I grew up in a Catholic Church. We were taught Jesus was born of a virgin, and died on the cross, to save us from our sins.

He now, Sits at the right hand of the Father, and has sent us, the Holy Spirit.

The problem was, it wasn’t personal, we confessed to the Priest, he gave us our penance, we prayed, and were forgiven.

The Holy Spirit? Not really sure what that was about?

I was saved in a Charismatic Church, we Spoke and Sang in Tongues, Lifted our Hands, Clapped, Danced, Exhibited the Joy of the Lord.

It was a personal awakening, God is Alive.

For many years, I Preached, and Taught in those circles. I would lead the Church to the Throne Room of God, in Praise and Worship.

I thought all Christians, would jump at the chance to grow in Christ, to learn to enter into the Holy of Holies, and have their needs met.

I was Wrong… Boy, … was I Wrong.

After failing as a Pastor, I climbed into a hole and hid for 20+ Year’s.

I still loved the Lord, but was not able to comprehend, what had gone Wrong.

I quit playing piano and leading Worship, I had nothing within to Teach or Share.

I was a broken man.

Then, I received a call to Substitute on the Piano in a small UMC. I needed the cash, so…

After being there several weeks, I had to ask, if it was a Church that believed in the Born Again experience?

I could not believe that people went to a Church for 60+ Year’s, that was so dead.

I realized they knew and loved the Lord, but year, after year they had just been taught the Church Calendar, the Lexicon.

In other Words, the same messages every year, at the same times, with few minor changes.

They spoke of loving the Word, but the Old Testament and what was taught in the New Testament, was only revealed in Sunday School or Bible Studies.

Since most only attended Sunday Mornings, they only received 20 minutes of the Word a week.

So those nice folks, only knew of the Miracles, and Promises of God as Childrens Story’s, and had never studied, or heard them as adults.

I was not surprised at their ignorance of the Old Testament, and spent a few years of Wednesday night’s Bible studies, teaching the first 5 books of the Old Testament.

The surprise came in teaching the New Testament. I don’t know how many times I have heard, ‘I never knew that.’

I said all that, to say this.

All the information they had, about the Gifts, the Miracles, the Signs and Wonders, was not taught from the Bible.

They were just told, God doesn’t do those things today. We now have the Bible and do not need them.

They have never been encouraged to read, or study the Word, all they needed was to be Saved, and the train to heaven would come.

It is so sad, to have baby Christians, after so many years, attending a Church.

Of Charismatic Praise and Worship, or Speaking in Tongues, that was all just ‘confusion,’ and not of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Of course it was confusion, they have never been taught, or received anything from the Spirit, except Salvation.

After 60 years of Bad Theology, they refuse to except the Truth.

Mark 12:24

“Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?”

It hurts to see people who want to love and serve God, who are not taught, or encouraged to seek Him in His Word.

A Sermon a week, is not enough, for a Christian to grow strong, and be a faithful Witness for the Lord.

If we are not making Disciples, the Kingdom is not being built.

We must learn to teach and use all the tools the Lord has given us, to build His Church.

Currently, we are making bricks, without straw. A Church, that will not stand fast, in the Trouble to come.

Sadly true. Amen

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Know, you are loved.
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