“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.” (Romans 12:2, TPT)
We are currently living in days where the Holy Spirit wants to get the full attention of his people again! These are days of profound opportunity, yet society is filled with division, confusion, polarised opinions and great deception! We are surely near the return of Christ, yet most of the world is unaware of this, are far from God, and the church is largely distracted from disciple-making and preparing for the second advent of Jesus.
The church in these times can appear to be led, even driven, by the media, political agendas, social media campaigns and wider public opinion. Never before have we witnessed such consistent media bombardment on so many issues with so little diversity or debate. As a result, if the media or governments campaign on issues (e.g. climate change), a wave of prayer events based on those topics are sure to sweep across the nations. I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t pray into current issues, but simply that we must be led by God and not by a world which has largely turned from God to follow various, often contrary, agendas. Because of the reality of the tsunamis of disinformation by governments, those who oppose them, and even some we should trust, we must carefully discern everything we hear, watch and read, and seek the Spirit’s leading in all things. Romans 12:1-2 teaches us that when we are totally given to God and His purposes, in a process of inner transformation and having our minds transformed by the Spirit, we will learn to discern God’s perfect and pleasing will for us.
So as we look to the profound opportunities and the challenges of 2022 it is crucial not to be imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around us! These are not days to be tossed about and driven by every opinion, whim, or even by the doctrines of some religious institutions (Ephesians 4:14). It is more important than ever to be founded on and informed by Scripture, influenced and led by the Holy Spirit, and ignited to action by a passion to obey Christ’s Great Commission. These are days to make strong, resilient disciples who know their God and do great exploits (see Daniel 11:32).
In these last days many challenges will come and the great falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3) will increase and intensify. But those who hear God, obey Him, and live for Him will experience the most profound and unimaginable glimpses of the coming Kingdom, the Kingdom we are receiving which cannot be shaken!
“May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, NLT)