Has the church today become a place of conforming instead of transforming? A church filled with people who are entertained but not evangelized? People who are convinced but not converted?
Unconverted people trying to do spiritual things just won't work. God does not bless the disobedient and those who have a form of godliness but deny the power and authority of God.
God's master plan is very simple. Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize. Those who are saved must become disciples and live the Christian life. There are no short cuts, no expectations to the plan of God.
Is it possible that satan has diverted our thinking and mission as the true church? From majors to minors, from product to bi-product, satan is a master divider resulting in disputes and division over such things as style of music, women's place in the church, etc. We seem to be more concerned about the structure than the spirit and the fruit of the spirit.
The growing churches are constantly filled with new converts and people being saved daily. The spirit is working and the church is alive. One person who has met Jesus as Savior and truly delivered from sin, can easily be the seed that produces a whole harvest of souls. Sometimes the one who recently has experienced the joy of the Lord has more zeal and power than some evangelists I have known. Praise the Lord for new converts.
When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt they had to go thru the wilderness. This was their testing time. But they failed the test. They wanted to go back to Egypt, back to their old life.
I believe today our churches are full of people who profess God but they have gone back to Egypt. The wilderness is too difficult. They live a faith that is just lip service. The bad news is these people hold positions of authority in many churches. They want no new converts. They do not want true gospel preached. They rely on their power and influence, not the power and authority of God.
We must recognize the facts for what they are. Our churches haven't just reached a plateau, they are dying! We must seek God and do it quickly. Programs do not produce converts. Entertainment does not bring about conviction. The truth must be faced and dealt with.
The solution is simple. But to do it will be very hard and will take much prayer. We, as a church, must first of all get back to basics. Preaching for conviction, Bible study for education, and prayer for direction.
These last days are going to be hard days, but the days of the real harvest. Jesus said, pray to the Lord of the Harvest for workers. We are bankrupt for excuses, worn out from meaningless programs, and discouraged because we tried it man's way and it doesn't work.
Now let's go back to God's way. Each one win one. Every convert is a disciple and every disciple is a soul winner. We must reestablish the foundation or we are all going to die here in the wilderness.
See ya in church,
Bud
Each day brings many opportunities. Some people call them problems. I choose to call them opportunities, because they will test your attitude and skills. We develop much faster when we are tested. And if we don't pass the daily tests, we must keep taking them.
Today is here. The question is: What am I going to do with this day? One more day of life? It could be your best day or worst day this week, but how will you handle it? Will you let it ruin your day just challenge your skills, character and attitude?
Here are some things to think about:
Today is here. I will start with a smile and resolve to be agreeable. I will not criticize. I refuse to waste my valuable time.
My time is equal to all others. Everyone draws the same salary in seconds, minutes and hours.
Today I will not waste time because the minutes I wasted yesterday are as lost as a forgotten thought.
Today I refuse to spend my time worrying about what might happen. My time will be spent making things happen
Today I am determined to improve myself so that tomorrow's opportunities will not find me lacking.
Today I begin by doing, and not wasting time. One week from now I will be more than the person I am today.
Today I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. Things are what they are. I will succeed with what I have.
Today I will not say, “If I could only find the time.” There is no hidden time. I must take what is available.
Today I will treat others as if this were my last day on earth. I won't wait for what I dreamed about for tomorrow, for tomorrow never comes.
Today is a very important day in all of ours lives. When you die, how would you like to be remembered? Remembered for your careers or your character? Remembered for your influence or lack of influence to do good?
I try to remember to enjoy this life. It's the only one I will get. Time will not wait for me nor you. Life is about character, not success. For success comes in many forms, not just in promotions or money. True success comes not from material things but the satisfaction that you did the best you could with life as it came your way.
Think about these things.
Bud Yoder
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Cor 5:17
What does that scripture really mean? What does it mean to you? Does that really happen when a person becomes a Christian, or is there no real change? If there is change can the world recognize it? Do your friends see it? Do people you work with see a difference?
When a person becomes a Christian, God wants all of you. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, not just on Sunday morning. We must let go of the old so the new can come and take charge of our lives.
For the old to go, we must confess our sins. This is very important. Then we confess that Jesus Christ is going to be Lord of our lives. That means everything. Your world can become new. Your world has changed, because Jesus Christ is Lord. But, just confessing your sins does not go far enough, Jesus must be Lord of all or He is not Lord at all.
Not only do we confess our sins but we repent of them. Godly sorrow brings repentance according to the Apostle Paul. Repentance means turn around and go the other way. Repentance is the change of the will and the heart, that results in the change of behavior. Jesus said, “by their fruit you shall know them.” Your world becomes new when you truly repent and change your life style. It's proof the old life is gone and the new has come.
The Apostle Paul said we walk by faith and not by sight. Your faith begins when you believe God. You believe His Word. You believe His teachings. We believe God before we can believe in God. Believing God leads to believing in God, that leads to confession of sin and true repentance. God's Word now becomes the authority in your life. Because of God's authority you now have power over the sinful nature. The nature of your old life.
Yet, for the old to be truly good we still have one more step in the process of becoming a new creation. We now surrender to baptism. We confess, we have faith, we repent, but baptism is done to us. We are buried with Christ, for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because we believe God and now believe in God, we are baptized. The scripture teaches that if we have been united with Christ like this in His death, we will be united with Him in His resurrection. We are baptized into His death, so we can have a new life. This is the way we get rid of the old man and the only way. We don't believe into His death, we are baptized into his death. Now your world is really new.
Is this the end? No. We now become ambassadors for Christ. God is reconciling the world back to Himself through the church. We are His witnesses. We are His army. We are his servants. We have been saved to save others. We are called to be loyal and faithful to His church. Now we are on a mission to seek and save the lost. We are not our own, we were bought with a price. Praise the Lord.
Is this what being in Christ means to you? I pray it does, because that is what God expects if you are saved. Many people claim to be born again, but have not obeyed God's plan of salvation. So, I must conclude they don't believe God. If they did, you would think they would obey.
It's my prayer if you read this article, the old is gone for you and the new has truly come. You will live in a new world with Christ everyday.
See ya in church,
Bud