A friend sat in my office last night as we spoke of the condition of our church. By all rights our congregation should be experiencing the birth-pangs of spiritual growth, but little is happening aside from some youth being saved at camp, etc. Not to minimize the importance of that, but by in large, the vast majority of church members know what God wants, but few are compelled to do it, probably because it means leaving their comfort zone.

God revealed the message He wanted Paul to preach. Today, we have so much truth revealed, it's almost too much to absorb. It doesn't take a discerning spirit to see that today we as God's people are not experiencing significant movement of the Holy Spirit. Why? Have we not compromised our convictions to the point we look more like the world than Christ's bride?

Our altars are not crowded with repentant sinners seeking to confess sin and asking God to change them. Instead we've been anesthetized to sit in the pew and soak up truth to the point of gross gluttony, seldom if ever converting the truth we hear into action. In short; we're all "talk," but demonstrate very little "walk."

Paul had a problem with Peter, the Senior Pastor of the Jerusalem Church. When Paul pointed out inconsistencies in what the church was doing, he began to experience resistance from the "guardians" of the status quo. That's anyone in a leadership position who, rather than change his sinful ways, will defend his actions by spinning negative results to look better in a positive light. Then they use the power of their position to condemn, isolate and mute anyone who preaches a message contrary to their own, even if that "instigator" is God's messenger.

But now the real problem. You see, we have trouble discerning truth from deception. Whether our consciences have been seared I know not, but when we become unable or unwilling to change after hearing the truth that sheds light on our darkness, we've got a real problem that will only get worse. We will all die, but God's word will still be standing. It will never be subject to man's experience or interpretation, but will always reveal His word to those who seek Him.

God showed Paul a truth that Peter would not embrace when he heard it. Why Paul and not Peter? Because Paul never subjugated God's word to tradition or compromise. Peter eventually came around, but it took the rebuke of Paul and a personal revelation from God to do it. Will God do that today for someone who will not listen to truth even when it's obvious their failed ministry results are probably God's revelation of the problem?

Hasn't God always revealed truth to anyone willing to receive, believe and apply it to their life? I mean, Balaam heard the revelation by way of a donkey with more discernment than him. If God can speak to a donkey, don't you think He is able to speak to us? Sure, but remember: the donkey listened to God.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Is. 15:1-18:7 Ga. 1:1-24 Ps. 58:1-11 Pr. 23:12 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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