Topic:  GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, OR LIVING THE LIFE? – By Dr. Jeff Schreve  – From His Heart 21 february    2023 

Click HERE for Previous MESSAGES

GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, OR LIVING THE LIFE?

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4

One Sunday, I had an interesting conversation with a man who was visiting our church. He was very excited about the service. He said to me, “This church is not like my church. This church is alive. This church just feels different!” I thanked him for his comments and explained to him what he felt in the church was the manifest presence of God. The living God is among us! That is what makes all the difference.

Not too long ago, I ran across an insightful quote from George Whitefield, the great revivalist of the 1700’s. God used this British evangelist to shake America in the late 1730’s and early 1740’s. Upon returning to England after one of his trips to America, Whitefield made this sobering statement, “I am greatly persuaded that the generality of preachers talk of an unknown, unfelt Christ. And the reason why congregations have been so dead is because dead men preach to them.” What a terrible indictment … and so true!

I believe there are multitudes of dry, lifeless churches in America where preachers tell people of a Jesus they don’t even know and never really seek. They often preach “feel good sermonettes” that lack the Word of God, the fear of God, and the power of God. The result is a dull and boring religious service that is void of life, vitality, and the manifest presence of God. The Hebrew word to describe many churches today is Ichabod – “the glory has departed.” How sad.

CHECK YOUR LIFE

Is your life alive with the glorious presence of God? Do you talk about an unknown, unfelt Christ … or do you really know Him, love Him, and see Him working in your life each day as you seek to do His will with all your heart?

If you are living a lifeless, joyless, powerless “Christianity,” the time is NOW to trade it in on the real thing. The Bible says of Jesus, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The Lord wants you to have LIFE, not religion. He wants to fill you with His joy, peace, and power.

Peter told the crowd in Acts 3:19, “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Humble your heart before God and ask Him to forgive you and be real to you. Tell Him you are tired of going through the motions of religion and you want LIFE!

He will answer that prayer. He wants to refresh your soul. Don’t wait any longer. Start living the life Jesus died for you to have … a life overflowing with the manifest presence of God.

ALSO READ: CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ⊗ OPEN HEAVEN ⊗ JOEL OSTEEN DEVOTIONAL⊗ ABOVE ONLY ⊗ OUR DAILY BREAD ⊗ SEEDS OF DESTINY ⊗ JOYCE MEYER DEVOTIONAL ⊗ RHAPSODY OF REALITIES ⊗ JOHN HAGEE ⊗ MFM DAILY DEVOTIONAL ⊗ DCLM DAILY MANNA ⊗ JOHN PIPER DEVOTIONAL ⊗ UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST