This post was written by Allie Beth Stuckey.

Pastor Robert Morris is one of the most influential pastors in the world, leading a church that gathers about 100,000 congregants each week. Today, he resigned after an alleged victim accused him of molesting her when she was aged 12-16. He was a married father and pastor.

In response to her recently published story, he didn’t deny the accusations but rather described his behavior as “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady,” which implies a consensual interaction with an adult. But, in reality, if her testimony is true, he sexually assaulted a pre-teen and was never properly held to account for it.

The accuser told her parents in 1987, and her father went to Morris’s church leadership and urged them to remove Morris from his position. Morris stepped away from ministry for two years, then was restored as a pastor.

But, if her accusations are real, he never should have been restored. Child molestation isn’t just a sin, it’s a crime. This should’ve been handled by civil authorities, which God gave us to keep evil in check. Instead, it was brushed under the rug after he was “restored.”

Let’s set something straight: repentance and restoration does not include restoring an accused abuser to a leadership position (if, in fact, the claims against him prove true). He can be forgiven. He can be restored to the body of Christ. But he failed to fulfill the requirements for overseer God gives us in His Word, and his sin may have posed a real threat to vulnerable members of the flock. A person like this should NOT be a pastor again.

I pray for the alleged victim, Cindy, and her family, that they’d be met with peace. I pray for Gateway and its members, that they would cling to Jesus, who never changes, fails, or betrays us, and who is the sole author and finisher of the Christian’s faith. I pray for Morris, that God would humble him and that he’d walk in total honesty and repentance. I pray also for his family, that God would be near to them.

Lots of lessons to be learned from this tragic story.

A blog post by sister in Christ, Robin Self.
PUBLIC SIN DEMANDS PUBLIC REPENTANCE https://aworthywalk.com/2024/02/05/public-sin-demands-public-repentance/

Video
Bryan Denlinger - #sermon #scripture #scriptures #bible #biblestudy #kjv #kingjamesbible #bibleclass #kjv1611 #faith #religion #Christian - When #God Speaks Through #Tornadoes - "As of May 28, 2024, there have been 862 confirmed twisters this year, although many of the ratings are considered preliminary until published in the National Centers for Environmental Information ( #NCEI ) database. NCEI is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( #NOAA )." This statistic is shocking, to say the least. And we aren't even half way through this year, yet! How should a Christian look at this huge number of Tornadoes? Is it just a "coincidence", or is it God's way of trying to get sinners to pay attention, and see their need for repentance? Pastor Bryan will be answering these questions in the very important sermon. https://youtu.be/ak-leAaMiWk?si=AiX_JA3sYLs0KnX5

Video
Bryan Denlinger - #sermon #scripture #scriptures #bible #biblestudy #kjv #kingjamesbible #bibleclass #kjv1611 #faith #religion #Christian #faith - When #God Speaks Through #Tornadoes - "As of May 28, 2024, there have been 862 confirmed twisters this year, although many of the ratings are considered preliminary until published in the National Centers for Environmental Information ( #NCEI ) database. NCEI is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( #NOAA )." This statistic is shocking, to say the least. And we aren't even half way through this year, yet! How should a Christian look at this huge number of Tornadoes? Is it just a "coincidence", or is it God's way of trying to get sinners to pay attention, and see their need for repentance? Pastor Bryan will be answering these questions in the very important sermon. https://youtu.be/ak-leAaMiWk?si=AiX_JA3sYLs0KnX5

'Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!'
Isaiah 5:20
https://www.bible.com/bible/114/ISA.5.20

The statement which Isaiah used to describe his time, could very well describe the time we are in now, particularly in the US, Canada, NZ, Australia, and Western Europe. It is definitely such a time when evangelical believers in Christ are greatly hated by society in general, and marxists, lgbt, especially transgenders, and Muslims are glorified. We are in such wicked times when stay at home moms are vilified, while abortionists, grossly sexually immoral folks, and drug fiends are praised. The only solution for such folks caught up in such web of sin is repentance unto faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps you are one who needs to repent and believe the gospel. Mark 1:15b

https://youtu.be/WpwrwxHSU74?si=-Woz1g16pTRy-1e7
The message of repentance

That ad campaign is such a falsehood about Jesus. No gospel, no repentance, no story of how He comes to save us from our sin - if we will but turn from our sin!

”The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.“
‭‭II Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/2pe.3.9.NKJV

Hebrews
Chapter 12

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews
Chapter 6

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews
Chapter 6

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this will we do, if God permit.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Ezra's Prayer of Repentance
https://ko-fi.com/post/Ezras-Prayer-of-Repentance-T6T7S5ZXK

Jude 3-4
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only LORD God, and our LORD Jesus Christ.

Every believer should take Jude's advice to heart: we must contend for the faith on a daily basis with a passion and fervor that shows the world that we mean business. The church has dropped the ball when it comes to standing for truth, which opened the door for the enemy to come in and try to change the Gospel of Jesus Christ into something that it is not. We must not stay silent. We must not only share the Gospel, but we must fight for the truth. We cannot allow ungodly false teachers to continue to gain traction and influence the next generation to believe the lies that they spread. We cannot continue to settle for a watered down Gospel that does not require repentance from sin or a holy lifestyle. We must earnestly contend for the faith.

I am as guilty as any of not doing all that I can to influence others for the Gospel. I am guilty, in the past, of being under the influence of questionable teachers and being part of certain movements that I have since learned were erroneous in their doctrine. My grandma used to say, "When you learn better, you do better..." When we learn the truth, we have to contend for it.

2 Corinthians
Chapter 7
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

3I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

2 Corinthians
Chapter 7
1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

3I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

5For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

12Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.

14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.

15And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

16I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Psalm 7:8-9
The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

David knew the God of the Bible very personally. He knew that God is the Judge of all the earth and He will judge mankind righteously. David asked the LORD to consider his integrity in His judgment, because David knew that he tried to live a life that pleased the LORD. David was loved and respected by his people, and he in turn. loved and respected them. He would, once he became king, passionately defend them. But his predecessor did not, and David prayed to the LORD that He would bring that wickedness to an end. David knew that God knew the content of both men's hearts, and David asked the LORD to judge accordingly.

As I read these verses, I think of the political climate here in America. It is sad to see men running for political office, and their motives are on obvious display. It doesn't take a doctorate degree to see when one candidate is lying to suit his own purpose, and another is telling the truth because he has a love for this nation and wants to see all doing well. I often pray for some of the candidates, that the LORD will save them with the power of His holy Spirit. I pray that the LORD will use them for His glory, to lead this nation in a manner that pleases Him, Are there some candidates that have placed their trust in the LORD and want to please Him as King David did? I am sure there are. They may be few and far between, but I know that God has a remnant in most areas. But the wicked leaders make sure they are center stage, and they use their power to do the most damage to as many people as they can. They are filled with hate and want to destroy any and all that don't agree with them. God knows their hearts, and His judgment will reign over them according to the content of their heart.

Today would be a good day to pray for political leaders and candidates. Pray for their salvation. Pray that the LORD would give them "Godly sorrow" that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Pray for our nation. Pray that it is not too late for us to turn back to God (2 Chronicles 7:14).