Influencers Weekly Devotional- Heal Our Land Part Three

Heal Our Land

The Passion of the Christ – The Passion of the Church

by

Rocky Fleming

pas·sion– “Any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.”

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:14-19 ESV)

In 2004 a movie was released in theaters across America. It was the highest grossing R-rated film of all time. It is a film called, The Passion of the Christ. When I first saw the movie’s title I didn’t connect with it, for the word “passion” now days has become something different from its Latin roots. For example, most of the time we think of passion as being how our English dictionary, which I’ve included above, defines it. Passion certainly might include those things mentioned. However the word gets it roots from the Latin word “passio,” and it means suffer, which wasn’t mentioned in the English definition. When I understood this, I then understood what the title of the movie truly meant. It means the suffering of Jesus, as He submitted Himself to endure the cross for me, and His Church. Words mean a lot when one correctly understands what they mean, which is the case for the passion of the Christ? But, do we really understand passion? Do we understand that in all relationships, passion is often frustrated and abused if it is not reciprocated, or if it is taken for granted? Do we in God’s Church in America have the same passion for Christ that He has for us? For instance, do we suffer and agonize over those things that He suffered and agonized? In the scripture above we can see that the Church in Laodicea didn’t share Christ’s passion. They had lost their passion for what Christ had done for them, and their passion for being His Church in Laodicea. As a result, God was very displeased with them. A strong warning was sent to this church in Revelations by way of a letter dictated by God to John the Apostle. It was a wake-up call that there would be terrible consequences if they didn’t humbly turn back to God. But, it also described the way they could come back to Him, if they would take it. Yes, it offered a warning. But, it also offered hope that this consequence could be avoided if they would humbly repent … and return to Him. There is another word associated with the passion of Jesus. The word is agony. The word “agony” comes from the Greek word agonidzo, a word that refers to a struggle, a fight, a great exertion, or effort. It was the passion of Christ and His choice to go there that took Him to the cross. But, it was the agony on the cross that kept Him nailed there, while He paid with His life the price to redeem us. On the cross He had a struggle, a fight, a great exertion, and a great effort to stay there for you and me, even though He could have called it quits at anytime. He had the authority to do this, and we should never forget it. But, that’s the problem isn’t it? We tend to forget these important things, and as a result we lose our passion, just like the Church in Laodicea did. Have you ever thought that because of a lack of understanding of significant meanings behind words such as I have mentioned that we have also inadvertently forgotten about our responsibilities as the Church in America? The Church in Laodicea had. They had lost their passion for Christ, and they no longer shared the agony He felt for the condition of their world around them. As the church in Laodicea, they had been saved and created to be a lighthouse that would shine their light on Christ, and direct lives toward Him. They had been given a mission to reach out and make a difference in their land. Instead they adopted its ways. They bought into a comfortable, religious experience instead of living with the passion and agony Christ had for the people of that country. They might be the first church to have fallen under the spell of seeking a “prosperity gospel,” and it created easy believe-ism and lazy discipleship, as it does now. Worst of all, they had lost their love and heart for Christ, and their purpose for existing as His Church. I share these things with you, for I believe we are in dire times in our country, and the Church in America could be the answer for her needs, provided we will be the Church Christ created us to be. But, we cannot be this Church to our land if we adopt the attitude of the Church in Laodicea. The truth is the evidence shows that we have become that church. Compared to the rest of the world, the Church in America is outlandishly prosperous. We have the grandest of buildings and budgets, and the gaudiest of practices with them. If there is ever an indication that there is more form than function in many of our churches, take a look at our practices. Where does our heart lie? What does it say? Do we agonize over the condition of the people of the land we live in? Do we embrace our sacred responsibility to serve their needs? Do we protect our freedom as a nation by praying for our leaders, and the needs of this country? Do we pray for the Church in America? All Christians are in God’s family, and we belong to each other. But, do we love each other like we belong in the same family? Do we uphold one another? Do we work together? As an example, can we agree that our country needs our help? I tell you we have been given a great responsibility to do these things as God’s Church in America, and our country is in desperate need that we do our duty. We can no longer sleep, as our land perishes. God’s people in America must awaken and humbly turn toward Him together for His help. We must repent of our arrogant, prideful ways. We must be restored to our passion for Christ, and our purpose as His Church. It will make a difference to our land if we will embrace this responsibility. On November 2ndat 12:00 noonwe ask you to come together in spirit across America with other brothers and sisters in Christ to pray. We ask you to say to God, “We’re coming back to You Lord. As Your Church we have forgotten who we are and what You have done for us. We have taken for granted the position in your heart we have been given. We want to share Your passion and agony for the lost, the hurting, and the weak. We want to embrace our sacred responsibility to pray for our country, and to show the people of our land Christ by being the Church You created us to be. Fill us with Your Spirit Lord, so that all honor will go to You.” Now is the time for the Church of America to be the Church Christ intends for us to be. Now is the time that we take our stand and help our country, by being the people who can make a difference. Now is the time to share the passion and agony of Christ, by being the Church He has created for a time such as this. Now is the time to turn from our independence from God, and to run as fast as we can into His arms. Now is the time Church. Our country needs us. Download file