Religion or Relationship - What Say You????

I would have to ask each of you if you have a Religion or a Relationship? There is a glaring difference between those who go to church and occupy a pew and those who have come to Jesus, in faith, repent, and ask Jesus to come into their heart.

I guess if one thought stood out in Phillips article, it was about the "wallet." I have found, all too often, that the leadership of some churches pay special attention to those who give the big bucks. The people with the money are all to often placed in high esteem, as well as office of importance and leadership within the church. And I guess this is done in order to keep these deep pocket believers in the flock. This is not to say that these folks (deep pocket believers) aren't right with the Lord, and serving the church in the name of Jesus.

However, this special attention to the rich is condemned in James 2:2-6 - "For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel, and also a poor [man] in shabby clothes comes in, and you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat! while you tell the poor [man], Stand there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet! Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him? But you [in contrast] have insulted (humiliated, dishonored, and shown your contempt for) the poor. Is it not the rich who domineer over you? Is it not they who drag you into the law courts? the Amplified Bible.
So, how would you know if you have a Religion or a Relationship? There is a distinguishing difference between a "true believer" and those that call themselves a Christian. Without appearing to be judgmental, it is more apparent than ever before that there are a lot folks calling themselves Christian, but in their heart-of-heart, they lack the crucial step of being born again. I am listing for all of you the "The Four Evidence's of a Relationship." A person who has accepted Jesus into their heart, has been water baptized (by immersion), and are manifesting the following traits:

1) HUNGER - they have an ongoing hunger for the Word of God. I Peter 2:2 - Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation. And in Hebrews 6:1-2 - THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God, With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.] the Amplified Bible.

2) ELIMINATE - they will constantly be ridding their flesh of the old man as they take on the look of the new man. We are the Temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16) - "What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Of course this mandates that a born-again believer eliminates, or rids their flesh (the Temple of the Living God) of the things that don't glorify God. Romans 8:6 - The mind of sinful man[a] is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. NIV. 1 Peter 2:11 - Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

3) GROW, GROW, GROW - The evidence of growth in any born-again believer is growth. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:15 - Let our lives lovingly [a]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Galatians 2:20 -I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. the Amplified Bible.

4) REPRODUCTION - Evidence of being born-again is a hunger to bring new souls into the Kingdom. Jesus told His followers, in Matthew 28: 19-20, in what is commonly known as the Great Commission, to "Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them [a]into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you [b]all the days ([c]perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. [d]Amen (so let it be)." Furthermore, He told His disciples in Mark 1:17 "Come after Me and [l]be My disciples, and I will make you to become fishers of men." the Amplified Bible.

There are so many more things that one could look for in a born-again believer, and the four evidences/traits above are truly the tip of the ice berg, so to speak. Still, in line with what my brother Phillip B. wrote about in his article (Do You Have Religion or Faith???????????????????????) the Bible has provided scriptural evidence to weed out the "fakes". The problem is, no one can look into someone’s heart and really see where that person stands in conjunction with the Lord as their personal Savior.

Thus, I offer this WARNING to other born-again believers. You have been called to be "Witnesses" to the world. No where has God commanded us to be the JUDGE, or the members of the JURY.
I don't necessarily like the way many self professed believers/Christians walk their walk or talk their talk, but, it is not my calling to judge them. I have learned to steer clear of those whom I may feel a concern about. There are going to be a lot of "spook fruits" in the Christian community, and I would say the best way to test their faithfulness, is to apply the four evidences above, and if any one of them are not being manifested in their life or ministry, it may be wise to go around them.
In closing, I know there may be some folks who have be convicted with what you've read in Phillips article and mine. If you are NOT sure of your relationship and standing with Jesus, look over the four steps below, pray the prayer, and let us know that you accepted Jesus into your life as Lord. We'd love to rejoice with you in that decision.

How Do I Find Peace With God?

1. God Loves you and has a good purpose and plan for you.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
2. We all have a problem - We are seperated from God by our sin.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
3. Jesus handled our sin problem on the cross.
"Who Himself bore our sins on His own body on the tree, that we having died to sin, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24
4. We must respond to God's solution and receive Jesus.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, those who believe in His name." John 1:12

Do you want to receive Jesus Christ as your personal savior? Then Pray this prayer:

Dear God, You know everything about me. I know I've sinned. Please forgive me. Come into my life. Baptise me in the Holy Ghost and cause me to be a follower of Jesus, your Son, my Savior. Thank you for writing my name in the Lamb's Book of Life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Please let us know that you prayed this prayer....

Pastor Paul

A Tribute Prayer to Ruth Graham....

Even though I have a heavy heart for Billy (Graham) and the family at this time of loss, I know they are rejoicing in their grief, as am I, because death has no longer has its "sting" when it comes to the believer.

Truly, my brother (Billy) will miss his beloved helpmate, but, he knows all to well that the portal of death is the neccessary step to enter into the "blessed hope" for all believers in Jesus Christ. He knows all too well that one day he too will cross over to glory and rejoin Ruth, and for this hope we all rejoice with Billy and his family.

Father - I thank you for the promise of life after death. I thank you that when a servant leaves this world for Glory we, who are born-again, can all rejoice knowing that one day we too will take our last breath on earth and open our eyes to the glory of heaven. Be with Billy and his family. Give them peace. Give them comfort. And strengthen their personal hope and eternal resolve at this time of loss of a cherished loved one. All heaven is rejoicing for another saint, in her work on earth, has come full circle. We ask that you draw ever so close to their sides, and allow their personal faith in You to bring them through this loss with an increased faith that the day of reunion in glory for families and friends saved by grace is nearer with each beat of the human heart. Thank you Jesus for your death, ressurection, and sacrifice so we could return to the Father who sent you to die for us. Amen!!!

Pastor Paul