I find it troubling how many people do not know Jesus; I also find it more troubling how many people do not properly know Jesus. There are many people who are not saved, and there are also many people who think they are saved, but truly are not. Many people might go to church once a week or even twice a week, but they lack a true understanding of God’s Word and who God truly is. Jesus did not call us to be casual Christians, if we want to follow Him then it requires a radical change in our life for His glory alone.
Let me give you an example of a casual Christian, one who’s Bible gets dusted off once or twice a week, or their Bible app only gets used twice a week. When was the last time you opened your Bible and asked Holy Spirit to teach you? What is your prayer schedule like, do you have one? We have a schedule for everything else in life, do we have one for prayer? Or do we just pray when we go through difficult times? Are the pages still sticking together in your Bible? Do you only go to church to receive a special blessing?
Where in the Bible does it say the power of God would cease or fade away? God is still on the move today according to His sovereign Will. He is supreme, even during trial and tragedy. You are in dangerous waters if you believe that there is no authority in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for today. I am not talking about praying for your own personal gain, I am talking about a prayer life that is led by the Holy Spirit, and in accordance with God’s Will.
I see so many people concerned today about mental health. Let me tell you something, most people who have mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are under the oppression of the devil. Many people in churches suffer from these mental health issues and yet receive no prayer for it in their church. The tactics of the devil must flee in the name of Jesus Christ. The problem today is the church on average does not let the true Holy Spirit in, it wants to have worship and a sermon done in an hour. The other problem today is the church lets a spirit that might look and sound like, or better yet feel like the Holy Spirit, but it is not something of God. We have too much of dead Christianity today and too much of New Age in the church, that has worked its way in from years ago and now has been mainstream today.
What does the Bible say about a person who hears the Word of God, but does not understand and absorb it? Jesus said in Matthew 13:19 (ESV), “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.”. I also like how The Message translation has it translated “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and does not take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.”.
It is one thing to hear the Word of God twice a week. But we are called to study it and absorb it daily. I like how John Piper says it “swim in the Word of God”. Jesus said in John 14:26(WEB), “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.”. Always when you are reading your Bible asking Holy Spirit to teach you. Make good notebooks.