I saw something last night posted on Facebook and I asked the poster what the scripture reference was and the response I received blew me away. I could ask the pastor that originally posted, but the re-poster wasn't going to. Well, I did. I received no response from the pastor, but one of the followers replied with a scripture reference that was taken so completely out of context I was amazed.
Folks.......
Jesus is not coming back for a child bride. He is coming back for a bride that is spotless and without blemish...with clean wedding garments. He is coming back for a mature church. He is coming back for a church that has been built into a Body that can be a dwelling place for His Spirit. It is time for the Church to put away the childish things we have been playing with. Our denominational churches have traded the felt boards of sunday school classrooms for a jumbotron big screen (or two) in the sanctuary or auditorium. We no longer even have to carry our bibles to church. We eat what is placed before us and we file back out of the building. Why are we satisfied with being bottle fed in our churches? Is there not more to this walk of ours?
It is time to stop drinking the milk that is freely flowing from most of our pulpits and get back to the basics of the Word of God. It is time for the Body of Christ to stand on its feet and be the Body it is intended to be. If we do not even carry our bibles to church how do we even know we are hearing the spoken, inspired, righteous word of the Lord? How do we know the scriptures are being taught in context? Or that what is taught is even in the Bible?
Social media is a funny thing. We have many good things on the internet and we have many great people that are sharing the things of the Lord. Then we have the Others. We have those that are perpetuating deception that is straight from our enemy to corrupt, distract, keep us complacent, and keep us babies. If we remain Children drinking milk from the pulpit, then we do not grow into Young Men that are overcomers.
1 John 2:12-14 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. (13) I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, Young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. (14) I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
John did not say he was writing to the children because they were overcomers. John said he was writing to the children because their sins are forgiven. They are at the very basic point of salvation. A baby has not yet learned how to handle things necessary to feed itself. If I were to give a baby a knife, chances are he would just hurt himself...or someone else. The word of God is a sword. It is a much bigger, more powerful weapon than anything else we have against the enemy. It is sharper than any two edged sword.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We have to know how use the sword in battle. We have to use it correctly and with authority through practice. Babies don't fight. They whine, they cry, they throw tantrums if they don't get their way or something they want. They rely on others to protect them and to shield them from the things of this world that might hurt them. Babies are treated and handled with kid gloves. John is writing to the young men because they have overcome the wicked one, because they are strong and the word of God abides in them. There seems to be a progression here in three areas of development. I mentioned this in another post. We are to advance in our knowledge of God, the Father. We are to grow in Him. We are not to remain children forever. Paul said he put away childish things as a man.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
In my post Test the Spirits...Always, I talk about this in greater detail. It is a post I wrote four years ago, but is still applicable today. Social media is just another media form for the enemy to use people to perpetuate deception. Children do not threaten him or his purpose - to steal, to kill, and to destroy. However, young men that are strong can overcome Him. Which are you? So, I say again...Church, Grow Up! Stop drinking milk that feels good but provides no real lasting sustenance! Learn how to use the Sword of the Spirit and overcome your enemy! Jesus is coming back soon...we have to be ready!
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