John's Blog about life, love and other mysteries

Last week the unleash conference opened my eyes to many things I have been overlooking in ministry. It is amazing how people put their personal preferences before Jesus. Perry Noble asked a question, “How many Grandparents are willing to give their lives for their Grandchildren”. All grandparents raised their hands! Then he asked, “ How many Grandparents would change their music style at church to see their grandchild come to Christ?” There was a dead silence over the entire place. It is a sad thing that most people are willing to give their life for someone but are unwilling to change their ways and preferences to see someone come to Christ. IT is because the cause of Christ and Christ Himself is not real to them. It is not real to them because they truly do not believe in Him. If their belief and love for Christ were as strong as their love and devotion to their preferences, what could be done for Christ would be amazing. If people could just see that it is bigger than them and change their ways it was be unimaginable what could be done for the glory of God.

Why is change so hard? This is the #1 thing that causes churches to die off, they would rather die than change. 2 Kings 7:3-10 tells a story of 4 lepers who were dying. Their people were under attack. As they were waiting to be overtaken by the enemy they discussed with each other this very important statement that we as believers and the body of Christ must ask ourselves, “Why sit here until we die?”. This is what is wrong with the church today. We have become so comfortable in our own cesspool of complacency; we would rather die and rot than to make a move. These lepers made a decision, they would rather die trying that to die rotting. They thought that it couldn’t be any worse with the enemy; they would either kill them or imprison them and at least feed them. To them it was better to die trying to live than to rot. When they arrived to the enemy’s camp, there was no one there and every thing was abandoned. There was plenty of food and supplies for everyone, including the ones that stayed behind awaiting death. Just like these people the church is dying, should we die and rot? Or should we seek God’s face with everything, make a change, risk everything and thrive? It is up to you as an individual to pray for the church. It is up to us as believers to make the changes necessary to uplift and magnify Christ.


John Baker