19 July 2016

WHY IS THE CHURCH IN THE WEST FAILING?

By John Ollis

Statistics and sheer visible facts confirm the church in the West seems to be failing. In many churches the average age of the congregations are in their 60’s and 70’s which means unless the church  starts to get desperate and seeks God for revival, where will the church be in say ten years time. Of course there are the hotspots or mega churches that dramatically inflate a denomination or movement’s statistics. Yet, in other parts of the world despite persecution and martyrdom the Church is growing. Such as places throughout the Middle East, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and of course China

 WE MUST ASK THE QUESTION WHY?

It would be easy simply to make excuses, but the problem IS NOT GOD’S FAULT. Right back in the Old Testament God told Moses and King David to build a “dwelling place” for His presence, but they must build according to the pattern. Both followed God’s instructions and the result was the glory of God came and dwelt in these dwelling places.

The principle continued in the New Testament Jesus said “I will build my Church” working through His people to see it come to pass. He went on said He would give the Church a set of keys to unlock the Kingdom of God to the world. There is no specific teaching in the Gospels regarding these keys but there is no doubt he taught the Disciples what these keys were, John declares if all Jesus said and did was recorded there would not be enough books to contain the information.
In Acts 2 the Church is born, and immediately we see some keys in 2:42-47
Teaching (Apostle’s Doctrine)
Fellowship
Breaking of bread (Holy Communion and sharing together)
Prayer
Then in Acts 4:23-31 we see more keys
Unity
Prayer
The Word of God
Signs and wonders
The Name of Jesus
Being continually filled with the Spirit
Bold anointed preaching of the Word
We come to Acts 9:31 and we read,
Then the  churches throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria had PEACE and were EDIFIED, and walked in the FEAR OF THE LORD, and in the comfort of the HOLY SPIRIT, they MULTIPLIED.
The early Church was fulfilling the GREAT COMMISSION and this was the result,, they had effectively taken the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria (parly as a result of persecution) and were soon to go to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8)
May I ask you to mediate on the principle IF WE BUILD GOD’S WAY WE GET GOD’S RESULTS,  and then read and meditate on:
Matthew 16:18-19
Acts 1:8, 2:42-47, 4:23-31, 9:31.
Jesus and the Word of God is unchanging so what do we need to do?
The Children of Israel in the wilderness were trained to regularly look at the cloud above the Tabernacle, and if it began to lift up, then this was a sign for them to pack up their goods and chattels, get into family and tribal order, and when that was complete the cloud would move. They could have stayed at their camp site, but would have died in the wilderness, as there was only manna, and quail and water where the cloud rested.

Sadly, I think the cloud has moved some time ago, that is why we are dying in the wilderness. Why are some churches growing? I want to believe they are “building according to the pattern of the Word”, although in some cases I see compromise just to retain and keep numbers, this will eventually cause those churches to fail unless their is a return to the Word.

IS IT TOO LATE FOR CHANGE? NO WAY.

But we need to repent, have a major change of mind, but let us never forget,

THE METHODS MAY CHANGE BUT THE MESSAGE MUST STAY THE SAME.

We must surely be closer to the Lord’s return than at any time in history, so we need to recognise, we cannot sit around and debate this issue, are our eyes opened to see.

CHANGE MUST START TO TAKE PLACE NOW.

Margaret and I attended a lovely Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Concert last Sunday in one of our local Salvation Army corps. it was a blessed and refreshing experience. The Songsters (choir) sang a song that I had never hear before, and I spell out the words below.

WAKE UP CHURCH WAKE UP!
How Lovely is Thy house O Lord, what joy we find inside as we in blessed peacefulness abide. How comforting is the music, how comfortable is the pews, as we rest, rest rest in the Lord.
Wake up church, wake up, the Lord is calling you. He’s calling wake up church wake up, There is Kingdom work to do, so arise and shine, now tell the world your light is come.
Wake up church, wake up! There’s plenty of time to rest when life is done.
We can’t hide inside the walls, sitting on the pews, and we can’t refuse God call to us to go and so arise and shine, Now tell the world your light has come.
Wake up church wake up! There’s be plenty of time to rest when life is done, so arise and shine and Give God the glory, glory, rise and shine and give God the glory glory, rise and shine and give God the glory. Wake up church and give God the glory glory .
I am sure the author wrote a little tongue in cheek, but they are challenging words,.

CHURCH IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP AND FULFIL GOD’S PURPOSES IN OUR GENERATION.

Do you agree with me ?? I would love to hear your comments.