What a season
The last several years have been some of the longest years of my life. Everyone, globally, is ready for things to return to some kind of normal. Sure, the pandemic is winding down but just as fast, something else pops up to capture our attention.
We all want “normal” but what does that even look like?
The fear, anger, depression, confusion, and general apathy that has grown over the last several years won’t magically disappear. People are still hurting and need help. The government can hand out stimulus money but that isn’t the answer. Besides, it’s not the government’s job to take care of our physical and emotional needs. That is supposed to be what the Body of Christ does. We are supposed to be the light in times like these. We are supposed to be doing the work of Jesus, healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry.
But we haven’t been doing our job as well as we could be.
Instead of being the very real heart, hands, and feet of Jesus, the Church in America offers a watered-down gospel that only has the power to tickle ears and conjure goosebumps but lacks the transformational power that a genuine encounter with Jesus offers.
Not only is the message weak but some of the messengers have lost their way. Once upon a time, preachers were trumpeters of the truth. Nowadays, they can barely stay out of trouble. 2 Timothy 3:1–6 pretty much sums it up.
2 Timothy 3:1–6
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Those verses are not talking about your average sinner. It’s specifically addressing the religious person who acts like they are a follower of Jesus but lack the actual fruit. If we have learned anything recently it’s that hard times expose the facades. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not being malicious towards people who say they are Christians but don’t walk like Jesus. The grace and mercy of God is there for everyone. But 2 Timothy 3:6 is straight to the point. Don’t even hang out with those phonies.
Recently, as I reflected back on the last few years and all that I see lacking in the Church (which includes myself) I felt the Lord slip a word into my mind but as I meditated on it I realized it wasn’t just a word. It’s the heart of God crying out to his Body, beckoning her to… COME BACK!
NOW: The Year of the Come Back
I believe the Church has entered a season of comebacks. I’m not using that term like you would for an athlete or an actor that fell out of grace and is coming back into popularity, even though the Church in America has been quite lackluster for quite some time. No, what I feel God is saying, or rather what his heart is yearning for, is that the Church in America would come back to him wholeheartedly.
I believe there are four key areas that the Church needs to come back to.
- First, and most importantly, He wants us to come back to Jesus by putting our love and focus completely onto Him.
- Next, God wants us to come back to selflessness, forsaking our selfish ways.
- He also wants us to come back to holiness, to be holy as He is holy.
- Finally, God desires that we come back to purity.
These four comebacks are by no means an exhaustive list of the things that you and I need to fix. They are, however, the main areas that Jesus addressed when he sent letters to the seven Churches in the book of Revelation.
I can hear some of you asking the question, “Richard, what do the letters in the book of Revelation have to do with us coming back to Go?” That’s a great question. I’m glad you asked. Keep reading and you will see.
In the meantime, pray for the Body of Christ to come into the fullness of God.
Come Back to Jesus
In Luke 22:31–32, Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus is speaking these words over the Church in America. He has warned us many times that our flippant attitude and “Ted Talk with music” church services weren’t the way to establish his kingdom. He has warned us that our love for accolades, status, and cotton candy Christianity will be our undoing. Jesus has warned us and for the most part, we didn’t listen.
But there is HOPE.
Jesus said to Peter that when he repented and turned to Jesus again, he would be equipped to strengthen the Body. That same offer is there for each one of us. See, Jesus isn’t concerned about my own well-being. Yes, he loves me and cares for me. But I don’t exist on this earth to experience the goodness of God in a vacuum. I must turn my eyes to Jesus and be fascinated with him so that I can pour out what is inside of me onto those around me.
It is the great commandment in action.
“So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
Now is the year of the COME BACK. The first thing we need to come back to is Jesus. We need to repent from turning our eyes away from him. He is the answer to everything but instead of being madly in love with him we have used our relationship with Christ to justify actions that only take us further away from God.
Do you want to see abortion end? First, turn your eyes back to Jesus. Fall madly in love with him. Second, repent from the lack of love that you have towards brothers and sisters in the Church. Abortion isn’t the problem. It is a symptom of the sickness that exists in the Body of Christ. If we want to see it end then we have to fix ourselves first.
In John 13, Jesus said, “So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
So often we quote John 13:35 but we leave out the love one another part. We make it sound as if Jesus said the world will know we are his disciples by our love. Period. That’s not accurate. Jesus wants the world to know him by the way we show our love to other believers, not by the love we show to the world. It is from that place of love that the outflow should reach the dying world around us.
Now is the year of the COME BACK. We must come back to Jesus. We must stir up a red hot love for him. We must get back the fear of the Lord. Remember, when John saw Jesus in the vision on Patmos, he fell down. That’s not just an awe and respect. He could not stand in the presence. That is the fear of the Lord that we need.
Jesus said to the Ephesian Church, “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”
I know there are many who will disagree with me. They will say we already have the fullness of God or they will say my perspective of God is tainted by an Old Testament mindset. That’s fine. I’m not speaking to those people. They are the modern-day Pharisees and you and I can’t be concerned about them. These are the people that reap the Laodicean message in Revelation 3.
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me — gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.”
Jesus is looking for those that will be his real remnant. He is looking for a people that will genuinely turn their hearts to him. The real remnant Church is the one that wants to see Jesus no matter the cost. She is the Church that is fully surrendered to the Father and has laid her life down completely.
It is time to COME BACK to Jesus.
- Repent.
- Turn your eyes to him.
- Take up your cross.
- Lay down your life.
- Follow him.
It is only from this posture that we are able to press in to the fullness of his kingdom. Before we can strengthen our brothers and sisters we need to turn to him and be full of his life. Once our eyes are fixed on this Magnificent King, we will be empowered to lift up the arms of the weary saints around us.
Come Back to Selflessness
The Church in America has created a Gospel that is very “ME” centered. People are more concerned about their feelings than following the Word of God. Don’t get me wrong. Feelings matter but we cannot be led by our feelings. We must be led by faith (trust) in Christ alone or we will go down the wrong path.
I do a lot of work in the anti-trafficking arena. I have witnessed the devastation that this horrible crime has on individuals and families. I have heard, firsthand, victims tell their stories about being rescued from their traffickers, brought to a safe place, and returning to their trafficker because that is the life they know. Their feelings told them that they didn’t belong in a safe environment. Their feelings said they needed to be back with the predator.
That scenario happens often. One statistic says that over 90% of rescued trafficking victims will return to their trafficker. That is a tragedy but gives witness to the power and deception of our feelings.
Most people are very similar. They would rather stick with what they know, even if it hurts than walk into the unknown.
Proverbs says it like this.
Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
I’m not referring to trafficking victims or even you and me as fools. What I’m getting at is that our feelings can make us do foolish things. Whether it’s for love, greed, lust, or hunger, feelings have entrapped the human race over and over again.
The only way out is to die to yourself.
Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Now is the year for the American Church to COME BACK to selflessness. Are you ready to completely surrender every part of your life to Jesus? He wants you, body, soul, and spirit. He wants you to give him your feelings so that he can give you his feelings. He wants you and me to stop living for ourselves and, instead, lay our lives down for him and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A big part of coming back to selflessness is to be ready to suffer for Jesus. The American Gospel has taught us that we are victors over everything and that we shouldn’t be suffering. Some even teach if you are suffering, you are not in alignment with God’s will. That is just flat-out wrong.
In the letter to the Church in Smyrna, Jesus said, “I know about your suffering and your poverty — but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.”
I have suffered for Christ. I have encountered persecution from friends and family but I haven’t suffered nearly as much as Christians in China, Iran, or other closed nations. Nevertheless, my suffering is genuine. It is the price I have paid to stand true to Christ. Because I chose the truth of God over the feelings of man, I lost all of my “friends” that I had been in relationship with for almost 20 years.
What price are you willing to pay?
Will you follow Jesus no matter what the cost?
Living this out practically is simple. It’s not easy, but it is simple. Instead of me giving you my opinion, I’ll share what the Apostle Paul said about living out a selfless life and what that should look like.
Philippians 2: 2–5
Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Come Back to Holiness
The American Church has a DNA issue. We were born into the kingdom of Saul and, unless we consciously decide to step out, we will operate under that kingdom. Saul was anointed by God and a good-looking man but he had one BIG flaw; Saul was a massive people pleaser.
The only way to change our DNA is to move from Saul’s kingdom into David’s kingdom. The Bible says David was a man after God’s heart. We all know David was not a perfect man. He messed up a lot and made plenty of bad choices. But he was always quick to humble himself.
It was during one of these terrible choices that he wrote Psalm 51. He abused Bathsheba and murdered her husband. Then he tried to act like nothing happened. God saw it all. He sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke David and help turn his heart back to God.
Psalm 51:10–11
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
As born-again believers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit of God within us and he will never leave. However, that doesn’t change the way it feels when we sin against God. It absolutely feels like Jesus has left the building. That’s what the Bible calls Godly sorrow. It’s our conscience doing its job.
We need more of that Godly sorrow in the church.
Now is the year of the Come Back. One of the things the Church needs to Come Back to is holiness. In the letter to the church in Pergamum, Jesus says, “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel.”
Instead of drawing a line in the sand between what is clean and unclean, we tolerate things, within the Church, that should never be. Have you ever seen the church sign that reads, “Come as you are?” Jesus absolutely invites us while we are still in our filth but he expects us to walk away transformed. The disciples were. Mary Magdalene was. The woman caught in adultery was.
Unfortunately, the American Church cares more about making people feel good instead of making them holy. The reason for this, they say, is so that they can have bigger crowds to preach the gospel to. But the fruit isn’t there and neither is the gospel. Most churches in America are more like Ted Talks with music than they are transformation centers. They are walking in the spirit of King Saul instead of King David.
It’s time to Come Back to holiness.
It’s time for the fruit of the Spirit to be as important as the gifts of the Spirit.
It’s time for the Davids to build an altar to the Lord in order to hold back the plague that is killing the Church.
The way to start is simple. Repent and return to Jesus. We need to separate ourselves from the things of this world and the sins that so easily ensnare us. We need to build an altar in our hearts where we can lay the sacrifice of praise upon it so that Jesus can consume it with fire.
Hebrews 12:28–29
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.
Come Back to Purity
Paul was deeply captivated by Jesus because he had a very deep encounter with King Jesus. From the moment of his conversion, he did everything he could to preach the simplicity of Jesus and instill that same fiery passion. One of his biggest case studies was the church in Corinth. They had gotten off track from the pure Gospel but Paul led them back to the truth. He said this in his second letter to them.
2 Corinthians 11:2–4
You need to know that God’s passion is burning inside me for you, because, like a loving father, I have pledged your hand in marriage to Christ, your true bridegroom. I’ve also promised that I would present his fiancée to him as a pure virgin bride. But now I’m afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s clever lies, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may lose your single-hearted devotion and pure love for Christ. For you seem to gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you preaching a pseudo-Jesus, not the Jesus we have preached. You have accepted a spirit and gospel that is false, rather than the Spirit and gospel you once embraced. How tolerant you have become of these imposters!
We, the virgin Bride of Christ, have lost the way. We have become fascinated with a gospel that doesn’t preach Jesus. Instead, it’s all about self, gifts, emotions, politics, and division. The American Church is so deep into this false gospel that we cannot even see the deception we have fallen into.
We have lost the purity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have set up idols on the altar of our hearts.
We have turned the altar of God into a bed of immorality.
Now is the year of the Come Back and the American Church MUST Come Back to purity. We must repent of our idolatry and witchcraft. We have to turn our hearts back to the simplicity of the Gospel. It is time for us to be fascinated with Jesus and with him alone.
In John’s letter to the Church in Thyatira, Jesus said because of their lack of repentance, he was forced to throw them into great tribulation. We are seeing that play out in front of our very eyes. The American Church is so full of pride and arrogance that we can’t even see what is happening to us. We think what’s going on is a result of satan. Honestly, he doesn’t have that much power.
But the Church does.
We have the power to turn things around. Through our genuine repentance, we can break the spirit of division and deception that has taken root in the American church.
1 Chronicles 21 tells a story about David and how he was deceived by the enemy to take a census. Because of his disobedience, he opened the door for a terrible plague to come on the land. 70, 000 Israelites died because of his arrogance. The eyes of David’s heart were opened and he saw the death angel. Instantly he called the elders to come and repent with him. God commanded the angel to speak to Gad the prophet.
1 Chronicles 21:18
Therefore, the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David obeyed immediately. He went and spoke to Ornan, asking him to sell him his land. Ornan wanted to give it to David for free but David responded with the right heart.
1 Chronicles 21:24
Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.”
There is an altar that must be built in the heart of every believer in the American Church. We have been declaring and “prophesying” that only good will come to us, all the while we are walking in deception and deep darkness.
It is time to build the altar so that we may see the death angel sheath his sword. It is only through our return to the pure Gospel that we will see a complete turnaround in this nation. We must repent and come back to Jesus.
1 Chronicles 21:26–27
And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the LORD; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering. So the LORD commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath.
It’s time Church to build the altar of David. It’s time to lay down our lives, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. It will cost us everything but it’s worth it. If we willingly build this altar and lay upon it the sacrifice of praise, Jesus will consume us with his fire and the tribulation we are going through will greatly decrease.
1 Chronicles 22:1
Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”
If we will build the altar and return to purity, God will separate us in a very noticeable way. We will become the house of the Lord that Jesus referred to as a house of prayer for all nations.
Now is the Year of the Come Back. Will you please prayerfully consider coming back to Jesus in a first love way; coming back to Jesus in humility and selflessness; coming back to Jesus in holiness, and coming back to Jesus in purity?
God Bless you Saints.
Featured Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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