By Pastor Leon R . Bing NJFWC . ORG
Yes , the line has been drawn in the sand , now which side of the line will you stand on , God or Satan , the Church or the World ?
There have been so many incidents lately that have involved church leaders , membership , and the body of Christ in general . And with the economical slump America has been through it seems like there is reason for the people of God to have reason to worry about the future . Well , it all has to do with which side of the line you are standing on ! If you are on the side of the world , yes there will be fear . But if you are on the side of the Lord , you only need to stand in faith believing , having confidence in your God ! Satan has picked up some of that sand and has thrown it in the face of some who want to do right , but have not fully committed themselves to the Lord ! Therefore , whenever they hear news concerning another church leader they get confused and instead of praying for a brother who has come under attack , they enter into the mass of media frenzy where it is open season to attack the church .
An over used verse of scripture , 1 Peter 4 : 17 which say : For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God : and if it first begin at us , what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God ? I say that it is over used because many people only quote the first part of the scripture , ( For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God ). Many think that this is the opportunity for God to punish the church . Well when we read more into the passage , we will see that God is really giving the church an opportunity to see itself in its wrong and to make the necessary changes to get back in the will of God ! We don ' t have time to join in with the foolishness of the world to bash or judge one another . Rather we should look at these moments to see our own faults and make the necessary changes in our own lives .
Let ' s read the passage in 1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved , think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you , as though some strange thing happened unto you :
13 But rejoice , inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ ' s sufferings ; that , when his glory shall be revealed , ye may be glad also with exceeding joy .
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ , happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you : on their part he is evil spoken of , but on your part he is glorified .
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer , or as a thief , or as an evildoer , or as a busybody in other men ' s matters .
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian , let him not be ashamed ; but let him glorify God on this behalf .
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God : and if it first begin at us , what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God ?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved , where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ?
Lind Drawn in the Sand Pastor Leon Bing Jacksonville , Florida February 2016
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing , as unto a faithful Creator .
KJV
We understand from reading this passage that we should not be shocked when the church or a leader in the church comes under attack ! And it is not a matter of guilty or not guilty , for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God . But what we must learn to understand is that God loves us , all of us , and He will get the church ' s attention whenever He exposes any one of our faults . This should cause us to examine our own lives and repent quickly and make the changes needed in our lives . When we fail to take these opportunities to make changes , we gamble on being the next person that the world will point its finger at !
I encourage everyone to stay focused , remember who you serve , and remember He is faithful . He loves you ! And if he has to remind us that we are out of his will by exposing certain ones in order that the rest will examine there own lives , thank you Jesus , have your way Lord !
God bless you all , and I love you !