There’s a price to pay for sin. There’s a price to pay for adulterating God’s Truth. There’s a price to pay for ignoring God’s Truth. If we don’t turn back to God and stand firmly on His Truth, our children and grandchildren will pay the price.

 

The world--and especially Western civilization--could experience a moral, intellectual, political, and economic renaissance if God’s people, who are called by His name, would turn back to God and back to His Word. I know this is possible because it has happened before.

 

We live in a time of moral and spiritual anarchy, when the Christian church has added so many false ideas and unbiblical notions to the Gospel that the Good News of Jesus Christ has become obscured and unrecognizable. These are the conditions that prevailed in the first Dark Ages, from the fall of Rome to the Protestant Reformation, from the sixth century to the early sixteenth century. During those days, as in our own time, the church had added many false doctrines to the simple purity of the Gospel--such as the notion that paying money to the church (“indulgences”) could take the place of repentance for sin.

 

The Reformers challenged the corruption of the Popes, who had become drunk with worldly power and greed. The Reformers demanded a return to the purity of God’s Word and the simplicity of the Gospel. As the church returned to the simple message of salvation from which it was born, the Good News of Jesus Christ went out with renewed power--and the light of the Gospel ended the Dark Ages. It has happened before and it can happen again.

 

But it must begin with you and me.

 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a reformer in a world of corruption, leading people back to Your pure Gospel, the hope of all nations. May my light shine in the darkness--the light of Christ in me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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