A DEAD CHURCH

I thought about what to caption this post, and a dead church was the only line that kept coming back to me. So I apologize in advance (not really) if you find the caption offensive to your senses.

I was looking at a passage of scripture yesterday and while sharing it with a couple of friends, admonishing them on their walk with Christ, I heard the Lord say to me; “the ‘church’ also”.

For some seconds I paused and the longer I stayed on that word in relation to the passage I was reading, the more I understood what God was saying to me.

Rm 8:5-6

5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.(NKJV)

Selah!

The passage above for me is very instructive. I have underlined “set their minds” for emphasis as that is where I want to take my inference from.

A look at the bill boards, fliers, posters, adverts on TV, radio and social media of most local assemblies of Christians, will give you an insight into the hearts of the organizers of those meetings. I look around me and read the theme of most programmes organised by these assemblies today, and it is quite difficult to differentiate business schools, psychologists, sorcerers and the house of God. You read the adverts and immediately know what their minds are set on and trust me, it is not Jesus Christ.

Gal 5:19-21

19Now the works of the flesh are evident which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in the time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(NKJV)

Selah!

People have moved away from the mandate by Jesus to disciple men for Christ to teaching how to be successful and “make it” and be blessed to be a blessing when these are things that scripture called “all other things”. Many don’t go to church today to go and know more about Jesus or because they are truly craving for more of God to be like Him No! they go to church for reasons some of which can be found in the things listed above in Galatians 5.

Call me old school, but I am one of those people who strongly believe that Jesus is the ONLY message that the body of Christ has to preach.

So to the angels of the church of God in Nigeria I write; “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name and that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Nigeria who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in glory for they are worthy. He who has an ear, let him hear.

SELAH!