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Words Of Life Ministries, Inc. 24148 Iowa Rd PO Box 652 Lebanon, MO 65536 Located in downtown Sleeper, MO 417-532-8050 |
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A NOTE FROM PASTOR ROBERT LORMIS
Stop Signs
There are some things that I am glad that have changed, but there is much that is taking place today that is just wrong. Many of the changes we are making today are leaving us in a moral vacuum. We are in a time of trying anything as long as we are doing something. That’s not what we need right now. We need to look back and see what has worked in the past and learn from it. We cannot go back to yesterday, but it gives us a real view of where we have been and where we are heading. Lessons that we have not learned are bound to be repeated. It’s time to stop and look where we have been and where we are going. We cannot break God’s moral laws without it reaping an impact on our nation. All you have to do is look at the evening news; everyday, there are murders and violence of every type. There is no getting around that fact that when God set the moral code for us, they were designed to be stopping points. When these stopping points are pushed down, it has a devastating effect. In recent days in the USA, we have seen so many of the moral stopping points that have made us great just obliterated. The effect is evident throughout nation and our everyday lives. A stop sign is not installed so that you can see the red paint and white letters. The stop sign was installed to bring you to a stopping place because there is something you need to take notice of. You might get by running that stop sign many times, but sooner or later if you keep refusing to stop, there is coming a collision. I believe this is where we are today. We have ignored God’s laws and have decided that we have a better plan. Every civilization that has applied these principles has found itself outside the blessings of God and most end up in grave condition. Israel is a good place to start. God chose to Himself a nation of people that had been in bondage for 400 years. God elected to send them Moses to rescue them from slavery. With mighty signs and wonders they were allowed to depart Egypt. In the wilderness their God gave them the standards or laws by which they were to conduct their lives. When Moses received the TEN COMMANDMENTS at the hand of God, they were to be an ongoing part of life forever. Today there is a war raging against these Commandments; so much that many are trying and succeeding in getting them banned from our government buildings, courthouses and many public places across this land. The reason for this is that these commandments stand as a moral roadblock. If we make laws based on popular opinions, we “blow past” the stop signs of the past and then all the standards and limits have to be continually moved to fit new ideologies. The problem with this is that there is a collision coming with God with the loss of the blessing and the protection of Heaven and God’s hand of mercy. Rebellion against God is not a new idea. It’s as old as time it self. The first sin that was ever committed was this sin of rebellion. It started in Heaven and has not stopped yet to this day. Satan himself tried to break the laws of God only to be thrown down to earth. It did not work for him and it will not work for us. We must understand that when the commandments were given, it was for our own good to keep us within boundaries and to show us what is right and wrong. It was not one law for the wealthy and one for the poor. It was one law for all. It was to keep in check the practice of disobedience. God’s laws came with penalties. Many had the penalty of death. It was a sure stop sign; if it was crossed, there was a price to be paid. Rebellion was met with swift and rapid measures. The Ten Commandments in the early days of the nation of Israel was to define them from all other nations. The Commandments were established to set them apart as a nation that was blessed by God. They would guide the Israelites and allow God to prosper them. Favor was the end result of the adhering to and keeping of the laws of God. That is still the promise to us today. It is sad that many in America have chosen to live outside of the commands of God. Every nation that has done the same has seen a great shift in the prosperity of their country and has been led from the favor of God to a curse. Right now we are seeing this take place on a major scale here in America. There has been more money spent in the first few months of 2009 than all the years combined that we have been a nation. Our Federal Government is trying to shore up banks and businesses. Countless people have had their retirement account and 401k drop by over half. I believe the cause is largely in part due to the breaking Gods moral laws. Let’s look at the laws of God. 1. Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 2. Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in van. 3. Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 4. Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 5. Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 6. Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. 7. Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal. 9. Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 10. Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. These were the stop signs to keep Israel in check from become a ruthless, sinful people and to receive the blessing that God so richly wanted to bestow on them. When we remove these stop signs, and push down the moral boundaries of God law, it’s like slapping the face of God. We don’t see the effect immediately, but a storm that is slowly building in the right environment, will produce devastating results. I believe that we have just such an environment and the storm has been building for some time. Change is not easy. Old habits are hard to break. It is easier to go with the flow. We are faced with the corruption in every facet of life. The church is no better, as we have seen the moral laws of God broken to appease people and to gain approval. The results are devastating: a church that has no fire, no power and little influence. Unbridled passions for the world and the things that are in the world have had an unparalleled effect on the church of this generation. We want the blessing but not the laws, the favor but not but the restriction. We cannot have it both ways. What stop sign will you stop for and which one will you just pay no attention to? I am afraid we have done a good job at just pausing to see if anyone is watching and then moving right on our way. I believe that God is speaking to the church that it is a time of change. There is only one road to heaven. It has been tried and tested and found to be true. It called the way of Holiness. God is a holy God. To receive and have the blessings and the favor of God rain down upon us, we must conform to God’s ways. The laws are not just an Old Testament way of life. In the New Testament, the law given by Christ expounds on the former. Now it’s from the heart. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life. The change we need is to let Jesus work in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. It’s not just doing whatever feels good. All action requires a response. Jesus stated that any man that will come after Him must pick up his cross and follow Him. Many believers are in a state of compromise with neither real core values nor concrete absolutes. On a race track the outer edge has a place called the gray zone. Getting into that zone is an invitation to disaster. I am afraid if we keep moving the stop sign or the laws that have been set, we are inviting disaster. Lastly, there is no such thing as something for nothing. We can move the stop sign, but it will not change the fact of where that sign should be; however, it will change your risk. Warnings have never been poplar. Times are changing. More liberal laws and views are been hailed around the world. Yet, like it or not, the Word of God changes not; be it for kingdoms or kings, presidents or rulers. Change is good if it fits within the context and guidance of the Word of God. It can bring blessings and prosperity, peace and joy. We should welcome change of this type and not rebel. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Scripture says, “If my people which 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 heal their land.” It's time to shake Heaven for change; real change that will bring about a revival for America. We are in great need and our help can only come from God.
God Bless, Pastor Robert Lormis
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email address: wofl@wofl.org | ||
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