Influencing My Generation

In God's eyes, there are certain hallmarks that mark each generation, some are good and some are evil. We can gather from select scriptures that God indeed marks and identifies the generations:

Pro 30:11-14KJV 11 "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."

These are characteristics that mark an evil generation. Do they sound familiar?  These characteristics are indeed hallmarks of our own generation, this is what the church is up against in our modern society. In contrast to this evil generation highlighted in Proverbs 30, we see also this in the scriptures, there are more noble generations that embody the qualities of those that seek him:

Psa 24:4-6KJV 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. 

Our target should be to be the inspiration of our generation, be it good one or be it evil. To live a life that inspires and find those God is drawing and pull them out. There will be, even in an evil generation, those who are oppressed of the devil and while sinking in the mire they cry out, "will not someone save me?" 

The Savior would say to them (through our example): Mat 11:28-30 KJV 28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." These will be washed by the blood of the Lamb and cleansed from their filthiness. 

Jesus speaking to a group in his days said, "how shall I liken this generation?" Mat 11:16-17KJV 16 "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented."

He further identified His own generation, this way: Luk 11:29KJV "And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet."

Every generation has, in the eyes of God, a distinct marker.  Being in the Last Days, we are told something very specific about the last days generation in II Thessalonians 2, it will be a time of anti-Christ and unprecedented deception because people will not be lovers of truth.  So, when considering all of the axioms, all of the principles and all of the core foundational ideals that are embraced by this generation, rather than altering our own views to get along, we ought to look at these with a dubious eye and stand against them. 

And so the modern generation is one that the enemy seeks to entirely corrupt through his words through his arguments. This generation is going to be the generation that persecutes the church like never before.  We know that in the last days the Antichrist makes an outright assault against the church and it is safe to assume that he is not doing this single-handedly but rather by a society that have sold out to him. Therefore, we should be holding to the teachings and the precepts that have been handed down to us by generations that have worked and have led many people on the paths of holiness morality and pleasing to God.

I confess, I am a bit old-fashioned. I'm not among those who believe that the gospel message has to be changed for the generations. I believe that everybody comes through the same door. It is through the confession that they are wrong, they are sinners and they're only hope at all is humbling themselves and coming to Jesus Christ broken and asking for forgiveness. I believe that Christ inspired men and women today by those who remain true to the faith and tenants of Christianity handed down through the generations. Perhaps the tools that we use may be modern but the message is not, it does not have to be nipped and tucked and altered to make it palatable for the identity of any people group. As one godly pastor in Cork, Ireland said, "The cross is a bloody place and the blood was shed because of our sin. Don't apologize for it."

Jesus Christ has already humbled himself to the death on the cross if that's not good enough for any particular generation or group of people then they judge themselves unworthy of the message. Joh 12:32 KJV "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."

I want to end this essay on our lives being an inspiration to some in our generation, moving people in the right way by an event that happened. Decades ago, in our own church. In the 80s our local assembly was in the midst of full scale rebellion that led to a church split. Of course, at the time we did not know it was going to end in a split but that's where it ended. 

In this setting, there was an evil gathering of the brethren who had an evil purpose. One young man in the midst of them had no idea what was going on but found himself in this gathering of false brethren. It was an evil meeting whose intent was to over throw the church pastor. 

As the young man listened one by one, the whole group seemed in agreement that they were doing the right thing by attacking and over throwing the pastor. As this young man listened, his heart began to race and he began to perspire and he could not believe what he was hearing, it was evil. When finally he had heard enough, he stood to his feet, pointed at everyone and said, whatever you are doing here count me out! 

When he stood up and unceremoniously left the group, closing the door behind him, two other young men stood up and said, we do not want any part of this either and they followed him out. It took the boldness one one young man to inspire others to flee the environment of evil.

What influence do we want to have on our generation? Do we want to fit in or do we want to stand out and inspire others to follow the good path? As a follow up to that story, of these three young men each ended up in the ministry and are still in the ministry today.  This is what we want to be in our generation, one who stands against it and inspires others to stand against it as well. Not to accommodate, not to compromise but to simply say no, I will not. We have a chance to inspire a generation, our generation!

Relief from Anxiety

 Let me begin with this concept from the book of Hebrews. Heb 11:6 KJV  "...he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

I don't want to state that we have to believe God just for great things (miracles, deliverance), it does have that application but I suggest it can simply mean that we believe God hears, that he cares, and that he desires to intervene in some meaningful way in every aspect of life when we seek Him, even the more simple personal struggles.

Let me also say that I believe in being entirely honest with God (God is truth and in Him is no lie). In other words, don't pretend you're having a good day if you are under a cloud of oppression. Don't gin up a positive  confession because that is what you feel you must do, simply tell God straight up how you are feeling. While it is true that we must command our souls to bless the Lord but let us not forget honesty, one man honesty said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe, help though my unbelief". Honest heartfelt confession to the Savior of his struggle.

What I am suggesting is that along with that honest confession let there be reserved within your heart the concept that God will hear me and that God will be merciful and I can expect a meaningful touch from Him. 

What Actually Happens When We Cry Out

It really is a mystery how it all happens but what we know is that grace gives us the ability to do in the moment it's received, what seemed impossible 10 minutes ago. I am distressed, in fear, perhaps even in panic and in a desperate moment I cry out to God, I ask for His help and I allow myself to believe He can and will help. 

I persist until I feel something happening, it can begin small and then grow or it can come all at once but His Spirit begins to work and I am bolstered, I feel up to the challenge, I feel grace to meet the day. 

This is the short term fix but something else more wonderful begins to happen. Over time I begin to gain confidence in Him, I begin to know when I seek Him He will help me. I cherish this confidence so very much!! Then as more time passes what happens is I feel anxious less often, I feel panic less often, depression becomes a distant memory and what I am left with is a substance that upholds my life.

Neither I, nor anyone else, can exactly prescribe how He will connect with you as you seek Him. It has to be in your own way and in a way that works for you. For some it will be vocal, for some it will be silent. For some it will be pacing while for others it will be sitting. These are postures we observe in any given prayer meeting, everyone has a different way of connecting with God. For some it will be reading for others during a time of silent meditation. If it is not working one way then try other ways but don't lose heart, hold to this foundation. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I can assure you it will take place if you are sincere and persistent.

What if our condition is our own fault?

It is true that on many occasions we are stressed because of things that either are or things we perceive are our own fault (I'm not being a good Christian, why am I the way I am, why can't I be different). The lie that the enemy is going to tell us is that because "you're not perfect" and because "the distress is your own fault, God is going to let you to suffer". He tells us, "what makes you think God cares?"

This is why I say unequivocally that you must strive to reserve a place in your heart where you believe that he is and that he will reward those that seek him.  Perhaps we may think that seeking God is for just the great events of life, the big decisions such as where I will live, who will I marry, will I go to university. But my experience in this personal relationship of ours with God is that He wants us to seek Him for all things that affect us. We are told in Peter's epistle:  1Pe 5:7 KJV Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

We're also told: Heb 4:15-16 KJV 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yetwithout sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

This is the foundation to believing that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that seek Him for their distresses with their needs etc.  Hold onto this Let's reserve within our hearts the knowledge that he cares about our emotional and spiritual well-being.

In this small essay let me give my own personal testimony. In and throughout my life, just like anyone else, I have experienced all of the above but it has been my joy to see God working for me in many of the distresses of life. In fact I would go as far as to say that calling out to God in my distress has actually become a way of life to me and it is my earnest desire to impart that confidence in God to others as well so that they might find God to be a merciful high priest for them. 

Conclusion

Again, the foundation of this entire essay is this that God cares and that God answers in some tangible way by filling our spirit with peace and joy in the midst of emotional and spiritual suffering. I have gotten into the way of asking God sometimes every single morning for the quickening of the Spirit so that I can endure the trials of the day. And it is my opinion and my experience that God has comforted me, strengthened me and filled me with enough of His Spirit to face each challenge without being overwhelmed. May this too be your testimony.

What we we like is what we are known for?

Matthew 6:21  "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

I was privy to a conversation between a conference president and his staff. When they were preparing for the conference, they had a discussion concerning how many of the attendees could be relied upon to give a helping hand. The staff at once began to call off names of those they knew would help. They knew this because they had helped many times in the past, it was what they were known for. I have come to realize through that example that I witnessed that God knows what he can expect from us. God would like to be able to depend on us for certaint behaviors. The question I put to myself is, what does God know he can expect from me? What behavior does he know I will follow? Will I behave myself in a way that brings glory to him or will I be selfish and self-centered? What can behavior can God depend on me for?

Job 23:10 KJV 10 "But he knoweth the way that I take..." God knew what to expect from job, He knew the man Job and he knew what He could expect from him, in fact, it is found in the next few verses.  Job 23:11-12 11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."

He knew what to expect from Job, and he knows what to expect from me and in fact from each one of us. Will it be to keep his commandments? Will it be to value those things he holds in greatest esteem? Or will it be self-gratification or selfish pursuits or even pettiness? Will we unite or will we divide? Can God depend on us to make a choice for him or for ourselves? We know that God looks for such answers because he has told us so when he describes the wilderness journey to his people:

He told them that he tried them to see what was in their heart, to see what choices they would make. Would they choose for him or when they choose for themselves?  Deu 8:2 KJV "And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no."

We can also use the example of Hezekiah as God told us that he had left Hezekiah to try him. Was it not to see what he would do? The Lord left him to try him. 2Ch 32:31 KJV "Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."

He tries man every moment of the day (to know what to expect from us). Job 7:17-18 KJV 17 "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?" God knows us in adversity by the choices we will make under pressure. Psa 31:7 KJV "I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;"

We must seek to be governed by the (reverential) fear of the Lord, it will help us to overcome deep flaws in our character. We do not want to be ashamed when we stand before Him. And so, what can he expect from us? If His law is written in our hearts according to the mandate of the New Covenant (Jer 31) then He knows we will strive to be obedient to His commands.  If we desire and value the things He does then we will know Him and we will follow Him. This does not mean He expects sinless perfection but what it does mean is we will walk circumspectly before Him and put HIs ways before our own.

Above all else God wants us to be a Christian, to behave as a Christian. What we do for Him should flow out from charity and a desire to be Holy (as He is holy) and to have a servants heart. But what can He expect from us, what can He rely on us to do? Will it be to behave as a Christian or will we follow the world, be overcome by the flesh or allow bitterness to make us slaves to our adversary through resentment and offense?

What can the Savior expect from us?

How about those around us, our family, our friends, our brethren? What can they expect from us? Can they expect from us to do the right thing? When God tested Saul, what did he learn about him? He learned Saul would not obey...

1Sa 13:12-13 KJV 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

And so we conclude where we began, what we love is what we will be like. God knows what we truly love so let us cry out to Him for a pure heart, pure motives and a heart that loves what He loves. He is building an eternal  kingdom and He is looking for those who will govern with Him. It will be those who love what He loves and as a result are like Him.