May 17, 2020
Greetings and blessings to all of you. During this time of Lockdown, I do hope we are using this time to “examine ourselves to see if we are TRULY in the faith; test yourselves? In (Matt 7:22) the people asked Jesus, “Lord Lord did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” He said, “I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers. In the Body of Christ some ministries actually do those things but as for you and me maybe we just tithe, or just show up, or do good deeds as oppose to bad deeds. Ask ourselves are we “having a form of godliness but denying its power?” (2Tim. 3:14) Do we have or want religion without repentance and /or church without Christ? Would that be more comfortable given our propensity toward our illusion of Control/Comfort? There is a standard procedure for checking a counterfeit $100 bill using a Marker to run it across the bill. Certain characteristic will or will not show up declaring it is Fake or Real. Are you a sincere convert? Are you doing the outward things? Are you like Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8:9-25. This person was a definite false believer( a) he possessed signs/wonders (b)he had this arrogance and prideful attitude (c) he pretended to be a follower of Christ..like Judas (d) his heart was full of bitterness and he was in bondage (e) he thought he could buy the power of God with miracles and money. As with the $100 bill, God will test our Faith to see if we are truly a follower of Christ. A heart checkup if you will. When a hardship hits in your life, your faith will be put to a test. At this point, ask yourself are you a Counterfeit Christian? Will you lean on Him or the government or your own terms? Will you become sweeter or bitter? Will you become a person who loves Christ and not all the “gifts” and the outward activities in the Church? Simon saw that the Body of Christ had power but he did not believe in Jesus; he said in his heart “what can the church do for me?” Are we guilty of that? We must cultivate a True Love of Christ; we need the power of the Holy Spirit. Saints make sure you are truly saved. Are we flirting with sin? Make sure we are not the church of Laodicean…criticized by God for their apathetic, lukewarm attitude. They were neither hot nor cold. Remember YOU are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC