A ten-ticket ride!

Last week an enthusiastic friend repeated the simple gospel and said, “How many churches preach that these days?” He was convinced that no one did. I replied, “Every church that I’ve attended.”

Tozer writes something similar for today’s devotional that I think would be true of many politicians but not many preachers. He says that pastors today would rather give their congregations tranquilizers than preach holiness and have them fall under the conviction power of God.

Again, this is foreign to me. I understand that powerful leaders might be determined to control their people, yet this is not what I’ve seen in church leaders. I thank God that in all our moves and travels, He has led us to solid, Bible-believing places of worship with godly men and women in positions of leadership.

Yet I know that some are not so solid. Even in the early church, only one of Paul’s letters had very little to correct. While he praised most of them, they also had problems. Of special note, the church in Galatia received no praise, only the strongest rebuke for going off-target. It happened then; it happens today.

The book of Revelation begins with letters to seven churches. Most were rebuked for something, even the stronger churches like the one in Ephesus:

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’” (Revelation 2:1–7)

These days, some may suppose that God either does not care or even know what is going on. However, as Tozer also writes, “Our Lord is a holy Lord, and His eyes are as a flame of fire. His X-ray eyes can see right through everything! We can hide nothing from God. He sees all and knows all.”

It is more often us who do not care or are unaware of our lax condition and lack of concern about holiness. As Tozer says, we can fall into thinking the Lord should accept our respectability as spirituality and be satisfied with the status quo.

For many church leaders, a congregation that behaves itself is just fine, but a congregation where everyone follows the leading of the Holy Spirit is scary. I know that unless I am following Him myself, I’m usually worried about what is happening or not happening in other Christians. But when yielded to the Spirit, trusting Him for everything, I know that He wants our good and Christ glorified, and that He has the power to make both happen. I don’t need to be anxious about leaders who are on power-trips either, for He is able to change their hearts as well as mine. The church does not need better preachers; we need to all be yielded to the Holy Spirit! It could be a wild ride, but it will never be sinful or regretted.

^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, You want me to give myself to Your complete control, to give up all aspects of self-rule and trust You for everything. You want to fill me with Your Spirit so I will reflect Your image and be the person You created me to be. Only pride will have me on a power trip yet when yielded to You, I don’t want to go there. Keep me in the center of Your will and focused on Your holiness. Without You, I am nothing and can do nothing.