Has anyone wondered why these are no longer happening…though the National Health Services (NHS) is there to attend to the sick members of the church, but I think this should be a colossal concern to the church, the leadership and preachers of the gospel today?
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth; “for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). Whether we accept this or not, as long as there are elements of strife, envying, disunity and division in the body of Christ, the operations of the Holy Spirit is handicapped. This is a call to both the church and the leadership which God instituted to lead the flock.
The New Church
I grew up in the church and over the decades, I have seen a major shift from the actual worship to the Lord, drifting away from what the ideal scriptural dedication to the One God. Christ came and gave redemption to all and by grace in Him, we are all justified by faith. As we serve one God, the church of God should remain one, preaching the same gospel of truth, the Good News. To this end, Paul the apostle, to the Corinthians, is of the opinion that hatred, strife, envying, competition and division are not of the Spirit of God, therefore, prohibits the active operations of the Holy Spirit. “…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25).
Absence of Love and Unity of Spirit
This is really an impediment to the way the Holy Spirit operates in the church of the 21st century as against the way He moved in the early church when multitudes were healed of infirmities, and evil spirit were discerned and cast out by the apostles. Peter even raised the dead. Sights were given to the blind and the deaf received hearing. Has anyone wondered why these are no longer happening…though the National Health Services (NHS) is there to attend to the sick members of the church, but I think this should be a colossal concern to the church, the leadership and preachers of the gospel today? The level of division, strife and envying in the body of Christ is much that we no longer have one voice, and the kingdom of darkness is aware of this, leveraging on it to fight the expansion and the quality of the gospel being preached. This has created a significant vacuum for Satan to perpetrate his evil plans amongst the church (Denominations), families, youths and even the government.
The leadership and the preachers of the gospel are also being ministered to in order to retrace their steps back to the place of the Cross and seek the face of the Almighty God, interceding on behalf of the church and stop counting the numbers of the members in the pew, engaging in the competition with others and to begin to proclaim the true gospel of the Lord, and not the “make-the-pew-feel-good” sermons.
Mark, the writer of the book of Acts wrote in the 2nd chapter of the Acts of the Apostles; “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” In the absence of love and unity of spirit, we, as a church cannot experience the power of God the way it manifested in the day of Pentecost, as the brethren dwelt in love and in one accord. Charles Spurgeon emphasised in one of his perspectives on this same matter.
“I look at a number of churches and where I see worldliness and formalism lying thick upon them, I am absolutely certain that there is not the warmth of Christian life within. But where the hearts of believers are warm with divine love through the Spirit of God, we are sure to see evils vanish and beneficial consequences following therefrom…”
Charles Spurgeon.
Call to the Truth of the Gospel
I therefore think this call goes to everyone who has the belief that the death and resurrection of Christ are for us all and we are all required to stay focused on the prize which is Christ Jesus our Lord, whom His second coming is near. The leadership and the preachers of the gospel are also being ministered to in order to retrace their steps back to the place of the Cross and seek the face of the Almighty God, interceding on behalf of the church and stop counting the numbers of the members in the pew, engaging in the competition with others and to begin to proclaim the true gospel of the Lord, and not the “make-the-pew-feel-good” sermons.
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).
One Response
Great word of inspiration; I am truly bless by this beautiful write-up.