​Depending on who a person asks will determine the type of response a person will receive when asking about a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Strict churches may say a person can never sin, and a person has to have everything perfect in life, which will never be achievable.  Many modern, relevant churches will tell a person that Jesus loves them, He accepts them, and they don’t have to change but they only need to accept Jesus.  Does Jesus love everyone, yes.  Does Jesus want everyone to come to Him, yes.  Does He allow people to stay the same, no.  Each of these church’s ideas is based on religiosity that only hinders a true relationship with Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to God the Father except through Him (John 14:6).  This is the importance of salvation and a relationship with Jesus Christ, but it is the consecration or setting oneself apart for God that many have a difference of opinion on.  Jesus said Himself, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).  Repentance is defined as a change of mind or a change of purpose.  Applying this in the theological setting means to turn from sin by changing the mind and purpose of one’s life.  Why do so many modern churches have people believe they do not have to change when Jesus Christ said that every person must change their way of thinking and living to what the Word of God says?  On the other end of the spectrum, a relationship with Jesus is not based on a person’s perfection of living either.  Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but Christians are called to live holy before God (1 Peter 1:16).  A true relationship with Jesus Christ is not based on how well a person can live life without sin or like natural friendships without changing character but are instead based on Christians allowing themselves to led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; John 16:13; 1 John 3:24), denying their fleshly lusts (Luke 9:32; Matthew 16:24; Galatians 2:20), following God’s purpose for their life (Luke 14:27; Matthew 10:38), and following Jesus and His commandments (John 8:12; John 10:27; Luke 9:23).  Jesus does expect His people to change into His image and not look like the world (Ephesians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6).  When anyone looks like the world or becomes friends with the world they have become an enemy of God (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16; Romans 12:1-2).  A true relationship is not declaring the name of Jesus and looking like the world.  That is having a form of godliness but denying the power of God to work in one’s life (2 Timothy 3:5).  A true relationship with Jesus Christ is repenting of sin, consecrating oneself for the use of God and Him alone, being quick to repent when sin does take place because people are not perfect, being light and salt to the people in the world, and living the Word of God each day to honor God the Father.  Christians should be finding ways to lay aside hindrances and sins to their race to please God with their life (Hebrews 12:1).  Do you have a true relationship with Jesus Christ?  Anyone can have one if they so desire.  For more information about a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit Abundant Grace Church during any service.  For information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.  

​In today’s time, many people fail to understand the local pastor is a gift from Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).  A pastor is given to mature the people of God in the things of God.  He is not called to be everyone’s friend or be the relevant trendsetter.  A pastor is ordained to lead people in the things of God.  Pastors are supposed to be shepherds to the sheep of the church.  God gives pastors according to His heart to feed with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15).  What if a person does not have a pastor?  What is that person missing from God due to not being under the pastor God has for them?  Pastors can provide peace and safety to the people God places under them within the local church (Jeremiah 23:4).  Every Christian benefits from having a pastor.  Even pastors should have a pastor to feed them the Word of God, give wisdom, and provide safety from spiritual enemies.  David, one of the most famous shepherds of the Bible, is a great example of what happens when people submit to a captain, like the local pastor.  In 1 Samuel 22, David is in the cave of Adullam (which means testimony) and 400 men go to submit to him as their captain.  Each person was either distressed, in debt, discontented, or a combination of each.  When these men submitted to David they became mighty men of valor with some having their names recorded in the Bible for their acts of overcoming situations within their own lives (2 Samuel 23).  What if these men did not submit to a spiritual leader?  Would they and their families have been saved from the issues they were in?  What if the person they did submit to was not a captain but a relevant trendsetter who did not lead in the things of God?  If God-ordained pastors are a gift from Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11), why would anyone not take their gift and mature in the things of God?  Every Christian must answer for themselves.  Not only is it important to have a local pastor but to submit to the one God has ordained for each person’s life.  Think of the process David had to use to challenge these 400 men to push them in training, teach them to understand different subjects, and also help them grow in various areas of life.  This is the true calling of a pastor.  One saying of pastoring could not be more true, “If your pastor does not know your name, you do not have a pastor”.  A question could also be asked, “Does my pastor challenge me with the Word of God to be a better Christian?”  Many Christians will say they go to church or have a pastor but this is a religious answer to keep the false appearance of being a Christian when the truth states otherwise.  Now a challenge to pastors.  Be the man after God’s own heart to lead the people much like David.  Was David perfect?  No, and neither will any pastor because they are still human.  This does not give an excuse to not do the job God has called every pastor to fulfill.  Be the feeder of the Word of God, the protector of God’s sheep, and the captain to challenge the people of God to become mighty men and women of valor for the glory of God.  Every pastor is not called to shepherd the world but to pastor the local church God has ordained him to lead.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.  

​There is a plague that is found within many lukewarm churches and lukewarm Christians.  This plague is the degrading of the person of Jesus Christ into a modern cultural figure.  To listen to many of their messages or sermons in today’s time would imply that Jesus is part of the culture of modern society and that the standard of living as prescribed by the Bible is no longer required.  Or that Jesus allows culture to dictate how a person lives no matter if they are a Christian or not.  One lie is His relevance and acceptance of everyone’s sinful lifestyles are the keys to making Christian life easy.  This could not be further from the truth because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  Jesus lived a life that reflected the culture of Heaven as He witnessed God do things and not according to how mankind dictated things to be in the culture of His time while on earth.  Many make Jesus relevant, trendy, or cultural, but Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6; John 17:17; John 8:31-32).  He is the Word of God (John 1:1-14; Matthew 4:17-25; Revelation 19:13).  Neither the truth of God nor His Word changes (Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:25; Matthew 24:35; James 1:17).  God is the same God since the beginning, and Jesus Christ is the same since the beginning.  To change Jesus to fit modern culture is heresy.  Jesus healed the sick (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Acts 10:38; Matthew 8:16-17; Matthew 14:14), cast out demons (Mark 3:11-12; Matthew 12:22,43-45; Mark 5:1-20; Mark 1:23-24),  rebuked religious people (Matthew 23:27,33; Mark 7:6-7; Luke 11:39-40,42; John 8:44), convicted sinners to repent (Luke 5:29-32; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15), and obeyed God (Luke 11:28; John 6:38-40).  The Bible does not state Jesus committed the same acts that sinners committed or condoned their way of living that opposed God.  With so many characteristics of Jesus Christ from the Bible, why do people choose to ignore Who Jesus is and make Him culturally relevant?  The answer is personal gain.  Personal gain can be from desiring money, being popular, or other means of gain in the natural realm.  When someone views their product as not of the highest quality, gimmicks, scams, and trends must be used to sell it.  Jesus was sold in the Bible by Judas, so anyone who does the same thing in today’s time is no different than Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6; Mark 14:10-11).  Anyone who feels the need or desire to sell Jesus Christ does not know Him personally.  Christians do not need to sell Jesus, He should be followed and preached about to bring freedom, liberty, forgiveness, and healing to others (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:14-15; 1 Corinthians 1:17-18; 2 Timothy 4:2).  Jesus is not a product He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1-14), God in bodily form (Colossians 2:9; John 10:30; Philippians 2:6-7), and the Supreme sacrifice for all mankind (Hebrews 10:10-12; John 1:29; Hebrews 9:26; Ephesians 5:2).  People must know Jesus Christ to receive salvation but they must go through the process as the Bible prescribes or it is not legitimate in the eyes of God.  There cannot be a form of godliness and deny the power, there must be a relationship with Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:5; Revelation 3:20; 1 John 5:11-12).  May Christians not make Jesus Christ a modern cultural figure and may they get back to Him being the holy Son of God who offers salvation, life, and life more abundantly.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.  

​While living in the last days, many churches have focused on being current or relevant with the times.  While culture and popularity are prevalent, many are leaving God out of their services or purpose.  Every church and Christian must not compromise the truth of God or God’s Word.  The truth of God’s Word draws a line between right and wrong, clean and unclean, and holy and unholy separating the people who submit to God’s Word and those who rebel against His truth by not living it (2 Corinthians 6:17-18; Isaiah 52:11; James 1:21).  Submitting to God requires studying the Bible AND living the Word of God out through character by doing what it says (James 1:22-25; James 2:17-18,24).  Living out the Word of God will create a separation between those who apply God’s truth to be holy people of God while those who choose to oppose His truth will desire the separation out of conviction.  Many people view Jesus as the Messiah to bring everyone from everywhere together but even He describes Himself as a divider (Matthew 10:34-36).  Jesus goes a step further to say that anyone who loves family more than Him is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:37).  It is not hatred within a family that Jesus wants or encourages but Jesus is reflecting on the separation of those who reject Him in their lives as opposed to those of the same family who have given their lives to serve Him.  This reality should be a motivation to encourage Christians to witness to people within their lives of the salvation that can be found in Jesus Christ.  If Jesus separates through His Word why do so many churches seek to be relevant with culture?  Separation is not an easy situation no matter the origin.  To have the truth of God bring this separation displays the heart of each person.  Serving God is to be conducted with the very best effort also known as heartily (Colossians 3:23).  Once a Christian realizes the blessings that come from being faithful to God they should be immovable from the truth of God no matter the cost (1 Corinthians 15:58).  The truth of God forces people to look at their lifestyle and compare it to how the Bible says to live.  Those who desire God and His presence within their lives will submit and obey.  During this submission and obedience, others who have chosen to not obey or submit to the truth of God may be convicted of their sin and mock God or at the very least attempt to plant the idea of having a lower standard of Christianity within the person that is dedicating their life to God’s Word.  It takes a strong Christian to stand and not compromise the truth of God and the things of God.  A great motivation for not compromising the things of God is remembering that one day Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32-34).  This is an analogy of sheep that reflects the submitted and obedient people of God while goats are a reflection of those who do what they desire and do not submit to the Word of God.  Again, this separation comes as Jesus is only separating the people by the choices that they have made.  Where do you stand regarding the truth of God?  Do you stand in submission and obedience to the Word of God?  Or are you standing in opposition living life how you desire and neglecting the truth of God?  Which side do you choose?  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.