"The Lukewarm Church Is Asleep" - Inspirational Weekend

Is the church you attend lukewarm or asleep or perhaps compromising with the world or being "user-friendly" to draw more attendance?    Truly, the church today, as a whole, is compromising with the world in an effort to enlarge membership and are really just drifting away from the true Gospel.  I have visited many churches, and have seen this first hand.   Churches want to entertain and be a social outlet more than preach the meaty Scriptures that can save souls.   I want to be clear that this is the church in general; there are still churches around that are Christ-centered and that do not compromise the Word of God in any way whatsoever.   Thank the good Lord for that !  Find one of those churches immediately if the one you now attend is lukewarm or compromises with the world.

"Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people.  It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender."  -  A.W. Tozer

Jesus makes it plain how he feels about a lukewarm church in Revelation 3:15-16,  "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  "   In other words, the church at Laodicea made Jesus want to vomit, He was so disgusted with them for their lukewarmness; they sickened Him.   Lukewarm people claim to know God, but live like He doesn't even exist.   If they go to church, they are self-righteous in their complacency.   Their hearts are not right with God and remain unchanged.

Revelation 3:20 is speaking primarily to the Laodicean church, but it can also apply to the individual as well:  Jesus says,  "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, presents Himself not only to the church as a whole, but to the door of an individual's heart.   The movement toward reconciliation is originated by the Savior ....."Behold, I stand at the door and knock".     Please open the door and let Him in, before He stops knocking and perhaps never returns again.   Christ's knocking at the door shows tenderness.  This reminds me of the hymn, "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling"  which may be heard directly below.

We want to make sure that we, in our hearts and minds, are NOT lukewarm towards God.   We need to be preaching the Gospel to lost souls and generally be on fire with zeal for the things of the Lord.  Examine yourselves, and get rid of any laziness of spirit where the Lord's work is concerned.   We do not want God and Jesus to be disgusted with us because we put forth no effort to do His work, and we showed nothing but indifference.   If you are lukewarm, you have good reason to dread the indignation of the Savior.

Remember, if you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.   Your lukewarmness can be forgiven once you confess it, repent of it, and have a change of heart where you have a heart-felt passion for the Lord and His work.   

Just like the first century church, the church today is still asleep.   Below is a video that touches on that subject and others.

"Sowing Seeds and Bearing Fruit" - Inspirational Weekend

This flower garden is on the famous Strand at Manhattan Beach, California.   I liked the photo so included it here, but the subject of this post has to deal with planting fruit bearing seed and also with bearing fruit in our lives as Christians ought to do.   

Everyday we go out into the world we sow spiritual seed, and we have the choice as to which seed to sow.   Be full of grace and light and sow joy and goodwill and thereby bring glory to our heavenly Father.

"Be not deceived;  God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.   And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  -  Galatians 6:7-9

Be careful how you speak and how you act.   Always honor Jesus by your actions and speech.   It will benefit yourself as well as those who observe you.   So many people go around angry or bitter or depressed; spread some sunshine with the Gospel.   Try to always have a cheerful attitude in public.  You have a lot to be joyful about if you are a follower of Jesus.  Your sins have been forgiven and you have the hope of eternal life !      Remember to do whatever is necessary to draw you closer to God; and that includes much prayer and Bible reading.   Then share what God's Word says with others.  But all this "doing" means nothing if you do not have love behind it.   If you are a true believer, there will be love motivating you to share the Gospel and to "shine" for the Lord.  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."  -  Galatians 5:22-23

Everyone receives the Holy Spirit the moment he or she believes in Jesus Christ  (Ephesians 1:13).   It is the Holy Spirit's primary purpose to make us more like Jesus Christ.   As we are being conformed to His image,  we begin to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.   It will not all happen all at once, but as we grow spiritually there will be a dramatic  change in us and we will be more patient and have more joy and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.  

Actually, Jesus told us what to do in John 15:4-5 ---   "Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without Me ye can do nothing."     

So to be spiritually fruitful, we must stay close to Jesus.   Do not neglect prayer, daily repentance, the reading of God's Word, and total surrender to God and Jesus.    Their will, not yours.   If you focus on God and Jesus and do not get distracted by worldly desires and lusts, you will find it easier to sow fertile seeds and to  have the fruit of the Spirit.

Following is a 7 minute clip by Andrew Murray titled, "Working for God/ Bearing Fruit In Every Good Work"  :

"Tommy Ice on the Rapture and Saving Scriptures" - Inspirational Weekend

My photo above of a South African Starling (taken at the Honolulu Zoo) is just another reminder of how glorious and beautiful are God's creation.  It is unfortunate that man has done so much damage and is destroying a lot of God's handiwork.   I keep up with a lot of news, from a Biblical perspective, and I realize that time is fast approaching a prophetic climax, considering all the Bible prophecies now being fulfilled at an accelerated pace, a convergence of many prophecies coming true in these last days.   This all leads up to the imminent return of Jesus Christ to rapture His Bride - the Church, true believers- at any moment now.   I want to focus now on the Rapture of the Bride. 

"Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."  -  Acts 1:11

Below are two videos discussing the Rapture, featuring Tommy Ice who is very knowledgeable about this subject.   They are both very informative and I learned some new things from watching them.   The first video to me is more of a warm up to meatier matter in the second video, Part 2.  Please take the time to watch both videos as they will give you new insight and valuable information.  

Below is part 2, a must view!

If you watch the news and keep up with things, I am sure you will agree that the world is in chaos and something has to give.   Once the Rapture happens,  sometime thereafter the 7 year tribulation period begins when God pours out His wrath on the ungodly people who defy Him.   You do not want to be here then!!  Trust me!   Rather, trust God and His Word.   

If you are not now a believer in the Savior Jesus Christ, I urge you to repent and turn to Him and surrender your life to Him.  Below are some "salvation" Scriptures:

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Romans 6:23  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ 

                        our Lord."

John 3:16       "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 

                         believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 14:6        "Jesus said unto him, I  Am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the 

                          Father, but by Me."

Romans 10:9      "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine 

                           heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Romans 10:13    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Turn to God in prayer and heartfelt, sincere repentance and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and to come and live within in you in the form of the Holy Spirit.   Tell the heavenly Father you believe Jesus died and shed His blood for the remission of sins and that you are grateful and want to live your life in complete surrender to Him.  Tell Him also that you believe God resurrected Jesus from the dead.   Thank the Lord that He made the way for sincere believers to gain everlasting life.   Pour out your heart to God and Jesus.   God will hear and answer a sincere prayer like that.

Time on this earth is short; eternity is forever.  Eternity is a long time to spend in the wrong place....Hell.    

"Thoughts On Faith and Strength From God" - Inspirational Weekend

There are several topics whirling around in my brain that I want to discuss here, but I need to focus on only one or two or this post could go on for pages.   I want to talk a bit about faith and about strength from God.   I recently had a lesson in faith and strength from the Lord.   I had over-exerted myself and suffered extreme pain as a  result.  Then on top of that I had pneumonia.    I spent a  good deal of time flat on my back, so I had a lot of time to just think, and think some more.  I wondered what lesson God was trying to teach me in all this.    I guess the obvious is to not over-extend myself physically.   Basically I came to the conclusion that God just wanted me to be still and know that He was God  (Psalm 46:10); to meditate on His Word and to be in prayer and to have faith  and patience to be healed.

God wants to show Himself strong on our behalf.  Surrender to Him today and and He will give you peace that will fill your very soul.  We cannot fully serve God without full surrender to His strength.   "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."  -  Isaiah 41:10

God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  You need to trust in God so  completely that He is your strength.   That takes faith.   

"Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ."  -  A.W. Tozer

Many people struggle with a lack of faith.   According to the apostle Paul, we are to "walk by faith and not by sight."  (2 Corinthians 5:7)  .   Don't follow your perceptions of what is true; instead follow what you know to be true by faith.  God is a stranger to many people.....they don't read His Word or pray daily and are therefore less likely to believe what God says if they ever hear or read His Word.   The way to end this is to spend many hours in God's Word so you may come to know Him and have an intimate, personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.  

Romans 10:17 says,  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.."  -  Hebrews 11:6

"Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God.  Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His Power."  

-  Oswald Chambers

Next time you are ill and flat on your back, or you are experiencing many trials and hardships,  ask God what lesson He is trying to teach you.  Most of the time all these things happen to make you realize your weakness and to turn to God for answers, direction, guidance and to therefore draw you closer to God and Jesus.   God is your strength.    A verse I love is found at Nehemiah 8:10b ,

"....for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

I am very fond of the following song by Don Moen,  "God Will Make A Way"

"Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually."   -  I Chronicles 16:11

"These things I have spoken unto you,that in Me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."   -  Jesus speaking at John 16:33