Throughout my journey in South America, I have seen many beautiful big church buildings with European architecture. One of these churches my friend said is usually empty except for special occasions. Despite the beautiful façade, this is just a building which lacks the vibrant life of Christ that comes through His people. Therefore, this building is irrelevant and cannot be called a church as it is void of the people who make up the body of Christ. Unfortunately, many churches are irrelevant to Christ even with people and a lot of ministries. I experienced a vibrant church with flashing lights and a pastor who gave a great performance. He had a very charismatic personality. The sermon was quite energetic and dramatic, which kept the audience riveted and laughter often echoed throughout the theater. But, I felt lost in the sermon, which had one Bible verse as its foundation. It was not because of the language barrier either, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions rather than a move of the Holy Spirit as I seemed to be watching an actor sway the large congregation.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23
I am learning that if we are not doing God’s will then, He will not be pleased with us. It doesn’t matter how good we are, or how many ministries we are in or even how much we read the Bible or pray. The most important thing is to do God’s will. Many of us are out of position because we are doing what we want and not what He wants. When we are in God’s will, He will give us His power and make ways where there seems to be no way by doing the impossible in our lives. If we are not doing God’s will then we are not relevant to Him and He might say to us that He never knew us. I looked for the meaning of relevant on Google and found this definition - closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered. Are we closely connected to what God is doing? I have heard so many people say that God told them to do something, and after they look back at their decision, they realize that it wasn’t God that was leading them, but their own emotions. Therefore, we must be careful not listen to voices that are not of God, even if it is our own. We cannot stay connected to God if we are not moving in His will.
I know God’s will may not be easy, but it is best. Many of the prophets had a difficult life and were alone in challenging situations. But God was always there with them. We can be assured that when we are doing God’s will, we will stay connected to Him and He will guide us on how to be relevant to Him. And He will also give us the strength to obey Him. When He asks who will go, we will answer His call just as Isaiah did.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
Stepping out to do God’s will may not be easy. Isaiah wasn’t giving the people good news, but God’s news and they would not have been happy to hear what He said.
And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate. Isaiah 6:9-11
Being relevant to God is not easy as we must do what He says even when doing what He says may go against our nature or we might be afraid. God understands our fear, but that shouldn’t stop us from obeying Him, that is why His Word often tells us to not be afraid. While in Brazil, I heard some amazing stories of Christians facing fearful situations, yet they kept on going and doing God’s will. While doing ministry one man was kidnapped, and gangsters played Russian roulette with a gun pointing to his head. The gun never went off and they beat him leaving him for dead. But thankfully, he wasn’t. He was able to crawl to a nearby ditch where he was found by a passerby, who took him to the hospital. You would think that after that harrowing experience, He may have stopped doing ministry. But He didn’t. He kept on obeying God’s call to minister in favelas. I heard another story of missionaries who went to one of the worst favelas in Brazil at that time, only with first-aid kits. They went door to door asking how they could help the residents with whatever was in their kits. Four missionaries stayed in this dangerous place and led a YWAM base there, known as Jocum in Brazil. Now a few decades later, the community has been transformed because those missionaries faced danger head-on by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
To be relevant for Christ we must be strong and courageous, not doing what we want in our strength, but rather in God’s strength. We cannot do God’s will by our might or by power, but only by His Spirit. Too many Christians and churches are irrelevant to Christ because we are doing what God has not told us to do in our strength. Though education, influence, power and wealth can be useful, they can make us irrelevant if we depend on them and not on Christ. We must rely on God to guide us with His wisdom, knowing that He uses the foolish to confound the wise, and His wisdom is not of the world. We may look crazy to those around us, but don’t worry, as long as we are relevant to Christ, that is what is important.
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