“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
If the church was to turn its back on religion, she would have to:
– disengage from any other forms of religion
– close all the buildings to cease the financial burdens on her members
– cancel indefinitely all choir rehearsals
– cease any form of fundraisings or offering collections other than to help the members with their true survival needs.
– share the gospel with anyone as guided by the Holy Spirit
– live the freedom of Christ and not be bound by any rules of her own
– read the Bible at times to be reminded of the gospel, her joy in Christ
– sing her joy of salvation and not force herself to sing words that are no longer found in daily common dialogues.
– no longer boast in her achievements, and rest in Christ’s finished work alone.
– stop seeking recognition from the world, but help the world recognize Christ by the Holy Spirit.
– stop from having any other name other than the church, Christ body, the group gathered by the Holy Spirit in Christ’ name, Jesus.
– stop trying to add supplements to the gospel
– stop relying on her achievements as her source of joy, but on Christ’s finished work.
– wait until she has been baptized with the Holy Spirit, before she engages any ministry of the gospel
– start loving God instead of fearing Him.
– start relaxing with God.
She would have to stop walking by the flesh, and start walking by the Holy Spirit alone.
As Paul once wrote to the Galatian believers:
“You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:13-26)
Jesus is the well of the living water, the Holy Spirit. 