Crisis of Power in Today’s Church

Like metal in a forge, our hearts can either be transformed or hardened.

Heart of Modern Christianity’s Crisis

In an era where churches dot every corner of America, something vital is missing – power. Not the kind that comes from large congregations or impressive buildings, but the transformative power that marked the early Church.

As a preacher deeply passionate about God’s Word, I’ve observed a concerning pattern in modern Christianity that demands our attention.

Dangerous Moment of Divine Encounter

Every time believers gather around God’s Word, described in Hebrews 4:12 as being “sharper than any two-edged sword,” we face a crucial choice. Like metal in a forge, our hearts can either be transformed or hardened.

The process mirrors metallurgy – just as iron can be hardened or softened depending on its treatment, our hearts respond similarly to the Holy Spirit’s touch.

Signs of the Times: Beyond Surface Christianity

Today’s world exhibits numerous signs that Jesus described as precursors to His return.

While previous generations also witnessed world wars and conflicts, our current era shows an unprecedented intensity in these “birth pangs.”

Yet perhaps the most alarming sign isn’t found in global events but within church walls themselves.

Form Without Power: Modern Christianity’s Greatest Challenge

Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 speaks directly to our time, describing people “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.”

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

This isn’t merely about secular society – it’s about those claiming Christ while lacking His transformative power.

Statistical Evidence of Powerless Faith

The numbers tell a sobering story:

  • Divorce rates among self-proclaimed Christians mirror secular society
  • Average Christian giving stands at mere 2.3% of income
  • Church growth through genuine conversion has dramatically declined

Price of Powerless Christianity

If American Christians simply tithed the biblical 10%, an additional $165 billion would be available for Kingdom work. This could:

  • Eliminate global hunger and preventable diseases
  • Eradicate worldwide illiteracy
  • Solve global water and sanitation issues
  • Fully fund all overseas missions

Path to Authentic Power: Genuine Repentance

The solution isn’t complicated, but it’s costly. True godliness begins internally and manifests externally. As Charles Spurgeon warned, many hide behind “earthworks of nominal religion,” making them the hardest to reach with genuine truth.

I do not doubt that a form of godliness has come to many because it brings them ease of conscience and they are able, like the Pharisee, to thank God that they are not as other men are. Have they not been to Church? Have they not paid for their pew? They can now go about their daily business without those stings of conscience which would come of neglecting the requirements of religion.
 
These people profess to have been converted and they are numbered with Believers. But, alas, they are not of them.  Of all people these are the hardest to reach and the least likely to be saved. They hide behind the earthworks of a nominal religion. They are out of reach of the shot and shell of Gospel rebukes. They fly among the sinners and they have taken up their quarters among the saints. Sad is that man’s plight who wears the name of life but has never been quickened by the Holy Spirit.

Charles Spurgeon

The Key to Spiritual Power

Authentic Christianity requires:

  • Genuine repentance born from godly sorrow
  • A new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-27)
  • Complete transformation, not mere religious observance

A Final Appeal: The Urgency of Response

Jesus’s words in Matthew 7:21-23 stand as a sobering warning – many who claim His name will hear “I never knew you.”

The time for authentic faith is now; time to repent is here!

Upside Down: 15 Week Bible Study

 You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms

God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!

As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!

This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.

  • Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
  • Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
  • Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!

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