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A Troubled
World – Part 4
Matthew 16:18
by Paul
George
The source of the
problems in our nation is disobedience. The source of
the problems in the Church is disobedience. This is not
a popular subject and difficult to deal with. We would
rather sweep it under the carpet. If we are going to be
honest and solve the problems in the Church, we must
deal honestly with the source. The Church is not a
building. The Church is the body of Christ. Its purpose
is to be a beacon in this sin-darkened world directing
the lost to a safe harbor and away from dangerous
waters. The Church cannot perform its responsibility if
the light goes out. The light in the Ephesus church went
out when it left its first love. The first sign the
light has gone out and the church has lost its first
love is the abandonment of devotion.
When the light goes out worldliness, heresy, and
compromise enters into the body of believers. When the
light goes out the minds of men and women are filled
with confusion and doubt. When the light goes out the
hearts of men and women fail them because they are
filled with fear. When the light goes out the church is
just a building. When the light goes out the church
loses it power to have an impact and influence on
society. When the light goes out God’s love is not
revealed to the lost and dying; spiritual apathy erases
the Christians testimony. When the light goes out love
for God is replaced by the love of things, which results
in a departure from the faith and loss of effective
spiritual testimony.
It may come as a surprise. When the light goes out the
church does not need more programs to recharge the
batteries and restore the testimony of the Church.
Programs have failed to restore the sacredness of
marriage. Programs have failed to heal broken
relationships. Programs have failed to build foundations
for the building of values and virtue. Programs have
failed to solve the drug problem. Programs have failed
to reduce the abuse of children and spouses. Programs
have eased the Holy Spirit out of the worship service.
When the lights go out, we do not need entertainment.
When the light goes out we do not need some gimmick to
draw the people back to Church. We need the Word of God
and prayer.
Programs cannot replace the Word of God and prayer. I
have seen hundreds of programs fall by the wayside.
Thousands of dollars invested in programs. They did not
fall by the way side because we did not try to make them
work. Entertainment lasts until the refreshments are
served. Gimmicks are useless. The greatest need when the
light goes out is the presence of the Holy Spirit. We
need to open the door and let the knocking Son of God
into His Church. Without Him, it is impossible to turn
the light on.
In our disobedient society, the God of the Bible is not
recognized as the Creator of the universe and life. Some
impersonal “Force” is recognized as the creator of the
universe and life. This force is often referred to the
“Universal Mind” or “Nature.” The power of the Holy
Spirit is being replaced by alleged “mind power” or
psychic powers. Sin is nothing more than a bad
self-image. We are told our greatest need is not a
regenerated heart but a renewed self-image. Our problem
is not that we think too highly of ourselves but too
lowly. We do not know who we are. A popular pastor and
television evangelist made the claim we need to be like
Jesus, He knew His worth. His success fed His
self-esteem and He suffered and died on the cross to
sanctify His self-esteem and our self-esteem. He claimed
a person is in hell when he has lost his self-esteem.
I listened to a man stand before a congregation and he
used the term “mother nature” at least five times. I
asked the question, “Does he know who mother nature is?”
Since he was a thousand miles away and could not answer
the question, I did the next best thing I turned off the
television.
There are multitudes in the world that are living under
a false sense of security built on the compromise of the
Word of God. A promise of peace built on the
philosophies and doctrines of the New Age Movement,
cults, and mysticism. Thousands are falling into the
snares of Satan baited with the promise of godhood.
Professing Christians are ignoring warning signs and
running stop signs. They are making decisions based on
prejudices, assumptions, and speculations. They are not
taking the time to explore God’s Word. They are looking
at the world through eyes that have been blinded by the
god of the air, the great deceiver and father of liars.
More than 2500 years ago, Israel was standing at a
crossroad. The decision the people made was according to
what they thought was best for them. They doubted the
love of God. They did not trust the One who had brought
their fathers from the land of bondage and through the
Red Sea. They relied on their own abilities and human
logic. They put their trust in their enemies and bowed
before pagan idols and worshipped gods made of stone.
We are standing at a crossroads. The problems in the
Church are the results of a people who claim they love
the Lord and doubt His love. They question His motives.
They are putting their trust in human abilities and
knowledge. Sin is no longer a deadly spiritual disease.
We are merely the victims of circumstances beyond our
control. Criminal rights are protected and the victims
ignored. Doing what they believe is best for them they
ignore what God has said is best for them.
Someone once said, “There are more things between heaven
and earth than our schoolmaster’s intellect can grasp.
Let us not put our trust in any new tower of Babel;
rather let us trust in the Holy Spirit inspired
Scriptures.”
Will we ever rid our nation and the Church of the
problems they must deal with? No. Can we rescue those
who are dying in the sea of darkness sweeping over this
land? No. However, we can tell them who is able to
rescue them. In these dark days, we must stand strong in
the faith. We must not let the deceivers who have made
their way into the Church through deceptive means
destroy the flock.
It all begins with letting God have His way in our
lives.
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