When is enough, enough?

Don't watch much television, and after last night I'll watch even less, if any at all.

There was an advert on t.v last night that just shows how much the enemy is laughing at what we call Christianity here in the west.

It was with two children, they came downstairs into the kitchen and said 'Morning Mum'

'Mum' was a man, dressed in an outfit like a chef.

Then 'Dad' came in and said goodbye, just before going out to work.

'Mum' said, 'Haven't you forgotten something?'

Then they kissed.

I was thinking maybe it was a comedy, but that was not how it came across. Neither was it funny.

My son looked at me, and I at him.

No doubt you know, that Colorado has banned the Bible, as such, because of verses that speak against homosexuality.

What, with Lakeland, purpose driven, entertainment orientated churches etc, when will enough be enough for the Church in the west?

Or is it, anything goes?

When is there going to be a solemn assembly?

If what is taking place is grieving us, don't you suppose God, a holy God, is even more grieved at what He sees taking place?

And yet, the apathy is astonishing. No one cares.

We want revival, and a spiritual awakening at too cheap a price.

Since we refuse to pay the price, the results are seen displayed in the world.

Oh, I know, we can use the excuse that this is the last days, but what's that suppose to mean?

We can pay the price of revival, or pay the price of not having revival.

Which is it?

We want revival, and a spiritual awakening at too cheap a price.

What is the meaning that you put behind these words, revival and spiritual awakening?

We can pay the price of revival, or pay the price of not having revival.

What the Lord promised that the church will have in the last days? And what we inherited from Him?

Hi Enid,
I read your post last night and didn't have time to respond, but I've been thinking of it since then and felt compelled to consider these things.

when will enough be enough for the Church in the west?

Many years ago I was asking the Lord about these things (back then it was name it and claim it as well as a host of other strange things..) and I was also reading Isaiah, and I wondered at these verses:

[i]And He said, 'Go, and tell this people,
"Hear ye indeed, but understand not" and "see ye indeed, but preceive not."
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see ....'[/i] You probably know the rest...

But then Isaiah asks: "How long?"

The answer stunned me: [i]Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate.....[/i]

Now, I know the theologians would be not be happy with my "spiritualizing" out of "time" thought... but, I wondered.. If the cities were wasted, spiritually corrupted beyond what seemed repair, if the houses were valueless due to some unforseen catastrophe or something that seemed so inappropriate, if the land were desolate (like a picture in a vast desert wilderness with no aid in sight) of spiritual water and bread (not that God is not able to feed in the midst of the deserted place, [b]He is[/b]). How far removed are we now than they were then?

Of course now we have what Israel did not have at that time; but we still have such strong warnings in the New Testament not to be "haughty, but rather fear" not to "neglect" and to "give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away"

When is there going to be a solemn assembly?

[i]I will gather them that are sorrowful [b]for[/b] the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.[/i]Zph 3:18

If what is taking place is grieving us, don't you suppose God, a holy God, is even more grieved at what He sees taking place?

I often think of that... that God IS more grieved about these things than I.

I can only see "in part",yet I can see the desolation of young lives all around me.. I can see the neglect of the elderly and the widow; the inability to bring wholeness into the lives of the devasted; true freedom to those that are in bonds; hope to the hopeless.......(
At least by vast numbers of churches around the western world)

Since "sin is a reproach to any people" then there are those who should recognize that reproach more than they do presently.

And yet, the apathy is astonishing. No one cares.

For years I shed many, many tears thinking this, that there were none (at least almost none) that would "pay the price" of prayer and obedience.. but in my studies God spoke to my heart:

"I have reserved to Myself" (from Romans 11:2-5)

God has a people, I may not see them all, I may not hear them all, I certainly don't know where they all are; but nevertheless, He has a people.

Those who have not bowed to the gods of this age, or if they have they are cleansed and purified by the blood of the Lamb.

Those who weep at the reproach of the "western church world", and lay on their faces for the "shame of face" for our countries.

Those who press ahead to lay hold of what God has layed a hold of them for; who move forward in obedience and humility.

Those who value God and His kingdom more than anything else in this life.

Oh, I know, we can use the excuse that this is the last days, but what's that suppose to mean?

Paul told Timothy:[b]Know this[/b][i]that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
without natural affection, truce breakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good,
traitors, heady, highminded,
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..."[/i]

(I hope you don't mind I wrote the whole thing out, it was remarkable to me.)

Though I know where sin abounds grace does much more abound, and in the absolute darkest of night even a small candle shines forth with light that seems the brightest.

No, it shall not get "better", but I believe those that belong to God, who are true to Him will shine forth, and men will see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. (Not our own glory, not the glory for a denomination or a stadium, or a book... but glory due to God alone!)

I apologize for such a long post, and thank you for your patience with me.

Sincerely with Love in Christ,
Sis Lori

"I have reserved to Myself" (from Romans 11:2-5)

this very thought will humble us and save us from both arrogance and pity.

[i]"I have reserved for Myself"[/i]. He is the one who has done it. We have not reserved a remnant, He has done it. We have not opened our eyes, He has opened our eyes. what majesty, what sovereignty!!!

this thought also saves us from thinking that we are the only ones.. but Lord, I am the only one (1 kings 18)... NO!! He has reserved others. let us not pity ourselves or lift us up, but let us humble ourselves and continue to call out to Him.

the Lord resist the proud, but He gives grace to the humble... He is close to the broken hearted..

phil

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to thank you all for your messages. I have been saddened by this myself. I am happy to find others with the same thoughts.

I have been having issues with "the church" lately. I don't even know if I should continue going, because I feel that it's all a mockery and it angers and frustrates me so much. I'm so sick of listening to watered down pastors. Where can I find a pastor who is alive and on fire? In my area, I find none. I wish I had someone to go to. I feel like I can't even find another Christian in the area who has a love life for Christ and not for this world.

In Jesus,
Candy

Isn't it strange how people who are genuinely seeking after God's glory seem to be scattered all over the globe?

I'm here in my remote part of the world, some here, some there, and languishing in churches that don't give two bits for the Gospel.

I trust God to do what He has to do.

I know He will. Soon.

Lor-e and Phil, you both hit the nail on the head, so to speak.

Lor-e, your post was so sweet, comprehensive and in the mind of God. Thank you.

That languishing might be provoking those that have been reserved. Let's assume we were all in churches that taught the full counsel of the Word with power and anointing; would we grow complacent, would we fall asleep and not appreciate the fullness. Quite possibly not, but also quite possibly so.

So, I think this languishing has been and will be continually provoking us to holiness and seeking Him.

Remember in Ezekiel 9? Verse 4 - "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." (NASB)

Now I don't want to be accused of taking scripture out of context and yes this is talking about Jerusalem and those in that city. But should it not mirror and has it not testified to those before us that cried out against all the iniquity of the land. Let us take heart, the Lord will hear our cry, but let us anguish, languish and groan now, for we will be comforted later!

Yet He has provided a way, by this website, for us to see that there are others. A way to encourage each other and teach each other that which He would have us to know. It wasn't too many years back that this would not have been possible. I praise Him that He has given me you, my brothers and my sisters. What a joy it will be to come together in glory!

Candy, your post has blessed me greatly. More then I am able to explain.

Thank you sister.

No one cares.

There is a need to exercise caution with such generalities. Perhaps thoughts like that reflect where one’s eyes have been focusing more than what is reality.

Just this past week I was at a conference in which I sensed very little signs of true Life. Then I noticed at the far end of the board table a quiet inconspicuous lady. She seemed to radiate. I wondered if she was saved. So, I asked the Lord to arrange for me to meet her privately and get to know her. Sure enough, yesterday, as I was waiting in the lobby of the hotel, she came and sat right beside me. Praise God! She shared her testimony, how the Lord had saved her, how he is answering prayer, miracles, etc, and how he was working in her life at this time. We had a precious time together in the Lord – of mutual encouragement and edification.

Oh, sure, it would have been nice for such a magnificent testimony to have been shared publicly. But then – maybe God chooses to protect his most precious pearls from the “swine”. His treasures may very well be exposed only to those who are able to value them and protect them.

May we have the perspective of Daniel – who discerned the mighty work of God in his godless society - through revelation and faith:

"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king’s matter." Dan. 2:21-23

What a joy it will be to come together in glory!

Diane

Dear Phil, isn't it wonderful when God stops us in our tracks and points us to the completed work that He does Himself? I am SOOOO thankful for that!!!

Dearest Candy, I understand your frustration, I think that there are those all around the world that struggle with it. Yet, there are so many things we can learn in the desert; as a matter of fact things we HAVE to learn now while we have the opportunity to.

I know that we are meant to have fellowship and AMEN to the brother that held onto the hope of that verse! (Brother, it works!) Yet, do we realize that there are those around this world who [b]must[/b] learn how to stand all alone?!

Here we are, we have ample supply of wonderful messages compiled just here on this site (I wonder how many library tapes around there are?) that stretches from several generations- men of God like AW Tozer, and Art Katz, and Kieth Daniel (too many more to mention them all!) There are so many sermons that if I listened to one or two a day I don't think I could hear them all in my lifetime.
There are books in publication that have blessed and changed people's lives for 100's of years! And we have access to them!

We have the freedom in this country (at this point)to gather together in a church, a home, a park, a street, a school, a flea market...and have the opportunity to worship and meet without threatening or violence.

We can teach our children the gospel, we can even teach them schooling at home! We can have a backyard childrens group and teach the neighborhoods children about the great hero's of faith and the gift of the Son of God!!!

We can go to any senior citizen's center and visit lonely, dying, sick folks who [b]love[/b] to see a smiling face and talk to them or even just read to them or help them write a letter or whatever!

I can speak to the unsaved young girl who is struggling with sin and bondage in her life and tell her I know One who loves her more than anything else in this life, and that I could pray for her, even right now that God would intervene and open her eyes to who He is.

You know most unsaved (not all, but most) are so appreciative of you praying for them! Sure they have a lot to hear, a lot to repent of, a lot to pray through themselves- but we're here as [b]salt, light, the representatives of Christ on this earth![/b] We don't harass them into the kingdom of heaven, we reveal the gospel which is this "that God loved sinful, fallen humanity so much that He sent His only Son to die that they could have the opportunity to live forever with Him in eternity!"

There are so many countries around the world that do not have that! We have been given much in these western world areas; but to whom much is given, much will be required...

YES, we NEED fellowship, but when we pray and turn it over to God, just as Diane mentioned, we can find it in the most unusual places, in the most unsuspecting people, at the most God ordained moments.

Because, "where two or more of you gather together in My name, there I am in the midst of you."

(For years I went to a church that was anything but uplifting- oh, there were moments...- but I did not go there to [b]be[/b] blessed; rather I brought what God had blessed me with, with me. And God worked, even in that simple way.)

I'm SOOO thankful that I have a husband that I can fellowship with, God has revealed so much of Himself to me in that beautiful fellowhip!!!

But remember this, dear sister:

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

For even Christ pleased not Himself.........

For whatsoever things were written before, were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Now the God of patience and consolation....."
Romans 15:1-7 (Read the rest, it's absolutely powerful!!!!!)

Sister, God has richly blessed us!! And no hypocrite, no pharisee, no sinner, no carnally minded believer, no backslider can EVER take that away from us. FIX your eyes on Christ, when you walk into your church PRAY that God would open up doors that you can't see!
And BE a blessing,
And pray with all your heart, ALWAYS, in ALL situations,
give praise to God wherever you are because He is [b]worthy of all praise, all honor and all glory[/b]!
Be open to the moving of God, He may bring another person across your path that you would never have recognized on your own!
Cling to HIM, run to HIM, honor HIM,
and YOU will be amazed at what God will do!!!

"Now unto HIM,
who is able to do
exceedingly, abundantly,
above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh IN US!"
Eph 3:20

Please forgive my long post!
Love and prayers in Christ to you all,
Sis Lori