of our Lord Seventeen hundred and eighty-seven, on September the seventeenth, the Constitution of the United States was signed and submitted to Congress.
It's preamble read:
"We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Now established, this nation began to spread herself from the blues Atlantic to the peaceful Pacific. She had many foes and challenges. But in every conquest God gave her the victory.
God established a great system of trade and commerce with intent of sharing and giving to others. Her schools were established with the convictions of training men for the ministry of our Lord. Her influence for good was felt around the world within a few short years. There was an image projected by America in every land, among every people, creed and color that America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. America's Ambassadors of good will carried a message of devout religious, humanitarian convictions to many lands. Immigrants have sailed the sea and air from the four corners of the earth to touch and live on this soil.
The bloom in America has been unmatched by any civilization of the past. This growth began to appear around two hundreds years ago with the invention of the steamship (1807), followed by the steam printing press (1814), the reaper and binder (1834), the telegraph (1837), the sewing machine (1846), and the telephone (1876). As the 19th century drew to a close intriguing new blossoms appeared in the form of electric lights a laborsaving devices, also motorcars and other products having internal combustion engines. Then came Kitty Hawk and the dawn of the Air age.
As the main stem of progress rose higher and higher, it became ever more radiant with new inventions. In the 1940's, America discovered nuclear fission which open the door not only the possibility of nuclear bombs but of a new source of power to move the wheels of industry, to heat and light cities, and to obtain fresh water from the sea.
What has hindered our progress or retarded our success? Have we not become the greatest empire on this planet in a few short years, unmatched by any empire of past history? What is so great about America? Some say our land has made us great. When Katherine Lee Bates stood atop Pike's Peak and looked across this great land, she wrote these words in song, "purple mountain majesties," and "the amber waves of grains" ... then concluded that God had shed His grace on this land. We cannot deny the rich natural resources of this land called America. The water, the timber, the oil, the soil, the climate, the metal and ore all reflect from sea to shining sea. America has taken her God given resources and grown much greater than any nations compared with such resources. The American system of free enterprise has produced a mass economical power with produce in every sort flooding the world creating millions of jobs, producing incomes unmatched by any nation on earth.
What stands, as a monument to every society of world is America belief in individual freedom and liberty? Freedom of human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion. The totalitarian regimes of history speak to us of the tragic of their government. But America has healed many wounds and scars of broken people under such government and offered a better way of life. Yet, this way of life goes back to the foundation of this nation and God's providential hand upon her. Despite all the social ills and other problem this nation has had, America with its remarkable design and built have always seen to go forward. Again, the roots in her spiritual heritage always seen to prevail. Our success obviously is not an act of chance or fortune. The Almighty God places us in time.
Is America greatness in her people? It has to be said that the men and women who labored, cultivated and build such a Nation have made America great; but the real truth of the matter is, AMERICA GREATNESS HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF HER FAITH, RELAINCE AND DEPENDENCE UPON GOD. America greatness is because of the Creator. We didn't just happen to be great, God was and is the greatest in America. Thomas Jefferson once asked, "Can the liberties of a nation be secure, when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?"
Nation Under God
Perhaps, as we look back in our beginning at our Faith in God, there is one phase that would describe the message and creed of early Americans, perhaps it would be "A Nation of People (under God) established for the freedom to worship God!" There is a crisis before us in this land. Not simply a crises of survival or defense; our real crises is our relationship with our risen Lord. Does Christ reigns in our nation? I am afraid that we face ruin if the answer to these questions is in the negative. We may very well face the death of a nation. GOD STILL JUDGES SINS OF A NATION AND A WORLD. We have but to read and look at the pages of the Bible to see that this is true. The Psalmist cried years ago, "righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." He states further, " 'the wise shall inherit glory but shame shall be the promotion of fools." In our glory, will we die shameful? In our power, will we die weak? In our riches, will we die poor? In our knowledge, will we die ignorant? In our religion, will we die profane? This book is about a deathbed experience and revival! Let it be said and understood that this nation, the western world and our entire known world is on it deathbed. Is our death in vain? We need not die in vain and be banished into an eternal morn and await an eternal banishment from the God who once we so noble endeared. Our doom is truly futile when we ignore the warnings to return before it is too late.
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