Jesus is always the message. Sadly, in a lot of Western, seeker-friendly churches this is no longer the case. Church has become about giving the attendee what he or she wants: affirming sin, jokes, entertainment, self-help motivating messages with Scripture taken out of context with a little Jesus sprinkled on top, and worship that makes you feel good instead of glorifying God, being Bible-based and God-focused.
This is dangerous. Lost souls and the spiritual growth and maturity of Christians is at stake.
No matter how wise, eloquent, and entertaining our words may be, God has not promised to keep them. He has promised to keep His. Psalm 146:6 states that God keeps truth forever. His word (the Bible) is truth. Preach it. Study it. Listen to it. Follow it.
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul told the Church of Corinth: “I did not come to you with excellence of speech or wisdom declaring the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Shouldn’t that be our perspective too? The Apostle Paul stated that the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God is not in our wisdom.
It’s in the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the One who saves, delivers, and sets free. Not us. Not our words. Not our human wisdom.
So, why aren’t we preaching Jesus? Why is Jesus not always the message in our churches?
Today is the Lord’s day, and many of us are preparing to go to church. While you’re there, do an assessment:
Word of God
1. Are you being taught the word of God? Are you receiving and exegesis and expository teaching of God’s word?
Or
2. Are you receiving an eiseges? Is someone telling you a personal revelation from dreams they say God gave them, but they have no foundation is Scripture, does not reveal Jesus (Revelation 19:10), and does not bear lasting fruit.
Are you receiving a self-help motivational message that uses Scripture as a footnote to say what the preacher/teacher/pastor wants it to say, but it has no basis or root in Scripture and does not bear lasting fruit?
Worship
Worship is a gift from the Lord that allows us to worship and praise Him for who He is and what He has done. It’s about us communing with God.
Therefore, are you singing songs that glorify God? Who He is. What He has done. What He has promised to do. Are they God-focused or are they “you” focused? Are the songs from worship bands or choirs that are from Bible-based churches with sound doctrine?
As Christians, we have to be able to discern what is of God and what is not. What message will you receive this morning? Is it Jesus and His word or is it not?
Be encouraged! You are loved! ❤
True Love's Revelation 