Weekly Encouragement

What Happened to the Church?
Saturday, November 4, 2017 by Tyler Robertson

Do you ever wonder where the Church in the book of Acts went?  Where are the healings, miracles, tongues and deliverances?  Why can't we see them in our own churches and lives?

I have struggled with this feeling of loss for many years.  This psalm is my heart cry to the Father. We know that the Church is Jesus' bride and that she is not in any condition for the wedding day.  We are too comfortable in our buildings and lives -either too complacent or afraid to step out into the relationship that God wants for us.

To make matters worse, there is a competition between churches for attendance, finances and souls.  "My church is better than your church because..." is the reigning mentality.  We seek to keep our congregations by giving them a watered down version of the Gospel.  1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (AMP): However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to [a]worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ!  I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not ready.  You are still [b]worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not [c]unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?”

We MUST rise up and grow up and not settle for being spoon-fed the Gospel but earnestly seek what God has given us and is ours for the taking.  It doesn't matter your current stage of Faith Walk, what matters is how hungry are you to keep moving forward?

 

What Happened to the Church?

What happened to the Church of old

When Christ just left this mortal realm

Where the Gospel spread along the Way

Over land and sea and hill and valley?

 

We have lost the fire, His burning Heart

For those that are so lost they can’t hear their Master’s voice.

So long we have sat in our safe pens behind these tall fences

Yet how quick we have forgotten the terrors beyond our borders.

 

Sundays come and Sundays go with every passing week.

More and more we fail to see the need to shine His Light.

“Oh, yes I love the Lost and will speak the Life they need.”

Yet what is hidden is that each must come to me.

 

Oh, Lord push me beyond the borders of my comfort.

For You sought me out when I was numbered lost.

You waded through the muck and mire of the sin that swallowed me,

You shed your blood and died for me to set this captive free.

 

Lord, speak to us your Bride to be and show us what to do.

Let us see your Word as the Map that leads to Truth.

No longer let it be “my Church” versus “their Church”,

Because you made us one in you.

 

What has happened to the Church now

Where the war for money, numbers and ‘souls’ take precedence?

Why can’t we support the Mission that each strive run?

When did we change from One to many?

 

The Lost aren’t from a foreign land that cant understand the language.

They are you and me from once upon a time.

Look for them under the bridge just past your yard,

Look for them in your neighbor sitting just next door.

 

Go out beyond our whitewashed walls and souls

We may think we fool ourselves but we cant fool the One.

He knows our hearts and knows our minds

That seek to please ourselves.

Pray for you and pray for me, oh sheep.

We need to leave this pen.  

He never sought for us to stay

But grow beyond ourselves.

 

Don’t worry if you don’t know what to say

Or where to seek them out.

Listen to the Spirit, he’s the one that’s sent to help

Walk with you and open to you those narrow roads.

 

Let the Power flow out of you to bring Him utter glory

Then darkness cannot stand His light so we never need to worry.

Get up and make a stand with your Family near and far.

Join the fight and fill the gap to stand with your brother.

 

Praise the God that builds us up and changes hearts

For He goes before us into those darkened places.

He gives us Light to save the souls that He yearns for.

Praise the God that saves us all.

 

The Church of old never died and didn’t fade away

We’ve lost the hunger, thirst and drive in our plush comfort.

We seek His mind to know it more

And walk in time with His hearts beat.

 

So, come you Church blow out your walls

Lets expand the borders to include your neighbor and every stranger

To welcome family home!

 

By: Tyler Robertson

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