Standing for God in a Shaking World: Standing for Biblical Morality

The immorality of our day is one of the major signs of the end times. 

 

Luke 17:26–36 (NKJV)
And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.

 

Genesis 6:9–13 (NKJV)
This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”

 

Corrupt: Hebrew "Shacath"; evil; filthy; immoral

 

In Noah's times, just like ours, the world was filled with rampant immorality and violence, and God judged it.

2 Peter 2:4–10 (NKJV)
For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. 

 

Filthy: Greek “Aselgeia”; licentious; sexually immoral; insatiable desire for pleasure

 

Ungodly: No fear of God.

 

In Lot's times, there was rampant immorality and no fear of God. God took Lot out and poured out fire and brimstone to judge the unrighteous. 

2 Timothy 3:1–8 (NKJV)
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, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, 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! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith...

 

The Apostle Paul gives 19 specific measurements in this passage regarding the rejection of biblical morality. Why?

1. It explains the full spectrum of immorality. 

2. It explains why God hates immorality and why He will judge it severely.

3. It very specifically describes the world of the end times and why it will be such a dangerous place.

4. It describes the perverted value system of society in the end times.

Four prevalent values in America today:

1.   Exaltation of self/narcissistic

2.   Rejection of authority

3.   Rejection of moral standards

4. Disloyal, unloving, and verbally vicious 

Four ingredients of biblical morality:

1. Exaltation of God over self

2. Submission to God's authority and to His delegated human authority

3. Acceptance of the absolute moral standards of the Bible

4. Loving others loyally and sacrificially

We are the salt and the light of the world!

 

Matthew 5:13–16 (NKJV)
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

As believers, we have a crucial role in preserving society and showing people the way to God and the ways of God in our lives.

 

How to overcome in an evil world:

1. Be bold about your faith.

 

Mark 8:38 (NKJV)
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

 

2. Don't envy sinners or be deceived by them. 

 

3.  Live for God and not for this world. 

How to live for God:

1.   Put God first and seek Him daily.

 

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

2.   Seek committed and accountable relationships with fellow believers. 

 

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV)
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

3.   Seek to change the world for Christ rather than being changed by the world. 

 

2 Corinthians 5:6–11 (NKJV)
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

 

Jesus is coming! It is time to stand for God and for biblical morality.