In the early 1980s, I was given an audio tape of a great man of God—David Wilkerson, best known for his book The Cross and the Switchblade. He was speaking at a large national conference of pastors and ministry leaders. What he preached that day was considered controversial, and I was later told that many in attendance did not like the message.
Wilkerson preached about what America would look like in the future—what God had shown him. He was a powerfully anointed man of God, a true world changer. With striking clarity, he described the violence, sexual immorality, and moral chaos that would one day define our culture. He spoke in detail about pornography and what would eventually appear on television—this was more than thirty-five years ago.
Many dismissed him as extreme. Some accused him of preaching doom and gloom. But the truth is, everything he described is exactly where our society stands today. He didn’t exaggerate. He nailed it.
The carnal temptations of today’s culture make it increasingly difficult for Christians to live the moral, Christlike life God’s Word calls us to. The question we must ask is this: Can a Christian still grow strong and live faithfully in the midst of such moral depravity? The answer is absolutely yes.
Though I have witnessed the erosion of Christian values, the redefining of marriage, the normalization of sexual perversion, the confusion of gender aggressively pushed into society—even onto young children—and the degradation of media at every level, I refuse to become discouraged. Though pornography is now accessible on demand and continues to seduce men and women daily, I will not lose heart.
We must read God’s Word. We must remind one another daily of the call to godly behavior and godly relationships. And we must pray.
When Jesus faced His greatest temptation—to abandon His mission of suffering for us and going to the cross—He knew His strength would come through prayer. That is why He took some of His disciples with Him to pray. Yet they did not understand the moment. They slept instead of praying.
Jesus revealed that Satan’s attack would not only be against Him, but against them as well.
Luke 22:31 (NKJV) “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.’”
Jesus was warning Peter that spiritual pressure and temptation were coming, and that only prayer would give him the strength to stand.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) says, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure." The combination of reading God's Word and praying is "the way out so that you can endure."
It is the source of a Christian’s inner strength, enabling us to walk out the Christlike life Jesus has called us to live. That strength comes from purpose. Jesus knew He had to resist temptation for the sake of others. In the same way, we resist for the sake of all those God has placed in our lives to influence.
That is our purpose—to be the light, the love, and the living extension of God to the world around us. Walking in that calling doesn’t just affect lives; it saves lives for eternity. Through prayer, that revelation becomes the strength that keeps us from failing and empowers us to live strong for the Lord. That sense of purpose is what has sustained me in writing Fresh Manna for more than twenty-two years.
Jesus clearly defined how we are to live as His followers.
Luke 10:27 (NKJV) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
We are also instructed to recognize the enemy’s schemes and understand that we have an adversary who desires to weaken our faith and derail our calling. Yet we are not left defenseless. We are called to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and to live out the truth of iron sharpening iron—helping one another mature and walk faithfully in the instruction of God’s Word.
We are to pray for one another. We are to commit ourselves to building and strengthening God’s local churches by serving others wholeheartedly. We are to walk in forgiveness daily, laying down pride minute by minute. We are to be the kindness and love of Jesus in everything we do. We are to reject sin and allow integrity and truth, lived out in the reverential fear of the Lord, to guide every decision we make.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Draw that strength through prayer. Stay focused on God’s will and purpose for your life. Stay the course. Prevail—not only for your own sake, but for the sake of your loved ones and for all those God has allowed you to influence.
This is your calling. This is who God has created you to be.
Luke 22:32 (NLT) “But I have pleaded in prayer for you… that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.”
