The Captive Body of Christ
Is the modern-day Body of Christ in captivity? This is an important question that we must face and ponder, even though most have not even considered it.
Please listen carefully and prayerfully to the following audio clip, located under the picture to the left, and ask if God is, perhaps, wanting believers to see and deal with some serious issues:
If you have any problem listening to the audio in the above player, please go to http://bigcontact.com/faithdefenders and you should be able to here it there. It is called “The Captive Body od Christ”.
For faith is believing in things that we cannot see. Now we must believe that what we have prayed for will soon manifest in our lives, for by faith we will truly receive.
Yet some people say, “ but it’s not easy and you don’t know what I am going through,” well, that is true, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Jesus said, “ All things are possible to them that believe,” and we must live by faith.
It is worth hoping and believing for things in our lives to change, it really does not matter what people say, or what we feel, for God said, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God”. {1 Corinthians 3 v 19}. cornishevangelist. wordpress.com.
It’s great to hear your voice as well as read your writings my brother. If you’re interested in setting a podcast up for an audio stream from Faith Defenders please let me know, and I will have a chat with you about it.
Geno, You may well know that this is something I’ve thought long and hard about. Interestingly when the Jews were released from the Babylonian captivity after 70 years, I am led to understand that the people who came out were no longer subject to the idolatry and waywardness of their forefathers. Babylon it seemed, and her idols, had always had some ability to draw the hearts of Gods people away from a pure faith. In those who came out, this was no longer as significant an issue. Perhaps you may like to check out what I am saying further, but Baal, and following Balaam was in the past. The temple idolatry referred to by Ezekiel ended.
The purpose perhaps in being held captive amongst the idols of Babylon in some sense opened the eyes of the people, educated them to understand that which had deceived them from obtaining the blessing that God had intended for them if they had remained faithful to Him.
So now how does that work for me, for you and others. What good thing is the Lord intending for us to obtain, as we also dwell as captives in this Mystery Babylonian world.
Well, probably the very same thing. Babylon, Mystery Babylon, their gift to the world is to lead men into idolatry, an impure faith.
Had I not been held captive amidst the idols that this culture offers then perhaps I would never have recognised how destructive these idols are, and how easily our hearts are able to be led captive.
Maybe it’s all just part of the training program as we are refined in the womb of this world.
Blessings mate, nice to hear your voice, even if it is an American accent. But I can forgive you for that. LOL as my kids would say.
Tim.
John,
Yeah. We can kick around the possibility of doing a podcast.
Tim,
It does seem that captivity, restraint and oppression can indeed open our eyes and cause us to hunger for what I always call “the real thing”. Unfortunately, so many can’t (or won’t) even see we’re IN that place.
For those who do, though, I guess the answer is to truly come out, come together and walk with God in HIS ways, not out own.
Thanks for your graciousness concerning my “accent”. You’re quite a guy.
For some reason I cannot load all of your audio clip – only 37 seconds worth! Being that I am almost computer illiterate, do you have any ideas why I am not able to load the whole message?
BTW, what a pleasant surprise to hear your voice! Now if I can only hear the message! I will keep trying.
Hey, if you have this message written, maybe you can just email it to me.
Sherry
Greetings In Christ all
Interestingly this morning at Fellowship a similar message was Preached, walking in the Power, as ACTS 1:8 states, the 120 were in UNITY and THEN EMPOWERED
My Pastor then spoke about the Jews who were delivered out of Babylon through the Power of God AFTER they acted upon faith and applied the Blood to their door posts.
The Power was again demostrated when the Jews were at the banks of the Red Sea, behind them the Egyptian Army, in front of them the Red Sea, they were afraid YET using their mustard grain of faith, looked to Moses, The Power of God fell and the sea was parted.
Rev 3:20- Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Time for the Body of Christ to stand up and be whom ‘She’ has been called to be,
He wants to empower us, Joel spoke of the Latter rain falling upon ALL Flesh Pray for Holy Boldness, we are JOINT HEIRS , the Creator of the Universe we sit with HIM in Heavenly Places! awesome to have that sink into the Spirit.
In His Service
FireBrand
This was a very judgemental post. You levied many judgements, but I’m sure if your life story was revealed, we’d have a lot to judge you on too.
- You thinks people are following their own paths other than god’s path (when have they not – was it any better in say, the french revolution?)
- Most people are just fair-weather sunday church goers (who are you to judge?).
- He thinks evangelical practices are ungodly and strange (who are you to judge?)
- He judges other Christians for not thinking Israel is still the holy land (who are you to judge?)
- You thinks churches should do more outreach (good point).
- You come down on other people’s ways of witnessing (who are you to judge)
You seem to be judging others from the points of your own sin. With such judgementalism, I don’t think you’re qualified to lead a discussion on going back to “god’s true ways.
Sherry,
Nope; don’t have a written version.
Several people have said they can’t hear the clip. Perhaps that’s the end of my audio postings.
Firebrand,
Amen, sis; but let’s not lose sight of the need for brokenness and repentance first.
Mike,
Most people can’t, or won’t hear what I have to say. I’ve known that for a long time.
Glad to know, though, that you think I made ONE good point. Keep comin’ back, as they say in AA meetings.
Thanks, enjoyed the audio post, but unfortunately it stopped before you could share the verses in the Bible (I could hear about 10min of the audio post before it cut out…)Would be nice if you could share that topic with us that in writing too if at all possible
Well, so many judgements. I’m just curious about what gives you the right to levvy so many? Are you higher than those you’re judging?
Outreach is GREAT though, doing it over & over again really works to transform you.
Madelein,
Perhaps I’ll be doing some writing on this subject. I hoped I could do some audio, but it seems like there are some problems. As Charlie Brown always says, “Sigh.”
Mike,
The Lord has opened the eyes of quite a number of people concerning the condition of the modern-day “Church”, and they are willing to look seriously at the issues… not in judgment or condemnation, as you obviously see it; but with a desire to see repentance and change that will glorify the Lord.
Most can’t or won’t see it, though, as has always been the case among the people of God.
It’s important to note that the Jew’s who came back to the land never again fell into idolitry as before, but they made idols out of the law of God and added to it their own laws, negating God’s law. This is seen in some churcehs today. I know of a few who are so committed to the church, their life revolves around the church and because of this commitment there churches manage to bauck the decline in the UK and keep up numbers with a few converts now and again, but it is nothing like the power of God to salvation that the Bible talks about; what’s happened? This very commendable committment is to a set of principles, to an ideology, based on the NT, rather than a group of individuals for whom Christ died. Legality comes in many forms and we need to beware of every identity it takes up.
So, what are we going to do? I know of no one in my locality who is really interested in getting down to some serious prayer so I feel a bit like Elijah. No doubt God has his 7000, but I wish I knew some of them!!
Maybe we could revive the old idea of prayer chains so that these forums can be something more than chat shops. Any other ideas?
Blessings – Graham
Gene,
This post is very uplifting to me. We all need to pray for willingness, honesty, and openmindedness in our walk. There is a lot out there that we do not want to see and only God almighty can have the patience and love to show us what we don’t really want to see.
Graham,
You make some very good points. Also, you said: “So, what are we going to do? I know of no one in my locality who is really interested in getting down to some serious prayer so I feel a bit like Elijah. No doubt God has his 7000, but I wish I knew some of them!!”
My response: Maybe you’re not looking hard enough or being obedient enough. I know I’ve been guilty of that.
You also said: “Maybe we could revive the old idea of prayer chains so that these forums can be something more than chat shops. Any other ideas?”
This blog, and others on my sidebar, along with our new “Faith Defenders” forum, just MAY be a step in the right direction.
I’ve been amazed so far at the kinds of interaction and dialogue that’s been going on so far, including live, real-time chats.
We’ve got to start somewhere.
Carol,
I totally agree, and I’m very pleased to see YOU as one of the people on the forum being very real and open.
Anyone who has had a problem listening to the audio on this post, please go to http://bigcontact.com/faithdefenders
You should be able to listen to it there.
I could not view the audio clip and generally cant due to not having enough ram on my pc.. i have an old computer…
Shackled by a heavy burden, neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
And now , I am no longer the same.
He touched me , Oh he touched me
And oh the Joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole
Since I met this blessed Savior
Since he cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to Praise Him
Ill shout until eternity rolls
He touched me, Oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole
Isaiah 58:5-12
Is this a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickednes,
To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you:
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord shall answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul,
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness
And tour darkness shall be as the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually
AND SATISFY YOUR SOUL IN DROUGHT
AND STRENGTHEN YOUR BONES;
YOU SHALL BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN,
AND LIKE A SPRING OF WATER, WHOSE WATERS DO NOT FAIL.
Those from among you shall become the Repairer of the Breach
The Restorer of Streets to dwell in.
John 8: 12 ” I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkenss, BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.”
John 21:17 He said to him the third time , Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time , ” Do you love me?” And he said to Him , “Lord you know all things; You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “FEED MY SHEEP.”