The Church in America

You may have have noticed I have deleted a few posts over the past year. I keep coming around to the same message. I have prayerfully committed to leave this one up.

The gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. "Lets get afflicted"

Ok here we go. Time and time again we choose to live life the way we like to, in such a way that we do our best to keep comfortable and pursue the american dream, then choose a version of the truth (Gods word) then put our own spin on it to justify our actions (selfish ambitions). I am guilty of this too. I believe far too many Church goers feel that if they do not cuss, get drunk, cheat on their spouse and if there children do not cuss and there needs get met, in good health and finances are in order, they are living a good Christian life. I would propose this to be a very basic definition of the American dream. Oh we can't forget the white picket fence.

Lets compare the American dream to the perfect word of GOD and discover if our lifes priorities are as they should be. ( 2Cor.13:5) I see that we must first examine ourselves to see as to whether we are of the faith. 2Tim 3:16, Clearly states that all scripture is givin by inspiration of GOD for correction and instruction in righteousness. Col3:16, Tells us to let the word of GOD dwell richly within you. Psalm119:11, Says your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
In our comfort drivin society it is so easy to compromise the word of GOD in our lives.

I have never heard anybody pray the prayer found in Prov. 30:7-9, "Two things I request of you oh Lord, Remove falsehood and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with the food allotted to me, lest I be full and deny you and say"who is the Lord"? Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of the Lord.

WOW! Lord just give me enough to survive. I know I need to remain totally dependant on you. I see this falling perfectly in place with
James 1:1-8 Counting it all joy when we fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (fruit). but let patience have its perfect work in you that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing. We look at and read the bible thinking it is about us, it's not!! In Col.1:16 Tells us that the world was created through him and for him. Cover to cover it is about the Creator of everything visable and invisable and his love and desire to work in our lives and have a relationship with all of us. There have been aprox. 30 billion to 80 billion people that have lived on this earth mabey more, we as individuals, yes so very precious to our Heavenly Father, occupy such a small piece of the history of this world.

We are called to be obedient to his word. Motivated wholly and rooted deeply in love.
John 14:15 says "If you love me you will keep my commands" John 15:14 says you are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
Ok, lets go to "the sermon on the mount" Matt. chapters 5 thru 7. This is an absolutely perfectly laid out call to obedience. Please read it and let the words of GOD dwell richly within you.
This is a call to the heart issue, the inward man not the outward man as the people were used to being taught. This was new to them. Matt.8:28-29 says this: And so it was,when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his teachings, for he taught them as one having authority and not as one of the scribes.
Know this, that Jesus has all authority, and that he lives in the heart of the believers (Please read John 17:20 -26 and Col.1:26-27) These verses can totally strenghten your motivation and committment to Christ. Oh yes we cannot forget Romans 8:11. Im getting a bit excited just writing this. Ok I need to focus.

Without waiting any longer, and the heart rate is up, briskly go to Matt ch25 beginning at v:14. Please read the parable of the talents. Here Jesus tells us who have an ear to hear about the kingdom of God. Most of us know the story. In V24 Jesus tells us about the servant who did nothing with what the Lord had given him.(He was living the american dream) He went to church every week, even attended a bible study he did not cuss, faithful to his wife, his kids did not cuss he took the comfortable route.

(I love the lyrics to that ol Kieth Green song "How can you be so dead when you've been so well fed, Jesus arose from the grave and you, you can't even get out of bed" ouch! He had to pray everytime before singing that song as he knew the spiritual implications that were involved.)

The Lord then did cast that unprofitable servant into outer darkness, totally separated from the presence of God, where there there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then in v:31 tells of the Son of God Judging the nations, and again calls us to obedience in serving the hungry, the thirsty, those with no place to stay and those in need of clothing. For as we serve others we serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Will our destination be everlasting punishment or eternal life.

I do not down play the Grace of God at all, for by grace we are saved thru faith.
What is faith? Heb11:1 (NKJ) Says faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good report. The acts of the Apostles were written because there lives bore the fruit of living, active faith. What in our lives come between us and God. Do our lives bear much fruit. Do we need to pray the prayer found in Prov. 30;7-9. Is it possible the very things that make us comfortable here on earth will make us very uncomfortable for all of eternity?
I never thought I would sit on a park bench at 11:pm with people injecting heroine and smoking crack cocaine telling them about the love of Jesus Christ.
I never thought God would bring strangers into my life that I would allow into my home with my family, but he did and for that I am forever thankful.
The statements "I don't know Gods plan for my life. "I don't know what my ministry is to be, can completely make us numb and even parlyzed to our Lords calls to action. Matt ch 25 gives us a great place to start. Yeeeehaaaawwww!!

Jer.29:11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Always know you are loved with an everlasting love from the Holy creator of galaxies and amoeba's

XOXO,
K.M
http://www.hishandshisfeetministries.org/