First, we need to remember what the CHURCH of our Lord Jesus Christ truly is. That CHURCH is the collection of all born again, Spirit filled and baptized people in the world wherever they are…in a field, in a business or farm, in a worship service on Sunday or not, on a boat, working in a ditch, wherever. Its members all should be guided by the Holy Spirit. They should have and use the gifts of the Spirit. They should understand the authority they have in Jesus and the divine gifts such as spiritual healing. They should look with spiritual discernment upon all that happens. They should realize the times we are living in, the last days just before the return of the Lord. They should be focused on doing what they can to help God draw others to Jesus.
Notice I said “should” many times. Sadly, even some in this great true CHURCH with the definition I used of that CHURCH still are not operating in all those things written above. Some have drifted away. Some individual congregations may have been guided away from the razor sharp focus they should have on Jesus, the gospel, and his imminent return, being guided by the Holy Spirit in all things. Certainly that is possible.
On a much larger scale however is that great group of denominations and individual churches that I describe with the small letter word “church.” These include many of those impressive buildings made of brick and stone and other materials throughout the country and world, some enormous physically. So many of these have turned for decades to focus on social issues. They have completely missed the need to be born again in many cases, and in almost all cases save for a few have missed the wonderful Holy Spirit and the reality of his guidance in our time. They do not preach about the imminent return of the Lord nor do they preach the full gospel message of Jesus Christ.
I would maintain they are not part of the “CHURCH” at all. When Jesus comes and collects his believers, those going with him will be the true believers, those truly who know him. He gave several criteria for that which I have written about more than once – the need to be born again – or born anew - , the need to believe in him (meaning serious, serious belief), the need to do his father’s will, the need to believe like little children. The great missionary Paul gave the criteria of confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead, again the word believing being a serious belief. I just point out one essential thing here – if someone is your Lord, then you do what he says. You obey him. He is your boss. What did Jesus say to you? Read all he said in the gospels. And consider whatever else he has said to you in prayer.
So many people have not spent time reading the Bible or searching out the truth. So many naïve and in truth lost people have forsaken their own efforts and just attend a program on Sunday mornings in one of those buildings I referred to above to listen for twenty minutes to a message of little depth and no life-saving consequences. They are putting their trusts in the preachers and the little time they spend there. Yet some of these preachers are not even born again themselves! How can they know the truths of God in their hearts and teach others?
God is all about heart. It is your heart Jesus speaks to. It all has to do with God and you. One on one.
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!
(October 2018)
Copyright © 2018 by John Newlin
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