Post by LDM on Oct 20, 2009 7:58:07 GMT -5
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4
I have really just had a burden on my heart for the past few days about the church and how entwined many professing Christians are with the world.
Those who know me understand that I am not about legalism at all. I would prefer that a sinner stay in sin versus have someone performing to try and look like a Christian. There must be a heart change initiated by God alone to bring people to Him.
Yet, how has it become so acceptable for Christians to be just like the world? What happens when the salt has lost its savor? The result is what we see on the streets today...virtually no difference between what calls itself the church and what is the world.
Just like the world, the "church" TIVOs Oprah so they don't miss a show. Just like the world, the "church" rushes off to the theaters to see the latest movies promoting fornication, lawlessnes, and every unGodly thing. Just like the world, the "church" uses foul language and doesn't hesitate to cuss somebody out. Just like the world, the "church" puts its own desires and wants ahead of God, yet we want to believe that we are still "blessed".
I say "church" in quotations because I know this is not the true church of God. The actual church are those believers who are seeking God's face and submitting to Him so that He will have His way in their lives.
I guess I am so ready for God to bring together these dry bones Ezekiel spoke of so that He establishes for Himself an army empowered by His Spirit to move out in His name. I am praying for God's power to be made manifest so that this life's purpose can be fulfilled.
What is the purpose of words? We can talk or type until we are blue in the face. Our walk with God must be more than this. There must be a standard raised to make a clear distinction between what is God and what is not...signed off on by Him with power.
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" I Corinthians 2:4
There are a million other message boards, blogs, videos, conversations about the merits of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduisim, Witchcraft, etc. There are even such conversations about the doctrine of Christ and arguments over law, salvation, the trinity, the rapture... How long can we wander around in the wilderness of our own minds?
This may not be the typical message from me, but I am not going to put on airs. These are the things weighing on my heart right now. I am not saying that we shouldn't discuss Scripture or that we cannot learn from each other. The times just seem so pressing right now, I don't want anyone to get sidetracked, including me.
Let's make sure that our focus is in spending time with the Lord. I urge every one reading this note to forget religious debates and seek Jesus like never before. Don't worry about having "all of the answers." Don't mistake Bible knowledge as salvation. Don't focus on what may be right or wrong in your life right now. Just press in to God. Dedicate some time to prayer, fasting, and study. Seek Him to be renewed and He will complete the work He has started in us.
Below is a message from Bert Clendennen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw7BISS4U3s
God Bless!
I have really just had a burden on my heart for the past few days about the church and how entwined many professing Christians are with the world.
Those who know me understand that I am not about legalism at all. I would prefer that a sinner stay in sin versus have someone performing to try and look like a Christian. There must be a heart change initiated by God alone to bring people to Him.
Yet, how has it become so acceptable for Christians to be just like the world? What happens when the salt has lost its savor? The result is what we see on the streets today...virtually no difference between what calls itself the church and what is the world.
Just like the world, the "church" TIVOs Oprah so they don't miss a show. Just like the world, the "church" rushes off to the theaters to see the latest movies promoting fornication, lawlessnes, and every unGodly thing. Just like the world, the "church" uses foul language and doesn't hesitate to cuss somebody out. Just like the world, the "church" puts its own desires and wants ahead of God, yet we want to believe that we are still "blessed".
I say "church" in quotations because I know this is not the true church of God. The actual church are those believers who are seeking God's face and submitting to Him so that He will have His way in their lives.
I guess I am so ready for God to bring together these dry bones Ezekiel spoke of so that He establishes for Himself an army empowered by His Spirit to move out in His name. I am praying for God's power to be made manifest so that this life's purpose can be fulfilled.
What is the purpose of words? We can talk or type until we are blue in the face. Our walk with God must be more than this. There must be a standard raised to make a clear distinction between what is God and what is not...signed off on by Him with power.
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" I Corinthians 2:4
There are a million other message boards, blogs, videos, conversations about the merits of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduisim, Witchcraft, etc. There are even such conversations about the doctrine of Christ and arguments over law, salvation, the trinity, the rapture... How long can we wander around in the wilderness of our own minds?
This may not be the typical message from me, but I am not going to put on airs. These are the things weighing on my heart right now. I am not saying that we shouldn't discuss Scripture or that we cannot learn from each other. The times just seem so pressing right now, I don't want anyone to get sidetracked, including me.
Let's make sure that our focus is in spending time with the Lord. I urge every one reading this note to forget religious debates and seek Jesus like never before. Don't worry about having "all of the answers." Don't mistake Bible knowledge as salvation. Don't focus on what may be right or wrong in your life right now. Just press in to God. Dedicate some time to prayer, fasting, and study. Seek Him to be renewed and He will complete the work He has started in us.
Below is a message from Bert Clendennen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw7BISS4U3s
God Bless!