"The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught." (Isa. 29:13)
This, of course is the natural result of people seeking to have their itching ears scratched (2 Tim. 4:3). How many church websites promise things like "Passionate Worship" "Dynamic music" or "A modern praise band playing current worship favorites"? How many church mission statements state they want to help people become "passionate" followers and worshipers of Christ? Yet, where is all the passion? Where is all the devotion to God? The lives and influence of Christians - indeed, the life and influence of the church - belie the "passion" and "devotion" shown by so many in worship services and events all over the world. If we're honest we'd admit it's obvious the "devotion" to God shown during the worship time vanishes as soon as most walk out the door to go home. What about you? If what you display during the worship time doesn't translate to the world around you then you are likely among those described in the above scripture, to some degree or another. You can raise your hands and sing, "I love you Jesus" (even with a few tears) all day long, but you need to examine your heart and find out if it's real.
The late Dr. A. W. Tozer, author and pastor, said, “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.”
Absolute truth.
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