Good Morning!
Before we start looking at the churches of Revelation, let me explain where I’m going with all this stuff. It starts with me and my walk with Jesus. You see, there are passages in the bible that really make me wonder if I am barely scratching the surface of faith. Let’s take a look at just a couple.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us,
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 21:21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt you will not only do what has been done to this fig tree, but even if you say to the mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
John 15:7-8 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
I look at these and wonder why this isn’t happening to me. Honestly. I’m getting to the point in my life that I am really dissatisfied with life as usual. Why haven’t I put my earthly gluttony behind me? Why is it so easy to get side-tracked in life? I get appetizers of a spirit-filled life, yet I feel like I never sit down and feast on the heavenly banquet.
So, I look around me and see plenty of Christians. Some of them understand what I’m talking about, but too many don’t. Those that do seem to be in the same boat I am. We all have unconquered sin, too many competing priorities, and no time available to do anything about it. Forget about getting together. Church doesn’t offer much help, either. Most of the people come to church right on time or late. Ten minutes after the service, one could easily shut off the lights and lock the doors. I’m talking about the church in general, but this applies to any specific church as well. Just look around. How are we doing with treating our bodies as the temple of God? How many of us are fit and trim? How about our pocket books? Very few people tithe. How many of us are in financial bondage? How many of us suffer from anxiety, depression, or addiction? How many of us live in fear?
No, the church doesn’t provide freedom otherwise we would be hearing testimonies about it all the time. Be honest. You know what I’m talking about. The church doesn’t gather in serious prayer. Our prayer rooms sit empty, aside from a miniscule percentage of the congregation. Heck, how CAN we pray when we are ruled by the clock. We don’t have TIME to pray.
The church is in the same boat as I am – sorely lacking the fruit that the bible says is available to me/us. I tell you one thing, I am sick and tired of this. It seems as if Jesus is shaking me, “Wake Up! See what you are missing! GO GET IT!”
I’m quite certain I am not supposed to do this in isolation. God intends for us to work together – local people who meet together regularly, just like the early church did. People who are sick of sin and hunger for more. If you feel the same, please contact me. Even if you aren’t local, perhaps we can talk and pray together about this. Let’s get after this!
John 7:37-38 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Isaiah 55:1-5 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Father, I am hungry for you! Gather us together. Amen.
Copyright © 2019 Scott Powers