God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
There are those in this world that are not willing that any should come to repentance, but that all should perish...
Beware of these people and these places. There are churches all over our country today where church is nothing more than a party place, a gathering for the rich and beautiful, a trophy case for their religious achievements - but not at all a place that honours God and follows His ways. These places have been infiltrated by evil and powerful spirits that rule areas of our land. These spirits take hold of people in leadership through compromise and keep them captive to corrupt and deceptive purposes through greed, pleasure and the fame of this world.
Read your Bible and see what Jesus said first hand - don't just blindly follow the crowd. Learn the character of Jesus by reading His Word the Sword of God and seeking Him earnestly through prayer.
Just because someone runs a church or preaches from a stage in front of a crowd doesn't mean that they are follower of Jesus. Just because they sing songs or write best seller books about Jesus doesn't mean they have a true personal relationship with Him as their Lord and Saviour. Just because half of the world considers them to be a messenger of God doesn't mean they are at all. Being born into a family that follows God doesn't automatically a you follower of Him and His ways - each person down here must make a personal choice to either accept or reject Jesus as Lord.
The Bible says that many will stand before Jesus on the judgment day and will be rejected by Him because He was never their Lord at all. Matthew 7:21-23
They never bowed their knee to Him as Lord but instead decided they were their own lord. They were just going through the motions - acting in front of a crowd - even if fame or success was the byproduct.
The Bible describes these people as ones who "honour God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him and His ways" - Matthew 15:8.
Jesus said we need to test the fruit... (Matthew 7:15-20) Pray and ask the Holy Spirit of Truth to open your eyes to see what He sees and to be led by Him.
True followers of Jesus will mirror the character of Jesus. Disciples who follow Jesus and who have learnt from Him will never promote ways and doctrine that is contrary to their master.
The Bible warns us to avoid those who have a "form of godliness but deny the power of God..." 2 Timothy 3:5
What is the power of God? It's the repentance of sinners saved through the final and complete work of Jesus on the cross.
Any place or person that isn't promoting the power of God to change lives through repentance by the cross of Christ is a place that is no longer serving Jesus or building His Kingdom. It is a place that is compromised and is being influenced and very often in full control of the devil himself.
