WE CAN FOOL OTHERS, but we can never fool the God who knows all and sees all. Often, we look at a person or church’s growth as success; but it’s not not really godly success. FYI, growth is not always indicative of health- cancer spreads and grows.
The church in Sardis had an OUTWARD appearance of being alive and active. As far as the world is concerned, it was “successful”. Yet, Jesus saw into the heart of its people. It was dead. ”And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.” Revelation 3:1-2
JUST like Sardis, people can look at your outward successes of giving, serving, praying, preaching, multiple FB posts of charity work and think, “Wow! They must know Jesus!” You can certainly fool people by doing and saying all the right things, giving God and others lip service. FB land is not reality, a “like” means nothing but the opinions of men, and people who are “friends” often don’t even know one another. It is not true fellowship just as watching a worship service is not true fellowship.
You can present yourself to anyone a certain way, remember Judas? He fooled everyone, including his close friends, except Jesus. ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23
No scarier words than these! The Lord sees the heart: inside you are covetous, a liar, a thief, sexually immoral, hiding your secret intoxication, fearful, selfish and full of pride and arrogance; in short, spiritually DEAD. Where there is no presence of the Holy Spirit and the Word is not active in your life, you are dead. He who does not obey the Word of God has dead faith.
A church that’s not preaching the entire Word of God is a dead church. If there’s no conviction of the Holy Spirit from your sin, you are dead. Jesus says, “Repent! Or else I will come on a day when you are unprepared.” It is time you get right with the Lord. The Lord rebukes and chastens His own. Receive correction and live! It is time to repent of any immorality. He is coming soon. Will you be found alive in Him?#runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
