There was a story of a man who had been blessed. The earth he had tilled, had brought forth abundantly; he no longer had space to put it all. He didn’t know what to do with everything he had. Then it came to him; I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down the barns I have, and build bigger ones. And then, I will have plenty room to store all of my fruits and goods. Most of us who have some age, know the rest of the story. It’s the part that explains the whole lesson. “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”

God, called him a fool. Look it up (Luke 12:13-21); that ‘s exactly the way it is written. Right then, the Maker of it all said, “This night, your soul shall be required of you” In today’s words, He continued; “Then, to whom will all of these things belong?”

As I read this story, something kept pulling at me. I found it. It was a Church in Revelation 3 [The Lukewarm Church – the church of the Laodiceans] to which the Spirit was talking; the one God said He would spew out of His mouth. Why?

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’”

The Spirit started stared off saying, I know your works. He knew exactly what they were doing; He saw every bit of it. It’s clear today, that just as in days of old, many feel that God is not really watching; because they are allowed to continue what they are doing.

Judgment hasn’t come and in reality, we’re doing very well. If it wasn’t the will of God, we would not be so blessed or have so much. We are truly prospering; why shouldn’t we build a much bigger house for God. And God answered this church. There’s only one problem; you’re lukewarm.

No matter what they thought they had built or obtained, no matter how great it all appeared to be, the finest of everything; He said, they were “wretched, miserable, blind, poor and naked.”

What troubles my spirit at the moment, is the fact that they were blind.

They couldn’t see they were that way. Their vision had become dim; and they no longer saw with the eyes of the Spirit.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to build a finer sanctuary; to build up the Lords house. We can be truly grateful that we have progressed; we no longer have to do without air-conditioning or sit on benches made of pine slats. It’s wonderful to have beautiful instruments, great sound equipment and very talented singers and choirs. But, what have we sacrificed to get it? How did those things become more important than following the Spirit; performing the things the Spirit wanted performed?

Many don’t see themselves like that today; it doesn’t even move them if you say it. We normally don’t repent of something, if we don’t see it, or feel it pertains to us; but the Holy Spirit sees.

It does not take much perception to see that these bigger barns are likely comparing themselves to other bigger barns. If we are going to compare ourselves with anything, perhaps it would be wise to ask only one question. How does what we have today, measure up against what the early church had? In power, in performance, in operation, in fullness of the Spirit and in demonstration.

Could it be said, that the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost, was greater, when we had less goods, and smaller barns? I hear those who have great barns and spiritual power too, saying to all those who will listen: We have to get out of these four walls, and take it to the streets. Because, most of the harvest, is still in the fields.

Robert Blackburn