If we are abiding in Jesus it is a restful relaxing moment of time that we need to experience moment by moment, to be able to bear the Fruit needed to bear fruit. Can a grape be produced apart from the vine? No, neither can we bear fruit apart from Jesus Christ, abiding is the greatest union possible to mankind. Just as I can abide in Jesus Christ, I can also go my way and not abide in Gods presences.
As one looks at the past and sees what happened during the time of Jesus and the Roman Empire, we see how confused man can become when we do not see the big picture. Rome was a power influence that carried down to the Catholic Church, as the Pope had universal sovereignty, referred to as spiritual ruler of the whole world.
During the Christian Crusaders in 1092 they streamed toward the Holy Land, wanting to do what only God could do and that was to bring peace. Muslims were next to impossible to contain and control. Jews were suspicious and fearful of these so called Christians, because they did not fight for Gods right, but their own rights. Look at how many Jews were killed during the 2 world war, all in the name of religion and the Church did not speak up! Where was authority then? Do we have the right to question what is going on with authority?
How do we restrain evil? Is good a Christian doctrine? How do we eliminate heresy from society? How do we stem moral decline? Pope Urban II wanted to defend Christianity, but Augustine, laid down the principle of a just war by the state to vindicate justice bringing in peace. Pope Urban II said, all who do die by the way whether by land, or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remissions of sins. Does this sound familiar, as when the Muslims flew airplanes into the twin towers, believing they will be ushered into heaven and have women around them ministering to their fleshly needs?
Christianities greatest satisfactions are not guaranteed by possessions, or special places, and the sword is never Gods way to extend Christ’s Kingdom.
James Dobson past President of Focus on the Family is being ridiculed for his stance on political issues, but is he any different than anyone else giving their opinion? I say not!
We are living in a time when everyone is blaming everyone else for their problems and the one we need to look at is staring us back, as we look in the mirror.
We are seeing divorce in the Church higher than in the world and accept it as normal. We are seeing nations trying to conquer others, in the name of religion and need to step back and ask the question who are we abiding in? As we do we begin to see that Gods will has never been mans will.
We see mega churches swaying men and women into believing their gospel and not paying much attention to the Bibles way of life, simply abiding in the Vine. I attended 3 of Greg Laurie Preach the Word Conferences in Southern CA and one of the concerns was, what are we teaching people in our congregations, when they leave the Church smoking and getting angry in the parking lots. What kind of witness are we showing the world is the question we need to ask ourselves? No one seems to want to be accountable for what they do and say, we do not have order, but dictators wanting to do things the way they see it, in the name of the Lord who spoke to me. Are we trying to give people licenses to sin because God spoke to you?
It does not make any difference if it is the Church, the Government, or our Economical world, people are controlled by a few leaders, it’s not any more for the people, by the people. Business meeting are not open for discussion it’s done in closed sessions, or small groups, we don’t need parliamentary procedure, which bring order. It is as if Moses and his God has lost there power, Aaron has taken over, letting people do what they wanted to do, worshipping the golden calf. People in leadership are going to get what they want, but who is it benefiting, and blessing?
This is all happening because we are not abiding in the Vine, but doing our thing.
It is not only divorce but domestic violence, restraining orders, terror and out right bullying that affects all within our world and Churches today. (Who ever thought our teachers in public Schools would have had to be taught how to spot a bully?) Who gives us the right to disobey the doctrines and commandment of the Bible? Is the Bible of any private interpretation? No! Holy men of God, are to make sure they do not read into the Bible their opinion, but make sure it is the truth, the way and the life that comes as we abide in the vine. God is the master Farmer and knows what he means and has a purpose for mankind.
Note what happens in many Church people are not singing, many in the crowd are just listening and not able to sing, for they are being entertained by musical teams, or worship leaders. Lord help us to truly enter in to your presence with out entertainment, or theatrics, but sincerely giving of ourselves to abiding in the Lords presence.
This is the first time in my life, I have seen music such a deterrent to worship and wonder if it could be a crusade to get what we want, trying to convince others it’s all ok. Contemporary, secular and maybe even rock, are terms used to day to describe music in the Church. Are we not condoning one type and ignoring another type? Don’t we want to convince other what we are doing is God ordered? As I watch Television we see some of the larger Churches singing hymns that are rock solid, with a message of hope and deliverance. I wonder if they have the same amount of divorces and anger problems or are they under control. We condemn the past and even say, we were blinded and lost in ritual, and we are know free to do what we want in song and in dress. We are encouraged to lay aside the things that bound you in the past and become free in the now. This is the new church age of watch me, I’m free to do my thing and please don’t tell me what to do. Since God is in me and I’m in God, I get to do what ever I want to, I will not bother you, please don’t bother me.
What caused the Christians to be called Christians in the past? Was it not for the love that we had for God and one another by allowing God to be the gentleman farmer, giving us His Son, who in turn gives us the power to achieve our potential and be a disciple of Jesus by obeying His Word.
Who is being glorified to day? Mega preachers, or is it God, maybe mankind? Is it a building or the Son of God? Is it a ministry, or our Love for people?
The Gentleman farmer wants us to bear fruit, much fruit, more fruit as we grow in the Ways, or Will of the Lord. Abiding causes one to relax in who we are, sinners saved by grace and pressing on toward the mark.
The more wind ( it is blowing like I have never seen it blow and its not the Holy Spirit of God but mans spirit) we have the deeper our roots grow into the solid ground and the sweeter the fruits of the Spirit of God become. Gal 5:22-26 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
What do we see in ministers as shepherds, a caring for the sheep, or a scattering of the sheep? Do we have a responsibility as followers of the Lord to do anything we want, or are we all under the authority of the Word of God. We hear so much today of authority and how we need to submit to authority. I am so glad that Jesus has not left us blind, but we are to help one another, and see to it we are accountable for our actions and behavior. If we need correction lets learn to take it, if we need to change our opinion from self to Gods opinion, lets do it, before someone gets hurt.
We are warned 9 times is the Gospels people will become deceived, Matthew 24: 4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:8; Matthew 24:11 & 24; John 7:12 & 47.
Paul understood the power within him to speak up when he saw something wrong in the Church.
Eph 5:6-11 (KJV) 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Reproving is a word authority does not want to hear, because they are in the will of the Lord. The Lord spoke to them and they are suddenly the authority of what God is doing in the Churchs life. Now in case you do not understand look at what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:7- 12 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
People are saved in our Churches, but from what is the question we need to be asking? Are we seeing a difference in peoples lives as the old man begins dying and the new man in Christ coming alive? It is not perfection it is a process that is still being seen in many peoples live,s who are abiding in the vine today and we should not expect any less but God redeeming power to transform lives into His image. That is the power to make wise choices as the Lord leads us into His fullness.