January 22
“The gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it,
but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
-GALATIANS 1:11,12
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it,
but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
-GALATIANS 1:11,12
With the Biblical record before us, compare what those early disciples believed and preached to what we see and hear being taught and demonstrated in the name of Jesus today. If someone from the apostolic age were to visit our generation, take an account of our lives, document what we preach, and survey what we listen to and currently accept as “The Gospel,” how would they respond? Would they be able to say that we preach the Gospel of the Kingdom? Could they report back to their first century friends that we teach the same things they taught concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God? Or would they weep and lament at how the Church has distorted the original message of the Ekklesia?
Source: “The Irresistible Kingdom” by Chip Brogden
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CHIP BROGDEN is a best-selling author, teacher, and former pastor who shares "real, simple, truth" about a Christ-centered faith that is based on relationship, not religion. Learn more »
If someone of the apostolic age visit us today and the kind of churches we are surounded by, he would have cried and lamented. I tell you truthfully, I cry and lament every day.
Regrettably there would be much weeping and sorrow for what is happening in “churches.”
I look forward to being able to read THE IRRESISTIBLE KINGDOM on my kindle since I am unable to read the small print in books.
This devotional is a matter of LIFE, few churches speak about JESUS, I say this with regret because I know they LOVE GOD but only at the final and at the beginning they mention HIS NAME!!
Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth…as is is in heaven…
Thank you Chip for your continual wake up ..
I love that verse. I love all of Galatians.
Would it be possible to identify the photograph above?
Is that where Paul preached to the Stoics and Epicureans?
Mars Hill?
It is the Synagogue of Capernaum. Actually this one was built in the 4th century, so it isn’t the same one Jesus taught in. But it is in the same town, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Chip, thanks for your heart & teachings. I believe the early disciples would cry!! They would calls us out & back to the real Gospel of Jesus & His kingship!!
Today we have a Church system that is off the narrow path, they bringing people in via the wrong gate/door. Anyone that that shows up with a true road map are persecuted just like when Christ was here preaching in the temple. God started something with the Temple, and in time man changed everything to all talk and no action. Christ has built a temple not of human hands and man has rejected that temple and built their own temple/golden calf. History repeating itself, Moses goes away for a while, and man builds a golden calf. Christ goes away for a while and man builds what he wants. Moses had some stiff necked people, as does Christ, Christ will return and open the ground and consume them.
Rich,
You are speaking truth and what I have said to people in the system for several years. I am choosing to follow Christ and Him alone, and also being persecuted by the system I walked away from. If people are truly follow the Truth of the Gospel, they will be persecuted. As we can see the church system is not persecuted by the world because the world is in them. There may be laws that are being passed by the government in order to go against Gods word and deny Christ and His Spirit, but over all the church is not persecuted today and that should tell us something. I have always said that the man made temple is the golden calf of religion and mans ways and the golden calf is worshiped just as it was in the days of Moses.Yes the disciples would be very disappointed at how quick things changed and went the way of the Roman Empire with all its idol and pagan worship. Whether the Romans or Islam destroyed the temple in 70ad, it was ultimately the anti-Christ that did the destroying. This should give us clues that the same thing could be happening today because the anti-Christ does not want the True Gospel of Christ to get out, so there are counterfeits spreading a false gospel. The narrow road is in fact very narrow and few will endure it until the end.
they “bring” people in via, not bringing. 🙂
Rich – Just go with it. “Bringing” in the Sheaves! “Bringing” in the Sheaves! Then it works. All in glorious love for our Lord and Savour – Jesus Christ.
They would weep and lament, no doubt…They would not recognize the Ekklesia or the Message they had preached.
So simple yet so profound…why do Christians run from LIFE Itself?
Brenda Brown
They would be drawn to the Christians that are in the light that are holding Jesus Christ as Lord because these Christians are the same as all the Christians that chose to really obey His commandments!
The religious Christians wouldn’t get a visit except for to be corrected as Paul the Apostle corrected Peter in his religiosity that came over him!
Galations 6;7
Aren’t you glad they cannot see or come down, they would be disgusted, I am disgusted……….I tried to share a message that was rich and to the point to a group of ladies and they looked at me like I had grown horns………I still shake my head, but.. what can you do? pray for them that their eyes be opened to the truth. God bless you Chip for sharing this, I love it
Thank you. I have just started reading Absolute Surrender and I see that as I ask Him to teach me to deny myself and surrender to Him, he sends hardship and frustration to help me but I get fed up and ask Him why all these bad things happen to me. I don’t see them happening to other people. I don’t embrace it and learn but I complain and try to escape the suffering. I will keep reading and relax into what He sends.
Thank you Brian, Absolute surrender has made a huge difference. The sad thing is that Jesus has taught me that lesson several times but when things get very bad I start asking why me and praying to be delivered from the situation instead of thanking Him for the trials, embracing them and benefiting. I broke my good arm and for the last month have had no arms to use. That makes me totally dependent on my husband who is abusive and angry. I need to thank Jesus for all the abuse because I have prayed that he will help me die to self.
I have recently received an awareness; that when God asks of US a question, we had best take the time to seriously consider our answer! Think of when God first asked Mankind: “Adam, where art thou?”. Is he not STILL asking ALL the same question? Are we living WITH Him, or apart from Him? In the Spirit, or in the Flesh? When Jesus asked at John 1:38: “Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said to him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, MASTER,) where dwellest thou?” They could tell that Jesus was “not of this world” but dwelt in the Spiritual realm. But do many so-called Christians today realize that? Do they recognize that Jesus is TRULY “NOT OF THIS WORLD”? or do they think that He has His Church, and His interest in “this world”? YES, THOSE FIRST DISCIPLES WOULD WEEP, AND SO DOES JESUS HIMSELF! Thank you Chip for this word today. May we truly see our calling to be His “called out assembly” of followers of Him, and of His Life in us.
Chip, the Apostles and disciples of the first century would probably weep at what has become of the faith. In fact, they probably wouldn’t even recognize the faith. The early disciples and Apostles, including Paul, were mostly Jewish. They still practiced the faith that was handed down to them by their fathers. They nor the Apostles ever thought of starting a new religion which has become separated from the faith of Israel. This is why the church has become what it currently is. The Apostles, especially Paul, would not even recognize the church as it is today because it doesn’t even resemble anything Jewish. The gospel of the soon coming Kingdom of God and the message of Yeshua/Jesus being the Messiah of Israel once again needs to be proclaimed among the churches. Until then, the churches will continue as they are.
Chip, thanks for todays thoughts.
My wife and I are struggling as many of the commenters are today.
My question is: if we to not continue with our local church, where do we go?? We are very disappointed with the realities we see with the “churchs”–but what are the alternatives for us and others that find themselves in the same situation??
Why not just go to Jesus? Why not sit at His feet for awhile? Why not get from Him all the things you’re looking to get from people?
people orientated or CHRIST orientated?
The crux is that we all want to be hugged and loved and NOBODY ASKS what JESUS wanted in the first place! Abusive Husbands are guilty and for my faith in Christ I don’t see that i have to live with an abusive Husband! That is contrary to the word of God.
Jesus said, He will bring the sword and not peace! And that in our own homes!!
Who do we LOVE really???
JESUS …or people who are abusive and destructive and will be our destruction???
My cross is NOT to be in relationship with anyone who DENIES the LORD JESUS!!
Greetings Suzi
Here is likely the most frightening Scripture in all of the Bible:
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’…(Matt.7:22/23) These are leaders in the church who are rejected by Christ.
The deception to think that we are in God’s business when we are actually working for the devil is beyond words.
There is but one remedy: Stay humble and walk extremely close with Jesus, constantly seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
It is better to just sit at His feet, listening, than to work up a storm and in the hustle and bustle of “doing” not realizing that we are employed by the devil.