But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
SUBJECT – MISGUIDED FAITH
PLAY/DOWNLOAD [MP3]
According to the above scripture, we see that
Faith, in God, is the only way, to be pleasing to Him. And as a result of that, God will reward us, by blessing us.
Our faith in Him, centers around the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Outside of that, we have nothing.
Most of this nation, and especially the black community, professes to be Christian, meaning we accept the fact that Jesus Christ, is the Son of God, and that He was born of a virgin, lived a Holy, and Righteous life, was crucified, died, and rose up from the dead 3 days later, and is now seated on the Right Hand of the Father, making intercession, for His saints.
If we consider the beginning of this nation, founded on Christian principles, we can see how it rose from infancy, in the 18th century, to be the most powerful, richest, and respected nation in the world, by the 20th century, we can see just how blessed this nation has been. All because of our faith, in Christ.
However, as we entered the 21st century, things have changed. We have gone from being the richest nation, to essentially being enslaved, by debt, to other nations. As far as respect goes, that, is just about gone. We still are the most powerful, but, smaller nations, have been waging 'war' against us, through terrorism, and the like, and we are, for all intents and purposes, powerless to stop them.
Why is all this happening??
The main reason is, we have fallen away from the bedrock of our existence, and that is, our faith in Christ.
Oh sure, most still profess our faith in Christ, but, it is a faith that is misguided.
What do I mean by this?? While we profess our faith in Christ, it is not the Christ of the bible. The Christ of the bible, has, among other things, the attributes of Holiness, Righteousness, Love, Compassion, and Mercy.
More and more of us, over the past few decades, have put our faith in a christ, whose attributes are Love, Compassion, and Mercy. Gone, are the attributes of Holiness and Righteousness. In short, we have molded, and put our faith in, a christ, that we feel comfortable with. This is the christ, most of us love today.
Think about this. Suppose your spouse, or someone who professes their total undying love for you, came up to you and said, they wanted you to cut one of your arms, or legs off, or get a face lift, or a nose job, or lose weight, or else they would leave you for someone else. How would you deal with them?? If it were me, I would show them the door, or leave. I am, me, take it, or leave it. I am not going to change myself, to please anyone else.
As far as the weight issue is concerned, if it is a health issue, then, naturally, that is a different matter.
So, what we have, is a situation, where many Christians, and you can't really call them that, have done to Christ, just like that spouse, has done, and expect Him, to accept it. His response to us, is to, 'show us the door. It's hell out there!!
In case we forget, this same Jesus, that is full of Love, Mercy, and Compassion, is the same Jesus, who, made a whip, went in to the temple, and chased the money changers out of it, for defiling it
[Matt. 21:13]. This is the same Jesus, who issued a scathing rebuke of the religious leaders of His day,
[Matt. 23]. Why?? Because they ignored the Holiness, and Righteousness, of God.
You see, if you are going to put your faith in Christ, it has to be the Christ of the bible, and not one whose image is one that man has fashioned. In fact, the apostle Paul put it this way,
Rom 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Let me elaborate on this, for a minute, using the black community as a model. Most blacks, love a christ, that is just like us, black. And as such, He favors us more than the evil 'white man.' Meaning He is a 'respecter of persons, which He is not
[James 2].' Let me remind you also of this. These are the same people, who love reading the scriptures in the bible, that give them comfort, and peace of mind. Yet, when this same bible tells them about their wicked ways, will respond with,
'the white man wrote the bible.'
The christ that a lot of people love, is one who ignores, their wickedness, homosexuality, lesbianism, fornication, adultery, lying, killing, gambling, and the list goes on, and on, because he loves us, so much.
In fact, He has no problem with these people, holding prominent positions, in the church, such as ministers, pastors, and even as bishops. To top that off, preachers are now performing marriages between two men, or two women. All part of the misguided notion, that, Christ approves.
And, if you haven't figured out, just who is responsible for the mess we are in today, it is preachers.
These are the ones, who are supposed to educate the people, as to just what is, and is not of God. What He likes, and what He doesn't. However, if they, themselves are misguided, then, what do you think will be the condition of those that listen to them??
You know, I sit and listen to some preachers on the radio, discussing the issues facing this nation, and especially the black community today, and while I can appreciate, and respect what they are trying to do, comforting those that are burdened down, or in sorrow, that are looking for a ray of hope, or words of encouragement, there is the issue of what, have they done, or are they doing, that may have brought their problems, to them.
The christ, that most of them, these preachers love, is one that completely ignores what the individual may have been, or is doing. It is all about mercy, and compassion.
I was listening to two different black preachers on the radio this past Saturday, on two different programs. One, was addressing the plight of single mothers, who are poor. And a caller called in, which I didn't hear his complete question, but, judging from what the preacher said to him, I believe it had something to do with, the caller saying that it was their fault, for having children, while single, and that, that is the reason they are in the condition they are in. What this preacher said, is that he was not going to put all the blame on the women, but that outside conditions also affect their circumstances, like a lack of jobs, or the community conditions, and such.
While those are contributing factors, if one were to look beneath the surface of an issue like that, what you will find is that over 90% of the problem, rests solely, with the individual. The choices they made, put them where they are.
Then, this other preacher, had some women call in, talking about problems they were dealing with, and this preacher, gave a word of encouragement to them, by saying God was getting ready to move in their behalf, and that they should begin to see themselves as blessed. That is all well, and good, except, he didn't ask them, if they were saved or not, or if they were involved with something that may be a cause of their problems. According to his actions, this preacher was allowing them to believe, that it didn't matter what they were, or weren't doing, they were going to be blessed, by God, anyway.
So, in both these situations, these preachers, have demonstrated a misguided faith, which they passed on to those that heard them, thus, continuing, and expanding the notion that Christ's love, mercy and grace, are such, that we don't need to turn from our wicked ways. That pales in comparison to what God says,
2Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name [Christians], shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways [repent]; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Repentance, is the key, to receiving blessing from God. Without that, you have nothing.
Time and again, we are exhorted, by Christ, to, look at ourselves, and our actions first. What are we doing, that is causing us to be suffering, especially when we serve/have faith in, a God, who is willing to heap blessings on us, when needed.
The fact that Christ, would hold something against us, is totally foreign to a lot of people, when, in effect, it is our own wickedness, that is holding up, or blocking our blessing.
In discussing the problem of crime, especially as it pertains to all the shootings, and killing of our young people, we suppose that the problem, is the availability of 'assault weapons, or the weapons, themselves.' Therefore, this president wants to crack down on the ease with which, people can purchase them. Sounds reasonable enough, doesn't it?? That is what the christ, most of you love and serve, would do, isn't it?? It couldn't possibly be the people, could it??
Never mind the fact that, just as Adam, couldn't keep one commandment, and the children of Israel, couldn't keep ten commandments, what makes you think people will keep over ten thousand laws, that, not God, but man, instituted?? Why do you think we have such a thing as, criminal??
But, that is not, the main reason for our young people, including, the babies, that are being killed, and dying at such young ages.
To understand what is behind these tragedies, you would have to get acquainted to the Real Christ!!
The Real Christ, says, what you sow, you shall reap
[Gal.
6:7] This nation, has killed, since its legalization, over 60 million unborn babies, in the cause of women's rights. Babies that are precious in the sight of God. And it is women, who want the right, to do this, and they have no remorse, about it. So, it is women, mothers, that suffer the most, when a child of theirs gets killed, or dies. Like it or not, that is the Justice, and Righteousness of Christ, the One you reject!
Woman, Christ Loves each and every one of those babies, that you support, aborting. As a result, Justice, calls for the guilty, to be punished. Therefore, if you support abortion, then, you have sealed the fate, of your own children, if you have any, or those that you may have, in the future,
unless you repent, and turn away from it.
Let me give you actual facts, about why the black community is suffering more than any other community in this nation, when it comes to crime, and the killings of our young people.
The black community, is the number one supporter of the Democratic party, in this nation. The Democratic party, is the number one supporter, of abortion. So, what community is Christ allowing to suffer the most?? You do the math.
Faith in Christ, is like electricity. When used properly, it provides us with all the comforts, that we enjoy today. It makes our jobs, so much easier. Can you imagine working at an auto plant, on an assembly line, without electricity??? That is how helpful it is.
However, there is a warning that also goes with it, and that is, if used improperly, this same electricity, can kill you. That is an inherent part of our greatest source of help.
When it comes down to it, some time in the near, or distant future, you will stand in front of Jesus Christ, the one of the bible, and the question is, what will you have to say for yourself?? Will Christ see you as one that truly loved Him, or as one that sought to mold Him in to what you wanted Him to be??
If you are the former, He will show you a door to enter in to the Joy of the Lord. However, if you are the latter, there is another door that will be waiting for you. Which one will you be going through??