Released March 4, 2014 – Download PDF:  The Price of Empty Rhetoric.03.04.14

As American leaders continue with their empty rhetoric regarding Russia’s invasion of Crimea, we can be sure that our ineptness is being watched very closely by Beijing.  China has already been flexing its muscles and has its eyes set upon the South China Sea region.  China has not denounced Putin because it is engaged in the same type of aggression.

At a very important and dangerous time in the world, America doesn’t have the leaders it needs because it has rejected the only leader that can defend her – the Holy Spirit.  In this regard, America’s government and the Church are partners in high crime.  America’s government is a mirror image of what can be easily observed in the leadership of far too many churches.  Many pulpits are full of rhetoric, even Bible words, but it is without the demonstration of power.  But Paul made the statement that, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power” (I Co 4:20).  The lack of power in the Church is evident for all to see.  It is the result of it spurning the Holy Spirit.

As many have already said, as the pulpit goes, so goes the Church; as the Church goes, so goes the nation.  Both the nation and the Church have arrived at the same place at the same time – judgment.  The Church has embraced the wisdom of the world and the strategies of men, but “the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God…’He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness’…the Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless” (I Co 3:19-20 NASB).

To those who have ears to hear and eyes to see I proclaim what the Spirit has declared to me – Lord will take back that which is His.  By its actions, the Church has continually stood in defiance against the Holy Spirit.  As a result, both the Church and the nation will witness His mighty vengeance.

Mark Biteler