1 Sam. 8:7 π Lk. 18:11 π Jn. 14:6 π Jn. 16:8 π Jn. 16:13 π Eph. 1:23 π Eph. 4:11-15 π 1 Jn. 2:27 π Rev. 3:16 π Rev. 3:22
“He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ( Rev. 3:22; top )
What is the paramount thing a church group should be accomplishing in their fellowship, especially in light of present-day fulfillments of numerous end-time prophecies? Getting them to tithe? Promoting mid-week services? Getting involved with community projects? Studying church tradition? Searching for world peace? And prophecies such as wars, earthquakes, people running to and fro, famines, available nuclear destructive weapons, catastrophes of all natures, as the entire creation is reeling and groaning under these burdens, fears and sins.
The church community in this hour is comparable to the Israelites during Samuel’s time, when they demanded to have an earthly king reigning over them. Samuel warned them what would happen, that kings would exploit and misrepresent them, and Samuel was right. However, the real error was in rejecting God as their king: “But they have rejected Me that I should not reign over them,” ( 1 Sam. 8:7; top ), God told Samuel. Can we remotely picture God’s feelings? Could it be He feels the same today?
Our contemporary Christian attitude is comparable to this in that we that are born of the Spirit and experiencing the indwelling Christ have rejected the Holy Spirit of God (the Spirit of truth) to have full sway in our lives. We would rather have some Church bylaws and traditions rule us, or to have a prophet or a pastor of a type guide our walk with God.
Are some of these ministries valid? According to Scripture, the ministries of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are valid, for the express purpose of bringing us into the maturity and fullness of Christ, to grow up into fullness in Jesus in all things, who is the head of the church. ( Eph. 4:11-15; top )
This has not happened.
How long does it take us to pray people out of occult bondage or drug addiction or the sins of fornication? The answer is ugly.
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide us into all truth. ( Jn. 16:13; top ) We don’t believe, nor will we totally trust Him, nor will we seek God and His Spirit with an undivided heart. We would rather trust a human source, or an earthly king, as did the Israelites.
We are ordained to get help from one another and to be taught by one another, however the anointing we need in this hour abides in us and “you do not need that any man should teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you of all things...” ( 1 Jn. 2:27 ) We are not to stop with the teachings of our friends and fellow members of the body of Christ; we must first seek Him who is “all in all” ( Eph. 1:23 ) and is all the truth. ( Jn. 14:6; top )
The Holy Spirit is talked about and experienced in the new birth, but seldom called upon or relied upon after that. He is our comforter, counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener, and totally to be leaned upon.
It should burn us on the inside as we sit in our Sunday morning worship and realize that a multitude of people are killing themselves with drugs, murdering, raping, stealing, embezzling, and promoting greed under the guise of success, but we are comfortable because we are “not like other men.” ( Lk. 18:11; top ) Lord be merciful!
The Holy Spirit will reprove the world of all these sins and of righteousness and of judgment ( Jn. 16:8; top ), but we aren’t calling upon Him to do this, nor are we seeking Him with our whole heart. We are busy with our building programs, while thousands burn. Not only that, but a great number of Christians are going through trials and excruciating times, and they are wondering, “Where are the brethren who claimed to love me?”
The brethren who should be helping are wondering what the other person has done wrong to go through this. They say, “Maybe they are using the wrong confession, so I'll stay away from them.” How long will God overlook our lukewarmness before He expectorates us to burn? (see Rev. 3:16; top )
The only church God wants to inhabit is our temple, because we are the Church.
The death of our spiritual walk is promoted by our desire to be noticed, successful, to perform at church, to direct activities of importance in the church - and be ready to greet those after services with a lovable handshake. And the recipient of the greeting of love hears the proclamation, but senses a death and darkness being ministered to him.
God be merciful to us!
We are told not to walk after the flesh but after the Spirit, but we have not allowed the Spirit of God to rule and reign in our lives so we cannot minister what we do not have.
Merciful God, give us another chance!
I’d love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!