Have you noticed the yellow sign in residential areas warning, "CHILDREN AT PLAY"? I sometimes believe it would be appropriate to place one of those signs at the parking lot entrances of some churches! Why are so many of our churches so stunted in maturity? Why are so many of us "childish" instead of "child-like"? Why has the Spirit given discernment vanished in some fellowships? Why all the carnality evidenced by dissention and disunity? While there are many causes, I believe a primary reason is DIET! We are missing the vitamins and protein found only in the meat of the Word. Just as certain as food selection and cooking techniques insure nutritious meals, I am convinced that expository preaching and teaching of the Word and the application of it would cure much of what ails the church! James 2:22 reminds us to live-out the Word, yet it is also essential to the personal growth of the individual as well as the fellowship for the Word of God to be "rightly divided"(2 Timothy 2:15) and given application ( Nehemiah 8:8) by the preaching and teaching of the Word. Paul warned Timothy of a coming out-break of Infection within the Body of Christ; It is the Infection of Defection prophesied to come in the Last Days before the return of Jesus for His church (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Folks, it has happening and the outbreak is reaching epidemic proportions in America as well as Europe. While there are steeples that fill the sky and church buildings that litter the landscape, there is a shocking absence of uncompromised preaching in the pulpit. The pulpit has been turned into a concession stand which offers no more that the "junk food" in some places. The message is consumer driven instead of Spirit driven in order to keep the crowd coming and the money flowing!! Sermons have replaced messages; Stories have replaced studies. Ignored are Scriptures concerning hell, judgement, sin, sins and the only remedy, the Cross of Christ. By-passed are Scriptures dealing anything deemed "politically incorrect and insensitive". We are becoming a biblically illiterate church in America! Some Christians no longer know what they believe or why they believe it; They don't know how behave either! We you join me in prayer for pastors and preachers have a spiritual awakening that cause fire to return to the preaching and light to the teaching
It was late in the fourth quarter when Bear Bryant had to put in a back-up quarterback, who was slow and chubby, to lead his Texas A&M aggies to a victory. There were only a few minutes left in the game and A&M had a small lead. Coach told his quarterback, "whatever you do, don't throw the football; just run-out the clock". The quarterback followed the coaches instructions until the Aggies were near the goal line. The young back-up decided to throw. He dropped back threw a pass that was intercepted by the fast player the field, a Texas State 100 meter champion. It appeared the game was over and A&M would lose as the defensive back sprinted down the sideline; Then all of a sudden, the young quarterback ran down the Texas DB! The game ended and A&M won! After the game the opposing coach said to the Bear, " I don't understand how that happened, the fastest guy on the field couldn't out run your back-up quarterback?" The Bear's response was classic! He said, "it is simple; your player was running for a touchdown and a win; my quarterback was running for his life!" MOTIVATION makes all the difference! We all struggle with motivation, especially this time of the year right after Christmas and New Years. The struggle to get back into the daily routine and the daily grind. One can even see the effect of this lack of motivation within the church this time of the year. People are tired from the Christmas rush, worn-out from the holiday hassle, over-extended in their budgets and over-weight from Seasonal indulgences. It is cold and dark! Motivated? Isn't it a minor miracle just to survive? Let me encourage you to not let the "after Christmas blues" get you down. How can we be motivated? In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul wrote, from a prison cell in Rome, one of the most motivating testimonies recorded in Scripture! Read it and you will be motivated! The words "Press On" will jump off the page as you read; The phrase is part of the metaphor Paul is using, one of his favorites, comparing the Christian Life to Athletics. The picture is of a runner who is determined to cross the finish-line, "Pressing On" in spite of the challenge of the course, the pain, and the competition. Some of the most motivated people in the world are those who train and participate in sporting competitions. The imprisoned Apostle writes passionately of his desire to continue on because he has so much more to learn and experience in his relationship with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ and so many more people to reach with the Gospel! Paul refused to be a prisoner in prison because he served a Living Lord who was in control of all things( Philippians1:12-18). If Paul can be motivated by the Holy Spirit while in a prison, you can be motivated as well regardless of what has chained you down! Ask the Holy Spirit to give you fresh wind and fresh fire today! You are running not for your life but because of His life (Galatians 2:20)! Be motivated in the New Year by the opportunities and blessings the Lord Jesus has for you! Run! Happy New Year!
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Doug MillerEvangelist Archives
May 2021
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