40 DAYS OF PRAYER:DAY 26
MORALITY VS. IMMORALITY
The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.
Psalms 1
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
Obviously your world view is going to is going to determine how you view morality and immorality. It is the lens in which you see actions that you and others take. A philosophy of life or how you see the world around you. Obviously I am writing from a Christian world view, a Biblical world view. The word Morality is not actually in the Bible, but morals and values are in it from cover to cover. The words wickedness and righteousness are used consistently throughout the Bible.
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The reality is that we call ourselves Christians and are genuine followers of Christ, then we cannot keep on practicing a sinful lifestyle. Morality and immorality have been in the headlines continuously. I can’t help but quote from The Princess Bride-"You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means".
The dictionary defines Morality and immorality:
Morality- principals concerning the distinction between right and wrong, good or bad behavior. A particular system of values and principles of conduct, especially one held by a specified person or society.
Immorality- the state or quality of being immoral; wickedness.
I have already emphasized how important our personal relationship with God is… because it starts with us. If we want to see change in our families, friends, communities, country and world… it starts with us individually. So let me be blunt here. Are you walking in the counsel of the wicked? Immoral? Or are you delighting in Gods word and meditating on it day and night? What are you watching on TV? What social media sights do you engage in? What music are you listening to? Hows your language? What do you do in your spare time when no one is watching you?
Galatians 5:16-23
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Because our world is fixated on pride and is self-serving, we have rampant sexual sins running amuck, LGTBQ, Self identifying genders, Pornography, Abortion, Legalized drugs, Christians that drink more alcohol than some non-Christians I know, and the list goes on and on and on. The world is rejecting the creator and worshipping and abusing the creation.
Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
I exhort you… , and desperately beg you to pray, and ask God to search your heart and identify anything that is NOT of Him, and surrender that to Him. Then begin to fervently pray for those God has put in your sphere of influence. I know that as I have been boldly proclaiming truth, boldly reading and writing what scripture says, the spiritual warfare has increased. It will increase for you as well as you do the right thing. As you seek Godly counsel, as you strive to walk in the Spirit. Again, James 4 tells us to resist the devil and he WILL flee, humble yourself before the Lord and HE will lift you up!
Hold Steady, Eyes on God!
God please help us we cannot do it on our own, we desperately need you!
I am praying for you… I am praying for our country!
Love you all! Pastor Scott