Dear Friends in Jesus,
Our Lord has put something on my heart that I want to share with you.
I was reading in Hosea chapter ten. Our Lord was speaking to his people Israel and I believe the same sins that Israel was committing, are very similar to the church in America today and in many other places in the world as well. We read in verse one and two.
“Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude
of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land
they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty:
he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.”
The church in America is an empty vine, because the fruit she bringeth forth is for her
self. Selfish people produce for themselves. Such as huge cathedrals with their
gymnasiums and state of the art construction, filled with the finest electronic
equipment, having leaders with their degrees managing the church in the same fashion
as a high-tec corporation.
We have indeed increased them, we have one on every corner all claiming,
their church is the one God is well pleased with. When in fact God is not
pleased, nor impressed with our selfish ways.
“Their heart is divided,” Jesus said “ Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth… It appears that we think it’s ok to lay them up if we do it in the name of God.
“For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” So obvious, so much time, money and energy is spent on ourselves, when so little time, money and energy is given getting the gospel to a lost world. It seems in the eyes of many, the world is not so lost. Could this be because the world has infiltrated the church? This could also shed light on why so many “Christians” want to be involved in world politics. They are quite bold to make their political stand and very reluctant to boldly proclaim Christ Jesus. From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. It seems the love of the world is driving them more than their love for the Kingdom of God.
A dived heart is a very serious problem.
Jesus explains, “The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thy eye be evil, (not single) thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that be in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (riches) Mt. 6: 22-24 “If therefore the light that be in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness.” The heart that is divided is deceived, satan is an angel of light, he told Eve, “your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Gen. 3: 5 Their eyes were opened and the light they received blinded them from the true light. The light was good and evil this is confusion, a double standard, spoken with a forked tongue. Today the gospel that is preached is also of a double standard, you can have Christ and the world as well.
In Hosea 10: 13 our Lord proclaims, “ Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.” This is what the church of America has done, trusted in her way and not the way of the cross. They do preach of the cross but they refuse to bear the reproach and shame of the cross. The word that Jesus gave concerning the Scribes and the Pharisees certainly can be applied to many of our leaders in the churches today. “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do: but do ye not after their works: for they say and do not.” Ma.23: 3 If you have received light but are not able to walk in the light, you are in a greater darkness; than your ordinary lost person; the wisdom you have received is of this world and you have no understanding. “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28
“In the multitude of thy mighty men.” The church has been deprived from seeing the work of the cross in many of her leaders but she hasn’t lacked for mighty men, (1 Cor.1: 26-31) men with degrees and great titles like doctors, reverends, and his excellency. Men which draw disciples after themselves, heaping up treasures in the name of our Lord Jesus, who didn’t have a place to lay his head.
Unfortunately we all have been affected by this ungodly gospel in one way or another, most of the true believers have been upset with outlandish display of worldliness, to the point of being discouraged. Some have succumbed to the materialism being displayed and have become ineffective in their witness for Christ. Beloved let us take courage our Lord Jesus has not left us without instruction for this evil day.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness on you.” Ho10: 12
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness” My getting angry and pointing the finger at those who are obviously deceived is not going to help. If I can first sow righteousness to myself, then perhaps I will be salt and light in this evil time. We all need to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus and no one else, in total obedience to him. “Reap in mercy.” This is the only way we can reap; with out love we are nothing. “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep your selves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear; pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude
“Break up your fallow ground.” Fallow ground is ground that has been neglected or allowed to rest. If a farmer wants to bring forth an abundance of fruit he must use the ground or it will not produce fruit. Our Lord Jesus is simply saying it is time to seek the Lord with all of our heart. I am sure there is a need in my heart for more work of our Lord Jesus, like Jude wrote, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. The promise is, if will do so, he will come and rain righteousness upon us. We could use some of that, amen?
If it is time to seek the Lord like never before, and I do think you will agree that is the last days and our Lord is coming soon.
I propose we put up a prayer vigil around the clock until Jesus comes. Very simple each one volunteers to pray daily for an hour. If you are so inclined, email james@usaforjesus.com and simply state which hour you want to pray. We will set up a
twenty four hour schedule and post it on our web site showing how many we have praying at the different hours, your name will not appear just a check on that particular hour. You may change the hour at anytime, just request the change by e-mail.
for those who might not know the web sites are usaforjesus.com and hisvisionmission@yahoo.com
Your fellow servant in Jesus our Lord,
James Lucas
