Have you ever tried to use an appliance and it didn’t work? You tried everything and just when your frustration had hit its peak you realize that the appliance was not plugged in, it was near the outlet turned on, but near isn’t good enough. It needed to be plugged in. The opposite is true. It’s plugged in but the switch was not turned on.
We all feel like that sometimes in our walk with Jesus. We’re doing our best but nothing seems to be working. We know the problem isn’t Jesus, the power source, so upon closer inspection we discover that we have been neglecting quiet times with Him. We have not been spending time in the Word. Watching church on an electrical device in our pajamas has left most believers emotionally and spiritually unmotivated. We have a connection, but we’re not connected. It requires discipline to maintain the level of spiritual fortitude and growth away from the body of Christ. This is why I encourage a personal relationship with Jesus. What you do in your walk with Him privately, is going to manifest itself publicly during these trying times. Our time in the Word and prayer is our only stability in these uncertain times.
Jesus enjoyed fellowship with His Father away from His disciples and the crowds. But, He never supported or practiced ongoing isolation. He loved being around the people. He loved embracing and touching them, and them touching Him. If isolation was what He had intended, Adam would’ve remained alone. The abnormality of what’s taking place in our society today, has increased the mental health challenges of countless millions. There may be those who are content with the churches closed, and watching preachers minister to an empty building, but I am not.
If we can still go every place else, why not our places of worship? Why are we now the spreaders of a disease that did not originate with us, and threat to society if we come together? Why are we shuttered? The answer is found in our complacency, our laid back attitude towards this discrimination, and our lukewarmness to the things of God. Our “take it or leave it” attitude towards the church in general. We’re turned on but not plugged in.
We are powerless even though we have power. We have all the mechanisms to make us useful, but lack connectivity to our main Power Source. The enemy is laughing, mocking and jeering while we throw our hands up in surrender. The Church of Jesus Christ is supposed to be the most influential organization in the earth. At least that’s the way it’s portrayed in the scriptures. What has happened to us? The time is coming when they will tell us what to preach, and when to open and close the doors of the church. Yes, I get ‘the church is not the building’ argument, Jesus preached in the building and outside of the building. But He encouraged gathering together- not isolation.
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:25 NLT
When the fear of Covid is gone, and the church remembers who her Rock is then maybe the Lord will have mercy on us as He did towards Israel and we will find our connection again. This was what the Lord said to Israel.
“But Israel (America) is a senseless nation; the people are foolish, without understanding. Oh, that they were wise and could understand this! Oh, that they might know their fate! How could one person chase a thousand of them, and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up? But the rock of our enemies is not like our Rock, as even they recognize.”
Deuteronomy 32:28-31 NLT
How could one virus chase the entire world? How could we as the body of Christ become non- essential? Where did we lose our connection to our God? Our prophetic voices have become a gong. God has not manifested His presence among us. Oh that the world could recognize that our Rock is distinguishable from their defenses. Oh that we knew and practiced what we preach. Then the world would see a church plugged in and on fire for God.
I pray that God has not given us up, But in His great mercy will visit us again. America, the land that covered the earth with missionaries spreading the gospel far and wide, America with its Azusa and Brownsville revivals. America the land where people centuries ago yearned to come and worship God freely. America, the Bible Belt, freedom of religion. A nation where people flooded arenas to hear the gospel. What has happened to our spiritual connection? Churches are dry and powerless. Roaring like a lion but toothless. The fire and light have gone out in our houses of worship. Jesus had this to say to the plugged in but not turned on church:
“Not everyone who calls out to Me , ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me,’Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your Name and performed many miracles in Your Name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’”
Matthew 7:21-23 NLT
We’ve taken so much for granted. We’ve lived as though we’re not accountable to Him. As children of God, our lives are no longer our own. We were purchased at a high price. Our connectivity to Jesus is our power source. Our effectiveness as witnesses comes from our relationship with Him. If we lose that connection we’ve lost everything. May we return to our first love before today catches us ill prepared like the five foolish virgins. Power is still available, we just need to turn Him back on.
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’
John 7:37-38 NLT
Father in the Name of Jesus,
We need a refreshing, we need a revival, we need a visitation from You! The fire of the Holy Ghost is no longer evident in our gatherings. What we now know as worship is hollow singing. We’re doing church things, but You’re not present with us. Where have we lost our connection? Please show us! Please help us get back to a time when the world would be drawn to Your light in us. Forgive us for misrepresenting You by the way we have compromised Your Word. Unite our hearts once again and make us one body of Christ. In Jesus Name. Amen
“And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.”
Ezekiel 22:30 AMPC
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
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