Are you blessed and a blessing for God's Church? Then smile.

In some Lands where I’ve traveled.. where less than one percent of the entire population are born again spiritually ..I’ve heard some American missionaries get accused of smiling too much—you know, not being real the locals would assume. Several cultures are like that. It’s just not seen hardly at all in some locations. Not wrong, just different. 

I've also seen some ministers look angry at the world in my own and in far away cultures. Cuz of the Cross God ain't angry. He still hates sin that destroys people, but loves all sinners. So what's better, serious face or not so serious? I'll let the Lord guide you on how to tactfully be and how not to be.. where He leads you to witness for Christ. He can help us be effective and fruitful no matter where we are.

Do you live in a joyless country, church, workplace, or family ..for the most part? Sorry 'bout that. I know who can fix that. Sometimes it's pretty hard not to smile or laugh after and while you pray in faith, and worship God, and share His Gospel for decisions. Sure, it's hard not to when you daily have God's huge JOY wellin' up inside of you. And you know He pours it in for a purpose. Everything He does is for a good purpose. Ya wanna go tell someone!

“To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” ~ Paul, (See the whole context of 1 Corinthians 9:22)

Well, it's important to adapt while entering a different culture to win people, as the Apostle Paul did. It's good to be culturally sensitive and relevant, but here are five reasons why in any Land, you should be prayerfully authentic and “Smile more as a leader." Check it out, a good article from my wisely tweeting friend, @MichaelHyatt.

Dear Father, Every hour we need You. Thank you for Your joy, for Your Church, and for authentic koinonia fellowship with Your believers globally. 
God personally, I think all your Family members need to laugh, smile and express joy more often. Help us appropiate all that You have for us. We also need Your wisdom so that we (I for one..) don't rate high on our hearer's irritation scale in any locale. Don't want to rate on it at all really. Just want to impart what You want, and get Your Message through. Live through us. What a blessing to have real friends in your Family. Do want to see Your Church grow today. Please make each of us a real blessing to Your Church and to the pastors we meet as well. We are so grateful for the ones who are alive, spiritual, balanced and working hard. Please wake up, directly minister to, comfort, fully equip, biblically revive, direct, exhort, challenge, and use Your Church. Yes, make your local churches blessings in their respective communities as well..to the glory of Jesus Christ. Help us properly represent You and Your holy character ..with JOY and even a smile in this dark world that's lacking both ..sure, while we have opportunity to, Lord. Amen.

“Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.” ~ Daniel 9:17

News Flash: The Lord is greater and way bigger than all those problems that have preoccupied your mind!

Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears, God is bigger than any mountain I can, or cannot, see, bigger than all my questions, bigger than anything, God is bigger than any mountain I can, or cannot, see. 

 

God is greater and SO able to do whatever it is that you need Him to do. He’s able to give, to deliver, to rescue, to forgive, to guide, comfort, to feed, to quench thirst, to fully answer, to heal, to strengthen, to fill and empower you with His Spirit, to totally turn things around that sure need to be turned around for the glory of the Father.

God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand…  Daniel 3:17

God is able to give you strength to rise above every temptation, trouble, and trial! 

God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it… 1 Corinthians 10:13

God ”..is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” Eph 3:20 nkjv

It’s so true. "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." (msg). 

Able to save.... anyone? I mean anyone living? Yup, can do...in the fullest sense of that term. Easy when there is repentance and faith in Jesus. Yeah, might sound kinda religious to you, but "save" is His term, not mine. Go check it out in the Bible.

He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them… Hebrews 7:25

Able to build you up every single day of the week..and every year..by His grace!

I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified… Acts 20:32

God is able to exceed your expectation and mine. I've seen Him do that with my family before. 

The Lord is able to give you much more than this… 2 Chronicles 25:9

God is able to keep us from falling in sin, and is able to keep us from wandering in error.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy... Jude 1:24

I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within… 2 Timothy 1:12-14

God is able to fulfill all of His promises. Do you ever go memorize and by faith, claim His promises?

Fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised… Romans 4:21

Have you lost a loved one? Has someone you really cared about.. died recently? So SO sorry about that, but God can start to calm and comfort your broken heart and hurting soul. Got a crushed spirit or dream? He can handle em. Are you afflicted inside? God can soothe, solace, and mend.

Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God… 2 Corinthians 1:4

God is able to create something out of nothing! He did it with the universe and with this earth. Scientists can’t, and even if they keep adding on trillions and trillions of years in their alleged evolutionary process, they really have no proof that He hasn’t done it.

God is able from these stones to raise up children... Matthew 3:9

No matter how many people opt to live as rebels against and away from Him and His direct or delegated authority (and I was peddle-to-the-metal once one of em..), God will have a family to love.

God is able to make all grace abound to you.. daily right when you need that to happen…all grace abound to and in and through you… so having all-sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work for His glory... 2 Corinthians 9:8 

Got a Godzilla-ugly, unfair, verbally abusive, uber-mean boss—yes, I mean that way to the bone.. rad-ugly personality-wise on so many levels? It's kinda hard to have a leader in the State or Country's capital, or a local church, or in the workplace who has no character. I know you know what that's like. 

Got joblessness, or hard-core hopelessness, or frustrating aimlessness, or some big honkin' bills that you just can seem to catch up on?..or issues at your school that seem so ongoing, perplexing and emotionally overwhelming to you? 

Got a persistent nagging disease that you just can’t ..no matter the doctor or medicine.. seem to shake? 

Got an alcoholic dad or mom…..or aunt, or grandparent that has deeply hurt you? 

Got an indifferent, callously disrespectful daughter who has taken a long stride from the Master’s caring side.. one that you can’t even for a day or two seem to get along with minus gross rudeness… cuz she constantly uses and has repeatedly ripped people off? 

Got a puffed-up, know-it-all, not-yet-regenerated son with an old dominating nature and strange enabler-close friends..or perhaps multiple sons who aren’t that much different? Well hey, it ain’t time to quit praying for them.

Why? Cuz God is  A B L E. He’s loved and had gobs of thick-headed, numb-skull, rascal kids not into seeking Him. Had so many for centuries! But He saved you and me didn’t He…didn’t He? And He’s still sanctifying you and me isn’t He? God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” ..or can even begin to imagine like one who is really good at that can imagine. So what are you waiting for? Choose to know and serve this great God. facebook.com/shareJesus

They're tellin' me Easter is just around the corner. Have you yet applied the benefits of the Cross?

The truest measure of God’s love is that He loves without measure! —Bernard of Clairvaux

I just love the Cross. Here in the South, I can look around and see a cross sticking up everywhere. It used to be just a cold symbol of stiff .."Hey Kurt, Heads up, pay attention and be still young man".. kinda churchyness to me, but not any more. Three words loud and clear are what I hear from the cross—“I love you” (see John 19)!!! There Christ allowed strangers there to put that crown of thorns in His brow and head, to mock Him, to repeatedly strike Him, to strip Him, and to brutally crucify Him (vv.1-6). You know He always had the power to stop em, but at the cross He said very little (v.11). Jesus did it all for love’s sake.. to fully pay for our sins and to rescue us from punishment. He cares about you and your friends today. 

On the calandar it's startin' to get closer to the time of His Resurrection day (O yes, He is risen, well, and very much ALIVE) so we're starting to see more "religious" broadcasting and movies advertised (Hollywood must know there's some serious money to be made, and that a large part of the population here are still very intrigued with the meaning of the Cross. I'm glad when they get people thinkin' about it all, but it's always so interesting to see em put sentences in His mouth that He actually never said..). Just remember that underneath everything that really happened there at Calvary.. God's love for all was on display.

He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull,.. where they crucified Him. —John 19:17-18

Decide today.. even now for you personally ...not to allow Christ's loving substitutionary death on that cruel Cross... to be in vain. Q: What's involved with that, Kurt? A: Turnin' (away from all that the Bible defines as sin) and trusting (Christ to regenerate and lead you). Sure, go for it now. Stop n talk to Him 'bout it, and then just receive God's free forgiveness. Facebook.com/shareJesus #ArtByJoanDorrill

Believer, Jesus your soul-winning Lord, is training you...

..to be a tenacious intercessor, a faith-filled overcomer, a patient seed planter, and a gentle reaper.

Why? Because He cares about all the peoples of the nations and world as much as He cares about you.

Remember when He by His Spirit directed someone to kindly approach, share Scriptures, explain the Gospel, patiently tell you all about Jesus Christ as well as His finish work on the cross?

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth." - Paul, see the context of 1 Corinthians 3:6 www.facebook.com/shareJesus

Want the fire to fall?... which kind?

Don’t know about you, but I love to study about Church history..and all about it in the Word first.

We can see how God has graciously blessed His people with outpourings of the Holy Spirit, i.e., with so called Revival Fire. Yes, because of faithful believers praying, God has revived Christians and He has blessed our world with Awakenings where lost people repented and believed in Jesus Christ.

Some of the “revivals”, we’ve read about were messed up, kinda whacked, and plagued with fleshly, religious, worldly, and false doctrines… with strange unbiblcial spooky manifestations, i.e., yup, with "strange fire."

If the pure Gospel is going out with power, if people are about to be born again spiritually, if it’s real, if it’s life-changing and valuable, then the enemy will try his best to thwart God’s work.

You know that Mr. Lu-Cifer (Satan) loves to mimic the good things of God and the works of God. He and his weird buds (false teachers, counterfeit believers, and fallen angels) like to come off as good… as angels of light for different reasons. Sure, they like to do that for financial gain, and in order to discredit the whole work of God that’s really healthy. They confuse people with counterfeits, with strange stories (that can’t be verified) that they base their messages upon, and with half-truths (much of what a false teacher will teach is true—they mix truth in for the sake of convincing the gullible), and they like to religiously scatter people away from God, the Gospel, the Word, His people, and what’s real.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Because of all the sicko-money-grubbin’-TV preachers, many people have reacted by getting scared of any talk of God or of the Bible at all (understandably), and by rejecting His real Gospel Message.. along with any biblical revival. Don't reject the Jesus of the Bible or His words. 

You know that historically, there have been some strange responses.

Some church people in our day refuse to recognize any error that’s slowly or speedily creped in among them to distort and pervert what's true. They’ve refused to recognize any wrongdoing or falsehood in counterfeit “revivals” there, and they sadly end up embracing what's false hook line and sinker..  because to them it just doesn’t.. seem like it’s so harmful or like that dead religion that they came from and disliked. They say, “It’s alive so it must be good!”

Neither response is reasonable or Biblical. Listen, God can do more with our obedience than He can with our spiritual compromise.

Don’t get me wrong, let’s not get all focused on, or uber-interested in the enemy and what he says or does. We can stay focused on Jesus in peace. Let’s discern the difference between strange charismania and God’s biblical charisma that’s so lovely, winsome, and good.

“Strange fire” is offering worship to God in a way He doesn’t at all want, in a way that is sinful and foreign to His clear Revelation found in Scriptures. Who wants strange fire or to grow strange? Not me!

Read Leviticus 10:1-3 where we see the story of two guys named, Nadab and Abihu, who should have known better. These were the two sons of Aaron who literally offered profane fire before the Lord like, Hey God, you will accept it the way we wanna give it. PERIOD.

The Hebrew word translated “profane” in the Bible literally means “strange” or “foreign.” We are not told every detail of how they wrongly did it, but they obviously sought to worship the Lord in a way that was very odd and uber-foreign to the holy manner that had been prescribed by God. They wanted to serve God their way, not His. But they weren’t His authority, He was theirs. As a result, a fire of Judgment went out from the Lord and devoured them.

I’m so glad for the warnings of Scripture and other good warnings that keep me and my friends safe as well, but in our culture it ain’t cool to hear about Judgment or direct authority. Sure, God is love and He is patient (long suffering caring for sinners, not forever suffering) too, but He hates sin that hurts them. And wrath has also come from Him before, not just blessings. Let’s submit and obey His Word. The day and date has changed, but He does not.

Fire to me speaks of great Intensity ..yes, of zeal, holy passion and of a strong commitment in this love relationship with Christ. What did we see on the disciples heads on the day of Pentecost.

It would appear that the sin of Nadab and Abihu in the Bible has been repeated throughout history, but we don’t have to do that weirdness. 

Check it out, “strange fire” only brought judgment - who wants that?

Stickin’ with God’s Word will keep us from offering up, “strange fire.”

The Apostle Paul warns all, "Do not go beyond what is written…" (1 Corinthians 4:6).

We aren’t going to intimately know the Lord by our mere feelings and impressions no, no.

You and I know that prayer is so important every day, but we also need to know God by prayerfully reading His Bible with a heart to apply truth.

You know that so much of what church people have called revival or awakenings in the past has been based on mere feelings, strange dreams, laughing, barking, and so called prophecies (that were unbiblical even though not all prophecies are..) and also on impressions rather than on the Word of God. Hey gang, let’s not repeat the blunders of so called Christians in the past. No time for silliness!

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” ~ Vance Havner

“The fact is, Christians are more to blame for not being revived than sinners are for not being converted.” ~ Charles G. Finney

So what’s on my mind? This…

Revival ain’t at all about discovering some new truth. If it’s new it ain’t true, and if it’s true it ain’t new! Revival is about rediscovering the wonderful old truth of God’s saving power in and through the Cross ..for any that will turn to Him and believe. Believers are revived to live the life and go tell so others can be blessed. Real revival is torrents of living water flowing out of the once ho-hum individual believer.. from the Holy Spirit.. and out of the real Church in a biblical sorta way for a purpose that glorifies our heavenly Father!  A revival is a new refreshing from God, a reviving of existing spiritual life, a so called pure fire that blesses people from Heaven. It's an authentic moving of God’s Holy Spirit in and upon the lives of born again people. And an awakening is when those who are one hundred percent spiritually dead just come alive due to the biblical witnessing of an alive Church. The revived Church evangelizes the lost people who are so loved by God. It’s all about establishing and enjoying a right relationship with God. Yup, revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again, and awakening is about falling in love with Jesus Christ for the very first time. Let it happen today!

I don't at all want to see America get judged in the future. No scare-tactic here. I know you don't want that either. Listen, I’m so excited that HarvestAmerica.com is headed to my city this year (to Dallas on Oct. 5^th, 2014, but you can be involved in your own town) and I’m so amped inside expecting great things from God here.. just like we’ve seen in years gone by. What we’ve seen, heard, and experience with em has been excellent, healthy, and biblical. God has saved so many. The Gospel is still powerful. And we can bring lost people within ear-shot of this Message! 

Where we are.. let’s all and always be faithful to keep it that way—biblical—yes, and go find others who need to hear.

“When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is set them a-praying.” ~ Matthew Henry

“Gimme dat fire, gimme dat flame, gimme dat fresh wind, gimme dat rain, gimme dat freedom. You can have the chains, yes, gimme dat God who can gimme all thangs.” ~ Mandy Young

Let’s re-read the book of Acts and pray for Greg Laurie (who is no false teacher at all), for the diligent Harvest team, and for our whole Nation that’s basically gone astray from the Bible. Sure, let’s follow Jesus primarily, continue to boldly ask God for biblical awakening and revival, but like loyal Bereans (Acts 17:11) let’s also be obedient and discerning. 

Was it once so nicely arranged n delicately put together?...

..but has now somehow just painfully fallen apart and left you there wondering? I know a person that can with great care, reach down and pick up all the pieces of a broken life once again. Christ has wept and He can fix anything. 

Has the lovely dream been shattered or turned to dirty ashes in your fingers? Listen, He's gentle, loves you deeply, is way better than the dream, and He can give beauty for ashes.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

"Remember the word to Thy servant, In which Thou hast made me hope. This is my comfort…" Psalm 119:49-50

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress… in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." Romans 8:35-37

Sure you remember, believer.. God says to you, "Do not fear, for I am with you…" Isaiah 41:10. The date and the day of the week has changed, but He hasn’t. Dare ya.. go read and prayerfully meditate upon Romans 8 today. facebook.com/shareJesus BTW: Just had a friend ask me for my personal bio and thought someone else might want to see it too. 

No detaunt or white flags.

Onward; Christian soldiers marching, as to war; with the Cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master leads against the foe, forward into battle, see His banners go!

Perhaps our nation, the church (with more teachers and bigger now), and the family are more under siege today than they were at the time when Sabine Bearing-Gould penned these fitting words. Fight on.. in the good fight of faith.

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2:3

Up or down ..and how?

Do you trust that God will take care of you if you don’t presumptuously push yourself upwards and forward before leaders and others? 

What does the Lord say about it? “When pride comes, then comes disgrace” (Pro. 11:2). “The Lord tears down the house of the proud” (15:25). “The proud one shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up” (Jer. 50:32).

"Without the Gospel we hate ourselves instead of our sin. Without the Gospel we’re motivated through all sorts of awful fear and pride to change and it doesn’t really change our hearts; it just restrains our hearts.” ― Timothy Keller

You know that God really hates lies, but remember that at the root ..it was pride that changed angels into devils, and it is God Himself cuz of biblical faith and humility that makes men totally righteous and sorta like angels—effective servants. 

Who among us doesn’t love to see a movie where the humble, hard-working underdog doesn’t win, and where the snooty fool gets ousted or demoted? It’ll happen in real life. Go see Obadiah: “Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord” (1:4). Or see this, “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished” (Pro. 16:5). “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Pro. 16:18). “One’s pride will bring him low” (Pro. 29:23). “Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart,” God basically says of em, Yo, “I will not endure” (Ps. 101:5).

Read and apply Philippians two today. The apostle Paul, a great soul-winner, tells all of us both leaders and followers, “Humble yourselves.” Question: Who gets close to God n promoted? Answer: The humble servant, the lowly, the contrite, the willing to obey, the faithful n broken ones. If that's not you thus far, repent and believe..for the Lord's sake, for your loved-ones sake, and for your sake. No excuses. The principle to always remember: Choose to pray daily, to hear, to submit, to go down humbly to serve others; God will put you up. If you pridefully choose to be served, to push yourself to the front, to lift yourself up; then God will bring you down. He knows how to do that. Has had a whole lot of knuckleheads and many years to deal with that sorta thing. Yeah, when time passes and things start to grow strange.. recall King Saul. There's really no time for.. puffed up. Like at: facebook.com/shareJesus

How can any believer be a winsome effective witness without the J O Y of Jesus inside?

For years as an unbeliever I loved to see and wanted to have JOY. Some called themselves Christians and just didn't seem to have any. Were those the prayerless, carnally minded, selfishly inverted, worldly, and disobedient believers? 

Now, God is my exceeding joy! But sometimes I too have put it off (prayer and the Word), got distracted, forgot, blew it, and have lost my joy. Hate that. 

Doesn't have to be that way. Joy can be restored. Just stop the sinning, re-prioritize, turn, repent and reenter the Lord's rest. By faith nestle rather than strive n uber-wrestle. 

O just to be near Him. Man, what beats that? Nothin’! He listens, feels for, and sees. It’s not the presence or absence of a storm or any trials that determine my joy-level. Nope. It’s drawin' near to the Lord that determines it.

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 16.11psalm.bible  

Have you taken time to steal away (slip out the door, or into a closet of some sort..) from all and clamor of the crowd to go spend some time with the Lord today? 

Please don't forget your time with Jesus. So important. Go for it. #HisPresenceRocks 

In subtle ways and in not so subtle but audacious ways, many proud saints and sinners do it publically. But how about you? Who or what do you brag on?

"Do" what, Kurt, ..and "How about me".. what, Kurt? 

Well, I'm talkin' about bragging on self here. In some circles it's actually cool to do that. You of course could brag on yourself instead of on Jesus who really deserves it .. yes, a little or a lot, but where would that get you? How would that serve the Kingdom of God? It wouldn't. What gain for God would come from it? Zip.  

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." Psalms 34:1-3 

"Let God be magnified." Psalm 70:4

"Don't brag about yourself let others praise you." Proverbs 27:2

"He (Jesus Christ) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." Hebrews 1:3 

We often see ads on TV and at movies where they brag on the dumbest stuff and then the hearers start to want and go after that junk. I mean stuff that will soon end up in a garage sale... but have you had the guts so to speak ...to praise and brag on the One who has never been dumb or boasted in the flesh, and even died for on a lonely Cross for you? Why not? We hear individuals boldly brag on themselves all the time before us and then call that confidence. Surely we could pray and be bold where we go.    

It should be the primary purpose of every Bible-believing local church.. to worship and magnify Jesus Christ. The Bible says, "Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Ephesians 3:21). And I will go further than that by saying that magnifying Christ, instead of self or band or pastor or athlete etc, ought to be the purpose of every born-again believer. Let the lost people say what they will, why try to reform them? Give them the Gospel lovingly, tell them all about what Jesus has done in your life, but let's magnify the Lord today. The Apostle Paul said, "If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord." And first-off, know the Lord. 2 Corinthians 10:17

What to do when you realize your horse is cold and dead.. dismount and go board a strong healthy one headed in the right direction.

This familiar idea from Apache Indians is such a basic idea we all need to think about. It has always made me think of churches how about you?

It makes me want to encourage you to ditch a sicko-church and find a real decent, healthy one to go help and serve in.. on the Lord's terms. It makes me think about what Jack Graham told me, "Seventy to eighty percent of the churches in America are dead or dying." 

I pray that what’s dead in em comes alive and thrives. I think it's only right for God loves churches, church people, and there are already too many trouble-maker, rebels in churches just hurting decent pastors and saints. 

Personally, I really want all churches in America and elsewhere ..with any dead folk, lukewarm or carnal Christians in em to come alive and then really thrive as they apply the Scriptures. Please don’t get me wrong. When I talk about a sick church, I mean ones that no matter how long you and other believers humbly try to appeal to or work with em, they still refuse to take heed to God's Word. 

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you” (Rev. 3.1-3 nkjv).

Hey gang, of course all of us are flawed like churches are, but perhaps these churches are led by dead, spiritually blind people (I’ll let God decide that cuz only He can see the unseen heart of individuals). But they simply refuse to cling to the Word (the Bible Jesus who is alive) and Essential ChristianDoctrines. I say we pray hard, show genuine respect for the leaders, appeal to the leadership, and if they don’t budge.. then ditch the sicko-churches and find a decent healthy one to serve in on the Lord's terms.

How to tell is a local church is dying:

1.) When the people there primarily think and talk about the past. Reminds me of that statement: The older I get, the more awesome I was.” Their theme song is “The way we were.” Living things change, they grow. They don’t constantly focus on the so called glory days of the past. Brag on the Lord a lot, yes, talk about Jesus and His Gospel. 

2.) When the people there are more concerned about their “programs” than what really works to win and edify people.. when what they’ve always done take priority over the biblical worship of Jesus, winning souls to Him, and edifying believers that want to apply what they’ve learned through all 66 books—all the counsels of God.

3.) When you look around and everyone there at the church is old in years and in attitude. Getting older doesn’t mean you have to get “old.” Never every become hardened in your heart or attitude no matter what you go through. Let God repeatedly soften your heart, heal your heart, restore your heart by His grace. Chose to be alive what you were always meant to be alive to, and nothing more.

4.) When the leadership of the church along with its people knowingly or unknowingly love their dead traditions and chilly ceremonies more than Jesus Christ, more than they love Christians, and more than they love the unsaved people around them (in that order). When the church no longer is about the lifting up (biblically exalting) of the Bible Jesus. When sound private and public Bible teaching is neglected and knowing Him intimately in prayer isn’t for today so much.. this day with all of its distractions. Yeah, when it’s no longer about Christ, hey, it’s over. When it’s no longer about teaching and ministering God’s word to people as Christ Himself did. It’s done; it’s become a bad witness in the community. Toast! Listen, there’s nothing more important for a church than His presence—having Jesus in the house. It’s so radically important, just lifting up the Name of Jesus in biblical worship. Magnifying Jesus, not Jesus and so and so or that band. No, just Jesus giving Him all the glory—for He is the one we all need. Besides, you know that when living creatures, yes, any type of living earthly creature is minus its head, it’s fully dead. Done. Whacked! Jesus is the head of the Church, He has a great love and a good plan for His creation, His bride, and He alone is the life of every local church. That’s why we need to remember Jesus …re-member Him to His body if ya will. The Bible tells us what it’ll be like.. “And again He (Jesus) entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them” (Mk. 2:1-2).  facebook.com/shareJesus

Have there been times in your life where you felt ditched? Have you ever felt totally forsaken?

Ever feel like you had to wait too long to get a "Yes" answer from the Lord? Hey, you’re in real good company. He hasn't forgotten you for a sec. Are you in Christ or outside of such a wonderful relationship? Did you know that David and even Jesus felt that way before - kinda ditched. It's true.. they really did. They had times of waiting, times of pain, but God the Holy Spirit is right there with you as He was for them.

Reading, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" See Psalm 42 and 43. It's like.. When shall I see you God and have your presence? 

"My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, "Where is your God?" (vv. 1–3). 

I'm thinking about that time when Jesus felt so abandoned and forsaken by His own Father when He was on Mount Calvary, but the Father heard Him and came through for His Son. It's cuz God is faithful even when the righteous feel He isn't. The Bible tells us... 

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; nor has He hidden His face from Him; but when He cried to Him, He heard.” Ps. 22:24

 
The union of the Trinity was never broken. The Father heard the Son. And God the Father puts us ..at times.. in situations and places where He knows that we can no longer lean on those things that have kinda become symbols of our faith.. and we have somehow started religiously putting our security in em ..but they are not God Himself who is far better. So that type of thing just won't do. It's cuz God loves us so much, and He wants all of us ..wants us closer and better off. He wants us to be real practical of course, but also to lean on Christ as our Lord alone. Jesus is our ultimate security. Question: Is Christ your security.. or is He Lord in theory only for you? You know that when Jesus is truly Savior and Lord over all in your life.. you know, I mean Lord in our daily practice etc.. you and I will have so much Joy and blessing that we just want to go and tell others about Him. Then His Kingdom is expanded by our living it and telling It (the Gospel). God is so glorified when we have Him first and obey His Great Commission ..His way rather than our way. Have you been weary in well doing, or faithearted? I can relate, been there, but don't stay that way. Pray earnestly without ceasing no matter what you feel like today. 

You know it's no time to quit praying to the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ. It's no time to stop tactfully sharing Christ and His Gospel Message with your lost loved ones. Pray for them some more. He might say "No" today, but He could say "Yes" tomorrow. Keep on asking, keep on knocking, keep on seeking the Lord so you can understand His will. Might say "Wait" today "Got way better for ya"... but He could say, "Enough with the waiting already. Let's get on with it" today or tomorrow. Go hit like at facebook.com/shareJesus