If you are not into mathematics, these percentages many not interest you. However, they do show some facts that we need to take notice of if we are serious about the Kingdom of God.
90% of teenagers leave the church by their early 20s. Obviously the status quo is not what young people are looking for.
90% do not get ministered to with most sermons. If you have a congregation that has new converts, believers a month, a year or 50 years in the faith, a sermon can only reach a small number. That is why the New Testament Church never used that method of passing on the truth.
If a child gets saved, 24% will bring their family to the fellowship. If a wife gets saved, 37% will bring their family with them. If the husband gets saved 87% will bring their family with them. The ministry that is the most effective in reaching families is the one that most churches don’t have.
In most churches 30% of the congregation are men and 70% are women. That means in most churches, what they do is female orientated so they get what they aim for.
Only 1% of the churches in the USA are growing. That means that 99% are building their church, not the church of Jesus Christ.
Churches led by women are losing membership at a faster rate than those led by men which is surprising when the congregation is made up mainly of women. Perhaps male headship has more going for it than we give it credit for.
On average, only 10% of the population of any town attend a church. That means that 90% believe the church is a waste of time.
In any given month on average in the USA, 1,600 pastors resign or are fired. That means the church is running as a business not a spiritual body.
Pastors have the third highest divorce rate. That means they are either doing a job they are not suited to or the church shouldn’t ask them to do the job they expect them to do.
90% of pastors admit to being discouraged. That means that most churches are devoid of the energising power of the Holy Spirit, as most churches believe that the pastor has to produce the results.
These figures tell me that the church is not the church. They tell me that we are trying to produce results that are the result of our own efforts, rather than letting the Holy Spirit be in control and rather than using the scriptures as our guidebook.
Even though most denominations say the Bible is their guide for faith and practice, the reality is that it isn't. I have isolated at least 31 things that modern day church does that you will not find anywhere in scripture. Much of it is quite contrary to scripture.
If we disobey the word of God we cannot expect him to bless us and give us increase. All God’s blessings are conditional if you do this, I will do that. Salvation is a free gift but you have to repent to obtain it. No repentance, no salvation.
The sooner that we let Jesus build his church and the sooner that we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, the sooner these percentages will no longer exist.
Showing posts with label CHURCH WHERE ARE YOU?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CHURCH WHERE ARE YOU?. Show all posts
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
INSANITY
I heard a definition of insanity the other day. Doing the same as you always do and expecting a different outcome.
Does that sound like a church near you? I have read that the current day church has been doing the same thing for the last 500 years. I can well imagine.
In the last 25 years I have been involved in half a dozen churches in different towns. All do the same as each other with a few variations such as waving hands and jumping up and down or not.
The majority think that the only time that people want to go to a meeting is Sunday morning. The fact that 90% don’t hasn’t crossed their minds.
I suggested to one church that instead of meeting at 10.30 on Sunday morning, once a month we meet at 12 noon for a lunch and have a meeting afterwards. Response - Can’t do that, some people might leave!!
Another suggestion I made was that one Sunday a month we have a concert of prayer instead of the usual singing songs, preaching, and notices. A concert of prayer is when you make prayer for church and nation the focus interspersed with a few songs of praise. Response – can’t do that, some people might leave!!
Such responses suggest that God is here for us, not us here for God. We mustn’t do anything that will upset people. Guaranteed to kill of any life in the church as it is obvious that the people are in charge, not the Holy Spirit and it is our church not His church.
Perhaps that is why so many churches are not keen on letting the Holy Spirit run things. They might have to do things they don’t want to.
The New Testament Church was a vibrant daily experience for all those involved. The Kingdom of God was the focus of everyone’s devotion and activity. Being entertained or kept happy was not even considered. Operating without the work of the Holy Spirit was unknown.
Why is it that we settle for something so second rate that even the world thinks we are a joke?
Why is it that we would rather tell God what to do than let him tell us what to do?
Why is it that the only thing that matters is my personal happiness?
Why is it that I will make no commitments unless I get something out of it?
Why is it we prefer to be insane?
Does that sound like a church near you? I have read that the current day church has been doing the same thing for the last 500 years. I can well imagine.
In the last 25 years I have been involved in half a dozen churches in different towns. All do the same as each other with a few variations such as waving hands and jumping up and down or not.
The majority think that the only time that people want to go to a meeting is Sunday morning. The fact that 90% don’t hasn’t crossed their minds.
I suggested to one church that instead of meeting at 10.30 on Sunday morning, once a month we meet at 12 noon for a lunch and have a meeting afterwards. Response - Can’t do that, some people might leave!!
Another suggestion I made was that one Sunday a month we have a concert of prayer instead of the usual singing songs, preaching, and notices. A concert of prayer is when you make prayer for church and nation the focus interspersed with a few songs of praise. Response – can’t do that, some people might leave!!
Such responses suggest that God is here for us, not us here for God. We mustn’t do anything that will upset people. Guaranteed to kill of any life in the church as it is obvious that the people are in charge, not the Holy Spirit and it is our church not His church.
Perhaps that is why so many churches are not keen on letting the Holy Spirit run things. They might have to do things they don’t want to.
The New Testament Church was a vibrant daily experience for all those involved. The Kingdom of God was the focus of everyone’s devotion and activity. Being entertained or kept happy was not even considered. Operating without the work of the Holy Spirit was unknown.
Why is it that we settle for something so second rate that even the world thinks we are a joke?
Why is it that we would rather tell God what to do than let him tell us what to do?
Why is it that the only thing that matters is my personal happiness?
Why is it that I will make no commitments unless I get something out of it?
Why is it we prefer to be insane?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
TROUBLEMAKERS WANTED
What brand of Christian are you? I don’t mean are you a Pentecostal, an Anglican, a charismatic or a Presbyterian.
No, what I am asking is, are you a “gentle Jesus meek and mild” or a “you generation of vipers, who has told you to flee from the wrath to come.”
Generally speaking the western church is the first, the gentle Jesus type. We do our best not to offend. But when you read the scripture, if anyone crossed Jesus with their sanctimonious word or way of life he let rip and told them what they didn’t want to hear.
Just like the Old Testament prophets who always told Israel what they didn’t want to hear. Despite that you only have to read on and you find that when the Jews did what the prophets demanded of them, they got the results they said would happen.
Strange isn’t it. Do what God said and you usually get the victory. Ignore him and, well, we are usually cut adrift until we repent of our arrogance and pride.
The truth is we are an independent lot and would rather follow our cultural traditions rather than the word of God and do you know why? Because our traditions mean that we stay in control and allow us to keep God from interfering and doing things his way.
As I have studied the New Testament Church in the scriptures and found out that we have all but ignored what it says there, when I raise the issue I am always told words to this effect. “I know that is what the bible says but…”
The ‘but’ usually means that there is a reason why we ignore the scriptures. We have got things sorted out to our satisfaction so we don’t want to rock the boat with anything that might challenge the status quo, even if it is what the scripture teaches.
I am not too popular with the Scribes and Pharisees in the modern day church because I keep insisting that we should do what the scripture says. They don’t like it because they always have a ‘but’ to justify their refusal to submit to God and his word.
How do I know when the ‘but’ takes precedence over God’s word? Usually they don’t counteract what I say (because they can’t). They usually tell me to go away or change the subject.
Until we get a breakthrough and stop this ridiculous idea that one man has all the wisdom so he is the only one that can preach and what he says must be accepted as gospel and cannot be challenged, we will thrash around in total ineffectiveness.
How do I know? Research shows that only 1% of churches in the USA are growing. What more proof do you want?
What we need now is more troublemakers and prophets who are going to call a spade a spade and get God’s people out of their complacency and slumber so that the church can once again become like a mighty army sweeping all before it, especially those pharisaic religious nuts who don’t give a damn about Gods will.
No, what I am asking is, are you a “gentle Jesus meek and mild” or a “you generation of vipers, who has told you to flee from the wrath to come.”
Generally speaking the western church is the first, the gentle Jesus type. We do our best not to offend. But when you read the scripture, if anyone crossed Jesus with their sanctimonious word or way of life he let rip and told them what they didn’t want to hear.
Just like the Old Testament prophets who always told Israel what they didn’t want to hear. Despite that you only have to read on and you find that when the Jews did what the prophets demanded of them, they got the results they said would happen.
Strange isn’t it. Do what God said and you usually get the victory. Ignore him and, well, we are usually cut adrift until we repent of our arrogance and pride.
The truth is we are an independent lot and would rather follow our cultural traditions rather than the word of God and do you know why? Because our traditions mean that we stay in control and allow us to keep God from interfering and doing things his way.
As I have studied the New Testament Church in the scriptures and found out that we have all but ignored what it says there, when I raise the issue I am always told words to this effect. “I know that is what the bible says but…”
The ‘but’ usually means that there is a reason why we ignore the scriptures. We have got things sorted out to our satisfaction so we don’t want to rock the boat with anything that might challenge the status quo, even if it is what the scripture teaches.
I am not too popular with the Scribes and Pharisees in the modern day church because I keep insisting that we should do what the scripture says. They don’t like it because they always have a ‘but’ to justify their refusal to submit to God and his word.
How do I know when the ‘but’ takes precedence over God’s word? Usually they don’t counteract what I say (because they can’t). They usually tell me to go away or change the subject.
Until we get a breakthrough and stop this ridiculous idea that one man has all the wisdom so he is the only one that can preach and what he says must be accepted as gospel and cannot be challenged, we will thrash around in total ineffectiveness.
How do I know? Research shows that only 1% of churches in the USA are growing. What more proof do you want?
What we need now is more troublemakers and prophets who are going to call a spade a spade and get God’s people out of their complacency and slumber so that the church can once again become like a mighty army sweeping all before it, especially those pharisaic religious nuts who don’t give a damn about Gods will.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
HERESY IN THE CHURCH
When you hear the word “heresy” you usually think of someone or people out there, espousing some wild theology that is not found in the scriptures. People like Jim Jones, David Koresh, the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses spring to mind.
John Stott, sometime Rector at All Souls Anglican Church, Langham Place in London is on record as saying , “Our static, inflexible, self-centred structures are ‘heretical structures’ because they embody a heretical doctrine of the church.” If “our structure has become an end in itself, not a means of saving the world,” it is “a heretical structure.”
A heretical doctrine of the church! I bet you haven’t heard that one before.
What he is saying and I have said many times are that a church that is not doing what it is meant to do is heretical.
So what is it meant to do?
Nothing much, just being obedient to the commands of Christ and changing the world by bringing heaven down into mankind’s miserable and self defeating way of life.
We are not called to build an organisation whose sole purpose is to satisfy the needs of those who belong. All expressions of Christianity whether it is Baptist, Pentecostal, Brethren, Lutheran, Callithumpian, are required to become a redeeming community that takes and share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the vast majority that have not had the opportunity to hear the good news so that everyone has the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
That will take time, commitment, self sacrifice and obedience, the four things that most Christians don’t want to be bothered with. Primarily this happens because the leadership get the results it deserves which is a body of people that are there to serve their own interests. Church is king and what happens in my church happens to make me happy.
In other words it becomes an end in itself instead of being a means to an end which is to be a redemptive community that takes the good news of Jesus Christ where ever God leads them to.
Most of the activity in most churches is designed to build the church, not the Kingdom of God. Kingdom builders are not interested in how the church benefits, they are more interested in the go of the gospel, driven by a passion for the lost. You know, the one that God has as in, it is not his will that any should perish.
You may be a “lively” church for want of a better term and say and do the right things, but you may still be a heretical church if you are not fulfilling the great commission. And that’s a fact.
John Stott, sometime Rector at All Souls Anglican Church, Langham Place in London is on record as saying , “Our static, inflexible, self-centred structures are ‘heretical structures’ because they embody a heretical doctrine of the church.” If “our structure has become an end in itself, not a means of saving the world,” it is “a heretical structure.”
A heretical doctrine of the church! I bet you haven’t heard that one before.
What he is saying and I have said many times are that a church that is not doing what it is meant to do is heretical.
So what is it meant to do?
Nothing much, just being obedient to the commands of Christ and changing the world by bringing heaven down into mankind’s miserable and self defeating way of life.
We are not called to build an organisation whose sole purpose is to satisfy the needs of those who belong. All expressions of Christianity whether it is Baptist, Pentecostal, Brethren, Lutheran, Callithumpian, are required to become a redeeming community that takes and share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the vast majority that have not had the opportunity to hear the good news so that everyone has the opportunity to be reconciled to God.
That will take time, commitment, self sacrifice and obedience, the four things that most Christians don’t want to be bothered with. Primarily this happens because the leadership get the results it deserves which is a body of people that are there to serve their own interests. Church is king and what happens in my church happens to make me happy.
In other words it becomes an end in itself instead of being a means to an end which is to be a redemptive community that takes the good news of Jesus Christ where ever God leads them to.
Most of the activity in most churches is designed to build the church, not the Kingdom of God. Kingdom builders are not interested in how the church benefits, they are more interested in the go of the gospel, driven by a passion for the lost. You know, the one that God has as in, it is not his will that any should perish.
You may be a “lively” church for want of a better term and say and do the right things, but you may still be a heretical church if you are not fulfilling the great commission. And that’s a fact.
Friday, October 3, 2008
U R WHAT U EAT
Like me you have probably heard this said many times in regard to our physical well being. I haven’t been convinced of its veracity as I am not a steak which I eat regularly. I admit I have ‘beefed’ up a bit lately but then who hasn’t as they get older.
Having said that, perhaps there is lesson here spiritually. In my forays into Christian forums online, I have noticed that there are a lot of people out there who do not have a clue what the scriptures do and do not say.
They make statements that show their complete ignorance of the scriptures.
“I think that this the right thing to do” chapter and verse? None. All they are doing is mouthing some tradition or what they have heard someone say.
Actually reading the scripture and finding out its meaning is not high on their agenda and when you point out what the scripture says the response is “that is wrong because I don’t believe that”.
Another example is quoting scripture to bolster a non scriptural practice or non scriptural prejudice. They quote a verse or a few verses and say “there, I told you that is what the scripture says.”
Of course they forget to study the context of the verses and when you do, it does not say anything at all about what they are claiming.
Much of this is due to the fact that most churches do not recognise the ministry of the teacher. Most churches only recognise the ministry of a pastor who then becomes the apostle (maybe), the prophet, that is if they believe in prophecy, the evangelist, the pastor and he usually does very little pastoring, and the teacher which results in him teaching nothing apart from a few homilies about verses of scripture plucked out at random and out of context.
The other reason for this is that a good spiritual steak is few and far between. Mostly we get glasses of milk, meant to tickle our ears and get us to come back next week. Most of what is said has no relevance to daily living. As a result very few Christians take time to seriously study the word of God. This was proven with a survey carried out which showed that most Christians do not read their bible during the week.
It is no use telling me that a lot of Christians do. I know that but the survey showed that most don’t.
Most people will read a manual if they want to learn something. Not so Christians. They seem to prefer picking up some second hand idea that is not based on scripture and on the basis that everyone does it.
I don’t read in scripture that Jesus said “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples because everyone does it.”
The sad truth is most Christians are what they don’t eat spiritually. They are shallow, indifferent, uncommitted and part time because they don’t eat the word of God as a way of life.
Having said that, perhaps there is lesson here spiritually. In my forays into Christian forums online, I have noticed that there are a lot of people out there who do not have a clue what the scriptures do and do not say.
They make statements that show their complete ignorance of the scriptures.
“I think that this the right thing to do” chapter and verse? None. All they are doing is mouthing some tradition or what they have heard someone say.
Actually reading the scripture and finding out its meaning is not high on their agenda and when you point out what the scripture says the response is “that is wrong because I don’t believe that”.
Another example is quoting scripture to bolster a non scriptural practice or non scriptural prejudice. They quote a verse or a few verses and say “there, I told you that is what the scripture says.”
Of course they forget to study the context of the verses and when you do, it does not say anything at all about what they are claiming.
Much of this is due to the fact that most churches do not recognise the ministry of the teacher. Most churches only recognise the ministry of a pastor who then becomes the apostle (maybe), the prophet, that is if they believe in prophecy, the evangelist, the pastor and he usually does very little pastoring, and the teacher which results in him teaching nothing apart from a few homilies about verses of scripture plucked out at random and out of context.
The other reason for this is that a good spiritual steak is few and far between. Mostly we get glasses of milk, meant to tickle our ears and get us to come back next week. Most of what is said has no relevance to daily living. As a result very few Christians take time to seriously study the word of God. This was proven with a survey carried out which showed that most Christians do not read their bible during the week.
It is no use telling me that a lot of Christians do. I know that but the survey showed that most don’t.
Most people will read a manual if they want to learn something. Not so Christians. They seem to prefer picking up some second hand idea that is not based on scripture and on the basis that everyone does it.
I don’t read in scripture that Jesus said “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples because everyone does it.”
The sad truth is most Christians are what they don’t eat spiritually. They are shallow, indifferent, uncommitted and part time because they don’t eat the word of God as a way of life.
Monday, September 22, 2008
BE WARNED
Have you heard the saying that there are none as blind as those who don’t want to see? Do you get the feeling that this describes too many churches? Too many are holding the fort, maintaining the status quo, keeping the thing ticking over, patting themselves on the back for another year of do nothing.
Dutch Sheets is not a man given to overstatement. He is man who is passionate about and committed to intercession. The sort of person we need more of. This is what he says….
Sheets also blasted, and subsequently repented of, the charismatic church’s “incredibly inadequate” accountability, as well as its leadership that has “built on hype, sensation, innovation, programs, personality and charisma.”
He said such immaturity has produced, among other things: “shallowness,” “false movements,” “novice leaders [who are] gifted but immature and untested,” “a deficient understanding of God’s word,” “self-centred Christians who don’t understand sacrifice and commitment,” “superstar leaders,” and “prayerless and anaemic Christians.”
Sounds like most of the church.
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church that was passionate about anything other than their own “bless me” club?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church being led my men who made prayer and intercession a number one priority?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where the leadership were shining examples of servant hood instead of lauding it over people as God’s anointed one who is paid to be good as opposed to the rest who are good for nothing?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where mission and serving was more important than religious ritual to the point where more of the budget was given away than what was kept?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where holiness of life was more important than hype, sensation, innovation, programmes, personality and charisma?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where sacrifice and commitment were par for the course rather than a visit Sunday morning will do me.
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where they didn’t give greater priority to mission and vision statements than the word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where 100 attended on Sunday and 10 attended the prayer meeting? The truth is that would include nearly everyone.
Like most Christians (and secular organisations) being part of something full of charisma and personality is something to be desired. It is nice to talk about how blessed you are to have leaders that enthuse and fill you with anticipation and give you pep talks every week about how rich God can make you.
Wake up church! Don’t you see how deceived and dead you are? There is only one God and he will not share his glory with anyone else; there is only one head of the church and that is Jesus; there is only one senior shepherd and that is Jesus; there is only one way and that is the way of the cross; there is only one way to get God’s attention and that is through prayer; there is only one way to establish God’s kingdom and that is his way; there is only one way to take back territory from satan and that is to follow the instructions in the bible; there is only one way to live a holy life and that starts with an unselfish giving of oneself to God and making him the centre of our lives, not just one day a week.
If you want to know if a church is doing what it should be doing ask the following questions…
Does the leadership demonstrate the servant nature of Jesus?
Does the church spend more time in prayer than anything else?
Does the church give away more money than it keeps?
Does the church spend more of its money on people than on buildings?
Does the church have a passion for reaching the lost?
Does the church put people before programmes?
Does the church equip the saints for the work of the ministry?
Does the church endeavour to make Jesus the centre of everything it does?
If the answer is no to any of these, it needs to do a bit of soul searching. If it is not doing all these, the chances are that it is making a God of the status quo; you know that thing that ensures the Holy Spirit left a long time ago and doesn’t realise it because it has plenty of charisma and personality. The sort of church that Dutch Sheets is talking about.
More importantly, the sort of church that is spoken of in Revelation. “You do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see”.
Makes you wonder if we have even reached the first post?
Dutch Sheets is not a man given to overstatement. He is man who is passionate about and committed to intercession. The sort of person we need more of. This is what he says….
Sheets also blasted, and subsequently repented of, the charismatic church’s “incredibly inadequate” accountability, as well as its leadership that has “built on hype, sensation, innovation, programs, personality and charisma.”
He said such immaturity has produced, among other things: “shallowness,” “false movements,” “novice leaders [who are] gifted but immature and untested,” “a deficient understanding of God’s word,” “self-centred Christians who don’t understand sacrifice and commitment,” “superstar leaders,” and “prayerless and anaemic Christians.”
Sounds like most of the church.
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church that was passionate about anything other than their own “bless me” club?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church being led my men who made prayer and intercession a number one priority?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where the leadership were shining examples of servant hood instead of lauding it over people as God’s anointed one who is paid to be good as opposed to the rest who are good for nothing?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where mission and serving was more important than religious ritual to the point where more of the budget was given away than what was kept?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where holiness of life was more important than hype, sensation, innovation, programmes, personality and charisma?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where sacrifice and commitment were par for the course rather than a visit Sunday morning will do me.
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where they didn’t give greater priority to mission and vision statements than the word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit?
When was the last time you were part of or heard about a church where 100 attended on Sunday and 10 attended the prayer meeting? The truth is that would include nearly everyone.
Like most Christians (and secular organisations) being part of something full of charisma and personality is something to be desired. It is nice to talk about how blessed you are to have leaders that enthuse and fill you with anticipation and give you pep talks every week about how rich God can make you.
Wake up church! Don’t you see how deceived and dead you are? There is only one God and he will not share his glory with anyone else; there is only one head of the church and that is Jesus; there is only one senior shepherd and that is Jesus; there is only one way and that is the way of the cross; there is only one way to get God’s attention and that is through prayer; there is only one way to establish God’s kingdom and that is his way; there is only one way to take back territory from satan and that is to follow the instructions in the bible; there is only one way to live a holy life and that starts with an unselfish giving of oneself to God and making him the centre of our lives, not just one day a week.
If you want to know if a church is doing what it should be doing ask the following questions…
Does the leadership demonstrate the servant nature of Jesus?
Does the church spend more time in prayer than anything else?
Does the church give away more money than it keeps?
Does the church spend more of its money on people than on buildings?
Does the church have a passion for reaching the lost?
Does the church put people before programmes?
Does the church equip the saints for the work of the ministry?
Does the church endeavour to make Jesus the centre of everything it does?
If the answer is no to any of these, it needs to do a bit of soul searching. If it is not doing all these, the chances are that it is making a God of the status quo; you know that thing that ensures the Holy Spirit left a long time ago and doesn’t realise it because it has plenty of charisma and personality. The sort of church that Dutch Sheets is talking about.
More importantly, the sort of church that is spoken of in Revelation. “You do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see”.
Makes you wonder if we have even reached the first post?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Jacob Prasch, a converted Jew, says on a video about spiritual warfare that the church has three weapons against the forces of evil. The first is prayer, the second is proclamation and the third is the spirit filled life.
Very few churches experience all three, not even the Pentecostal ones.
Most churches do some praying, but they don’t make it a major part of fellowship life. Some churches do a bit of proclaiming the gospel, but most don’t do any proclaiming. As for the spirit filled life, the most common response is “what’s that?”
You don’t need me to tell you that when it comes to prayer, if your life depended on it, most of us would be dead. For most churches, prayer is not mainstream. It is something that is tacked onto something else, that is if we have enough time.
As far as proclamation is concerned, that was the last command of Jesus before he ascended into heaven. You know, the one where it says “go into all the world and make disciples, [by] baptising them.”
Most churches have the mentality that the world should come to them…to fill seats in the meeting and watch the show.
Most churches are too smug to want or seek the spirit filled life. “We have been sealed with the spirit at conversion, what more do you want. Isn’t that enough?” Apparently not according to Jesus as there are specific examples where he did what he did, as the disciples did “filled with the spirit” or “full of the Holy Spirit”.
Don’t hear too much about that these days or hearing from God. Who needs to when we have got everything down pat so nothing can go wrong anyway.
A bit different to the New Testament Church where things were going wrong all the time. Being thrown into jail; being beaten; being told to shut up or we will jail you…again. Being shipwrecked; being stoned.
I know the scriptures tell us to live peaceably with all men…if possible. We specialise in that mentality as in “don’t rock the boat” or “don’t upset anyone.” Or “don’t say anything controversial.” But the fact is and it will come into focus even more as time goes by, sometimes it is just not possible to live peaceably with all men. Not when doing so will compromise your faith.
The New Testament Church was not afraid of anyone or anything. They were fearless in proclaiming the gospel, praying and being filled with the spirit, even if it meant prison, being scattered or being killed.
If they were told not to preach the gospel in the name of Jesus they said “up yours” we are going to obey God, not you. Can you imagine a church saying that today.
“If you don’t stop preaching in the name of Jesus, we will kill you.”
“Up yours.”
What do we do? We come to our meetings in sacred buildings that hide us away from everyone else, sing our songs, take communion (how quaint) and listen to someone tickle our ears with a few well chosen words that we don’t mind hearing to make us feel good.
Do we raise the dead? NO. Do we tell Satan where to go? NO. Do we confront the ungodly rulers? NO. Do we pray for the sick who get healed? NO. Do we spend all night in prayer? NO. Do we sell our goods so that the money can be given to the poor of the fellowship? NO. Do we go out and tell everyone they need Jesus? NO.
Do we do anything the New Testament Church did? In a word….NO.
But we have got a great band and they write great songs and they make great CDs and we have lively singing in the meetings and we jump up and down and we clap our hands and have a guy up on the stage who always entertains us when he speaks. When it is all over I feel really good about the fact that is hasn’t make one scrap of difference to my life, unless you don’t include the fact that I had a warm fuzzy feeling in the meeting this morning because of the atmosphere created by the band and the singing.
Don’t worry, I can come back next week and do the same thing and get the same none results and make the pastor feel justified in being paid to be good even if God doesn’t have much say in anything.
Actually, we are probably doing him a favour as it means he can take a holiday, instead of having to listen to the prayers of people that do pray and rush around making things happen. I reckon giving God a holiday is a good ministry.
Very few churches experience all three, not even the Pentecostal ones.
Most churches do some praying, but they don’t make it a major part of fellowship life. Some churches do a bit of proclaiming the gospel, but most don’t do any proclaiming. As for the spirit filled life, the most common response is “what’s that?”
You don’t need me to tell you that when it comes to prayer, if your life depended on it, most of us would be dead. For most churches, prayer is not mainstream. It is something that is tacked onto something else, that is if we have enough time.
As far as proclamation is concerned, that was the last command of Jesus before he ascended into heaven. You know, the one where it says “go into all the world and make disciples, [by] baptising them.”
Most churches have the mentality that the world should come to them…to fill seats in the meeting and watch the show.
Most churches are too smug to want or seek the spirit filled life. “We have been sealed with the spirit at conversion, what more do you want. Isn’t that enough?” Apparently not according to Jesus as there are specific examples where he did what he did, as the disciples did “filled with the spirit” or “full of the Holy Spirit”.
Don’t hear too much about that these days or hearing from God. Who needs to when we have got everything down pat so nothing can go wrong anyway.
A bit different to the New Testament Church where things were going wrong all the time. Being thrown into jail; being beaten; being told to shut up or we will jail you…again. Being shipwrecked; being stoned.
I know the scriptures tell us to live peaceably with all men…if possible. We specialise in that mentality as in “don’t rock the boat” or “don’t upset anyone.” Or “don’t say anything controversial.” But the fact is and it will come into focus even more as time goes by, sometimes it is just not possible to live peaceably with all men. Not when doing so will compromise your faith.
The New Testament Church was not afraid of anyone or anything. They were fearless in proclaiming the gospel, praying and being filled with the spirit, even if it meant prison, being scattered or being killed.
If they were told not to preach the gospel in the name of Jesus they said “up yours” we are going to obey God, not you. Can you imagine a church saying that today.
“If you don’t stop preaching in the name of Jesus, we will kill you.”
“Up yours.”
What do we do? We come to our meetings in sacred buildings that hide us away from everyone else, sing our songs, take communion (how quaint) and listen to someone tickle our ears with a few well chosen words that we don’t mind hearing to make us feel good.
Do we raise the dead? NO. Do we tell Satan where to go? NO. Do we confront the ungodly rulers? NO. Do we pray for the sick who get healed? NO. Do we spend all night in prayer? NO. Do we sell our goods so that the money can be given to the poor of the fellowship? NO. Do we go out and tell everyone they need Jesus? NO.
Do we do anything the New Testament Church did? In a word….NO.
But we have got a great band and they write great songs and they make great CDs and we have lively singing in the meetings and we jump up and down and we clap our hands and have a guy up on the stage who always entertains us when he speaks. When it is all over I feel really good about the fact that is hasn’t make one scrap of difference to my life, unless you don’t include the fact that I had a warm fuzzy feeling in the meeting this morning because of the atmosphere created by the band and the singing.
Don’t worry, I can come back next week and do the same thing and get the same none results and make the pastor feel justified in being paid to be good even if God doesn’t have much say in anything.
Actually, we are probably doing him a favour as it means he can take a holiday, instead of having to listen to the prayers of people that do pray and rush around making things happen. I reckon giving God a holiday is a good ministry.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
AUTRALIA - YOUR STANDING IN IT!
If you were asked to describe Australia and Australians what would you say? A land flowing with milk and honey? A devil may care attitude? You can be all you want to be here? There is no shortage of opportunity? It is a beautiful island? A wealthy caring country?
Or would you talk about a country that has made the killing of babies legal: one that is blasé about divorce; a feminism that makes the male of the species a dirty word; marriage being replaced with partnerships for any Tom, Dick or homosexual; sexual restraint seen as bad and promiscuity seen as good, homosexuality considered no different to any other form of sexuality; drug taking a recreation like snooker; child abuse rampant; illegal to photograph your own children in public; reading certain passages from the bible now a hate crime; telling the truth no longer acceptable if it confronts ideology and worst of all, a church that has gone to sleep.
In most towns, church attendance is usually no more than 10% of the population. Is the church doing anything about this fact? In most cases, it couldn’t give a damn. A story has been told of a visiting missionary to a church who said from the pulpit “millions are going to a lost eternity and you don’t give a damn and you are more upset by the fact that I said damn in church than the fact that millions are dying without Christ.”
As they say, never a truer word spoken in jest. If the way we do church is any indication, we don’t give a damn about the 90% outside the Kingdom of God. I presented a paper to the eight ministers in one town which was a strategy to take the gospel to the 90%. Their initial response was “are you trying to tell us what to do” and their final response was “go away, we run things here.”
Two years later nothing has changed and 90% are still outside the Kingdom of God. You could say “they don’t give a damn.” Which is probably the reason we focus on the illusory Australia in paragraph one rather than the real Australia in paragraph two. Despite the fact that everything is happening in paragraph two, we don’t give a damn.
If we did, we would be out there with a rescue plan for the 90% who are heading to hell. If God said that he is not willing that anyone would perish, why is it, his representatives on earth, who have all the power through Christ, prefer to live in a POW camp, which is what most of our churches are, rather than getting excited that we are going to go into battle against the enemy, and knowing that we are going to win.
That is if we wait for the commanders instructions. It would be totally foolish to take him on without the weapons of our warfare and without a battle plan.
Perhaps that is why most churches are POW camps. They have gone into battle without their spiritual weapons and been soundly beaten so their church has been turned into a POW camp, instead of being an army barracks.
What is weapon number one? Prayer. What is weapon number two? Prayer. What is weapon number three? Prayer. When was the last time you had an all night prayer meeting? You can’t remember! No wonder you don’t give a damn.
Or would you talk about a country that has made the killing of babies legal: one that is blasé about divorce; a feminism that makes the male of the species a dirty word; marriage being replaced with partnerships for any Tom, Dick or homosexual; sexual restraint seen as bad and promiscuity seen as good, homosexuality considered no different to any other form of sexuality; drug taking a recreation like snooker; child abuse rampant; illegal to photograph your own children in public; reading certain passages from the bible now a hate crime; telling the truth no longer acceptable if it confronts ideology and worst of all, a church that has gone to sleep.
In most towns, church attendance is usually no more than 10% of the population. Is the church doing anything about this fact? In most cases, it couldn’t give a damn. A story has been told of a visiting missionary to a church who said from the pulpit “millions are going to a lost eternity and you don’t give a damn and you are more upset by the fact that I said damn in church than the fact that millions are dying without Christ.”
As they say, never a truer word spoken in jest. If the way we do church is any indication, we don’t give a damn about the 90% outside the Kingdom of God. I presented a paper to the eight ministers in one town which was a strategy to take the gospel to the 90%. Their initial response was “are you trying to tell us what to do” and their final response was “go away, we run things here.”
Two years later nothing has changed and 90% are still outside the Kingdom of God. You could say “they don’t give a damn.” Which is probably the reason we focus on the illusory Australia in paragraph one rather than the real Australia in paragraph two. Despite the fact that everything is happening in paragraph two, we don’t give a damn.
If we did, we would be out there with a rescue plan for the 90% who are heading to hell. If God said that he is not willing that anyone would perish, why is it, his representatives on earth, who have all the power through Christ, prefer to live in a POW camp, which is what most of our churches are, rather than getting excited that we are going to go into battle against the enemy, and knowing that we are going to win.
That is if we wait for the commanders instructions. It would be totally foolish to take him on without the weapons of our warfare and without a battle plan.
Perhaps that is why most churches are POW camps. They have gone into battle without their spiritual weapons and been soundly beaten so their church has been turned into a POW camp, instead of being an army barracks.
What is weapon number one? Prayer. What is weapon number two? Prayer. What is weapon number three? Prayer. When was the last time you had an all night prayer meeting? You can’t remember! No wonder you don’t give a damn.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
R U A PRISONER OF WAR?
Probably one of the most important letters in the New Testament is the one written to the church at Colossae. In it we read that Jesus is the head over EVERY power and authority and that he triumphed over ALL the powers and authorities on the cross, making a public spectacle of them.
Sounds pretty conclusive to me. It is telling us that there is no greater power in heaven or on earth than Jesus.
That being the case, why is it that we live as though we are in Satan’s prison camp and we can only do what he allows us to do whilst he goes on a rampage destroying, stealing and killing?
Ed Silvoso, in his book “That None Should Perish” says this…
“We have turned the battle field we were supposed to occupy victoriously into a massive POW camp. We have become content with surviving rather than overcoming. We have believed the lie that we are not to engage the enemy.”
The western church generally has disengaged itself from the battle, preferring to let the world go by whilst Satan triumphs. Some churches don’t even believe that he exists. Whoopee Doo he must be saying.
When was the last time your church had a counsel of war to find out the battle plan from God? Without this you might as well pack up and go home…to your POW camp.
If Jesus is the head over ALL the powers and authority and he triumphed over them on the cross, what is there to be afraid of? Our boss is the big one. Any other boss has to kow tow to him whether they like it or not.
The problem seems to be that us, his army, prefers POW life to active service in his army. We would rather be subservient to Satan’s jackboot brigade that to be subservient to the one who is the most powerful person who has every lived, died and lived again.
Living in the shadow of the cross and in the power of the Holy Spirit is an abundant life. Living in Satan’s POW camp is miserly and debilitating. The fact that we do shows that we don’t believe that Jesus is unbeatable.
The letter to the Colossians tells us that Jesus has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. Not he is going to, it is already done so we need to start acting as thought this has happened and instead of moping around in Satan’s POW camp we need to put on the armour of God and go out there and…fight!!
Do you think that when the allied army defeated Hitler they said to him “I say old chap, would you mind awfully not fighting any more and let us take over?”
No, of course not. They ground him into the dust and he had no choice. Jesus did the same with Satan, so we are the victors and have won the war vicariously through Christ. Because of this fact we have the RIGHT to take Satan on and put him in his place.
One of the best ways to do that is prayer. In the Colossian letter Paul tells the saints to “devote themselves to prayer.” The word ‘devote’ means to be earnest towards prayer; to persevere in prayer; to be constantly diligent in prayer’ to attend assiduously to prayer; to give oneself continuously to prayer.
Is that you and your church? If not why not?
Sounds pretty conclusive to me. It is telling us that there is no greater power in heaven or on earth than Jesus.
That being the case, why is it that we live as though we are in Satan’s prison camp and we can only do what he allows us to do whilst he goes on a rampage destroying, stealing and killing?
Ed Silvoso, in his book “That None Should Perish” says this…
“We have turned the battle field we were supposed to occupy victoriously into a massive POW camp. We have become content with surviving rather than overcoming. We have believed the lie that we are not to engage the enemy.”
The western church generally has disengaged itself from the battle, preferring to let the world go by whilst Satan triumphs. Some churches don’t even believe that he exists. Whoopee Doo he must be saying.
When was the last time your church had a counsel of war to find out the battle plan from God? Without this you might as well pack up and go home…to your POW camp.
If Jesus is the head over ALL the powers and authority and he triumphed over them on the cross, what is there to be afraid of? Our boss is the big one. Any other boss has to kow tow to him whether they like it or not.
The problem seems to be that us, his army, prefers POW life to active service in his army. We would rather be subservient to Satan’s jackboot brigade that to be subservient to the one who is the most powerful person who has every lived, died and lived again.
Living in the shadow of the cross and in the power of the Holy Spirit is an abundant life. Living in Satan’s POW camp is miserly and debilitating. The fact that we do shows that we don’t believe that Jesus is unbeatable.
The letter to the Colossians tells us that Jesus has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. Not he is going to, it is already done so we need to start acting as thought this has happened and instead of moping around in Satan’s POW camp we need to put on the armour of God and go out there and…fight!!
Do you think that when the allied army defeated Hitler they said to him “I say old chap, would you mind awfully not fighting any more and let us take over?”
No, of course not. They ground him into the dust and he had no choice. Jesus did the same with Satan, so we are the victors and have won the war vicariously through Christ. Because of this fact we have the RIGHT to take Satan on and put him in his place.
One of the best ways to do that is prayer. In the Colossian letter Paul tells the saints to “devote themselves to prayer.” The word ‘devote’ means to be earnest towards prayer; to persevere in prayer; to be constantly diligent in prayer’ to attend assiduously to prayer; to give oneself continuously to prayer.
Is that you and your church? If not why not?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
CHRIST, LORD AND SAVIOUR
I read this statement whilst I was trawling the internet and it got me thinking.
“In the same way a biblical Christian has an obligation to warn others that unless they follow God’s directions, and repent, turn from sin, and make Christ lord and saviour, they are heading for a lost eternity.”
The bit that jumped out at me was “make Christ lord and saviour” and I asked myself the question “what does that mean?”
Most churches fall into two categories when it comes to salvation. The first require you to follow the churches teaching and practices for religious observance and if you keep doing that you may go to heaven.
The second requires you to say the sinner’s prayer and attend their meetings and read the bible and pray.
Very few if any follow through on the biblical pattern and ask people to repent and be baptised. Some baptise when you have proved yourself worthy to be baptised and most say it is a symbolic act when it is decidedly not; it is a spiritual death so that a person can be raised in new life in Christ.
Where then does making Jesus your lord and saviour come in?
When I read about Paul in the scriptures and the saints in Hebrews I read about a faith that no one in their right mind would take on board.
Here is your job description….stop lions, quench fire, defeat armies, being put on trial, being mocked, being scourged, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, live in deserts, mountains dens or caves (it’s in Hebrews 11).
Here is Paul’s CV. Been in prison, been flogged five times, exposed to death, beaten by rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, 24 hours in the water, in danger from bandits, from my own countrymen, from Gentiles, in danger in the country, the city, at sea and from false brothers. Gone without sleep, experienced hunger and thirst have been cold and naked. I boast of the things that show my weakness (so much for the prosperity doctrine).
Check your CV and then read this comment from Iona.
“If your faith in Jesus is not causing you some discomfort then I would query your apparent fence sitting. Comfortable Christianity, comfortable pews and comfortable preaching are the reason our faith makes no impression on anyone; it may cost some of us to lose our lives for what we believe in; perish the thought you say.”
The fact remains that making Jesus Lord for most westernised Christians means comfortable Christianity, comfortable pews and comfortable preaching. Some of us baulk at the thought of attending two meetings a week to fellowship with other saints. Shouldn’t Sunday morning suffice? If something comes along that demands sacrifice we run a mile. If the church insists, we leave and move to a more comfortable less demanding expression of Christianity.
Essentially Christianity is all about obedience to the will of God (He that does my will is my disciple). Most of us spend our time being obedient to the dictates of ourselves, our denomination or our minister. If any clash with the will of God, sorry God, you lose out.
Making Jesus Lord and Saviour? I don’t think we have any idea what that means.
“In the same way a biblical Christian has an obligation to warn others that unless they follow God’s directions, and repent, turn from sin, and make Christ lord and saviour, they are heading for a lost eternity.”
The bit that jumped out at me was “make Christ lord and saviour” and I asked myself the question “what does that mean?”
Most churches fall into two categories when it comes to salvation. The first require you to follow the churches teaching and practices for religious observance and if you keep doing that you may go to heaven.
The second requires you to say the sinner’s prayer and attend their meetings and read the bible and pray.
Very few if any follow through on the biblical pattern and ask people to repent and be baptised. Some baptise when you have proved yourself worthy to be baptised and most say it is a symbolic act when it is decidedly not; it is a spiritual death so that a person can be raised in new life in Christ.
Where then does making Jesus your lord and saviour come in?
When I read about Paul in the scriptures and the saints in Hebrews I read about a faith that no one in their right mind would take on board.
Here is your job description….stop lions, quench fire, defeat armies, being put on trial, being mocked, being scourged, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, live in deserts, mountains dens or caves (it’s in Hebrews 11).
Here is Paul’s CV. Been in prison, been flogged five times, exposed to death, beaten by rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, 24 hours in the water, in danger from bandits, from my own countrymen, from Gentiles, in danger in the country, the city, at sea and from false brothers. Gone without sleep, experienced hunger and thirst have been cold and naked. I boast of the things that show my weakness (so much for the prosperity doctrine).
Check your CV and then read this comment from Iona.
“If your faith in Jesus is not causing you some discomfort then I would query your apparent fence sitting. Comfortable Christianity, comfortable pews and comfortable preaching are the reason our faith makes no impression on anyone; it may cost some of us to lose our lives for what we believe in; perish the thought you say.”
The fact remains that making Jesus Lord for most westernised Christians means comfortable Christianity, comfortable pews and comfortable preaching. Some of us baulk at the thought of attending two meetings a week to fellowship with other saints. Shouldn’t Sunday morning suffice? If something comes along that demands sacrifice we run a mile. If the church insists, we leave and move to a more comfortable less demanding expression of Christianity.
Essentially Christianity is all about obedience to the will of God (He that does my will is my disciple). Most of us spend our time being obedient to the dictates of ourselves, our denomination or our minister. If any clash with the will of God, sorry God, you lose out.
Making Jesus Lord and Saviour? I don’t think we have any idea what that means.
Friday, June 20, 2008
WHAT IS YOUR BATTLE PLAN?
WHAT IS YOUR BATTLE PLAN?
So it is Sunday and you’re going to attend a meeting at your local ekklesia. What is your battle plan to tear down strongholds?
Sing a few songs
Shake hands with everyone
Have your weekly religious snack
Read a few verses from the bible
Hear someone tell you what they think a verse in the bible means
Pray for a few sick people that come forward every week because they are sick
Have a cuppa after the meeting
Have a two minute prayer
Hear one or two people tell you about their problems
Shout a few hallelujahs
Close your eyes and feeeell the spirit moving
Wave your hands around
Give your brother a hug
All very nice I am sure but does doing all these things defeat Satan?
Judging by the fact that we have been doing these things for 500 years and moral anarchy has never been worse, I would say that most of it has been a complete waste of time. The weapons of our warfare are supposed to bring down Satan’s strongholds. Doing all these things shows that they obviously do not bring down Satan’s stronghold as Satan’s strongholds are getting stronger not weaker.
The reason why we keep doing these ineffective things is due to the fact that we like to keep doing ‘things’ as it makes us feel as though we are accomplishing something. The fact that we are achieving next to nothing doesn’t seem to enter our heads.
Take my own town for example. 9,000 and most of them unregenerate unbelievers. What do the churches in the town do to change that fact? In the main, nothing. After all we don’t have time as we have got to maintain the status quo; you know the one that has been maintained for 500 years. If we don’t do that some of our congregation will leave just like the new vicar in England found out? He installed new toilets in the old church and 50% of the congregation left. We can’t get sidetracked as we have a huge mortgage on the new sanctuary that we built to show how progressive we are. Do something different and lose members and we would not be able to afford the mortgage.
What was that you said “thousands are dying without as much as one single contact with a Christian? Oh please, we have to get our priorities right and at the moment it is paying for our new sanctuary so go away, the unbeliever will just have to get used to the idea that hell is their destination, that’s if they believe in it of course which they probably don’t because if they did they wouldn’t be an unbeliever.”
No battle plan, no battle and probably no enemy if we stay ‘nice’ and don’t upset the apple cart. I wonder why so many people think that church is so boring?
So it is Sunday and you’re going to attend a meeting at your local ekklesia. What is your battle plan to tear down strongholds?
Sing a few songs
Shake hands with everyone
Have your weekly religious snack
Read a few verses from the bible
Hear someone tell you what they think a verse in the bible means
Pray for a few sick people that come forward every week because they are sick
Have a cuppa after the meeting
Have a two minute prayer
Hear one or two people tell you about their problems
Shout a few hallelujahs
Close your eyes and feeeell the spirit moving
Wave your hands around
Give your brother a hug
All very nice I am sure but does doing all these things defeat Satan?
Judging by the fact that we have been doing these things for 500 years and moral anarchy has never been worse, I would say that most of it has been a complete waste of time. The weapons of our warfare are supposed to bring down Satan’s strongholds. Doing all these things shows that they obviously do not bring down Satan’s stronghold as Satan’s strongholds are getting stronger not weaker.
The reason why we keep doing these ineffective things is due to the fact that we like to keep doing ‘things’ as it makes us feel as though we are accomplishing something. The fact that we are achieving next to nothing doesn’t seem to enter our heads.
Take my own town for example. 9,000 and most of them unregenerate unbelievers. What do the churches in the town do to change that fact? In the main, nothing. After all we don’t have time as we have got to maintain the status quo; you know the one that has been maintained for 500 years. If we don’t do that some of our congregation will leave just like the new vicar in England found out? He installed new toilets in the old church and 50% of the congregation left. We can’t get sidetracked as we have a huge mortgage on the new sanctuary that we built to show how progressive we are. Do something different and lose members and we would not be able to afford the mortgage.
What was that you said “thousands are dying without as much as one single contact with a Christian? Oh please, we have to get our priorities right and at the moment it is paying for our new sanctuary so go away, the unbeliever will just have to get used to the idea that hell is their destination, that’s if they believe in it of course which they probably don’t because if they did they wouldn’t be an unbeliever.”
No battle plan, no battle and probably no enemy if we stay ‘nice’ and don’t upset the apple cart. I wonder why so many people think that church is so boring?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
WARFARE
Quoting from 2 Cor 10:4 and paraphrasing to give you a better understanding….
The offensive weapons for war and of our military career of hardship and danger are not pertaining to the flesh, but mighty powerful and capable through God, to the demolition and extinction of fortified castles.
In this war what are we supposed to do?
We demolish arguments
Every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God
Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
Punish every act of disobedience
It seems to me we are talking about the battle for the mind here. Sad to say, too many Christians shut down their mind when it comes to their Christian activity. Most of it seems to dwell in the area of feelings but there is no mention of such in this list.
In other words it is necessary to put your brain into gear if you are going to demolish every argument etc.
One important thing which we don’t want to acknowledge and that is we can do these things once our submission is complete. If it is not the logical conclusion is that we can’t do these things. A simile is that a soldier can go out to war and “stick it up them” once he has learned to obey his superior officers. Until that happens he is pretty useless because every soldier that goes to war usually has another 10 who depend on him doing what he is told.
If he doesn’t, he not only a danger to himself but the others that are fighting alongside him, and when the commander says to advance, that means everyone, not just those that feel like it.
Going back to the original verse it says that our weapons are mighty powerful and capable THROUGH God. In other words, it only happens when God is running things, not us. Our weapons are powerful when they are used through God. In other words, the weapon is effective when we use them when God gives us the instructions. If he doesn’t, it is like trying to down a fighter plane with a pea shooter.
So what is the moral here? It is simply this, that there is no point in doing anything until you have God’s battle plan. How do we get God’s battle plan? Prayer, prayer and more prayer. Praying for God to reveal his plan to us. Prayer that God will give us boldness. Prayer that he will direct us as we move into battle. Prayer that God will give us power over the enemy. Prayer that we will not do anything unless it comes from God.
A sample of how it works. In a prayer meeting the other week I didn’t know what to pray so I asked the Lord what he wanted me to pray for. He said to pray for hurting families. I did and began crying for them as the spirit anointed me to pray. I don’t know what the end result was but I do know that a battle was won the heavenlies.
Oh, in case you didn’t know, an unregenerate mind is a fortified castle against God.
The offensive weapons for war and of our military career of hardship and danger are not pertaining to the flesh, but mighty powerful and capable through God, to the demolition and extinction of fortified castles.
In this war what are we supposed to do?
We demolish arguments
Every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God
Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
Punish every act of disobedience
It seems to me we are talking about the battle for the mind here. Sad to say, too many Christians shut down their mind when it comes to their Christian activity. Most of it seems to dwell in the area of feelings but there is no mention of such in this list.
In other words it is necessary to put your brain into gear if you are going to demolish every argument etc.
One important thing which we don’t want to acknowledge and that is we can do these things once our submission is complete. If it is not the logical conclusion is that we can’t do these things. A simile is that a soldier can go out to war and “stick it up them” once he has learned to obey his superior officers. Until that happens he is pretty useless because every soldier that goes to war usually has another 10 who depend on him doing what he is told.
If he doesn’t, he not only a danger to himself but the others that are fighting alongside him, and when the commander says to advance, that means everyone, not just those that feel like it.
Going back to the original verse it says that our weapons are mighty powerful and capable THROUGH God. In other words, it only happens when God is running things, not us. Our weapons are powerful when they are used through God. In other words, the weapon is effective when we use them when God gives us the instructions. If he doesn’t, it is like trying to down a fighter plane with a pea shooter.
So what is the moral here? It is simply this, that there is no point in doing anything until you have God’s battle plan. How do we get God’s battle plan? Prayer, prayer and more prayer. Praying for God to reveal his plan to us. Prayer that God will give us boldness. Prayer that he will direct us as we move into battle. Prayer that God will give us power over the enemy. Prayer that we will not do anything unless it comes from God.
A sample of how it works. In a prayer meeting the other week I didn’t know what to pray so I asked the Lord what he wanted me to pray for. He said to pray for hurting families. I did and began crying for them as the spirit anointed me to pray. I don’t know what the end result was but I do know that a battle was won the heavenlies.
Oh, in case you didn’t know, an unregenerate mind is a fortified castle against God.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
POWER BLACKOUT
There is a power blackout on the church today. The power of God no longer is a daily occurrence for the church in western society. Instead we would rather rely on man’s ability to produce a schedule that will satisfy those that attend meetings of the apostate church.
The fact that we have failed miserably is evidenced by too many churches losing members or just surviving; a lack of the supernatural; a ‘bless me’ gospel; a lack of disciples in the church; taking on board things that are forbidden by scripture; tradition now having more authority than the scriptures; a passion for the lost a thing of the past for most churches; the status quo being the prime motivator; pastors who lack credibility and power; teaching what the pastor wants, not what the scripture says; irrelevant programmes instead of spirit filled passion.
We have disconnected from the power source, the Holy Spirit. We have convinced ourselves that now we have the cannon of scripture, we don’t need the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. As a result we spend all our time deciding what the scriptures say and mean. Once we have done that, we usually move on to the next bit to find out what it means. We don’t actually do anything!!
In the New Testament Church talk was always followed by action. They didn’t discuss the bible because they didn’t have one. They talked about what Jesus said and then went out and did it. In doing this, they changed the world.
Didn’t Jesus say that you showed you were his disciple by following his teaching? If you didn’t you weren’t his disciple. Today, we like to think that if we say the sinner’s prayer and attend the Sunday morning meeting we have made the grade and all is well.
Don’t kid yourself. Jesus turned away those that performed miracles. What did he say? “Not everyone who says to me,’ Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
It doesn’t augur well for those that do nothing other than sings hymns or songs in some meeting controlled by man. The so called church is full of people and leaders who are not doing the will of the Father. They are doing the will of their denomination primarily, which is quite dismissive of the will of God.
You can only do the will of God if you have a direct line to him as God has no grandsons. Too many Christians carry out their relationship with God through their priest or pastor or through their church doctrine. This means that the priest or pastor becomes a surrogate God and the believer is tied to his understanding of God or lack of it thereof.
If you are under the control or covering of a priest or pastor and it is hindering your relationship with your Father God, get out from under it straight away. Until you do, you will never know God as he really is. Until you do, you will experience power blackout.
The fact that we have failed miserably is evidenced by too many churches losing members or just surviving; a lack of the supernatural; a ‘bless me’ gospel; a lack of disciples in the church; taking on board things that are forbidden by scripture; tradition now having more authority than the scriptures; a passion for the lost a thing of the past for most churches; the status quo being the prime motivator; pastors who lack credibility and power; teaching what the pastor wants, not what the scripture says; irrelevant programmes instead of spirit filled passion.
We have disconnected from the power source, the Holy Spirit. We have convinced ourselves that now we have the cannon of scripture, we don’t need the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. As a result we spend all our time deciding what the scriptures say and mean. Once we have done that, we usually move on to the next bit to find out what it means. We don’t actually do anything!!
In the New Testament Church talk was always followed by action. They didn’t discuss the bible because they didn’t have one. They talked about what Jesus said and then went out and did it. In doing this, they changed the world.
Didn’t Jesus say that you showed you were his disciple by following his teaching? If you didn’t you weren’t his disciple. Today, we like to think that if we say the sinner’s prayer and attend the Sunday morning meeting we have made the grade and all is well.
Don’t kid yourself. Jesus turned away those that performed miracles. What did he say? “Not everyone who says to me,’ Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
It doesn’t augur well for those that do nothing other than sings hymns or songs in some meeting controlled by man. The so called church is full of people and leaders who are not doing the will of the Father. They are doing the will of their denomination primarily, which is quite dismissive of the will of God.
You can only do the will of God if you have a direct line to him as God has no grandsons. Too many Christians carry out their relationship with God through their priest or pastor or through their church doctrine. This means that the priest or pastor becomes a surrogate God and the believer is tied to his understanding of God or lack of it thereof.
If you are under the control or covering of a priest or pastor and it is hindering your relationship with your Father God, get out from under it straight away. Until you do, you will never know God as he really is. Until you do, you will experience power blackout.
Friday, June 13, 2008
MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO
Ossified means to turn into bone, harden, make or become rigid or callous.
Petrified means to make or become callous or rigid by routine.
Fossilised means to be antiquated and hopelessly out of date.
The best way to stop a church growing I am told is to insist that we have always done it this way. It is known as “maintaining the status quo.”
Did you know that the routine for the Sunday morning meeting that takes place in most churches has been done that way for about 500 years? If you are a Pentecostal church your variation on a theme has been going for over 100 years.
The world of a 100 years or 500 years ago is quite different to today. In those days children obeyed their parents. Today they don’t. In those days poverty was the norm. Today it isn’t. In those days the king was supreme (not Elvis). Today he isn’t. In those days we didn’t abuse children. Today we do. In those days, pornography wasn’t touted as normal. Today it is.
Whilst all this change is happening, the church is in its enclave fighting off change for as long as it can. After all, God has blessed us for the way we have been doing things so if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
In case you hadn’t noticed, it is broke. In days gone by, the word “sin” was heard regularly from the pulpit. In days gone by, the concept of “holiness” was regularly preached. In days gone by people would pray for long periods of time to ask God to come in power and glory and he did. In days gone by people were regularly brought into the Kingdom of God through the local church through holiness of living.
What do we have today? Primarily a feel good gospel where God wants to fill your coffers if you give regularly to the church. The word “sin” is rarely heard as we try not to offend people. The concept of “holiness” is a thing of the past as a personal gospel that is supposed to take care of me has taken over from a collective experience of God. Now it is a case of “what’s in it for me.”
Rather than developing an alternative kingdom, much of what we do is taken straight from the text books of society meaning that instead of being different we are carbon copies of worldly thinking.
When you realise all this, you could be forgiven for thinking that the words ossified, petrified and fossilised apply to the church today. We have become callous and rigid by routine and are antiquated and out of date. God forgive us for our hard hearts and self defeating focus.
Petrified means to make or become callous or rigid by routine.
Fossilised means to be antiquated and hopelessly out of date.
The best way to stop a church growing I am told is to insist that we have always done it this way. It is known as “maintaining the status quo.”
Did you know that the routine for the Sunday morning meeting that takes place in most churches has been done that way for about 500 years? If you are a Pentecostal church your variation on a theme has been going for over 100 years.
The world of a 100 years or 500 years ago is quite different to today. In those days children obeyed their parents. Today they don’t. In those days poverty was the norm. Today it isn’t. In those days the king was supreme (not Elvis). Today he isn’t. In those days we didn’t abuse children. Today we do. In those days, pornography wasn’t touted as normal. Today it is.
Whilst all this change is happening, the church is in its enclave fighting off change for as long as it can. After all, God has blessed us for the way we have been doing things so if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
In case you hadn’t noticed, it is broke. In days gone by, the word “sin” was heard regularly from the pulpit. In days gone by, the concept of “holiness” was regularly preached. In days gone by people would pray for long periods of time to ask God to come in power and glory and he did. In days gone by people were regularly brought into the Kingdom of God through the local church through holiness of living.
What do we have today? Primarily a feel good gospel where God wants to fill your coffers if you give regularly to the church. The word “sin” is rarely heard as we try not to offend people. The concept of “holiness” is a thing of the past as a personal gospel that is supposed to take care of me has taken over from a collective experience of God. Now it is a case of “what’s in it for me.”
Rather than developing an alternative kingdom, much of what we do is taken straight from the text books of society meaning that instead of being different we are carbon copies of worldly thinking.
When you realise all this, you could be forgiven for thinking that the words ossified, petrified and fossilised apply to the church today. We have become callous and rigid by routine and are antiquated and out of date. God forgive us for our hard hearts and self defeating focus.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
JESUS LAST COMMAND
What was Jesus last command before he ascended into heaven?
Convert people to Christianity?
Build the church?
Feed the poor?
Go to Bible College?
Study the bible?
Build churches?
Keep Christians happy?
Get people to recite the sinner’s prayer?
The answer is no to all the above. The last command of Jesus, and please note it is a command, not a request, was as follows…
Because ALL power (authority) is given to me, you are to go and teach (make pupils of or disciple) all nations (ethnic groups), baptising them (making them fully wet) in the name (authority) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Judging by what happened as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, that name was Jesus as they baptised everyone in the name of Jesus.
This command means that we as the church have a responsibility and a commission to go and make disciples of those outside the kingdom of God. Part of that is to baptise them by immersion as in “fully wet.” We are not called to bless each other with a few “hail Marys” or the handshake of peace.
Disciples can only be made by people who have been discipled. If we as yet have to come to grips with what Jesus teaches in the scriptures, it is very unlikely that we will be able to disciple others.
Come to think of it, perhaps the reason that there are so few converts today in western churches is the fact that the people filling them don’t believe what Jesus taught in the Bible.
I asked the leadership of all the churches in one town “how many new converts have you all produced in the last 12 months?” A quick count (that is all it required) revealed a total of three. Eight ministers that cost probably a combined total of $400,000 in salary and their churches which probably cost another $400,000 for maintenance, and all they could produce was three converts.
In the New Testament converts were added daily. Don’t you think that we should be asking some pertinent questions such as “why are we such a miserable failure considering that ALL authority has been given to Jesus?”
Convert people to Christianity?
Build the church?
Feed the poor?
Go to Bible College?
Study the bible?
Build churches?
Keep Christians happy?
Get people to recite the sinner’s prayer?
The answer is no to all the above. The last command of Jesus, and please note it is a command, not a request, was as follows…
Because ALL power (authority) is given to me, you are to go and teach (make pupils of or disciple) all nations (ethnic groups), baptising them (making them fully wet) in the name (authority) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Judging by what happened as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, that name was Jesus as they baptised everyone in the name of Jesus.
This command means that we as the church have a responsibility and a commission to go and make disciples of those outside the kingdom of God. Part of that is to baptise them by immersion as in “fully wet.” We are not called to bless each other with a few “hail Marys” or the handshake of peace.
Disciples can only be made by people who have been discipled. If we as yet have to come to grips with what Jesus teaches in the scriptures, it is very unlikely that we will be able to disciple others.
Come to think of it, perhaps the reason that there are so few converts today in western churches is the fact that the people filling them don’t believe what Jesus taught in the Bible.
I asked the leadership of all the churches in one town “how many new converts have you all produced in the last 12 months?” A quick count (that is all it required) revealed a total of three. Eight ministers that cost probably a combined total of $400,000 in salary and their churches which probably cost another $400,000 for maintenance, and all they could produce was three converts.
In the New Testament converts were added daily. Don’t you think that we should be asking some pertinent questions such as “why are we such a miserable failure considering that ALL authority has been given to Jesus?”
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
R U DEAD?
I don’t know if you realise that Satan has no power. How do I know? Take a look at Colossians 2:15. There it says “There [the cross] Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory".
Christ defeated all powers and forces. If you are defeated you have lost. You have no power or authority. When the Allies defeated Hitler he didn’t keep on fighting because he had no power. He was stripped of it when he was defeated.
You can only keep fighting if you have power.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All power [authority] is given to me. Go therefore…”
On the basis of those two verses, Satan does not have any power or authority, Jesus does have power and authority. In fact, he has ALL power and authority.
That being the case, why is it Satan has so much power today?
It is not a mystery to those who face the obvious. The reason that he has so much power is that we give it to him. Every time we say we don’t need God or we can do it by our own ability, we give power to Satan.
Why do you think that governments all over the world are making such a mess of things? They have decided that they don’t need God to govern. They have all the answers and as a result make it obvious they have none.
Why do you think that the church is making such a mess of things? They have decided that they don’t need the Holy Spirit to govern the church. They have all the answers and as a result they make it obvious that they have none.
The dynamics of spirit filled living that engulfed the New Testament church are considered irrelevant to the modern day version. We will do things our way, decently and in order, ensuring that no one rocks the boat and everyone feels comfortable.
Having consigned the Holy Spirit to the “not necessary” basket, we have produced a “church” that is devoid of reality, power and authority. As a result we have a form of godliness but deny the power of it.
Becoming a Christian involves dying. Baptism involves dying. Experiencing the spirit filled life means dying. Most churches today have a message about living….a comfortable, non confronting wishy washy life.
You can’t offend a dead man. You can’t hurt a dead man. A dead man doesn’t need anything. A dead man is impervious to attacks. A dead man can’t give power to Satan. A dead man just is.
The bible says that you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Is Satan recoiling because all he can see is Jesus, or is he dancing with joy because he can see you because you are not dead?
Christ defeated all powers and forces. If you are defeated you have lost. You have no power or authority. When the Allies defeated Hitler he didn’t keep on fighting because he had no power. He was stripped of it when he was defeated.
You can only keep fighting if you have power.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All power [authority] is given to me. Go therefore…”
On the basis of those two verses, Satan does not have any power or authority, Jesus does have power and authority. In fact, he has ALL power and authority.
That being the case, why is it Satan has so much power today?
It is not a mystery to those who face the obvious. The reason that he has so much power is that we give it to him. Every time we say we don’t need God or we can do it by our own ability, we give power to Satan.
Why do you think that governments all over the world are making such a mess of things? They have decided that they don’t need God to govern. They have all the answers and as a result make it obvious they have none.
Why do you think that the church is making such a mess of things? They have decided that they don’t need the Holy Spirit to govern the church. They have all the answers and as a result they make it obvious that they have none.
The dynamics of spirit filled living that engulfed the New Testament church are considered irrelevant to the modern day version. We will do things our way, decently and in order, ensuring that no one rocks the boat and everyone feels comfortable.
Having consigned the Holy Spirit to the “not necessary” basket, we have produced a “church” that is devoid of reality, power and authority. As a result we have a form of godliness but deny the power of it.
Becoming a Christian involves dying. Baptism involves dying. Experiencing the spirit filled life means dying. Most churches today have a message about living….a comfortable, non confronting wishy washy life.
You can’t offend a dead man. You can’t hurt a dead man. A dead man doesn’t need anything. A dead man is impervious to attacks. A dead man can’t give power to Satan. A dead man just is.
The bible says that you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Is Satan recoiling because all he can see is Jesus, or is he dancing with joy because he can see you because you are not dead?
Sunday, May 25, 2008
LEADERSHIP
Whilst I was watching the new ABC programme Q&A, which had PM Kevin Rudd on show, a realisation took place as he was talking as to why government in Australia is a complete mess and full of people who do not know what they are doing and in many cases, ignore the obvious which is staring them in the face.
Having said that, I want to swing the lens onto the church now and reiterate what many people and commentators have said that the world is a reflection of the church. That being the case, I am not surprised that government is like it is.
Let me explain.
In the church my overwhelming experience is that generally speaking the church is full of leaders who have two traits. One, they like to tell you what to do. Two, they give the impression because they are “ordained” God speaks to them but not to you. You are required to get your daily fix from God through them.
Swing the lens now onto the teachings of Jesus about leadership “Whoever wants to be great amongst you has to be a servant.” When was the last time you saw a church leader being a servant? It is more likely that they want to sit at the top table rather than wait on tables. It is more likely that they want the car park right next to the door of the church rather than having to accept whatever is available.
Now swing the lens back onto government. At election time they say they are going to govern for all Australians and when they get elected they forget all about us and start telling us what is good for us on the basis that Kevin knows best.
In an attempt to retain their infallibility, lying is common place. Not a single servant amongst them.
My belief is that government in this country will start working when we get a few MPs that consider themselves servants rather than all knowing masters.
My belief is that this will not happen until church leadership starts to believe what Jesus said and become servants rather than being all knowing masters. After all, we are called to be light and it is about time we shone the light of humility on government by modelling it ourselves.
Until we do, we get the government we deserve…and the one that reflects us.
For example, have you ever asked yourself why the government is caving into the militant homosexual lobby? Might it be because the church is caving in to the militant homosexual lobby by agreeing to ordain homosexuals?
Having said that, I want to swing the lens onto the church now and reiterate what many people and commentators have said that the world is a reflection of the church. That being the case, I am not surprised that government is like it is.
Let me explain.
In the church my overwhelming experience is that generally speaking the church is full of leaders who have two traits. One, they like to tell you what to do. Two, they give the impression because they are “ordained” God speaks to them but not to you. You are required to get your daily fix from God through them.
Swing the lens now onto the teachings of Jesus about leadership “Whoever wants to be great amongst you has to be a servant.” When was the last time you saw a church leader being a servant? It is more likely that they want to sit at the top table rather than wait on tables. It is more likely that they want the car park right next to the door of the church rather than having to accept whatever is available.
Now swing the lens back onto government. At election time they say they are going to govern for all Australians and when they get elected they forget all about us and start telling us what is good for us on the basis that Kevin knows best.
In an attempt to retain their infallibility, lying is common place. Not a single servant amongst them.
My belief is that government in this country will start working when we get a few MPs that consider themselves servants rather than all knowing masters.
My belief is that this will not happen until church leadership starts to believe what Jesus said and become servants rather than being all knowing masters. After all, we are called to be light and it is about time we shone the light of humility on government by modelling it ourselves.
Until we do, we get the government we deserve…and the one that reflects us.
For example, have you ever asked yourself why the government is caving into the militant homosexual lobby? Might it be because the church is caving in to the militant homosexual lobby by agreeing to ordain homosexuals?
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