“The Council of Man Versus the Promise of God” Psalm 2:1-12

TRANSCRIPT

Date: May 5, 2024 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

The most heartbreaking statistic to me is that 80% of evangelical youth leave the church when they reach adulthood, and that number has continued to increase since the youth ministry began in the 70s. According to the most recent survey, the main reason they leave the church is because they do not think Christianity is authentic. Other words for “authentic” include, true, real, reliable, and genuine. The number one antonym for authentic is “fake,” and it should cause us to cry out in repentance to learn that the ways we are expressing our faith in Jesus Christ is not even convincing our own children and youth that Christianity is real. God forgive us! In Philippians 4:9, the Apostle Paul told his followers, “ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Can you say that to those who are evaluating Christianity on the basis of your personal testimony? Can you say that to your Children? If we say we “believe,” it will be manifested in how we “behave!” God help us if we, in any way, directly or indirectly, put a stumbling block in the pathway of those children and youth who are looking at our lives to find the answers to their questions about life and faith. Help us determine to develop a contagious faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and let our faith infect others with that same desire to know Him as we have. May every decision we make, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to us, be evaluated as to how it will glorify the Lord, and affect our witness to those who are watching us.

The most heartbreaking statistic to me is that 80% of evangelical youth leave the church when they reach adulthood, and that number has continued to increase since the youth ministry began in the 70s. According to the most recent survey, the main reason they leave the church is because they do not think Christianity is authentic.

Other words for “authentic” include, true, real, reliable, and genuine. The number one antonym for authentic is “fake,” and it should cause us to cry out in repentance to learn that the ways we are expressing our faith in Jesus Christ is not even convincing our own children and youth that Christianity is real. God forgive us!

In Philippians 4:9, the Apostle Paul told his followers, “ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Can you say that to those who are evaluating Christianity on the basis of your personal testimony? Can you say that to your Children? If we say we “believe,” it will be manifested in how we “behave!”

God help us if we, in any way, directly or indirectly, put a stumbling block in the pathway of those children and youth who are looking at our lives to find the answers to their questions about life and faith. Help us determine to develop a contagious faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and let our faith infect others with that same desire to know Him as we have. May every decision we make, regardless of how insignificant it may seem to us, be evaluated as to how it will glorify the Lord, and affect our witness to those who are watching us.

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Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 37:21-28 New Testament Reading: Acts 1:1-9

Wayne J. Edwards

Since 1967, the members of the United Nations, including the United States, have demanded the sovereign nation of Israel give up specific areas of Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights, so a Palestinian state could be established in the Holy Land.

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.”  He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure.”

Psalm 2:1-51

After man’s rebellion against God at the Tower of Babel, in His sovereignty, God chose to raise up a new race of people through Abraham. In exchange for Abram’s willingness to step out on faith, God promised Abram:

Though they have been persecuted, mistreated, oppressed and harassed more than any other race of people, their very existence today demonstrates God’s providence, and God’s faithfulness to keep His promises.

God allowed the people of Israel to be removed from their land three times:

The land laid desolate until 650 AD when Muslim invaders moved into the land.

Since 1948, the Israel has given up 78% of the original land given to Abraham, and if the United Nations resolution is passed, they will only possess 18% of the original land.

In Ezekiel 37:21-27, God promised:

History is moving toward the fulfillment of that promise.

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