This week Michael writes: If
God wanted to move within a church, would the church's structure and traditions
allow God's Holy Spirit to move freely? Some traditions are healthy and
keep us within the framework to walk "circumspectly." However,
there's a fine line between respect for the sanctity and honor of the church
and the "freedom" and "liberty to walk in the newness of life.
As Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Why do you transgress the commandment of
God by your traditions?"
What is the condition of the
average church in America today? Survey reveal that only 15% of churches
in America are growing and only 2% of those that are growing are growing by “born-again”
conversion growth. The others are growing by "transfers" from another
church. Only five percent of all Americans attend church regularly. Even in the
"Bible Belt" only 35% of people attend church at all. Sixty five
percent of Americans have donated to a place of worship. However, only 9% of
evangelicals tithe as God commanded. Sixty percent of Christians say that they
are deeply committed to their faith. However, in the 1980's only one of 200 who
came forward in an evangelical crusade maintained their faith. Easy
Christianity is "sloppy" Christianity.
We need to walk circumspectly,
but legalism (dependence on moral law rather
than on personal religious faith) is not acceptable. Legalism says
"I can make it on my own. I don't need God's grace and mercy." Paul's
letter to the Galatians refutes the arguments for legalism. To stand
against “sloppy Christianity” requires "moderation" or self control
according to the Word of God. In 2
Chronicles 30:18-20, Hezekiah reinstituted the feast of the Passover. “For a multitude of the people, even many of
Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet
did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed
for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to
seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to
the purification of the sanctuary.
And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the
people.” The keeping of the letter
of the law is not the priority. Rather, keeping our hearts right before God is
the priority.
2 Chronicles 31:4. “Moreover
he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the
priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord.”
God doesn't need the
money. However the portion given to the church was so that both the
priests and the congregation would be blessed. Still true today. In Acts 6, when the Apostles called men to
"serve tables," the purpose was so that the apostles could give
themselves to prayer and the teaching of the Word of God. Sanctification and
holiness are from the same root word. Sanctification is to set apart according
to the purpose intended by the Designer. Sanctification is a deliberate,
purposeful and intentional act of the will according to God's divine design.
You have to be willing to be willing. To love is a choice to act to bless God
by blessing His people. Love is not just an emotion according to the Word
of God; it is a fruit of the Spirit.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 says, “Be strong and courageous,
be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude
that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm
of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.
And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
1 John 4:4 says,
"Ye are of God little children and have overcome them: because
greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world.
According to 2
Chronicles 32:19, “And they spoke
against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth
which were the work of the hands of man.”
People think that God is
like them. However, Isaiah 55 says, "As the heavens
are higher than the earth, so much higher are his ways than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts." The
disciples perceived the trials of this world from an earthly perspective. However,
Jesus said, "Know ye not that
presently I could call down twelve legions of angels?" Jesus had
72,000 angels at His command. According to Romans
8:31, “If God be for us who can be
against us?” Jesus said that whoever
sets his hands to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it but whosoever loses his life for
my sake shall save it.
The so-called "American
Dream" (the ideal that every US citizen
should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard
work, determination, and initiative) has watered down
Christianity. The Christian Church in China prays for persecution in the
American church. They know that tribulation
worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh
not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit which is given to us.
The solution to sloppy
Christianity is true discipleship. A disciple is a disciplined follower of his
Lord Jesus Christ in complete dedication, faithful devotion and authentic desire.
You can't serve God your way. You must serve God His way. Jesus said, you must
die to self in order to live for God.
Galatians 2:20 "For I
was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in
me and the life that I now live I live by faith in the son of God who loved me
and gave himself for me."
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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