LIVING THE LIFE
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. John 1:4
One Sunday, I had an interesting conversation with a man who was visiting our church. He was very excited about the service. He said to me, “This church is not like my church. This church is alive. This church just feels different!” I thanked him for his comments and explained to him what he felt in the church was the manifest presence of God. The living God is among us! What a great praise!
Not too long ago, I ran across an insightful quote from George Whitefield, the great revivalist of the 1700s. God used this British evangelist to shake America in the late 1730s and early 1740s. Upon returning to England after one of his trips to America, Whitefield made this sobering statement: “I am greatly persuaded that the generality of preachers talk of an unknown, unfelt Christ. And the reason why congregations have been so dead is because dead men preach to them.” What a terrible indictment… and so true!
I believe there are multitudes of dry, lifeless churches in America where preachers tell people of a Jesus they don’t even know and never really seek. They often preach “feel good sermonettes” that lack the Word of God, the fear of God, and the power of God. The result is a dull and boring religious service that is void of life, vitality, and the manifest presence of God. I believe the Hebrew word is Ichabod – “no glory” or “the glory has departed.”
CHECK YOUR LIFE
Is your life alive with the glorious presence of God? Do you talk about an unknown, unfelt Christ… or do you really know Him, love Him, and see Him working in your life each day as you seek to do His will with all your heart? If you are living a lifeless, joyless, powerless “Christianity,” the time is NOW to trade it in on the real thing. The Bible says of Jesus, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The Lord wants you to have LIFE, not religion. He wants to fill you with His joy, peace, and power.
Peter told the crowd in Acts 3:19, “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Humble your heart before God and ask Him to forgive you and be real to you. Tell Him you are tired of going through the motions of religion and you want LIFE!
He will answer that prayer. He wants to refresh your soul. Don’t wait any longer. Start living the life Jesus died for you to have… a life overflowing with the manifest presence of God.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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