Revising When We Find Jesus
This is for everyone to read because there are vital things left out when we found The Lord that help to make a Foundation to our lives in Christ Jesus.
Most of us found Him through the church system and many through a Christian TV program with a one minute Salvation Prayer at the end of it – yes it’s often rushed and on comes the next program, when you have just closed your eyes to pray (usually for the first time) the interruption is so sudden.
Many of us have been introduced to a Church Jesus, with things pertaining to their church, they add to your experience; many have been introduced to a Social Gospel where the scriptural need for Repentance – a change of heart where you decide to go Jesus’ way instead of your own way is left out; the cleansing Blood of Jesus with the Joy of sins forgiven (those things we have done that offend God). Many have in fact, been introduced to a Santa-Christ, where Jesus will give you everything you want (basically) if you come to Him.
It’s on my heart to tell you something and has been in my spirit for some-time (how we are introduced to Jesus) all three of those models are wrong: the true message of Salvation is in Scripture, that which is endorsed by the Spirit of God – NO other!
That’s why so many Christians are floundering in this Day and some are falling away from Christ, no longer following Him – because of a weak foundation or a faulty one. The Lord wants to tell you something and it’s this: many of you are actually trying to live the Christian life with No Foundation and that is hard for you, I know. You can rightly say that a weak or faulty foundation actually leaves you without one, to live Closely to the Heart of Jesus, to be Strong in The Lord.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS MANY OF YOU HAVE.
I WILL EXPLAIN MORE.
The Missing Elements
With the church model, “How can this be wrong?” you say.
Because churches (and TV Ministries) so often make your Salvation experience an introduction to their church (or Ministry) and the way they do things
(almost like joining a club).
Friends, this should not be so! When finding Jesus, two is company, three’s a crowd.
In other words, you should let someone experience the moving of The Lord’s Spirit with and in them – without hindering that heavenly intervention – help them if necessary, keeping your focus on Jesus is the best way of helping theirs. You should also pray in your innermost being for their personal revelation of Him and know when to be still in silence.
Don’t play God’s part – if the Presence of Jesus is there, this should be easy for them.
The Holy Spirit gave me an illustration just now for you. It’s like Natural Birth instead of Caesarean – one is a natural delivery, God-made, the other is a forced delivery man-made.
Something He showed me just now – I’m aware of as a natural health researcher – is when we are born naturally, there is a beneficial nutritious Healthy Flora, present in the vagina, that gives the baby a protective coating and a certain something that stays with us for life.
This is Special and God designed for every birth. And so it is meant to be with us when we are Born Anew with Jesus. The natural substance is called “Microbiome”.
Now I will let you know something more__ Microbiome is something we all have in our body that is comprised of healthy and not so healthy bacteria. We also have 10 times the amount of this Flora (bacteria) to the body Cells. Each person has a different ratio of good and not so good flora. The difference at birth is that the mother’s vagina is rich in Healthy Flora, that gives the baby a good start in life and helps to give their health a stronger constitution throughout life than they would have without this coating of Microbiome.
Now what The Lord wishes to address through this metaphor is two things:
we do all have a Microbiome inside us – that is a fact – even someone who is born Caesarean.
When we have our mother’s coating, it is stronger and the benefits last us for life.
So it is when we are Born Anew through an undisturbed work of His Spirit.
When we are introduced to Jesus through a Church Model, Social Gospel or Santa Christ, that outward coating of ‘Microbiome’ (spiritually speaking) is missing because of man’s work. But just like with a Caesarean birth, God is Gracious – He does not deny that person New Birth (Salvation) the experience is not as rich.
After that, there should always be some spiritual nurturing like we had in the early 70s for instance. This is where someone personally shares scriptures in the Love of God with each person who receives Jesus. Again, this can be compared to mother nursing her child with milk and affection.
Too many new Christians are left to feed themselves by attending services and hearing sermons that are out of their depth – especially these days – or Christians attempt to bottle feed them with “Christian conversation”…….they are missing that close intimate time with the milk of the Word that Scripture speaks about. You don’t feed a baby with solids and that’s exactly what a lot of Christians are attempting to do, with their zeal for “spiritual things”.
Where there is a lot of preaching and conversation without much Scripture, it is like being bottle fed with a man-made baby formula, followed by store bought baby foods (they are not really healthy like it is often assumed they are).
So, from our early days as a Christian most times – especially these days where the True Gospel message is so diluted – we are fed a poor Diet that is not conducive to True spiritual growth as a Child of God.
Also, in the usual “church” environment, we learn to be man-pleasers – we care too much about pleasing the pastor and fellow Christians with how we live our lives or the impression we give often when it’s supposed to be Jesus and Us. Jesus did say “Follow Me”, not the preacher and not the next person. When Christian fellowship reflects this, it is a Good Thing, if not, think twice because some things written in this article could be directed to you and your spiritual needs.
The Church System we see Today is actually an artificial environment that was instigated by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 330AD: in fact, he was Self-commissioned, NOT God-appointed to do that.
Truth about the Early Church
Returning to the True Pattern
The Early Christians actually “Met in each-others houses”, not in buildings like we see Today (Read Acts 3 and Romans 15). The Greek Orators of that Day used to go and give long speeches in buildings and people would go there to be entertained.
So the Church truly functioned as the Body of Christ in Family Settings. What we see now is institutionalised – we the Church (God’s Children) were not meant to be run like an Orphanage. Sorry to say, this is actually factual. There is a book written by Lee Strobel called Case for the Creator, where he presents undeniable facts that demonstrate there is a God, we do have a Creator and what He is like. Maybe there should be another book written with the title Case for the Body of Christ, what it’s all about and what it’s not all about.
But I do know that someone has written a book in recent years called Jesus has Left the Building (not meaning that He has left those in Churches, but the Moving of His Spirit is not there most times (it is not welcome, men and women run it instead, that’s why it’s so dry and many Christians are disturbed about this). Friends, that’s why so many good Christians are leaving now, to seriously wait on God and are led to Home Churches (in answer to their prayers).
What We Find TODAY
Usually, if you feel something’s wrong, there IS something wrong. If that’s the case, I advise that you don’t go to the source of your doubts (pastors and leaders) to discuss things, simply leave and discuss it with The Lord instead. I’ve had conversations with a number of Christians who are confused in this area – they think it is wrong for them to judge, whatever, when they sense that something is wrong.
It can be a real mistake to go to such pastors or “leaders” often because they will say “Leaving? Everyone is leaving!”…….OR…… the great classic “You will have no covering”, much as to say “We’ll help you with your decisions, you’re not capable of making them”……..after-all, they have told you how to do everything else! When they fail to follow The Lord fully themselves. That’s the reason you feel so dry there. The Holy Spirit just gave me a proverb (saying) for you as I’m writing this:
A RIVER ONLY KNOWS HOW TO BE A RIVER AND A DESERT ONLY KNOWS HOW TO BE A DESERT.
He spoke these words clearly and distinctly, so I know it’s meant for someone!
Some Practical Help
Friends, let this be your guide: Where JESUS is the Focal Point of Meeting Together; where He is Freely Worshipped (without the need for entertainment); where Scriptures are Honored in the preaching and by the preacher (not just the preaching); where the Holy Spirit is Not Quenched, and Your Giftings find Expression (not just the elite); you experience family spirit…… you know that Fellowship is BLESSED by JESUS, but if it is Not, you will Not find your FATHER’S True Guidance there.
Where you go to hear the preacher and their preaching does not do much for your spirit; you are possibly entertained by a ‘professional’ group of singers or music team – there may even be inappropriate dress (very short skirts, long splits or low necklines); you are not permitted to give a vocal prayer or testimony; the Gifts of the Spirit are absent or seldom practiced (even by the pastor sometimes); maybe there’s more leaders than there is congregation (figure of speech); the Supper of The Lord is not celebrated or seldom, maybe the announcements must be made on time every week, so when the bread and wine (grape juice) is passed to you, there’s a quick formal prayer by someone (out the front) and the cup scarcely gets to your lips and is rushed away from you……you should definitely leave.
That’s when Jesus led me out of the Church Scene, when I personally went to the Lead-Pastor and requested not to have that part of the service rushed anymore. He said it would remain that way and I replied “I cannot partake any more then because to me, it would be a sin to keep on partaking”……he quickly said “A Sin! Why would you say such a thing?” then I firmly and politely exclaimed “Because the Cup scarcely gets to your lips and then it is rushed away from you”……….needless to say, he broke out in a quiet rage at me and made a hasty accusation, saying I should be out working for The Lord and not taking up the pastor’s time. Do you know something? When I first went there to that church, he was ministering with “The Anointing” and showing the “Love of God” (to everyone) for some months I was there and then he started “striving in the flesh” it was revealed to me, and things really changed after that.
Maybe this is part of your confusion, things were so right and then things went so wrong. Maybe your church is not making progress or you are not making progress? Two of the previous paragraphs are CHECKLISTS, the latter are definite indications “You should be out of there!” Do not delay in making that move – let this moment of awareness be your EXODUS.
And before you ask The Lord to lead you to a Healthy place of Fellowship, I would spend quality time with The Lord for a few weeks first to wash out the old and get a true sense of Him leading you to a new place where you can engage in True Fellowship. You are far better to leave Now than later – many Christians who have persevered and left it too late (thinking they were doing the right thing) have actually left The Lord – at the point when it really gets too much!
The Presence and Peace of Jesus be with you dear friend.
Take a step of Faith and let Him LEAD the Way! You will feel so much better
when you do that.
Stuart Gramenz has authored Books and CDs by the names of Where is Church?….. Beyond Tradition……I’ve Got You Covered. One could call his writings the most scriptually accurate concerning JESUS Church, the Body of Christ (Believers).
I highly recommend them!
Consider these Things
In most Christian Churches, believers have to shut up, sit down and be told what to do. What does all this have to do with How we Found Jesus? Everything! Why? Because that is the environment most of us were introduced to Jesus and we have been in since. Stuart Gramenz will tell you what a good House Church is all about, using the New Testament model. And it works: lives are changed, spiritual thirst is satisfied because it’s truly centred on JESUS and the precious Holy Spirit is allowed to Move…..everyone is encouraged to function……it’s much more personal: you are not stereo-typed like a batch of CDs whatever!
Who lives your Christian life anyway, You or the Pastors and Leaders?
A question so many should answer – Jesus says to us ALL “Follow Me!”
And He also said “I AM the VINE”……. “Abide in ME and I in You”
Nowhere here does He refer to the church you attend or even the Body of Christ.
He is referring to an intimate personal One on One relationship with HIM.
A Close-Knit Fellowship with other Believers goes together with that.
Most times, you are best finding that in one of the HOME FELLOWSHIPS the Holy Spirit
is Raising Up in “the Restoration of ALL things” before He Comes. All things that pertained to the Early Church must be RESTORED. He will Not Come until THEY ARE.
So if you are rejecting Apostles and Prophets, House Churches etc because you are not accustomed to them OR your Pastor does not believe in them, think again. Such pastors are actually frightened of Miraculous Signs and Wonders when they witness them (remarkable healings that take place where the Spirit of The Lord is allowed to MOVE FREELY).
A Great Concern
I once heard a true prophet of The Lord who was used mightily in Remarkable Healings and God’s Glory showed up (among His children in a 4 day conference) he reported the second night, when Christians were praising The Lord in tears, a number of Pastors who were present the night before were frightened by the real Power of Jesus present (His Spirit) ……they hardened their hearts, left the conference and spread rumours the next day about this prophetic preacher. But that’s what Jesus and His disciples did……. “they preached with signs following” and these Pastors were scared off by the real thing. I mean to say, those who preached and teached, saying they believe in miracles! They also say “You need a covering!” and they tell you that they are your covering”. Some of them even ask you to follow them blindly, saying things like “I am answerable for you, if you make a mistake based on my ministry, I will answer for it, just do what I say”.
And Jesus distinct CALL was FOLLOW ME to all of us.
I did not make those words up for you, I’ve actually heard them said some years ago.
I want to ask you this, how misguided must they be to say these things or desperate to lead your lives, in place of The Lord who said “I am going away to My Father now but I will send the Holy Spirit to you” and He referred to Him as “The Counsellor”…….it is “in God we Live and Move and have our Being” and He Knows Best.
The Lord Himself is our One True Covering – He alone has that rightful place.
Keeping Things in Perspective
There is a place for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, they are precious Gifts from The Lord. Scripture says in Ephesians 4 that “He (Jesus) gave some to be Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers for the Building up of the Body of Christ until we all reach the Unity of the Faith”. What we see often these days is Pastors and Teachers who are self-elected and man-elected (from Bible Schools of church doctrines) but Scripture says “He (Jesus) Gave” meaning, that He called, He elected and He Himself Trains and Qualifies. That’s the difference, when someone’s preaching really reaches into your heart and stirs your spirit (I am not speaking of dynamic personalities here. That preacher may have a quiet nature and speak in simple terms. The Lord moves through them, touching hearts and lives……helping believers to progress in their walk with The Lord and each-other.
Anyone can be “a pastor”……Jesus Alone makes True Shepherds.
Such men and women of God will encourage you to listen to The Lord and respect His right to lead and guide you – they know you need to exercise your spiritual faculties; they will not quench you, stifle you, dominate or lead you into extremes (things that are unscriptural and unstable). Such men and women are worth their weight in gold. They carry a low demeanour; they are not showy or pushy but people of prayer; not eager to live your life for you or anxious because they entrust you to a Faithful Savior Creator.
They will also respect your wishes if you desire to go to a House Church OR start up one. They are happy to see you spread your wings or serve The Lord. Natural parents are not meant to keep their children at home permanently and so it is with spiritual children.
Please be Advised
THE LAST FEW PARAGRAPHS DO NOT DESCRIBE MOST TELEVANGELISTS THESE DAYS – THEY BEHAVE LIKE SPIRITUAL CELEBITIES, DRESS IN EXTRAVAGENT CLOTHING, EMPTY YOUR POCKETS IN THE NAME OF GOD. THEY SET POOR EXAMPLES AND THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO TELL YOU TO FOLLOW THEM WITH WORDS LIKE “BECOME MY PARTNER, PAY INTO MY MINISTRY AND I WILL PRAY SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR YOU WHEREBY THE LORD WILL MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS (those things you have been waiting for and praying for so long)”
“REALLY, ALL THAT?”
Yes, they encourage you to make shopping lists with God and all manner of enticements, as if you are a child who just discovered Santa. Be careful the illusion does not break when your pockets are empty. JESUS calls them Hirelings that Care Not for God’s Flock.
They often encourage you to give to them in place of God’s Faithful Shepherds, instructing you to “Sow your Seed into Good Ground” (theirs – a twist on scripture).
They are so sin-sick and they attempt to make you feel guilty (with skilfully crafted verses of scripture) if you don’t satisfy their insatiable appetite for MONEY.
They are no more a Servant of God than you are Rich. If you watch carefully, you can see all their Tactics in the World’s Get Rich Schemes except for the way they use GOD’S WORD to Exploit their audience – so give them None!
How Dare they Desecrate God’s Sanctuary (His People) and take HIS NAME IN VAIN!”
Please be aware, these so-called Preachers are ruled by Seducing Spirits and that’s why they have that effect on You if you let them. Make the sober decision to quickly change the
station OR the TV off – that would be WISE!
So many of you have been hurt and disillusioned by them. They’ve even told you to give big sums of money to “get out of debt” and they tell you your Faith is not strong enough or you did not give enough when it did’nt work!
MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE LEFT THE FAITH BECAUSE OF THEM!
So please do not rely on Christian TV for your spiritual Food.
One really good Prophetic Preacher came to preach in a suburb nearby years ago
and gave this caution to Christians, he said:
“Some of you believe all manner of Woopy because it comes over the platform.
That can be dangerous. Read the Scriptures for Yourselves”
BIBLE SAYS: “Test those who are Apostles and Prophets”
The same goes for Pastors and Teachers.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, how will you know how to do this, if you don’t
SPEND TIME IN SCRIPTURES?
This is a Wise Investment in these End-Times.
This is also a Call to become Men and Women of Prayer
so you can become Acquainted with God.
“Become Acquainted with God and be at PEACE.
Thereby GOOD will Come to You”.
You will not have to Pay for your Blessings,
Simply Trust in the GOODNESS of The Lord
and see Him Move when you patiently wait for Him
demonstrating that trust.
You will be Strengthened and Grow in Faith
(never mind quantum leaps)
Yes, Steady your Eyes on HIM.
He is the LOVER of YOUR SOUL
(the inner-you that thinks and feels everyday)
You need an open bible each day.
Devotionals are also good for you.
So is some true Worship Music.
Please, if you have a good Pastor, don’t rely on him/her for all your Spiritual Food.
They would be disappointed if they knew you did that but so proud of you if they knew you are pressing into God. “Oh that I may KNOW HIM…..” said the Apostle Paul, after all those Revelations – he wanted to know JESUS MORE.
Many of you need to lay down better Foundations. JESUS is referred to in Scripture as the Foundation of our Faith, so you are actually building close to that foundation and the closer, the better, so the life you are building becomes strong and upright – yes, it remains firm and weather-proof against floods, gales and storms.
This is a picture of Jesus Words to us. You have heard of the parable “He who hears My Words and does them, he/she is like the wise person who build their house (life) upon a Rock (Jesus) and when the winds and rain came, it stood firm. But the one who built his house on sand, found his house (life, Christian walk) to be shaky”………. “Oh God, why is this happening to me to me, WHY? I’m not so sure I can trust You……You allowed this and I thought You were a Good God, kind and understanding”…….YES, He is Good, Kind and Understanding.
Jesus (God made Manifest) said “I do not say you will have Peace in the world but that in Me, you will find PEACE”. So this Peace that Jesus is speaking about is not the absence of problems and situations, but in that secret place within, our fellowship with Jesus, when you’re really close to Him…….
Jesus also said that there is an enemy to contend against, but He Came to give us Life Abundantly…….He also said “He is the True Shepherd and His sheep Hear His Voice”. So the closer we stay to Jesus, the better He can shepherd us and the more the enemy will have to back off. Because Jesus our Great Shepherd (the Best there is, has a Rod in one hand and a Staff in the other, like shepherds in the Middle East).
Now His Staff is the ‘Staff of Life’ that represents the Word of God – shepherds lead and guide each sheep with the staff in their hand. His Rod in the other hand is to ward off your enemies, just like the shepherds of Israel would give a clout to anything that would attempt to go near one of their sheep. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” said David (so he would not be anxious and trouble himself, getting distraught about life’s situations) he went on to say, “He leads me beside still waters and restores my soul” (his mind and emotions, when he did encounter hardships – sometimes He may lead us through some rocky places as well, for our Faith and Character, good training for Reigning in life, so we can help others).
This Psalm (23) has a progression: David goes on to say “He prepares a Table (of blessings) for me in the midst of my enemies (so there’s no threat here, if you are close enough to Jesus for Him to spread a table before you! David concludes this Psalm (it was a song he sang) in rapture saying “Surely GOODNESS and MERCY shall follow me all the days of my life (on this earth) and I shall dwell in His House Forever after that (in the wonderful Paradise in Heaven Jesus, spoke of).
The Lord gave me a Prophetic Word in the 70s through someone in Prophetic Ministry, confirming I had been hearing from Him along with a few Good things He had to say and when this brother left through the door to an appointment, he actually came in again one minute later with a second prophetic utterance saying “the way I had chosen, to follow Him in my calling, would not be an easy way, and to know this beforehand” with instructions that He deemed necessary for me.
In these last Days, I think this is pertinent to Every Believer to some extent. Did not The Lord tell us in John 10, that life would not be easy for us (in this world) but that life CAN be GOOD. Otherwise, He would not have promised us ABUNDANT LIFE. But like David, we must stay CLOSE to JESUS daily for Him to SPREAD that TABLE with BLESSINGS.
Make no mistake about it – we are meant to Live in the Blessings of The Lord!
Your Bible says these 3 things: “God is no man’s debtor” …… “He is not a man that He should lie and He does not change His mind”…….and…… “BEHOLD I HAVE RECEIVED COMMANDMENT TO BLESS” (That’s our Jesus)
“Blessed are those who delight in The Lord and who meditate (ponder on) His Words (at times during) the day and the evening” in other words, you are so fond of them, they keep coming to mind. It goes on to say “He/she will be like a tree planted firmly beside streams of water” (nothing can shift their eyes off Jesus because they are at Peace) “This tree Yields FRUIT in Due Season – Yes – and they thrive in everything they do” (it has the Blessing of God on it). Proverbs 1:1-3
Proverbs 10:29 says that “The Ways of The Lord are a REFUGE for the Righteous” (when you walk with a clean heart towards Him, you can trust Him to Protect you).
There are precious Promises in Proverbs for those who practice the Fear of The Lord
(truly walk close to Him) it even says that “the FRIENDSHIP of The Lord is for those who Fear Him and He makes known His Covenant to them”……..how would you like to be that Close to Him? It starts with TODAY!
The above verses are Janet’s paraphrased version. And you can do this when you spend time prayer-reading His Word, the Scriptures will become real and precious to you, that way they become more personal to you – more satisfying.
It’s up to you now.
The Lord be with your spirit.