spiritual or Spirit filled?

 Normally I do not write in direct response to news but today is different. I am seeing attacks on Christianity in headlines, and news articles. One is a scandal in a major college. another is a "megachurch pastor" and the other by a reality tv "star".

One is in a sex scandal and losing their job due to "self-righteous" people, you know the ones who expect the person in a position of authority to actually live by example.

The other in their words is in a "dry spell" that their spiritual adviser suggests they do not to read the Bible everyday. That the expectations of the Christian life are so very hard and no one tells them of the hardships and trials that might come.

The "megachurch pastor" claims abortion fits his view of Christianity.

The sex scandal is pretty much an open and shut case, for a "leader" literally did not live what they preached, A self picked successor in a position that they were "supposed" to have due to who their dad was instead of qualified for the role, by qualified I mean dedicated to the service of God wholeheartedly. We have seen this many times where the retiring person names their successor, but the one they name is not interested in the Godly position but in the power and money the position brings.

Pro_15:20  A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Pro_17:25  A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

This is true both in the physical and the spiritual sense.Wise sons and foolish sons, how we have forgot that training and discipleship are so very important. We are losing generations because we allowed the world to train our children and disciple the young christians. We are at fault folks, because we let the standards of God slip and slide according to the latest worldly trend.

The other articles are a little more complex, for the persons involved are in varying degrees of trouble. A 'megachurch pastor' who says abortion is ok, is wrong flat out sinful and not in Christ. The reality "star" has not left their faith, but is searching for a better understanding of the faith.

There was a statement the person made that " no one talks about the the troubles that might come in the faith, no one tells of the trials and troubles". paraphrased.

Yes they do! The Bible is full of people's troubles trials and mistakes, examples for us, where do you read of a single person other than Enoch living a sin free stress free life? Even two of the greatest prophets, who will come back in the tribulation, had troubles, Moses and Elijah.

What kind of a "spiritual" adviser tells one of his advisees that no where does it say you have to be in God's Word daily? Folks when you go to a "spiritual" adviser make sure they are Spirit filled and not just a title they claim.

Psa_61:8  So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Psa_68:19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. 

Luk_9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

This problem we face in the church today is one of discipleship, training, and teaching THE Word, and the life, instead of just a 3 service a week come if you want to church. In fact many churches have one service a week and that's it. One chance for the Word to get through to you and move on, for we have much more pressing matters to deal with.

Personal peeve of mine is preachers and pastors making 60,000 a year and having one service a week. What are you paying them for? Yes I know there is more to it than just the church service but if they are short-cutting the church services then what else are they short-cutting? 

You say but the people dont come to more than one service, I say have the service and preach it anyways! Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in My name!

Mat_18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

You say the pews are empty and it is hard to preach to empty pews, I say preach if one shows up, you are paying for the electric and the preacher/pastor anyways!

Revival will not come in one service, perhaps if you hold more services God might actually talk folks into coming more.

In the current situation of coronavirus we have had 6 to 7 people in the pews and have had Spirit filled services because we were there and God showed up!

WE the God fearing people have relegated God to a back seat, a corner in our lives, how much more so will a sin filled world neglect Him? If He is not important to us then how can He be real and important to them? We have a faithful few who come to every service, and it is tough to preach to one or 2, but God says to do it anyways. Phillip preached to one (the Ethiopian), Jesus was one on one all the time, Nicodemus, the rich young ruler, the samaritan woman.

Peter had three come with Cornelius and he preached, Noah, Jeremiah had limited response too but they preached!

We are all so very interested in the big crowds, the great services and we forget it all starts with one. Us. Willing to go and be subject to Him and proclaim the Gospel to one or two and win the victory by the Power of God not our own oratory or organizational skills. I too dream of preaching to thousands and having a revival, but when I have the pulpit and 2 or 6 show up I preach the same as if it was 2000.

Where are the discipleship classes, the new christian classes, the daily services, the prayer meetings, the Spirit filled men and women of God with His agenda, His Word, and His Righteousness? Yes there are Bible colleges for those going into full time ministry but what about the part time lay people? The ones who do most of the church work and most of the serving?

God is no longer at the forefront of the lives of the Christians in America, how can we expect Him to show up when we we do not? How can we have revival, wholesale nationwide revival when we can not have more than one service a week? More than one gathering a week? 

When God's people finally get serious with Him He will get serious with us. When we get Spirit filled, then the Spirit can work, until then it is all just for show.