What is really going on with the church today? Are we really following the Great Commission or are we just making that truth from scripture a "religious talking point?" We say the words "Do this and do that" without any buy-in from those who are "members" of our churches and wonder why there is no life commitment or action. Then, we attempt to get those people to "give" to the ministries of the church we are in and disperse it to make up for all those who are not living their faith. We seem to be trying to do some human manipulation to even do ministry. People who are born again want to serve and they want to share their faith. Nuff said. When they are not mobilized to do these things, they get restless, and if there is no vision or direction, they begin to grow inward and say that is the way we are supposed to be doing ministry. We have even come up with a "spiritual" sounding word called "community," and this inward growth pattern begins to take on something that looks more like a "club" than a church.
Those who were trying to put Jesus down at every turn were church people first, and followers last. In other words, they had talked themselves into a believism that was wrought with weak manmade traditions. When they voiced some of their religious restrictions on Jesus, He called them out and told them they needed to look deeper, beneath the surface. Old Godless traditions that are human-made always crop up when a church has no vision for following Jesus and His commission. What is the answer? GET A VISION AND GET TO WORK!! Then you will see the lost get born again, and there will be a constant freshness in the fellowship of believers because new life is constantly seen and felt. It is called A CHURCH.
The "church rules and traditions in Jesus' day shot themselves in the foot because they would do what they thought was good to do on the Sabbath. When Jesus spoke to this group of "dead" people, He called them out, and they hated Him because of it. The following scripture details what happened. John 7: 21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.)23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” The writer of Proverbs said it this way in Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law. When people actually follow Jesus, then the law is no longer a curse but a direction that leads to a Godly life. We know that the Law of Moses was impossible to keep for salvation, and when Jesus shed His blood on the cross, He offered a better way to get that eternal life. We get it through Jesus. The cool thing is then we want to follow the Law of God's Word and live that life that God has called us to live.
God's grace is real and eternal for those who are born again, but it is nonexistent in people who are trying to be religious because those people are unrestrained and wander aimlessly at best. Will the "real" born-again believers please come to the church, and will the "real" called leaders challenge them to greatness as Jesus calls us to live for Him? Then those who know Jesus can "be the church" as Jesus intended, and daily, the lost will be saved and discipled. If you are in a Bible Study and they are trying to analyze your feelings about certain things and following God's word is not a part of the change, then get out of that Bible Study because it is enabling you to be "dead" like those Jesus was dealing with on a daily basis. Are you seeking God, and what will He see when He looks deeper into your soul? If the Holy Spirit is there, then His Spirit will challenge your Spirit to change, and change will take place, and an awakening is birthed. But first, "Look Beneath the Surface " and see what is there!!"
Today's Message,
David Warren
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