Counterfeit churches Bending Circumstances

(GB Message)

Glad to note that you have two visitors in your congregation today. I am quite aware of the fact that my sermons are often hard and cutting as against encouraging sermons based on texts like, “If God be with us, who can be against us?” Honestly I feel that only a hireling or an agent of the devil can keep preaching comforting sermons like that.

I enjoy fairly good health. This is because medical specialists constantly take particular care of the areas of my body that are sick, giving me timely medicines; I too have to meet them periodically for routine medical checkups. I prefer to have a physician care for my physical well being than people who may want to encourage me by commenting on how well I look, how strong my limbs are, and how well I digest my food.

We recollect at this time Jesus Christ’s words to the boastful Pharisees and Scribes, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”, Mk 2: 17. We, being in the end times facie innumerable hurdles mentally, spiritually and physically too. The enemy is constantly waiting to get us into some snare or other. What you I and need today is helpful advice and warnings during our sojourn in this alien world.

Counterfeit churches

You must be aware of the satanic parallel churches which closely resemble the Lord’s churches. People in those churches are seen to be happy active and enjoying a lot of blessings in order to lure the unwary into the trap. Since the parallel churches are run by the outer man, they are often more attractive.

The parallel churches lead to destruction while the Lord’s church leads to eternal life. The former function under the control and guidance of Satan; there is no need to state that true churches are the body of the Lord Jesus Himself. You may wonder whether there is any need to know such basic facts. It is always prudent to consider the various snares before they affect us rather than being taken by surprise. If we do not meet with such snares, well and good. But if they do occur then we should be prepared.

Also, there is need to introspect to see if church is growing. If there is no growth in the church there can be three reasons:

• Lack of teaching: Here I will give you the credit for you have introduced the phone conference for additional teaching
• Low percentage of sincere believers. This is not in the hands of the church. But the church takes precautions to see that the remaining members continue to be faithful and grow normally.
• Spiritual infection stunting growth. This should be carefully watched and for any observable symptoms. We will have to handle such a case with care and sympathy. One of the functions of the church is sympathetical treatment of the sick and the maimed. It is easy to close the door. But keeping the door open is at times a heavy responsibility and strain for the church.

As I have stated repeatedly, introspection is the safest tool to avoid snares normally faced by the church. We criticize dead denominational churches often. Some of them were not so stagnant originally. The lesson we learn is that any good church can turn into such a church if proper care is not taken. No doubt every one of us have severe handicaps. That is why I introduced the concept of bending circumstances. The conditions for walking in the path of sanctification won’t adjust according to the dictates of our circumstances. Instead, we have to adjust according to the dictates of spiritual conditions. If the going is hard beyond adjustment, we have a Saviour, who is mighty to keep, to whom we should take our problem. But He will certainly know if we have exhausted all the resources at our disposal to bend the circumstance as required.

Bending Circumstance

Most of the circumstances in our life are beyond our control. But no circumstance should be allowed to hinder our spiritual lives. Even if one of your eyes happens to be a hindrance to your spiritual life you are us supposed to pluck it out because nothing should be allowed to come between us and our goal of the kingdom of God. In such a circumstance, I advise you to learn to bend it if not change it.

We have two examples from two of our members, one from Coimbatore church (Joe) and another Bangalore church Murali. Both of them sought and succeeded in securing jobs which enabled them better participation in church matters than before. We praise the Lord with them. It is not a coincidence because both of them wanted for a long time to change their jobs for better participation in church affairs and not merely for salary considerations. God has blessed them with a better salary also.

Prayer Cell

One of the basic signs of a good church is their prayer time. I am ashamed to confess that our cell in Madurai is not working satisfactorily even though we have better facilities than most of the churches. But we are not indifferent to this lacuna; no one should be. We hope to overcome this defect as soon as possible.

Can’t we accommodate it in our worship service? Yes and no. No because the participants in the cell should be those of the core members of the church who attend all the services of the church and are known for their devotion to church affairs, oneness mind with most of the church. The gathering on Sundays may not be like this. If it is, we can accommodate the prayer cell meetings in the Sunday worship. Otherwise, we must have it on another day.