The Church

As I am typing this I am not trying to be critical of the church, for the true church is the body of Christ; Him being the head of the church.  First I want to say not everyone in the church is a believer, but hopefully they are searching for the truth and they will find it, and many in the church are still babes in Christ, that need to grow in maturity.  Some may even be carnal Christians that likewise need to grow in the faith like Paul talks about in the Word in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”

Without a doubt there are no perfect Christians, just one beggar trying to tell another beggar where to find bread, so to speak.  When you put so many variations of people together, you are sure to run into problems.  Then on top of all this, you have false teachers that Paul talks about in the Word and the temptations of the evil one, who is always trying to destroy the church.  There were problems like this in the churches in the New Testament also which you can read about in the various books from Acts to Revelations.

In Revelations there were seven Churches Jesus spoke to concerning some different problems except Philadelphia church.  He addressed these churches in Revelations in chapters 2 and 3 if you would like to read about them.  

The first church He talked to was Ephesus, they had lost their first love, they were doing a lot of things but for the wrong reasons.  The Lord must be your motivation for a church to thrive.

The second church was Smyrna which went through persecution but some in the church were serving Satan’s purposes and not the Lord’s.  The Lord was encouraging the believers to remain faithful even in persecution.

The third church was in Pergamos which was a lenient church that was teaching and allowing things to take place that shouldn’t take place.

The fourth church was Thyatira which was a compromising church and some were holding onto false doctrine taught by Jezebel, a lady that would not repent.

The fifth church was in Sardis which was a lifeless church.  They thought they were alive but they were dead. 

The sixth church was Philadelphia.  They had not denied the Lord’s Word even though they had little strength.

The seventh church was of the Laodiceans which was the lukewarm church Jesus said this to them read 3:15-19, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

This church was indifferent to Him, and His purpose was to bring the people back to Him.  The Lord’s purpose is never to hurt or harm the church but to get them back to their love and commitment to Him.  All these churches had problems except one and the Lord wanted them that needed to, to repent.

To prove this point the Lord made a terrific statement in Revelations 3:20-21, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Then he finished with this in verse 22, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

I believe He is saying the same thing about many in the church today.  It says this in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “ If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Something to think about which could change your whole life if you are one of the ones that needs to repent; so please don’t take this lightly.  The Lord loves you and wants you to come back to Him.  God bless and have a good day!!