​Since the Christian religion was established, many have talked about being a Christian rather than living out their faith as a living epistle.  There is a major difference between talking about being a Christian and actually living as a Christian.  James 2:17-18 says, “So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).  But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works.  Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.” (AMPC).  A talking Christian knows the keywords of the groups they fellowship with, while an actual Christian lives the Word of God in their actions and mouth.  A talking Christian believes God, Jesus, and certain aspects of God’s kingdom exist, while an actual Christian lives out their faith through action and word because of how real God is to them.  The talking Christian holds the same belief in God as children do about Santa Claus or the tooth fairy, while the faith of an actual Christian is willing to be martyred because they are convicted of the truth of God and their faith holds as fact their relationship with God.  Faith is defined as the conviction of the truth or a strongly convinced trust in God.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (KJV).  Applying the definition of faith to this verse, Christians cannot please God by merely believing He exists or by talking about their Christianity.  Christians must have the conviction of the truth of God and have a strongly convinced trust in Him by living what the Word of God says.  Without this type of faith, a person cannot please God, according to the Bible.  Some may say they have acted with their belief through social assistance of handing out clothes, food, or bottles of water.  This assistance is biblical and needed for many people.  As a biblical reminder, Stephen also helped those around him by feeding widows and helping people (Acts 6:1-7), but he was the first martyr recorded in the New Testament church for his faith and preaching of the Gospel (Acts 7:55-60).  Social acts may be a blessing, but sharing the Gospel with or without social acts is one of the best actions of faith one can commit.  Living by the Word of God should be understood by all Christians, but many people are taught that God exists to please them.  This is the opposite of biblical principles of people living for God.  Remember, Hebrews 11:6 says that Christians are to please God, not Him pleasing His people.   A person’s faith is in who or what they serve (Romans 6:16-18).  If a person serves their belief in God’s existence, they will live for God as someone prepares for Santa Claus decorating and setting out cookies but never expecting him to show up.  When a true Christian serves God through their faith, they prepare for the coming of Jesus by living holy, clean, and witnessing to those around them to allow them to escape Hell and make Heaven their home for eternity.  May every Christian examine themselves and see how their relationship with God measures to His standard.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Many Christians would agree that building the kingdom of God is an important part of Christianity.  Getting people who do not know God to be born again, getting more people to attend church, and helping people with their problems seem to be the main points of what many churches focus on.  Yet, in today’s time, many churches and Christians individually attempt to do these actions without declaring the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:1-9).  When this happens, faith is not being increased as it should, but religiosity is being produced.  Religiosity is when a person acts as an image of being right with God but does not allow God to have a relationship with them (2 Timothy 3:5).  This type of behavior produces those who stand before Jesus and are turned away because they did not have a relationship with Him (Matthew 7:21-23).  Having a true relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to building the kingdom of God because it involves obeying God’s Word (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22; Luke 11:28).  The kingdom of God is not built by the method that makes sense to man’s mind of marketing or gimmicks but is built by allowing the Word of God to be preached (Luke 17:20-21).  Christians must remember that Satan has many people in the world blinded to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).  The only thing that can expose the lies and deception of the enemy is the truth of God, His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).  Churches and Christians alike should be speaking and preaching the Word of God everywhere they go.  At times, just speaking God’s Word without rebuke or harshness will expose the deception and lies with the truth of God, while others must be given the Word of God in warning and be saved by fear (Jude 22-23; 2 Timothy 4:1-2).  In both situations, the Word of God should not be withheld.  The Gospel is the source of building faith, a necessary element to please God (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6).  Building faith builds the kingdom of God.  When people are not given the Word of God, they are not given the proper seeds to produce substance for God (Mark 4:2-20).  Withholding the Gospel does not build the kingdom of God, but gathering people builds the kingdom of man.  Preaching the Word of God and lifting up Jesus Christ will draw men unto Him (John 12:32).  Not only did this take place at the cross, but to this day, people can be drawn unto Jesus when His people lift Him up and preach the Gospel.  When this takes place, others can hear the Word of God, understand the importance of salvation, and be made disciples of Christ.  The kingdom of God reproduces itself when the Gospel is the focus of a church and God’s people.  May God’s people not withhold the Gospel, but may they present it at all times, being led by the Spirit of God in how to minister on each occasion.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​As time continues, culture has evolved into less of God’s standard of living and more of the desires of the flesh.  This same culture has found its way into the modern ideology of what a church should look like (James 4:4).  When the flesh is obeyed, it creates a lukewarm Christianity if allowed to remain.  Everyone contends with sin or their flesh, but when flesh wins a battle, repentance should quickly follow, bringing forgiveness and putting a person back into right standing with God.  To truly understand what lukewarm means, here is the definition.  Lukewarm is defined as tepid; lacking in passion, force, or zeal; and marked by an absence of enthusiasm or conviction.  Revelation 3:14 says, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (KJV).  Jesus Christ is speaking to those who declare they are Christians, but they have lost their passion and zeal for Him and their conviction of what is right according to God’s Word.  The word spue, now known as spew, is defined as to vomit; to eject violently; and to disgorge the stomach contents.  Those who have this type of Christianity make Jesus want to vomit them out of His body.  This implies He is rejecting them from being part of His body.  Jesus Christ and God the Father do not accept lukewarm believers.  If they refuse such behavior or level of Christianity, why do some people today think this is acceptable?  The answer is a compromised standard of Christianity.  Whether it starts with a pastor who has taught this standard to a congregation, parents teaching it to their kids, or just a person who is cooling off in their relationship with God, the compromise to please the flesh and not God has taken place.  Sadly, many will not know the damage of a lukewarm Christianity until they stand before Jesus Christ and He declares their departure from His presence for all eternity.  Not only does this create an eternal separation for eternity from God, but it also makes life presently harder due to not pleasing God.  Lukewarm is also displayed by the Apostle Paul as he warns Timothy of those who have a form of godliness but deny His power in their life (2 Timothy 3:5).  Having a form of godliness means having an appearance, outward semblance, formula, fashion, but not genuine.  Their attempts to look like a person of God are not genuine, so the motive is to gain others or be part of a group that is more religious than concerned about having a relationship with God (James 1:22).  Denying God’s power means they contradict, reject, refuse, forsake, and renounce God’s ability to act in their life.  When a Christian denies the God they declare they love and serve the ability to act in their life, they are not a true Christian (1 John 2:6).  To be Christian is to be Christ-like.  Jesus Christ only did what He saw His Father do (John 5:19; John 14:10).  Jesus only said what He heard His Father say (John 12:49).  The answer to being lukewarm is to examine oneself and see if they are really in the faith and aligning with the Word of God (2 Corinthians 13:5), to not love the world or the things of the world (1 John 2:15-16), and to be a living sacrifice unto God and be transformed by renewing one’s mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2).  May fewer people be lukewarm and more be hot for God.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.