Church, how do you fight a war?
Do you fight by...
1) Sticking together in groups, obeying your commanders, and fighting side-by-side with other soldiers.
Or do you fight by...
2) Disbanding and hiding among the enemy, blending in, until the war ends.
If the number one above is your answer, then why is the Church following number two?
What are we going to say to the commander when He asks us, “Where were you during the war?”
Are you going to tell Him that you were hiding among the wolves (enemy), not answering the call of the Sheppard (commander), when He came looking for you?
The reality is, we cannot hide from our commander (Jesus), He has us in His sight all the time, we are the ones who try to hide from Him, while He constantly reaches out to us, trying to bring us home.
Matthew 10 : 38:
38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
And we will never lose the Good Fight when we stay close to Jesus, obeying His every command.
Today, the Church is hiding among the wolves, dabbling in the world, instead of standing tall for Christ, and having an intimate relationship with Him. We think that our complacency will go unnoticed, and that we will be all set when the day of the Lord arrives.
My reply is - Who are we kidding?
Matthew 25 : 1-13:
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'
9 " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'
10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'
12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'
13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Church, our lamp oil is running low and we have fallen asleep, wake up and seek the anointing oil of God! Return to your first love! Do not turn off the alarm clock!
Reach out and keep fighting the Good Fight for Jesus!
Matthew 25 : 14-30:
The Parable of the Talents
14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
What have you done with what God has given you? Are you hiding your talents? Hiding among the wolves, thinking that they will not devour you?
Follow Jesus' instructions and walk close with Him. Let the Holy Spirit guide your footsteps, refill your lamps and make wise use of the talents God has given you, while there is still time?
Today, the Church needs reform, we are complacent and hiding among the wolves, hoping to save ourselves on the Day of the Lord's return. The Church will be called into account for what we have and have not done.
But in order to reach out successfully, we must first be right with Christ ourselves. I have never seen a dead horse do much good for a journey, it will not get you far.
Church, Jesus died a horrible death on the Cross for us! Fill your lamps, use your talents, grow the Kingdom of God, and stay ever ready!
Blessings,
Christopher Moss

