“These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:8 (HCSB)
While it is sadly true that the Holy Spirit is not welcome in so many churches today, the fact remains, if Jesus were to come into the building, He also would not be welcome. He is way too radical. Remember, Jesus warned us not to be offended by Him (John 6:61, Matthew 11:6), even though He was not concerned about offending the Pharisees (Matthew 15:12-14). Where He goes demons flee, healing happens, and miracles are the norm. And more than that, His teaching upsets the religious, He turns tables over and He calls out false teachers. If He were to walk into so many churches today, they would probably escort Him into a hidden room, out of sight, out of mind and probably lock the door as they leave. Or more likely He would feel unwelcomed, like an outcast among His family. If He were to stay the religious leaders would lose their position, the church would probably lose donors (well at least at first), and the message would not be about making people happy and successful. He would speak the truth, the full truth! He would call sin for what it is, vile in God’s eyes. Yet, He would love the sinner, wanting to rescue them from the chains of rebellion, lies and deception! He would not be quiet about the fake narrative being spewed by the media and the wicked government! Jesus would challenge every place the church has grown lukewarm (Revelation 3:16), where it has lost its first love (Revelation 2:4), where it has tolerated Jezebel (Revelation 2:20), where it has looked more like the world than like Him (Revelation 3:2, John 17:14-16). What would your church do if Jesus were to walk into the room, or better, what WILL your church do when He shows up? He’s coming to His church before He comes for His church!!!
Pray that you would be ready for Jesus to come, not just to take you home but to become the radiant bride He wants you to be! Ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart and space in your home for Jesus to dwell in every level. Pray for your pastor and leadership to truly and intentionally prepare for Jesus to come to your church. Ask God to grant your pastor a grace to humble himself and to allow the Holy Spirit to expose every place that Jesus would offend in him and in the church structure and services (Psalm 139:23-24). Ask the Lord to search your pastor’s heart and see if he is really willing to surrender control of the services and everything about your church to Jesus, to do what He does when He shows up – miracles, healings, deliverance, disturbing the religious and preaching the kingdom! Yes, pray that your church would not miss its day of visitation, which is meant to become a new habitation by Jesus and the Holy Spirit! Come Lord Jesus!!!
