A Reality Check

In Part 1 of this message, Iverna took us to Psalm 127 - "Unless the Lord build the house..." We have been challenged to take a realistic look at our own lives and ask: Are we actually living out (day by day, for all to view) what we testify is the way of the Christian life in God?

Reality checks for Christians are few and far between. They are, in fact, rare! That’s why the world doesn’t believe our testimonies. We tend to say one thing (too often inflated or exaggerated) and actually live another! The people around us can see the difference – and will not want what we have – if it isn’t working! What we ought to be doing is making sure our lives live up to what we testify – that’s what I mean by “a reality check.”

This is a terrible time to be alive. Do you know that? It’s a wonderful opportunity to witness, but it’s. . . . It is just a pain to live in these times! It’s so hard to maintain our testimonies. Don’t you ever want Him to beam you up? :-) But we’re here – and it’s now. I mean, may I be honest enough to say this? “We’re stuck with this generation! All three of them alive today – or four. These are tough times! It’s hard to walk the Christian walk.

These are times when comedians make fun of the church in general and of us (Christians) in particular. It seems as if, in their repertoires of jokes, the jokes about “us” are the funniest of all. Let me ask you a question: How is it that a comedian can use the same language we use? Don’t pretend you’ve never heard them do that. (We want to think or pretend we’re so innocent. :-)) Of course you have heard the world use our peculiar language. You can’t turn on the television without hearing the same words coming from them that we use. “Well – he got born-again.”

Not long ago, I had the television tuned in to the contest of dancing. Soon there was a couple that came out to perform, and in their choreography they were mimicking the movement that is somewhat characteristic of black churches. So, they were doing their dance – and hey! They were good! :-) The music was great too. When they were finished performing, they took their places before the judges and the emcee said, “Well, what do you think?” and called the first judge by name. His response was so interesting to me. He shouted: “Hal – le – lu – jah!” with all the inflection in just the right places.

The camera went to the next judge and the emcee said to her: “What do you think?” And she declared, “A – men!” with great enthusiasm. Then the third judge jumped in too with the same lingo: “I’m saved!” The whole audience applauded and shouted in agreement! Why? That should have been a foreign language for them – because it’s the language of the church. But no, it wasn’t unusual. It is a common thing in our hearing – we who look and act so much like them, yet we use our little churchy phrases – “Oh! Hallelujah!”

We’re so careless – because they watch a life that doesn’t measure up to “Hallelujah!” You know what the word means, don’t you? It’s actually like saying: “Praise to Yah!” Or, “Praise You, Jehovah!” But the world around us sees in too many of us a life that cheats – just like they cheat. A mouth that curses just like they curse. A sense of humor that guffaws just like they do and when they do. Are you with me? Do you see it?

This week, while I was watching today’s message grow in my spirit, I thought “Oh, this is so bad to come in to dedicate a church and beat you up.” :-) But I promise we are living in that next dimension where the Holy Spirit has directed a huge spotlight on His Church and the reflection is heavenly! Praise God!

You see, there are times when the Lord covers us. He really does. He just covers our failings. We get by with. . . .. How many know, we as individuals, generally, have gotten by with – a lot! – and the Lord doesn’t let anyone else find it out. How many know that but don’t want to admit it? :-) Yes, I see you out there! :-) But there are times when He pulls back that divine covering and says, “You can live the life now because I’m in you and I am the Life! 'I am the Resurrection and the Life' (Jn.11:25) and you don’t have to live like the world! You can live in it – and should! But you don’t have to live just like them. You’re different. You’re Mine!”

Now, we’re not going to buy a bunch of houses all together so we can have a communal-living thing where we never have to touch sin. You are dispersed out among the company – deliberately – and on purpose – by the Lord. It’d be fun to take a map and just dot where everyone lives. We’d all look at the lighted map and be amazed. “Hey! WOW! Oh, WOW! Look! We’re stretched way out there! Well, where do you work?” And we’d all respond and then put up those lights too.

So – why do you suppose it is that we reach out so far across this geography? Because He wants illumination of His glory – everywhere. Ev-’ry-where.

You’re not supposed to be a different person when you come here on Sundays than you are any other day of the week. I mean, you may think you are. You know – you can have it bad out there (be bad even :-)) and then walk into the church on Sunday and muster it up to say: “Glory to God! Let’s sing! He’s so wonderful!”? Not so to be. The Lord looks down from where He sits and – do you know who He sees? He does see how you were out there – all week long. Stop and think about that. Oh, it does get quiet in here.

Except the Lord – build me. Build me up. Strengthen me. Oh, yes. I have to cooperate with Him. Every song we sang today led us toward this. “I’ll cooperate with You, Lord. You are everything! You’re my help! I look to You, Adonai!” But that same heart has to be mine on Monday – and Tuesday – and Wednesday – Thursday – Friday – and Saturday.

You men – and women – that work out there with the godless. . . that are employed out there in the godless world – where everything is acceptable. . . . I’m not just talking about swear words and that kind of thing. I’m talking about philosophies that are shared freely – other ways of thinking and living – many contrary to what we believe. And there we are – right in the midst of all that. Did you ever feel like, you just needed a bath when you left your job? Because of all the stuff you heard and encountered?

I have to tell you this as 'Mom': Be ready – because it is going to get worse. You see – it’s just there – the filth. That is the simple truth. Without the divine and direct intervention of God, that condition is not going to diminish. The programs on television these days are not just cute or funny. They’re cleverly constructed to present evil without fear – to present filth as normal – and things as funny that take away all the principles of purity. You be wise about it. Don’t fall for all of that. And don’t go home and kick a hole in your TV either! :-) Just learn a little bit of discipline – and understand that we need to speak as loudly with our living as they speak with their presentation for all to see.

The house – an individual – just a common house.
The house – a family.
The house – the House of God.

I believe the Lord wants to build in us – a new respect – for the House of God. I watch things go on during services that truly grieve me. In many places – whether in a big church or a little church – there is a lack of …. I see people looking around and writing things down – and I'm not talking about sermon notes. :-) They get up from the middle of a pew and go out down the central aisle, come back twenty minutes later and cause all sorts of distractions. They just don’t pay attention to the leaders on the platform and show little or no consideration for the others seated near them. There simply is no longer a healthy respect for the House of God. There’s no sense that when you step inside the sanctuary, God is there to meet you.

I hear some of you thinking out loud: “Well, I have Him in me all the time and I don’t even have to go to church…” Maybe you do – but there’s another whole blessing in attendance and participation where His Body meets. It’s a plus blessing of His presence when His people gather together. That’s not only my personal opinion – that’s the Word of God: “How blessed is it when brethren dwell together in unity” (Ps.133). Furthermore, He says, “I’ll be there. I’ll be there in the midst of them. I will be there in the midst of them” (Mt.18:20, paraphrased). That’s why it’s easier to get blessed in church than it is at home – because there are many of us together, full of His Spirit and moving in faith.

This has been a horrendous week for me – just the pits! One of those weeks I’d like to forget – and am glad it’s over! When your Pastor stands up here and declares: “Faith! Let’s talk about faith! We bought this building with no money and we fixed it up and we didn’t have any money to do that and. . . . ” And she stands up here and declares, “Faith!” What happens to me? That’s a spoon – and it stirs up my own faith and I can agree: “Yeah, me too, kid!” :-)

We do that when we’re with each other. We just stir each other. Faith is contagious, you know, and it is important for us to encourage and exhort one another in these things.

I have a friend in ministry who is here today that is preparing to venture out into a whole new area – going to Minnesota (I’m so sorry for you – do you know there’s snow up there! :-)). Susan is to start a prison-work they’ve never had before. I’m sure she’s heard from all kinds of people wondering: “You’re leaving your home? Why are you going so far and what if they don’t… and what if you…? Oh, Susan, don’t go – what if…?” It’s just faith. If God says it, there’s no vote! It’s just, “Yes, Sir!” You see, we’re in the Army of the Lord. And the thing to do is to hear the order right!

I want us to read a few statements and consider the truths we discover in them. Take time to think about what you are reading – one statement at a time. I pray you receive some revelatory insight as the Spirit moves on your understanding.

“The soul of man, which was formerly the habitation of God [in the Garden of Eden] is now in a state of ruin.” Or, “the soul of man that was one with God is now in the state of ruin.” It’s the soul – the mind and emotions, the conscious will and intellect – that part of man that relates to the world around him/her. It is ruined (by sin) when you compare it with how God created it to be.
“The ruins of this soul must be repaired (renewed, regenerated, made alive) that it may once again become the habitation of the Spirit, because the Spirit of God [when you’re regenerated or born again] is God Himself dwelling in you as He dwelt in Adam at creation.” It has lost its ability to communicate or relate to God because of this sin, and must be made able to function again.
"Jesus Christ is the only foundation upon which this house (this person, this soul) can be rebuilt." The only foundation!

There is no other foundation upon which we can build our lives and be successful. Go through your New Testament – get a concordance. You’ll see I’m not exaggerating. You just can’t build your life if you don’t build it on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone. Everything goes up from that cornerstone. The plumb-line is established in Him and on Him. Nothing will be the “right anything” if you don’t build your life on Jesus Christ. The measurements will be all crooked and out of alignment. You’d be crazy if you don’t build your life on Jesus Christ.
“The doctrine of God’s grace is the model plan according to which the building can be raised.” It's His grace – totally undeserved favor, freely given by God to the regenerated person.

I say to my friend, Tom, who works in the construction field: “Tom, I want you to come and build for me such-and-such.” The first thing he has to do is look at the rough ideas for what he’s going to build. “You want me to add on here and you want it to be a free-standing building. Okay, what else do you want?” The second thing he does is to develop a plan for this building – a design – to meet my satisfaction. The third thing he has to do is figure out the materials that it will take to construct the building. You see –building is a process. One – two – three.

If you think we can call you forward in a church meeting, lay hands on you, and make you instantly mature, you’re wrong. We can lead you to Jesus Christ, and at the time you surrender your will to Him, you are instantly born again. You are born into a different kingdom than you were in before (Col.1:13,14) – a different realm. That is simply: add water and stir. It’s a fast thing! And, if you ask Him to fill you with His Spirit – that’s a fast thing too! It happens when you ask.

But everything from then on takes dual cooperation – you together with God. And that isn’t an easy path. I say with all my heart: “Lord, I’ll go all the way with You. You lead and I’ll do it.” And the first step I take puts a thorn through my foot. :-) You know what I mean. So, while I’m sitting down pulling out the thorn, I’m mad at Him :-) and I tell Him so: “I gave my life to You. I promised I’d follow where You led me. What is this?” What do You want?

I pull out the thorn – stand up – I’m still mad – but take a step and – I’m instantly healed! “WOW!” – or “Glo-ry!” :-) (“WOW” is just as good – if it comes from the heart. :-)) And I’m ecstatic! “Lord! All right!” I sing: “I’ll walk with You, I’ll trust You, Lord…” And I’m ready to move again. I go – and I go – and I go – and I get into another if-y situation – and I’m mad again. That’s because we have an erroneous concept that if we give everything to Him (I’m preaching to the preacher right now :-)). . . . If we give Him control of “us” – our lives – and we trust Him and adore Him – we have this idea that life should run fairly smoothly.

But when He smoothes it out – are you ready for this? :-) Yes or no. When He smoothes it out, it’s iced over. :-) And now, instead of thorns, you have a slippery way! :-) Did you ever try to make forward progress and as you take one step, you slip back two? Take one step forward and slip back again. See, that’s His ice rink. :-) How else are you going to learn to depend on Him?

You’re not on this job because you’re good. :-) You’re not off a job because you’re good. :-) “Not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal.2:20). “Thank You for the job, Lord.” “Thank You for – this… Thank You for – that… Thank You for… Thank You, Lord…” We need to come back to giving thanks to God for all He hath done! That way, when we come to the House of God, we will be so God-conscious – pity parties won’t have a place!
“When we are re-edified, each person is to be a Temple of the Lord, made [listen now] made inwardly pure and outwardly righteous.” “When re-edified…” Edify in the Scripture means “to build up” – and that’s what the prophetic word is supposed to do – “supposed” is the key word in that statement.

Pause a minute and think about that. He’s trying to purify us within – that we might outwardly be righteous. Now, try to reverse the order of that. [Pause again long enough to consider that]. I believe that there are thousands of people today, Sunday – in our own city – going to church some where, feeling very pure – just because they chose to attend a church.

“What’d you do today?” “Uh… I went to church.” At times they say, “I went to the House of God.” My question follows: “Was He home?” :-) Some people never check to see if He’s there. :-) He gave us the key so we just unlock the doors and go in – and do our own thing. And that is so sad.