THE MESSAGE NOT THE EXTRA
They say our faith has been corrupted
The prophets and Pastors cant be trusted anymore, really ?
They ask ; Is there any hope left for us at all? - These are some of the many statements being uttered by some Christian folks.
Well, however it may seem or appear to be, The Church of GOD is glorious and still is. The actions of its members may prove otherwise but the truth remains. We must look to ourselves as the cause of this and also the solution.
We often find people change their denomination because they admit another Man of God is more powerful than their Pastor. We have sought to chase after 'Signs & Wonders' ; what i call the 'Extra' - Hence making us miracle seekers and wonder searchers. Our Men of God have resorted to trying to add extra after their sermons due to the fear of losing members hence some fortelling lies leading to the deceit of the members. - Slowly we are killing our Pastors --
The Apostle Paul warns ....
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (KJV) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ......
Brother Timothy noted that prophecy from Apostle Paul.
Because they seek after 'extra' they would always be told lies and keep changing church because they are not well established in doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:16 (KJV) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
There is always a need for continuity in doctrine irrespective of the circumstance we may find ourselves.
After his (CHRIST) ressurection we were given a message and irrespective of our wants we must stay glued to the message , thats the bottom line of it ...
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (KJV) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
The message of reconciliation is the message of the Gospel/Good-news and the Gospel is the preaching of the Death, Burial, Ascension and Glorification of CHRIST.
Apostle Paul elaborates more on that
...
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: .....
Thats the basic message, infact the only message we have; no addition , no substraction and all (Unbelievers, Believers) must know that and continue in it.
This is not to out-rule the importance of 'Signs & Wonders' but they are secondary and serve their own purpose. We must not follow after that and make them primary.
To point out well --
The Disciples stayed with Christ and evidently saw all the miracles and wonders he performed yet when the test of time came some doubted who HE was and the others including tge multitude that followed HIM denied him .....
To mention but a few ;
- They were with him when HE changed the water into wine ....
John 2:7-8, 11 (KJV) Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. - When HE calmed the raging storm over the sea they travelled ....
Matthew 8:26-27 (KJV) And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! - When HE multiplied the loaves of bread and fishes ....
Matthew 15:36-37 (KJV) And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. - When HE cursed the fig tree ....
Matthew 21:19-20 (KJV) And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
The Disciples and some of the multitudes that followed HIM were witnesses of these things yet how many stood with him when the test of time came?
'Signs & Wonders' are but by-products of the preaching of the Gospel - THE MESSAGE.
Those who follow after these have no standing and cant stand the test of time, their truest identity is always revealed in such times. They have become like the multitude who followed after HIM (CHRIST) ....
John 6:2 (KJV) And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
But JESUS says to them ...
John 6:26 (KJV) Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Evidently these people only crave for their personal satisfaction.
But CHRIST warns saying ...
Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Thats the crux of the matter that we seek after GOD and his righteousness and any other thing shall be added pointing that any other is secondary. We are not to seek after the additions; They are called Additions because they are added not sought for.
There is a need to thread cautiously in our Christian walk and hold fast to the basic message. There is no room for a re-set, we just need to stop following the 'extra' as if they were primary.
Mark 16:15-18 (KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
JESUS's statement was clear when he sent out the disciples. The first instruction was to preach the GOSPEL any other manifestation is as a result of the first. And that is KEY!
I conclude with this --
If the generation we live in is EVIL then it is evident that all we need is the sign of JONAH; which was a typology speaking of the Death , Burial and Ressurection of CHRIST - THE BIRTH OF THE GOSPEL .....
Matthew 12:39 (KJV) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
The miracle seekers, Signs & Wonders searchers need nothing but the 'GOSPEL'.
♡ To the Men of God, i say labour on , preach the Gospel unabated and be fervent in Spirit since we know we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.
Lets take solace in Apostle Paul's words ....
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (KJV) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
I charge the body Of Christ to hold fast to the 'Basic Message' and be comforted and stop chasing after 'Extra' --
Let us be custodians of our FAITH.