With a broken heart, I write. After seeing what the monster of the modern movement has done to our churches, (CCM) youth groups- and its promotion of comprimise and foolishness in the house of God; unsanctified members leading worship to a holy God; immodesty, immorality and concert style services, I have been greived by how certain 'shepards' are leading this generation into defeat and oppression by their un-inspired methods and games. They are not learning their true postions in Christ through intimacy. Fathers of this generation, You must rise to your positions. The Love of God is Holy and intertwined with His royal decrees. We must not allow the guise of 'legalism' that the rebellious counsel of a fallen society has snuck into our pews. We must return to true separation and zeal for holy things. We must not be cowards in these last days-"stand up for Jesus...but also ask Him what he thinks of how we are running a church He said He would build.
THE TEARS OF THE BELOVED.
I BELIEVE THE CHURCH HAS BECOME TOO EXCLUSIVE. IT HAS NOT IN CERTAIN TERMS MAINTAINED A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE IN THE PILGRIM LAND. IT IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE STRING OF THE INSTRUMENT IS PLUCKED BUT THE CORDS OF SINNERS REMAINS UNTOUCHED. WE ARE TOO CONCERNED HOW IT SOUNDS: IF WE DID IT RIGHT BUT THE CRY OF LOST SOULS IS NUMBED AND MUFFLED: WE HAVE FOGOTTEN THE SONG OF THE MIRY WE WERE PULLED FROM AND INSTEAD OF A SONG DELIVERANCE AFTER GRACING THE RED SEA WE ARE COPYING EVERY TUNE AND CORD FROM EGYPT AND FORCING GOD'S FAILTHFUL rEMNANT WHO'VE KEPT THEMSELVES TO HEAR IT ON JERUSALEMS' AIR WAVES.
HAVE WE FORGOTTON TO SHED TEARS? OR ARE WE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT SHEDDING OUR GARMENTS OF PRAISE TO PICK UP THE DEFILED GARMENTS OF HEAVINESS? SOME STILL THINK THEIR LIVES ARE GLORIFYING WHEN hIS LIFE IS NOT ON THE SEAT OF AUTHORITY IN THEIR THRONE ROOM. THEY ASK HIM KINDLY TO REMAIN IN THE OUTER COURT BUT I ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD ENTHRONES A WRETCHED HEART? THE PRECIOUS THRONE OF GRACE FLOWS CRYSTAL WATERS BOTH HOME AND ABROAD TO THE NATIONS AND TO THAT MIGHTY UNIVERSE. FOR IF I WAS INFORMED OF A LOST SOUL ON NEPTUNE OR ONE OF THE OTHER PLANETS, I WOULD JET MYSELF WITH CUP OF WATER IN MY HAND TIGHTLY GRASPED SO THAT NOT A DROP WOULD FALL TO THE GROUND UNTIL IT QUENCHED THEIR THIRST AND ROUSED THEIR DYING SOUL.
THOSE PRECIOUS TEARS THAT OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR HAS BOTTLED FOR CENTURIES OF ALL THE INFIRMITIES AND SUFFERINGS OF HIS ELECT. BUT DO WE FORGET THE TIMELESS TEARS THAT WE HAVE YET TO SEE FALL DOWN GRATEFUL FACES AT THE MASTERS CHAIR OF ONE SAINT WHO HAS BEEN GLORIOUSLY CONVERTED? TEARS OF JOY AND REPENTANCE SEAL THAT BLESSED ASSURANCE OF GAINING A RISEN LORD AND LOSING THE SORROWS OF SIN, DEATH AND hELL. WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN LIKE A STEADY STREAM TO FILL EVERY POOL, AND SPRING AND SEA: THOSE THAT HAVE TRICKLED DOWN HISTORIES TIMELINE IN RESPONSE TO MANKINDS CONDITION. THESE BLESSED WORDS RING A FAMILIAR MELODY....(AND JESUS WEPT), WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WEPT OVER THE CHURCH'S UNBELIEF OF THE POWER OF CHRIST? HE CAN RAISE THE DEAD YOU KNOW!
HE CAN TOUCH THAT PRODICAL; THAT HOMELESS WANDERER; THAT DESPISED CRIMINAL....CAN NOT THE GOD OF GLORY MAKE THEM PREACHERS? AND EVANGELISTS? BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO CARE AND TEAR AND INTERCEED, THEY WILL NEVER SIT IN HEAVENLY PLACES AND SING PRAISES TO THE KING OF KINGS. OUR RELIGION HAS BECOME A DESPARATE CRY THAT HAS CAUSED THE HEATHEN TO RETRIEVE THEIR FINEST AND BEST TO LURE LOST SOULS, AND WE SIT AND SCRATCH OUR HEAD, BUT WE HAVE THE CURE. tHE TEARS OF CHRIST ARE MEANT FOR US TO BOTTLE AND INTAKE, BUT WE MUST GET TO THE GOLDEN THRONE OF SELFLESS AND HUMILITY TO GET THEM. OH, HOW I DESIRE THEM TO FLOW FROM MY EYES. TO HAVE A HEART FULL OF THE LIVING GOD THAT I COULD HAVE HIS BURDEN. AS THOSE OF OLD, I PRAY FOR A BAPTISM OF TEARS FOR THE LOST, FOR IT CAN'T COME ANY OTHER WAY- IF NOT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE A DRY LIFE OF SELFISHNESS THAT WEEPS FOR NO MAN. WE CAN HAVE SO MUCH
OF THIS LIFE BUT GOD HASN'T GIVEN IT TO US, NOR DO WE THANK HIM FOR IT ANYWAY. WE HAVE TOO MUCH OF THIS LIFE IN OUR HEART AND NOT ENOUGH OF GOD IN OUR LIFE TO CHANGE OUR HEART. OUR RICHES RUST AND OUR CLOTHES ROT BY THE MOTH. I REJOICE IN MY CONTENTMENT WITH POSSESSING A LITTLE OR NOTHING AS LONG AS MY PRIZE IS NOT OF THIS EARTH.
IT IS HEAVEN BOUND LONGINGS AND NAYINGS FOR ETERNAL GOODS THAT MY HEART RESTS UPON. BUT WHAT A MISERY AND DISDAIN FOR EARTHLY RICHES I HOLD BY AND BY: MAN BOASTS IN HIS INVENTIONS AND TREASURES, SOMETHING THE DEAR APOSTLE JAMES CONCLUDES SHOULD BE THE THING MEN MUST HOWL AND MOURN OVER. THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO SING AND DANCE ON THE ROOF TOPS WHILE THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS REMAINS IN UTTER SHAMBLES. THE WASTE PLACES REMAIN A HAVEN FOR THE FOWLS AND GRUNGE OF THE EARTH; SPOILERS AND THIEVES ALL OF THEM!
UNTIL THE CHURCH WEAPS OVER HER DESTITUTION, SHE WILL NEVER SHED A TEAR FOR THE LOST AND MAKE IT COUNT FOR SOMETHING. PLEASURES AND RICHES ARE THE EVAPORATION OF EVERY GOD GIVEN DUCT AND DRY, COLD STONES ARE THE HINDRANCE TO HOISTING A BUCKET OF WATER FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION. DON'T HAVE A BURDEN FOR SOULS? THEN YOU ARE CARRYING A GREIVIOUS LOAD IF YOU ARE NOT. AFTER THE CROSS, GOD DOES NOT CARRY BURDENS THAT ARE NOT HIS OWN.
HE IS TELLING US TO LAY THEM AT HIS FEET FOR HIS YOKE, FOR IT IS LIGHT AND IT IS LIFE AND IT SHEDS THE SAME TEARS THAT FLOW FROM THE MASTERS EYES. GOD SMOTE EGYPT ONCE AND IT GAVE WAY TO A WATERY ESCAPE. SOME MAY DISPUTE WHY IT IS CALLED THE RED SEA, WETHER IT IS RED OR NOT BUT IT IS NONETHLESS WATER AND IT IS WET AS WET WILL EVER BE.
I ALSO POSE ONE LAST THOUGHT:
"IF ONE IS SO CONCERNED AS TO WHY WE DON'T HAVE HORDES OS SOULS ENTERING OUR SANCTUARIES, DO NOT BLAME THE JUST ONE OR HIS JUSTIFIED ONES; IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CONVERTS LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND THANK GOD YOU ARE ONE. AFTERWARD, SHOULD YOU STILL HAVE A BURDEN FOR LOST SOULS, IT IS TIME TO STOP LOOKING IN THE MIRROR UNTIL YOU REFLECT A SOUL WINNER". [email][email protected][/email] |