luke warm and irrelevant...

History shows how the organized church ends up becoming lethargic and stuck in its own tradition and so focused on its own significance and agendas that a new wave must come about to revive that which has become luke warm and irrelevant.

When the organized church becomes as dead men's bones - dry and without life - the Lord lifts up those of His remnant who seek to obey Him, those who desire to honor Him and bring new life to His body.

In today's corporate church where is the hunger for the Lord, where is the fire to share His Grace and Truth with the world, where is the salt and light that is the gospel of Christ, where is the fight against the principalities of the enemy, where is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, where are the gifts of the Spirit encouraged and recognized, where is the church going beyond its own four walls to preach the gospel and make disciples?

There appears to be way too much 'comfortable' Christianity which is not really true Christianity at all. We must learn to become comfortable in our uncomfortable-ness breaking free of the rut of what has become the church of casual, comfortable Christianity. 

It's not about me, it's about You, Lord….

Much of what we do each day is about ourselves. The 'me' focus can become its own idol and lead us astray from the true path of life. If we are not allowing the Spirit to break through our stubborn and selfish thoughts and actions we are missing out, especially in terms of our ministry and witness to this world.

Abide in Him…for He is faithful….and He is able!

"I seem as if the first glimmers of the dawn of a glorious day has risen upon me…I seem to have supped only that which can fully satisfy. To let my loving Saviour work in me His will…abiding, not striving or struggling, looking off unto Him, trusting Him for present power…resting in the love of an almighty Saviour in the joy of a complete salvation. Not striving to have faith, or to increase my faith but looking at the faithful one seems all we need. A resting in the Loved One entirely, for time, for eternity. It does not appear to me as anything new, only formerly misunderstood."

John McCarthy; missionary with China Inland Missions, 1869

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  Galatians 2:20

Relevant Today

To a world who believes so thoroughly in the power of "me, mine, I"…

When we believe that man's flawed wisdom is all that there is and all that we need…
When we believe that the "experts" in government are the true sources of knowledge and wisdom… 
When we no longer take responsibility for our sin but blame everyone and everything else…
When we won't even acknowledge that there is sin… 
When we will not believe that true evil exists…
When arrogance has become a virtue and humility a weakness…
When truthfulness, honor and integrity are no longer highly esteemed…
When the ways of the world have become the standard replacing the ways of truth…
When truth has become relative based on the opinion of the moment…
When hope becomes based on winning the lottery…                                                                   

When instant gratification is the main focus…                                                                             

When innocent life becomes a disposable by-product marketed for profit…

How is the Lord God almighty relevant in and to today's society?

How do we as the church, the living body of Christ, minister to a society that sees no relevance in and has no desire to seek after the One True God?

Our society is living the life of the prodigal son - and believes that life is better without the Father.

We have taken our blessings, our inheritance and thrown it away on ourselves. How long will we have to spend in the pigs' pen eating the husks and barely surviving in the slop until our eyes our opened and our hearts changed?

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 

…for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  

(Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-10)