Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I was compelled to write to you [urgently] appealing that you fight strenuously for [the defence of] the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith that is the sum of Christian belief that was given verbally to believers]. For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (Jude 1:3-4, AMP).
Irreverence cloaked as Reverence has crept in amongst us. Sadly, many of us are none the wiser. You may wonder what does this mean? It means when that which is said to be common is now irreverent, and that which is revered is now said to be common. All around us, it is as if many have lost the idea of what it means to be holy or be reverentially worshipful in the Presence of the LORD. Many had forgotten the Scripture that says: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” (1Peter1: 14-16). It is now okay to address our irreverence as being drunk in the Presence of God: To “act anyhow” because we are drunk in the ‘Holy Ghost’! Services are not different from town hall meetings or secular concerts! So much physical sweat with nothing to show as their encounter with the Master of the universe! No convictions! People are no longer pierced in their hearts when they listen to messages or listen to songs! They are just eager to take a selfie with the hashtag ‘praising god’ or such nonsense! Something is not right!
We hear tales of fathers in generations just before ours and even in ours entering homes without saying a word and people begin to give up idols and confess their evil ways! What is happening to us? We must wake up, we must stand up! Bro Peter, an unschooled fisherman from a small town, after the Holy Spirit came upon him, preached a message and about 3000 people could not remain the same: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” (Acts 2:37, AMP). Hey! It is still the same Spirit – the Holy Spirit! The sad part is many of us compare our misbehaviour to king David when he danced before the LORD while bringing the Ark of Covenant into Jerusalem. Many of us think he danced in his boxers before the LORD! Really? All in an attempt to excuse and give room for our irreverence in the Presence of the Highest God! However, the truth is that King David did not wear boxers from his house to go bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. Neither was he dancing and stripping! “David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who carried the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah, director of the music of the singers. David also wore an ephod (a priestly upper garment) of linen” (1Chronicles 15:27, AMP). What David wore, the rest of the Levites wore, including those carrying the Ark! Neither did he dance ‘anyhow’! The Bible tells us that he danced with all his might (2Samuel 6:14)! Dancing with all his might does not translate to ‘anyhow’ or ‘being in his boxers’!
Beloved, I am not advocating that we should be prudish before God. But we must learn to honour and revere Him. This shenanigan behaviour we dare not display before earthly rulers or people in authority. Why do we then think it is okay to do so before God, the Father of all flesh and spirit? This lie that David praised God almost naked has led many and still leading many to think the things of God are common and should be handled irreverently! No wonder many are quick to whip out their phones, recording themselves sweating, dancing, jumping, praying, thinking God is in such a place and condones such actions. Have you forgotten: “The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble [with submissive wonder]! He sits enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!” (Psalm 99:1, AMP).
Wake up, Brethren! This god being peddled is not and cannot be the same God that declared He is God and let the earth tremble before Him! Beloved, God is the SAME yesterday, today and forever. His moves are dynamic, BUT He will not deny Himself! He is HOLY! The Bible tells us, that presently, we have not come to a blazing mountain, that if any animal or human touches will die (Hebrews 12:18-21). But: “But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering…Let us, therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; For our God [is true] a consuming fire“ (Hebrews 12:22, 28-29, AMPC). Beloved, Jesus Christ is coming back! It is no joke, it is real! Study His Word, apply it completely to your life, and see a remarkable change as you worship Him in Spirit and Truth! God Bless you!
