Churches are failing as we all know.

[Aunty Jane]

Thanks for that information. I appreciate it. I guess one documented statement may shed another light.
Eph 4:30 grieve the Holy Spirit
lupeō

loo-peh'-o

From G3077; to distress; reflexively or passively to be sad: - cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, (be) sorrow (-ful), be (make) sorry.

A person has emotions.

It is again “personification”…..other things in the Bible are personified to help us understand the meaning of these words as God intended them.

When we speak of things that the Holy Spirit accomplished in Bible times, the account Ananias and Sapphira, e.g. tells us that the Holy Spirit is what allowed Peter to detect the lie that they told about selling a field and only giving a portion of the money over to the apostles…when they said it was the full amount……as if God wouldn’t know….?

Acts 5:3-4….
”But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (NASB)

God’s spirit is said to be his, (God’s spirit) not some part of him, but power that emanates from him and which he can give in due measure to his servants as required. (As he did with Moses…it was the same amount of spirit that was given to Moses, but now distributed between 70 men, not just one.) So how can God’s spirit be a person? It “fills” people not in a ‘ghostly’ way like demonic possession, but in an empowering way, to accomplish God’s will.

The Bible uses personification when it speaks of something inanimate as if it were alive.
For example, the Bible tells us, “Death ruled as king from Adam down to Moses”; “grief and sighing must flee away”; “true wisdom itself keeps crying aloud in the very street.” (Rom 5:14; Isa 35:10; Prov 1:20)
Death, grief, sighing and wisdom cannot really rule, flee or cry out. But speaking as if they did, the Bible paints vivid mental pictures, easily visualized and remembered.

So, yes, other Scripture helps to clear up the question of whether something is literal or symbolic….

 

[One 2 question]

A

It is again “personification”…..other things in the Bible are personified to help us understand the meaning of these words as God intended them.

When we speak of things that the Holy Spirit accomplished in Bible times, the account Ananias and Sapphira, e.g. tells us that the Holy Spirit is what allowed Peter to detect the lie that they told about selling a field and only giving a portion of the money over to the apostles…when they said it was the full amount……as if God wouldn’t know….?

Acts 5:3-4….
”But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (NASB)

God’s spirit is said to be his, (God’s spirit) not some part of him, but power that emanates from him and which he can give in due measure to his servants as required. (As he did with Moses…it was the same amount of spirit that was given to Moses, but now distributed between 70 men, not just one.) So how can God’s spirit be a person? It “fills” people not in a ‘ghostly’ way like demonic possession, but in an empowering way, to accomplish God’s will.

The Bible uses personification when it speaks of something inanimate as if it were alive.
For example, the Bible tells us, “Death ruled as king from Adam down to Moses”; “grief and sighing must flee away”; “true wisdom itself keeps crying aloud in the very street.” (Rom 5:14; Isa 35:10; Prov 1:20)
Death, grief, sighing and wisdom cannot really rule, flee or cry out. But speaking as if they did, the Bible paints vivid mental pictures, easily visualized and remembered.

So, yes, other Scripture helps to clear up the question of whether something is literal or symbolic….

Again, thanks for your gentle response. Personally I have been asking Father to reveal Who the Holy Spirit is. I'm hoping to be open to His communication. I have many preconceived ideas of Who He is but like many beliefs I've taken on board they have been dispelled and some replaced with truth. Taught by Holy Spirit. Those who are led by Holy Spirit are children of God. The Holy Spirit leading into all truth. He has a vital role within the church. Possibly the life blood of the body of Christ without Whom there would be no life, no power, unable to function as Jesus the Head intends.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Again, thanks for your gentle response. Personally I have been asking Father to reveal Who the Holy Spirit is. I'm hoping to be open to His communication. I have many preconceived ideas of Who He is but like many beliefs I've taken on board they have been dispelled and some replaced with truth. Taught by Holy Spirit. Those who are led by Holy Spirit are children of God. The Holy Spirit leading into all truth. He has a vital role within the church. Possibly the life blood of the body of Christ without Whom there would be no life, no power, unable to function as Jesus the Head intends.

We have that assurance that no one can come to the son, without an invitation from his Father…..(John 6:44; 65)

 

[One 2 question]

We have that assurance that no one can come to the son, without an invitation from his Father…..(John 6:44; 65)

That is awesome hey. Well, for those of us who have responded by faith in Christ's completed work on the cross.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

We have that assurance that no one can come to the son, without an invitation from his Father…..(John 6:44; 65)

Did you ever see, read, and believe all these related scriptures???

John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Romans 8:29,30
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

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;

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:1-4
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth ALL men every where to repent:

Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for EVERY man.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

[Keiw]

@TigersPaw, you have given us a lot of information to chew on. An excellent analysis!

99% of all religions claiming to be Christian are false that is why they are falling= a house divided will not stand-Jesus is with 1 single religion( 1Cor 1:10)

 

[One 2 question]

99% of all religions claiming to be Christian are false that is why they are falling= a house divided will not stand-Jesus is with 1 single religion( 1Cor 1:10)

But how many actually have a real connection or relationship with the Christ? Where we could honestly say, I know Him personally and more importantly, where He would say, I know you.

Many know about Jesus the Messiah but only a few have His Spirit in them. If we are not marked and possessed by His Spirit then we don't belong to Him.

 

[RenewedStrength316]

You laid out a detailed and thoughtful list. But let’s be honest—most of those are symptoms. The disease runs deeper.

Churches are failing not mainly because of culture, but because they’ve forsaken Christ. They’ve traded holiness for hype, truth for trend, and reverence for relevance. And now we’re reaping the fruit of decades of compromise.

Jesus said the gates of hell wouldn't prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18). So if the modern church is failing, maybe it’s because He’s not building it—we are.

Here’s what the Bible actually says will happen in the last days:

Many will fall away (2 Thess. 2:3)

People will accumulate teachers to suit their passions (2 Tim. 4:3)

They will have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Tim. 3:5)

And the love of many will grow cold (Matt. 24:12)


That’s the crisis. Not lack of social media, not boring worship, not failure to reach Gen Z—but a failure to preach the cross, confront sin, and fear the Lord.

We’re drowning in sermons about purpose, identity, destiny, prosperity—but where is the call to die daily? Where is the gospel that pierces and convicts?

> “Woe to them when I depart from them.” —Hosea 9:12
“Ichabod” is written over many churches—the glory has departed.



Churches are failing because many have become lukewarm—and Jesus doesn’t negotiate with lukewarm. He spits it out (Rev. 3:16).

Instead of making disciples, we’ve made consumers.
Instead of preaching repentance, we’re entertaining goats.
Instead of contending for the faith, we’ve compromised to keep peace with the world.

And now people wonder why the Spirit doesn’t move. Why the fire is gone. Why the altars are empty.

We don’t need another rebrand—we need repentance.

What’s the answer?

> Return to the fear of the Lord.
Preach the full Gospel—including judgment and hell.
Raise up disciples, not just attenders.
Welcome the Holy Spirit, not just crowd-pleasing atmospheres.
And cry out for revival, not church growth.



Jesus isn’t coming back for a brand. He’s coming back for a Bride who has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7–8). And that Bride won’t be found flirting with the world.

It’s time to tear down the altars of compromise and rebuild the altar of the Lord.

 

[Keiw]

But how many actually have a real connection or relationship with the Christ? Where we could honestly say, I know Him personally and more importantly, where He would say, I know you.

Many know about Jesus the Messiah but only a few have His Spirit in them. If we are not marked and possessed by His Spirit then we don't belong to Him.

every religion claiming to be Christian says they have holy spirit. Only 1 single religion has Jesus leading it and actually has holy spirit. The one that has Jesus obeys him. The rest do not, just a little of what he teaches. Few on Earth even knows what Jesus actually teaches.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Jesus isn’t coming back for a brand. He’s coming back for a Bride who has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7–8). And that Bride won’t be found flirting with the world.

Well said! And this is what God is looking at today…a multitude of “denominations” who can’t agree on much at all except their foundational doctrines that find no basis in Scripture. Building an a faulty foundation will result in a major collapse when the ”storm” comes…and it’s coming, ready or not.

It’s time to tear down the altars of compromise and rebuild the altar of the Lord.

Do you believe that this is a realistic expectation? Or is God going to send his judge into the middle of that rabble and declare that he “never knew” them? Who are the ones who are vainly trying to make their excuses to Jesus on that day? (Matt 7:21-23)

If “few“ are to be found on the road to life, where does that put the majority? (Matt 7:13-14))

 

[One 2 question]

every religion claiming to be Christian says they have holy spirit. Only 1 single religion has Jesus leading it and actually has holy spirit. The one that has Jesus obeys him. The rest do not, just a little of what he teaches. Few on Earth even knows what Jesus actually teaches.

Yes, a few seem to know what Jesus taught them because they have read it in the bible. But a very few hear what He is saying directly to them. That's OK I guess as He is more than capable of ensuring He gets His truth across. Though should we be encouraging ourselves and others to hear the living Shepherd speak directly and personally into our daily life, as we take up our cross each day. There is so much of what Jesus said that is left up to interpretation. In fact He said He only speaks in parables, stories in which there are hidden truths. Who are willing to go mining within them to find these concealed truths. Only few find them. Thankfully as Jesus shares new parables with me the Holy Spirit gives me ears to hear and eyes to see those hidden gems.

We are so fortunate to have received the Spirit of Christ Who carries us into all truth. It's such a great adventure with the Spirit of Christ as our tour Guide. He knows where every Truth is hidden and leads us directly to them. This is awesome!

 

[Sister-n-Christ]

Satan wishes churches are failing. They aren't.

The headlines reporting perverts in the pews and pulpit are actually the chaff being exposed before it is cast into the fire.

 

[One 2 question]

every religion claiming to be Christian says they have holy spirit. Only 1 single religion has Jesus leading it and actually has holy spirit. The one that has Jesus obeys him. The rest do not, just a little of what he teaches. Few on Earth even knows what Jesus actually teaches.

Who has a personal testimony of being led by the Holy Spirit? Who hears the voice of the Good Shepherd? The church is made up of those who believe in Christ. These are the indicators of those who believe.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

How often have you experienced these in your own life and in the lives of other believers?

 

[Keiw]

Yes, a few seem to know what Jesus taught them because they have read it in the bible. But a very few hear what He is saying directly to them. That's OK I guess as He is more than capable of ensuring He gets His truth across. Though should we be encouraging ourselves and others to hear the living Shepherd speak directly and personally into our daily life, as we take up our cross each day. There is so much of what Jesus said that is left up to interpretation. In fact He said He only speaks in parables, stories in which there are hidden truths. Who are willing to go mining within them to find these concealed truths. Only few find them. Thankfully as Jesus shares new parables with me the Holy Spirit gives me ears to hear and eyes to see those hidden gems.

We are so fortunate to have received the Spirit of Christ Who carries us into all truth. It's such a great adventure with the Spirit of Christ as our tour Guide. He knows where every Truth is hidden and leads us directly to them. This is awesome!

No interpretation, only truth counts( John 4:22-24) its the only worship the Father excepts, one must know truth. Hundreds of different named religions= a mass of confusion= a lack of holy spirit. One religion gets holy spirit. Yet all of them believe they have Jesus and the holy spirit. The Israelite pharisees and those back in Jesus day thought 100%--we are Gods chosen, yet Jesus told them-your Father is the devil. Satan fools mortals easily( 2 Cor 4:4-2Cor 11:12-15)

 

[Keiw]

Who has a personal testimony of being led by the Holy Spirit? Who hears the voice of the Good Shepherd? The church is made up of those who believe in Christ. These are the indicators of those who believe.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

How often have you experienced these in your own life and in the lives of other believers?

1 single religion has Jesus( 1Cor 1:10) out of the hundreds that claim to be Christian.

 

[One 2 question]

No interpretation, only truth counts( John 4:22-24) its the only worship the Father excepts, one must know truth. Hundreds of different named religions= a mass of confusion= a lack of holy spirit. One religion gets holy spirit. Yet all of them believe they have Jesus and the holy spirit. The Israelite pharisees and those back in Jesus day thought 100%--we are Gods chosen, yet Jesus told them-your Father is the devil. Satan fools mortals easily( 2 Cor 4:4-2Cor 11:12-15)

I wasn't referring to the counterfeit, the tares which are the works of Satan and his angels, but the work of Christ and His Spirit in and through the members of the church.

I don't care about what Satan does, but like Jesus when He was on earth, I just want to see what Father is doing and get on board with that. Thank God for His presence through His Spirit Who guides us into all truth and gives us the power to live by it.

 

[One 2 question]

1 single religion has Jesus( 1Cor 1:10) out of the hundreds that claim to be Christian.

Again, what is a testimony of what the Holy Spirit has done or is doing in and through you? I love hearing people testifying to the work of the Holy Spirit. They are so encouraging.

Jesus is the Head of His body, the foundation of the church. And one of God's truths that I've valued over the years, in relation to the church, is this.....
from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What a privilege hey. To be included in this work of God, to reveal God and His manifold wisdom.

 

[Keiw]

I wasn't referring to the counterfeit, the tares which are the works of Satan and his angels, but the work of Christ and His Spirit in and through the members of the church.

I don't care about what Satan does, but like Jesus when He was on earth, I just want to see what Father is doing and get on board with that. Thank God for His presence through His Spirit Who guides us into all truth and gives us the power to live by it.

1 single church(religion) has Jesus out of the hundreds.

 

[Keiw]

Again, what is a testimony of what the Holy Spirit has done or is doing in and through you? I love hearing people testifying to the work of the Holy Spirit. They are so encouraging.

Jesus is the Head of His body, the foundation of the church. And one of God's truths that I've valued over the years, in relation to the church, is this.....
from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What a privilege hey. To be included in this work of God, to reveal God and His manifold wisdom.

Few know God, Jesus warned- John 15:20-21-- The false religions teach an alternate God. They are very confused.

 

[One 2 question]

S

Few know God, Jesus warned- John 15:20-21-- The false religions teach an alternate God. They are very confused.

But for us who do know God, let's be encouraged that we have eyes to see, ears that hear and hearts that believe.

I love the truth that regardless of whether I know, hear or see what God is doing, He is still carrying out His will. Only He knows, if us knowing His will, is beneficial. So I trust Him. This is faith.