For the past couple of posts, I’ve been comparing our present church environment to that of Israel in Egypt. Whether we know it or not, we’re in a kind of captivity to the world.
For the most part, the church keeps to itself. We don’t want to “rock the boat” of society around us. We want to be able to fit in and enjoy riches of the modern world.
The fact is, we need a move of God. No political vote will ever bring about a spiritual change in our country. But why does God notice and bring about that change? The answer came to Moses at the burning bush.
“…And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:9-10 NIV
Why did God move to change their situation? The cries of the Israelites had reached Him. The Lord’s people need to cry out to Him.
That begs the question; are we crying out to God? Do we even care about the present situation of the church and society around us?
As I look around, it seems to me that much of the church is simply going along with the flow of our culture. Listening to a good gospel message once a week, then getting back to the business of making money and accumulating stuff.
The problem is that we’re comfortable in the present conditions. How long will it be before we start to see things through God’s eyes? How uncomfortable will it have to become before we cry out to the Lord?
Israel had to experience bitter slavery.
During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
Exodus 2:23-25 NIV
It’s interesting that there are four different words being used here for how the Israelites cried out. Two were what they did and two were what God heard.
They sighed and they screamed. They cried out in the bitterness and abuse of slavery. Their lives were at stake. God heard it as a call for help and groaning.
I ask again – why does God move upon the scene? The cry of His people has reached Him. So, the questions remain… Why are God’s people not crying out? Do we even know that the church is in slavery? Are we content to sit around and eat spiritual food yet do nothing? Are we going to allow the enemy’s kingdom to continue to be built up?
More than ever before, we need to be the intercessors for the church and our nation. Take stock of your life. If you’re spiritually asleep – WAKE UP! The time is now for God’s people to arise in the power of the Holy Spirit.
There’s a Scripture that I’ve heard applied to our nation over and over again. We need to finally walk in it.
…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
This should be a wake-up call to the church. God’s people are the only ones with the answers to the ills of society. But we need to rise up and BE the church.
Question: What needs to happen for a majority of the church to wake up?
© 2023 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 