Walking In God's Favor?

Jeremiah 2:8, “The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.”

The priests, pastors, and prophets led the way for Judah into apostasy. Through the words of Jeremiah, God was revealing a pathway to victory. But there is only one way to secure God’s favor. Judah must acknowledge their defiance of God’s law and return to God in repentance and submission. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God was pleading with Judah to return to Him and to His Favor.

What is the parallel for today? The leaders of American churches have led the way toward apostasy and must bear the responsibility for the conditions within the churches. A congregation will not rise above its leader. Then, it becomes the responsibility of those leaders to represent God’s Truth in word and deed. Godly leaders will uphold God’s standard, which is God’s truth. True leaders are co-workers with the Lord Jesus Christ through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. God said that He would lift up His standard when the enemy comes in an overwhelming force. “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19

We are now experiencing the onslaught of the dark forces released from the Satanic abyss. The enemy is angry that the Church of Jesus Christ would dare to rise up and oppose him. But now is the time for that very thing.  Every pastor, leader, and congregation has been pressed by the will of a carnal society to accept all people and lifestyles. This external influence has pressed into the Church, creating internal conflict. The pressure of inclusion and compromise has led to a deviation from God’s Truth.

However, God has a standard for us to embrace, accept, and model if we are to name the name of Christ. God’s standard is Holiness. God requires repentance and a turning away from sin to the holiness of God’s Truth. Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Godly leaders must preach the glorious Gospel of God’s Truth. Jesus is returning for His Church made ready by the washing of the Word that His Church may be presented to Him, Holy and without Blemish.