May 24, 2021 |
The changing face of Christianity Traditional or Modern Approach?.
Part 3.
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”
Acts 2:42-43 (KJV)
Prayer meetings?.
They are one of the most poorly attended church programs in most churches.
Now members dial into prayer lines which connects more people together than those who are actually physically present in the church to pray.
The challenge?
Many are “multitasking” while praying online.
Rarely do you have focussed and intentional prayer sessions.
How do You pray now?
Again, some Christians do testify to answered prayers through the telephone and Online ministries.
Evangelism?
Brethren used to gather and strategically map out door to door and street by street evangelism.
Morden-day evangelism is now at the discretion of the believer.
Is the church growing?
Do You still share your Faith when alone?
Is there Personal Evangelism anymore?
Or the two by two as the Master once sent them out?
Holy communion?.
The sacred sacrament traditionally before has to be given by the priests in the sanctuary.
So we were earlier taught.
Now with the knowledge of God that you are a priest and a king:
Christians now take the sacred communion at home and no longer in the church sanctuary, mainly in house fellowships.
In the past Season Greetings, to celebrate Easter, Christmas, and the new year, printed card selection and giving were part of the celebrations.
Today, E-Cards are being sent by a growing number of people, gradually doing away with the printed cards.
Much more, the Bible itself has been transformed into an electronic format.
Gone are the days when a big Bible characterizes your level of Faith.
Now your phone or any handheld device has all the translations and different versions of the Bible.
Whichever way You choose.
Your character and life should portray the Glory of God.
Anything short of Him being seen in your life is a challenge.
“The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 8:14(TPT)
What are You being led to do?
So, what do you believe?
The traditional or the modern approach to Christianity?
May 21, 2021 |
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10) KJV
Today, you don’t have to wait for hours to get the front seat in a large crusade or convention center.
Either for your denomination or favorite preacher.
You can sit by your computer or your TV and watch the telecast life as those who are actually seated in the auditorium.
I have also heard people getting healed by their TV sets, handheld devices, or computers.
Once you believe:
You can connect with God and the preacher via telecast or the internet, depending on your belief.
Long ago, you would feel more blessed to actually walk into the sanctuary.
Kneeling down and dropping your tithes yourself in the tithe box connected you to God in that moment of giving.
Today you don’t have to do that.
In actual fact, some churches and ministries prefer you to send your tithes and offerings electronically to God via the internet or telephone.
Your money is received whether you are physically present or not.
Your payment card is the connection between you and heaven.
Right away, your money gets to the church account faster than the person kneeling down at the sanctuary to drop his or her tithes and offerings.
It has to do with your belief.
We now electronically connect with God.
Is God really everywhere and anywhere?
What now really takes You to the Physical sanctuary?
Where really is God’s house?
The Physical Building?
Your physical body that houses the Trinity?
Remember the Holy Spirit is in you?
Everywhere and anywhere?
The Fellowship of Believers.
It is Spiritual and Physical.
The Covid19 Pandemic has challenged a lot of things.
Where is your connection with God?
Again how are You connecting with God?
May 19, 2021 |
The Changing Face of Christianity Traditional or Modern Approach? Part 1.
“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14b (KJV)
What do you really believe?
How do you connect with God?
The traditional way or the modern approach to Christianity?
During my years at high school, I once saw a church bulletin.
After the elders’ name who coordinated the program,
they printed the title JP.
Initially, I thought it meant Justice of Peace.
The fellow told me it was Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).
He then explained that one of the lofty goals a good Christian should attain is visiting Jerusalem and seeing the holy land yourself.
For years I thought you cannot understand the holy land.
You have to be there to feel the full impact.
I was surprised some years ago when I went to Amsterdam, and not too far from the city was a model city of Jerusalem.
Much more recently, I have seen the television adverts of a replica Jerusalem in Orlando, Florida, where all you can see in the actual Jerusalem pilgrimage has been recreated in Florida.
So, you don’t really need to go to the actual holy land in Jerusalem.
Years ago, a typical church service would include Hymns, Scripture reading, and a balanced sermon of about one-hour duration.
It could last three to four hours.
Today church service is compressed into an average of one-two hours, especially when there is more than one shift.
Sermon and brevity are now synonymous.
Soul lifting Hymns are being replaced by appealing and body-moving choruses.
The Bible reading is now the short text of where the preacher is preaching from.
You are fortunate if the preacher refers to that text; otherwise, that’s the only Bible reading for the service.
Yet, a generation loves this ‘takeaway’ service.
(To be continued.)
*Published in the Daily Empowerment Devotional
May 17, 2021 |
For I absolutely know who I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m going.
“Jesus responded, “Just because I am the one making these claims doesn’t mean they’re invalid. For I absolutely know who I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m going. But you Pharisees have no idea about what I’m saying. For you’ve set yourselves up as judges of others based on outward appearances, but I certainly never judge others in that way. For I discern the truth. And I am not alone in my judgments, for my Father and I have the same understanding in all things, and he has sent me to you.” John 8:14-16 (TPT)
Do you know who you are?
Do you know where you have come from?
Do you know where you are going?
Our Lord and Savior absolutely knew all these.
Do you?
Daily,
Weekly.
Monthly.
Year in Year out.
What direction are you headed in life?
Don’t just be pushing through.
Which direction are you headed?
Don’t just be full of activities.
What have you been doing?
What are you doing now?
What are you planning to do?
All must add up clearly as our Lord has said about Himself.
Don’t just rush through life.
What is the purposeful assignment in life God has given you?
Evaluate where you are Spiritually, Physically, and Emotionally.
All the areas of your life should be in sync with your purpose.
It is never too late to take time and seek God’s face.
Don’t set out sailing without your clear destination.
Reflect on this in all the aspects of your life.
Jesus said:
“I know where I came from and where I’m going.”
Do You?
May 12, 2021 |
There’s no room in my home for hypocrites.
“My innermost circle will only be those who I know are pure and godly.
They will be the only ones I allow to minister to me. There’s no room in my home for hypocrites, for I can’t stand chronic liars who flatter and deceive.” Psalm 101:6-7 (TPT)
How is your home today?
Do you really have a place you can truly call home?
Having a house or owning a physical building is not the same as having a home.
God’s original design through Adam and Eve is to have dominion and multiply through the home.
David, having seen it all in this his poetic psalm, declared:
There’s no room in my home for hypocrites.
Who are those in your innermost circle?
Again, Psalmist says it should be those pure and Godly.
Those you surround yourself with have a more significant influence on your home.
A Greater and Better Adam we have in Christ Jesus.
Is He in your home?
Don’t allow chronic liars who flatter and deceive in your home.
Your children, whether biological or adopted, mirror and reflect what they see in your home.
“My eyes will be watching the faithful people in the land so that they may live with me.
The person who lives with integrity will serve me.
The one who does deceitful things will not stay in my home.
The one who tells lies will not remain in my presence.”
Today take time to reflect on who is actually influencing you in your home.
