Count on 2016 to be a period of intensification of the judgments of God to fall more heavily upon the United States of America.

How many more gracious opportunities will He give us to humble ourselves before Him in repentance?  So far, as a nation, we have refused them all.

God is judging us (Romans 1:18-32) through our gross sexual immoralities, ongoing mass murders of innocent babies, appetites for sensual pleasures, despicable perversions of His Word spewing from our churches, plague of pornography, high tech surveillance , emerging police state, vile invasions of Islam, natural disasters and economic downturns.  Included in all this are the continuous plagues of evil spreading virtually unchecked through our demon-controlled tyrant- in-chief, Barack Hussein Obama.  These are just some of the horrific proofs we as a nation have become everything but “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Rather we have become the opposite, the land of the bound and the home of the cowardly.

Truth brings us freedom. Lies bring us bondage (John 8:32, 36). We’ve swallowed the ridiculous lies of evolution. We’ve embraced the lie that a baby in its mother’s womb is simply a “product of conception”, legally disposable at the wish of the mother. We’ve been convinced that sodomy should be welcomed into the mainstream of society. For centuries now we’ve believed the lies that a combination of better education, religion, money, political leaders, technology, and the government will save us.  Now God is judging us through these idols that have blinded us and kept us from the truth.

As a result, cowardice is thriving.  Gutless “conservatives” in our national Congress recently refused to vote to defund Planned Parenthood. They now share the guilt of shedding innocent blood and have further fueled the wrath of God against our nation.  And apparently no one in Congress has the sense, conviction or courage to begin desperately overdue impeachment proceedings against Barack Hussein Obama.  After all, who wants to risk their reputation, political career, or life, to take such a controversial move?

Teachers are being beaten up by unruly students in our public schools because their administration policies are, at least in part, based upon fears of lawsuits from parents. Pastors and other church leaders are afraid to preach boldly against sin and for biblical righteousness because they don’t want to offend anyone or lose a “tither.” Got to keep their jobs, be well-liked, make sure the crowds coming in and pay for the new building you know!

Parents are afraid of correcting their rebellious children for fear of reprisals. Top military leaders have displayed their cowardice by refusing to resist new policies allowing homosexuals in their ranks.  Most of them apparently remained silent and opened wide for the new regulations to be shoved down their throats by the Obama administration.  Where are the military leaders who actually keep their pledge to “defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic”?

The Constitution has plenty of domestic enemies, and thousands of them are elected or appointed officials operating in and out of Washington, D.C. Time and time again they have established unrighteous policies and legislation foreign to the Constitution and certainly to the Word of God. Who among us has the courage to stand in their way? Will we continue to sit silently in increasing bondage to their lies or finally be brave enough to speak up and stand against them?

There is yet a small minority of courageous people in our land.  They are gutsy men, women and children.  They are living demonstrations and bold voices for truth and righteousness. Though an extremely rare breed, they can be found in major cities and small towns, in rural areas, in homes, offices, factories, churches, websites, legislatures, schools, media and in other places you would never imagine. These are “the salt of the earth and the light of the world”, Matthew 5:13-16.  The world is not worthy of them, Hebrews 11:38a. They are standing up and aren’t shutting up until the day they die. And then their good works will follow them, Revelation 14:13.

In II Samuel 23:9-12 we read of Eleazar and Shammah. They were two men who on separate occasions stood their ground alone when the cowardly men of Israel had run away from their archenemies, the Philistines. God’s word says of Eleazar in v. 10,”He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave (stuck) unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.” Though greatly outnumbered by the Philistines, one man, Shammah, stood in the midst of a garden of lentils (peas, beans), “…he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.” v. 12

There are still some in our land standing and fighting as these men once did. These modern day soldiers of God once were lost but now are found, were bound but now they see.  Their passion is to help us see as well and break out of the dark maze of lies into the freedom only Jesus Christ can give. They are not intimidated into a guilty silence of cowardice. Even though Satan and his crew slander them daily and would love to snuff them out, they continue to this day by the grace and mercy of God. They are standing firm while most are running away. We do well to identify these truly brave ones, listen attentively to what they have to say, and follow their example before it’s too late!