Coffee With Pat
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 2006
All rights reserved

Today, there are a lot of churches who still want to stick with old traditions. Let's do it that way, because that is the way it was done 567 years ago. Why change? If it was good enough for our ancestors it is good enough for us. "Baloney or Balony" Anyway you want to say it. You get my drift. I remember the first church I Pastored, they all sit on the right side of the Church. When I went to talk to them, they said they wanted change. They wanted to do things new and grow. So the first Sunday I reminded them of that statement. I said well, the first thing we need to do to break old traditions is, I want everyone to find themselves a new pew to sit in. WOW! You would have thought that someone died. But anyway, they all got up and moved to the left side of the church. I can say that was a start. As churches today, we need to start over with the message. The message that was in the beginning, and will be to the end. We do need to stop fussing about this and that and get busy doing God's Work. I am ready, how about you? The Holy Spirit can talk to men and woman today, just like He did back then. (Amos 5: 21-23) 21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Because man consistently has thought to earn God's acceptance by his own performance, men came to think even of their spiritual relationship with God only in terms of externals. They thought that just by observing certain rules and regulations, performing certain rituals, and speaking certain words, they could stay in favor with God. The Lord set them straight concerning this misconception in the words of the prophets. He let them know that He despised their ritualistic worship and empty sacrifices, mock solemnity, and lip service devotion. (Isaiah 58:4-5) 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD ? (Jeremiah 7:4) 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" He had become sick of their singing, in which they only mouthed deceptive words that meant nothing to them. Hew vowed to turn their singing into wailing and cause their songs to become songs of lamentation and mourning. (Jeremiah 7:34) 34 I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate. Everything Israel and Judah built up in generations of self-effort, or traditionalism will be shaken. The Apostle Paul summarizes the shaking God is determined to perform in the last days. (Hebrews 12: 26-27) 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Everything built by the hand of man, in the energy and wisdom of the flesh, He has vowed to shake down. Only the things that cannot be shaken the things built in His eternal power and wisdom will remain. The great shaking Paul prophesied has begun and is continuing in the church today. Traditionalism will be shaken away. For the church to begin the restoration process, the church has to let the Holy Spirit do a new work, so the Good News can be preached throughout the entire world. As I said before, individuals have to replace the spiritual death of traditionalism, with spiritual life. But not only do we receive a new type and quality of life, but we must also grow in it. Please understand that I am not saying forget the past. Praise God for the work that our forefathers did in the pasted so that we could have a church and worship freely. But just as our forefathers came from England, so that they could begin a new church and worship God, and not be under the leadership and rule of England, it is also meant for us to do the work God has for us to do, at this time. You do not have to totally replace the old traditions, but just be willing to add a few new ones to the list. The fields are white for harvest. We need to look at what Paul told Timothy. To explain, he just said, "Timothy we do not have time to fight over words. Just do the work that God has called you to do. Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, and everything will be okay." { 1 Timothy 6: 3-5) 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Yes, again, the fields are white for harvest. There are souls dying and going to hell. We need to just get out there and witness. We need to remember Jesus told us that in the last days, things will be different. (Acts 2: 17-21) 17He said, " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have dreams. 18In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on those who serve me, both men and women. When I do, they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heavens above. I will show miraculous signs on the earth below. There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke. 20The sun will become dark. The moon will turn red like blood. This will happen before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' (Joel 2:28 32) (Romans 9:28) 28For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.”

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