We went to see the movie “Jesus Revolution,” a true story based on the book of the same name. The story follows youth minister Greg Laurie and pastor Chuck Smith as they take part in the Jesus movement in California during the late-1960s. The younger generation had lost hope in the government and organized religion. It really makes one think about something very similar happening right now in our nation. And especially with what happened at Asbury University:
“A scheduled hour-long chapel service at Asbury University turned into something much longer and, to many attending, more meaningful. It might be termed a revival. Chapel Wednesday at Asbury didn’t really end. It kind of just turned into hours and then days of worship.”
“Asbury students Caleb Rushing and Lucy Kate Gray were at the first service on February 8. They returned for the final service on Thursday. ‘I have personally rededicated my life to Jesus, my faith has been transformed through this,’ Rushing said. Rushing and Gray consider the revival itself to not be ending because they say you don’t need to be physically at Asbury to experience it. ‘It’s not going to end,’ Rushing said. ‘Everybody who’s seeing this, everybody who’s experiencing it whether it’s here in person, whether it’s over the phone, whether it’s halfway across the world, Jesus is in those places the same way they are seeing him here and so revival can happen anywhere at any time.’ ‘God,’ Gray said, ‘is just starting something new.’”
As it was with the “Jesus Revolution” and the “Asbury Revival," one came forward to openly and publicly repent, and then came a flood of the Holy Spirit’s love and conviction. Might it be God trying to save our nation going to pot? Is God finished with America? Maybe not!
Watching America spiral down out of control under godless corrupt leaders, it’s clear that a once prosperous and powerful ‘God-fearing America’ has lost her way – falling farther away from the One True God.
Jesus taught His disciples “to go out” into the world with the Gospel. As believers, have we done the opposite when we invite our ‘unsaved’ friends and family members into our walled-in places reserved for the fellowship of the Lord’s disciples?
Has FEAR of ‘personally’ sharing Jesus Christ, why we love Him and what He’s done for us, caused our ‘places of so-called worship’ to be infiltrated by those sent by Satan? The Word of God warns about this happening and why.
Would it be to Satan’s advantage to creep in to the ‘fellowship’ of true believers, wherever they are meeting? Would it be to Satan’s advantage to plant wolves in sheep’s clothing in order to work unfaithfulness and unbelief?
Jesus kept ‘private’ the homes of where He met with His disciples. Why did His Church start to meet ‘outside’ homes in big cathedral-type buildings and under government control with non-profit establishments? If WE ARE the church then our individual homes are important to the Lord just as in the first church’s day.
Be sure that the day is coming in America when the “non-profit organized churches” will have to choose between their freedom in Christ, or stay accountable to a government with a lot to say in how we preach and conduct ourselves. In fact, this 'persecution' has already started with many churches.
In the movie “Jesus Revolution” Lonnie, the Jesus-looking hippie who started the movement, challenged Pastor Chuck Smith in his own private home - to basicly leave ‘religion’ (which was not fruitful at all for the Lord) by opening his heart, his private home life and his church-building doors to those passionately searching for the TRUTH. Those who didn’t fit in with ‘religious’ ways and rules.
When Pastor Chuck Smith saw the truth in what Lonnie was presenting to him, the congregation grew in numbers, mostly of dirty hippies. Including Greg Laurie who is still going strong today. God love them!
Chuck Smith lost most of his ‘old’ members (donators at that), but “thousands were added daily” just as it was with the first church of Acts. People offering themselves in so many different ways - serving Christ Himself.
Over the years Mike and I have experienced ‘persecution’ by a few church-leaders for speaking to them in the Name of the Lord, and for doing what the Lord told us to do in the Lord’s church, even in making a loud stir. Jesus is the HEAD of His Body, not the pastor and teachers.
If a pastor sees the body (congregation) as ‘his’ to rule over, that pastor does not belong to the HEAD. Even if a pastor starts out faithfully walking with the Lord, feeling called to start a church in a needed area, but then later “forsakes the love he first had for Christ,” (Revelation 2:4-5) he better repent and quick. The Lord says he should “consider how far he has fallen and get back to doing the things he did at first.”
“For if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place,” says the Lord Jesus Christ. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7
Our nation needs TRUE leaders, both IN the churches of Jesus Christ and IN our nation’s White House and state capitols. How can we obey wicked leaders? We must choose whom we will obey, and then live with the consequence, or live for the reward at the end.
“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10
“If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?.... So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1 Peter 4:16-17, 19