God is the one who is feeling the impact of this current tragedy more than any of us could ever imagine. Every time a homosexual, murderer, pornographer, thief, backslider or lukewarm person (among others) dies and is cast into hell, God’s heart is hit. The sacrifice of his Son becomes meaningless for so many who enter into panic-inducing eternal torment every single hour of every single day. For God’s sake, it’s time to preach!
It’s not enough to reveal God’s love. The light of His love must expose the darkness. Define it. Call it out. God’s love must result in such a clear vision of the current darkness that extreme and full repentance is the instant response. In fact, a revelation of God’s love that doesn’t define the reality of the horrors that are engulfing our society isn’t a revelation of love at all.
Holiness
The church is losing this battle in embarrassing fashion. This should be a wake up call for all of us. It’s time to return again to hellfire preaching that refuses to affirm any lifestyle short of complete surrender.
The sickening truth is that pastors and leaders are allowing themselves to be entertained in media by the very sins that required the slaughter and murder of the one they say the love. Nudity, foul language, homosexual innuendos, violence and humanistic agendas are flooding the souls of supposed Christian men and women every week—all while the prayer rooms remain empty and church services are powerless.
I’ve heard people say that they aren’t offended by certain activities in media such as, for example, nudity or cussing. My immediate reaction is, “Who gives a rip about what offends you? Have you considered the Holy Spirit?”
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you are sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).
Holiness is a major issue, a major biblical theme that is ignored and minimized from pulpits today.
“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth through unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18).
Is it love to refuse to preach certain portions of the Holy Scripture, to shield the guilty from a revelation of their condition? Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong NYC refuses to directly confront the sin of homosexuality. His wife Laura Lentz said, “It’s not our place to tell anyone how they should live, it’s—that’s their journey.” Does that sound like love? Does she not realize their journey will take them into literal flames that burn and a hopelessness that will never end?
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
Do we love the unrepentant church gossip or the person who’s sleeping with their girlfriend or boyfriend enough to let them know that no matter how devoted they are to church, tithing, prayer or reading their Bible, they will go to hell if they die in that condition?
We need holiness preachers again! Heck, we need angry preachers again! A righteous indignation over today’s passive, lukewarm culture in the church and the vomit-inducing perversion in the world should burn in our veins. The fact that people are telling both camps that it’s all OK because God loves them should result in fire-breathing preachers that refuse to stand by idly.
Love Wins
It’s undeniably rare for people to enter heaven. The road is not wide. Tonight people will die and immediately begin the second, and longest, chapter of their eternities. It’s the part of their story that will never end, can never be edited and would result in maddening nightmares if those in the land of the living could read it. Once the first letter is written on the first page of chapter two, they can never go back. A trillion pages later they will be ever increasing in pain, panic, torment, hatred, hopelessness and immeasurable fear—pure terror. That chapter starts the moment they leave the land of the living, the second they die in their sins. There is a very real monster at the end of that book.
This is why true love must win—it’s a love that does in fact tell the truth. They are on the road to destruction.
Then, tell them how the story can end. Should end. Chapter two, the final chapter of all of our lives, must be a story of redemption, of never-ending joy, of freedom and victory. Their book can be a story of abundant life—but only if they hit their knees and rend their hearts. At the end of that book is the Lover of our souls, a glorious King, a mighty Savior and a mighty, radiant God that is yearning to spend forever with us.
“… whom, having not seen, you love; and in whom, though you do not see Him now, you believe and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,9 receiving as the result of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:8-9).
John Burton has been developing and leading ministries for over 25 years and is a sought out teacher, prophetic messenger and revivalist. John has authored 10 books, has appeared on Christian television and radio and directed one of the primary internships at a major international prayer ministry. Additionally, he planted two churches, has initiated two city prayer movements and is currently directing an online prayer and revival focused ministry school called the School of Revival. John also produces prophetic equipping media that can be watched or listened to most every day at thefurnace.tv.
He and his beautiful wife, Amy, have five children and currently live in the Branson, Missouri, region. John is available to minister anywhere in the world and can be contacted via his site at johnburton.net.
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