Understanding our Purpose

Is it just me or has the church seemingly lost her zeal for the "Cause of Christ?" It seems that we have so many pieces of a 'religious pie' yet many of us are missing the very key ingredient. I'm referring to the fact that the church was left on earth by Jesus to manifest the life of Christ in everything we do.

His love, His compassion, His holiness, His honesty, His power, etc. should be radiating from our being as a beacon of pure light shining into the night telling all the tattered, worn and broken ships where to find safety, peace and joy. We should be fulfilling the Great Commission (found in Matt. 28:18-20 & Mark 16:15 and elsewhere in Scripture), we should let His Light shine (Matt. 5:16), yet it seems that we are focussed on everything else but this.

You have many churches which obviously have a 'private' mission statement that must read "Tell the world why other churches aren't right but we are." Now I'm all for calling out false prophets and teachers' doctrine, and I'm all for "contending for the faith" (Jude 3), yet I'm not in support of that becoming our mission. I believe our zeal for one item can cloud our vision and cause us to lose focus on the 'cause' of Christ.

There are many other churches which run sort of on the other side of that line by doing anything (and sometimes everything) to bring people together in a building on Sundays. They will eliminate 'offensive doctrines' and will not preach against sin, so that people will come to church on Sundays. But without the wonderful truth of repentance (which is a change of mind and thereby a change of lifestyle) people are not drawn by the Spirit of God to the Way, the Truth and the Life, they only become complacent, pacified members of a 'glorified social club.' Again, in this the church has lost its vision of the 'Cause.'

During this time of year, let us come back to the reason in which we are here. There is a world that is dying and going to hell and the Lord has commissioned us, His bride, to go forth and win them to Him.

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit and power, so that I would become an effective witness for You. Let me be led by Your Spirit at all times. Open doors for witnessing. Keep me focused on You and You alone. Amen!

He's Above That Too!

I preached a sermon recently out of Colossians 1, dealing with the subject of Christ's preeminence. Paul was writing to Colosse to refute doctrines that were creeping into the church that were attacking the Deity of Jesus Christ. The doctrines were putting Him on the same level as created spirit-beings such as angels. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Christ can never be compared to angels, creatures on earth, the universe, etc. He is far above everything that can be named upon the earth. It is impossible to name something that is of greater value, power, strength or abillity than Christ.
No matter what the world says about Him He is still the Rock of Ages, the Word, the Lord of lords, the Head of the Church, the Lamb of God, the King of Kings, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Way, the Truth and the Life! He is above all and without Him nothing would exist and be sustained as it now is.
Why do you need to know this child of God? That's easy...because now you realize even more clearly that no matter what problem comes against you, Jesus is above it! Are you struggling with the guilt of your past sins? Jesus is above that! Are you feeling the flesh begin to rise? Jesus is above that too! Is Satan and/or his demons lying in your ear? Jesus is above them too! Do you feel that there is no light at the end of your trial tunnel? Jesus is above it! Are you fearful because of what's going on in the world today? Jesus is above it!
What about sickness, is it still fighting against your body? Jesus is above it! You say you've been battling depression? Jesus is above that too! You could try for 10 million years to come up with a scenario, a 'bad guy', a trial or a situation that could overpower Jesus...but there is none! He is the Supreme Ruler of everything and guess what...He lives in YOU! In Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9) and He DWELLS IN YOU! PRAISE GOD!
You are not defeated, weak or disabled when you are in Him! Let Him live in you during your toughest trials and your greatest victories; after all,He is above them all!

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?


God Bless!