Pastors, when you take an honest look at the church today, you can see that sin has infiltrated so many congregations that it is difficult to distinguish true believers from the world. There are many so-called Christians who are professing to live a holy life, but who are fulfilling the lusts of their flesh. These are spiritual Gibeonites. They want to be joined to God's people, but they are not really a part of God's people.
-There are many professing believers who go to church and dance, shout, and praise the Lord, but the minute they walk out the door they gossip, criticize, and tear down the pastor or other members of the Body of Christ. Some are bound by lust and involved in adulterous relationships, yet they see nothing wrong with it. They believe they can continue to engage in illicit relationships and still be Christians.
-There are so-called Christians who think nothing of lying, stealing, or cheating on their jobs. They take days off and call in sick when they are not really ill. They take supplies home from the office, take extra time for breaks and lunch hours, and pad their expense accounts.
-There are some Christian businessmen who lie on their income taxes, cheat their customers, misrepresent the facts, and become involved in questionable business deals.
-There are other believers who allow their hearts and minds to be filled with all sorts of evil imaginations, enjoying pornography, dirty jokes, and sinful media.
Worldliness, in most churches, is no longer condemned but is encouraged through messages which cause Christians to set their affections on things of this world. We have tried to become "seeker friendly" congregations instead of God-pleasing churches.
Many churches have an outward form of godliness, but the members are filled with prejudice, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, greed, jealousy, and other sinful attitudes. Paul told Titus in Titus 2:11, 12:
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."
Peter said to believers:
1 Peter 2:1 NIV “…rid yourselves of all malice, and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
Make this declaration to God as a true believer:
“In the Name of Jesus I reject the deception of spiritual Gibeonites in my life. I reject deceptive and sinful alliances. I will live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world."
You will be glad you did in the end!
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