THE WALK
PART 50

THE DEADLY WALK OF APATHY

“It is true that you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your MIND: And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph. 4:21-24)

Being a person of joy and peace is a result and reflection of a FERVENT personal relationship with Jesus. When we are first “birthed” into God’s Kingdom, we experience a very exciting and joyful time because the weight of sin and guilt has been lifted and the new feeling of freedom and purity is such a happy occasion. Like a bird that has been released from its cage we fly around and are amazed at how everything seems fresh and appears optimistic and hopeful. The bubbly, “lightness” of being clean causes us to float around in a euphoric dream-state that cannot be explained. Then sadly, we get used to our new “suit” and eventually the new begins to wear off. We are still spiritual infants and have not come to realize that we are leaky containers that can go from being filled to empty in a matter of hours or even less. It is a hard lesson to learn but we are told how we need to keep allowing God to “fill” us everyday and how we need to guard our joy with a very sensitive spiritual security system. It is like we are toddlers, still crawling some, pulling up on things, nursing a bottle and stumbling around. But, what we are trying to achieve in our “spiritual” journey is to come to the place where we can put on some sturdy spiritual shoes and become an “asset” to His Kingdom. Unfortunately many saints become comfortable with their immaturity and choose to stay in the playpen. On the flip side the disciples who are determined to go all the way with Jesus and live according to His gospel have made the CHOICE to endure the painful growing pains and are committed to make the responsibility of developing into a mature follower of Christ their highest priority.

Age has nothing to do with maturity because it’s easy to be old and unlearned. No wonder people avoid Bible study because the more we know the more responsibility we have. In this light, we can accept the possibility that many Christians are spiritually uninformed because they intentionally desire it to be that way. Selah. Being used in God’s plan does not come automatically anymore than Gold medals and Doctorate degrees are accomplished lying on the beach. We as Christians have a major opponent that is “dead serious” to make sure a victorious manifestation does NOT occur in our life. I know it may seem surprising but it is not necessarily the devil, neither is it the laziness of our body. Our enemy is APATHY! It is such a strange little word but it carries the weight of the world – and beyond. It is a MENTAL attitude, a state of MIND that resembles the old hound dog lying on the front porch. Its not that the dog can’t run – it just does not want to! The dictionary explains it as meaning “indifference, the absence of interest, the lack of passion, desire or emotion.” Moreover, as we look around we can literally see that much of the church has adopted apathy as a personal “pet”! Many have gone to sleep as their spiritual joy in the Lord has been replaced with fleshly contentment and compromise. Where is the repentance for sin? Whatever happened to prayer meetings and evangelism? Whatever happened to revivals? Why doesn’t anyone cry anymore in church? Where are the miracles, the joy and the power? In many places the Lord has turned away because He is grieved and angry. Remember Jesus rebuked the attitude of the established church of His day because they had organized The Father completely out of their life. They had turned His house of prayer into a legalistic program. The church is not to be a man-led ceremony but an intimate, personal, spiritual experience of worshipping, learning, knowing and loving God. If today’s popular, style of ministry is all about “entertainment” – they have fallen into this same dangerous religious deception and the Lord is very clear that He wants nothing to do with it! Selah.

People love to hear about what they can “receive” from God but are not interested in what they need to do to walk in it! How many Christian homes have replaced nightly Bible study and prayer with television? How many Christian parents are NOT raising their children with Godly wisdom, spiritual integrity or Biblical principals? How many Christians have never witnessed to anyone or led anyone to the Lord? Why? It’s simple, because they did not have enough interest in it! When anyone has a burning conviction for something, it will become their highest priority. Many in the faith have lost their first love and this spiritual coldness affects everything and everyone in their life. True disciples of Christ have been called and commissioned to be the light and salt in their network. This is not an option but a command to love others as they love themselves. Without love, there is no conviction, without conviction, there is no prayer and without prayer, there are no demonstrations or manifestations. Christians are passionate about their beautiful homes and their luxury cars. They are proud of their jobs, education, furnishings, clothes, jewelry, and bank accounts but have blocked out the idea of surrendering their will to Christ. Somehow, our thinking has been distorted to believe that being successful and “religious” is the same thing as walking in God’s Divine reality. “Love not the world (the default system), neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world will pass away and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God will abide forever.” (I John 2:15-17)

Apathy is becoming a highly contagious virus that is causing God’s army to take off their armor to find a comfortable recliner. We hear so much about people who are giving up, it has become like a broken record and until we overcome this mental barrier we cannot advance further in our development. How can we succeed in the daily battle if we are not paying any attention to what we are doing, what is happening or the strategies and forces that are trying to stop us? How can we relay the message of being “sold out” to others if we resist God’s consuming fire in our own life? The day any Christian starts wearing the deceiving, prideful mask of “religiosity” – will be the day they become a prisoner of war to the devil! Let us look at the word “indifference” that was a part of the definition of apathy. “Having or showing no preference; neutral; no motivation; of no importance or meaning; inactive; without concern.” This is it! This is the blindness that has blanketed the organized church and has become America’s greatest danger! Being indifferent is being lukewarm! The idea that all churches, doctrines and religions are the same is being accepted by the younger generations. Many believe in a doctrine called “the total restoration of all things” as it teaches that it does not matter what we do because all will be saved in the end. People are more worried about the stock market than their souls and many will be unprepared to face the persecution and devastation of a collapsed economy and the coming New World Order of anti-christ. Why aren’t pastors blowing the trumpet of truth? Because they are AFRAID and have not studied God’s Word for themselves! The fire from many pulpits have been reduced to a cold, secular “lullaby” as the hearts of the masses have become as white washed tombs filled with dead men’s bones. Neutral, uninterested and without concern is being a half-hearted, distant and unenthused religious zombie.
Many Christians feel they have already met the basic necessary requirements of salvation and just need to relax and wait for the next train to heaven. Powder puff preachers are telling the masses how wonderful they are and there is no need to worry because Jesus may come tonight and rescue them from their troubles. Others have lost the vision of their destiny and are tired because they have allowed their eyes to turn from the face of Jesus to the pleasures of the flesh. Multitudes are depressed because things have not worked out as they planned. Many have become afraid, have lost all confidence, and do not trust anyone. Yet, people spend more time watching the news and believing what man is saying than watching God’s Word and praying in faith! Their passion and Intensity has turned to sporting events and entertainment and it is very evident in their daily spiritual walk. The body of Christ must awaken and arise! It is time for God’s people to put on their armor and stand on the unfailing promises of God’s Word! It is time to dust off our shield and sword and CHOOSE to be filled with His victory!

Let me ask a personal question; Would you be “into” Christ if He did not offer the blessings of love, money, health, wisdom, peace, joy, miracles, favor, rewards, eternal life, victory, etc..? Would you follow the Lord and love him unconditionally even in the face of death if He told you there was no heaven? Do you feel that many people put their “hope” in heaven just because they long to go to the most beautiful place in the universe and fear a place of eternal torment? This is not true salvation! Let me ask another question; would you still want to go to heaven if God lived somewhere else? Do we long to see HIM – or what He has for us? If heaven was a hot windy desert without riches, where we live in a tent, fighting enemies and struggling to survive – but God was there – would you still be just as excited about going? Do you thirst after God’s Word that helps you know him better or do you spend all your prayers asking him for things? Is God alone enough to satisfy you forever? “Thy WORDS were found, and I did eat them; and Thy WORD was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16) “He ONLY is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength and my refuge, is in God.” (Psalm 62:2,7) Selah.