As I sit with the Lord this morning, I have been studying the passage in Mark Chapter 11. Verse 16 says:

“…My Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations. But you are changing God’s house into a “hideout for robbers.”

At pondering these words, my heart aches as I recall 2 Chronicles 7:14

“Then If MY people who are called by MY name will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.”

Why is it that so many times we point to those who seemingly do not attend church, but fail to comprehend that we have filled our churches with unconverted people. How do we know this? There is no real passion for Christ. There are personal agendas, rather than the real seeking of the Lord’s will, There is no passion for missions, no burden to share the gospel, yet pride that keeps our faith “private“…..an excuse not supported by scripture….must we forget the command to “go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” We see denominations dying…churches dying…people turning away from Christianity..why? There has become a Spirit of jealousy from within the body that no longer rejoices with others as they move forward in freedom with Jesus..but a body of believers keeping others in bondage to religion, expectations set by man, and a lack of true forgiveness that is anything but Christ-like. I have listened to sermon after sermon the last few weeks describing the life of a new believer on fire and ready to follow Jesus. They were shocked as they met naysayers that were not unbelievers…they were always from within the church body. No different than the many Pharisees and leaders who rose up against Moses and Aaron. Yet we proclaim to be a people who know the heart and mind of Christ. We have come to rely on our own flesh rather than the Word of God, or the leading of the Holy Spirit. We have taken the cross out of our messages and substituted truth with what we pretend is grace …the kind of feel good message that loves people straight to hell. At what point do we come to understand that Truth is Grace and Grace is Truth. The TRUTH shall set you free the Lord says and there must be a call to repentance for true salvation. They go hand in hand. We have fallen into a rigid programmatic ritual of what we call “church” dismissing the gathering together in pure worship, weeping in anguish over our sin, bombarding the altar to petition the throne, and stepping out in faith with a commitment to obedience come persecution or not. We have become a bulletin bound, ritualistic service where God, and His Holy Spirit, is not welcome to steer the service. Where we have leadership that simply fills a slot, rather than being filled by the Holy Spirit. It’s a job rather than a calling. I look at the Acts church and whisper to God …we have become a church you no longer recognize…we have become a people …a church going people….that live a double personality. We “play church,” not understanding that if we are leaders we will be held accountable for the lives we live and those we lead astray. We seem to no longer recognize sin if it is not one of our “visible” sins. Yet we tuck our cherished sins in our hearts and conceal them from the world hoping no one will ever know…but forgetting there is ONE who already knows. We pass the offering plate, lead the choir, sing specials, sit on committees, serve communion, serve as deacons, Sunday school teachers, and the like all without the fear of the Lord. Those at most risk are those who have grown up in the church. Those who are Christians because it’s all they know, instead of being drawn of the Spirit, and cleansed by the blood of Christ. We are a robotic creature of habit…..rather than a rejoicing, spirit filled, truth standing believer.

Now let me put you at rest..because I just asked the Lord to allow me to share the message of hope. He has given me so many hard messages lately that out of love I have just begged Him to give ME grace. But isn’t it true we must first recognize the TRUTH and acknowledge the TRUTH. Jesus said do not be offended in me.

Ah friends, don’t worry there is no condemnation here …..for It WAS I who lived this way …therefore it is quite easy for me to recognize this pitfall. I was merely a Christian in name only until I turned 30 years old. Being use to the religious lingo and requirements sometimes has a way of covering up true faith, a real relationship, and unadulterated obedience at all costs. I can tell you that when you truly know Jesus Christ…..you know it….and everyone else at some point will see it. You truly do become a new creation. You can’t help yourself really. See, I was the one sitting in the church pew….lost as a goose. Refusing to turn away from sin in my own life just wanting to save that for “later.” “When I grow up maybe I will settle down, for now I want to have fun.” Let me say to you…you have NO idea what fun is until you begin to live for, and with, Jesus. It is the biggest, wildest, craziest ride I have ever been on. When I am down to my last cent in ministry….He shows up. When I think I have nothing left to give….He pours back into me.. When I feel left out of the crowd…He is Enough! As I sit and type these words I hear in the background a sermon saying “if you must stand alone…will you stand? If you are persecuted…will you follow me? Do you have counterfeit faith, or courageous faith? What a good Word to remember. Counterfeit Faith….certainly something to think about.

Isaiah speaks in Ch 29 vs. 13 “ The Lord says: These people worship me with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is based on nothing but human rules.“ That dear ones is what we must be willing to ask ourselves honestly. Time is short…Jesus is coming! Don’t wait until you are knocking at the door. Don’t wait until He says “I never knew you. (Matt. 7 vs. 23)

Father in heaven….the name above all names…..the one who saved me, this silly little daydreamer. How thankful I am that you came for me. That you opened my eyes to clearly see how beautiful you are! How you allowed sifting of my full being to see what I had was nothing but counterfeit faith. How you showed me the way and have molded me to Believe you with all that I am. How you have walked me through fear after fear to show me you are THE conqueror and that you are faithful. How you have shown me to rid my desires of empty entertainment, and to worship and minister in truth…..never shrinking back. How you have taught me to love unashamedly and to shout my Savior’s name from the mountaintops. Would you Father chase every eye reading this and show them who you are? Would you wrap them up with a beautiful bow…just as you see them EACH ONE! Would you go straight to their hearts, let your message bring true repentance, which in turn brings healing. For the enemy ravages what is left in the dark, and freedom is only attained once you shine the light on our own sinfulness. True repentance is usually birthed out of anguish of some sort. Let us be willing to go there now…rather than later. I am forever yours and you are mine by the blood of Jesus. It’s in His saving name I pray..Amen

Love Much,

Shelly