Jan 10, 2021 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

Part 2: What Went Wrong?

A lot went wrong in 2020! People lost their jobs and businesses, many died of the Covid-19 virus, and there is now a completely one-sided political control of the Federal government. There seems to be no check & balance, common sense, or hope for a financial future. There is only hate and a ‘let’s get even’ attitude among the American people. Can things get worse? Yes, they can! But the Bible offers truth to those who will love wisdom and hate unrighteousness. The Church in America made three mistakes, so let’s correct our errors and move on to ‘God among us’.

In Matthew 4:1-11, the Bible states how the devil tries to destroy all that God is and what He wants to do. “The spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. After forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. (1) The Devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, to which he replied, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word God speaks.’ (2) The second temptation was for Jesus to throw himself from the highest point of the temple and order angels to catch him. Jesus replied, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ (3) Finally, the Devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping him. Jesus replied, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him’!” (CCEA). In this biblical story, you will see your mistakes and discover your redemption through Jesus Christ. (The numbers below reference the numbers in this story.)

One, the Church has been lazy. Our material needs come before taking God at His word—His every word! We thought ‘our wisdom’ was good enough thereby God’s word takes second place whenever we think ‘that in our flesh’ we can overcome evil and Satan’s plans. We cannot become overcomers without living by and believing in ‘every word’ of God. This is our strength, this is our bread, this is what gives us power to resist evil. America is too materialistic, and we have way too much of everything. We must be willing to say ‘no’ to anything that exalts itself above God.

Two, we keep tempting God. We say, “God will take care of me no matter what”—we think that this is faith. Nothing is farther from the truth. Faith is found/exercised in humility and the fear of the Lord. During this pandemic of Covid-19 Christians tempted God in saying ‘God will protect me’ yet many Christians died by the virus. Why? We live unhealthy lives, corrupt lifestyles, eat junk food and then want God to protect us and heal us. Would you jump off a cliff onto rocks below believing that God will protect you because you are somehow ‘special’ or a ‘person of faith’? If you would have treated your body better and wisely the virus would have little effect on your body. Why keep tempting God? Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so treat it with respect and quit tempting God by living an unhealthy lifestyle.

Three, American Christians think the Constitution, our laws and legal process, and America’s religious history will somehow protect the Church and bring about God’s special blessing that no other country has ever experienced. Well, you are wrong! It is not the ‘Kingdom of America’ that is blessed, it is ‘people who are called by God’s name and keeps His commandments (Jesus’s words)’. Are you praising the USA more than you praise God? Will you only stay a child of God if America stays a Christian nation? Quit worshipping America—worship God alone! It is time to serve God no matter what and not look to America for help or assistance. The strength of any nation to fight against evil and Satan’s plans is in praising God, rejoicing in His plans, and serving God as servants—unworthy servants!

This is what went wrong—one, two, three. Jesus is our example, and it is time we do things His way, making His decisions our decisions, and choosing His truths over Satan’s lies.

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” Joel 3:14, NLT. May Jesus forgive all of us for every failure and to find/receive strength to accomplish God’s will in ‘the day of the Lord’!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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