Do I need a new computer or a new operating system

My computer is about 8 years old. It is freezing up because my memory is full and won’t run the latest Flash player.  I have added RAM and installed a newer operating system.  My battery won’t hold a charge anymore.  My power cord is covered in black electrical tape.  It’s just not cutting it.  It is a Mac PowerBook but it is behaving like a Mini powerless dime store novel.

When I look at the church in America(s), It appears to have similar problems.  It appears powerless, lacking of memory, in need of awakening, with a weak connection to its power source.

We are not lacking in the latest and best technology, the latest digital I.T., the biggest video screen, the best and loudest music, the softest pews, the best paid staff, the tallest steeple, the best A/C and heating systems, the best cappuccino and pastries that Starbucks has to offer.  We are “seeker” friendly, we are “purpose driven”, we are heterogeneous, we are diverse, we are family oriented, we have charisma.

 We have more programs than any other church.  We have more outreach ministries.  We have a women’s ministry, a men’s ministry, a single’s ministry, a young married’s ministry, a teen ministry, a ministry to parent’s of teens, a young adult ministry, a divorce ministry, a LGBT ministry, a golf ministry,  a 55+ ministry, an empty nester’s ministry, a senior’s ministry, a kid’s ministry, an infant ministry.

What more can we do?  Did anyone ever hear of a “going to hell”, LOST ministry, an invalid ministry, a hospital ministry, ministry to the those possessed and oppressed by the demons of alcohol, drugs, sex, bad choices, greed bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, fear and doubt, a ministry to the sick, a widow’s ministry, a widower’s ministry, a ministry for the unemployed, a ministry for the employed, a ministry to the homeless, a ministry to the bankrupt, a ministry to the near bankrupt, a ministry to those in credit card debt up to their eyeballs. 

Even there were these ministries, what would we have to offer?  We don’t believe in casting out demons. We don’t believe speaking in tongues.  We don’t believe in anointing with oil. We don’t believe in laying on of hands.  We don’t believe in divine protection.  (Mark 6:7-13, Mark 16: 15-18, Luke 10 1-20, Acts 3:6-8, Acts 5: 15-16, Acts 6 :8 Acts 8; 6-8,, Acts 19 :12, Acts 28: 3-6 and 8-9, James 5:14-16, Psalm 91.

BUT we believe the whole Bible!!!  Those things don’t happen any more!  

These men “turned the world upside down”. (Act 17:6).

The best we can do is make the dog turn over.

We ignore the part of the great commission in Mark 16 where it says:

these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The churches today preach a powerless gospel, a different gospel than the disciples preached, taught and practiced.  They preach a “form of godliness but deny the power thereof”. (2 Timothy 3; 5)

Paul instructed Timothy:

²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim. 4: 2-4)

I don’t suspect that I’ll get too many positive responses.  I am sick and tired of what I see going on in our churches.  People working their butts off trying to push the car uphill, never believing that they can turn the key and drive it uphill under God’s power. Jesus is the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. (Hebs 13:8)  His Father is still the same.  The Holy Spirit is the same.  His Power is still the same.  We have the same Holy Spirit.  God can and wants to use us in the same way, for HIS glory.

This is not manipulating God.  This is not some magic trick.  This is doing His work, the work that Jesus did.  We are operating in HIS Power, not our power.  We are taking God at HIS WORD!!  It’s His power.  It’s for His Glory

The only way that we can do what Jesus commanded:

²In most solemn truth I tell you that he who trusts in me—the things which I do he shall do also; and greater things than these he shall do, because I am going to the Father. ¹³And whatever any of you ask in my name, I will do, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If you make any request of me in my name, I will do it. ¹⁵“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. John 14 12-15)

is to believe.

None of these things will happen to those who don’t believe.

 STOP WORSHIPPING A GOD THAT YOU HAVE CREATED BASED ON HALF TRUTHS!!

GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL OPERATING SYSTEM,  the one in the Gospels and the book of Acts of the apostles!

If any are offended, I am NOT sorry!  Read the Word and disprove me!