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This article looks at what God expects from you as a Christian believer and how you should live in this present time filled with worldly corruption and godlessness.Christianity today and the challenges as the second coming of Jesus Christ approaches.
In the early church, the followers of Christ lived in a unity and bond of the Spirit as sojourners of this world. They knew their Saviour to another level yet to be experienced by the present Church. Their love for Christ compelled them to lives of total devotion to the work and service of God.
“Through faith they fought whole countries and won. They did what was right and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, put out fierce fires, and escaped being killed by the sword. They were weak, but became strong; they were mighty in battle and defeated the armies of foreigners. Through faith women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others, refusing to accept freedom, died under torture in order to be raised to a better life. Some were mocked and whipped, and others were put in chains and taken to prison. They were stoned, they were swan in two, and they were killed by the sword. They went round clothed in skins of sheep or goats – poor, persecuted, and ill-treated. The world was not good enough for them! They wandered like refugees in the deserts and hills, living in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11: 33-38.
While persecution and execution to anyone spreading the news of the Kingdom of God was rampant, they were ready to die for the “Way”!
Peter’s shadow healed the sick!
God being faithful to His Word that He spoke through His Son Jesus Christ, signs and wonders followed them. They performed the greatest miracles ever witnessed in their times; the blind saw, the lame walked, the deaf heard, the mute spoke, the dead raised to life, and much more.
“As a result of what the apostles were doing, sick people were carried out into the streets and placed on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. And crowds of people came in from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill or who had evil spirits in them; and they were all healed.” Acts 5:16-17.
Christianity today challenges
In Christianity today, the many denominations and registered churches creates disunity as each registered church profess different faith and doctrine to lure in more followers. There’s need for a massive revival that will unite the Church and usher in the kingdom of God. When Elijah thought he was the only true prophet left and feared for his life, God comforted him that He had seven thousand people in Israel, loyal to him and have not bowed to Baal or kissed his idol. 1 Kings 19:18.
The same applies to Christianity today. There are a large number of servants of God denouncing sin, the gospel of “prosperity and money”, and are preparing the Church for the second coming of Jesus Christ. As their message reaches out to the ends of the earth, the rapture of the Church becomes imminent.
Christianity today and glorious steps into the kingdom of God
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:9.
Now, in this latter anointing spoken about in Hagar 2:9, we are heading towards the mightiest revival ever that will steer the chosen children of God into the coming Kingdom of God. This is witnessed in the worldwide revival announcing the second coming of Jesus Christ. Without fear of contradiction, Christianity today is on the verge of climbing the glorious steps into kingdom of God. Any second from now, and the Church will transcend into the incorruptible, eternal, glorious, and the most waited for, Kingdom of God. This end time revival will unite the Church that will perform signs and wonders never done before and then Christ will come!
Christianity today and the “rat race” never witnessed before
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1st Timothy 6:10.
While nobody knows the day or the hour, the signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ are evident. Christianity today has felt the weight of the hard economical times stirred by the harsh climatic changes. Christians are also in the “rat race” in pursuit of better livelihoods and financial breakthrough. Christians know the things of this world are nothing but vanity and the present world will pass away with its lust and evil desires. This is evident in the Bible scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
However, no one wants to be left behind in the financial breakthrough that promises a good house, cars, and a fat bank account with financial freedom from financial stress. The love of money being the root of all kind of evil, many Christians are now blind and their heavenly focus has been replaced by the thirst for a “high-class” lifestyle.
In Christianity today, the love of money rules most servants of God!
The servants of God who were once sojourners like the early followers of Jesus Christ have also found themselves entangled in this “rat race” thing. Christianity today has seen an upsurge of Pastors and Evangelists putting their faith in demonic powers just to draw followers through performing false miracles. With the many followers, these servants are assured of gaining a financial return after educating these followers on how to invest, how to give or “sow a seed”, and how to tithe.
Their focus has now shifted from the eternal glorious kingdom of God to the material things of this world. With this fall, sin has crept in the church masquerading as fashion and digital lifestyle. Christianity today has seen both the developed and the developing nations caught up in the love of money.
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| Heavenly artistic impression. By Pixabay |
Denominations in Christianity today
False prophets were present even in the Old Testament’s time. But as we advance in technology, there’s also an advance in spiritualism and counterfeiting never witnessed on the earth before!
Christianity today has witnessed very large number of denominations in the world, with the current number at 45,000 denominations. Christianity is practiced by over 2.4 billion people in the world and there are more than 37 million registered churches in the world.
It is crucial to note that as the number of registered churches increase each day, new churches emerge with different doctrines. In an attempt to portray a unique calling so as to persuade more followers, the original doctrine preached by the Apostles of Jesus Christ undergoes dilution.
What is this original doctrine?
Christianity today has seen false doctrine introduced in the Church. Doctrines such as Church leaders supporting abortion, cohabitating, and homosexuality are against the true doctrine of the WORD of GOD. This makes you wonder what the original true doctrine is.
The following is what the present followers of Christ believed in:
- The Message of the Cross is the old doctrine that saves the sinful mankind. Christ is preached as the Saviour of the world who died and rose again to set mankind free from sin and demonic oppression so as to present the Church in the kingdom of God, mature, holy, blameless, and without reproach.
- Sin is sin and there’s no big or small sin. There’s no “white lie” in the Bible.
- The true doctrine focuses on the kingdom of God and not on the wealth and riches of this passing world. The Day of The Rapture is ultimate in the life of any heavenly-focused Christian.
- The early Church of Christ believed in unity of their faith and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit of God.
- The true doctrine relies on the power of the Holy Spirit and not on the works of the flesh.
- The Holy Spirit is the Final Teacher on the things of the kingdom of God. This world’s degree in Theology is useless when you don’t have the Holy Spirit as your teacher. The latter anointing prophesied in the book of Haggai 6:2 will see total restoration of this original doctrine due to the massive working anointing of the Holy Spirit. This will lead to a massive persecution from the enemies of the cross and the coming of Jesus Christ will take place.
- As the second coming of Jesus Christ draws nigh, the devil and his fallen angels know they have little to no time left. They are in a race to win all mankind to the hell fire intended for them. Thus, persecutions will be imminent but the Mature Christians will walk in a revival never experienced before and will perform mighty signs and wonders.
How should you live and what does God expect from you as a Christian in Christianity today?
Christianity today; how to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
“Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good; they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.” 2 Timothy 3: 1-5.
These end times we live in were prophesied by the prophets and the apostles of Jesus. Jesus spoke of these times too in Matthew 24. Knowing that the end times will bring with it a flood of godlessness and the love of money, Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit to help us during these perilous times.
Christianity today is only safe, when the Church of Christ is filled and working under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God.
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14.
You are only assured of heaven when you have the Holy Spirit of God living in you. The only way to overcome the Christianity today challenges is when you walk under the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Total obedience to the WORD of GOD is paramount when preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
To obey the Word of God, you need the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, you need to read the Scriptures, fast, and pray in the Spirit on a daily basis.
Christianity today conclusion
Finally, as Christianity today faces financial challenges, you should rely on God to provide for you and also learn to be content with what God gives you. He has said in His Word that He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Don’t yearn for riches and wealth since it’s hard for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Be content. Let your whole life, thoughts, words, actions, and deeds be done under the guidance of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
The second coming of Jesus Christ is here! And since not all who call Him Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of God; it should be your aim to only live for God.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
The Book of Acts reveals how God expects you to live in Christianity today.
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