It feels to me like they take the information they are told and put it in their pocket like a collection. but, they don't add what they learned each week together so as to get a fuller, richer revelation of Truth within the message. Psalm 119:160 states, "the sum of Your Word is Truth." this clearly shows that Truth is built in our hearts by one revelation being added to the next. but, there is only one Truth! there is nothing new outside of the Gospel that God needs us to know. Every bit of knowledge and wisdom that we need is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. we learn new things about Him every day we ask of Him and He reveals Himself to us in a deeper way. but, His revelation to us can always be found within the Word of God, never outside of it. II John warns us in verse 9 and 10 to not run ahead of God and look outside of the doctrine of Jesus to find contentment and excitement. and, to not receive anyone who comes to us bringing any doctrine other than what Jesus taught.
to answer my own question, i think that my friends are wanting a quick-fix cure-all to their discontented situations. we all somewhat, have this ailment in the world we live today. we want to hear the one thing that is going to make everything in our lives perfect, the super pill that we can take to make us look, feel, act, and live exactly the way we want to. the real truth is, Jesus is that super pill for our spiritual condition. faith in Him changes us immediately from a sinner to a righteous child of God. but, the manifestation of this new person we have become is a jouney of realizing and recognizing the greatness of what has just happened to us because of our faith. it is a journey with God where he reveals, moment by moment, new depths of knowledge within the redemption provided for us in Jesus. We are changed as He renews our minds a little at a time, one revelation after another, precept upon precept until the day we see Him face to face. that new thing my friends seem to long for isn't outside of the message they hear each week or every time they read the Bible. it is within it, buried treasure ready to be revealed as they look to Jesus to do so.
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18 comments:
This is a powerful truth, I know because I used to think some messages I heard were the key, and when I "worked" the message, it didn't work! Jesus is the key and without him in any message, it is void and we are looking to other "Gods". He is the key, the door, the way, the truth, the life, the light, and he reveals everything we need and gives us more than we can possible imagine!
For several years I taught a Bible Based Living Class and one of the things I used to encourage women who came was to always keep your heart and mind open to the Word of God. Don't close off when you hear familiar words and scriptures as many do. Sadly people tend to think, "O I heard this already" and then they tune out when in fact as humans we need to hear things more than once AND we need to be excited about digging deeper into what the LORD is saying to US when we hear His word.
I pray to always approach the Word with excitement -- to hear messages and teachings with an open heart all the time. It's ABOUT JESUS and that alone is exciting to me!!
I agree with your post and it's a very important one. Bless you dear friend.
"Jesus is the super pill..." - Amen!!!
Sometimes,the hearts are not fully opened to receive the Word. That they miss the true meaning of what is being preached. As Christians, we are in a continuing education program. We need to allow Him to continue to mold us so our hearts can be renewed, day by day, service after service.
May this post be a reminder for all of us who need to really be paying attention with the Word, not just with our ears, but with our hearts. God bless. Love and blessings to you.
I know an awful lot of sincere believers who have no desire to "feed" themselves. They spend precious little time in God's word, and even less in prayer. They show up at church with fork in hand waiting for a feast. No matter how good the teaching, it often falls far below their expectations - - mostly because they didn't know what they wanted when they arrived anyway. They just know this (that's day's teaching) wasn't it.
I could stand on my soapbox long about this one ... I'm glad you've raised the subject and hope and pray people will search their hearts because of it.
Be blessed!
Kathleen
Many also enter with closed hearts and eyes. They do not want to put the pieces together. When they do....they must act on it. It is far easier to place it in their pocket.
Amen, to Sassy Granny's post!!
Blessings and prayers, andrea
I grew up one denomination and heard great bible stories preached...very seldom did we hear the true message of Jesus. When Paul and I married and I joined the Baptist (his home)church, I was surprised by how Jesus and salvation were at the heart of every sermon. I thought it strange at first, but quickly realized how important it really is. Now I feel uncomfortable sitting through a sermon that isn't Jesus centered! Praise God for a Christ centered church!
Jen
I agree, but also I love how the word can minister to different people in different ways even though they are all hearing the same word being taught or spoken.
That comes with hearing and knowing Him intimately & Him speaking to your heart exactly what you are in need of at that moment.
Thank you for sharing this.
Gets me thinking about how I listen during the sunday sermon. How much more could I be taking away from that each week?
Sorry about that, I posted too soon.
I was just thinking the other day that a lot of people I talk to tell me "I know" They agree, smile and nod to the words I am sharing.
Yet, for many of them their lives do not reflect the truth and freedom those words contain.
I think the main problem is that many have "heard" the words a thousand times, but have lacked the revelation of Jesus in those words.
If I am hearing the Gospel, the Good News that sets me free, it does not matter how often I hear it. I want to hear it again, again, and again.
Because each time, with every word, I am unleashed into more freedom!
Thanks for sharing Christy this is a great thing to think about.
Ya know, I've been in church my WHOLE life and yet, I always still GET SOMETHING every time. There's always something new that I missed last time, or some new thought that I never heard.
This is so true!! The most important thing is that the message of Jesus is being preached! And I love what you wrote about it not being a "super pill" but a journey. God can heal us in an instant or he can heal us over our lifetime--either way He is to be praised!
Sometimes, I think people go to church expecting to be "entertained." They expect something maybe a little flashy, something entertaining, something to "catch the eye."
And, they may be empty during the week and expecting church to be their sole source of food. We shouldn't go empty, we need to go full.
Also, we mustn't go with a critical eye or a critical heart. But prayerfully, asking the Lord to apply His truths to our hearts, and to show us what He would have us to learn.
We are changed as He renews our minds a little at a time, one revelation after another, precept upon precept until the day we see Him face to face.
amen sis...amen amen amen
Yes, I heard this message so similar to your's last night with Creflo Dollar...
love the post. church is not an entertainment show, it's not about balloons and confetti. it's about jesus. and i think that's where people are looking for something 'else'. but what else do we need but jesus!
btw. thanks so much for your words the other day on my blog post. they were truly an encouragement.
Hi Christy! I'm popping in from SITS to visit and say hello. You posted on roll call right above me - I was up early and out of the house to Walmart before 7 a.m. so I got to SITS late and I'm so glad I did. I always visit who hits roll call right before me and today it was you. I'm gonna jump on as a Follower for sure!!
What a wonderful message - and so true. I think the biggest issue with people, and before I figured this out, I was one of those people - is knowing the difference between religion and this all powerful but distance God and relationship and knowing that everything, every, single, thing in your life is God-Centered. I pray without ceasing. I talk to God all day. About everything. Some would say even stupid things! But to me it's all relevant. I confess my shortcomings as soon as I recognize them. I apologize to God constantly too LOL... I seem to have a few shortcomings LOL. To me God is not distance, but he is with me constantly.
The other day my husband stopped at the store for dog food and a few other things. He is notorious for not putting the cart up, but just leaving it in the parking lot. Now I admit - if it's pouring rain and I'm not right next to the return thing, I'm not gonna return it. But 99.9% of the time I do put it where it belongs. My husband? Never. Unless I'm with him and I ask him to, and then he does it reluctantly. Well, this day, he came home and I said "Where's the dog food?" He forgot it. On the bottom rack of the cart. I asked "did you put the cart up?" "No," he says. I said, "you realize that if you had put the cart up you probably would have noticed the dog food, right?" "yeah," he says. I say "well, you know honey, God works through us in things sometimes. Maybe He's trying to remind you to do the right thing."
I'm having a cookbook giveaway - stop by my blog if you have time!
Oh and you have a beautiful family - I can't believe you have 5 children! You look barely old enough to be married - you know... that's the light of Jesus shining out of you, don't you?
My walk with Jesus is a through and through kind of walk. One block upon another until understanding surfaces as to a particular issue. I spent a lot of years packing away the truth of Jesus in my pocket, only pulling it out for an occasional glance. It wasn't until I had a head on collision with the power of God's Word via a Bible study that his Word took hold of my heart in a fresh way.
Jesus is the pill of contentment. The more we know him, the more satisfied we are in our Spirit.
Good thoughts, here. Blessings to you in your weekend.
peace~elaine
Oh, Christy Rose, your comment touched my heart!! Even in this...we thank Him. I love what you wrote.
Great Word Chisty, I loved reading it. I wrote today about seeing "face to face"...
As I read I think of the word that says If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.... I think in this day and age we have so much knowledge that we often miss the message of love.
Great word!
Julie
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