The enemy wants us divided, on the sidelines, fearful, apathetic, defeated, our joy elusive if not eliminated. The word for church in the Greek, which is a very specific language, means “called out from to”. We as the church are called out from the world and called to relationship with the Lord. The enemies of God are clever, crafty and talented at deception and subterfuge. In the third century AD, the devil wisened up and made Christianity the state sponsored, inclusive religion, tolerant and accepting of all rituals, even those associated with Pagan worship. This effectively neutered the church for well over a thousand years, until revival again called revisionists “out of the church to repentance and re-dedication to the Lord. Unfortunately, God’s enemies outlive the short term lives of humans, so over time, this vigilance necessary to remaining a “called out body from the world to” allegiance and service to God has weakened. The church has become infiltrated, tolerant, impure and poisoned by worldly beliefs, rituals, attitudes and unbelievers masquerading as the saved. The question now becomes what shall be done about it?
For the short term, those who see this quenching of the Holy Spirit, this departure from the path to purity and accepted worldliness as a call to condemn church leaders. This condemnation has done even more damage to unstable church foundations and ostracized, banished or rendered impotent those voices and energetic believers who would help heal and reinstate the church to its pure calling. Again, the enemy is clever and plays to the natural weakness and blustery tempers of men, casting us in to the exact unresolvable conflicts that solidify our worldliness and infection. What is truly needed now, and I hear this calling of the Holy Spirit within my own heart, is that those called out must become ambassadors themselves, imploring, praying and calling the remnant of the church to re-dedication to the Lord. This is a difficult process, but logical and consistent with the Word of God, as we are called to loose those worldly characteristics of brawling, argument, discontent, condemnation, anger and critical spirits. We must individually decrease if the Holy Spirit’s characteristic fruits are the increase. The day will never be won with my own skills, attitudes, abilities and treasure. The victory will be the Lord’s and I must dedicate myself to getting out the way, allowing God to rule and reign through the vessel of my worldly body. I believe that those called out or admonished to a return to true Biblical Christianity, must now become the Diplomats required to awake the church for harvest work.
Many claims and few points for evidence require that I must make a better case for my supposition. First, I see very few members of my church, or any church in our region, serving the poor, orphaned, sick, elderly and widowed. Very few members of our church will venture outside to disciple to the lost, whether reaching them at home, public gatherings in neighborhood hot spots. Complacence, solidarity and fellowship have become the mantra of the church, thinking itself comfortable, contented and Holy, residing within the segregated body of loving believers. Daycare, basketball, camps and single day missions have replaced the true work of hospice care, healing, public heraldry for Christ and care for those who have not. We have collectively become a worldly business that displays the name of Christ without the Holy Spirit in residence. But this issues cannot and must not allow us to become divided, for the assets, the bodies, the workers remain within the body of Christ. Leaders, must not become rebel and effectively eliminate their efficacy by simply becoming angry and unforgiving of the “church”, replacing the true enemy with our contempt and condemnation of the church. Judgment is the Lord’s prerogative, we should remain aligned with the duty of love and leadership through encouragement.
Lord, give me the capacity to convince. Allow me to exalt Your Holy Name, knowing that if it is your will the increase, the magnet, the people, the provision will be provided through Your Graces and, riches and Glory in Jesus. Let me not be waylaid, led astray or deceived into prattling about the circumstances or details. Give me an eye pent on eternity. This is not our home, this is my workplace. Let me do great work so that when I come home it is for rest alone. Give me a heart for the lost, sick and dying, giving them a glimpse of Your Glory so that they may turn away from impending precipice. Silence the enemy in my head, unless it is for Your good pleasure and my correction that You have allowed him access to my life. Praise You Father, Bless You Father, protect Israel Lord, turn our hearts to You, allow us to see and crave humility in service to Your Glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray.
awrkhakhaya 