Matthew Chapter 7
Welcome CHOSEN and LOVED by God. Do you take time for interruptions in life. What I mean is, when you have your to do list and someone stops to talk or someone needs you to pray, do you take the time for the interruption or do you go on your way? I used to be so focused on things at hand that I would rush from one thing to the next. I did not take time to truly listen and pray for people. I would tell people to “Talk and walk,” so I could continue on my path. It has taken me time to truly allow myself to be interrupted, and I am still not where I want to be, but I am working on allowing the interruptions in life. Jesus allowed the interruptions during His time here on earth. He stopped for the women with the issue of blood. He went out of His way to meet a lady at a well in Samaria. He met with Nicodemus in the middle of the night. I often think we are in such a hurry on a daily basis that we do not allow ourselves to be interrupted. The sad thing is I believe we need each other more than ever before in history. That is my opinion but I think it is true.
Today, we also need to be wary of who we listen to and who we follow. Matthew 7:15-20 in The Message Bible tells us, 15-20 “Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.”
I like the Message version of these particular set of verses because I think it is direct. In early 2020 I went to a conference in February and one of the first speakers made the statement that if your church is not teaching Jesus first before everything else, find a new church. At that time our church was focused on inner healing which is not bad by itself, but the over riding message was inner healing and then Jesus. I still remember leaving that conference with a sadness in my heart. We had attended that church for 22 years and I knew that we would be leaving.
I have told many people that the church I attend is a last days church meaning that we are being equipped on a weekly basis to live in this time period. We do not have time for the churches that are “feel good” churches that are not feeding their people meat. We don’t have time for the churches that are on the fence with teaching their people about sin and consequences of sin. We do not have time anymore to look at numbers and not at souls. We don’t have time for Pastors that will not answer direct questions about Heaven, because not everyone will be going to Heaven. People need to know that not every person is going to Heaven. The Church needs to be teaching this fact and not many are teaching True Truth. This chapter also deals with that very subject. Matthew 7:21-23 in the Message Bible again states, 21-23 “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our super-spiritual projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’”
My Pastor has said many times from the Pulpit that the time of celebrity Pastors is done. Who are you listening to? Who gets your time on Sunday mornings? Are you being equipped for this time period? My friend, who lives up North, visited five different churches and contacted many others until she found one that teaches the FULL GOSPEL. She drives over an hour one way to go to church. We drive over 40 minutes one way to church. Both my friend and I are looking at moving closer to our churches because we see the importance of the Church during this time period. It is important.
What should people look for in a church? We should look for a Holy Ghost filled church. We should look for a church that preaches the whole Bible and not just the parts that make us feel good. We should look for a church that the Pastor is a warrior for Jesus and will fight with and for us. We should look for a church that is not afraid of signs and wonders. We should look for a church that is not going to compromise the Word to make others feel good. We should look for a church that is full of the love of Jesus and shows it in action and deed. We should look for a church that offers the gift of Salvation often. Most of all we should look for the church that the LORD leads us to even if it is not right around the corner. We need a church that preaches Jesus. For me, I have found that church. I hope you have as well.
