The Holy Spirit woke me up at around 4 o'clock am with a message for myself and anyone who is willing to hear what the Spirit is saying to the people. I recently attended a Christian women's conference and it was an informative and interactive effect, but one thing sorta bothered me. A common part of conferences is there will be a section for vendors to set up to sell products like jewelry, books, etc. and/or they have some representatives who give information about some mission or program. When I first walked into this area, the first thought that came to mind was how Jesus had went into the temple and "drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of money changers and seats of those who sold doves" Matthew 21:12. Jesus charged these sellers of 'religious goods' with being a 'den of thieves'. What would Jesus say about all the "Christian" businesses we have today?
Anything related to religion is big business. According to a report by CNSNews.com, a study by Georgetown University in 2016 estimated in the United States alone, that religion is worth over 1.2 Trillion dollars!
Why am I writing about this? First I want to confess my own sin. I got caught up in all the hype (deception), 'buy this new program it will help you with your bible study' or 'prepare for the tribulation'. Everything is presented so beautifully with colors, shiny bling, pristine packaging or fear mongering "prepare for the end of the world, buy this solar powered generator". Satan loves to tempt us by telling us lies and presenting the bait before our eyes like he did with Eve. First he twisted God's word by saying, "You won't die" when Eve answered him about what God had told her and Adam that they would die if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "Then Eve 'looked' at the tree and saw that it was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate" Genesis 3:6. Satan's mode-of-operandi has not changed. He continues to seek to steal, kill, deceive, and destroy through fear, offence, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life.
We are a materialistic, commercially driven, deceived nation. Marketing is a billion dollar industry and its main goal is to get you to part with your money by buying whatever they are trying to sell you so they can get rich. It is written, the love of money is the root of all evil. It is sad that many Churches today have 'marketing' plans. If you watch many "Christian" programs today they are always selling something: buy this book, buy this organic vitamin, buy this prayer shawl, buy this disaster plan to save your family during the tribulation, etc. They claim it's for 'the kingdom of God'. But what does the Bible have to say about this? How do we apply the principles that were at play when Jesus talked about them to modern day church? We no longer have a physical temple in which we go to pray/bring sacrifices to. The church is not a building, the 'church' is every born-again believer. Jesus said "My Father's house is supposed to be a house of prayer." not a business. We no longer bring rams and doves to sacrifice to a physical alter, Jesus took care of this on the cross by becoming our sacrifice for all eternity. Now, our sacrifice is our praise, thanksgiving, and our own selfish desires. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1.
What does the bible say about material possessions, projects, daily living?
1. "And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
2. Do not love the world or the things in this world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
3. Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23
4. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others Philippians 2:3-4
Christians are not to worry about anything, not money, homes, families, end-of-the world, nothing! We should not covet nor desire the materials the world desires. We should trust and depend on God and God alone. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD." Jeremiah 17:5.
There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to be poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and their ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth. The Good News is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, born of a virgin; Jesus lived and was brutally tortured and shed His blood and died but He rose from Dead, and now offers anyone who will believe in Him Salvation. What is a person being saved from? Hell, the most horrible place we can imagine, it is an eternal place of torture away from the true and living God in a place in which all of God's goodness is removed. Salvation is not just about being saved from hell and going to heaven, Salvation is also about being adopted into the kingdom of God, you can become a son or daughter of the Most High and you inherit all the privileges of being a child of God. Salvation is a free gift from God, anyone who will believe will receive and have a real relationship with the true God. You can't work for it or buy your way into heaven because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ and Believing in Jesus gets us into the Kingdom of God and saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Believe in the blood that was shed for you and the forgiveness of your sins, and Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God.
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.
Bible verses related to this post: 1 Timothy 6:10; Matthew 21:12, Genesis 3:6; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Romans 12:1-2, Luke 9:23, Philippians 2:3-4, Jeremiah 17:5, Mark 8:36; 1 John 2:16; John 10:10
References: https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/lauretta-brown/georgetown-study-religion-worth-12-trillion-us-economy-more-google-and
