May I be really open a moment?
I’m hungry. I want MORE. I want HIM. I want fruit that remains.
Jesus prayed, cast out demons, and laid hands on folks wherever He was–out in the streets and countryside, with multitudes watching. People came to where He was because they had issues, and He had answers.
To us, His followers, He said in John 14:12: “…he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.”
I can’t help but ask, why do we rarely see or hear of such these days? Unbelief? Little belief??
Matthew 17:14-21 is a worthy read, but I’ll just quote verse 20: “And Jesus said unto them, ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, “Remove hence to yonder place”; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” And yes, prayer and fasting are listed in the next verse.
Also, check out this answer Jesus gave in Luke 18:8-9: “…Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth? And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.”
Mic drop.
Times and circumstances have changed for some of us. And the assumed definition of the word “Church” has been blurred. Church is not in a building, once a week. Church isn’t just an online experience. Church is the collective name given to ALL who love, put full faith in, and trust in Jesus alone. Church is you, and me, and the person you meet randomly and just “know” that there is a connection beyond reason between you. Church: Sincere followers of Jesus who share easily, love unreasonably, pray incessantly, but refuse to compromise the written Word of God, Church. You know, REAL, Faith-filled, Sold-out bondservants of Jesus, Church. So then, Church is really a life lived out in the open, in the streets and highways, shared with friends and strangers alike. Or if you are truly blessed: a gathering of people in a building, communing like a large family, worshiping in Spirit and Truth, seeking The Face of The Father, alongside fellow congregants with massive fruit.
Sadly, many of the congregation choices these days are “man”-ipulated, rehearsed, choreographed attempts at emotionalism, followed by dead “weeks-old” tidbits of purchased sermons on world-wisdom with a scripture attached to make it sound “church”-worthy. Carnal believers with messages that smack shallow, and taste like plastic. Gatherings that seem more like seekers of numbers and popularity–instead of seekers of Truth and growing up in Jesus. You know, like movie theater experiences: awash with feeling, but no change in a life.
Church, REAL church gathering, isn’t like that.
What we need more of today are Believers who go to the Mountain to seek His Face–not just His Hand. Ones who dare not bring carefully crafted messages that pet the flesh and “offend not” the sinful–but are set on speaking Truth in Love. We need real men and women of God who have wrestled their own fleshly appetites against the purchased promises of the Word and are growing up daily in the Presence of God. We need THEM to bring the Sweetness of Truth that whets the appetites of the hungry for MORE of Jesus.
If this angers you: be honest and ask God why. If this inspires you: go be ALL Jesus said we could be in Him.
When I look around, this is what I see: Folks who have real NEED, and need REAL. They need us to be Salt and Light, the Hands and Feet of Jesus in the earth–not just in a building–but in the grocery store, in the parking lot, at work in the break room–on fire, ready in season and out to share The Hope that we have IN us–not just on Sunday morning, but ALL week long.
Think about it: Wouldn’t it be great if there was such a large crowd waiting to get into your building on Sunday morning–not for the programs–but because Truth is spoken and lived out, and prayers are answered there?? Be the CHURCH people need to SEE! 🙂
I want a front row seat to witness ALL God is doing in His people. Care to join?? 🙂
