The Church That Nauseates God!

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.Revelation 3:14-16 NIV

Whenever I read this passage of scripture, I think about where the Church is today. Every year, it seems, we get further away from living the way God intended us to live. And every year, we come up with more and more excuses to turn away from the tried and true–loving God and loving one another–living in obedience to His Word.

The reason the world is in the shape it’s in is because we no longer know how to love–God or one another. If we loved God, we would not support, promote or encourage sin–living in opposition to His Word. If we loved one another, there would be no violence–no killing of children, people or suicide bombers. There would be no theft, no backbiting, no name-calling and hurling insults at others simply because we lack appropriate communication skills.

Yes, “what the world needs now–is love sweet love–it’s the only thing there’s just too little of.”

But because we know not how to love–we have become complacent–apathetic–void of any feelings one way or the other. We are neither hot or cold, but lukewarm and God says, being lukewarm, makes Him sick enough to throw up. I can only imagine how nauseated He really is watching us flounder betwixt and between pacifying the world and man’s dictates and trying to muster enough energy to give Him halfhearted worship. Our obedience to His Word is not evident in most of what we see on the news and in our communities–and in the buildings where everything is supposed be done according to God’s Word–not man’s traditions.

Oh yes, we’re making God nauseous and if we’re honest with ourselves–most of what we do should make us sick enough to return to Him, but apparently, we have not arrived at that place–yet.

We will get there–to that place when we realize we’re tired of living in our own puke–trailing it wherever we go, stinking up every place we go, watching people cover their noses so they won’t inhale the stench. Hopefully, we’ll get there before Jesus returns but if we don’t, we’ll have no one but ourselves to blame since His directions are written in His Word and since we have Holy Spirit to guide us–we must listen and obey. When we don’t, we spread the stench of disobedience.

 

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Never Consumed!

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22,23 NIV

Rebellion consumes the mind and ignites opposition to authority. The serpent in the garden ignited rebellion and opposition to God’s Word in Eve and Adam and resulted in their eviction from The Garden.

Hate consumes the mind and ignites more hate without reason. All of the dictators who systematically killed others who opposed them and spread lies in order to get others to do their dirty work–were consumed with hate.

Fire consumes everything in its path, without bias–destruction emerges as the end result. The lake of fire has been prepared for all liars, fornicators, adulterers–and those who refuse to Believe God. They will be consumed and nothing left of them to deter others.

But love–soothes the rising of anger and replaces it with peace and hope. Love stamps out those fires of unbelief and rebellion and hate, enveloping us and sealing us with His love. And it is because of Love–that we are not consumed with carnal desires, displeasing God on a daily basis. His love embraces us and His mercies are new every morning–saving us from ourselves.

Are we consumed with the desire to love? Are we attempting to do everything we can to please God rather than self? Love never destroys, but builds. Love never makes excuses for not doing right, but finds reasons to promote itself. Love does not see differences, but looks for opportunities to understand and accept diversity. We are all one race–the human race–and love embraces one and all.

Love and hate cannot abide in the same place for either love will reign or hate will reign. Where love reigns, peace abides and no one is sacrificed for another. Where hate reigns–destruction is imminent–and no one is given any consideration at all. If we are not consumed because of God’s love for us, we should do as He does and just–love!

The evidence is clear–we can see it with our own eyes–both naturally and spiritually how hate consumes and destroys on a daily basis. With all of the people who are senselessly killed on a daily basis–undisciplined minds raging out of control and their feelings taking over and driving them to do dastardly things that cost lives–others and theirs for when they do wrong–eventually they are caught and their lives end in prison or a morgue.

There’s a reason we are still here–not consumed by passions that destroy, but saved to be filled to overflowing with His love to share with others. Because of His endless love and mercies–we are never consumed with hatred or the desire to destroy. We have work to do to make sure that love and compassion never cease as we promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, let’s get busy and make sure complacency and indifference never consume us, leaving us wondering why we cannot move forward in His name!

Fill us, Lord–to overflowing with Your love and compassion every day!

 

 

Why Jesus said, “God’s Worshippers Must Worship In Spirit And in Truth!”

“God is a spirit and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 NIV)

It is probably because of this passage and some others that reference God as a “spirit” that many naysayers casually belittle Believers by calling God a ghost. Ghosts are spirits of the dead, therefore God is The Spirit of life since He was neither born nor died, He simply is. For those of us who know God, not just believe “in God” we know Truth.

What was going on when Jesus had to make this distinction? Jesus had sent His disciples to purchase food and He waited for them by a well and had a conversation with a Samaritan woman–a no-no for a Jewish people to interact with the Samaritans (then). At any rate, Jesus told the woman all about herself and a conversation rose about where a person should worship. And the following is Jesus’ response to her:

John 4:19-23

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

What were the Samaritans worshipping? Idols (images) with altars set up in the mountain who served no purpose other than pagan worship. Unfortunately, the debate about where a person should worship is still going on between some factions of Christians and what Jesus said, then, is true now. God, the Father is seeking those who will worship Him in the spirit (allowing His spirit to interact with our own) and in truth (with knowledge of who He is and how He wants us to live). 

There are many people who go to church buildings out of tradition, but for no real purpose or knowledge. They go through the motions of singing songs, praying empty prayers, and listening to sermons with half an ear. I know people who attend a church service on a regular basis, but then they claim they don’t know if they believe the Bible or not. If they don’t know if the Bible is true or not, why are they wasting their time going into a building? These are those who believe “in God” but do not Believe God.

This is the point Jesus was trying to make to the Samaritan woman and those who Believe God, not just believe in Him. We cannot believe God if we don’t know His Word. His Word reveals who He is and for those who understand this, we know we do not have to be in a specific place to worship Him–acknowledging all He has done for us and giving Him praise for who He is.

For this reason, many church services are devoid of the Spirit of God, because His spirit is not welcomed due to the traditions of man, taking precedence over the leadership of Holy Spirit. None who are led by Holy Spirit would encourage anyone to live in opposition to God’s Word. None who are led by Holy Spirit would call God said was wrong, right nor what He said is right, wrong. None who are led by Holy Spirit would deliberately entice anyone to live a life apart from the knowledge of God and His purpose for our lives.

When we become so complacent as leaders in the church that we choose not to stir people with Truth and allow God’s Word to convict of sin, we are merely going through the motions of a bland, flavorless service. We are told to preach the Word–whether it is convenient or not, whether people want to hear it or not and we are to say what God says, not just teaching a “feel-good, sugarcoated messages” because we don’t want to offend sinners. If we are afraid to offend those in sin and choose to offend God instead, we place ourselves in a position to know His wrath.

Satan isn’t concerned about the leaders in some churches; he has already recruited them as commanders in his army. What they have forgotten is this–the payment for sin is death. And this is why there are so many spiritually, dead churches–devoid of life–because Satan’s job is to kill, still, and destroy. Can we not see that is exactly what is happening around us today?

Be filled with the Spirit of God and know Holy Spirit will not dwell in an unclean temple, but meditate on The Word, knowing there is life in The Word of God, leading us to closer relationship with Him and giving us power–to stay bold and courageous–to say what God says. Worship Him in Spirit and in the Truth of His Word. 

More of what Jesus said and why, next time!

Educational Discord!

Stop The Madness