STICK WITH THE PLAN

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ~John 3:19

The scriptures make it clear that the world hates Christ. The message of the cross, from the world’s side is this: “Away with this Jesus! We do not want him; we do not want the conviction that his presence brings. We are content to live our lives without him.”

With this being the truth, how in God’s Name can we try to make Jesus acceptable to a world that will accept him only according to their standards? To a world that hates him?

If you’re Wal Mart, it may make sense to ask in a survey: “What do you want us to provide that would make you feel comfortable in our store? But if you’re the church that is found in the scriptures, it makes no sense at all! Can you imagine Peter making the following declaration in the upper room:

“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said, Men and brethren, I know that Jesus clearly told us to wait here until we are endued with power from on high. But I am concerned about how the people will respond to another just like Jesus. I propose that we go to a church growth seminar, where we will learn how to survey the Romans who crucified him and the Jews who hated him and find out what they want in church.”

It’s clear what they want; they want a Christ that is dead and out of their way! Or better yet, they want a Christ that conforms to their world, one who doesn’t interfere with their lifestyles.

Such a survey would have proved one thing in Peter’s day to the Romans and the Jews: Jesus was still dead and the church that they were being asked to attend was a church with no Presence of God.

There is a survey that God is commanding of his people in these last days: a survey of the scriptures. It is here that you will find that it is not a new word, but an old word that God is speaking. It is here that you will find that the old word is the new word—that which he spoke is that which he is speaking because his word is timeless.

It is here that you will see that when the promise that God gave Abraham and Sarah finally came to pass, it was not a new promise but rather the same promise they had heard in the beginning.

And it is in the scriptures that you will find that the same is true for the church today: there is no new promise of power, there is no new plan. The church is the revelation of Christ on the earth and the plan is for the Holy Ghost to come as the Spirit of revelation and the Spirit of power. Oh, but he has already come, some will say.

Yes, but he is forever coming. Stick with the plan!