The Lord did not create this destructive shut down nor the manufactured virus which caused all this isolation. However He does work ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.
I believe He is using this global situation to shake error & falsehood out of the church. A majority of church goers, though sincere and well meaning, have accepted a type of fellowship in which we relate vicariously with Christ through our leaders. Or through social media. Or through spectator events.
One of the definitions of Vicarious:
"Experienced or realized through imagination or sympathetic participation in the experience of another."
We must be born again through a one on one encounter with Christ. No one can know Him for you. Likewise, no one can discern or learn or grow into maturity for you.
In fact a root word for vicarious is Vicar.
Vicar: "Roman Catholic Pope"
No one else can take Christ's priestly role between you and Father God or between you and Holy Spirit! This is a lie from the pit of hell. It is a substitute, a sham, a counterfeit. A divisive plot.
Believe me friend, I am not just focusing on the catholic church...this phenomena of Vicarious religion has happened in every denomination and movement. To keep us alone, isolated, empty.
We must have an encounter, an experiential revelation in Christ. Only His very countenance will light up our hearts. Only Holy Spirit can be our perfect bond & seal of betrothal (covenant).
We have 5 gifts, given to the church by Christ and listed in Ephesians. Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor & Teacher. They were given to equip the believers.
They (The 5 fold ministers) cannot know Jesus or His Word for you! They cannot even equip you if you aren't actually walking & talking with Christ for yourself! Without Holy Spirit- teachers & leaders can only reach your mind (briefly) but Holy Spirit literally carries truth, deep & rooted, into your heart.
Just as there are 5 equipping gifts given to us through our leaders .. There are 5 areas of responsibility given to individual believers. If you are not excersizing these, you may be living vicariously through your church leader.
We cannot become a corporate entity if we aren't individually bonded, first, to Christ!!! Don't feel overwhelmed by this responsibility because Holy Spirit is your qualifier & assistant. He's your personal advocate... with Him you can't go wrong.
Even if you once said the sinners prayer or were baptized or went through confirmation or catechism.. its now all about your one on one walk with Jesus...Yeshua.
You must be born again.. John 3. You must have a one on one relationship with Christ.
Here are the 5 responsibilities given in scripture so that you can know Christ and guard your own heart,
And your PRICELESS & FULFILLING
relationship to Him.
You maintain this.. no one else.
We are instructed to guard our hearts- for out of our hearts- will flow the issues of LIFE!
Proverbs 4:20-23
Your responsibility:
1. Know the Word-
Psalm 119: 11 says...
"Thy word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee"
No one can hide God's word in your heart for you... except your advocate...Holy Spirit makes it a pleasure and joy.
2. Discern the spirit behind all teaching:
1 Corinthians 12:10 & 1 John 4:1-4
Much teaching in the church is opinion or worse, false. Not just new teachers but familiar trusted teachers too. At all times. Holy Spirit will give you this discernment if you ask. He is ever present and willing.
3. Bereans checked the scripture to test & verify Paul's teaching:
Acts 17:10,11
Paul, the most prolific writer & teacher, welcomed this & so should every pastor & teacher. Holy Spirit will assist you in this. He knows the very deep places of scripture & He knows Father's heart & Jesus' heart.
4. Each individual must know how to test & discern prophecy:
1 Thessalonians 5:20
1 Corinthians 14:4, 14:29, 39
This was addressed to lay people, congregants.. everyone involved in the meeting. Again, Holy Spirit is your helper & Teacher.
5. Individual Ministers hold one another accountable in the congregations:
Galations 2:7-14
Paul boldly held Peter accountable in public.. it was correct & it was needed. Holy Spirit gives boldness & clarity... brings us into a focused, unanimous goal with ease. Holy Spirit can give a whole group of individuals ONE MIND & HEART. HE IS AMAZING.
Each believer is responsible to discern, test, search scripture, hold one another accountable. I'm not speaking of being judgie, argumentative or disruptive. That's not okay either. When Holy Spirit flows between us there is a joy, unity & peace.
I am speaking of taking up your responsibility to know the Lord personally, to know the scripture personally and to seek out discernment and wisdom with all your heart.. for the sake of corporate unity, purity & righteousness. To know His abundant heart of grace.
I am talking about Christian fellowship which develops two way conversation and communion. Two way accountability & community. Two way humility and openess. That is the foundation for healthy vibrant relationship. This is the way New Testament believers functioned.
This includes our leaders as well. They too are saved by grace alone. If a leader thinks the parishioners or congregants must not question their teaching...or if they feel they are above accountability...
something is wrong! Yet, sadly, this attitude is rife among our leaders.
We have lost this humility & openess and I don't believe the presence of the Lord is going to grace our meetings until we get real with Him and one another.
Yet, Holy Spirit is waiting anxiously & ernestly to flow in and lift us up & to bring all the understanding & grace needed. 🙌 we must become dependant on Him & not man.
I'm so tired of going to church but not really experiencing fellowship. Not truly encountering Holy Spirit or the transparency & security He provides for His people.
This global event (& the elitist control & censor plans) have caused great division & suspicion, we are not able to be vulnerable and our trust has been violated.
Yet, Holy Spirit is still the great unifier and healer. We must let Him take His place...He was given to FILL IN all the gaps. HE WAS given to take down walls between us but to raise a wall of 🔥 fire around us for tactical defence.
I desire to talk and fellowship face to face, again, with Jesus, my friend. I desire to talk and fellowship one on one, again, with my friends and fellow believers. I desire to welcome that childlike trust, again, which can only be found in our Prince of Peace.
Ephesians 4:3, Colossians 3:14
Holy Spirit is the perfect bond of peace, the perfect connector, the perfect communicator.
Holy Spirit is The Discerner.
Holy Spirit "sheds the love of God abroad into all our hearts." He is the rain, the cloud, the river that flows from Jesus' Yeshua's heart.
Let's stop limiting and grieving Holy Spirit. Let Holy Spirit flow and bond us together.
Let's stop living vicariously. Let's stop living in pretention. Like that old Sunday school song...
"Let's... open up our hearts & let the Son shine in ".
