“He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” —John 1:23
John
1:23 speaks of John the Baptist, who preached a message of repentance and
salvation from the wilderness. Carefully notice that the Bible doesn't
mention "voices" (plural) crying from the wilderness. The Bible doesn't
mention a "duet" or a "choir"; no, rather, the Word of God says that there was
a "voice" (singular) crying in the wilderness.
John the Baptist stood ALONE, preaching from his heart what he believed to be the truth. In fact, it was John's preaching against Herod's adulterous affair with his brother's wife that resulted in John's execution (Matthew 14:3-4,11). It was the Apostle James' preaching that led to his beheading by Herod in Acts 12:1-2. Notice in Acts 12:3 that it pleased the public.
It was Jeremiah's preaching that led to his imprisonment (Jeremiah 38:6). It was Jesus' own words that led to His crucifixion. Jesus said in John 15:25, "But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." Jesus said in John 8:45, "And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not." The fastest way to lose friends and make people mad at you is to TELL THE TRUTH.
Thus, sometimes as believers we find ourselves standing alone for our Christian faith. As the days grow darker and more apostatized in which we live, it is becoming lonelier and lonelier to be a Bible-believing Christian who contends for the faith. It is not very popular nowadays to preach against sin, take the Bible literally, stand for morality, and contend for the Christian faith.
The Word of God
The Word of God, the Bible, is a very unpopular Book these days. The Devil's crowd has tampered with the Bible (Romans 1:25), trying to water It down to redefine God and morality. This is why the word "sodomite" is completely removed from the godless New International Bible (NIV). It is no coincidence that homosexuals were on the translating committee.
The "King James only" believer is in a very small group these days; but in the right group I'm confident to say. I wouldn't give you a dime for every contemporary English Bible—give me the old King James Bible (the soulwinner's Bible, tested and proven over the centuries by great men of God such as Billy Sunday and Dwight L. Moody). Although the King James Bible may be considered outdated by some, It is the Voice of Truth crying in the wilderness.
Booze
It is extremely unpopular these days to preach against alcoholic beverages, such as beer. The reason is because so many people continue to drink them. Tragically, so also do the evils associated with alcohol continue. No wonder Proverb 20:1 warns us about the raging spirit and deception inherent in alcohol. Proverb 20:1 plainly calls beer drinkers "unwise" (that means "fool" in Hebrew). The Lord Jesus Christ saw the evils associated with alcohol in His time, just as we do today. Hence, there's NO way that Jesus would risk being an accomplice to helping someone become drunk (which is a sin — 1st Corinthians 6:10).
Jesus never turned water into intoxicating wine! Preaching against booze was unpopular in Billy Sunday's time, and it is still unpopular today. It's sad that most people have to lose a child to a drunk driver before they agree with the Bible concerning the raging deceptive nature of alcohol. The Word of God is a "Voice" in the wilderness crying out against the evils of booze.
Abortion
Abortion is murder, and it should be a MAJOR concern to every Christian. Unbelievably, some pastors think abortion is a "minor concern." This is apostasy! Why are the churches silent concerning this holocaust of children? What right do we have to stop a life which God has begun? Abortion is the epitome of selfishness. In spite of all the arguments which abortionists attempt to use to justify murdering babies, 99% of all abortions are the result of fornication.
Exodus 20:13 states... "Thou shalt not kill." Worldwide, over 400,000,000 babies have been aborted. That's 15% of the human population!!! Even more bizarre than murdering children is the selling of their body parts for money. The Word of God is a "Voice" crying in the wilderness against the evils of abortion!
Homosexuality
It should be alarming to Christians that multitudes of homosexuals are being hired into governmental positions as politicians, judges, and law enforcement. The homosexual community is extremely hostile towards the Word of God and everyone who preaches it's message. The video which the preceding link displays is of Michael Marcavage taking a stand for God at the Philly Gay Parade in 2006. As you can clearly see—the homosexuals surrounding him are cursing, blaspheming God, and expressing their utter hatred for God and the Bible.
Homosexuality should not be accepted as a legitimate lifestyle, and if that harelips every dog in the country... so be it! It is sinful to teach a child that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. Homosexuality is a sin. Any so-called "Christian" who is "gay-friendly" is apostate and needs to get right with God. The Bible is a "Voice" that cries out against the evils of homosexuality.
Feminism
Feminism has infiltrated America like an infectious disease, to the extend that even professed Christian women are turning apostate in rebellion against their husbands. Feminism is rebellion, and God hates it! Feminism is not about equal rights, it's about rebellion. Lucifer didn't say he wanted to be "greater" than God in Isaiah 14:14, he said "I will be like the most High" ... "Like." When the serpent, Satan, came to Eve in the Garden of Eden, he didn't tell Eve that she'd be "greater" than God if she ate of the forbidden fruit; rather, the Devil said "ye shall be as gods" ... "as gods." The feminist doesn't want to rule over men, she wants equal authority with men.
Thus, the only women pastoring churches are feminists, because the Bible clearly teaches women to allow the men to lead (1st Timothy 2:12). A wife who refuses to obey her husband is a feminist. Some wives are stubborn, and become angry when their husbands expect them to clean the house. This is sinful pride. The Bible is a "Voice" crying in the wilderness against the evils of feminism... "Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters..." (Isaiah 32:9)
Witchcraft
America has been flooded with witchcraft. Go to any secular bookstore and you'll see a plethora of books on witchcraft, astrology, the occult, psychics, and Satanism. The heathen world is infatuated with Satanism. There's been an explosion of godless TV shows, such as Sabrina and Witches, since Harry Potter was introduced to the public. Witches have good reason to be excited about Harry Potter. The book series is giving the "craft" a huge boost. No wonder that when interviewed by USA Today, a warlock endorsed Harry Potter and bubbled with excitement at the series’ wide acceptance by the mainstream...
He’s a charmer, that Harry Potter. The adolescent hero of J. K. Rowling’s series rides a broom, owns an invisibility cloak and magic wand, and has cast a spell over young readers the world over. He has modern-day witches enchanted too. "For once, the witches aren’t ugly old hags," said Michael Darnell, 39, a computer programmer from Winnipeg, Canada, who has been a practicing witch for over twenty-five years. "For once they’re the protagonists rather than the villains."
—USA Today, May 30, 2000
The Word of God is a "Voice" crying in the wilderness against the sin of witchcraft (1st Samuel 15:23).
Rock-n-roll, immodestly dressed women, and Fornication
America's rock-n-roll culture is a religion of immoral sex, substance abuse, and Satanic music. Sexual sins are running rampant in America as a result. Women never wore pants in public until Rock 'N' Roll came to America. Apostate churches have even embraced the Devil's music in what has been termed "Christian rock." As Evangelist Lester Roloff used to say, "There ain't no such animal." Why are God's children silent concerning the evils of so-called "Christian Rock?" All rock music is of the Devil and it often leads to fornication. The TV is also much to blame.
Hellivision is one of
the worst things that's ever happened to America. Television allows
strangers to come right into people's homes and commit adultery,
fornication, murder, and every other sin imaginable (Romans 1:32). The
Word of God is a "Voice" in the wilderness crying out against the evils of
Rock 'N' Roll, immodestly dressed women, sinful television shows, and
fornication.
Gambling
It's just a fact... gambling is a Trojan horse sin, i.e., it is often accompanied by booze, prostitution, worldliness, heathen entertainment, covetousness, greed, extortion, illegal drugs, suicide, nudity, racketeering, and organized crime. The Word of God condemns the desire to be rich (1st Timothy 6:9). Americans are covetous... Get it!, Get it!, Get it!, I want it!, I want it!, I want it! Gambling has grown into a $50,000,000,000 a year industry in America alone! What few people see is that little room in the back of each gambling casino where business is finalized.
Pick any online gambling casino and read their legal notice at the very bottom of the webpage. They basically threaten you if you don't give them their money from your gambling losses. It's all about money! The gambling advertisements show people having a great time, boozing it up, beautiful women, lots of fun; but they'll NEVER show you the man who just commit suicide over his losses. The Word of God is a "Voice" crying in the wilderness against the evils of gambling.
Divorce
We are living in a nation of liars and quitters who break their wedding vows by filing for divorce. The U.S. has the highest divorce rate in the world. Please read, Why so many divorces? Why is it that American women are so prone to file for divorce? In fact, American women are twice as likely to file for divorce than men. It is because of sinful pride! This is a direct result of feminist brainwashing of women in society.
The Word of God is diametrically opposed to feminism. Feminism has succeeded in producing a generation of career women who act, think, and talk like men. Femininity is fast becoming a quality of the past. Divorce is a sin, please don't listen to any fool who says it's not. God has promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). This is our Divine example.
The heathen world doesn't think twice about divorcing and starting over. As believers, we should have a Christlike spirit of longsuffering and kind-heartedness. As America progresses further and further into sin, it's people are becoming more intolerant of each other. 2nd Timothy 3:1-4 warned us about these horrible times... "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." There is a "Voice" crying in the wilderness against the sin of divorce. It is the Voice of God's Word (Matthew 19:8, Mark 10:9).
America Needs More Voices!
America could be saved if we had more men like John the Baptist and Billy Sunday, men who preached uncompromisingly against sin. It's bad enough that America lacks true men of God who preach against sin—it's much worse that professed Christians all across America are embracing witchcraft, homosexuality, abortion. Here's a church that even participated in a PRO-abortion march. Christianity Today is Pro-homosexual.
This is the apostate condition of America's so-called "Christians" today, and it is repulsive. America needs voices! The Bible says that there was a "voice" (singular) crying in the wilderness. In these times of increasing apostasy, it is becoming necessary for Bible-believing Christians to STAND ALONE, just as did John the Baptist. It eventually cost John his life. Truth has few friends these days.
"This whole society is rotten and Godless. The wrath of God is upon America. Mark my word: if God’s Word be true, this nation is headed for the dust." —Pastor Tom Malone (1971)
I AM A VOICE (MP3 sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles from 1983 | Download)
John the Baptist (MP3 sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles | Download)
