I emerged from my prayer time and Scripture reading this morning with a burden on my heart for our ranks. I see and hear of truly astonishing works of God in our day. The ink in my pen flows warm with affection this morning and free of pessimism and hopelessness. I don’t have the luxury today of writing an overly-involved article. I will jump straight to what’s on my heart.
We are warned in the Scriptures that darkness will increasingly rage as time hastens toward Christ’s return. We are not date-setters but this we know. His return is closer today than it was yesterday. And the enemy is angrier today than he was yesterday. (Rev.12:12) And he wants us. He wants our testimonies. He wants to render us ineffective and make us a laughingstock. He wants to come between us and distract us with ridiculous things, showy things, boastful things, petty things, divisive things so that we’ll miss the tidal wave of temptation and seduction begging to engulf us. Jesus told us to be prepared. And we’re not. If we were, we’d be poring over our Bibles and flat on our faces in prayer. We’d come to our feet in the power of the Holy Spirit and preach and teach the Gospel with love and holy fire.
Instead, many believers – leaders and followers alike – will fall. Even servants who have had sincere and pure devotion to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 warns us this can happen.
And those many believers – leaders and followers alike – must be helped back to their feet. Biblically, compassionately, gently, diligently and completely. Churches must train mature men and women in the faith who walk in the Spirit to actively minister Galatians 6:1. You’ve got to know I’m not casting stones here. I well know what it’s like to be in the grips of bondage and in heaps of defeat and sin. I also know for a fact that, by the grace and mercy of Jesus, we can be transformed and old tendencies and repetitive cycles utterly broken.
We must hang on for dear life to the word repentance. Watch carefully as that word becomes less and less popular in our churches and on our Christian platforms. Do not think for a second there is no scheme of the darkness to see to it. I will not waste words here. I just ask you to go to the Scriptures and see all that hinges on repentance and start picturing the terrifying ramifications of its absence. In a Christian climate where we call less and less sin, we will call fewer and fewer to repentance. That’s not rocket science. Repentance is one of the most glorious rights hailed by the cry of Christ’s finished work on the cross. We get to repent. This is not our self-condemnation. This is not our self-loathing. This is our liberty. Our restoration. Our cleansing, whiter than snow. God delights to show us mercy and cast our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7)
No one wants to fall grievously and no one has to. Sin is not our master. We all sin and grieve and quench the Holy Spirit. We all long for the day when faith will become sight and that which is incomplete will be made perfect. But we do not have to fall headlong into a ditch and, if we do, not one of us has to remain there. Each person has the right to get up by the grace of Jesus. The one who refuses the fallen the right to get up – and on the same level ground – is in far graver sin than he or she. God forbid that we would be a stumbling block to someone’s restoration.
We are not victims of the darkness. We are children of light, children of the Day, 1 Thessalonians 5:5 says. The difference between stumbling and falling is often the simple timing of our repentance. We don’t jump into a deep pit of sin. We take steps there. But, if we were to realize with that first or second step that we were already in trouble, we could repent right then. And we will have stumbled. But we will not have fallen.
Still, many will. And, by the power of Christ’s Cross and resurrection, each gets to grab hold of the hand of God and stand back up.
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24
I’ll end this with a cry to my sisters and brothers in Christ who are full of faith, believing voraciously in the power of the Word of God and for great works and wonders of the Holy Spirit in our day. Let’s tighten up our sanctification. Not our legalism, for the love of God. Our sanctification. Sanctification is a work of the Spirit and Truth, not of the law and the flesh. Let’s do some courageous self-examination and ask God to show us where we’re vulnerable to attack and where our feet are on the path toward a deep hole. Let’s shut illicit relationships down or they’ll shut us down. Let’s repent of our pride because it is the one guarantee of a pending fall. Let’s repent of our pretense. Let’s have the courage to face the brokenness in our lives and bring it without shame to Jesus. We can either deal with our stuff or I promise you our stuff will deal with us.
The enemy knows where we’re vulnerable. After thousands of years, he’s perfected his aim. He will not bother shooting many fiery darts where we are covered. He’s going for the bull’s eye, that glaring bald-spot where we refuse to come under the authority of Christ. We keep calling it a blind spot. Oh, we have blind spots alright but I don’t think they’re the biggest problem. We’re not blind to most of our disobedience and sin. We hope others are but we’re usually wide-eyed and well aware. It’s not a blind spot. It’s a bald-spot, uncovered because we so badly don’t want to give Jesus authority over it.
Here’s the thing. We who believe so much in the work of the Spirit in our day will be the biggest targets because the enemy knows the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church. He can’t make it go away. He can only scheme to make it ineffective. And all that takes is to ridicule us into quenching the Spirit. Without the Spirit, the body of Christ is a corpse.
There is refinement and revival on the horizon according to the Scriptures. I want to see it with my own eyes. I want to be part of it. I know you do, too. And we can. The burgeoning unpopularity of Christianity will prove over time to be purifying for us but God help us in the meantime. My plea this morning is that we open our eyes to the darkness coming for us. A tidal wave of seduction looms over us. We are being taken down behind the scenes by the thousands, feeling alone and isolated and having no idea how many are enduring the same kinds of suffering and defeat. Let’s come back together and get brushed off, cleaned up and educated in the Scriptures and fortified by the Spirit. Let’s own our brokenness, our enormous temptations and weaknesses and go back to the practice of true repentance and commit ourselves to the pursuit of sanctification. Let’s learn how to restore. Let’s learn how to recognize fruit of repentance. Let’s help each other back to our feet and learn how to stay on our feet.
Let’s be the Church, bruised but beautiful. Innocent as a dove. Wise as a serpent. Smart and humble.
There were so many places in you post that I said ‘Amen’ to my computer screen. Nowhere was that Amen louder than with this: In a Christian climate where we call less and less sin, we will call fewer and fewer to repentance. We have watered down sin to the point that it is no longer even called sin. I want to be one who stands solidly on the Word of God, no matter the cost. I do not say that lightly, because the cost will be huge.
As I am teaching through the book of The Revelation on my blog, I am already feeling the devil’s displeasure. My prayer is that I would teach on and teach boldly the Truth. Thank you for this reminder to stand strong and tighten up my sanctification.
Heart wrenching words of truth! The enemy comes to kill and destroy and we need to combat with prayer and the Word of God. May the power of Christ be unleashed in our lives this day. Thank you for sharing
Thank you Beth for your insight. I agree with you 100%. You are brave to talk about what is a glaring reality in the church body today. Yes we need to be in prayer & reading the word daily as well as constant contact with God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit. We need to prepare our hearts daily to meet with God. We will not be effective as believers if we don’t spend the time in communion with the Lord! I learn so much from you & all the teachers God has placed in my life. I watch Life Today every day so I’m getting fed by all the speakers they have on. It’s really up to us to do the work. We’ve been given the example. This is a good warning to all of us to read & reread & walk out daily as we keep watch. Talk to the Lord to whoever will listen. The day is drawing very near. It is the day when the work & the harvest is ready. The night will be here when we no longer will be able to work. So get your lamps out & your oil lamps ready. Have the extra oil also. This is from the 10 virgins, the oil from scripture. The oil = the anointing we get from the Holy Spirit when we ask for more. More love, more power, more of You, O LORD, in our lives! Blessings to you Beth & God continue the great & mighty work You are doing in our big sister in Christ!!!
That right there was God-inspired. I even felt like I was reading a letter from Paul himself. You Beth are a true disciple of Christ. Thank you for this message. I pray many will come to repentance.
Thank You Beth!
I loved the statement, “we don’t jump into a deep pit of sin, we take steps there.” Yes…and before we know it we are in the pit…Repentence is like a life preserver ….which I am learning is a daily process. Thank you for your ministry and for this message today. May God continue to bless you!
Leslie
I am so thankful for this post. What a timely word! I too am so discouraged by the attacks on our churches & country. But also discouraged by the lack of preaching on repentance & allowing sin to be tolerated instead of addressed. You are so right that people do not want to hear about what is sin & a need to repent. It is diminishing from the pulpit. A call to repentance is so needed for us all.
II Corinthians has never been more needed. “If my people that are called by my name will humble themselves & pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Thank You Beth. Your voice by the power of the Holy Spirit is heard by so many. I know that it will yield fruit.
Beth
Thank you for this! Amen to your words , this has been on heart for sometime also. May we be diligent in prayer and studying Gods word. May we be about our fathers business
Thank you much love and prayers
Lisa Burt
Thank you Beth. This is so true but yet very encouraging.
Oh, Beth, what a powerful message to your Sisters and to believers everywhere! Thank you, thank you! I am sending this blog to my Bible study sisters and to many, many others. Blessings on you and all at LPM! Reading everyone’s responses is uplifting, as well.
Without the Spirit, the body of Christ is a corpse. Whew! That’s a truth right there!
Beth,
This was the perfect encouragement and perfect timing!
Thank you for being a voice that speaks truth! I needed it this morning.
Good Caturday WEGM!
Mucho Gracias, Danka, Thank you for this post!
So glad I met you on an elevator almost 31 years ago
and you invited me to bible study.
Be of good cheer. We are overcomers.
Thank you Beth
This is something that has been with me as well.
Love the exhortation of those last few sentences, Beth. Amen and amen!
Thank you so much, Beth! I’ve also felt the call to sanctification and spending more time with God and aligning my life with His Word. God is worthy! God is faithful! God is full of lovingkindness!
Once again you inspire me! I will be teaching from Matthew 11 tomorrow and was motivated to do a word study on repentance especially as it relates to rest as a result of your post. It is just beautiful how Scripture teaches that our repentance leads to rest and times of refreshing which come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19) Paul also teaches in Acts 11:18 that God has granted to the Gentiles repentance that leads to life. What a gift repentance is for us. May we never lose sight that it leads to life, rest, and refreshment!
Continue to speak truth.
Amen!
Dear Beth, Praise God and all glory and honor to Him for your continued boldness and using your gifts to God’s glory!! LPM is such a blessing in my life and I thank God for you and your precious sisters at LPM!!
After reading your blog last night I had a dream and it lead me straight to the book of Philippians this morning!!! I especially loved the Message version!! What joy to my soul these words are!! I pray that we can “stand firm in one spirit, with one mind,striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”(Phil.1-27) and we are not frightened in anything by our opponents!! (Phil.4-28)!! Phil.2:12-16; 3:15-19;4:4-5 really spoke to me about redoubling our efforts to hold firm to His Word and shine bright for Christ!
We are doing the “War Room” Bible Study and it is such an excellent self evaluation!!
Page 11 asks”If you knew that Jesus was coming back in three days, what sins would you confess and quickly get out of your life?” What a great Bible study this is!!
Thank you Beth for sending us a red alert to getting our hearts and minds and lives right with Jesus before it is too late!!! Praise God for His grace and mercy and His ultimate gift of salvation through the Blood of Jesus!! Patty
“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test.” 2 Corinthians 13:5
Thank you, Beth. This needs to be heard. Thanks for sharing this with us.
This week I was stunned and saddened to hear 2 different stories of women in our church family, falling away. I went directly to God in prayer, and with many tears asked God how to come alongside and help them see His deep love. Being on a church staff we see and hear so much, but hearing two stories in one week is devastating. Beth, I think your words and your post are so timely and accurate to what the church is experiencing. We have an amazing God and there is hope beyond measure. I know what He has done in my life, and I know there is no pit to deep for Him and no life to far from Him. I pray that in our spheres of influence we boldly love and help bring people lost in sin to a place of repentance and hope. Thank you for sharing! It helped bring clarity. There is a much bigger picture to ponder on!
Beth, this was beautiful❤️. I reposted and retweeted it on my Twitter accounts.
Yesterday, I received my SMMT tiny mirror from the drawing. Thank you..I treasure it.
My response amazed me. I cried when I opened the envelope and saw it. As I pondered my response I thought of the ones who had touched base so to speak in our running of this race of knowing Him by His Spirit and through His Word. It is encouraging to remember that others are running their race, pressing on in faith.
The tears were my love response, my hearts response to what the home run of that “mirror time” had shown us about Him, His character, and His love, in our study and memorization.
The mirror..
I started a particular art parable several years ago from several verses in James. Each time I have started to paint a bit more on it..I felt the gentle nudge to Abide…not yet..a peaceful waiting.
You see there are mirrors in this painting, the painting has changed only a bit from the first time God showed it to me, many years ago.
Sometimes the art parable image stays the same if drawn and painted during that part of my walk with Him. But at times, as I continue to pray and study His Word..He will tweak my understanding, thereby changing the imagery I see in the Word.
When I saw the cover for our flip book with the mirror, I instantly thought of the art parable.
I was excited to see where this adventure in His Word would take me as I joined others from around the world. Thank you❤️ ❤️ Siesta. Your obedience to Christ encouraged me in my walk. I pray my obedience will encourage others also in their walk with Christ Jesus.
So… mirror in heart and hand, I am picking back up my paint brush, waiting to see what He reveals.
So much love, because He first Loved me.
Debbie
Beth, these words spoke refreshment to me today. SO much confrontations and battles coming right and left. We do need to stand and proclaim what the Holy Spirit is revealing to so many believers hearts. Thank you for speaking out. I know that you are being bombarded – but please know that there are those coming along side of you – we just need to unite and see what God is doing. Do not be fearful – God is for us.
Amen!!!!!! Timely and well spoken!!
Yes, yes, yes!!! I want to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and see my husband and children and friends & family cooperate with the Spirit, too! With my own eyes-and I have already beheld some glimpses…many in those closest to me. May we not shut Him out. May we continue to trust and walk…or wait…in faithful obedience!
(For homeschool we’ve read several missionary bios and I am continually encouraged by their faith {George Mueller, Amy Carmichael and Brother Andrew from Holland, for example} and I pray for our faith to grow just as theirs did…just as yours has and many others that give us glimpses into their walk in these days. Thank you for welcoming us in!)
Amen! This is the 4th time in a matter of weeks I’ve heard someone call the people and the church to repent!!! I have also been begging God not to let me be fooled into believing false spirits but also asking him to help me know what is truly from the Holy Spirit! My attention is official caught and I am repenting as my mind and heart bring them up.
The Lord has been challenging me to more aware of Satan’s strategies as I lead high scool girls in the Armor of God study. We are learning to fight equipped with ALL our armor. Thanks, Beth, for being a consistent and faithful example of a good soldier.
I woke this am under the heavy weight of conviction.I lied to someone I cared about thinking I had to lie to make myself look better so I could keep it. After being rejected most of my life I thought, how could this person love me for me.The enemy comes to steal kill and destroy. I have played right into his hands.So sorry.
Thanks Beth. Hebrews 12:14 Without holiness no one will see the Lord. This has been my scripture for the last week or two. And then this morning. Mark 2…the man on the mat. Paralyzed and they lowered him through the ceiling. Jesus forgave his sins then to prove he had authority to forgive sins he told him to get up and walk home. GET UP AND WALK HOME. That was the word. Come in faith and the Lord will forgive. And then we are to get up walk home (in holiness). Jerry Bridges has this book “The Pursuit of Holiness” I’m reading now. Just throwing it out there. The reason because of that verse in Hebrews that stuck out to me. And also cause I’m reading the bible in a year to my 10 year old daughter and the laws of the old testament seem so disconnected sometimes. I remembered that book and though I’d never read it before I thought maybe he talks some about modern applications to the heart of the law…so to better enable me to read the scriptures with relevance.
Again thanks for the encouragement.
I can only walk home because I knew I needed a doctor (Mark 2 again) and Jesus forgave my sins and then made me to be able to get up and– WALK HOME
Beth- We hear you. It feels like war time. I know that God is with and for us and raising us up. I pray we stay so near to Jesus, love well, stay humble, believe God and His promises, hold fiercely to His Word. Praying for you.
Thank you Beth – our ladies group is doing the study “When godly people do ungodly things” and we are learning about preparing ourselves for the enemy attacks. This message is very timely and encouraging. Praying God blesses you and keeps you writing bible studies for us.
I firmly believe my children and grandchildren will see the end of time. This thought has run through my mind since the children were small. If a person watches what is happening in the world today, there should be no misgivings that we are fast approaching the end. I, personally, cannot wait to see Jesus but I fear there will be others not so excited. I pray everyday that God’s will be done and that Christians everywhere take to the streets in his name. Please continue your good work, Beth. May more of us be really to proclaim our faith.
Thank you Beth. This is right on and I appreciate your heart.
A friend gave me your book PRAYING GOD’S WORD and today I recommended it to three friends who are going to get it. It is filled with such valuable and godly instruction. It pulled me this morning out of the discouragement of the battle, such as you have shared here. Thank you for sharing so freely from your past and giving God glory for your life. You are precious and loved.
Thank you.
Oh, how I’ve missed your posts! Thank you for sharing what God pressed deeply into you. I am grateful beyond words for your succinct and bold words. We don’t hear that too often in this world anymore. God bless you Mamma Beth – His hedge of protection and blood covering over you and your family. ~ Amen ~
Amen!
Amen, Beth!
Oh Boy, just saw this. I have been wondering the past several days if my personal struggles and decisions are being influenced by Satan’s attack to “shut me down” or am I just making practical decisions in a situation that has no apparent good choice. Which stress filled choice do I make???? Thank you Beth for your post. Blessings to you and yours.
Beth, you have struck a perfect balance in your post. Sugar coated preaching & teaching is dangerous to our souls. So many churches seem afraid to turn people out by teaching this balance, and they avoid the topic of sin & conviction as much as possible-avoiding the negative. We need a reality check, because life is a mixture by design. I do love that you remind us that it begins with examining ourselves & our own lives. It is our human nature to miss that plank in our own eye-no one wants to become spiritually blind or bald. Let us remember, we are none without sin (John 8:7) and to strive to never be a stumbling block to another(Rom 14:10-13). Let us show our love for our Father by being obedient to His Word (John 14:23-24) and let us enter through the narrow gate. Psalm 86:5 -For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you. Thank you for being an instrument of the Lord & reminding us of His unfailing love & grace.
Thank you for sharing this powerful post. I read it the other day and it really spoke to me. I had been crying out to the Lord for wisdom about what happened to me in January (which was sort of like a stress-breakdown or nervous breakdown to put it in a short way). But it also felt hugely like a Spiritual attack. May we all be grounded in God’s truth and armor on to fight the lies of the enemy. May we all continue to encourage each other just as God has encouraged our hearts through this article.
Yes.
And
Amen.
Thank you for the timely warning.
Dear Beth,
As always a pen from the heart. Thank you
as I am not at my best place as present,
as the enemy has attacked my family & me
through events that have broken my spirit.
I am leaning on scripture and asking HIM to
speak to my heart. Thank you Beth for
the encouragement & truth.
Thank you, Beth, for this message. I am always amazed at how simply, how down to earth, and how full of truth your messages always are. They are so easy to understand and relate to…in our relationship with Him and in our everyday life. Through you, God has blessed my life numerous times and spoken to my heart. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him and for your devotion to all of us women. You are loved!
HalleluYAH! Yes, yes, YES!! Praise Him for His Truth….it will keep us from deception if we LOVE IT!
Beth, I am so grateful for your words. Your sound and sincere teaching always feels like a glass of water to a thirsty soul.
I’ve been in the church my whole life (I’m 34) but only recently have been hearing God’s Voice. And it changes everything. It makes me wonder why there isn’t more taught on hearing God’s voice, how to hear it, how He speaks etc… It seems to me that if there was more teaching on this topic we would have many more warriors. The way God has refined my life in the last two months by clearly telling me what needs to go, what needs to be changed and what needs to be beefed up in my life is like no fire I have ever been through! Absolute miracles have been seen and I would wish this for every sweet soul, eager to do the will of God.
I am not a regular listener or follower but I have heard you on the Robisons show and enjoy your messages. I am writing because I was shocked and frankly offended while listening to a radio show today which claimed you and James Robison ( and others ) were false teachers. For what it’s worth I want to thank you for your ministry and encourage you to continue more boldly in the face of any insults from those within and without the church. God bless you and keep you!
As I read this wonderful, from God’s breath to your heart and our ears message, I thought of two things. 1) ‘Lord, have mercy,’ kept reverberating, but in the voice of my long-gone God-fearing/loving mother, who would have said ‘Lord a Mercy,’ which was a constant prayer to the Lord of Mercy and that he would HAVE mercy. 2) Look where I STUMBLED instead of where I fell.
I hadn’t thought about our NOT calling sin what it is, leading to less repentance. How foolish and lazy I have become. You are so astute, dear sister, and your admonition to immerse in the Word and prayer are kicks in this old behind. May He find me faithful from this day to the end!
“Let’s learn how to restore.” I want to remember these words so I wrote it down, underlined it, and circled it! Thank you for writing what was on your heart and needed to be said.
Oh how gracious God is to direct me to this post today even though it was posted last month! I am a single mom who is struggling tremendously. I’ve been involved in an adulterous affair for almost 8 years now and I confess it before God and this community of dear women believers. I don’t have many godly, christian friends so I get lonely easily. However, the enemy has made sure that my two lost friends from prior to my salvation have been involved in my life. I know, as a believer that this is basically spiritual suicide. I’ve isolated myself, which is right where the enemy wants me and what’s worse is my precious ten year old daughter has seen a defeated, beaten down mother who has been a terrible witness. She is reaping the consequences in her own life now as she turns to ungodly things to heal the wounds of not having a father. I am begging someone to please pray for us! I need to be delivered from the bondage I am in and set free from the lies of Satan. My daughter needs a mother who will not abdicate her God given role as a godly leader, but who will take up the armor of God and FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!!!!! I am asking for prayer, also, that I would not love sleep as this idol has kept me from waking up early and spending time with the Lord and getting my strength from Him before I start my day. I know the steps I need to take will be radical – please pray for the boldness, the courage, the POWER and the desire to do what needs to be done and not to return to bondage. Thank you so much. Libby
Praying for you and your daughter Libby. You are precious in Gods site!! Read Ephesians 3:14-21.