Have you ever said that? Often just after hearing a prophetic word, right?

"Lord just tell me plainly--and then I'll obey!!"

Jesus wasn't just "a" prophet. He was THE PROPHET. The one who trains the other prophets. He had a few words about the last days. This is what it would be like---he said . . .

Matt 24:12 "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold..."

THE WORLD IS A WICKED PLACE . . .

We can certainly see that, can't we? What, with the killings at high schools around the country, the gangs in the city. . . and now, even gangs in the suburbs . . . families torn apart. Jesus was right! The love of many has grown cold.

Sometimes, however, we've taken our mirror (the mirror that shows us what we are like) and we've tucked it away in our back pocket or put it in a purse. Then we look straight ahead and point at the wickedness that abounds.

THE BROTHER OF JESUS HAD A REVELATION

James, the brother Jesus spoke about where we, the church, ought to be. He didn't look to the world. He looked at the church and this is his description of what needed to be:

James 1:27 "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

GOD IS SPEAKING ON THIS ISSUE IN 1999

God has been speaking to me on this issue for many months and I don't like where I'm at so far. Then the other day, Les Yoder, pastor of a Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Lebanon, Oregon sent this to me:

_______________________

From: Les Yoder Lesyoder@proaxis.com Providence Vineyard Christian Fellowship Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Subject: 125 AD

I have been meditating on the thought of the church being a loving community and not just a crowd, and found this from --- Aristides, a Christian from Athens, wrote this in defense of Christians to the Emperor Hadrian in the year 125 AD

"They love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their homes and rejoice over him as a very brother; for they do not call them brethren after the flesh, but brethren after the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each one of them according to his ability gives heed to him and carefully sees to his burial. And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted on account of the name of their Messiah, all of them anxiously minister to his necessity, and if it is possible to redeem him they set him free. And if there is among them any that is poor and needy, and if they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply to the needy their lack of food. They observe the precepts of their Messiah with much care, living justly and soberly as the Lord their God commanded them. Every morning and every hour they give thanks and praise to God for His loving-kindnesses toward them; and for their food and their drink they offer thanksgiving to Him. "

Les Yoder, Lebanon, Oregon
______________________________

This is a sobering look at the way the church should be today . . . but perhaps is not (let each person examine himself/herself)--- The way the church WAS--but may not be now.

In 125 A.D. the reputation of the church to Emperor Hadrian was loving and sacrificial to those in need. What is the reputation of the church today? In your workplace? In your city?

On the "James meter"---- how are we doing?

Certainly, among those who pursue violence, the love of many grows cold. Among those who are immoral, the love of many grows cold. However, among ourselves, members of his Body, the love of many of us ---grows cold.

There is hope, however. The Lord did not leave us as orphans. He is the God of redemption, of mercy, forgiveness, GRACE, and LOVE. He speaks to those "who have an ear to hear . . ."

As we truly seek to fall in love with Christ and seek HIS love for our brothers and sisters, we can be restored to the place we WOULD be, had the locust and cankor worm not destroyed so much.

THE WORD FOCUSES, NOT ON CONDEMNATION, BUT REDEMPTION

Rev 2:3-7 "You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ...(then the promise)....

TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES, I WILL GIVE THE RIGHT TO EAT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH IS IN THE PARADISE OF GOD."

We often pray, "Lord, tell me plainly and then I'll do it." When I read of the reputation of the early church for those less fortunate than themselves, ---I now ask myself---- "Is that plain enough?"