Wake Up Church!

I am heart broken. I am heartbroken to see how our country and the rest of the world is losing its self more in sin and casting God and everything that has to do with God out. I am heartbroken to hear about the shootings going on amongst us.

I am heartbroken that the majority (if not all) of the shooters are younger than me. From 17 to their mid 20s. I mourn for the families that have been victims to these hate crimes. I mourn for my generation that is so corrupted in many ways. I mourn for my son and all the other young ones who are coming into this world in a time like this. I am 26 years old (still pretty young) and I can say that what is happening today is worst than what I saw growing up. Why?

Romans 1:24 talks about how God treated the fallen people who gave into their sins, it says, “God gave them over to the sinful desires of their heart.” They became even more blind and more lost in their sin. They became bigger fools not grasping the truth nor the consequences of their sin. They had no desire for God- they hated God.

In this article, the Lord has inclined my heart to speak to the Church. How are we to respond to this? How are we to respond to this worldly rhythm we are living in today. Hate, abundance of sin and prosperity? When I see the abundance of sin around me and the hate for God, I cant help to think, “what am I doing about this?” The Lord convicts me about how I am living my life.

Yes, maybe I'm not out there shooting people or in “immorality”. But i can see that I am so consumed with the cycle of this world. I am busy trying to gain worldly things. I am busy trying to be noticed. I am busy criticizing others rather than helping them. I am busy, busy, busy with life in general; that I forget. I forget that I'm here to live for Christ not my self. I am here to serve the Lord and others.

Oh, how important it is brothers and sisters that we be firm in the Lord. Great is the importance that our feet be grounded in Christ and His truth. And yet many of us want half of Jesus and half of the World. Like my mom use to tell me, “you want to have one foot in and one foot out.” And that can't be. The Lord will not accept that. Every Christ knows the famous Bible verse, Mathew 7:21-23 (ESV); where the Lord Jesus says that only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven. “but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” And then He says the hard truth about the destiny of the double minded people. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

I know we have all heard this several times being preached at our church. We hear it so much it starts to loose its value in our lives, till we see things like we’ve seen Just this year: more than 200 shootings, rumors of wars rising, hate for Christians rising just in our country alone but even more around the world. The long list of massive earthquakes happening around the world. Not to mention great cases of sicknesses. it feels like cancer is the “new thing”, many have it. We start seeing these signs that Jesus talked about in Mathew 24.

I'm here to tell US ALL (me included), WAKE UP CHURCH!

The word of God says in Romans 12:2(ESV) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." The Church is called to be different than this World. That it be Christ like not devil like. That it's mind be renewed daily by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, throughout our Christian walk. So what we may know God and His will.

One thing the devil uses greatly to distract Christians is “business”. Mainly in the US. Why? Because the devil is pretty satisfied having us lukewarm. He doesn’t care about us being faithful to him, what he wants is that we don't be faithful to God. And he will use things that are deceiving. Things that don’t seem sinful. Is it a sin to go to work? Is it a sin to want to buy a new home for your family? Is it a sin to watch that one tv show? Is it a sin to stay home from church because I'm tired? Is it a sin to skip prayer and meditation of the Word of God because your to busy with work or taking care of other things? What's wrong with that? Aren’t all these things part of life? How can these things be an idol? God made the family, work, food, our body etc.

Well, of coarse these things are a part of life but they start becoming sin when we start loving them and putting them before God. Like for example: money is not a sin but coveting is. Does that mean I have to quit my Job? No, not at all. But do we really need all those extra hours of work? Do we really need the newest car or home? After you come from work, and feel to tired to read the Bible and yet spend hours in front of a television. Do you see the pattern here? We are so consumed by the world.

As a church. Church services have become a show and tell. “what is that person wearing”, “that family bought a new car.” “that church and pastor build a new___ “. We compete with each other, “who sings better?” “which church’s music is better?” Our altar calls have become so vain, its all about emotion. There's no music- there's also no blessing. Its all about tongues and other spiritual gifts but no love. The person in the altar “speaking in tongues” is the same person who after service makes the first phone call to talk about the pastor or another church member. Many pastors are more concern about becoming more “intellectual” or better “construction workers” and have forgotten that its not about what you display but its about who you are.

I must also mention the hidden sins in our lives. The hate and bitterness that we carry in our hearts towards each other. The lack of love and submission. The problem with our mouth. (gossip, murmuring, nagging…) The hidden sexual sins like pornography. The shows we watch at home (when the pastor isn’t looking). We entertain ourselves with immorality.

Ephesians 5:14-17 says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

All these sins I mentioned and the other sins in our personal lives and church are rooted in the lack of devotion for God. We don’t know God like we should nor even care to know more about Him. We are to busy. They are rooted in the lack of knowledge of God, His will, and the great love He has for us. (Ephesians 1:15-19; Ephesians 3:14-19; Colossians 1: 9-14)

I pray that God wakes up the desire in us to know Him more. Not just simply fatten our heads with knowledge, but that we may truly know Him and not just know about Him. That His Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and minds to grasp the truth. That this knowledge be rooted in love to edify each other. (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

Speaking about the signs of the coming of the Lord and the last days; Jesus said that in the last days, “many will turn away from the faith…” (Mathew 24:10) Let this not be us brothers and sisters; please remain. Paul encouraged the Hebrews who were straying away from Christ back to Judaism:

Hebrews 10:22-23 (NASB) “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean 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;

The source that Paul used to encourage the believers to persevere was the faithfulness of God. He reminded them and assured them that the One whom they believed in once was faithful. They had every reason to persevere.

Hebrews 2:1 (NASB) “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”

We must pay close attention and dig in the Scriptures. Grow in the knowledge of God, His will and His love. We have to remind ourselves of the great hope we have in Christ. Meditate in the gospel, so when trial or temptation comes, we wont drift away.

Hebrews 10:36-39 (NASB) “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. “But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

We have need of great endurance! Our knees are weak and legs shaky. The Lord is coming soon and there is a great reward for those that remain in the Lord. The Lord only delights in those who truly belong to Him. The Lord does not delight in those that drift away. The Lord does not delight in the double minded person. In lukewarm Christians.

We have great hope! We have every reason not to give up! We have every reason to persevere in our faith!

To young believers: We have been called by God to live in the generation we are currently in. Don’t live like the world. Don’t get consumed by the lies of satan. Don’t get distracted with vanity. Don’t waste your life behind a television, phone nor computer. Don’t be lazy and live for Christ. Be faithful to Him at school, work, and amongst your friends. Repent of the hidden sins that you have in your life. Take them to God and He will give you victory.

To older believers: Persevere. Our generation needs you. Your work, suffering and endurance will not be in vain. Please teach us with love don’t just criticize. I know my generation has faults but remember when you were our age and have mercy. Be patient with us. If you’re a older woman, teach the younger women to be godly, like the Lord has commanded of you. If you’re an older man teach younger men to be godly as well. Don’t believe the lies of satan that tells you God can't use you no more. That your life is already over. You still have much to offer!

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