Easter
Tumbleweed
Noah Wulf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tumbleweed has no home. Broken at the root, it is blown about.
It is like a Christian blown about by every wind of doctrine.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Why is tumbleweed blown about? Why are people blown about?
There is no root. There is no stability. There is no participation in the body of Christ. There is no home church. Online church is not enough. One reason online church is not enough is because every member in the body has a responsibility to give, as well as to receive. You can’t serve a church that you watch through a computer screen or phone screen. The church is made up of flesh-and-blood members and each one has a work to do and gifts to share, which work and gifts are given by the Lord.
I Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
It is necessary to find a full gospel church where you believe the Lord wants you and go there.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If a branch is broken off it can become like tumbleweed, just blown about and finally burned in the fire.
The Christian life might be likened to a workout.
You don’t go to the gym once every six months, at Easter and Christmas, and expect to leave with a six pack.
Chanel Wheeler, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
It is the steady, daily application of regular routines and exercise that brings results.
The same is true in the Christian life.
The Christian life is not like a vacation you take for a couple weeks each year as you visit a special seminar but then ignore the local church for the rest of the year.
A one time seminar will bring benefit, but it won’t be the same as being part of a regular church, having regular church attendance, regular Bible study, regular private devotions, regular prayer, regular Bible reading, consistent giving of your tithes and offerings for the spreading of the gospel and consistent serving in the local church.
On-and-off Christianity is similar in practice to going to Vegas for a weekend trip, hitting the slot machines, and hoping for a win. No financial planner has ever advocated that as a way to wealth.
Yet somehow there is a thought that the things of God can be treated in a similar manner: here a little meeting, there a little meeting, and maybe a couple times at Easter and Christmas. “A little dab will do you” is the attitude.
And then people wonder why they have trouble.
Any goal takes ongoing application, dedication, and consecration to the goal. That is true in the natural whether it is a health goal, a professional goal, or a relationship goal.
That same consistent dedication is required in a relationship with God. It takes no less dedication for a relationship with God than any other kind of goal or relationship. The good thing is, God never lies, God is true, and God keeps his promises.
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
This has to be the starting point. If a person does not believe that God is, and that God will reward a person that seeks Him, then that person won’t even start the race.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote many of the epistles in the New Testament, wrote this.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Addendum:
Here is an online church if you can’t find anything locally.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
The Most Important Statistic
We use numbers and statistics all the time from the number of items on a shopping list to statistics about the economy. Groups are counted. Surveys are taken. Statistics are compared. Groups are splintered into subgroups. The numbers in these subgroups are used for anything from calculating political decisions to brand marketing.
When it comes to God, there are only two groups that really matter. The groups are divided into whether the soul is saved or not. That is the most important statistic.
We just came through the Easter season, also called the celebration of Jesus’s resurrection, also called the Passover.
The Blood of Jesus was shed for the salvation of the world. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
The power of the Blood of Jesus was foretold in these verses.
Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
The only statistic with God that matters is the state of the soul. Has the blood of Jesus been applied? Is the soul born again? There are only two states of the soul. It doesn’t matter if someone is rich or poor, young or old, or any other classification you might want to consider. Has the Blood been applied? When God looks at the soul, can God pass over the soul in acceptance because God sees the Blood of Jesus applied, or will the soul be judged? That is the only statistic that matters.
Success in the kingdom is having been born again. A person can have earthly success, and there is nothing wrong with that. Job, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all well off. Joseph, Daniel, and King David held high political office. But riches, even billions of dollars, even billions of dollars given in charity, without having the Blood of Jesus applied to the soul, without being born again, will not allow the soul to enter the kingdom of heaven. Works of charity are good. But they must come after being born again as a fruit, as a result of the new birth, not as an attempted means into the kingdom.
This is a theological battle of works or no works. Works will not get you born into the kingdom of heaven. A baby can only be born. There are no works a baby can do to birth itself. Now a baby can be born, grow, learn, work, and grow into positions of responsibility. Hard work and diligence can advance a person, but it comes after being born.
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
It is not the money or lack of money. It is whether what Jesus accomplished at the cross, the Blood of Jesus and deliverance from sin, has been applied to the individual life. Money is not evil. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. The city of God has streets of gold. God is not a poor God. God cares for the state of the soul. If a person is so controlled by money that he will lie, deceive, steal, kill, destroy, create wars and destroy nations for more money and power, that’s a problem. It’s that love of money that is the problem, not the money itself.
Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
Repost: Billy Graham (Easter Message)
Related: https://jesushroud.com/
A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.
Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.