The worship of God should be of supreme urgency. Since there is none like Him and He calls His children to be holy, our worship should be of the utmost urgency. Many, who call themselves a “church”, are presenting the entering into the Christian body as an act of joining a club. This should not be. Nor should the Church become a “how to” institution.

I remember when I came to the Lord. Had it not been for His Holy Word, the Bible, I would not have known what urgency was required. And let us not minimize the directing of the Holy Spirit in this formation of urgency. I had studied the Scriptures apart from the Church for a very long time. And it was God who led me to the body of Christ. Had it not been for this alienation from those who call themselves the “church”, I might have become a mere member of a religious club. I thank God, then, for allowing the formation of understanding.

If you are a pastor of God’s flock remember the severe judgment to come. Consider how you and your fellow elders might create an atmosphere of urgency regarding what is Holy. Though it is true that, “Whosoever will may come”, He also leaves the door of His flock open to tares. He will not remove what is unholy from the presence of His people till that day when the Angels reap for Him. How then will you regain favor if you have been a planter of tares yourself?

I write this to remind those who tend and feed that they serve the Living God. His eyes are fixed on His people. And it is wise to remember the urgent and Holy calling. I had my shot and forgot such things. I have since paid the price for such laziness. There is no need to become a victim of social christianity. And let us not be overly innocent of a truth: There are many who call themselves pastors who have not become part of the Body of Christ themselves. The last word in this post is as urgent as the first: Renew.

The following is from One News Now.  The URL is placed at the bottom of this post.

A pro-family leader wonders where the outrage is in the wake of the cold-blooded murder of two Christians who were street-witnessing in Florida.

 Tite Sufra, 24, and 23-year-old Stephen Ocean were recently shot to death by a man they had witnessed to in Boynton Beach.
 According to police, the men met 18-year-old Jeriah Woody and spoke with him for 15 minutes on the public sidewalk. The witnessing encounter was halted when Woody received a phone call and told the preachers he had to go. Police say as the pair walked away, Woody turned and followed them, pulled a gun and shot both men. He has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
 
Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission wonders why the tragic murder has not received widespread media attention.  “Had these been other types of people — perhaps two Muslim clerics or even two rabbis — I know we would never hear the end of it,” he comments. “But because these were only two African-American, young black ministers, apparently the media has not covered this, and I think that it’s completely ashamed that they haven’t mentioned this because it’s such a chilling crime.”
 
Woody is being held without bond.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Persecution/Default.aspx?id=891546

What is a professional warrior? He is dedicated to a cause. That cause is who he serves. He is dedicated to making himself ready for battle. His mind is honed to receive injury and not turn away. He is already dead, yet will fight with the vigor of a she bear. There is no thought to death. He is already received the “last rites”. He fights to live. But not for his life. The death he has received is poured out on his enemies. Every time he swings his hand, blood will flow. Until, as some point, his own blood flows away.

What is a professional Christian warrior? He is dedicated to God’s cause. He is dedicated to making himself ready for battle. His mind is honed to receive injury and not turn away. He is dead already, yet will fight with the dedication of a lamb. There is no thought to death, yet death goes before him all his days. The sentence of death has been passed on him and he has received life through repentance and humility by the power of Christ Jesus’ sacrifice. He fights to die. He has received life and therefore pours out that life through every action he makes. Every thought has been considered before it reaches his lips. And his dedication to God’s ways causes him to restrict every habit and action that he might cause another to stumble.

When you meet a professional Christian warrior, you will know him. He will not proclaim his title. You will see the marks of the battles he has fought in his manner. The longer a man endures the Christian way, the more obvious those marks of his Lord. The world knows who does and who does not belong to them. Is it not curious how the Christian faith has been so watered down that we rarely meet a warrior in Christ any more?

When I consider the nature of a man of battle I find myself admiring the strength of dedication he exudes. His simple presence charges me with a desire to imitate his ways. Ladies and Gentlemen of Christ, let me say that it is not possible for us to know the joy of Christ when He watches a man or woman prepare themselves for service. Only He knows what such a person is capable of enduring. And He knows who they are. He is watching with great interest as we walk before Him.

What will we say and what will be said to us when we stand before Him on that day? For myself I know what this post is provoking in me. I want to scream out at the top of my lungs, and from the tallest place on earth so that every Christian can hear:

“TO THE WALLS, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS! ARM YOURSELVES FOR BATTLE! THERE IS A WAR ON! CAN’T YOU SMELL THE STENCH OF SIN AROUND YOU? WHERE IS CHRIST IN YOU? STAND AND FIGHT NOW, AS IF THE NEXT BLOW YOU STRIKE WERE THE VERY LAST BLOW STRUCK AGAINST SIN.” S T A N D!!!!!!!!!

1. The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect

2. And he took up his parable and said–Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens,

3. Concerning the elect I said, and took up my parable concerning them:

The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling,

4. And the eternal God will tread upon the earth, (even) on Mount Sinai,

5. And all shall be smitten with fear And the Watchers shall quake, And great fear and trembling shall seize them unto the ends of the earth.

6. And the high mountains shall be shaken, And the high hills shall be made low, And shall melt like wax before the flame p. 32

7. And the earth shall be

8. But with the righteous He will make peace.

And will protect the elect, And mercy shall be upon them.

And they shall all belong to God, And they shall be prospered, And they shall

⌈⌈and⌉⌉ righteous, who will be living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked ⌈⌈and godless⌉⌉ are to be removed. ⌈which⌉ the angels showed me, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is for to come. ⌈And appear from His camp⌉ And appear in the strength of His might from the heaven of heavens. ⌈wholly⌉ rent in sunder, And all that is upon the earth shall perish, And there shall be a judgement upon all (men). ⌈all⌉ be blessed. ⌈

9. And behold! He cometh with ten thousands of

And He will help them all⌉, And light shall appear unto them, ⌈And He will make peace with them⌉. ⌈His⌉ holy ones To execute judgement upon all, And to destroy ⌈all⌉ the ungodly: And to convict all flesh Of all the works ⌈of their ungodliness⌉ which they have ungodly committed, And of all the hard things which ungodly sinners ⌈have spoken⌉ against Him.

With sight comes added responsibility.  With sight comes an awareness of the hidden sins people might keep from one who is blind.  With sight comes added awareness of the Glory of God’s creation.  And with sight comes an added awareness of how small and wicked our heart has become.  Do you really want the Lord to open your eyes of faith and spiritual understanding? 

The same can be said of our ears, tongues, hands and feet.  With God’s enabling we become more effective.  But most important of all this “enabling”, might be our heart.  We are told that it is out of the overflow of our hearts that our mouth speaks.  And if we think of the things our tongues have given life to, we are sobered.  And it is with the heart that all things detestable are made manifest.  Where our heart is, there our treasure will be also.    The Lord also told us that the wicked will honor Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him.  Showing themselves to be wrapped in the lie of ritual.  And void of the knowledge of the Living God.

Are you ready to see?  Is there preparation you can experience that might cause you to be more able?  God is merciful and just.  Simply asking Him to let you see might not grant you sight.  Perhaps it would be best to ask for a renewed heart.  Clean the inside of the dish and the outside will become clean also.  To serve the God of all creation is no light matter which can be attained by mere words or weak ritual. 

By His Grace.

A great archer appears on the range.  His servants had been busy making arrows, honing the shafts, grooming the feathers, and sharpening the tips for their master.  His bow is huge and his strength is amazing.  His feet are placed.  His legs like iron.  His hand fits to the bow.  The first arrow is placed on the string.  With little effort, the archer pulls and fires.  With the sound of a screaming Eagle, the arrow soars down range.  And finds the absolute center of the target over a mile away. 

He reaches to his servant’s hand to accept the next arrow.  As he places it against the string and bow he notices it is not perfectly straight.  With a slight frown he pulls and releases.  As he knew it would, the arrow shatters into splinters and lay on the ground before him.  All day long he plys his trade with unwavering determination.  Each arrow is tested and either proved or destroyed. 

We are the Lord’s.  His servants minister to our need at His command.  We walk that we might become worthy of He who calls us.  What will be the outcome when our time comes to serve?  We “walk”.  Do we “Walk” well?  Is He able to hit the mark with our service?  Or might we become splinters to be gathered and burned.

To each is given.  To each is required.  To God be all Glory, Honor, Praise, and worship.  In the Name of Jesus, the Christ of God, may all who call upon the name of the Lord turn from evil and seek Holiness before His face.

By His Grace.