I think I’ve discovered why there is little evidence/manifestation of real demonstration of God’s power in the church in America.

We have “little faith.”

I remember when I was a child and went to the amusement parks. I desperately wanted to go on a ride, but when I stood up to the “measuring line” that they had on a wall or pole to measure height, I wasn’t tall enough to qualify yet. I just couldn’t understand, but they told me, “those are the rules.”

Most of us see the miracles in crusades across Africa, China and almost anywhere else, but America…

Oh, they still happen here, but not like they do in other places of the world. Why?

For the same reason Jesus could do few miracles while He was here in the body of a man. Oh, they believed it in the sense of Him being the historical figure as fact, but to believe as the Apostles believed the fact… they didn’t! “And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.”

They didn’t really believe He WAS God!

That’s right, I’m saying it! And I guarantee you that the majority of Christians will attack me for saying, they had little faith, when a loved one died of a fatal disease, or other malady that they “claimed” they were believing God to heal them of, never manifested in what they say they were believing for.

Pride takes a different form in Christians… It takes a “spiritual pride” direction when you “challenge” their faith. Maybe that’s why Paul wrote this to the Romans…

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

If I am actually having faith in God to heal me, I am “completely trusting” and that will be evidenced by my total and complete healing and recovery! I know this has some “Christians” grinding and gnashing their teeth at me right now, but I make NO apology for what Jesus said. This isn’t my opinion. This isn’t a matter for debate. It IS the Word of the Living God!

In John chapter 15, Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

Do you see the keys in having faith? Abiding in Jesus and being filled with His Word and love for others…

What do YOU think He meant by, “ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you?”

I have NO desire to beat anyone up over their “little faith.” I”m guilty too! But, I also know that when I have faith in God… He has NEVER failed to deliver His promises to me! NEVER!

But let’s put our “false spirit of spiritual pride” down today and say, “I need you Lord and want to abide in your love for me DAILY. “Get His Word in you more than the “world’s word” for you…

Americans have transferred their “faith in God” to their “faith in science and technology, their faith in the medical community to cure their physical problems” and their faith in their own “abilities” to handle things themselves!

I challenge anyone in the church to say I’m wrong about this! The church message to the angel in Sardis is very relevant to American Christians…

Jesus said “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy deeds, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

It’s a dead church that can no longer operate in the power of the Holy Spirit, see healing and deliverance for the lost around us and find themselves more comfortable hanging around the lost, than they do with their brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus!

Remember what John said? “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

There’s little expectancy and little faith in the church in America! Oh, we have patriotism galore, but that’s not going to build our faith!

Real faith is when you trust in Christ alone, not just for your salvation, but for your EVERY need! Treat Him as He deserves… Treat Him as One who can be trusted!

Moses told the Jews, “Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life.“

You see, in order to “Abide in Him,” you must be committed to Him. Most American Christians are committed to Sunday Morning, maybe Wednesday and when I feel moved to be… Abiding is a constancy of occupancy.

As Americans, were complacent about our relationship with Jesus. That’s means, “take Him when I want to and leave Him when I want.” That’s NOT abiding!

Why do “saints” fail in their efforts to have faith when their world is collapsing on them?… They haven’t been abiding in Him…

Jesus told us how to be victorious! If we’re not… should He ever be blamed? God forbid: yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; As the Scriptures say, “He will be proved right in what he says, and he will win his case in court.

If American believers ever leave the place of being “satisfied with little faith,” and DO what Jesus Christ told us to do, I shutter to think of the glory we would see!

The definition of “preparation” is “the action or process of making something ready for use or service or of getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty …”

That couldn’t be more accurate in describing what we’re doing on this earth right now!

And you’re probably wondering… how in the world I came up with Preparation H? Isn’t that a brand of hemorrhoid cream?

Yes, to many people it is, but I’m talking about the “preparation” of every human alive or who ever lived on this earth.

We should all know that we’re a part of Preparation H… because we’re all “preparing” to spend eternity in “Heaven or Hell!”

Just like the hemorrhoid cream, we ALL will have either eternal relief or eternal suffering…

Jesus said, “Mat 7:13  “Go in through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is spacious that leads to destruction, and many people are entering by it.
Mat 7:14  How narrow is the gate and how constricted is the road that leads to life, and few are the people who find it!”

Too many people want to believe that there are more ways to get to heaven than accepting Jesus. There are NOT!

This life as we know it now, is simply the “preparation process” for the real purpose God created us. God NEVER creates anything or anyone without a “purpose” in mind for them.

Jesus said, “John 14:6  “I am the way, the truth, and the life!“  “Without me, no one can go to the Father.”

Our purpose as Christians, as Jesus told us in Matthew and Luke, is to, “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. “He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

What is the “Kingdom of God?” It is the proper royalty, rule (authority) and reign of God in our lives. Yes, we’re to be learning the Kingdom system of doing things while we’re here on this earth.

Before we were “saved,” we were “preparing” for hell…You may say, “I wasn’t preparing for hell…” But, the Word of God says you were. You had little choice.

Eph 2:1  In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God.
Eph 2:2  You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God.

Proverbs is a book of wisdom, written by Solomon, called the “wisest man who ever lived.” In the very first chapter, he writes, “When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away. But not these people! They set an ambush for themselves; they booby-trap their own lives”You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools fight the facts?”

“Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise. I called you so often, but you didn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.” “For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.” “They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen.”

“For they are simpletons who turn away from me–to death. They are fools, and their own complacency will destroy them.” Proverbs 1:32

Doing nothing with Jesus, is “preparing” to die forever! Turning away from the only deliverer is “preparing” for eternal separation and death.

For a person who has never accepted Jesus into their heart and life… do it now! Don’t live in death sentence and slavery another day!

Jesus loves you, just the way you are… messed up and a slave to the devil. He paid the price to deliver you though.

For the Christian who is striving more, for the things of this life, than they are the Kingdom of God; live according to His royalty, His rule (authority) and reign in your life.

Prepare and keep preparing, because the day WILL be here soon, when we’ll all step into the purpose God has for us in eternity! His purpose and destination for us all, was NOT hell!

You choose.

This past Saturday evening, I watched my son exchange vows with his bride. Now, I really understand two important things about our relationship with Jesus…

We know He is coming back again for His bride. Who is she really?

When I saw and read some comments about how my son and his bride are “best friends” and how much they love each other, it dawned on me… that’s’ the relationship He’s looking for with us.

He always has wanted the relationship to be “best friends and first love.” (Not claiming to be his best friend, like the world claims, but really being “His best friend”… and knowing that “He is our best friend.”)

Of course He is our Lord, but the relationship He wants, is the closeness and nearness of “best friends.”

My son in law gave a “best friend speech” at my son’s wedding reception, in which he basically described, “The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation …”

My son found that “best friend” and love in his new wife. She looks at him, like there’s no other person in the room… When he is not near, she looks for him till she finds him.

Jesus said, “I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you “friends,” because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.”

He doesn’t want to keep secrets from us and He doesn’t want us to try and keep secrets from Him. He wants His “bride,” with no fears and no worries, knowing that the best friend you have, will NEVER let you down.

Maybe this is why God hates divorce so vehemently. It’s an earthly parallel of Jesus and the Bride of Christ. When you say a person is your “best friend and love,” you have proclaimed an everlasting bond of commitment to a relationship of love and friendship. Is there anything stronger? Yes, when Jesus is the foundation of that relationship between a man and woman… NOTHING can break it.

The Apostle Paul said, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, so that he might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, and might present the church to himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault.

“Best friends love” never hides secrets from each other.

There’s a cleansing and pure love from being “best friends” with Jesus. He keeps the relationship clean by “washing us with water (His Holy Spirit) and the Word.

When you have that “best friend” relationship, unbroken… by your choice as well as His… you will be without spot, wrinkle (worries and cares of this life) holy and without fault. And you know that when someone attacks you, you needn’t stress… your best friend will have your back!

If two young people can illustrate such a picture of their relationship with each other, how much more is God Himself wanting our “best friend love” relationship forever?

We are the Bride He’s coming back for…

Is He your love and “best friend?”

A team of 6 Americans, a Briton, a German and 2 Afghan interpreters who traveled around Afghanistan with a portable clinic were murdered execution style in Afghanistan. Read it again, in case you missed the point of “the reason” the Taliban felt it necessary to KILL these people. Think about it… They helped people! Murdered because they “loved and cared” enough to help these Afghani people.

They traveled around helping people! They “served” others by helping to heal them! This is what Christians do!

This is part of who we are, as followers of the God who made all things. But people who believe there are “other” ways to know God and live for God, have not believed the “love of the truth.”

Sadly, it’s the knowledge that every Christian has about the “One Way” to know God and have eternal life, that endangers our physical bodies in parts of the world, where we can’t compromise this truth.

We can’t even compromise this truth where there is little danger of being killed.

What this world calls “tolerance” is really “compromise.” And a “compromise” with truth, is a lie.

A Christian group that provided medical care to remote regions of developing countries. Although robbery had been suspected as a motive for the crime, a Taliban spokesman proudly claimed credit on behalf of his organization for the murders.

I have to take you back to this scene…  because I don’t think most people get it. Maybe, not even too many Christians…

Luk 7:36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s home and took his place at the table.
Luk 7:37 There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume
Luk 7:38 and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.
Luk 7:39 Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She’s a sinner!”
Luk 7:40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “say it.”
Luk 7:41 “Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other fifty.
Luk 7:42 When they couldn’t pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him the most?”
Luk 7:43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly.”
Luk 7:44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.
Luk 7:45 You didn’t give me a kiss, but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet.
Luk 7:46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume.
Luk 7:47 So I’m telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that’s why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”
Luk 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven!”
Luk 7:49 Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
Luk 7:50 But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Now , let’s really look deep into what is so very simple! I really believe that this woman had seen the forgiveness and healing all around her, possibly, of many she knew. Was she a woman in the crowd, who witnessed the other woman brought to Him, after being “caught in the act of adultery?”

I believe she witnessed and understood who Jesus was and this amazing love and grace had overwhelmed her to repent of her sinful life, and go to the One and only person who could truly forgive her and accept her. This woman knew who she was at the moment she came to Jesus. This woman risked being arrested or worse, to crash a private party at a Pharisees home, where she knew Jesus would be.

I believe she reached a point in her life where she was tired of her lifestyle and tired of the emptiness inside her. She determined that nothing was going to stop her from running to Jesus and throwing herself on His loving and merciful presence, no matter what anyone else thought.

Jesus never denied the thought the Pharisee had about her being a notorious sinner, and Jesus knew very well what he was thinking about her, with his self righteous attitude, but that was not the point. The point was that, she knew He was the Christ and no other man she had ever been around showed the love, compassion and authority, that Jesus had. She may have been witnessing His acts, miracles, compassion and love toward many people over a period of time and finally, she understood that He was the Messiah!

I believe she had already repented of her sins and believed on Him, before she ever went to the Pharisees home. When she finally made the decision to go with her gift of “precious perfume,” it was only to carry out the “expression of joy” and “overflow of love” she had FOR Jesus! This is what Jesus told the Pharisee, “her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that’s why she has shown such great love.”

The woman understood that this His love was real and complete and never doubted that it was enough. She didn’t need anyone to tell what the Pharisee would tell her, she need what Jesus would tell, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” One Word from the Master and she would never be the same… ever again!

The only difference between the woman and the Pharisee… “she saw the love of God and he saw the law of God.” When you exchange the law for the love, you’ll never be the same!

By Steve Berchtold

Years ago, after playing drums in a band that was part of the “Jesus movement” in the 70′s, I came to the place where I had to find something to do to make a living for my wife and baby daughter. I went to a school to learn air conditioning. (It seemed like the right thing to do at the time).

On one of my very first jobs working for a company, I was really nervous and lacked confidence in my ability to accurately diagnose and repair problems. You must know what you’re doing. You can’t guess or pretend that you know what you’re doing. The problem is only solved by those who REALLY understand how things work and how to make them work right.

There was a well intentioned lady who worked for this company and she would say to me several times, “Have confidence Steve…” I thought to myself, “How am I suppose to have confidence in something I really don’t understand?” I had learned all the fundamentals and basics of physics, electricity and what makes them work, but facing the “gray” areas of the real world were never all covered in school.

Ask yourself this question… Do I REALLY have “confidence” in what God has said? We “prove it” everyday by the actions and words we speak.

If we react like the world, to, or in a situation, then most likely, we don’t believe that God said, “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Or many of the other promises that He gave us in His Word.

There is a reason for this, but also, there is an answer for it.

When you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come live inside of you by His Holy Spirit, you have just received the power, ability and “nature” of God himself to “become” children of God. You are sealed with His Spirit and headed in the right direction immediately. However, just like completing the sufficient schooling I received to “become” an air conditioning technician, we don’t “know it all” when we’re born again.

As I started to “experience” the power of “putting into practice” the things I was learning, I began to gain “confidence. This is exactly the same thing that will happen in your Christian life.

I was never able to put the books away and say, “Now, I’ve got enough to know, all I’ll ever need to know, to be the most confident technician in the world.” For over 20 years, I continued to learn new things and new products. I never stopped learning because I never stopped looking in the books.

The Word of God is not temporal like the books I read for air conditioning. It is ALIVE and living. It is powerful to change and grow your “confidence.” Piercing as far as the division of both soul and spirit, able to judge of the thoughts and intentions of the heart…

I believe the reason that Christians have little or no confidence in God, is because they have stopped spending time in His Word and don’t “apply” the things they’ve learned.

When I started to apply the things I learned, my “confidence” began to grow and I started to realize, “Hey, I’m not that bad at this and I CAN actually fix something.” (The truth is, I never really was that good at it, but that’s another topic about finding your fit, for what God created you to do…)

The word “confidence” was used in the new testament 20 times. Mostly, by the man who had learned more about God’s grace than any other man alive… the Apostle Paul.

We’re to have a “confidence” in Christ. In our relationship with Him and relationship with each other. We will, when we learn and practice what we learn, in the “every day” of our lives.

As you’ll see from the scriptures below, we are NOT to have “confidence in our flesh.” (Those works and efforts of human striving, apart from the Holy Spirit, but we are to have confidence in the works that are “birthed” from a “confidence in Him” and His finished work, continuing in us as we learn and know Him more each day.

Let your “confidence” grow. Keep learning from His Word every day and that day will come, when you say, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” I have total confidence in You Lord and I believe everything You say…

(Act 28:31 KJV)  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

(2Co 1:15 KJV)  And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;

(2Co 2:3 KJV)  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

(2Co 7:16 KJV)  I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

(2Co 8:22 KJV)  And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

(2Co 10:2 KJV)  But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

(2Co 11:17 KJV)  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

(Gal 5:10 KJV)  I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

(Eph 3:12 KJV)  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

(Php 1:25 KJV)  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

(Php 3:3 KJV)  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

(Php 3:4 KJV)  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

(2Th 3:4 KJV)  And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.

(Phm 1:21 KJV)  Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

(Heb 3:6 KJV)  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

(Heb 3:14 KJV)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

(Heb 10:35 KJV)  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

(1Jn 2:28 KJV)  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

(1Jn 3:21 KJV)  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

(1Jn 5:14 KJV)  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

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The disciples asked Him, point blank, “When will this happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?”  Jesus told them the truth about this time we’re living in right NOW!

The very first thing He said to them though was, “Don’t let anyone fool you.” Well, I can tell you… Christians are letting a lot of people “fool them.”

They listen to the news, the false prophets and the so-called Bible teachers that are misinterpreting the Bible. What’s the anecdote for lies? ONLY The Bible.

“Many will come and claim to be me. They will say that they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.” You would think that only a small group of people could be fooled when so many people have heard the gospel… right? When people believe because someone is very persuasive, charismatic or can even do “miracles,” they can be fooled!

“You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn’t the end.”

“Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. But this is just the beginning of troubles.”

Earthquakes have increased dramatically over the last 30 years:

“You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of me, you will be hated by people of all nations. Many will give up and will betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will come and fool a lot of people.” “Evil will spread and cause many people to stop loving others. But if you keep on being faithful right to the end, you will be saved.”

“When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come.”

“False messiahs and false prophets will come and work great miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God’s chosen ones. But I have warned you ahead of time.”

“Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know that summer is near. So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. I can promise you that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens.”

You’ve been warned. Know the Lord and you won’t be “mislead and deceived.”

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