We need to have a talk, all of us. The Church of God is hurting. People are leaving churches because they are disillusioned by what is happening now in the world and in their neighborhoods, and what is worse, many churches are incapable of helping with their member's issues and circumstances. Many churches have forgotten who they are in Christ; they no longer have the power to change people's lives in a way that is meaningful for them or for the people in their lives. What could be the reason for this 'falling away of the church'?

Revelation Chapter 2 1-5



“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:



These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the LOVE you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.".....

I have to consider all of the things that have happened in my life in the last 10 years, and I realise that the Lord was teaching me about Love. I had to learn who God was, and how He sees me, and I needed His Love and encouragement, so that I would know what true Love is like. After all, how could I demonstrate a ministry of Love to the whole world if I don't know what true Love is like?

And, what is even better, I learned about His sweet and encouraging Love, while being 'human'; that means I learned that He Loved me even when I had fears, anxieties and issues. He poured on the Love, into my heart and mind, to let me know that He approved of me, and that He found me valuable. The strength and depth of God's love is amazing and awesome, and that is why we worship Him, because His power and His might is in the strength of His Love!



He expects His people, the Church of God, to express that kind of love from their hearts to everyone in their lives, to family, to friends, to neighbors and coworkers, to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, to the people that they don't know but encounter everyday in the streets and the alleyways of life: my question to you now is, how well do you believe that your church expresses the Love of Jesus Christ?



Do you believe that the Church of God is operating from true Love, from deep compassion and kindness? How many times have you wondered about the mission of your church and if that mission is being fulfilled? Have you wondered if the Lord approves of what He is seeing happening in your own church? When you think about your church, does that thought fill you with pain or anxiety? It may be time to evaluate whether or not you are a member of a church that is focused upon expressing the pure Love of God, or if you are a member of a somewhat kind and considerate organization that happens to do 'good' deeds and enjoys participating in religious practices, but has no real connection to the God of heaven.

I have seen what it is like to deal with people in 'religious' organizations that are functioning from a place of doing what they think is right; they follow christian principles, and they do what they believe is right for their community by offering services they believe is necessary to help others, but I have also felt uncomfortable in the presence of these people because I did not feel any love or acceptance from them. I know what it is like to feel that someone who does not know you well has probably already measured you, and in their hearts you are lacking, you are not anywhere close to their standards.

What can be done to help the church of God in these last days? The Lord already has the answer: "Seek My face and look for your answers in My Word, look within your own heart and ask yourself if you really believe in the power of Love. Follow in the footsteps of My Son, Jesus Christ, and learn to love like He loves. How can you learn to love like Him? By surrendering your heart and mind to Me, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in your heart, so that you will see my people the way that I do."



Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of our sins, and He loves us with a Love that is beyond our comprehension. He was willing to give us eternal life, Love and peace forever and ever in His presence; No one in this world is beyond the Love of Jesus Christ, but they must choose to live for Him and His standards and not their own. You must choose to be bold in your love, be willing to be a friend to the lost and the broken, to the widow and the orphan, to the 'bad' people of the world; how else will they understand what true love is?



(Jesus says) "I Love you, I died for you on a cross on calvary; no one will ever love you more than I do, but you must know that I cannot continue to bless you, My Church, if you are unwilling to show my Love to the world."

from the true world of God Blog
https://learningtoliveandloveinthewordofgod.blogspot.com/