Does God Challenge You? 3

-->

SPIRITUAL CHECK-UP

I think in America and probably else we have come to think, "This is how it should be"... when it comes to things concerning God…  But is it?  What is “normal” with God?

This type of thinking “This is how it should be,” has only brought trouble… look at all the separated doctrine Christian churches!  Look how they have changed over time… I am not knocking the Methodist Church but I going to use them as an example.   Methodist Churches do MANY great works in their communities along with other churches but as the years have gone by they no longer work in or approve of the giftings of the Holy Spirit such a speaking in tongues and prophecy and interpretation of tongues.  What changed this?  It’s the understandings of man verse the reality of God.

 

Remember what Jesus says to the church of Ephesus?

“I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

³ I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

⁴ But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

⁵ Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.”  Revelation 2:2-5 AMP

That can go for any church or any individual in the church.  Religious activity can be just a meaningless to God as unreligious activity because God wants a relationship with us -and His will to be done. 

If we “do” -not in “both” Spirit and truth then what “it” is to God?

When the experience is of burden and empty of joy we must ask ourselves… where is God?  When the experience is only for our own gain- where is God? 

Where have we positioned ourselves in regards to the experience and God? Is it more about us then it is about God?  

AND how has this routine, regimented, foolish, thinking got us closer with God?  Look back that Revelation again my friend.

When the winds and storms start to blow in this life and the driving rains become rushing floodwaters to sweep away all that grows- what will become of us?  Is it about works or a relationship with God?

I am being reminded of Martha and Mary…

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10”38-42

Honestly ask yourself this question…  Do we just sit on the surface (roots and all)- knowing God has more but never seeking, never discovering and never anchoring our faith more deeply in HIM? 

What happens to our shallow understanding when troubles come?  God help us see our continual need in anchoring ourselves in relationship with HIM.  

We might be able to control and schedule our services and things in our lives but these things… what are they? These things are fragile things…  and these fragile things if not orchestrated by God are what?  Who really has control?  What are they really strengthening?

Was Jesus ever “routine” when he went about the Father’s business?  (Read it again.)  Who’s schedule and plans did Jesus go by?  What was Jesus addressing and strengthening and healing?  Did he not just challenge the unreligious but the religious as well?

I consider myself a pretty open minded Christian.  I was not always so.  Speaking in tongues would just "freak me out!"  Slain in the Spirit... I just thought that was fake....  And.... well anything else that fell along that side of the tracks was just STRANGE and SCARY....) 

In truth… I trusted in what I understood.  Anything that wasn't "traditional" just was WEIRD.....  Until GOD used the very things I wanted to stay FAR away from to touch and change my life.  

Speaking of which…let’s talk about the term “born again”