One time just for a treat, it was decided that a Cinnabon would hit the spot and the anticipation rose. That decision did not happen very often, so as I approached the store at the mall, there was a problem as the smell of deliciousness wafting through the air was not there. As I got closer, there was nothing at all, at least that you could see, because it was boarded up for renovations. Let’s just say that was very disappointing. Even though a Cinnabon is quite delicious, obviously what we will be talking about here is much more serious than not getting a Cinnabon. We will be talking about spiritual renovations.

    Years ago, there was a small church interested in me as the pastor, though this interest was brief. Let’s just say this church had a past and when the committee asked me what I proposed, I said close and start over. The reaction was thanks for coming and that was that. I attended one service at a relatively large church where at 11:00 am, the start time, at least half the people had not arrived. They actually played songs that would account for the time it took people to filter in. Now picture yourself at a live theater where in many cases if you are late you will have to wait for an appropriate time to be let in. The Stratford Festival’s website says this on their frequently asked questions page. “11. What are your late and/or readmission policies? If you arrive late for a performance, or have to leave one for any reason, our ushers will make every effort to find you a seat during a suitable break. Please be advised that this may not be the seat you are ticketed for.” Now picture a church, and some may do this, where the usher/s stands in front of the entrance and says you cannot enter.

    Now take this a step further and close up the church on a Sunday morning without telling anyone. Board up the entrance and say closed for renovations, except these renovations will not be physical, but spiritual. On the surface this may appear crazy and will probably loose people and income. As we have talked about, most people think that going to a building and gathering on a Sunday morning is church. That is not the church, but people gathering in a building to keep the elements out. The building is no longer the temple, even though it is treated as such. When Covid hit and the church was closed, people didn’t know what to do because what they knew to be the church was no longer accessible. Yes, some got creative, but most people were desperate for the building to reopen because that represented church to them. During Covid, the powerlessness of the church was exposed, but once covid subsided, the church just continued as it was before; powerless and in captivity and continues to be powerless and in captivity to this day. The church did not learn from Covid nor was the powerlessness addressed. One side effect was that many found they enjoyed the online church but even the online church is powerless and in captivity.

    Since most people think that going to a building, whatever that may look like, is the church. The doors being closed would be a shock but as we saw in Covid nothing changed, so why would closing the doors now make a difference? The difference is this is a spiritual renovation. During Covid the church was closed for health reasons, which is odd because as we read in Matthew, since Jesus is the living Messiah, healing is supposed to come from the church. Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” The reality is there is no power to heal, of which the church was given power to do so at Pentecost. This means a different gospel is being preached and a different jesus being followed. The closing of the church as we know it would be for different reasons. The renovations would not be an addition or better sitting, better parking, better sound system, better stage, more and better personnel, more programs; the renovations would be a spiritual renewal. Malachi said Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. 9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty. 10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.” Today we are the living sacrifice and we are robbing God by not serving Him wholeheartedly. Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” People give up an hour of the time once a week and call that church.

    The closing of the doors would signal a massive change that would be about to take place. Most churches need to do this, but few would actually take the necessary steps to close the wide gate and look for the narrow door. Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Many churches are so wide they reject and distort scripture so that people will feel comfortable coming. The wide way is easy to find but you won’t find the narrow way unless you know to look for it. For many, they think the wide way is the narrow way and are not really interested in finding the narrow way. First of all, the leadership would have to fear God more than they fear the people. As a leader, you may suggest this spiritual renovation and then find yourself looking for another job, even so you cannot be afraid. Though the church has become a business, you are not working for the people. One time a person was mad at me and said they were going to withhold their tithe. I said it is not me you are tithing to. Jeremiah was told Jeremiah 1:17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. 18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” We are not talking about changes from one kind of music to another or what is being worn, but returning to God’s word. If the church does agree to this spiritual renovation, more than likely there will be a loss of people and income. If you fear God, you do not have to worry about that. It is almost guaranteed that people will be upset and angry If you are a part of a denomination, you also do not need to fear the denomination. In most cases this spiritual renovation will involve a separation from the denomination / group unless the denomination is actually leading the way. Some church buildings are owned by the denomination, so the renovations may be walking away from the building. Yes, there could be repercussions but as God told Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” There is also an interesting passage where Amaziah king of Judah had hired men from Israel to fight for him. 2 Chronicles 25:6 “He also hired a hundred thousand fighting men from Israel for a hundred talents of silver. 7 But a man of God came to him and said, “Your Majesty, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.” 9 Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, “The Lord can give you much more than that.” 10 So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage.” The point is God will provide when we obey.

    For many pastors / leaders, ministry has become a job that provides in many cases a good income and security. If you are not established and have a team around you, many are afraid of losing their jobs if they ruffle feathers but preaching and teaching what the bible actually says. Many do not want to offend anyone at the risk of their people going elsewhere. One time I had a lady tell me she was not being fed. At the time I was meeting with a few other pastors from the community. I said I was sorry to hear that, but I knew these other churches that may do a better job than I was doing. Basically, she did not like what I was teaching and did not like the food. She then told people only part of the story and said I told her out of the blue to leave the church. You can’t be afraid to deal with this type of person. The reality was they were not really looking to be fed what scripture was saying. Now the result is these issues do not always get fixed. These voices can gather momentum and if you are part of a denomination that was more worried about status quo and money than actually preaching the gospel, you will not have the support needed to deal with people like this. It was actually wasn’t this person they were afraid of but the person who had lots of money. In the end I resigned but God provided. In another situation where I was part of a congregation, I asked too many questions, and I was asked to leave. There is a strong possibility that will happen if you are looking to have a spiritual renovation. In the condition of the church presently, that possibility is very strong.

    I think it is important to understand that the spiritual renovation is not about starting another denomination or group, but a return to the word of God. Most new churches are following similar doctrines to the denominations  but they are not saying so. What happened at the Reformation is not what this is about. Since then, the church has continued to divide with more and more very distinct doctrines and theology. All the while getting further and further from the truth. The Reformation was a complete failure, as the church was worse-off than it was before as it did not return to the true gospel of Jesus Christ but a manmade version of it. Now each group that came out of that schism would say they are the way, truth and life but they all believe something completely different. The church splintered off in many directions and instead of following Jesus, followed the ways of men and women. There was not a return to the word of God but the following of many ways and other gospels. All you have to do is think about the name predominately associated with the doctrines that you believe such as Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Darby and modern-day names. These are just too many to list. For example, I use to belong to the Wesleyan church. I don’t think it can be any more blatant as to who the man was that they followed. Some don’t actually say the name as blatantly as the Wesleyans, but the names will be in the doctrines that they follow.

    God said Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” This return could be an individual, a congregation and even a whole denomination. This return always means turning from our wicked ways. 2 Chronicles 7:13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” These are any ways that are influenced by the distorted words of man and satan and not by the word of God. 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” People leave churches all the time, but usually they leave for the wrong reasons. It could be politics, programs, music, preaching, location etc., but they will not return to the word of God nor are they really looking for what the bible is actually saying. They just want what their itching ears want to hear. Many Christians just transfer from one church to the next without even understanding the doctrines and theology the next church teaches but that probably means that did not understand the previous church’s doctrines.

    It is okay to be dissatisfied, but it is important to know why. If you are reading scripture and God is revealing to you that what you have been taught is not the true gospel, then look for the truth but be very careful because at this point the truth is mostly hidden but eventually God will reveal the truth. Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! 19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” Also, if everyone is flocking to the teaching / preaching of a man or woman, be careful. Even when the masses flocked to Jesus, they ended up being part of His murder. Peter would later say, and some would listen but most did not. Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” As we see from the Jews, most did not accept the message. Paul would say Acts 13:46 “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.” Sadly, now the Gentiles have also rejected the word of God.

    So why the renovations? If you continue to read 2 Chronicles, God said to Solomon, 2 Chronicles 7:19 “But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’” Jeremiah 7:3 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord! 9 Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,[a] burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things? 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.”

    The church has done this. The doors as Malachi said need to be shut because the truth is not being spoken. Malachi said Malachi 2:5 “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. 7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. 8 But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the Lord Almighty. 9 “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.” Jeremiah 2:8 “The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.” Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” Micah 3:11 “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” 12 Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.” Jeremiah 6:13 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. 15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.” Jeremiah 14:14 “Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” Jeremiah 8:4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? 5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. 6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle. 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord. 8 “‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? 9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do they have?”

    As you read this, I am sure you can see the problem; most leaders will not take this drastic step, but there are examples of those who did. Jonah was sent to prophecy against the Ninevites. Jonah 3:4 “Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.” Later God would say Jonah 4:11 “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Many in today’s church also do not know their left from the right.

    King Manasseh was one of the worst kings of Judah. 2 Kings 21:10 “The Lord said through his servants the prophets: 11 “Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. 16 Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Because of the evil Manasseh had done, God brought against him the king of Assyria and was taken into captivity to Babylon. 2 Chronicles 33:12 “In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God. 14 Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.” Then later we see Manasseh’s grandson Josiah restore the temple and find the book of the law. 2 Kings 22:13 “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” King Josiah then obeyed and restored the temple and tore down everything he was supposed to (Read 2 Kings 22). 2 Kings 22:25 “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.” Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon of all people submitted and humbled himself before God. Daniel 4:1 “May you prosper greatly! 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. 34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

    This could be a leader of a denomination, pastor of a church or an individual who says great is the Lord’s anger, we have not acted according to God’s word and then do something about it. Denominations and churches and schools should be shut down for spiritual renovations and some may never be reopened again. God is not looking for a leader to build His church; God is looking for someone to obey His word and proclaim His gospel with power and authority from on High. Matthew 16:13 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” God will then use His disciples to carry out the building of His church. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Ephesians 4:11 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 2:19 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” The church would then look as it should.

    As Peter said save yourself from this corrupt generation but as he also said “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” So there is still hope. If your leader will not make the changes, find somewhere that will, but that could mean waiting on God for His plan to unfold for your life. As we see throughout scripture, most people do not want to repent and turn from their wicked ways as most think the way they are following is the way, truth and life. Just because someone has this desire to turn back to God does not mean people will follow, but it is of utmost importance that you follow God’s word no matter the consequences. Ezekiel 3:27 “But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.” The good news is we are getting closer to God turning His face back to the church and restoring the church to do as it was intended to do with the same power and authority as we read about in the Gospels and Acts. Isaiah 8:17 “I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.” This part of the restoration process is about repentance and returning to God so that He returns to us. Even if you are not yet seeing the available power, continue to wait on God and do not give up.

    At this point we may not know or have seen what the true church actually looks like other than what we read about in scripture, as most of us have been raised in the manmade church. Many who have led may have had sincere hearts but have not tested the spirits to see if what they had committed their lives to was actually the way, truth and life. They just followed and did what they were told by their leaders and when they questioned, they were either reprimanded and shot down or do not even ask questions. Jeremiah 9:13 “The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. 14 Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.” As far as those who attend, many just move to another location, some ask questions and are admonished for not submitting to authority, some give up on God because they do not understand what they are seeing in church is not His church and others just go through the motions. You hear about people all the time rejecting God because of the church.

    Whether leading or following who is it that you are following. It is important to find out. Don’t say Jesus and still follow everything man tells you. A spiritual renovation is a return to God’s word and makes sure of your salvation. Most people who call themselves Christians do not even realize or understand that they are following other gospels and often when told, if they are even told, will refuse to listen. Some of these are leaders and other are followers but don’t be those people. Jeremiah 18:12 “But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’” Many in the church also say this. Isaiah 30:9 “For these are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. 10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” This also applies. Deuteronomy 32:5 “They are corrupt and not his children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation. 6 Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you? 15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. 16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. 17 They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear. 18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. 19 The Lord saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters. 20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful. 21 They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols.” God has hidden His face from the church.

    The main focus of the church at this point in its desolation and captivity is to repent, cry out to God for mercy and wait for God to turn His face back to the church. Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” This is not about repenting and accepting the way of the church you are a part of, but repenting of the wicked ways of the church you are a part of and returning to the word of God. So many people that call themselves Christians have been deceived and deluded into believing all is well with their souls and they will inherit eternal life. But scripture makes it clear that following other gospels will not lead to eternal life. Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”

    Many have turned and do not even realize it and have given their devotion to another jesus. It is not just the cults but most churches who have chosen the ways of man that this applies to as most churches have added to and taken from scripture even though we were warned Revelation 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” We must make sure because this is eternity we are talking about here, not just this life here on earth. Many have been led to believe that God is only a God of love and not also a jealous God of wrath. Many have been led to believe there is no hell, or God would never allow you to go to such a place. Many have been told they are secure and have nothing to fear but as Peter said, 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” The security that many have placed their eternity on is the teaching of men and women and demons. Jeremiah 4:22 “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” Take the time to make sure what you believe actually lines up with scripture, not with what a person says about scripture. For example, as we have talked about, John MacArthur will look you in the eye and tell you there is no longer power available to all who believe, and he is not the only one. Scripture says no such thing. Others like many charismatics will tell you the power that is present among them is God’s glory, but it is satan masquerading as an angel of light. From the charismatic to the non-charismatic, deception and delusion has decimated the church and our only hope is to return to God’s word. This time of deception / delusion is already here. Matthew 24:4 “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

    Our only hope is in God’s mercy and our repentance. Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive.” So we must repent so that the kingdom of God will come near once again. Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

    Thankfully we do not have to do this ourselves. God told Jeremiah to buy a field, even though the Babylonians would destroy everything just as the abomination that causes desolation has destroyed the church, Jeremiah 32:42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. 43 Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.” There is hope because God will not break His promise to David. Jeremiah 33:10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord. 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’” Ezekiel 36:33 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’ 37 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”