50th anniversary of the Watts riots

Stunned at the seemingly unending news stories of racial tension, video of excessive force or  people being injured or killed while in police custody.  While I am stunned at the moral abasement and am a huge supporter of law enforcement,  I see that all of this tension is not going to end well.

Here at the 50th anniversary, God is giving a warning.  It is not being heard.

Ephesians 6:12 says our problem is not first with each other, but is a spiritual war.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Matthew 24:12 tells us that in these last days there will be an increase in lawlessness.  True enough. A spiritual problem.  Man is more depraved.  Law enforcement is more frustrated.  Limits are pushed. We're not in Mayberry anymore.

We continue with our Tower of Babel thinking - collectively we can fix it.  Better training, better policy, more fairness, transparency, dash cams, sensitivity training and opportunity.  (I'm for all of this, but we need to get first things first - man is evil and always has been - unless God builds the house...).

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

For the most part this is not the prayer.  The prayer obliterate my enemies, get my political party in power, get the homeless out of my face and give me prosperity.

2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (NLT)

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people— I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Unfortunately the western church has largely crashed and with it everything else.  Churches are now little more than neighborhood hangouts, where people get together with their friends, hear some nice music and a self edifying message.  Little transformation, little impact.

There are 1-2 orphans in the U.S. for every Christ professing church.  Step up.

2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NASB)

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

The great crescendo and crash is here.

Actors are on stage, from Tehran to Watts and from Damascus to Wall Street.

Places everyone,  look up with lamps full of oil.

Here He comes.

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