The Bible says, ” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever” (Heb.13:8). I believe God still works miracles in our days. He still heals the sick and sets the captives free. I believe in His provision for His Saints, even in these hard times. If God is truly our heavenly father and He tells us that he who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel (1Tim. 5:8), don’t you believe that He will provide for His own household? All God’s children have the privilege to approach Him in times of needs (Hebs.4:16 Phil.4:19,John16:2, Matt. 6:33).
But brothers and sisters we have a problem! The present day church has replaced the gospel message with man-made gospel.
I understand that the situation in the country is quite unfavourable. The government is unresponsive to the plights of the people. Times are hard, things are tough and many are in desperate needs even for the basic necessities of life.
Even though times and situations may change, the economy may fail, and things may become so tough, the gospel message remains the same for ever. Never should the gospel message be watered down. The true, the real gospel, the whole counsel of God must be preached at all cost and at all times.
The eternal destiny of many are in our hands because God has committed into our hands the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18). He in His infinite wisdom has ordained that salvation should be through the preaching of the gospel (1 Cor.1:21). How dare we triffle with the message God has committed into our hands? Replacing it with our man made gospel. Are we wiser than He?
When people attend church services, hear the true Gospel message and become convicted by the Holy Spirit they get the opportunity to repent of their sins and be saved. But if they do not get to hear the true Gospel message we deny them the opportunity of being saved.
Jesus healed thousands of people during His earthly ministry. He fed the multitudes, and performed many miracles. The Bible says that if they were to be written the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John21:25). Yet His message was about the kingdom of God. Why are we not following in His footsteps? The same thing goes with the apostles. God used them in working great miracles but their message was Jesus and the kingdom of God. Why are we doing otherwise?
When churches or preachers major on one or two aspects of the Bible, saying little or nothing about other Bible doctrines it always progresses into errors. Some denominations and movements have done this. They majored on some Bible verses, built doctrines around them and got out of balance. This is why we are having so many conflicting and confusing doctrines in the church today.
Some build doctrines around experiences instead of God’s word. We are not to build doctrines around experiences. Either ours or someone else’s. Doing so will definitely progress into doctrinal errors. God’s word alone should be the foundation of every doctrine we follow.
Today many are being deceived because they are seeking supernatural manifestations instead of seeking the Lord Jesus, digging into God’s word, thereby growing in intimacy with God daily.
We hear so little about the message of the cross and the power of His resurrection from many pulpits today.
The prosperity and self help messages have eaten deep into the Church. These messages are producing greed, covetousness and striving for material wealth. It has made Christians to lose focus and more earthly minded. Many of the ideologies being propagated are doctrinally wrong, worldly and man made. It preaches nothing about godliness and contentment being great gain(1Tim. 6: 3-19). People are taught to seek God because of material blessings and to improve the self life which the Scriptures tell us must be put to death daily(Gal. 2:20, Col. 3:5, 1Cor.15:31).
Bible messages that are the core of Christ’s heart: self denial, sanctification, consecration, brokenness, holiness,, repentance, denunciation and judgements of sin, the fear of God, victory over sin, His return etc. are rarely preached.
Preachers now depend upon their own intelligence, man-made techniques and methods, ignoring God.
I believe many of our spiritual leaders no longer hear from God like they used to do. They no longer have time to wait on Him and listen to His heart. Many are too busy building their own empires and copying the newest trendy doctrine and style.
The Lord loves His church and is calling us to repent and return back to Him whole heartedly, to go back to the doctrines of the Bible. Not some of it, or half of it or what suits our theology but the whole counsel of God.
Christian, Preacher, ask yourself this question: If Jesus were to walk on earth preaching today, what would be His message? Do you think He would preach about money, success, self improvement and prosperity? Messages being preached today? Do you think He wiould even do many of the things many preachers do today? Or live like many preachers are living today? Seriously ask yourself these questions before God and try to answer them honestly.
Hear Paul’s boasting and testimony; Compare it to many preachers today.
“For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you “(2 Cor. 1: 12).
“ For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2Cor. 2: 17).
The Bible says, “examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine ” ( 2Cor.13:5)).. The Psalmist cried to God, “search me, O God, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting“(Psalm 139: 23-24).
Where are the true Shepherds to tend and feed His flocks? Shepherds who have been to the cross, crucified with the Master and raised with Him to newness of life? Shepherds with power and authority, feeding the flock with sound Biblical doctrines?
Brothers and sisters let us get back to the Bible. Let us return to those messages that were the core of Christ’s, His apostles and prophets hearts (Ephs.2:20). The message of His cross and resurrection, the message of the kingdom of heaven.
