"CHURCH! COME BACK!"

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.



"Church, we must come back to looking unto Jesus!"



Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.



Jesus went out, and departed from the temple. Verse one of Matthew 24 shows us a picture of where He is today, as far as the temple.

"Jesus has departed from very much of what calls itself the church today!" Why?



Because it has compromised God's Word so as to lower the bar so low today that there is no striving to be all that which Christ said that we would be as His Church! God's True Gospel will challenge a person to change from a fleshly minded person to a "New Creation in Christ" by the Holy Spirit!" Lift of the Standard! Gods Word is the Standard!

Jesus is the Standard! Jesus said to sinner woman, neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.

Jesus is the Standard! Jesus said to the man that he healed. John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.



The Church has been influenced by the world rather than the Church by a commitment to strive to be more like Christ, it has no restraining effect on the world. It's powerless in its worldly methods and therefore has no ability to see miraculous salvation to come to the hearts of the unbeliever!



Jesus said:



Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.



That seeker-friendly crowd is going to find itself outside of a door shut that no man can open!



Ever seeking but never finding because there's no striving to be more like Jesus!



It would rather identify with the world than be conformed to the image of Christ!



G75 agōnizomai ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee

From G73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive.



Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

"Strive to enter in!"



Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.



"Strive to enter in!"

To struggle for the prize, to contend with the adversary!



I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2



G75 agōnizomai ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee

From G73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive.

This word strive means to agonizes over!

Strive to enter in! Don't be denied by that which opposes you!

Remember, as we strive to enter in, JESUS said that He would be with us as we desire to follow His commandments.



Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,



Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.



1Corianthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.



Yes! There is love and mercy in Christ today, but as His Church we are commanded that we: "Love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15



Jesus went out and departed out of the temple and His disciples showed Him the buildings of the temple.



1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.



"The Disciples showed Jesus the buildings of the temple."

Jesus wasn't impressed or excited about the buildings of the temple!

Jesus isn't impressed by the buildings of the temple!

Jesus is never impressed by what man is building. He is impressed by what He is building! (Upon this rock, I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!)

Jesus isn't concerned by the buildings of the temple. He's concerned with the temple of the "Living God!"

In Matthew 24, Jesus went out and departed from the things that were made with man's hands.

He will go out and depart from His temple today that continues to build with fleshly, worldly attractions.



"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20



We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses!

Let us lay aside, put off the old nature!

Lay aside every weight!

Lay aside the sin of compromise of what Gods Word teaches us as Believers!

Repent of the compromise and purpose in your heart that you will run with patience the race that is set before you!



God’s peace shall rule your heart!



John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.



If I love God, I will keep Gods Word!



If a man love Me, Jesus said, he will keep My words.

If a man that loves Me and keeps My word because he loves Me, My Father will love him and Jesus and the Father will come and live with him!

A man that doesn't love Jesus will not keep His word!

A man that doesn't keep Gods word will not have Jesus and the Father living with him!

No Comforter will come to the man that doesn't love Jesus!

No man will be taught of God that doesn't love God!

He will not remember what things God has taught because he doesn't love God and God doesn't teach the unsaved to be religious. They learned all of that on their own!

But thank God! A man can know God by loving God, by keeping Gods word, and being a doer of the Word!

That man’s heart won't be troubled in these last days.That man will have the peace that Jesus said: "I give unto you!"

That man has a hold of Gods word and will never be afraid!



1Jn 2:15 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.

2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.





Come back to prayer to God!

Come back to God’s Word!

Come back to doing God’s Word!

Come back to where you are willing to forsake all for Christ Jesus!



Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.



Church, come back to “Looking unto Jesus!”