My wife and I pray for many people in the Body of Christ throughout the nation.
In 40 years of ministry I have not encountered as much brokenness, sickness, pain and dysfunction in the church as now.
The question that I am posing is a difficult one, I realize.
There are many factors involved.
As the United States goes, Christians and non-Christians alike, a growing unimportance of God and His Word is a big thing.
We have established a culture that though abounding in physical comforts, is empty of a relationship with God, and thus empty and lost within itself.
We have produced frail people, who can’t withstand much adversity without damaging themselves.
A nonexistence of the knowledge of God’s Word flings a door open wide to deception, so people are led astray into the devil’s attacks that come as sickness, anxiety and depression.
On the other hand, we have an unbelievable abundance of free Bible resources, free and wonderful Bible programs that can be downloaded or accessed for free.
We have on line sermons, You Tube sermons, internet church, and social media so that friends can pray for us.
We have numerous ways to raise money to go into ministry.
You would think the Body of Christ should be more powerful, healthier and freer than ever.
Here are four reasons why in the midst of so much, are we spiritually in a worse place than what I have seen in the past.
WE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY THE GOD OF COMFORT, THE EASE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE AND ABILITY TO GET INSTANT ANSWERS.
Because of Google there is no need to study and research.
It’s not the truth of the Word that sets us free, but our knowledge of the truth.
To know the Word of God accurately and in truth requires reading, research and studying.
The temptation to seek the easy way out of the Bible through memes, posts and tweets has robbed us from the skills of deep and serious reading.
The knowledge of God’s Word that sets us free will never come like this.
God does not offer shortcuts to freedom.
We are in a desert island starving for God Word.
Yet this island is surrounded by the rivers of abundance flowing with God’s Word.
THE COMPLACENCY, PASSIVITY AND LAZINESS OF OUR MATERIAL SOCIETY HAS CAUSED US TO WANDER FROM PRAYING.
Technology and social media have leashed upon us a demon of distraction.
Prayer that achieves breakthrough is rigorous, focused and disciplined.
It demands intercession, fasting, prevailing and obedience.
But where distracted by a video or texting, the process will be cut short over and over.
God is invisible.
One of the key functions of a Christian is to make the invisible God become visible in glory.
This is one of the purposes why God created the church.
But the glory of God can only be manifested through a person who is relatively free in Christ so that the Holy Spirit can flow through her
A depressed or oppressed person,who is in pain has a difficult time flowing in the Holy Spirit
IN OUR CULTURE FREEDOM IS BECOMING UN FAMILIAR AND UNIMPORTANT
The social desire to accept and feel proud of people wherever they are at, or whatever they do , has seduced people to feel comfortable in brokenness and not pursue freedom and wholeness.
A broken person is of little use in making the invisible God to become visible.
FINALLY THE SUPERFICIALITY OF A CULTURE OF POSTS, MEMES, SOUND BITES, AND GIFS HAS DRAWN US TO LIVE A SUPERFICIAL CHRISTIAN LIFE, WHEN THE WALK IN CONTACT WITH THE DEPTHS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MUST BE DEEP.
These four things the church must regain if people would become whole in Christ and flow in His power.
God has no shortcuts.
If Christians do not repent and regain what has been lost, God will not magically give it.
I fear that many will live and die in this condition.
As the Israelites who wondered around the mountain and never made it into the Promised Land.
Or as the man who buried his gift instead of using it and gaining more talents from it.
What will many answer the Lord on That Day?
How can we think that God is going to judge America, when the church is not providing an adequate witness of God for America to accept or reject Him so that then He can judge?
It’s not too late.
Repent and regain what has been lost!
Jose and Mary Alvarez 