...CommentsThe Pastor's Vision
"Here Am I" (1 Sam 3:17; Isa 6:1-8)
Our Motivation Should Reflect the Old, Old Story
March 12 & 19, 2000
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:19-25 (NKJ)
A church which is inflexible, resistant to change, is dying. I am constrained to write these words to you. The church of God should live in a state of holy boldness in a new and living way. Let us be clear. I am saying that we, the church can reflect the present age we live in . We must be careful not to bring the world in to the church but rather equip the church to minister to this present age. Let me be clear. Sin is sin. What we are battling with is the mind set of our times. We are living in a time when individuals believe everything is true. How can we confront this plague that sweeps our land?
There is a rise in emotion expression during church worship. Dr. Stuart Briscoe says, "If the top priority is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, surely the top of the priorities is that we ensure that we have experienced the Kingdom. What a tragedy is to find people who are so concerned about a thousand and one things, and it has never crossed their minds that they need to begin to experience - not the petty kingdom of self with God on the periphery - but the gracious domination of the living god in the person of the risen Christ with the Holy Spirit filling and flooding their lives with Himself."
The Church must hold fast to the truth of Christ. We must know that He is our only message. Then, we must see the creativity that is demonstrated by Christ. Jesus is not locked in by the temple, or the synagogue. We find Him teaching the Word of God any and everywhere. We must see the creativity of Paul on Mars Hill. There he enters into the world of Athenians and with clarity bring to them a knowledge of the 'unknown God'. How are we fairing as we bring the gospel to those called Americans? I am holding back my judgment until the Lord comes. Let us exercise our creativity.