God vs America?

The original idea of democracy comes from the Greek societal concept of a polis (“city” or “city-state”), which was developed under the assumption that humankind could rule itself autonomously.

Free market capitalism added fuel to the fire of man’s search for individual significance, and a proliferation of this worldview went global at a truly astonishing pace. Pride in our tremendous abilities had become a contender for the souls of men on the world’s stage through a Darwinian-based ideology of its own.

In our efforts to be a tolerant people, Christians have allowed ourselves to be delegated to the backseat of the bus.  And while we are told we must not give a voice to our beliefs lest that be considered intolerant, there is no similar message being doled out to the militant secularists or the radical Islamists.  And so they take the opportunity handed to them on a silver platter and use it to their advantage.

With its irreligious, amoral veneer, militant secular humanism may have won the most “converts” of all;  and there appears to be no end in sight.  In terms of numbers, secularists, non-religious people and atheists come in third place, just behind Christianity and Islam, accounting for 16 percent of the world’s population (approx.  1.1 billion).  It offers no system of moral absolutes. It is a relativistic paradigm that attempts to develop morality from the situation at hand, relative to the needs and wants of the individual perspectives involved.   

To those who do not believe in good and evil, the actions of suicide bombers and Holocaust –deniers do not register for what they are.  They naively reason there must be valid social factors motivating this behavior. Poverty is the most common explanation this rationale has to offer. When everything is relative to circumstance, there is always a way of justifying any action, however heinous. 

They (militant secularists) ridicule or dismiss as extremist any who refuses to throw in the towel on absolutes and join them in their relativistic, “anything goes” malaise.

Christians must use the democratic platform for freedom of expression to speak the truth in love – at every opportunity living out their faith, being salt and light in the culture and manifesting godly character in government, media, the arts, religious settings, education, business and finance.  Jesus admonished His followers to be a light on a hill and not to hide or retreat (see Matthew 5). America was founded by Christian believers to be that “city on a hill.”  Yes, such activity will be attacked and ridiculed by the other two houses (radical Islam and militant secularism).  The battle for the minds and souls of citizens will be unremitting, requiring tremendous sacrifices of times, resources and energy. In the end, we have the sure hope that truth will eventually prevail.

Christians must give up our false idol of America and instead use the opportunity God has given us to spread His gospel by speaking the truth boldly.  We have no problem waving the American flag, raising banners that speak of patriots and freedom yet fall short of thanking our God in the public square.  We are bold when it comes to speaking out for our country yet timid when it’s time to speak about our God.  Have we developed an unhealthy pride in America?  Our God is a jealous God (Ex 34:14) and will not tolerate false idols.

Perhaps we Christians have been lulled into complacency by the lifestyle we cherish so much.  Perhaps we have become lazy and unwilling to sacrifice.  Are we so comfortable that we no longer desire to seek God’s will for our lives but instead do the minimum and tell ourselves that is enough – that He doesn’t require anything more?  Would God have asked so much of our forefathers and so little of us?  How we love to quote Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson and the rest, yet dishonor the sacrifices they made by doing so little to keep the vision they had from God alive today.

It’s time to stop blaming everyone else – the radical Islamists, the illegal immigrants, the militant secularists, the feminists, the humanists, politicians – for our lack of commitment.  We have been given opportunity after opportunity – chance after chance – and yet, like God’s chosen people, we throw them away.   Start today by praying for hearts that will repent and beg God for mercy.  And then pray every day that we would once again be the light of the world – the city on the hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).

Seek his will in all you do,

And he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:6

Brown type from Robert Stearns No, We Can’t

The Lost Art of Commitment

Why we're afraid of it, and why we shouldn't be.

Chuck Colson with Catherine Larson/ AUGUST 4, 2010

Certain characteristics are so inherent to Christianity that to neglect them is to become a walking oxymoron. A Christian without commitment is such an oxymoron. That's why I was so disturbed when a friend shared a statement from presidential candidates at a Christian college. When asked, "What has changed the most in the past 20 years with young people who are entering college?" all the candidates said that young adults today are far less willing to commit to anything.

Whether we are talking about career, marriage, or faith, studies back up their observation. In 2008, more than half of people ages 20 to 24 had been with their current employer for less than a year. Although the recession has dampened this somewhat, young adults are still floundering when it comes to embracing a calling. Marriage, especially, has suffered; according to U.S. Census data, young adults are marrying later than ever. A 2006 PBS documentary, Generation Next, gave some insight into why: desire for adventure, career advancement, and prolonged adolescence. Lack of commitment is also hitting religion—hard. Studies suggest that the iPod generation is choosing which aspects of the faith to adopt to create their own unique spiritual playlists.

Among today's young adults, the unwillingness to commit is alarming, clearly one result of the philosophies of the 1960s and '70s coming to full flower. In 1979, sociologist Robert Bellah conducted extensive interviews to understand what "habits of the heart" defined average Americans. Many had no sense of community or social obligation. They saw the world as a fragmented place of choice and freedom that yielded little meaning or comfort. They even seemed to have lost the language to express commitment to anything besides themselves. Bellah called this "ontological individualism," the belief that the individual is the only source of meaning. Bellah saw how this attitude would, in time, unravel the church and larger society. Since then, we've seen an almost uninterrupted march toward self-focus, affecting all of our institutions but especially crippling work, marriage, and family.

The basic building blocks of society simply erode without commitment. Any sensible society must address this problem by educating people that commitment is the very essence of human relationships.

At the least, we need to teach this in our churches. How can you begin as a Christian without death to self and total commitment to Jesus Christ?

But beyond the ramifications for society as a whole, beyond even the obvious necessity of Christian commitment, when we refuse to commit, we miss out on one of the great joys of life. When we obsess over ourselves, we lose the meaning of life, which is to know and serve God and love and serve our neighbors.

This was made clear when 33 research scientists investigated the relationship between human development and community in a 2003 report, Hardwired to Connect. Their research revealed that we are biologically primed to find meaning through relationships.

After nearly eight decades of living, I can vouch for this. My single greatest joy is giving myself to others and seeing them grow in return. You cannot discover that without commitment. I first learned it by watching my parents care for my dying grandparents in our home. This is a custom long forgotten today, when such care is subcontracted out. I later saw it in the Marine Corps. You cannot go into combat, commanding 45 men, as I was trained to do, if you aren't committed to one another. You are going to die if the man next to you does not cover your back.

That's a point driven home in the excellent 2010 book Joker One, by Donovan Campbell. It should be required reading for every Christian, because the kind of commitment you see in the platoon—Campbell calls it love for one another—is what needs to be happening in churches. Finally, I see it at this point in my life, when my greatest reward is seeing ex-convicts restored and people I've taught begin to understand the faith in its fullness.

By abandoning commitment, our narcissistic culture has lost the one thing it desperately seeks: happiness. Without commitment, our individual lives will be barren and sterile. Without commitment, our lives will lack meaning and purpose. After all, if nothing is worth dying for (the anthem of the '60s anti-war protesters), then nothing is worth living for. But with commitment comes the flourishing of society—of calling, of marriage, of the church—and of our hearts. It's the paradox Jesus so often shared when he bid us to come and die that we might truly live.

Cleansing of the Temple

The following is from an Easter Devotional put together by Covenant Fellowship.............

It often doesn't take long for heartfelt devotion and passion for God, to drift toward simply going through the motions.  Left unchecked, it can lead to hypocrisy - living your life with the appearance of devotion and love toward God that is not really there.  That's what happened to the Jewish people in New Testament times and the fig tree was a perfect illustration of this.  Jesus approached a fig tree with big, shiny leaves but no fruit.  On the outside the tree looked well, but it wasn't doing what it was created to do - produce fruit! So the Lord cursed the fruitless tree.  When Jesus approached the beautiful marble walls and gleaming gold pillar capitals of the temple with throngs of worshippers gathered around, all looked well - on the outside.  But the Jews received his strongest rebuke.  Jesus cursed the blatant hypocrisy and greed by turning over the tables and condemning their selfish practices.  The temple court was meant to be a place of prayer and worship for the Gentiles.  It was a place where men and women outside of Israel could seek God.  But it had become a den of robbers that hindered the Gentiles from praying and seeking God.  The same can be true today.  When we claim to have faith in Christ, but don't live lives transformed by his love and grace, we may hinder men and women from clearly hearing and responding to the gospel.  Unbelievers can see right through an outward "show" of religion.  Jesus wants us to know that how we live matters.  It matters that we pursue purity and obey God's Word.  It matters that we pray and seek God with sincere hearts.  Jesus died to free us from the trap of hypocrisy and to give us His Spirit, who purifies us and empowers us to live lives in line with the truths of the gospel.

Pray that God would help us to live pure lives that are dedicated to the glory of God, obedient to the Word of God and committed to prayer.

Prayer from Iran

Max Lucado's

Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet

It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests, most of whom clamor for a glimpse of the Teacher. The spring sun is warm. The streets are dry. And the disciples are a long way from home. A splash of cool water would be refreshing.

The disciples enter [the room], one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.

After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. He wraps a servant’s girdle around his waist, takes up the basin, and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works his way down the row.

In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants…The servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.

In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before his own death, Jesus’ concern is singular. He wants his disciples to know how much he loves them...

You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the flash of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert him at Gethsemane—Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table…

What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin!

Jesus knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, he wants them to remember how his knees knelt before them and he washed their feet…

He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.

Healthy Churches

This was too good to wait until tomorrow to post.  I challenge all of us to not only evaluate the church we attend, but evaluate our own involvement.  ARE you involved?  DO you serve our Lord?  Or do you leave it for the leaders and those "called" to a certain ministry?  HAVE you held your brothers and sisters accountable?  Or is it easier to shrug it off and just be comfortable.  Growth, in the best way, is not comfortable or easy.  If you haven't felt conviction or some form of discomfort lately, then I would surmise you haven't been growing either.

Principles of Healthy Church Growth

by Phil Van Auken

Understanding Church Growth

• The growth of a local church is the natural byproduct of its spiritual health (intimate relationship to God).
  
• The church belongs to Christ, not to us. He has a unique growth plan and purpose for each local church that makes up His body. Christ, not man, makes the local church grow.
  
• Some churches are redwood trees, others are bushes; some are flowers, others are grass. But ALL of the plants in God's forest have strong roots.
  
• Christ is interested in Kingdom growth (converted souls), not man-made growth based on the "3 Ms": materialism, marketing, and management.
  
• Christ is interested in the right motives for church growth: love for sinners; a sacrificing lifestyle that is salt and light to the world; dependence on God (humility).
  
• Man's motives for church growth are: the "3Bs": (budgets, baptisms, and buildings); empire-building pride (like the Tower of Babel); staff career-climbing; and guilt.
  
• Christ vomits man-made growth out of His mouth. (Rev. 3:18)
  
• Man-made church growth causes church cancers: congregational politics; materialism; competition between churches; cultural (undiscipled) Christianity; congregational homogeneity; performance-oriented staff (the "CEO" pastor).
  
• Growing churches are thus not necessarily healthy churches.
  
• Christ calls us to labor in a number of overlooked fertile harvest fields: growth in corporate prayer and patience; growth in heartfelt, genuine worship (instead of routine rituals for God); growth in the percentage of members who do the work of the church; growth in congregational diversity (ethnic diversity, as well as a mixture of new Christians and mature Christians); growth in member discipleship and empowerment; growth in ministry partnerships with other Christian organizations outside your local church.

Today's Lukewarm, Naked Church

• The comfortable, non-sacrificing church.
  
• We expect the staff to do the work of the church. "That's what we pay then for, isn't it?"
  
• We expect missionaries to save all the souls. "That's what God called them to do, isn't it?"
  
• Church leaders must stay out of the comfort zone and model sacrificing discipleship to the congregation.
  
• The church must be in the world to save those in the world. (John 17: 6-19)
  
• Growing, spiritually healthy churches must make room for the non-Christian, the "near-Christian," the immature Christian, and the backslidden Christian. Legalism and membership conformity cause the church to lose its warmth (salt and light).
  
• The church must tithe its budget and time to go beyond church walls in the local community.
  
• Why we don't pray: (1) We're comfortable and don't want anything (2) We don't care enough about others (3) We think small (4) We don't want to get involved (5) We're afraid God will respond and we'll have to interrupt our comfortable routine.

In The World...

• Church growth does not take place unless a new Christian enters God's Kingdom. Transferring memberships between churches is "recycled" (man-made) growth.
  
• Because our society is breaking down morally, most church growth opportunities today come from crisis ministry: divorce, unwanted pregnancies, alcohol and drug addiction, family abuse, etc. This is the harvest field that Christ labored in and said was white unto harvest. (John 4:35 and Matthew 9:37-38) Unfortunately, this is crisis ministry, not comfortable ministry.
  
• Middle class America is comfortable and secular, so this is often a barren harvest field to work in. Unfortunately, many churches want to do all of their work in this harvest field, because middle class church members have money and usually require only a modest amount of the church staff's time and energy. Crisis ministry church members can be disruptive to church routine and require a lot of time and attention. Highly legalistic churches don't view the "crop" in crisis harvest fields to be very worthy of harvesting. (Matthew 9:1-6)
  
• Church growth requires the church to be all things to all people. (1 Cor. 10:33)
  
• Because God has a unique purpose and plan for each local church, He is doing special work in each church. Leaders should find where God's special construction site is for their local church and go to work there. If we want our church to grow, we should work where God is already working in our midst!
  
• The more a church grows numerically, the more it must engage in discipleship. New Christians need "big brother" disciplers. Church growth is discipleship.
  
• The best form of discipleship is "on-the-job" ministry service to the unsaved and to those in crisis. Disciples of Christ must get beyond the comfortable walls of the local church and go out into the world where people are hurting and searching for forgiveness and a fresh start in life.
  
• The local church cannot grow if it seals itself off from the world for fear of being "tainted" by sin. We have the whole armor of God to help us be in the world but not be of the world. (Ephesians 6:13)
  
• Churches should look for ministry partners to provide growth opportunities: Prison Fellowship, community Christian service agencies (Salvation Army, etc.), other congregations, etc. God extends special blessings to unity among the brethren.

...But Not Of The World

• Christ's local church is not a business ("First Baptist Incorporated"). A CEO and board of executives shouldn't run it. The job of the church staff and lay leaders is not to perform. This is Christ's role. Church leaders are to be spiritual role models, reflecting the light of the Holy Spirit to the congregation and a dying world.
  
• The local church must not use the devices of the world (entertainment, material wealth and comfort, power, slick marketing, autocratic management, etc.) to run itself and promote its interests.
  
• The church must emphasize outreach (to the unsaved) over inreach (to the comfortable congregation).
  
• Church leaders must encourage and empower members to get away from the church for outreaching ministry activities.
  
• Church leaders are to empower members, not control them (which is the proper role of the Holy Spirit). When staff seek to control people, someone goes out the back door of the church every time a new member arrives through the front door.
  
• The Bible is meant to be applied, not merely studied.
  
• Small churches shouldn't envy middle size churches. Middle-size churches shouldn't covet to be large churches. Large churches shouldn't lust to be "super" churches. All church growth is Christ's business.
  
• The wrong church growth tools are: pressure, competition, guilt, and entertainment.
  
• The right church growth tools are: prayer, sanctification, discipleship, outreach, sacrifice, discomfort, sorrow, compassion, diversity, Bible-applying.

Encouragement In The Garden Of Gethsemane

• God doesn't value you or your church for what you do. We don't have to earn God's love or blessings.
  
• God has a unique role for you and your church. Look at your ministry through His eyes, not man's eyes.
  
• Church growth is God's work.
  
• Church growth happens one saved soul at a time.
  
• The grass and bushes in the forest are just as useful and necessary as the tall trees.
  
• Be the Christian God wants you to be and He will sanctify you to help the members of your church become the Christians He wants them to be. When the members of a church are the Christians God wants them to be, the church will grow and grow!

---

Note: This article originally appeared in Phil Van Auken's website.

Prayer for January 10

Remember, Lord, Your mercy and your kindness, which you have shown since the dawn of time.  Do not remember the sins of our youth, nor our wrongdoing, but remember us according to your mercy, for the sake of your goodness.

Give us true repentance, heartfelt remorse, and grief over our sins, O Lord Jesus - a godly sorrow, one that prepares our hearts to receive your comfort and forgiveness.  Give us the spirit of love, gentleness, humility, devotion, reverence, mercy, and prayer so that we and all the saints may possess your kingdom with love and eternal life.  Amen.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.  Galatians 5:22

Prayer for January 6

Holy Spirit, we take comfort in the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has had mercy on us.  We give Him thanks and praise for this, with the sincere hope that He will never abandon us.  Without ceasing, He represents us to His heavenly Father; indeed, He does so for all who have surrendered themselves to Him.

Inasmuch as you, Holy Spirit, are the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, let us also enjoy such devotion, love, and kindness.  Pour your mighty strength into us, and give those who are weak in faith, yet who submit themselves to you in word and truth, a new, reborn heart.  Amen.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Prayer for January 5

Give us this day a heart that is pure in your sight, O Lord, so we might look upon you.  O God and Father of love and peace, grant us your eternal peace and grace so we may at all times prove ourselves peace-loving people and avoid all evil discord and strife.  May we endure with a meek spirit and calm heart any hardship we encounter on this earth, be it a cross or tribulations, disgrace, or merely misfortune.  Since you are our God and Creator, O Lord, reconcile our life and walk with your holy and divine will, for all our works and deeds are in your hands.  We commend ourselves and our families, body and soul, into your care, Lord.  Govern and promote our work, O God, according to your will.  Amen.

Be ye holy; for I am holy.   1 Peter 1:16

Tomorrow is the start of a new year - new beginnings - new habits - new attitudes.  Praise God!

For Christmas my husband, Paul, gave me a wonderful little book titled Amish Prayers compiled by Beverly Lewis.  These prayers come from the German prayer book Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht printed in 1708 and have now been translated into English.

My 'new beginning' - 'new habit' - 'new attitude' is to use this blog to bring you these wonderful prayers so you, too, can pray them with me.   What could be better in this fallen world than for us to raise our voices together to praise the God who created us, loves us and saved us from ourselves.  I hope you will bookmark my blog and pray in unison to our great and mighty God. 

Amen 

I'm not sure who wrote this article, but it sure got my attention and woke me up!  Don't be fooled or lied to; don't assume you are saved; don't believe man's word over God's Word.  Open your Bible and READ it for yourself.  Pray for discernment and repentance.  Take it all seriously - very seriously.

He who Overcomes! 

The Dead, the Corrupt and the lukewarm. 

Described vividly in the book of Revelation, chapters 2 & 3, is the professing Christian church in its present state. The people in attendance however are almost completely unaware of the Judgment standing at the very doors. Called upon to repent by the Spirit of God, they ignore His probing and proclaim themselves 'in need of nothing'! But the fact remains, they are destitute of His holiness, full of lies & hypocrisy, possessing a 'form' of godliness & void of power. 
Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God! Ask them what they love most: "I just love ice cream!" "I love going to the movies!" "I love the church picnics!" "I love going to the pastor's house to have dinner!" When is the last time you heard a professing Christian say: "I love being persecuted for my faith!" "I take great joy in my trials & tribulations, knowing that the testing of my faith produces steadfast endurance!" (1Pet1:6-9) 
"From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!" Matt13:34 
"These people draw near to me with their mouths & honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me!" Matt15:8
Anyone who must be compelled to love God is only deceiving himself. Those not 'receiving' with meekness the implanted WORD (which is Christ Himself) daily into their hearts, being Purified from all filthiness of the flesh & overflow of wickedness, and then PUTTING it into practice, ARE NOT the son's of God. ONLY those keeping themselves 'unspotted' by the world will inherit the Kingdom of God. (James1:21-27) 

"More blessed are those who hear the Word of God and PUT it into practice!" Luke11:28 

You have either crucified your flesh with its passions & desires or you're living according to the flesh. You are either putting off the old man which grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts or being renewed in the spirit of your mind. You are either walking in newness of life with Christ, dead to sin, or pretending to be a Christian because some preacher told you that a past moment of faith guarantees your entrance into the kingdom. 
Stop kidding yourself that your church is 'The Church'. Face the reality that FEW have kept their garments from defilement. The Christianity passing itself off as genuine today is VACANT of spirituality. Every imaginable type of immoral conduct is being condoned and practiced inside the church and the preachers remain silent. Even if they 'appear' to be preaching against sin & demanding obedience, it's done in such a manner that those 'in sin' remain comfortable & complacent in their rebellion. Where is the godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance....NOT to be regretted a week later when the flesh cries out for more! 
People aren't getting saved FROM sin, they are given a LICENSE to keep on sinning! Protest all you want and claim, "Not my church! We're preaching against sin & demanding holiness." But open your eyes and look around! Is there any difference between your church and the world? When a sinner walks through the door of your church is he immediately taken back by the very presence of God? (he should be, according to scripture) Are the secrets of his heart laid bare and falling on his face does he proclaim that God is truly among you? (again, scriptural) 
NO! This isn't happening because most professing Christians are too busy making excuses for their sin or listening to some popular teacher tell them why the 'hard parts of scripture' don't apply to them! Those in bondage to sin are not convicted of it because everyone is too comfortable in it. And who sets the standard? The Church leadership standing in the pulpit telling you that no one is perfect, so don't look to me for an example? When the pastors tell you it's normal to 'lust' in your heart everyday and everybody does it, including him, it's time to start thinking about repentance! 
The contrast between Biblical Christianity and what's being passed off as Christianity in our churches is appalling. Those who refuse to examine themselves in the Light of Scripture will never enter the Kingdom. The Spirit of God is speaking to His Church, but FEW are listening. The flesh doctrines have given many over to strong delusion. They have become 'lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God', satisfied with a 'form' of godliness without power to overcome sin. This is a deadly state of affairs to be ensnared by. Your soul is hanging in the balance! Take heed to what the Spirit is saying and KNOW, only those who OVERCOME will escape His Wrath. 
To the Dead Church the Spirit says: Rev3:1-6 (listen closely, the Lord Himself is speaking.) 
"I know your record and what you are doing; you are supposed to be alive, but in reality you are dead! ROUSE yourselves and keep awake, & strengthen & invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done---any work of yours---meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight. So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and OBEY them & repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake & watch I will come upon you like a thief and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come." 
Notice the language Christ used in this passage and how perfectly it applies to the situation at hand. Ask yourself, is THIS what I am doing? Stirring myself, Keeping awake, strengthening my faith, obeying the Word? If not, you are among the 'dead' and stand in danger of His Judgment. Not many will pass the test! 
"Yet you still have a FEW names in your church who have not soiled their clothes and they shall walk with ME in white because they are worthy & deserving! Thus shall he who overcomes be clad in white garments & I WILL NOT blot his name from the Book of Life!" 
Take special note of the promise, given to those who have ALREADY kept themselves unspotted by sin, still they must OVERCOME to make it through. What of those who are comfortable & self-satisfied in their complacency? Will they awaken in time to escape Judgment? Chances are very slim they will be roused in time since they have been so long asleep and under the influence of strong delusion. 
"He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the churches!" 
The Dead Church has works, lots of them! No denying that. The outward appearance is one of godliness. They are feeding the poor, sending out missionaries, supporting numerous social programs. They have lovely buildings, comfortable pews, Choirs that sing with the voices of angels! Some visit the sick & elderly and even minister to prisoners, widows and orphans. BUT they have NOT kept themselves UNSPOTTED by the world! They have forgotten that Purity of heart goes hand in hand with Obedience to the faith. The inward defilement of the flesh makes everything they do unacceptable to GOD! Sacrificial acts from an un-clean heart. 
"Remember then from what heights you have fallen. REPENT---change the inner man to meet God's will--- and do the works you did previously (when you first knew the Lord) Or else I will visit you and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent!" Rev2:5 
Those of you who insist on remaining in the dead churches know that your eternal soul is at stake. This is not a game. The Spirit of God is not saying one thing to you and something entirely different to us. Those who are hearing Him comprehend the desperate hour we are in. Unless you have absolute Divine PROOF verified by scripture that you should remain in your church to warn them of the impending danger, LEAVE NOW before it's too late. How much time remains is solely in the Lord's hands, but He's calling out His Bride to MAKE HERSELF READY. (rev19:7) 
Even the Lukewarm has Works: 
"I Know your record of works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are LUKEWARM and neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of MY mouth! For you say I am rich, I have prospered and grown wealthy and I am in need of nothing; and do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked!"
The lukewarm have excluded Christ from their midst. Although they don't realize it, He is standing outside the church knocking on the door! He loves them dearly and wishes to tell them of their faults, convict, convince, reprove and chasten them back to obedience. (rev3:19) This is the reason He wants them BURNING HOT or Stone Cold, because in between they are NUMB to His prodding. With earnest & burning zeal REPENT, He says, and I will grant you to sit beside Me on My throne! What a promise! Given to those wallowing in sin & rebellion. Such is His undying Love. No one will be able to stand at the Judgment and say that the Lord didn't give them EVERY chance to turn from sin and come to Him. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the Judgments of the Lord are true & righteous altogether! (ps19:9) 
The warnings have gone forth
FEW are the faithful and of little power (on earth) Yet the Lord has set before them an open door that NO man can shut! (rev3:8) They reside in the very 'abode' of satan himself, as sojourners in a strange & hostile land. BUT they have KEPT His Word and GUARDED His message and have NOT renounced His name! (rev3:8) They are the FAITHFUL, who throughout history have patiently endured every hardship & remained Steadfast in the face of all obstacles. Refusing to compromise the blessings & the cursing of their God. Holding forth the WHOLE Counsel, warning the Righteous & the wicked that sin will bring them to spiritual death. 
"I am coming quickly; HOLD FAST what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown!" (Rev3:11) 
The final warning from our Lord to Overcomers:
HOLDFAST to what you have, take firm possession of it and hang on securely! Beware lest anyone use trickery & guile to deprive you of eternal life! GUARD what you have as a precious treasure, a pearl of Great price! Protect & secure it from loss. Blessed it the man who hears the Word of God and 'KEEPS' it! (lk11:28) Overcome by the word of your testimony and the Blood of the lamb! (rev12:11) 
If you are numbered among the faithful then you know these words are true. However, if you harbor doubt and resentment because these things don't seem to fit into your 'doctrinal' views, your spiritual slumber is almost complete! He who searches the minds, thoughts, feelings and purposes of the inmost heart, KNOWS where you stand. (rev2:23) 
Examine yourself today in His Holy Light and prove once and for all He is reigning in your heart and keeping it Pure and upright. Make no excuses, you are only cheating yourself.

Prayer

Came across this article/blog and thought it was too valuable to keep to myself.  I am just as guilty as the next of not tending to my prayer life enough.  But this cannot be an excuse and we should not allow ourselves to be sidetracked - prayer is powerful, prayer is necessary, prayer connects us to our Maker.  When we fall down, God is waiting to pick us up and set us on the right path again - if we just ask Him.  The enemy is also waiting and will try to keep us down by making us feel guilty, shameful, useless, etc.  While our individual prayer life is our own responsibility, corporate prayer is often initiated by the leader(s) of the church.  Just as we are an example to our children, the leaders of the church are an example to the rest of the flock.  And when our leader(s) step up to the plate to do the right thing, we need to support and encourage them.  Make your private prayer time AND corporate prayer time a priority in your life.  Don't allow other things - meetings, games, work, shopping, life - get in the way.  Amen.

What Happens When We Pray

December 21, 2010 by Leisa Jenkins

As a volunteer or a full-time children’s minister, it is important that we attend to our own spiritual lives and development in order to be able to minister to kids.  One important aspect of our own spiritual lives is prayer.  It is, after all, impossible to forge a relationship with someone without talking to them.  Our relationship with God is no exception.  A vibrant prayer life is critical to a healthy relationship with our Heavenly Father.

What happens when children pray?

Each Sunday morning I stand before the most gorgeous group of children and ask who wants to say our prayer today.  Wow! Do the hands go up!  It is extremely hard to pick just one child to pray when each of them wants to do it.  Why do they want to pray?  That is the real question.  Is it because of peer pressure or because they think it will give them bonus points?  I doubt either of those is the case.  So why?  Our children understand that God is present, God will provide, and God loves them.  They understand that he will answer their prayers no matter how long it takes.  But more than anything they have witnessed him working in there lives.
What happens when adults pray?
How much time do we, as adults, spend praying?  Do our hands shoot up when someone ask us to do it?  Why not?  Many adults fell like praying is a very uncomfortable thing to do both publicly and within our homes.  We often put prayer on the back burner because we have not recognized that our prayers are being answered.   Maybe we just think our prayer is silly.  Oftentimes, we don’t even think about prayer until it’s too late.  When you don’t make prayer a priority in your life, things don’t happen.  You don’t recognize that God is present, and we forget that if we have prayer and faith – he will provide.
Let me give you an example I was privileged enough to see firsthand.  This awesome church that my family is members of had the chance to witness this first hand.    We had to come to the realization as a congregation that we loved the church more than God.  Everything we were doing was for the church.   The programs were awesome, the people are awesome, the kids were awesome, but behind the scenes things were slowly taking a turn for the worse.  Finances, key leaders, attitudes, relationship, egos, etc. were slowly becoming mouting problems.  Through many days of phone calls and emails about what was and wasn’t working, not my Senior Pastor finally said:

“Ok enough!.  We can talk and talk until we are all blue in the face, we can point fingers, and we can spend weeks trying to figure it ou,t but where will that really get us?”

So what he did was one of implement one of the most intentional plans that I have ever witnessed.  He called a meeting with those of us at the church who desired to see this church do the incredible things it was meant to do.  This was not a a gathering intended to achieve a meeting of the minds or determine how to fix it!  No, this meeting had one and only one purpose – we were going to nothing but pray.  Prayer had not been a priority in our church!  We had not involved God!  We had done and done and achieved and achieved so much that we have missed the most important thing.  We had missed God’s plan!  We resolved to meet at the Pastor’s house every Sunday night to pray and to begin studying prater in the Bible.  We wanted to go back to the basics of praying and then move deep into scripture as we grew spiritually.  God has made it very clear that he wants us to meet with each other one on one and pray as well.  We call each other on the phone and pray.  We email each other and pray.  We pray as families, and we pray as an individuals.
This is what we’ve seen since we, as a community, began to be very intentional about spending time in prayer:

• People are growing spiritually.
• People are recognizing that prayers are being answered.
• Our Senior and Executive Pastors have grown closer in their relationship.
• Our Senior and Executive Pastors are spending more time with families on Sunday morning.
• Attitudes have changed.
• The environment has changed.
• Couples are praying together.
• Sunday night bible study has been consistent.
• We are experiencing more, and more genuine, community.
• Closer relationships are being built.
• Worship music is exceeding expectations.
• Offering has grown and sometimes doubled.
• Finances are continuing to get better.
• We, as a church, are making ourselves more available.
• Our congregations has nearly doubled.
• New families are coming in.
• Families that we haven’t seen in a while are coming back.
• The Donations for creating food baskets for needy doubled.
• Our Linus blanket project with the public school doubled.
• Prayer requests are being answered.
• The children’s ministry environment has changed dramatically.
• The children are stronger and so excited to be with us on Sunday morning.
• Letters to God has changed lives.
• Parents are growing, participating and using the resources made available to them.

This list continues to grow daily!  If your church has been where our church was then I beg you to pull together and pray.  Watch God work within your church and within your hearts.  Let him reveal himself!  Unless you involve God in your labors, your labors are in vain.
Do you pray as a community?  Do you pray with those you do children’s ministry with?  Are you intentional about finding times to pray?  Do you pray with your children?  Do you pray with your spouse?  Do you keep a record of answered prayer?

Commitment

com·mit·ment  [kuh-mit-muh nt]    a pledge or promise; obligation

As Christians in the 21st century, we are faced with major commitment problems.  We are over-committed in many ways and under-committed in others.  We commit to running the kids around, working long hours, living the American dream and trying to outdo and outlive our peers.  We do not commit to serving our Lord, supporting our church and seeking the truth.  Our attempts are pathetic and scattered.  Maybe some of us are avid church goers.  Others may pray now and then.  And some may read devotions.  But is this what Jesus called us to do?  Weren't we called to SACRIFICE?  When was the last time you made a true sacrifice for Christ?  And yet this is how we are called to live DAILY.  

 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:15

Our commitment should be only to God.  Any other commitment is to a false idol.  We should be commited to seeking His will, truth and words.  Evaluating our situation should be a regular practice.  If something or someone is taking us away from the Lord or causing us to not seek His will or the truth, then turn from that source. It doesn't need to be complicated - the questions are simple - Does this (thing or person) bring me closer to the Lord?  Does it (or he/she) perpetuate truth?  Does it (or he/she) cause me to sin?   We must not assume that we are able to withstand sin without corruption.

 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”    1 Corinthians 15:33

My Colors

Do we know what it means to be a living sacrifice? Read this statement by a young African pastor. Found among his papers in Zimbabwe after he was martyred        I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.      My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.      I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.      My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.      I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.      I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.      I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.      I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!