the old church new church
Jesus and His Disciples had walked nonstop for many miles over rough, rugged terrain since early morning, and now it was nearly noon and the sun was hot overhead, coming around a curve in the road they saw an inviting sight: Jacob’s Well! It was decided that the Disciples would go on into the city to buy food and drink. But Jesus was exhausted, so as His Disciples continued on down the road into the city, He sat down by the well to rest.
It so happened at that time there was a woman drawing water from the well whom Jesus began talking with. During the course of their conversation the woman of Samaria paused a second, then pointing up to the Temple atop nearby Mount Gerizim said, “Our fathers worshipped on THIS mountain, but you Jews claim that JERUSALEM is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain, nor even in Jerusalem. But the time is COMING–and has NOW COME–when the TRUE worshippers will worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, for the Father SEEKS such to worship Him! God is a SPIRIT, and they that worship Him must worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH!” The woman was astonished at His answer. “How wonderful!” she thought. “If only it were true!–If we could just worship God in our hearts WHEREVER we are!” (John 4: 20-24)
It may surprise you to know that God does NOT dwell in Temples (church buildings), NOR does He want men to build Temples (church buildings) as part of His worship. “The Most High does NOT dwell in Temples made with hands.” (Acts 7:48) The only reason God had reluctantly LET the Jews build a Temple to Him in the first place was because they INSISTED on doing it! (2Samuel 7:1-13) So what IS the true Temple of God then, if it is not a material building? It is the HEARTS of MEN! As 1Corinthians 6:19 says, “What? Do you not know that your BODY is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?”
God never once said to build church buildings! He never once said to establish big fancy Bible Colleges & Seminaries! He never once said to build great & costly cathedrals! He simply said to “go ye into all the World & preach the Gospel to every creature!” The main job Christians have is to get out & be missionaries & evangelize the World! Christianity has wasted billions of dollars on big fancy church buildings and let the whole world go to hell. Christianity today is a BUSINESS, that’s why there are so many church buildings all preaching their own doctrines all trying as hard as they can to gather a good sized congregation…for money. Millions of people go to church every Sunday, sometimes 3 or 4 times a week and empty their pockets because they are told that if they don’t then God won’t bless them. Yet you cannot find anywhere in the Bible where Jesus said to build that church building you are told needs your money.
There is little doubt in many people’s minds that the world has entered the time of the end. If you are finding it difficult to believe me then please look at the news, look at the internet and ask the Lord to open your eyes. Our world has entered a time of great darkness. Matthew 24:14 says when this gospel of the Kingdom is preached in all-the world as a witness to all nations then the end shall come. Billions and billions of people in all nations have been preached to via the Internet, television, missionaries and Bible distribution houses; Matthew 24:14 has been fulfilled many times over! Do not think that every single person in the world has to preached too, no. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:23 that they will not have gone over all the cities of Israel before Jesus returns.
I want to warn you that no amount of money, good works or playing at church is going to prepare your heart for what Jesus described in the book of Matthew chapter 24 as the “Great Tribulation”. I want to advice you that nothing but building a very close relationship with Jesus under the anointing of the Holy Ghost will prepare you for what is on the horizon. You are wasting your time and money building any other spiritual house.
If you were going on a long journey and didn’t already know the way, you would bring along a map, wouldn’t you? Well, you are on a long journey—life, and the One who knows the way has instructed some of His men to draw a detailed map to help you make it safely to your final destination! If you say you don’t have time to read God’s map, the Bible, that’s like a driver going on a long journey and saying, “Well, I’m in such a hurry to get there I don’t have time to look at the map!” But if you’ll just take the Bible and simply read it, believe it, and follow it, you will be on the right path and wind up at the right place! So read it at least 30 minutes every day.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6: 5-8)
To be a part of the soon to come, wonderful, love filled Kingdom of God make Jesus your true love today. Accept Him into your heart right now by praying the following prayer. “Dear Jesus, please come into my heart, I believe You died as payment for my sins and mistakes, I also believe You were raised from the dead that I might have eternal life. Please give me your free gift of everlasting life in Jesus Name, Amen”.
