"Why bother taking a shower or bath? Am only going to get dirty again!" Have your kids said that to you, as mine did - and as I used to say to my parents! LOL!

Seems that parents live in Old Testament days, where the priest on duty at the Tabernacle, and then Temple, had to wash himself in the Washing Basin before making sacrifices on the Altar.....     

They washed whenever they entered the tent of meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses. (exodus 40:32) 

But we live in New Testament times, where Jesus washed us clean once and for all through His cleansing blood, on Calvary's hill. (Please don't let your kids read this bit! LOL!)      

10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:10-11)   

Unfortunately we all to often take licence from this to live how we like! We 'conveniently' forget to read the next verse.....  

12 ‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’– but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

Sin creeps back so easily into our lives. Peter warns us.....       

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is short-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)       

Theologically speaking, we are 'positionally' cleansed, but still have to work this out 'experientially' in our lives.   

Sadly, the church has walked away from the need for righteous living, thus the reason for David Wilkerson's, and my, plea.  

A plea for a return to righteousness in the church. A plea to each believer (myself included) to walk in the ways of Jesus, our mentor, guide and friend, through the Holy Spirit living within us.....      

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

To become imitators of Jesus, as were the Thessalonians.....     

4 For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-6)  

As we enter these times of great tribulation, which we can see developing daily, our God is calling us to a new life of righteous living, praising God as we stand before Jesus on His throne..... 

The great multitude in white robes       

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ 11 All the angels were standing round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’       

13 Then one of the elders asked me, ‘These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?’ 14 I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, ‘they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,” nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; “he will lead them to springs of living water.” “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”’ (Revelation 7:9-17) 

Do you, do I, want to be a part of the bride of Christ? To do that we must live holy and righteous lives now.    

This is the challenge facing each and every believer today.

These outworking's are the results of a weak faith, an ungodly lifestyle and a church more interested in 'putting bums on seats' through easy Christianity, Father Christmas teachings, than 'kicking people up the backsides', than on convicting people of sin. 

We supposedly preach a gospel of love, but which is not love, without showing people the consequences of sin. Jesus loved the sinner, but also was strong on not sinning. To the woman caught in adultery He said.....  

10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ 11 ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’(John 8:10-11)

The items listed in the heading are the result. A falling away of the young, drugs, alcohol and divorce plus more. And this is in the church! As well as in the world. 

Jesus told us that this would occur in the last days. Can you see these signs in today's church.....   

9 ‘Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, (Matthew 24:9-12)    

But the good news follows.....  

13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-12)        

Paul also writes.....

3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)        

And confirms.....   

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1)     

Jesus himself said through John, to the church in Laodicea, a picture of today's church.....

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:15-20)            

But the news is not all bad! 

In the prophecy of Joel, quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost..... 

Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. (Joel 2:23) 

At that time the autumn rains came but the spring rains of Holy Spirit power are still come, indeed are already starting today.....   

[ Patience in suffering ] Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. (James 5:7)

While the world will continue in its (more and more) wicked ways, there will be a mighty move of God.....       

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten-- the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm -- my great army that I sent among you. (Joel 2:25)         

Come Jesus, come.