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St. Paul School of Leadership & Discipleship Lesson 81 - part 6 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1) The St. Paul School of Leadership and Discipleship with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Walter and Cecilia Contreras WHERE JUDGMENT BEGINS - part 6 ("At The House Of God") INTRODUCTION The shaking has already begun in the world. And judgment has already begun "at the house of God"-the Church (1 Peter 4:17). In the world, economies are crashing and wars are increasing. In America, the unemployed take to the streets. Homes are foreclosed. Pensions erode. Medicare is almost bankrupt. USA debt is a last-stage cancer. In the Church, God is calling His people to repent of our sins of carelessness, greed, neglect and superficial spirituality. What are some of these sins in the body of Christ where the Holy Spirit is calling for repentance? We've covered five of them (see past lessons). Here is the sixth. NUMBER 6 - A SOFTENING OF SIN TO GAIN NUMBERS, MONEY AND PROMINENCE We have all heard the song, "Jesus is the sweetest name I know." But it is also the Name that will drive every man to his knees-unable to resist-at God's appointed time (Philippians 2: 9-11). We all know that God the Father is a God of goodness and mercy. But He is also a consuming fire never to be taken for granted (Hebrews 12:28, 29). We all know that the Holy Spirit comes to comfort and guide. But He also comes to convict of sin and leaves no place to hide (John 16:7-11). Judgment has begun in God's house. Sin is being exposed among leaders, and eyes are opening to the games that have been played to gain crowds, cash and compliments. I pray that God will deliver you and me from two dangers; having a proud heart that knows everything or a gullible heart that falls for anything. There is nothing wrong with preaching prosperity if it is done without manipulating Scripture and is balanced by God's call to suffering, to persecution and to probable hard times as well. But if someone ever tells you, "God's will is for you to have your own castle, Cadillac and caviar, but you need to plant a seed with your finances," (then comes the special offering for this "profit"-or was it "prophet"?!) friend, don't run for your money. Hold tight to your purse and run for the door. There is also nothing wrong with being a "seeker-friendly church" if the goal is to finally lead that seeker to "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). But preaching anything less than true repentance and faith is merely "another gospel" that ignores the Cross to gain the crowds and allows men to feel comfortable in their sins until they feel terror-stricken and ashamed a moment after death (Galatians 1:8, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 1 John 2:28). Know the Word of God. All of it. Stay true to the Word, cost what it may. Be slow to criticize or judge, but be an example of a new creation whose goal is to disciple other "new creations" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Rather than hide the cross to please men, glory in the cross to please God (1 Corinthians 1:17, 18; Galatians 6:14). Be sensitive to the Spirit of God and you will know when to offer tender compassion to a humble, broken soul and when to give a warning to a proud, indifferent one (Jude 22, 23). If you are a pastor, lead your flock without fear or compromise-always with humility and love (1 Peter 5:1-4). If you are a member of a church, pray for your leaders and encourage them to never soften sin to gain favor with men but instead to be true to the whole gospel to gain the favor of God. |
