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When was the last time
you heard a message on the Gospel?
Today, there is a famine of
spiritual truth in our Churches.
The modern church is slowly
conditioning congregations into self-serving entertainment
atmospheres.
The evidence of this fact is now
present in our sermons, our music, our casual “come as you are”
invitations, and last, but not least, our attire.
My friend, we need not forget that
we are sinners saved by Grace and that no matter how far we
seemingly evolve in our revelations of God, He is still Holy and
Righteous; and our hearts are still desperately wicked.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart
is
deceitful above all
things,
and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Churches have watered
the Gospel down so much that sinners can regularly attend and
sit comfortably in our services without ever being confronted
with their moral state and eternal destiny.
However, the Gospel isn’t just to
serve as an evangelistic message to save the sinners.
The Gospel also serves as a
continual reminder to the Saints of the power of God that saved
them from their sins, their total depravity without the gift of
Grace, and the consequences of sin in the lives of both saint
and sinner.
(Rom
1:16)
Today, many churches give focus to a
Gospel that deprives the congregation of the Word.
Rather, the message is filled with
fluffy empty words and topped with sprinkles of false assurances
to the believer – rendering it void of power and the anointing.
In this atmosphere, young pastors
taunt our seasoned pastors and elders concerning their simple
but persevering Faith that lacked any Greek or Hebrew
definitions but was filled with fire and demonstrations of the
Spirit.
Powerpoint presentations of
seemingly deep spiritual truths led by an irreverently dressed
pastor are the norm in many of our new and fastest-growing
churches.
Yet their messages are absent of
Power and the anointing of the Holy Ghost.
There was a time that men and women were
moved by the Holy Ghost as they danced and shouted down the
aisles.
Today that has been replaced with
useless, entertaining choreographed dances often performed in
immodest apparel in the Sanctuary of our God (Lev. 19:30).
The fire that once burned in the
messages of Pastors that moved on the heart of sinner man to run
to the altar and repent of their sins has been extinguished by
dry sermons and godless programs that fail to even mention
subjects such as the Gospel, Hell and Sin.
Many Pastors feel that they must compete
with sit-coms, reality TV, and broadband multimedia phones and
trinkets to reach this generation.
There is a famine in our land – our
Churches are parched with dead, dry worship and sermons while
our civilization drowns in entertainment on every front.
More than anything, we need the
rivers of living waters to flow through our men and women and
saturate our altars again with the power and unction of the Holy
Ghost.
My friend, we don’t need another seeker
sensitive church.
We need a church on fire that dares
to preach the Gospel and longs to make disciples for our Lord
Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!
We don’t need a useless, antiquated
shofar to mimic an alarm in the camp.
We need to hear Pastors declare the
Gospel to a lost and dying world!
As Churches transform each day into what
looks like a circus, parishioners are demanding sermons and
programs that are spiritually empty just as funnel cakes, corn
dogs and cotton candy are devoid of any nutritional value.
The people appear fattened, but
under closer examination they are spiritually anemic and
contaminated with fungus from the leaven of this world (Gal
5:9).
Their countenance is ashen because
of the deprivation of the fruit of the spirit.
In short – our people are weak
because of an immune system that lacks the power of the Blood.
My friend, we must get back to the basics.
Just as you and I must have a
steady portioned diet of dairy, meats, vegetables, fruits and
grains to achieve optimum health in our bodies, our Soul and
Spirit must be exposed to the four basic groups of the Gospel
found in 1 Thessalonians 1:5
“For our gospel came not unto you
in word
only, but also in power,
and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance;
as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake”.
The Apostle Paul points out the handicap
of a Gospel if ministered in Word only.
Moreover, a Gospel that is based on
the Word coupled with emphasis on the assurance of the believer
will also lack power to produce victory in the lives of new-born
Christians.
Balance is the key to the
regenerating power of God saving the lives of sinners as well as
the success of Christian living for the saints.
When the Gospel is fully preached
in Word, Power, Spirit and Assurance, ministers will see their
churches explode with converts as well as experience much needed
revival.
As a man needs food and water to
physically survive, the lost as well as the saved must partake
of the four basic groups of the Gospel to stay spiritually alive
and fit for the Kingdom of God.
We have been indulged on spiritual
junk food too long.
Unfortunately, the circus isn’t
leaving any time soon; therefore, you and I must leave the
circus.
Yes, it has been fun; but don’t
think for a moment that many have not paid a high price to sit
and watch the clowns, freak shows, fortune tellers and lion
tamers.
Email comments to:
melvin@melvinbarnett.com
Visit online at www.melvinbarnett.com
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