I'm not sure what will come out in this post or what exact direction it will take but my heart has been heavy for several days now about a particular subject.
The subject is the battle between Christians and Satan and his devils. (the word demon is not in the KJV Bible---Jesus called them devils) I sat Sunday in another final service of an independent, fundamental Baptist church plant for the second time in less than a year. Then, yesterday I was told of a third that recently closed. I sat and cried as my son's father in law stood in the pulpit and with much grace announced that the finances were not there to continue. I was sad and angry at the victory Satan had gotten in the small town. The nearest solid KJV church is now 50 minutes away! Now, I understand that this is a fulfilling of prophecy and that it brings Jesus' coming closer but I don't like living through it!!! Just because the Bible says it will happen as we draw closer to the return of Christ doesn't eliminate our responsibilities as Christians to stay engaged in the battle!!! We are losing the war at this point, people! Especially in the USA.
Why are we losing? Pretty much it can be boiled down to APATHY and COMPLACENCY. The world is just allowed too much time and place in our lives and in our churches! As I am pointing a finger at you, I am also pointing three at me so don't get yourself in a huff and your nose out of joint. We all must do a better job. We need to do better at living a good testimony before others so that when we speak to them about the Bible and Jesus they will listen. We need to keep better and more earnest prayer lives and be reading and studying God's Word in depth so that we are prepared against attacks of Satan and those who want to rid our country of Christianity. We just plain need to be telling more people about Jesus and his Saving Grace! I fail everyday! I want to do better and beg God for forgiveness often.
So many are content just giving God time when it is convenient. When there is nothing else to do, they go to church. An offering is given around the entertainment of life budget. (Here's a hint...IT TAKES MONEY TO KEEP A CHURCH RUNNING!!! - even if the pastor were not paid a salary. (and btw the one that just closed didn't receive a salary and they still had to close because the money coming in couldn't pay the bills!) It still takes money to pay the electric, gas, water, phone and have an outreach!!!) So many want all the frills, bells and whistles of what large churches offer but no one wants to commit to BE THERE AND HELP! They are not willing to start at ground level and work and build and wait for the church to grow....or if they are willing to wait they are not willing to help in the building of the work.
If you have never started a church from scratch....don't try to give advice where you have not walked and stood! Until you have lived it, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!!! Too many "sending pastors" are in name only and leave the plant unto themselves, an island you may say with no spiritual support or anything else except possibly some financial (not all give that!). Often times it seems to me, that there is a prestige in being a "sending pastor" of a church plant yet that is all it is. Often the church planter must work a secular job as he tries to get a new work off the ground. This means he cannot go to fellowship meetings and get the spiritual and moral support needed. He just faces the battle with his wife and kids day in and day out as he is depleted while trying to keep the flock given him on the up swing both spiritually and numerically. While Satan attacks and gives blow after blow even when you get in a few of your own, it gets tiring without that support coming in.
I reckon, I just want to sound the Call to Arms! I want Christians to engage! Become part of the battle or we will lose the war. Yes, I know that we are on the winning side...eventually. But not until Jesus comes on a white horse and destroys with his mouth his enemies. Until then, it has been left up to His soldiers... Us! I often feel and fear that we are not following the General, the Commander! And when you don't follow the General's orders, chaos ensues and battles are lost!
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