GOOD FOR NOTHING

[DK Grooms]

 Today I am troubled and angry.  The Heart Thoughts you typically receive from me are not what you’ll find in today’s blog.  I typically like bringing you blogs that teach hope, peace, joy, and other spiritual attributes, but the things I’ve witnessed recently have made me very angry.  Perhaps no less so than what Christ must have felt on the Temple grounds, which caused him such great anger and response.  Righteous anger over the destruction of the church of God is quite acceptable and biblically called for when so much is at stake.  When Christianity is negatively impacted, we have a duty and responsibility to take a stand against such matters and even the people perpetrating or further enabling that destruction.

 

The condition of the Christian church suffers enough by the man external influences today, without adding to that destruction by high profile, or “celebrity” pastors, who gladly participate in media events that seek to bring down or destroy Christianity.  

 

Many of God’s children are mesmerized by these mega sized churches with their superstar preachers, though they deliver more fantasies and candy from their pulpits than the truths of God.  The result is an exponential deterioration of a once sacred institution.  These pastors bring spiritual death and damnation to the members of their own congregations and to countless other ministries with their personal and public proclamations on secular television. 

 

The word of God, (below) proclaims that we (the church of the Living God) are the salt and light of the earth.  As born again, spirit filled children of God, we have an obligation to reveal the truths of God and his gospel to a lost and dying world. 

 

As the light of the world, we’re to be a city set on a hill which cannot be hid.  As men and women of faith, we do not light a candle (our message) and place it beneath a basket to hide it from view.  Rather, we display it so the whole world might know who we are and what we believe.  Sadly, such is not the case today. 

 

Matt 5:13-16

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 

The phrase (wherewith shall it be salted), refers to the world.  If the world is not salted with the salt of the gospel, it becomes good for nothing, except to be cast out and trodden under the foot of men.

 

Jer 1:9

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

 

A similar experience happened to me in 2001, at 5:30 in the morning, as I was preparing for a crusade in Baltimore, Maryland.  As a result, I have never been the same since.  

 

I do not seek the favor of men, but of God, the author and finisher of my faith; he who judges both the living and the dead.

 

Jer 5:14

Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

 

Please read and understand what God is saying.

 

Because you speak this word (his word), I will make my words in your mouth fire and I will make people wood and it shall devour them.

 

Now look at it again in these verses.

 

Jer 1:9

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth . And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Verse 10

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

 

There is something very significant being stated here.  Don’t miss it.  What is God telling us to do?

#1 …to root out.

#2 …to pull down.

#3 …to destroy.

#4 …to throw down.

#5 …to build and to plant.

 

Please understand what the Lord is saying concerning his word. You cannot accomplish planting and building in your ministry without the other four things taking place at the very same time.

 

You can’t expect to be a blessing and an encouragement to people only, nor can you plant or build on top of something that has already been planted and built by others.   It’ll never work.

 

The field must be properly prepared.  No garden is worth anything unless you toil hard and long to properly prepare it to receive the precious seed.  You must destroy anything which prevents or hinders the seed from producing a 100% harvest.

 

So, where does salt come in?  What’s its purpose?

#1 …salt kills.

#2 …salt preserves.

#3 …salt adds flavor.

 

The problem is rather obvious.  The church has chosen the wide path.  Instead of being salt, as Christ instructs, they’re involved with the touchy feely part of ministry, which they think is far more important.  They don’t wish to offend, but desire only to help these poor people.   Because salt isn’t introduced, the old man doesn’t die.  His condition remains unchanged.  Nothing is gained; nothing won.

 

The church no longer has the killing effect on sin.  It no longer destroys the works of the flesh, nor adds the flavor of a changed life in Christ.  It strengthens the flesh only, because of its absence. 

 

Our society is not being preserved, though it longs for the salt.

 

Illustration…

When babies were born many years ago, they were first rubbed down with salt.  Why, because salt killed infections.

 

We’re the salt of the earth that God has ordained to kill the infection of sin throughout the world, by the preaching of his gospel.  The words of truth we speak are the chosen weapon that brings freedom to the weary soul.  We must therefore be faithful to the task, with all boldness; allowing the spoken truths to become a spiritual fire that devours the people.  In this devouring, they will cry out to Christ for forgiveness and restoration.

 

What’s in store for us; the truth bearers / the salt and light of God?

Matt 5:10-12

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 

The reason that the church has stopped being outspoken and bold is because of persecution.

 

What does persecution bring?   It brings discrimination, harassment, mistreatment and lastly, it scatters those being persecuted

 

God has chosen for the world to be salted through the body of Christ and if we don’t do it, the world won’t get salted, and it becomes good for nothing.

 

Matt 5:13

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

More truth…

There isn’t another way for the earth to be salted.  Period! There isn’t a plan B or C, there’s only plan A.  No angel has been appointed by God to salt the earth, or to preach the gospel.

 

Everywhere I travel, I always hear the same thing; children of God asking him to send revival.  They’re also asking for God to put a godly man in the White House, as president, who will turn things around and get this country back on course for God, who’ll get rid of the laws that are contrary to the word of God.  It won’t happen.

 

The laws that are passed by our legislature and the decisions made by our president are nothing more than a reflection of the job that the body of Christ are doing as salt and light.

 

I don’t wish to get into a political discussion here, but let’s be clear about one thing.  Our original system of government was created for moral, God fearing, people.  What we have today, though called a democracy, is vastly different. 

 

When a nation stops being moral, its elected government rapidly deteriorates.  Democracy, as we once knew it, ceases to exist.  The “new” democracy wields power to change statutes and redefine laws, or even the Constitution to meet its own needs or purposes.  When this is allowed by us, because of the ways we vote, then God can do nothing.   The message of the gospel is greatly restricted; lawlessness and ungodliness rule the land.  What happens when that occurs?  Exactly what you see taking place today in America.

 

The church is losing the spiritual battle, though people languish in prayer, hoping for Godly intervention. Let’s be honest with ourselves, evangelicals are losing their influence and impact in the United States at an alarming rate and we think a simple prayer is going to fix it.  It will not.  As a result of our complacency, our salt and light are far less effective than ever before, and the earth and America are becoming good for nothing.

 

We are rapidly losing the spiritual battle for our land and the system of government we’ve permitted is killing our society spiritually.  This has occurred because men and women of faith have been passive about their faith.   No longer do the evangelicals dominate our government and the rulings of this country.  Our influence has been crippled.  Those who profess to be Christians know little or nothing about being salt and light, as it’s clearly defined in the word of God.  The results are obvious.

 

The strength of this great country use to be in the church.  This same moral compass is what is needed for our nation today

Our forefathers were very effective people of faith who knew their spiritual heritage and what was required by God to be salt and light.  They didn’t sit idly by while elected officials did their own thing.  No sir.  They challenged everything and were rewarded when men and women of faith were eventually elected to office.  These elected officials were representatives of heaven and ambassadors of the living God.  

 

 

The Christianity you and I’ve read about was mightily blessed of God to set the proper standard of righteous and moral living for America.  We were commanded of God to be “above only”, “the head and not the tail”.  We’ve relinquished that right and our standards.  Shame on us!  As a result, the America our forefathers instituted was a far cry from what we’ve become today. 

 

Examples…

1)  As we know, gay marriage and alternative lifestyles are a sweeping reform that is taking place from one end of our country to the other, which should be a foul stench in the nostrils of every evangelical in America.  Major parades openly display their perversion.

 

Many people and even church denominations believe that homosexuality is not really a moral issue at all, but an alternative lifestyle which a freedom loving nation should be embraced.  In fact, many denominations have embraced it to the point of ordaining gays as pastors.  Even the government has even removed the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy from the military – a tragic mistake.

 

2)  The majority of our youth and young adults embrace fornication and gladly commit abortions to eliminate the inconvenience of raising unwanted children.  To support these new founded beliefs, they’ll also support any other deviant behavior they come across as simply lifestyle alternatives, which should be tolerated by all.

 

-  Marriage?  It’s a waste of time and way too restrictive and debilitating.

-  Right and wrong?  It’s discretionary and acceptable as long as it doesn’t impede a person’s pursuit of happiness.

-  Prosperity / getting ahead?  It’s the right for everyone to have what they want, when they want it, regardless of the consequences, or who it affects.

-  Social justice?  They abhor rules and regulations or any laws which demand accountability.

 

The battle being fought and lost in the United States is about morality.  Read what the word of God says.

 

Isa 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good , and good evil ; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

 

This is clearly one of the signs of the end times.  The corrupt conditions that take place in any land, or country, where its citizens call evil good and good evil, will quickly fall.  America is not exempt from the failures of past civilizations.  We are becoming what they became.  And the fall will be great.

 

Why has this happened?  I has happened, because the church is not being salt.

 

For hundreds of years the salt (the true church of God) salted this country.  The salt killed; it preserved and the salt added favor.  But now, the love of many has waxed cold.

 

Matt 24:8

All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

 

The words “he that shall endure”, in the Greek is hoop-en-mio which means to carry on upward.  In other words it means, “to persevere through”, or “to abide in and to endure”, “to carry on upward”.  By doing what?  By being salt, and then salting the earth.

 

Today, Christians are more hated and despised than even terrorists. We have been targeted by every degenerate organization and person who hates God.  Our country has strengthened their position by enacted “hate crimes” laws which forbid even light opposition or criticism to gays, Muslims, etc.

 

The salt has stopped being salt.

 

2 Tim 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

If the salt is going to be salt then persecution is going to follow.  It’s a foregone conclusion.

 

Be salt and light anyway!