What is needed most from believers at this hour!

Whats needed most from believers at this hour!

Mark 6:14-28

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in my life is that if God is testing you, you don’t walk out of the classroom until the test is over. If you decide to quit during your test, chances are you are going to have to take it again. Don’t let the enemy set the snares of taking the easy way out get the best of you.

In today’s day and age, the 31 defining characteristic of what the church needs is the willingness and desire to possess a backbone. Regardless of what it costs, regardless of the struggles and disappointments from our peers, we as believers need to seek ye the old paths and walk therein.

Trends come and go, but the truth, Gods complete revelation of Himself, is found in His Word. Sadly however, many churches of like faith and mind have strayed from the fundamentals of the faith, and have decided to be seeker sensitive instead of Christ centered.

So as we continue this small study, I want to give you five distinct areas of life and ministry that we as believers are going to need a backbone for.

#1 Standing

Just like John the Baptist in our reading in the book Mark, we need to become willing to stand

for righteousness regardless of what it may cost us. No matter how popular you become, none of it will ever matter if you lose biblical conviction. Why bring something into the church and into your life which doesn’t magnify and exalt Christ?

If it is your desire to be used by God, then you will have to un reservedly and un ashamedly have to be willing to take a stand for what is right, regardless of what the general consensus might be. Our perspectives need to be based on biblical convictions- and if we see folks going in an opposite direction- it may be hard, but we need to separate from them.

You may not realize it at the time, but taking a stand encourages others to stand as well.

#2 Separation

The second aspect of our walk with God which requires a backbone is our willingness to live a separated life.

It’s not about the dos and don’ts

It’s not about the clothing or music

It’s not about what flavor of church you go to

It’s not about our own personal preference.

It’s all about whether or not we desire to live lives worthy of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you desire an intimate relationship with Him? 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Stop being so fickle minded and hard hearted. God only wants that which is best for you. When you ignore His call for you to live a holy and separated life, all it shows others is that you could care less about what God’s Word says and your more concerned about what others think. A lack of separation not only shows a lack of respect for the title Christian, but a total lack of the fear of God in your life as well.

#3 The third aspect of the Christian life we’ll need a backbone for is suffering

It’s proper to suffer if it’s for God’s glory. Yet how many of know those self appointed defenders of the faith who needlessly bring drama and turmoil into their life? That isn’t suffering, it’s simply being a fool and reaping the consequences of a mismanaged Christian life..

Yet the thing about suffering that is so unique to the life of the believer is that not everybody you come into contact with is going to know you are suffering. If it is your desire to finish the course, hoping to pass into glory with dignity, then start putting some praises on your lips.

God gave me my first breath, the least I can do is give him my last. Psalm 30:5-weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Your body may be broken down, but your joy doesn’t have to be.

Hebrews 11:32-38-

The world will never understand nor could it understand why you would become willing to bear in your bodies the mark of the Christian life. However if you are not experiencing joy now in the small troubles and trials you possess, you won’t be able to experience them when serious trials and persecution come.

#4 We are going to need a backbone for soul-winning

Regardless of who they are, God providentially places people in our life who need the gospel.

Young, old, rich, poor, educated, simple, heathen, and religious alike all need the gospel.Each and every time God impresses on your heart to witness to someone, it is a divine opportunity set up by God- for you to be used by Him for His glory.

Matthew 28:18-20

Not everybody is going to get saved that we witness too. But we ought to try as hard as we possibly can to get them saved.. But what if they don’t get born again? Try and get them into a bible preaching, Bible teaching church. And when they get saved, disciple them in the fundamentals of the faith and teach them to win others as well. Discipleship isn’t about making church members, it’s about making Christians. If they are discipled properly, they’ll become great church members!!!

Not only does a proper soul-winning and discipleship program help the local church to grow, it gives the new converts an opportunity to serve and get involved in the local church as well.

#5 Unction- The fifth aspect of the Christian faith we are going to need a backbone for is the Super-natural Power of God on our lives

There is a reason why very few men of God exist today. It’s because so very few of them are willing to pay the price it takes to get alone with God. I've come to notice that very few of our churches are seeing conversions on a weekly basis during services. I honestly believe that it is because many of our churches have become social clubs, and not houses of God.

For far too long, we have ignored the working of the Holy Spirit and it’s wonder working power. Yet we have been quick to replace it with the methods and machinery of men. Have you noticed how we seem to have forgotten the all week camp-meeting and prayerful revival? Have you noticed that we replaced it with coffee shops and focus groups.

We’ve traded the pulpit and the preached Word of God for a glass lectern and power point presentations.

Gospel music which once glorified God is no longer sung, and the song leader has been replaced by a self styled worship team. Yet there is no need for the worlds’ philosophy of church growth to be placed into our congregations. Granted, many modern church growth trends will allow us to pack an auditorium, but what will we fill it with, and at what expense?

Remember, what we win folks with is what we are going to keep them with. It’s going to take a backbone to tell folks in the area and nation that we aren’t changing fundamentalism and our core doctrinal stands for the worlds methods. Stay the course, stay faithful, and God will bless.

It’s not whether or not the time will come to have a backbone. It’s already come beloved. The real question is whether or not we are going to actually do it.

For more information about our ministry or to schedule a meeting you can reach us at

812-844-5802 or livingstons.sbg@gmail.com

#believersneedmost #spiritualgrowthmatters #evangelist #seperation #witnessing