Look into almost any Church and you will find groups of half-saved, half-sanctified, carnal people, many of whom are engaged in religious “busyness” in which they never move any closer to Christ Jesus; they are following the modern religious emphasis on “activity”, hoping to be part of something exciting. On the other hand, you will also find many whose ears are dulled and eyes are dimmed.
The spirit of the world is powerful and he can play at religion with every appearance of sincerity; and does so!
The difficulty faced by modern Christians is not to understand the Bible – there are more Bible aids today than ever before – but to persuade our untamed hearts to submit to its plain instruction and to get our world-loving minds to make Jesus Lord in fact, as well as in word. The kind of Christianity that relies upon the influence of its own human and earthly power is an abomination to God, for the true “Church” is a heavenly institution; the Bride of Christ will have Christ, and Christ alone, as her Head and will be empowered by the Holy Spirit; there will be more to offer than social clubs and religious observances.
If we are organically connected to that Body, there are things for us to do; we must firstly keep true to the Word of God as He has revealed it to us; this is the rhema, the proceeding word by which we are meant to live (Mathew 4:4); only thus can we keep the field of God’s planting healthy. Secondly, we must gear our lives into things eternal and to live the life of heaven here upon earth. If we do these things we can justly call ourselves His sheep, because “My sheep hear My voice… and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Our life in this world is the place of preparation; it is here that we must learn to know that divine voice; it is here that we must embrace the death of the self. There is nowhere else that this can happen except in this life.
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