(Photos by Andrew Snyder)

Speaking to an arena full of Liberty University students who represent the future of the Church and America, co-founder of Precept Ministries International and bestselling author Kay Arthur implored them to hold tight to the truth of Gods Word and stand boldly as Christ followers in the midst of a sinful earthly culture.

Arthur has authored over 100 books and Bible study workbooks since co-founding Precept Ministries International in 1970 with her late husband, Jack, and she reached millions through her time as host of her Precept for Life program on television and radio, reaching more than 75 million households in over 30 countries each day for more than 20 years.

On Wednesday, as Arthur returned to Libertys Convocation for the third time since speaking in 2013 and 2015, she expressed her thankfulness for the chance to once again address the student body. Students gave her a warm welcome, with an impromptu singing of Happy Birthday to celebrate her 88th birthday on Thursday.

Here I am at (nearly) 88 years old having the wonderful privilege of sharing with you the Word of God, which has gotten lost in many places in the house of God, Arthur said. I want us to pray, and I want us to ask God to open the eyes of our understanding, to show us the times in which we are living and to help us be prepared to meet our God. I believe that God is about to shake the things that can be shaken in a great and powerful way, and I believe this is our hour, this is our time, and we must seize the day.

She cited multiple times in the Old Testament in which Gods people had allowed their culture to devolve into wickedness and perversion. As it says in Amos 4, Arthur explained, those who reject Gods knowledge and opportunities He gave them to return to your God in the midst of trials are forgotten by God. She made the connection to the sinful practices that have unfortunately become prevalent in the United States and the rest of the world.

Think about your culture; there is swearing, there is deception, there is murder, there is stealing, and there is adultery, Arthur said. We are an adulterous and wicked generation, and we are being led by men and women who have no fear of God before their eyes and who are leading us more and more into the judgment of God as we sin.

The ultimate truth of God being sovereign and the infallibility of His Word is what can bring us out of this darkness, however, and Arthur said that Christians need to hold tight to the truth and to the light God has given his people in order to walk with Him. She cited one of her favorite verses in Scripture, Daniel 11:32b, which says those who know and follow God are able to stand firm and take action.

He rules over all and does according to His will, and that is the one (truth) that has enabled me and our (Precept) staff to stand firm and to take action, because the people who know their God will be strong and (do great things), Arthur said. Weve got to proclaim His Word, weve got to reprove and rebuke and exhort. We that follow Jesus will not walk in darkness, and because we are in the light and are walking as He wants us to walk, when we step out in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation, are (others) going to notice us? Yes.

Weve got to be willing to lay down our lives, lay down our freedom, for (the sake of) standing for truth; not turning to the left or right, but to observe and do according to all that God has commanded us, she added.

In 1963, as a 29-year-old who had no relationship with God and had been immoral in her earthly relationships, Arthur said she found herself crying out to God and asking him to transform her life and bring the peace she had failed to find on her own.

I fell on my knees and said, I dont care what you do to me, I dont care if I never see another man as long as I live, I dont care if you paralyze me from the neck down, if you will just give me peace. That morning, on my knees, I met God and I had the Prince of Peace living inside of me.

Since then, Arthur said that she has been amazed by what God has done in her life and ministry.

Never did I dream what God would do, she said. Any old bush will do to set on fire with the fire of God. We just have to know that its his fire and hes the one thats doing it. I never dreamed that (Precept) would end up in 190-some countries and over 90-some languages teaching people how to study the Word inductively, how to go to the text and find out exactly what God says, and then to live accordingly.

Arthur emphasized that every truth and every instruction for how to live is found in Gods Word. While books by todays pastors and theologians can still offer great insights, Arthur said the only book that can wholly speak into the life of a Christian is the Bible.

You and I are to live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God, she said. Jesus said that man doesnt live on bread alone but by every word of God, so know God deeply and put (away) a lot of the other books.

Arthur held her Bible in-hand in front of her toward those in the audience.

You (might) say, Ive got to be relevant (and read other books), but listen: this is relevance, Arthur said. This is reality, this is truth, and you and I need to claim it in season and out of season. You will be surprised by what God (will do).

In closing, Arthur shared a personal message of encouragement to the students, urging them to follow God through their education and future careers and make use of His provision in their lives.

I want you to know that I am so thankful for Liberty University, she said. I have the privilege of working with people who graduated from here, and I want to say, Well done, but I also want to say, Press on. Dont turn to the right and dont turn to the left, but observe to do according to all that He has promised and enabled you to do. To Him be the glory forever and ever.

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Kay Arthur returns to Liberty University, calls on Christians to 'stand firm' on the truth of God's Word Liberty News - Liberty News