and the One who walks with me on it.

Saturday, September 06, 2014

Seeker’s Church- Part 2

       In trying to make church services more acceptable to the unsaved we create two main problems: first the sheep miss out on a main meal.  Even though we need food and should be partaking of God’s Word daily, the ones gifted to teach/ preach should ensure there is solid meat at service.

(Jesus to Peter) …Feed My lambs…  Feed My sheepFeed My sheep. Jh. 21:15-17
Woe to the shepherds who destroy* and scatter the sheep of My pasture, says Jehovah. Jr. 23:1  *cause to perish, go astray

       The second problem is the focus on self as opposed to on God.  Instead of knowing who we are in Christ we really we need to know Christ for who He is.  Jesus/ God isn’t our magic pill to improve us in the way we wish.  He’s our Creator, our Lord, our Savior- the One to whom we owe everything and to whom we must bow.  He is holy, just and will judge all men.  By speaking only non-offensive words, the unsaved do not really know, before making a decision, the true cost of Christianity which includes repentance and submission to God’s will.


Are any of us truly seeking, or are we just after improving our lives somehow?

there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God." Rm. 3:11
And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, Ep. 2:1
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousnessFor the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse. Because, knowing God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools  Rm. 1:18-22

       See, it not only takes ALL the truth to bring conviction and true repentance but the Spirit must draw the person or the words will be as scattered on the hard, dry ground.  Our natural man is dead and does not understand the Truth or that which is revealed by the Spirit.  For the sake of the unsaved, we must continue the pure gospel as taught by Jesus to the disciples who were to teach others to observe all He commanded and not just the easy to hear parts. 

No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him Jh. 6:44
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Cr. 2:14
And they were continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and in fellowship and in the breaking of the loaves, and in prayers. Ac. 2:42
Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you... Mt. 28:19,20

       And yes, our lives do become better in that we have His peace and joy within us when we truly surrender to His Lordship.  But our lives also become more difficult because of trials and without proper teaching, we are no longer prepared because we want God to intervene and save us from the trials He promised we’d have (Jh. 16:33).  Family divisions may happen (Lk. 12:53); we may be looked on as fools by the world (1Cr. 1:18,23); life will throw lots of curveballs at us.  Still, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hb. 12:2)- and not so much on ourselves.

       The Word of God (not just man’s thoughts or knowledge) divides our soul and spirit, convicting us of the truth and compelling us to faith (Hb. 4:12).  It is good for doctrine and correction (2Tm. 3:16,17), much of which is lost in the ‘seeker’ oriented church service.  All who teach, preach and spread the gospel must “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.(Jude 1:3).  This ‘seeker’ movement is large and well accepted, but that doesn’t make it right.  And let’s not forget the first sermon after Pentecost.

       Peter basically called the people murderers, spoke of Jesus’ death on the cross, hell, and did not speak/ focus on God’s love for them.  Imagine that!  It was what many consider very offensive.  Yet, Scripture records, “And hearing this, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do?” (Ac. 2:37) and thousands were saved after one sermon.

Oh Lord, help each of us to do as well…