Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A Fresh Encounter”
Our Bible verse for today: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own opinion and clever in their own sight.” Isaiah 5:20-21 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Compromise is how God’s people end up drifting away from Him.”
In the Bible study “Fresh Encounters”, Henry and Richard Blackaby teach that revival is restorative not normative. In other words, God’s people only need to be revived when they have drifted away from Him. Walking closely and obediently with God should be the normal Christian life. We only need to be revived and restored when we have drifted away from that which should be normal.
In Isaiah 5:20-21 the prophet warns us about what is perhaps the most common cause behind God’s people drifting away from Him – cultural compromise. This is the natural human tendency to go along so we can get along. When those around us begin behaving in ways that are contrary to Biblical standards and principles, and those behaviors and activities become increasingly common and accepted, the pressure on Christians to conform – to go along so we can get along – can become intense. That can quickly lead to compromise and drifting.
I don’t have the time or space this morning to list examples of how today in our society things that used to be known as evil are now called good; and things that used to be acknowledged as good are now labeled narrow-minded, intolerant, and unacceptable. But that’s a perfect example of good and evil being turned upside down and stood on its head. It is darkness being portrayed as light and light being portrayed as darkness. It is cultural elites who are wise in their own minds and who use clever arguments to mislead others.
God uses personal spiritual renewal and corporate revival to call His people back to His standards. He uses such fresh encounters to open our eyes to how far we have drifted from Him and how great our need is to return to Him and to Biblical principles.
The lure of the world is always strong, but we have to resist it. The way we resist it is by remaining strong in our faith and firm in our convictions. To do that we have to first have a heart that is truly seeking God and His ways. Then we must know the Bible and resolve to live by it. And finally, we must keep ourselves surrounded with Christian brothers and sisters who share that resolve and who will help us to remain strong.
Faithful attendance in a good church is an important way in which we remain strong and on track. I encourage you to attend church this Sunday. If you don’t have a church home then I want to invite you to visit with us at Oak Hill Baptist. Sunday school is at 9:00 and the worship service is at 10:00. At 6:00 we will continue our Bible study “Fresh Encounters”.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 