1. SOFT PREACHERS & SOFT PREACHING “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11 1

2. Physical Israel – Spiritual Israel Is there a connection? 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, 6, 11 Do you understand “upon whom the end of the ages have come” means you? 2

3. Spiritual Israel has Fallen! Do you understand Galatians 6:14-16? “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” 3

4. Why has the church fallen? According to Galatians 6:16, The Israel of God is the Church of Christ, Romans 16:16, “The churches of Christ greet you.” But consider 17-20, “and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” “When the world and the church walked together” (Authority for quoting from a human poem-Acts 17:28) 4

5. The Present Crisis We see dimly in the Present what is small and what is great, Slow of faith how weak an arm may turn this iron helm of fate, But the soul is still oracular; amid the market's din, List the ominous stern whisper from the Delphic cave within,- "They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin." James Russell Lowell - 1844 5

6. Jeremiah 6:10-17 “Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” 6

7. Jeremiah 5:30-31 “An astonishing and horrible thing Has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” 7

8. “Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.” JEREMIAH 17:5 8

9. Isaiah 62:6, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent,” WHERE ARE THE WATCHMEN IN SPIRITUAL ISRAEL TODAY? 9

10. Ezekiel 3:16-21, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:” Acts 20:26-27 WATCHMEN IN SPIRITUAL ISRAEL 10

11. “Who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ And to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.’” ISAIAH 30:10 11

12. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-2 12

13. GOD’S WORD  What happens when Truth is Reduced to a Matter of Opinion?  All is lost!  1 Kings 18:17-24, “How long will you falter between two opinions?” 25-40 13

14. GOD’S WORD  2 Peter 3:17-18  “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;” 14

15. GOD’S WORD  Be on guard lest you be carried away with the error of the wicked!  (It’s not what they are saying, but what they are not saying!) 15

16. GOD’S WORD  Acts 2:40-41, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked and perverse generation, and as many as received his word were baptized both men and women” KJV  And how might anyone do that if they don’t make judgments in regard to the generation they are living in? 16

17. GOD’S WORD  Psalm 1:1-2 or is it to be, “Peace in my time” regardless of the cost?” DOES IT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU? 17