A HOUSE CLEANING

A HOUSECLEANING

The question has often been voiced, “Where are the miracles and signs that accompanied the preaching of the early Apostles?”

I have wondered about that many times myself, and I am not ready to give a definitive answer yet. However, I see a few possibilities, and they ALL point directly at ME, and other folks just like me. I DON’T LIKE WHAT I SEE!

First, I think we might have departed from a form of Worship that God can put His Blessing on.

I realize that we have very little to guide us in our manner of Worship, but I also realize that Godly men of ALL TIMES were heard and answered when they poured out their heart to God, crying for Mercy and Intervention from Him.

We have very little way to know what sort of service they conducted when they came together to worship God. How can we tell if we have LOST something vital along the way we have traveled these last 2000 years?

Are our meetings conducted in a fashion that REALLY PLEASES God? Is He satisfied with what we do while we are gathered in His Presence?

If Jesus were to physically visit our services, as He did those times in the Temple, would He be tempted to do the same type of Housecleaning He did those two times? And if He WAS inclined to clean house, WHERE WOULD HE START? Do any of us know?

I have been associated with Charismatic folks for nearly 60 years now (2007), and I am shamed to try to count the number of attempts that have been made to “Return to Bible Pattern” for our services, and Church Government. None of the attempts have gotten very far, and MOST of them didn’t even make it to “first base”. (You didn’t think I knew anything about Baseball, did you?)

Every one of the plans (attempts) had the fingerprints of MAN on them. Those fingerprints CONTAMINATE everything they come in contact with.

Jesus had explicitly stated that HE WOULD BUILD THE CHURCH upon the acknowledgment that HE was the SON OF GOD. (There is a subject that invites more study)

I wonder if we FULLY REALIZE what we are giving assent to when we say that He is the SON OF GOD. Think about it.

Does it mean that as such, He is the MASTER and we are His SERVANTS (slaves)?
Does He GIVE THE ORDERS and we UNQUESTIONINGLY OBEY?
Do we do things the WAY HE SAYS, or do we operate according to our own ideas?
Are we producing a product that is SPIRITUAL, or one that is designed by the skills of smart men, even Spiritual men?

When the Disciples asked Jesus why they had not been able to help those who had come to them for help—Jesus told them that the culprit had been UNBELIEF.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

What, exactly, constitutes UNBELIEF?

There are two original words that are translated “Unbelief”. One means a lack of faith—the other means “disobedience”. Three other translations call it “too stubborn”. (the spirit of MAN in the driver seat instead of the Spirit of God).

Most of the “disobedience” scriptures refer to the neglect of the Law, Statutes, and Judgments of the Old Testament.

Most of the others refer to not having enough “Fruit faith” to pay the bill, and so very few Christians even KNOW ABOUT “Gift Faith”, that can often get the very difficult jobs done.

Unbelief usually stems from an admixture of obedience to God, and obedience to the impulses of our human nature that is diametrically opposite to God’s Ways.

Another way of saying it would be, “We are lacking in the “obedience” department.”

Oftentimes, our “obedience” is slanted heavily toward the particular Fellowship” we belong to, rather than strictly to the Spirit of the Living God. Peer pressure is a very strong motivating force.

Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

OBEDIENCE TO GOD will, of necessity, involve being SENSITIVE to the voice of the Spirit of God.

It also involves being HUMBLE enough to DO EXACTLY WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO DO, and WHEN He prompts us to do it.

Anything short of this constitutes “Unbelief” on our part, and will (does) greatly hinder our progress in God.

Another element contributing to our lack of seeing God move in our midst is the ATTITUDE we harbor toward those who see things differently than we do, or that seem to be getting more from God than we are.

Have you ever wondered what went through Peter’s mind as he began to walk on the water? I have, and I don’t like what I believe the Lord showed me. If I were to have had an experience like that, the first probably thing that would have gone through my mind would have been, “Wow, LOOK WHAT I’M DOING.”

Peter HAD TO SINK. Just like I had to fall flat on my face after bragging to some other Christians about six young students getting the Holy Ghost in an evening prayer meeting where they had gathered to pray for the healing of one of their peers.

PRIDE AND RIVALRY are “hard taskmasters” and they take people over some rocky spots. They are “Widow Makers”. “Nobody but Us’ns is gonna go to Heaven.”

Our hearts (YOURS AND MINE) are “deceitful above all things, and DESPERATELY WICKED”. “Oh, Wicked Heart, Why did you deceive me?”

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Remember that God KNOWS the heart and motives of each one of us.

Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

David prayed: Psa 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

I am also wondering about the fine-tuned business affairs of some of our churches. I wonder if God REALLY approves of our mode of carrying on the affairs of the church.

Do we REALLY NEED a CEO to manage the business of the church or denomination? Does it really PLEASE GOD, or does He frown on it? Since when does the Church need to be run like a business?

If you were the LORD OF GLORY, would you add your “signs and wonders” approval to the admixture of Spiritual and Carnal methods carried on by most of the individual congregations of today?

The news is not ALL BAD however, for the Lord has promised, in several ways,, to take care of the mess we find ourselves in today. When He drove out the money changers, he was acting out a prophecy about His intentions to “clean house” in His Church before He is finished with it.. He has promised that it will be a “Glorious Church” that He presents to Himself.

I am glad for that assurance, but I also see a desperate need for us to be fully aware of the fact that HE WILL DO THE BUILDING OF IT.

He HAS NOT (WILL NOT) DELEGATE THAT JOB TO ANY HUMAN BEING.

Are we with HIS PROGRAM, or are we “DOING IT OUR WAY”?

WHAT I HAVE BEEN SEEING SCARES ME.