I'm over it. I'm over watching the religious spirit that operates from a place of fear and reason, all the while calling itself faith and teaching others to do the same. I'm over watching the enemy wreak havoc in the church at large by preying on the weak and offering what the world's after. Where are the men and women of God that will say no more?
My heart is just so heavy. I've noticed with sadness that there are more and more divisions within our churches, and I'm not simply talking about different demoninatons. Where are the peacemakers? Where are the children of light that possess the love of God? How has the antichrist spirit prevented us from having the ability to walk peacefully in light and truth with other believers in real agape relationships, practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ and seeking answers from Him instead of using the scriptures as weapons against eachother?
We tend to look more like the arrogant pharisees of Jesus's day than the salt and light of the early followers of the way. There's a huge movement of people pulling away from the gathering of the saints and turning towards an internet buffet of whoever agrees with them at the time. We have a resurgence of gentiles attempting to become Jews. We have self proclaimed five fold whatevers abusing and taking advantage of immature baby believers and churches that are so desperate for a sign that they willingly allow themselves to become abused and degraded all in the name of "honoring" these so called men and women of god so that they may someday obtain the "supernatural power" they seek. We have people creating teachings about demons that you can literally lump anyone that disagrees with you into a category..... "she's a Jezebel; he's a Jezebel." Doctrines of demons about demons. Surely that serpent is more crafty than any other beast that the Lord has made.
It's gut wrenching to watch as more and more men and women worship teachers, healers, prophets, evangelists, and pastors hoping that somehow they might "get" their anointing while they fail to remain faithful with what they've already been given. Broken people hurting broken people because the gospel they've heard has a form of godliness but denies the very power that would set them free.
They preach free salvation and deny the sound words of Jesus Himself. Jesus said plainly "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels".
Not convinced?
The rich young ruler was after eternal life and when he asked Jesus how to obtain it the master didn't say pray this prayer, He was very straight forward about the level of repentance and trust He required; "Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Baptism with water for the forgiveness of sins has somehow become a serious point of contention even though Peter himself used those words on Pentecost directly after being filled the the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
Repentance in some places has been thrown out almost completely. God's love is being twisted and perverted into tolerance of lawlessness and in some places even the acceptance of sin. Scripture clearly points to the fact that God's love is demonstrated by the fact that He sent His Son to us. Without repentance and faith towards His Son, we are all Gods enemies. But Jesus, He came to show us the way, to teach us the truth, and to give us His life. God's children are those who trust, believe, and follow His Son, this is why when on the mountain top with Moses and Elijah, God spoke and said listen to my Son! Then of the three only Jesus remained.
There is no balance, grace is being taught as favor and WE as a church have found ourselves sickly and anemic with little to no influence on the world around us. We chase and buy into every next big thing while our lust and our selfish nature are protected by the hirelings in the pulpit from the cross of self denial that Jesus calls us all to carry.
We fill ourselves full with knowledge of the scriptures never coming to the place where we realize they are all about Jesus, that we really know nothing if we don't know Him. We are so self-serving that we cannot but barely discern our lives in churches from the dog eat dog ways of the world. I'm not speaking of unbelievers; I am speaking to professing believers that would rather be right than get right with their brothers and sisters in Christ. It's so easy to point the finger, but after a lot of contemplation and some serious prayer, I can see clearly that there is but one root that has clearly grown in our church culture without much opposition. That root simply put is pride; antichrist pride which breeds rebellion.
Everyone wants to be something more in the kingdom. Everyone wants the power, the glory, and the fame. Everybody wants to be served, but no one wants to humbly serve others unless, of course, it serves them. Simply put, everyone wants to live, but no one wants to die. The pride in us must die before anything of heaven can grow within us. We have traded the cross for a crown and sought to somehow find an easier way than the way of Christ, while He learned obedience through the things He had to suffer through.
Well, my friends, I speak the truth when I say this: there isn't an easier way. We must all make this choice for ourself. Will you lose your life for His sake, or would you rather live your best life now? As for me and my house, we're going to devote ourselves to Jesus. We will practice His teachings and demonstrate the good news of His Kingdom through sacrificial love while preaching Him. All we want is to know Him, to love Him, and to hear His voice, and we've decided that we'll get rid of anything in this world or within ourselves that seeks to get in the way of our ability to abide in Him.
What will you do?
Stay awake brothers and sisters, a great many have been lulled to sleep by the spirit of this age so I will ask you again; what will you do?
There is so much more to life in Him; freedom, healing, wholeness, love, peace, joy, and right standing with God; but it's only found in Jesus.
There is no other way.
"You’re all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
But I’m in the very presence of God—
oh, how refreshing it is!
I’ve made Lord God my home.
God, I’m telling the world what you do!"
Psalm 73:25-28
