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 The Failure of Churches: Test the Spirits
The following is taken from Understanding Revival and Addressing the Issues it Provokes by Mathew Backholer and is used by permission. Church-goers with the Nickname Christian Millions of churches around the globe are full of people who diligently and faithfully attend Sunday worship and yet are not part of the family of God. They are church-goers with the nickname Christian and they are unregenerate – in heart and lifestyle. But, is it any wonder that thrill seekers turn up at meetings or conferences to have an experience which can tickle their emotions and raise the hairs on the back of their neck? Should we blame these people for their spurious conversions when we have not been preaching the gospel in truth and purity, with Christ, the cross, repentance, and full surrender at the core of the message? Preach Christ and Him Crucified If we preach Christ and Him crucified; the law and grace, the judgment and mercy of God, repentance, sacrifice and full surrender then we will not end up wealthy or popular. Those in Christian ministry who live like Hollywood stars or Premier League footballers should look at their message – is it New Testament Christianity as revealed by John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter and the apostle Paul or another gospel? Test the Spirits The Bible tells us to ‘test the spirits’ and warns us of: tares, wolves, accursed children, hirelings and false: prophets, teachers and apostles. From this we can deduct that not all those who profess the name of Jesus Christ are genuine and loyal to the King and His cause and have a variety of motives for teaching or preaching about Him and His message whilst cloaking their sermons in Christian verbiage. False Teaching or Lopsided? Some teachers, preachers, apostles or prophets are just out and out false, whilst others are lopsided in their teaching, focusing more on some aspects rather than others which are equally or if not more important. The apostle Paul wrote: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19), but often we don’t. Life does not consist in the abundance of our possession, but of our wealth in Christ, the unsearchable riches of Christ. Let us keep focused on Christ and be like the Bereans who didn’t believe something just because a preacher said so, but ‘searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so’ (Acts 17:11). Used by permission from Understanding Revival and Addressing the Issues it Provokes by Mathew Backholer. ‘If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land’ (2 Chronicles 7:14). Recommended Books: Holy Spirit Power The Holy Spirit in a Man Revival Answers, True and False Revivals Heaven – A Journey to Paradise and the Heavenly City Prophecy Now, Prophetic Words and Divine Revelations Revival Fires and Awakenings: Thirty-Six Visitations of the Holy Spirit Global Revival: Worldwide Outpourings - Forty-Three Visitations of the Holy Spirit Revival Fire - 150 Years of Revivals: Spiritual Awakenings and Moves of the Holy Spirit Understanding Revival and Addressing the Issues it Provokes Jesus Today, Daily Devotional: 100 Days with Jesus Christ Samuel Rees Howells: A Life of Intercession Samuel, Son and Successor of Rees Howells Recommended Revival DVD: Great Christian Revivals Thus says the Lord: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring” (Isaiah 44:3). REVIVAL LINKS ‘O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do it for Your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many, we have sinned against You’ (Jeremiah 14:7). |
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