It didn’t happen all at once. If it had, it would have been readily recognized. Corrections could have been made and the manifestation of what we see today, would be different.

In the last few years, I have become more and more involved in the things that Jesus taught. Perhaps, it’s because that my need of Him is greater than ever I’ve known.

Being engulfed in situations that only He could solve or heal, more than ever, dependent.

The word was preached in our land; there is no way to say that it wasn’t. We were encouraged to study his Word, even at home. It was a time, when everyone carried their Bible to church.

The more we read it, the more we studied it, the more we grew. There have been great conferences and meetings, where the word went forth. As I recall, Paul told Timothy, to preach “the Word.” It wasn’t about rules and laws of men; not commandments of men. But the Word. I wonder if we understood, that the Spirit, could interpret for us.

Jesus said, that things began to creep in. The cares of this world. Our ups and downs, our striving to have a good life and the need for taking care of family. But meeting together, was the one safe place we could forget; if only for a little while.

Something got a hold of our spirit; the idea, that God could do anything but fail. The spirit of men and women, is subject to mistakes and self-motivation. It was there from the beginning, and even now. We knew, that you could not program God; you had to depend on the Holy Ghost.

“The deceitfulness of riches” . . Christ said, that even this crept in; likely unawares. The striving to be bigger and better than all of our peers, took off. What we see today, is proof of the things that our LORD taught. The idea, that money and fame, would be the key to happiness.

We stopped measuring people by who they were. It slowly became, all about what you had in material things. I think there is something we can all see in the world today. The more wealth people have, the more they want. Never being satisfied.

The lust or desire for other things. Only each person can decide what these things were. What idols, have we created that takes our focus off of Him; seeking pleasures, more than seeking God.

Replacement therapy. And a walk without sacrifice. That church spoken of in the Revelation, said we have increased in goods, and we have no need of anything. Soothe us, with flattery and deceit. We have no need of following the Spirit; we’re settled. Unmovable, with hearts of stone that did not start out this way. We’re at ease.

Those at ease, have become unfruitful. We can’t produce what the early church had, neither do we desire it. It is often said, that times have changed. Perhaps, but I feel that Jesus says, it’s the thorns that have choked out the very things we need the most. Oh, the tree is there, the vine is there; but, there is no fruit on it.

What do we desire in this hour. A closer walk; following the Holy Ghost; going deeper and stronger in the ways of the Lord. It’s time to rise up and shed the thorns; clean house.

Let the Holy Ghost, lead us.

 

~ Robert Blackburn

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Robert Blackburn

 

 

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