Some people
hunt for a church like a visit to a shopping mall. When they visit a mall they go from one
store to another looking to buy what appeals to them at a price they are
willing to pay. They will pick and
choose and take home only those things that they like leaving the rest behind.
Some people
well move from church to church denomination to denomination religion to religion
looking for those things that appeal to their flesh and the lusts thereof. They will pick and choose from the scriptures
what they like to hear and leave all that they don’t like behind.
Like
shopping malls there are so many religions and religious denominations to
choose from and finding one that can fill individual fleshly appetites can be
and is confusing to most non experienced church shoppers. One might have to visit several or maybe all
of them in order to find just the right one for them.
After all
finding just the right ear tickling preacher saying just the right words to
make one feel good and safe in their sinful lusts and habits, the group that
offers the best community centers and fun programs and entertainment that
appeal to their particular fleshly appetite might take a little time.
However with
so many to choose from eventually those who are seeking a place to attend that satisfies their flesh
and allows them to be entertained in their sins and the comfort of false hope
will eventually find the place that is suited to them.
With so many
different religions, denominations and churches claiming to know God preaching
and teaching so many different interpretations of scripture claiming it truth,
the doctrines of men and man’s ways of how to reach God.
However with
so many to choose from all claiming to be the right way and some even saying it
doesn’t matter which religion, denomination or group one chooses to follow all
ways lead to god and to heaven so it doesn’t really matter. But for those who are truly seeking a
spiritual relationship with the true God of creation, those who are tired of
the misery and unrest that convicts their sinful hearts because of their sinful
living and allows them no peace night or day it is so confusing and hard for
them to know who is telling the truth, who going the right way. Which of all these to choose from is the
right group to follow? Which one knows
the real God? Which one will help me
get to heaven when it is my time to die?
These are really important questions to seek an answer to and must be
answered at some point in life.
Let me tell
you I once asked these very same questions when I could no longer stand the misery,
heartache and suffering my sins were causing me. That time when I began to search for God to
give me rest and peace from the torments my sinful living was heaping upon
me. I went to the
Methodist,Baptist,Nazarene,church of Christ,Catholic,Mormon,Jehovah’s witnesses,
just about every major denomination in my home town. I studied all of the major religions
searching for God but I did not find Him there because I was looking for Him in
all the wrong places.
You see I
was looking for God in Denominations and religions and I was confused because
they all were so different and taught so many different ways to god.
But one
Saturday night I visited a little house of prayer a street mission in the down
town section of my city. This little
mission that claimed no denominational or religious ties ministered to the
homeless, drunks, drug addicts, harlots and any others that found their way
through its doors. They taught no
doctrines they practiced no religions they just worshiped God in song, read and
studied the Holy Scriptures together prayed for one another, loved one another,
and helped one another reaching out to the fallen to help them get back up on
their feet.
There was a
tall dark haired muscular man that appeared to be middle aged standing behind
the pulpit he shined like one who had been rubbed down with oil, he spoke with
an anointing of authority like I had never heard before. He spoke from the Holy Bible not of
denominational doctrines or of religions but the word of God as it is
written. He told of Jesus who was sent
from God to earth from heaven to bring me forgiveness for the unrighteous ways
that I was living, Jesus died on a cross for my sins, God raised Him from the
grave to bring me hope of heaven when I die, and Jesus is coming to earth again
someday to take me there to be with Him forever.
Although I
knew that he was speaking to all that were there that night his message cut
deep into my heart and I knew that his lips were controlled by the power of
God.
The preacher said, all I had to do to be
forgiven and saved from my sins was,” That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from
the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans
10:9-10
I went home
that night pondering in my mind and thinking of what that man had said to bring
such conviction to my heart. I had
been in the house for a short while and my wife was out in the kitchen doing
something I couldn’t stand the conviction any longer so I went into the
bathroom shut the door and locked it I kneeled down in front of the bathtub and
began to cry my heart was broken I said God if you are real please help me to
know that you are here and will do for me what that man said you would do.
Please forgive my sins I repent I am turning
away from sinning. Please God give me a
new heart and a new life like he said you would. I don’t know how long I was in that state of
humbleness and weeping but it must have been quite some time because my wife
heard me crying and talking to someone and she thought something had happened
to me that I was hurt or something and she was screaming for me to open the
door and asking me what was wrong.
Let me tell
you nothing was wrong but everything was right when I opened the door and came
out of that bathroom.
Let me tell
you something did happen to me that wonderful night I left that bathroom a new
man with a clean heart filled with a peace and joy that I had never felt
before. God did reveal Himself to me
and I felt His right hand softly touching my head and saying to my spirit child
you are forgiven go now and sin no more.
From that
night until this day I am still following Jesus I am still communing with my
heavenly Father I am still living in the peace unlike any that the world has to
offer and in the joy and thrill of knowing that Jesus is with me every step
that I take towards the finish line of my life here.
You see I
could not find God until I went to the right place where He was worshiped in
Spirit and truth where His messenger preached from His word the whole truth
that cut into my heart like a two-edged sword and convicted me of my sins. I could not find God until I began to search
for Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
Don’t get me
wrong I am not saying that the denominations mentioned above are all wrong and
you won’t hear Gods word preached there and that all denominational preachers
don’t preach the Bible and that you won’t find some true Christians there.
I am saying that you have to be very careful
these days to search for the truth because there are far too many who have left
the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and are preaching a diluted version part
truth along with a lot of false added in.
Some have added words to the Bible
and some have taken words from the bible teaching and preaching doctrines of
men in order to deceive as many as they can.
Many church groups of today have become blind leaders of the blind be
very careful and search the scriptures for your selves seeking the Holy Ghost
for interpretation. Don’t believe
everything you hear and see these days test the spirits with the Bible for Satan
is like a roaring lion roaming about seeking all that he can deceive and
destroy.
Because
there are so many new English translations of the Bible you must also be
careful to compare them with the original Hebrew and Greek as translated in the
Authorized 1611 King James Bible. Know
that one of the best tools of Satan has always been to twist the word of God to
confuse, add to and take away the meaning of what God really said.
Satan has
infiltrated the true Christian church in today’s world with false Christ’s some
who are so evil that they believe that they are the Christ, teaching and
preaching the doctrines of sinful evil hearts of men dividing the church and
leading some into perdition of the devils tormenting hell.
They are so convincing with their message of
falsehoods and false signs and miracles that it is possible for some to turn
away from the truth that was preached from the beginning and taught to the
Christians of past generations.
“For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets,
and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
Matthew 24:24
Satan is a master at deceptions and lies he proved that in
the Garden of Eden and he has become even more skilled at it in today’s
generation. That is why the scriptures
warn us to, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
We attend church to worship and praise God to pray and have
fellowship with one another encouraging one another to keep the faith that was
once delivered to the saints.
Not to be
taught the scriptures because God wrote them in our hearts when we were saved
and filled with His Holy spirit and it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us the
will and purpose of God for each of us.
We have pastors and teachers to warn sinners of the disasters of sin and
to encourage them to come to God in repentance. Their only purpose is to encourage the
saints and warn the sinners.
In fact it
is the duty of every born again member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
to go out into the world and preach the gospel to everyone they have contact
with.
Each one of us must follow Jesus be led of Him and taught by
Him.
“ Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me.” John 14:6
When we allow pastors, preachers and teachers of no matter
what Christian denomination or religious group become our teachers and blindly
follow them without reading and studying the scriptures for ourselves to prove
what they say is true or not we are headed for a great fall.
Everything that someone tells us must be
confirmed by the written word of God and through the indwelling Spirit of
God. If we truly know Him and have a
right relationship with Jesus we are going to know beyond a shadow of doubt who
it is that speaks to us and whether what they say is truth or not.
“
My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me:
And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand.” John
10:27-28
“Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
Besides all
this if you are searching for God in denominations and religions you aren’t
going to find Him there. I have been
there and done that and I am here to tell you there is only one place you can
find God and that is in His written word (Bible) and His living word His only
begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.” John 14:6
It is not
important that you belong to a church denomination or religious groups or a
religion when Jesus returns you won’t be recognized for these things.
He will be
coming for those who have repented of their sins, turned away from sinning
living by faith in Him, looking for Him watching and praying until He comes.
But it is
extremely important for you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ be a member of
His body a part of His bride prepared and ready for His coming which is getting
real close and could even happen before you finish reading this post.
It is very
important what we believe and what we don’t believe concerning our salvation
because only the true Christian is going to avoid the destructive life of sin
here on earth and have access to the kingdom of heaven beyond here.
“ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.” Mark 16:15-16
“Let
no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition;” 2 Thessalonians 2:3
In today’s world we are witnessing the greatest falling away
from the truth that any generation has ever had. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love
of many shall wax cold.”
Matthew 24:12 “This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their
lips; but their heart is far from me.”
Matthew 15:8
“Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God;” 2 Timothy 3:4
Whether you read this post or not is going to be up to you
and God, whether you believe what I have written or not is going to be up to you,whether you open your Bible read and
prove it is going to be up to you and what you do with it and the decision you
make because of it is going to be up to you.
Whatever your decision my hands are clean of your blood if
you are yet a sinner living in your sins, your salvation is in your hands and
God’s for I have obeyed the Spirit of God and I have given you what His Holy
spirit has revealed to me.
C.E.Lee 2122015
