Is This That?
Everything around us points to the obvious truth that we may be living in the last days, those times leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. We know that these are the last days because they aren't the first days and we as countless thousands before us await the return of the Lord as will generations that follow us if He should return during our lifetime. There is much conversation concerning these times, conversation that speaks of what the church world should be like, what our lives should be like and how we should be living as we await the return of Christ.
The scripture indicates that the last days will be filled with warfare, worship, and work, that believers of these times must be on guard, protecting themselves and preparing others. It is a time filled with promise, Jesus taught that the things the He did His followers would do also and greater. He spoke of an empowerment of the Holy Spirit that would enable His followers to defeat the enemy and conqueror the powers of darkness. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came, thousands entered covenant with Christ and His church, a tremendous outpouring followed creating what we now know as the church.
The Apostle Peter on that famous day stood declaring that this that which was prophesied, that in the last days the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon all flesh. My question is, "Is This That?" Will Christ return for a church that operates in less power and authority than the one He left? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not speaking of emotional manifestations, I'm talking about believers that are living and walking in the anointing and authority of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures! Men and women of God who have encountered Christ for themselves and are able to live victoriously in this present world. As a pastor I often see the same people weeping and struggling with the same issues over and over again, things they've struggled with for years and something in my spirit says there has to be more, is this really that?
3 comments:
You're right on basis here buddy. The past 3 weeks I have done a series called "The Beginning of the End"
Using both Acts 2 and Joel 2 I believe that we are about to experience a major outpouring of the Spirit of God, but according to Joel there are 2 things that must proceed that. 1) A time of repentance, and 2) a time of healing, refreshing, and restoring. I really believe that if we are to experience this outpouring we must follow the steps that lead to it.
Just my 2 cents
NO! And again I say NO! If what we have now, which is less than what the early church was birthed in, is all there is, then I'm getting out. I remember praying some time back about this, and I felt the nudge of the Spirit tell me when He comes back for His bride, we won't leave like a dog with it's tail tucked between it's legs, but we'll leave the same way we were birthed, with POWER! Israel came out of Egypt with Power, how much more the chuch when God takes us out of our Egypt? Your past few messages I've heard you preach Pastor Neil have been very powerful, challenging, and right on. Thank you!
I was talking in our service last night about how gas prices were climbing so rapidly again that I was refusing to fill up my tank, trying to hold out until the price comes down again. Many people are like that in the church and with their shallow walk with the Lord. We've said it so many times, "hang around the spout where the glory comes out". Well, people have gotten to where they want to just hang around hoping some of it spills over on them, but they are not willing to pay the price that it takes "to have a full tank" and walk, and move and operate in the fullness of His power. Just my thoughts on this.
Post a Comment