If the Church no longer transforms, what other institution can do it? If the Church is now going in the direction of the world, who will heal the world? You cannot deliver unbelievers by becoming like them. It is so easy to move from spirituality to religion – the church is always having one programme or the other. That is one of the terrible substitutes that the devil has succeeded in dumping on the Church. Today, a lot of Churches are run by programmes, no power. Eloquence has been substituted for revelation and the devil is having a field day in many cathedrals. The healing of every nation must start from the Church. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; them will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chro. 7:14).
It takes humility to return to God. I have noticed two major things in the lives of Church goers today – lack of humility and lack of truth. With these two items, even if you embark on one hundred days of dry fast, there will be no change, no transformation. The greatest blockades today are self imposed. Why go to Church if you are not ready to change? If you want entertainment, go to a club house or cinema. Today, the situation is so bad that even Churches invite comedians who charge so much money to come and entertain the congregation and defile the altar of the living God. This is one of the reasons why the world no longer has regard for the Church.
If you don’t have honesty and humility, nobody can deliver you even if you believe the lie that what God cannot do does not exist. That is the cheapest lie of the century because it is not consistent with the word of God. There are many things that God cannot do. God cannot deliver a hypocrite. Jesus could not perform certain miracles in his home town because of their unbelief. God cannot lie. God cannot violate his word because if he does, he will become a liar. God cannot accept the sacrifice of the wicked. God cannot change (Mal. 3:6). God cannot answer the prayer of someone who has the spirit of unforgiveness. A lot of people believe that once they drop their money on the altar of God then God is bound to answer whatever they ask. This is the error that is going on today in the Church. God is not interested in anybody’s money. He doesn’t need your money!
Today, the Church has silver and gold, but where is the power? Let’s return to the original gospel. Let’s get it right. You can play Church. You can deceive anybody with your religiosity but God cannot be deceived. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). Don’t allow anyone who cannot correct you be your pastor; he will cajole you to hell! Part of our responsibility as pastors is to rebuke because we are accountable to God. Why did king Saul fail? He ignored the voice of God and listened to the voice of the people instead. Without honesty and humility, you cannot be delivered. Why? True repentance is impossible without honesty and humility. In the place of prayer, God listens more to what is in your heart than what you say. God desires truth in the inward part (Psalm 51:6).
Pray –
- Heavenly Father, I worship and adore you. Grant me the grace to humble, honest, and complete in obedience to the leadings and promptings of your precious Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen.
TO BE CONTINUED…….