The Seed Blog: Operation P.U.P.

There is so much happening in the world... So fast…That I felt a fresh look at all of the current events...In light of Scriptures…Is very needed and eye-opening!...But I want us all to consider something today...What good is recognizing these events around us...And seeing how everything is unfolding as prophesied...And becoming convinced we are nearing the end of this era...If that Truth falls on unprepared and apathetic hearts?
What if I spent weeks with a fresh Airborne Unit…Giving detailed classes about WHY it looks like…They may be jumping over Ukraine very soon...And didn’t use any of that time actually sending them…Through Jump School? Would it really be of any help to them...
Knowing exactly why they maybe leaving soon...If they were not trained & prepared for the battle? If they did not have the heart or courage to face the conflict yet?

THAT... IS WHERE MOST OF THE CHURCH IS TODAY! Interested & excited to hear how close we may be to the End...Convinced of the times we seem to be living in! But doing little… If anything…To truly prepare for the fight we are already in!
 
We are unorganized... Uninterested... Divided... And too absorbed in enjoying life...
To take our training seriously!...To become a Band of Brothers forged for combat!...And the result is all too apparent!...We are being overwhelmed by the enemy!...Divided and conquered from within...Waving the flag of surrender and joining the opposition...Or walking away… Because we don't have the stomach for the fight!
 
This is a dream that I believe God gave me…It didn't strike home at the time... I didn't understand the significance then...But I absolutely feel that God was giving me a foretaste...Of what His church would be facing soon! Which is now here!
 
There was an old, broken down, dirty church in barren land... Half over a deep opened crevice...
One side already fallen into the abyss... Missing one wall...Almost empty of people... Flooded with filthy water to the ankles...Broken, rickety metal steps…Going down the abyss on the fallen side...A few people trying to go down them seeking a thrill...Trying to see deeper into the abyss...And falling in... During the process! A panicked, exasperated  old pastor and his wife...
Came and took my hand, Saying, "It is yours if you'll take it... We are done here!"
 
My friends... THAT IS US TODAY... RIGHT NOW! The Church of the True and Living Christ...
Is flooded with filth... (Dirty water) Falling farther into the abyss daily...Empty of real warriors who stand vigilant and set... People being drawn towards the abyss... Even in the church...
And falling in... As they try to inch too close... And true believers (pastor & wife)...Ready to simply give up the fight to someone... Anyone else... While they simply walk away...And hold out for the last trump to sound!
 
Truth be told... THIS IS HOW THE CHURCH LOOKS TODAY! I simply ask each of you now...
DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS PICTURE?!...OR DO YOU WANT TO STAND UP…
AND BE REAL WARRIORS FOR CHRIST?...DO YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR LIFE TRULY COUNT?...DO YOU WANT TO BE A BAND OF BROTHERS…THAT SATAN MUST CONTEND WITH IN THESE LAST DAYS?
 
Jeremiah 6:16 (HCSB)
This is what the LORD says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, “We won’t!”
 
If YOU won't... That's ok...Go home now and save yourself the trouble! If you WILL...
Then set your minds and hearts on what is said today... And EMBRACE IT!
 
We’re using a simple, cute ACRONYM... P.U.P. Not for the novelty or catchiness. But to help   remember until it is engrained.
 
(P)…For PERSEVERANCE!
 
The FIRST thing I want to plead of each one of us today...IS THAT WE CHOOSE PERSEVERANCE IN OUR FAITH!! That we once and for all… Know and ACCEPT:
That a true disciple's life will be harder and harder...That it will cost more everyday...That your lifestyle and comfort zone need to be interrupted! That you will be tired, discouraged, abused, disliked...And disagreed with...And set your face towards it all ANYWAY! Plow into it ANYWAY! DETERMINE TO BE UNBENDING AND IMMOVABLE!...And the best way to build that perseverance...Is to determine WHY…This calling IS WORTH your perseverance!
 
Philippians 3:7-10 (HCSB)
7  But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8  More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss IN VIEW OF the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may GAIN Christ 9  and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. 10  ⌊My goal⌋ is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
 
So... Let's contemplate together for a few moments...WHY our perseverance is so justified in this world today!
 
ONE: God is our One Hope and Reason…For life on this earth... Period!
If we give up on Him... And the Work He's Called us to do...After all that He's Done for us...
With all that He has in store for us very soon... With everything as we know coming to an end very soon... With no other time to serve Him like we have right now...What other reason do we have for existence? Why does our life ultimately even matter? What else will make any amount of difference...In even just a few short years, at best...Except what we can do with Him... And for Him... NOW?!
 
TWO: If He IS your Creator... If you DO call HIM Master and Lord...Why do we even consider that it is OUR CHOICE...When to go? When to quit? When we've had enough?! He is Our Lord... Because He FIRST became our Slave! Now, it is our turn... Was your claim of faith and surrender REAL?!
 
THREE: God cannot truly Work in His Power and Glory...We cannot truly see, believe and learn to trust Him...Until things are so hard... So out of our hands...So tempting to give up and walk away...That only HIS Power, Comfort and Grace…Can get us through! THEN... We learn IN REALITY... That He has always been there!
 
FOUR: He Showed us His Love by going all the way...Giving us every single thing He had within Him...Physically, to the last drop of Blood...Spiritually, to the condemnation of His Own Soul...
Mentally and Emotionally...Until He cried out in total despair and sweat Blood!
 
If that is real to you... If you know you are Loved that wildly & with such dedication...Your perseverance... When everything says you should just QUIT...Is the only way you can SHOW Him your love as well!!!
 
Your love is NOT real... Unless it IS costing you...So how can we decide we need to QUIT...
Every time it DOES ACTUALLY COST US?! Today's Church has made Christ their Slave...
Giving up on HIM... Every time things are difficult...It is far passed time…We once again become… His Servants!
 
(U)... For Unity!
 
Satan absolutely cannot stop...The dedicated, unified power…Of the Body of Christ & their Testimony!
 
Revelation 12:11 (HCSB)
They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death.
 
But that Testimony and Power are destroyed...When we lose our UNITY & LOVE as Brothers and sisters in Christ!
 
John 13:34-35 (HCSB)
34  “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35  By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
 
Love is only truly shown... When least deserved. That is why a serious disciple of Christ can never say..."Well, I just get tired of being let down by hypocrites!" How many hypocrites and mean people did Moses face? How many did Paul face? Understand this The early church… Was not full of Saints! It was just as full of sin and hypocrisy as we are today...
But Paul called for unity and love in their shortcomings! Just as Christ calls us today! Because how we handle the immature or undeserving people around us... Is… The only real show of love!...And understand this... Never will you find a church which believes EVERYTHING exactly as you might!...But we are called to show unity and praise…In what we do have in common! We are called to join in public praise and worship…As one grateful community of believers!
 
Never to let minor theological differences… Or failures in righteousness…Become DIVISIONS within God's House... Or reasons to abandon one another!...Or use them as an excuse to promote strife or division! Instead... Showing concern and honor for people...
Over those injustices & dividing opinions!
 
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (HCSB)
10  Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11  For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you. 12  What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.” 13  Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?
 
Ephesians 4:1-6 (HCSB)
1  Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, 3  diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds ⌊us⌋. 4  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
 
2 Timothy 2:14-17 (NKJV)
14  Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16  But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17  And their message will spread like cancer.
 
Literally... One of Jesus' Greatest Prayers for His people...In the Garden of Gethsemane... On His Last night on earth...Was that WE have a love that is so strong... So LIKE the love between He and the Father... That the world will SEE that love…IN our unity and oneness!
 
John 17:20-23 (ESV)
20  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23  I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, SO THAT the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
 
Every time WE hate, bicker, divide and argue...We are showing the world that we are just like them!...And so... Why would they want anything we have?...Satan cannot defeat a church united in love for Jesus…So he attempts to destroy from WITHIN!...Are my theological differences worth division?...Are my offended feelings worth giving up…On a soul destined for eternal damnation?...Is my focus on myself, my rights, and my free time...More important than accomplishing God's Work?
 
We will not be an effective force against Satan in these days...Until we answer these questions correctly!...Listen closely and honestly...Every person here can ALWAYS find a reason…To be offended, angry, divided, ready to quit…Or made ready to leave!...And... Every person here can always find a reason…To hold on, love in spite, never give up... And stay together!...The root cause being... You WILL always find a reason…To do what you ultimately want to do!
 
How important is this to Christ?
 
Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
[23] So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
 
(P)... Passion!
 
Lastly... We SIMPLY HAVE TO DEVELOP A HEART for God…ABOVE all of the distractions & temptations in life! Yes... Enjoy life...But it is far passed time... That we make our life a secondary concern! Your everyday, purposeful, conscious goal...FIRST BE... Your riches and comfort...It cannot be your accomplishments and recognition...It cannot be your relationships...It cannot even be your personal pursuit of joy and happiness!
 
If you love Him... If you see the condition of the world...If you see the times in which you live...Your GOAL must be... To seek and do His Will... Whatever is Written... Whatever is Asked! In complete abandonment FIRST! You may immediately say or think: "Yes, Doug... But what might that be? God's Will is so hard to determine!"…And to that I have to say... "Hogwash!"…We KNOW his Will… We just don’t always LIKE IT! We know that God has a love for the people of this world...Greater than His Own Life, Right?!
 
We know He Gave everything for the sake of His own Bride! The Church...To win her love, adoration and intimacy... Right?!
 
So our goal is to do all we can to bring JOY to our King!! To make what is IMPORTANT to HIM...Our PASSIONATE ENDEAVOR!...Our PASSION should be to introduce...And grow people in intimacy to Christ!...It should be to draw His Bride to Him in knowledge & worship!
To help them grow in their gifts...To be what Jesus Prayed for in the Garden!...Living in love and oneness!
 
If they are who HE Died for... Who HE Longs for...Should they not be a passion and priority to us? Instead of a bother and a threat? In such a lost and hurting world...Do we try to please our King...With passion for His bride?
 
Perseverance... Unity... Passion.
 
If you do believe that we are in the darkest, last days...You must do more than dig in and hold on until the trumpet! More than ever... Whatever comes our way...We cannot quit, turn back... Or be offended…To the point we give up on others! We must love when hated...Be there for those who cannot be there for us...Be unafraid to show people how real & important He is to you!...How right and wise His Ways are to us all!...And how loved they truly are in His Eyes!
 
Moses was hated by those he loved in God's Name...
 
Joseph abused and imprisoned by those he later forgave &
Samuel was rejected by those he tried to bring to God...
 
Stephen was stoned by those he tried to save...
 
Paul was questioned and mistrusted by those he taught...
 
Jesus prayed for forgiveness over those taking His very Life!
 
The first century church…Was a group of... Sinning, arrogant, scared nobodies...
Who... For Jesus' Sake...Persevered through terrible times...Strived for unity and love in their shortcomings...And passionately chased after His Word and His people!...And His Word was passed on to this day...And the world was changed in those dark times...
At a severe... And selfless cost!
 
Yesterday... Ben and I talked about how much the church could and should be doing... That it once did! How much could we be doing... Even at our size? If everyone was Persevering, Unified, and Passionately given?... IT IS OUR TIME!