We are living in a time in church history where the spiritual diets being served from many pulpits these days are comparable to chocolates, candy, and ice cream - sweet, desirable, tantalizing ... empty calories. Devoid of nutritional value, the teachings cannot empower or enable the believer to experience any tangible spiritual health or growth.

We are living in a dangerous era when, as rightly said by Steve Hill:

"The doctors of the Word, the pastors, are scared to prescribe the medicine that was made available from Heaven's Pharmacy 2000 years ago. They see the disease, but are afraid to properly treat it for fear of offending. ... Sin is the disease. The Blood of Christ is the cure. Repentance is God's method for putting the two together. That's not a sweet message. For Jesus it was a bitter cup."

Paul warned his young protégé, Timothy:

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Tim 4:1-4, NKJV

This is why ICCLA's vision is to make disciples of all nations, by teaching, preaching, and instructing in the undiluted word of God. My wife and I join the apostle Paul to say, as he said to the church in Corinth, we are jealous of you with godly jealousy, for we have betrothed you to one husband, that we may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Help us to accomplish this vision by living out what is being preached from this pulpit - the undiluted Word of the Only and True Living God. May He richly bless you and all that pertains to your household. Amen.