"THE FORGOTTEN VOICES OF OUR APOSTOLIC PAST"

By J. Lee, Editor of Charisma Christian Magazine
With Editorial comments by Elder Derek Sorrells

Where have they gone?  Saints of old who, with their powerful and uncompromising voices of godliness. They challenged the Christians of their generation to embrace repentance and humility. They understood a realm of spiritual maturity and godly character that few of us today even aspire to obtain. What was their secret? They considered brokenness, selflessness and sacrifice the crowning virtues of the Christian journey. They called the church to die to selfishness, greed and ambition. They knew what it means to carry a burden for lost souls. They challenged God’s people (not compromise with them) to pursue obedience--- even if obedience hurts.

Even their hymns reflected a level of consecration that is foreign in worship today. They sang often of the cross and its wonder. Their lyrics focused on the blood and its power. They sang words of heart-piercing conviction: Like “Jesus keeps me near the Cross.” or there is power, power wonders working power in the blood.” and “is your all on thee alter of sacrifices,  your all does the Spirit control, you can only be bless, and have peace, and sweet rest, when you yield to him your body and soul”

In so many churches today the cross isn’t mentioned and the blood is avoided. Worship is a canned performance that involves rhythm and orchestration but offers no substance (of spirituality). We produce music that is trendy but lacks heart and cannot evoke tears (of conviction).

Editoral Comments: By Elder Sorrells

We’re running on empty. We think we’re so sophisticated today in using voices like, “my time is now!” or “my season of abundance!” or “My anointing is about to BLOWN up!” or “Lord expands my territory!” These are the things today’s Christian voices are uttering.)  

Many Christian’s voices today seems only concern  with having more, and in begging the Lord for abundances and much provision, and are less likely to request the Lord to touch and save lost souls in these latter times.

But like the Laodiceans we are actually poor, blind and naked (see Rev 3:14-17). We need to return to our first love, a love for righteousness, and seeking the leading of God’s spirit in our lives, but it appears that many Believers don’t know where to begin with all the falsity being taught in the church.
         
I have a few scriptural suggestions. Matt 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Many Believers are putting the cart before the horse theory and are failing with their sanctification miserably. Another suggestion, Matt 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that lead  to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which lead unto life, and few there be that find it.” The word “few” is a key word in this verse, because in the latter time many will follow after their own selfish desire, where the scripture says, they shall become more lovers of pleasure, than of God. My last suggestion is this, 1 John 2:15-16, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” The question is; why is the church (so called followers of Christ), being influenced more by worldly conditions, than the world being influenced with Christ- like ways? The answer to this is real simple; many churches are now accepting a “water down” religious doctrine. A form of Godliness, but deny the power there of the spirit of Christ. People and Believers alike say they want the truth. But when the truth is spoken or taught to them, they openly rejected it. They know the truth will deny their flesh of its worldly pleasure. On one occasion, Christ say this to them who would follow him, first you must deny yourself, in other words, let the things of the world go, and find fulfillment  in severing him and him alone. No man can server two masters, because one he will love, the other he will cast aside.
  
My stance on this subject is this; you can have this whole world, but give me Jesus. For in him there is life and life everlasting, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.

In these latter day Christianities philosophy are based on the “blab it and grab it” theory. But I hold to what Joshua said in his farewell address (he lived to be 110 years old) to the people of God. (Joshua 24:14-15), “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  My message to the body of believers in Christ, is to make an distinction in this world, letting them know who we serve, it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the captain of our souls. 

In conclusion those Christians that believes and knows that God is looking for a difference, between Holy and unholy, righteous and unrighteous, light and dark, good and evil. We must continue in making a stand for godliness and righteousness in this last day. By letting the world know whose side you’re on. Remembering what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:13-16, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I an holy.”

I recommend that we keep the same voices of old, listening to them and locking them into our hearts and minds, allowing the love of God its continual manifestation within our heart and soul until Jesus comes.