Where have all of the preachers gone?

“I say then, has God cast away His people? Let it not be! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,  Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.  But what does the Divine response say to him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”  Romans 11:1-5

 

Certainly there are still preachers who are faithfully doing the work of the Lord throughout the world.  Yet it wasn’t that long ago that in America we had some preachers whom were used by God to proclaim His truth to many, many people across our once great land.  Billy Sunday comes to mind immediately.

 

Less than a hundred years ago Billy Sunday was preaching to crowds from coast to coast.  It is said that he preached to over a 100 million people directly during the ministry that God had given him to do.  While he was one of the most outspoken opponents of alcohol, he also preached against playing cards, dance halls, theatres and immoral reading material.  Billy Sunday did not shy away from telling the truth about God, proclaiming His truth regarding Creation, a literal devil, a literal Hell and also the Gospel, that Salvation is only through Jesus Christ.  That was then, this is now.

 

Here we sit in this country approximately a hundred years from his the peak portion of his ministry, a time when major cities newspapers would print his sermon in full on their front page.  Many people heard his sermons and repented of their sins, believing into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Where are all the preachers who are faithfully preaching the Word?  Why do we live in a time were such truth seems like fiction or nonsense to a world who is dying? 

 

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1st Corinthians 1:18

 

Instead we have preachers who speak to masses of people through both their programs that other churches institute, as well as their well published books, to the destruction of many.  We have entered a time of full blown apostasy, a sad portion of our history.  The people do not want to hear the truth, they would rather turn off their ears and close their eyes and be told lies, believing in demonic doctrines.

 

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, being devoted to corrupting spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared…”  1st Timothy 4:1-2

 

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unyielding, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away.”  2nd Timothy 3:1-5

 

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, through whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with well-turned words; whose judgment of old is not idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”  2nd Peter 2:1-3

 

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many entering in through it.  Because narrow is the gate and distressing is the way which leads unto life, and there are few who find it.  Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them from their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree produces excellent fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.  A good tree is not able to produce evil fruit, nor is a corrupt tree able to produce excellent fruit.  Every tree that does not produce excellent fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore from their fruits you will know them.  Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works of power in Your name?  And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who work out lawlessness!”  Matthew 7:13-23

 

This is serious business!  We live in a society that would think it is foolishness to call playing poker sin.  We live in a society that would find it ridiculous to tell them to burn their romance novels.  We live in a society that would scoff at the notion of turning off the garbage they view on their television sets.  Yet God has standards, His standards haven’t changed (Mal. 3:6), the Gospel message is still the same and these exact times that we live in have been prophesied beforehand, as well as what will come upon the world afterwards (Jer. 30:7). 

 

Rather then continuing on in the sins of this nation, as we now have crimes from coast to coast that are mind boggling, sodomite relationships ruled legal and a transgender movement that is growing in acceptance everyday, we need to get down on our knees, realizing the wickedness of our nation and repent to a holy and righteous God, the One to whom every individual will stand before!

 

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11

 

“And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

 

For those who truly know the Lord, do not forget the following:

 

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil men and pretenders will grow worse and worse, leading astray and being led astray.  But you continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  2nd Timothy 3:12-15

 

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with giddiness, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come upon you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”  Luke 21:33-36

 

Amen!