Hello, and welcome to Faith is Hope,
I’m Dave.
The Church. If I asked you to tell me about your church, what would you say?
Would you tell me about the size of the building? Or maybe, what it looks like inside. Or would you tell me about the people? Now this might be a stretch for some people but think about this for a minute. In Ephesians chapter 5 starting at verse 25, Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing with water through the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. We are members of his body. We are the church. Not some building, the people. Do you think that Christ is returning for some building? Or is he coming again for you and me?
I heard some people talking the other day. They were asking each other how we got to where we are. All these shootings, the crime, the perversions, and the confusion. Why are so many people committing suicide, and giving up on themselves? What happened to Hope? Well, some of you may not like the answer, but here it is. Our pastors, ministers, and priests, are afraid to speak the truth. They’re afraid of hurting someone’s feelings. They’re afraid of offending someone or being attacked. Because they know that if they offend someone they might leave, and that means a loss. A loss in members, a loss of revenue. And they ask, what will happen to our multi-million dollar buildings with the million dollar sound and video systems? How will we afford our big fancy houses, cars, planes, clothes, and fine food? Jesus spoke to five thousand people on the side of a mountain, wearing a robe, and fed them after.
You see. I don’t care. I’m going to tell people the truth, and if I’m attacked for telling the truth about how abortion is murder. That God only created two genders, male and female, and it’s decided at the moment of conception, and there’s no changing it. That there is only one race, the human race, that’s it. See, I don’t care if the truth offends someone because if the truth offends them, they have a much bigger problem than me. I don’t care if people say things about me or accuse me of being something I’m not. I know the truth, God. And the truth knows me.
Do you think that Jesus was afraid when people attacked him? Did he run from the wolves, abandoning his flock? When the lion prowls in the darkness, looking for someone to devour, did Jesus run and hide, leaving us to fend for ourselves? He knew what was coming. He knew that he would be arrested, beaten, humiliated, and crucified. He knew the pain that was coming, the blood that he was going to shed for us. Jesus knew what he was facing but he kept on preaching the truth. Not for his own glory, but for the glory of God the Father. And to take the sins of the world, that we might be forgiven and receive the gift of salvation. Everything that Jesus did, he did for us. Not for himself. So, do you think that anything any of us might go through, Jesus, the disciples, and others haven’t already gone through? So, religious leaders, what are you afraid of? All of you who call yourself Christians, what are you afraid of?
Our church leaders have become sheep. They run in fear trying to save themselves abandoning Christ’s flock to face the teeth of the beast. They were called by God to speak to us his truth, and if they’re not speaking the truth, then they’re not of God. And I can tell you with all certainty, that any pastor, minister, or priest that gives in to the telling of lies, half-truths, or anything else that goes against the word of God, and the teachings and examples of Jesus Christ, would be better for that person to have never been born. Because there’s no such thing as a little bit of hell, and there’s no such thing as a little bit of sin.
We ask God to give us each day our daily bread. Jesus broke the bread and said this is my body. Jesus told the disciples, he said I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is the truth, and it’s the truth that we are asking God to give us each day. And if our leaders aren’t giving us our daily bread; God’s truth, then they’re feeding us from the table of satan.
If you’re afraid, to tell the truth, what are you going to do when you’re standing before God, and Jesus is afraid to admit he knows you? If you’re afraid to stand with God, and Jesus Christ, what are you going to do when you’re standing without them in hell? You can stand with God, or fall with satan, but there’s no place to stand in between.
I am telling you the truth, if you don’t come to Jesus Christ, now. If you don’t ask him into your life today, you may not have the chance to, tomorrow, because none of us know the hour of our death. And none of us but God the Father knows the time of Christ’s return. As the bride of Christ, we are to make ourselves ready for the groom’s return. Ask yourself, are you ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ?
Don’t give in to fear, intimidation, threats, or whatever. You’re safe as long as you don’t choose to disobey or turn from what God has told us we must do. Yes, we are standing on the edge of the cliff, and that time of great tribulation is coming. And we will face the persecution, the attacks, and the pain and suffering that’s coming. But, the choice is ours. We can stand with God and be judged by the world, or stand with the world, and be judged by God. And if you choose the world, then you will pass away with this world. And spend eternity, absent from God. You will know nothing but pain, and sorrow. But that’s not what God wants for any of us. That’s why he gave us his son Jesus Christ. So that we can choose forgiveness. We can choose salvation. We can choose God’s pure love and joy forever in his presence. God is giving you a choice, life or death, damnation or salvation. I beg you, please choose life.
Hey, I’m Dave – Join me next time when I talk about “What’s Important To You?” – and until then, I’ll see you at the Rest Area.
