James Darby told students attending last month’s Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria that Christians should not rededicate their lives, but instead repent of their sins.
By Brian Blackwell
LBM Newswriter
James Darby told students attending last month’s
Youth Evangelism Celebration in Alexandria that Christians should not
rededicate their lives, but instead repent of their sins.
“In America, our minds are messed up,” said Darby,
pastor of Body of Faith Church in Houston, Texas. “There’s no reverence
for him. There’s no respect.
“You think you can come to God on your terms?” he
continued. “God is sovereign. Has anybody told you it’s not about us,
but it’s all about God.”
Darby said repenting may involve changing their comfortable lifestyle.
“But if following God does not cost you everything, you’re not following God,” he said.
Citing 2 Timothy, Darby challenged students to use
what God has given them in order to change America for Christ.
But in order for that to happen, Darby said Christians must do three things.
• First, Christians must have a clear conscience.
• Second, Christians must be broken before God.
“He recalls the tears that you shed when you call
out to him,” he said. “It’s called being humble before God.”
• Third, Christians must be sincere.
He explained sometimes God may ask Christians to
take a step of faith and perform a task that others may call ridiculous.
“Your friends may laugh at you,” Darby noted. “It
may not seem right in your mind, but God says trust in him with all
your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.”
When everything in society looks like it is falling apart, Darby said God will shine in the end.
“God’s gonna fix things,” he said. “So irregardless
of how fatal it looks, you keep the faith and follow through for the
father is not through with you yet.”
Darby said faith can transform Louisiana for Christ.
“I believe if we use what we got, God can do great
things,” he explained. “ Everytime there was a movement in this
country, it’s because the generation today stood up and said no more.
We won’t tolerate this.
“If we will transform this country, we need every
hand on deck,” he added. “We all play a part in this process.”
Citing Hebrews 10:35, Darby told the students it is too soon to quit rebuilding New Orleans.
“I know this state has suffered tremendously,” he
said. “It’s painful that many churches have suffered tremendously.
“But what God has started, he does not intend to
stop,” he added. “So I encourage you to not throw away your confidence.
“The storms are raging,” Darby continued. “But God
calls us to be reminded that he is still God and he is still sitting on
the throne.”
Now is the season for repentance, he noted. He
explained that if Louisiana will experience revival, persons must
repent of their sins.
Before a person repents, Darby said he or she must humble himself or herself before God.
“You don’t want God to humble you,” he said. “He
says place yourself under the mighty hand of me and I’ll exalt you in
due time.”
Once a person repents, Darby said he or she is a prime target for Satan to ruin their lives.
“You’re moving to and fro,” he said. “If Satan does
not catch us going to something, he’ll catch us going from something.”
However, Darby reminded persons not to fight Satan, for the battle belongs to God.
“There’s power in the hands of God because he really
cares about you,” Darby explained. “If God is for you, who can be
against you.”