July 21
2 Chron 4:1-6:11 | PS 17:1-15 | Prov 19:22-23 | Rom 7:1-13
Are we, the church, a force to be reckoned with? Does what the Bible call evil, and those in positions of power fear the outreach of the church? I believe in certain nations like Iran, parts of Africa, China, North Korea, the answer is yes. But sadly in western nations like the United States, the answer is no. In America once we leave the four walls of the church building most blend into the rest of humanity and really don't look much different from their unbelieving neighbors. It is true that we might stand up for particular causes such as fighting abortion, fighting evil school curriculums, etc, but we largely get on their level and fight them in their battlegrounds. Our commission from Jesus Christ, Himself, in Matthew 28:18-20, was not to fight in the trenches over issues, but to make disciples of Jesus. Our command is to go to the highways and byways and boldly proclaim Jesus to a world that largely does not know Him, even in religious circles who think they do. Largely, we are complacent, don't care enough, procrastinating and whether one cares to admit this or not ashamed for fear of personal consequence from getting out of our shells. The purpose of this One Year Bible Challenge is to facilitate the church to move through Scripture from cover to cover and let God's Word convict and arm us for the masses who do not know Him. Lord, please help us to understand our times and give us a sense of expectancy when we approach your Word and a sense of urgency when we see a world that is drowning in and largely does not know You and has rejected You.
We read in 2 Chronicles 5:13. as the Temple was completed, "The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: "He is good! His faithful love endures forever!" At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord." The people of the day knew the presence of the Lord. The surrounding nations had some sense of the power of God from what they had heard. But we read in Romans 7:6, "But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit." As powerful as the former system was in many ways, and the presence of God filled the Temple, we now have the presence of God residing within us, if we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, as the Holy Spirit has taken up residence.
So, since what we have more power now than before, why is the church so powerless in America. Because rather than being in awe at God's presence we more closely resemble "Eeyore" from Winnie the Pooh. God gives us 7 days a week, 168 hours per week, and what do we Christians do with them. We need to be honest. We work, we recreate, we drive, we largely live spending countless hours not considering God, and when we do it is usually "private time" with Him, as we listen to music, read, etc. Many of these activities are not bad at all. It is a great thing to read Scripture, spend time in prayer, listen to worship music, go to church, etc. But these are our building blocks, our areas of preparation, not to simply internalize, but to read and be emboldened, to stop restraining the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit and be the vessel we are all called to be. If we are to make a difference in this world, we need to stop talking about revival because of proposed numerical increases in a church body. We need to be present and seen for the force we are all called to be. Evangelists should not be able to be named, for we should all be so endowed with a sense to reach the lost world that we literally can't shut up. May we pray to God and become the army He has called us to be.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: