I felt strongly this word be delivered to our Indiana School of Ministry (ISOM) students in our last session. I post it on my blog because many asked for the notes.
Not since the great awakening has there been a time in the history of the Church when the Church embraced and assimilated secular culture, in opposition to biblical teaching, more than it does today.
• Many who claim to follow Christ view the same things the “world” views
• Many who claim to follow Christ listen to the same things the “world” listens
• Many who claim to follow Christ do the same things the “world” does
• The divorce rates among those who claim to be Christ-followers is basically the same as those who do not
Is there transformation?
What do we mean by “world”? John is one of the originators of that term when he explains how our transformation through Christ ought to lead us to loving God more than we love the things of the “world”.
I John 2:15 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
Jesus said I have come that you might have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). The bible says that those who are in Christ are a new creation. The old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Yet, the spirit of antichrist is growing stronger in the world.
I John 2: 18 (NIV) “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour…. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you,see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life. 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
The spirit of antichrist leads us away from those things we have learned and the Christ revealed to us through his Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3 warns us of the last days.
2 Timothy 3 (NIV) (1) "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
The church (the organization) has lost its influence in this generation and will only regain its position of transformation if it embraces the power of God, the Presence of God, the Spirit of God.
• It is not enough to have a form of godliness
• It is not enough to put on a good show
• It is not enough to just help people learn how to live good lives
• It is not enough to help people learn how to balance their checkbooks
All of those things are fine, nothing wrong with helping anyone accomplish any one of those things, but these things are not what bring spiritual transformation, It is the Power of God, The Presence of God, the inner working of the Spirit that brings transformation.
At the height of the glory of the Catholic church Pope Innocent IV said to Thomas Aquinas, “You see that the Church is no longer in an age in which she can say, silver and gold have I none.” Thomas Aquinas is said to have replied, “It is true, holy father, nor can she now say to the lame man, Rise up and walk."
Let me tell you, we place much hope in the students of the Indiana School of Ministry (ISOM) for the proclamation of the good news with power and spiritual authority in Indiana. The pace at which churches are closing seems to be in danger of acceleration. The small towns of Indiana that have no Pentecostal witness, the inner cities that need the Word of God preached with signs following, that the devils tremble, people are delivered, and lives are transformed.
May God rise up students from ISOM with more than a form of godliness, but the power that is intended to accompany, facilitate, and reveal true godliness.
2 Tim 3 (NIV) (10) “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Know the Word, proclaim the Word, live the Word, and be transformed by the Word (the work of the Spirit of Christ within you).
