“And He told them: “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God’s sight.” Luke 16:15 (HCSB)
In 1900, one in 27 called themselves Christian, today there are over two billion who call themselves that! The primary difference was Azusa Street, and the birthing of the Pentecostal movement. It has been the Holy Spirit moving among us that has brought such significant growth. Yet of the 2 billion plus who called themselves Christian only 750 million are Spirit filled! This is why we are seeing so much of the church struggling and wandering away. We desperately need the Holy Spirit to finish the task given to us by Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).
So much that is called Christianity isn’t! Just as there are RINOs, that is, Republican in name only, there are CINOs, Christian in name only! These are not simply people sitting in the pew. No, they are in leadership, such as senior pastors and church board members! There are some who are intentionally wolves in sheep clothes. And there are many others who are simply deceived and have wandered from the narrow path. Some are hirelings and not true shepherds (John 10:12-13). Churches operating without the Holy Spirit have opened themselves up to deception. We are told that the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Not all who call themselves a church, actually are a part of Jesus’ body! A sign in front of a building does not mean they are the real church. A title, a robe, a name tag, even an elegance in preaching, doesn’t mean the person is called and ordained by God.
But this is about to change! The Holy Spirit is coming with power as He did with the first Pentecost. Those who are fakers will be exposed in this shaking. I am sure many will be surprised by this big reveal! Those in leadership who are not walking in God’s ways will be brought into the light for all to see. Those who are attempting to destroy the church from the inside out will be revealed for what they are. This is the time to make sure our hearts, motives and actions are pure. This is not the time for us to judge, but to cry out for mercy upon those deceived, those wandering and even those who are intentionally working to destroy. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13), but these fakers must be removed!
Please pray that God would purify your heart and motives deeper than ever before. Ask Him to prepare you to be a vessel to carry His power and glory to the needy and lost world! Ask Him to expose the fakers in your church and bring them to a place of repentance, before it’s too late. Pray for your pastor to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to boldly lead your congregation forward in purity and wisdom. Pray that the church across our city would be filled, empowered by the Holy Spirit and authentic in their expression of faith to Athens and beyond!
