I'm praying for my friends in New York today. Gotta run and vote today.
Salty, bright, shining believers might not always see the changes that really need to happen, but they can be used to slow the downward free-fall slide.
There is a wise Restrainer here and He opts to work through people.The Holy Spirit has never been some spooky kinda Ghost, but He is the leading restrainer who indwells believers for a good purpose.
We don't try to reform sinners to live much cleaner (that's a waste as they switch from one idol to another.. perhaps self), when we can simply win the lost to Christ (including their repentance and faith) and let the Holy Spirit begin His sanctifying work on the inside. The Holy Spirit, due to His supernatural power, can thwart the flood of evil.
Let Him restrain you from places of temptation, and from the sins your old fleshly nature wants you to re-take part in.
Who is the Top Restrainer? This Restrainer is the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers.
How does the restrainer work? The Holy Spirit, through the church, acts as a force holding back evil and lawlessness in the world. There are so many churches and believers who always refuse to talk about Jesus as Lord, sin, or Hell. Too many mere motivational speakers in pulpits today. Who will that help.. very long?
Come to.. come back to Him. Get right with God today.. now is good!
What happens when the restrainer is removed? When the church is removed from the earth, the Holy Spirit's role in restraining lawlessness will end.
What will happen then? This will allow the "mystery of iniquity" to fully manifest, leading to the revelation of the man of lawlessness.
How does the restrainer work? The Holy Spirit a real Person working through the church, acts as a force holding back evil and lawlessness in the world.
What happens when the restrainer is removed? It's Rapture time. When the church is removed from the earth, the Holy Spirit's role in restraining lawlessness will end.
What will happen then? This will allow the "mystery of iniquity" to fully manifest, leading to the revelation of the man of lawlessness.
Will you, Christians, keep seeking Jesus and His will for you first? Will you pray in the Spirit, listen up, speak the Word with a good attitude -- yes, live as both salt and light in a morally corrupting, decaying, smelly world, reflecting the sterling character of Christ as you stay connected with Him today?
* 1. Living as Salt and Light (see these verses in their context)
Matthew 5:13–16 – “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Philippians 2:14–16 – “Do all things without complaining and disputing… in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Ephesians 5:8–11 – “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
Colossians 4:5–6 – “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders… Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.”
Titus 2:11–14 – “Live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.”
*2. Prayerful Attitude in a Corrupt World
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.”
Philippians 4:6–7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
Luke 18:1 – “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
1 Timothy 2:1–2 – “Pray for kings and all in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty.”
Colossians 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
James 5:16 – “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
* 3. Speaking with Grace and Truth
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up.”
James 1:19–20 – “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Proverbs 15:1–2 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Matthew 12:36–37 – “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
Colossians 3:8–10 – “Put off anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
1 Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.”
* 4. Living Pure and Upright in a Dark Age
Romans 13:12–14 – “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Galatians 5:22–25 – The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
James 1:27 – “Keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
1 Peter 1:15–16 – “Be holy in all your conduct.”
2 Peter 3:11–12 – “What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”
Micah 6:8 – “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Romans 12:9–21 – Love sincerely, bless persecutors, overcome evil with good.
Matthew 7:12 – “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
* 5. Attitude Toward the World and Its Corruption
1 John 2:15–17 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”
John 17:15–18 – Jesus prays, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
2 Timothy 3:1–5 – “In the last days perilous times will come…” yet we must remain godly.
Romans 1:28–32 – A description of a decaying world that rejects God.
Matthew 24:12–14 – “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Jude 1:20–23 – “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith… keep yourselves in the love of God.”
* 1. Living as Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13–16 – “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Philippians 2:14–16 – “Do all things without complaining and disputing… in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Ephesians 5:8–11 – “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
Colossians 4:5–6 – “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders… Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.”
Titus 2:11–14 – “Live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.”
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” – John Wesley
God expects faithfulness and fruitfulness -- so abide in the vine and bear fruit for His glory.
Go for Spirit full and He'll make you successful - be faithful and fruitful.
During the holidays, are you a fake Christmas Tree type person or a go out and cut a tree down, gaining a dead one type of person (it'll fade quickly and the pine needles will turn brown and fall off), or a person who keeps a living tree in the yard with roots still going down into the ground? (Man, Kurt, how can you just mix those metaphors? Dude!)
We've had some real and fake ones before. I planted one Christmas tree at my parents' San Clemente home and it is so So SO TALL and healthy, still bearing fruit today.
Hey Believer, you and I need to abide connected to our Source and keep our roots down in good soil.
Striving in the flesh is useless.
"But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” See Matthew 13:23-33
“Holiness is not the way to Christ; Christ is the way to holiness.” – Oswald Chambers
* 2. Prayerful Attitude in a Corrupt World
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.”
Philippians 4:6–7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
Luke 18:1 – “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
1 Timothy 2:1–2 – “Pray for kings and all in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty.”
Colossians 4:2 – “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
James 5:16 – “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.” – Oswald Chambers
“We must teach our children to pray, for prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse.” – Charles Spurgeon
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Watchman Nee
* 3. Speaking with Grace and Truth
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up.”
James 1:19–20 – “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Proverbs 15:1–2 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Matthew 12:36–37 – “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
Colossians 3:8–10 – “Put off anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
1 Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.”
“A gentle answer turns away wrath; but harsh words stir up anger – how true this is in the Christian life.” – Charles Spurgeon
“The tongue is the rudder of the ship of life; steer it wisely.” – John MacArthur
“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” – Mahatma Gandhi (fitting for the principle of godly speech)
* 4. Living Pure and Upright in a Dark Age
Romans 13:12–14 – “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
Galatians 5:22–25 – The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
James 1:27 – “Keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
1 Peter 1:15–16 – “Be holy in all your conduct.”
2 Peter 3:11–12 – “What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”
Micah 6:8 – “Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Romans 12:9–21 – Love sincerely, bless persecutors, overcome evil with good.
Matthew 7:12 – “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
“Be faithful in little things because it is in them that your strength lies.” – Mother Teresa
“Holiness is not the way to happiness; happiness is the way to holiness.” – A.W. Tozer
“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.” – John F. Kennedy (Christian principle applied)
* 5. Attitude Toward the World and Its Corruption
1 John 2:15–17 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”
John 17:15–18 – Jesus prays, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”
2 Timothy 3:1–5 – “In the last days perilous times will come…” yet we must remain godly.
Romans 1:28–32 – A description of a decaying world that rejects God.
Matthew 24:12–14 – “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Jude 1:20–23 – “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith… keep yourselves in the love of God.”
“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2 – amplified by Charles Spurgeon
“When you are living in the world, you will have trouble, but you do not have to be of the world.” – Billy Graham
“In a world that is often corrupt, the Christian’s call is to stand, to shine, and to act as a witness.” – John Stott
