Israel Folau has told a congregation to ‘preach the truth without fear’ a week after he linked bushfires to gay marriage and abortion.
The sacked Wallabies star sparked outrage after suggesting fires and drought were God’s punishment for legalising same-sex marriage and abortion during a sermon at the Church of Jesus Christ in Kenthurt, Sydney’s north-west, on November 17.
On Sunday, Folau told churchgoers: ‘We must have the spirit within us and preach the truth without fear… We can all testify that we’re living in the last days.
‘When God calls you to do something, He’ll give you the power and authority to go and do the work that He’s called you to do.
‘At some stage your faith is going to be tested. Your faith is going to be tested whether at work or at school.’
Folau’s $4million contract was torn up by Rugby Australia after a social media post on Instagram saying homosexuals would go to hell unless they ‘repent’.
Folau (pictured) has encouraged churchgoers to ‘preach the truth without fear’ during his latest sermon
During the controversial sermon last Sunday, Folau said same-sex marriage was ‘going against the laws’ of God, before talking about abortion.
‘Abortion – it’s OK now to murder and kill infants, unborn children – and they deem that to be OK,’ he said.
‘Look how rapid these bushfires, these droughts, all these things they’ve come in a short period of time – you think it’s a coincidence?’
Folau told worshippers ‘God was speaking’ to Australia and said: ‘You need to repent.’
‘What you see out there in the world – it’s only a little taste of what God’s judgement is like. The news is saying these bushfires are the worst we’ve ever seen in Australia – they haven’t seen anything.
‘God is speaking to us. Speaking to you to repent and to turn away from this.’
The 30-year-old went on to say same-sex marriage and abortion were ‘evil in the eyes of God’ but were deemed by society as ‘good’.
‘This generation is full of arrogance and full of pride,’ he said.
‘They want to turn their back on God. They don’t want to know one bit of who God is because they’re so immersed in their sinful, wicked, evil ways.’
Footage shows Israel Folau suggesting same-sex marriage and abortion are to blame for Australia’s bushfire crisis
The fired footy player in October said he has no regrets over his infamous Instagram post during a conference hosted by the Australian Christian Lobby.
He opened up about why he paraphrased the bible passage, saying he recalled the ‘crazy prayer’ where he asked God as to whether he would continue to serve him faithfully.
‘So I knew it was going to be offensive to a lot of people … but ultimately it’s a message of love,’ Folau told the packed room.
In another sermon in June, Folau took aim at transgender children.
He said the government was allowing children, ‘basically 16 years old or younger’, to go through treatment despite ‘not even knowing what they are doing.’
Folau (pictured with with Maria) told worshippers ‘God was speaking’ to Australia and said: ‘You need to repent’
‘You see in today’s youths and everything, they are allowing young kids in primary school to be able to have the permission to change their gender if they want to by taking away the permission of their parents,’ Folau said at the pulpit of his church.
‘Now they are trying to take control as a government to make those decisions for young kids who are basically 16 years old or younger, they don’t even know what they are doing.
‘This is what the devil is trying to do, to instill into the government, into this world, into society, and it is slowly happening.’
Folau (left with wife Maria) said same-sex marriage and abortion were ‘evil in the eyes of God’ but deemed ‘good’ in society during his latest church sermon
An emotional Folau preached about figures in the Bible who stood up for their beliefs during an Eastern Sunday sermon on April 21.
He said: ‘At some stage, each and every one of us will face our own fiery furnace, and some of us may have already faced that.
‘In your workforce, if they’re telling you something that will compromise your faith, this is a test of faith in which you’re going to be put in a challenge, and the question is “What are you going to do?
‘With these guys, they were challenged and it was a matter of life and death, physical death. But they understood their treasures were stored up in heaven, not here on Earth.’
Folau (pictured) began to break down in tears during a sermon on Eastern Sunday about standing up for beliefs
He is the first Australian athlete to be sacked for expressing his religious beliefs.
Folau is suing Rugby Australia for unlawfully terminating his contract because of his religious beliefs.
He is seeking $10million in damages.
Folau (pictured centre) leaves a conciliation hearing at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney on June 28