THE POWERLESS CHURCH
By W. G. Guy
There are two churches in the world today; one that Jesus is building and is being formed in His image; the other is the one that man is building and is in man’s carnal image. Christ’s church is the one with the power of the true and pure Gospel. Man’s church is more like a fraternal or social institution; it mentions Jesus and uses the Word of God, sometimes, but it is devoid of the power and presence of God in their services.
The early church was endued with such great power that it was said of them that their influence on society was pervasive. Speaking of those church ambassadors Paul and Silas……:
Acts 17:6 – …..These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Most of the church today does not operate in this demonstrated power that changed the world; it has become powerless! The evidence of this fact is overwhelming when you look at the world today. Christianity today is waning as the false religions of Islam, Satanism, humanism (man is as god), progressive ideology and even atheism are rapidly increasing. Many churches in Europe have now become Islamic mosques; a recent survey shows that nearly 70% of the world’s population consider themselves to be atheists, including over 60% of those in America.
This leads to some questions: 1) where did that early church power come from; 2) what happened to that power as it is not evident in churches today; and 3) why does the church not currently operate in this power? The answers to these questions are as follows:
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
God and Christ gave divine supernatural ability to His church to be His witnesses throughout the entire world; even unto the end of this age.
Acts 2:38-29 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Consider what it is that being filled with the Holy Spirit gives to believers:
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit will teach us the Word and promises of God that we will need to live and to survive in evil times. He will also remind us of things we have been taught, His Word and promises, and to bring them to our attention when we need to be reminded of them.
John 16:13-14 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
He, being the Spirit of Truth, will guide us in all truth. This means that He will keep us from being deceived. This is very important because Jesus told us that in these last days deception will be great, getting people to believe things that are false and wrong which will increase the levels of sin and corruption in our society.
Matthew 24:24 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Next, the Holy Spirit informs us of the perfect Will of God and Christ as He speaks those things to us directly from the throne of God: whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. In addition the Holy Spirit will show us things to come; this includes warnings, preparations to make, and advance notices of what to look out for.
2. What happened to the power as it is rarely seen or in operation in most churches today? Without the manifested power of the Holy Spirit in operation, churches are left with only man’s ability and intellectual properties to walk in and fulfill the work of God. Unfortunately, man does not always do His work His way, as evidenced in what Jesus said would come to pass:
Matthew 7:22-23 – Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, (doing things your way, not mine, which is rebellion).
Thus there is a great short coming when the church relies on man’s natural understanding.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 and 13-14 – And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. …….Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This results in a church has become infiltrated with vain philosophy bringing in that which is deceptive.
Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Thus the church is tossed about and divided in its doctrines.
Ephesians 4:14 –that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Those that are truly filled with the Holy Spirit will walk in God’s truth and will not be led astray by the false doctrines of man and demons.
This brings up another point of what is lacking in church leadership today; the five gift ministries that Jesus gave to the church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Unfortunately, most churches have rejected the key roles provided by the apostles and prophets claiming they are not for today; just as they reject the supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 – For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
When God ordained leadership is rejected, and the work of the Holy Spirit is also rejected, then the church has lost the power to change the world. (This is particularly true in churches that follow the corrupt Calvinist Doctrine.)
3. Why is this power denied or rejected in so many churches today?
It is because man wants to be in control of any organization under his leadership. Regarding the church, when man is in control then the Holy Spirit is not able to move or operate. When the Holy Spirit operates, man’s leadership needs to yield to what God wants to do. When the Holy Spirit sovereignly moves such leaders feel that they have lost their influence on the people and they do not like that to happen.
For example: the Nazarene Church was originally Pentecostal and allowed the manifestations of the Holy Spirit to operate in their services. However, in a national convention, back in the early 20th century, (I think it was 1928), they decided that the leadership needed more control over their services. They ended up rejecting the moving of the Holy Spirit and prevented the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit. They then called the second experience “Sanctification” rather than the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. For many years, the emblem of the Nazarene Church has been the Dove, which is representative of the Holy Spirit – still seen in many Nazarene Churches today.
When church leadership denies the power and operation of the Holy Spirit then divine assistance and direction is missing. People then tend to migrate toward fleshly and worldly lusts. One reason for this is that there is no Holy Ghost conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment.
John 16:8-11 – And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The apostle Paul described what the outcome would be with the rejection of the Power of God working though the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:1-4 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
This is behavior that Paul saw would be in churches in the last days; this is because his ministry was to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was his main concern. Proof that he was addressing the church in the last days is in the next verse:
2 Timothy 3:5 – having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Where do you have a form of godliness? - in churches! Notice what Paul goes on to say about such a church – they deny the power thereof. Then Paul further states, from such turn away. Paul is speaking of the power of the gospel that changes lives in addition to the power of the Holy Spirit who works with the gospel to prove its effectiveness.
Mark 16:19 – So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Romans 15:19 – through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
If you are in a church that dilutes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and denies the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the wonderful supernatural power and working of His divine Gifts, then you are in a POWERLESS church. You need to turn away and find a church and leadership that embraces the full gospel of Christ along with the power of the Holy Spirit.
However, in your quest to find such a church you need divine guidance because there are counterfeits masquerading as the Holy Spirit which is the spirit of antichrist, as the apostle John warned. This spirit focuses on the things of the world and the flesh and not on Jesus Christ
1 John 3:1-5 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
One of the key ways to recognize these false preachers, prophets and teachers that are led by the counterfeit of the Holy Spirit is what they preach, teach and prophesy. They promote the worldly things that appeal to the lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eye and pride of life. This will also be evident by the fruit of their lives – the way they live:
Matthew 7:15-16 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
1 John 2:15-16 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 – If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
In these last days we desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and with us to complete the task that Jesus assigned to us as His representatives here on earth. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not only to continue today, but they are to continue up unto His return.
1 Corinthians 1:4-7 – I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We need the POWER of the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel so that the Body of Christ is NOT POWERLESS in these last days! We need this power because we are also fighting evil forces of Satan that are operating in every institution of man! The battle rages, but our God has given us the victory in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit over the world, the flesh, and the devil!
By W. G. Guy
There are two churches in the world today; one that Jesus is building and is being formed in His image; the other is the one that man is building and is in man’s carnal image. Christ’s church is the one with the power of the true and pure Gospel. Man’s church is more like a fraternal or social institution; it mentions Jesus and uses the Word of God, sometimes, but it is devoid of the power and presence of God in their services.
The early church was endued with such great power that it was said of them that their influence on society was pervasive. Speaking of those church ambassadors Paul and Silas……:
Acts 17:6 – …..These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Most of the church today does not operate in this demonstrated power that changed the world; it has become powerless! The evidence of this fact is overwhelming when you look at the world today. Christianity today is waning as the false religions of Islam, Satanism, humanism (man is as god), progressive ideology and even atheism are rapidly increasing. Many churches in Europe have now become Islamic mosques; a recent survey shows that nearly 70% of the world’s population consider themselves to be atheists, including over 60% of those in America.
This leads to some questions: 1) where did that early church power come from; 2) what happened to that power as it is not evident in churches today; and 3) why does the church not currently operate in this power? The answers to these questions are as follows:
- Where did this early church power come from? From the Holy Spirit, a second experience following being born again. (Note: the first experience of being born again is when you receive the Holy Spirit of Christ as listed in John 20:22.)
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
God and Christ gave divine supernatural ability to His church to be His witnesses throughout the entire world; even unto the end of this age.
Acts 2:38-29 – Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Consider what it is that being filled with the Holy Spirit gives to believers:
John 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit will teach us the Word and promises of God that we will need to live and to survive in evil times. He will also remind us of things we have been taught, His Word and promises, and to bring them to our attention when we need to be reminded of them.
John 16:13-14 – Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
He, being the Spirit of Truth, will guide us in all truth. This means that He will keep us from being deceived. This is very important because Jesus told us that in these last days deception will be great, getting people to believe things that are false and wrong which will increase the levels of sin and corruption in our society.
Matthew 24:24 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Next, the Holy Spirit informs us of the perfect Will of God and Christ as He speaks those things to us directly from the throne of God: whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak. In addition the Holy Spirit will show us things to come; this includes warnings, preparations to make, and advance notices of what to look out for.
2. What happened to the power as it is rarely seen or in operation in most churches today? Without the manifested power of the Holy Spirit in operation, churches are left with only man’s ability and intellectual properties to walk in and fulfill the work of God. Unfortunately, man does not always do His work His way, as evidenced in what Jesus said would come to pass:
Matthew 7:22-23 – Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity, (doing things your way, not mine, which is rebellion).
Thus there is a great short coming when the church relies on man’s natural understanding.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 and 13-14 – And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. …….Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This results in a church has become infiltrated with vain philosophy bringing in that which is deceptive.
Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 Timothy 4:1 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Thus the church is tossed about and divided in its doctrines.
Ephesians 4:14 –that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Those that are truly filled with the Holy Spirit will walk in God’s truth and will not be led astray by the false doctrines of man and demons.
This brings up another point of what is lacking in church leadership today; the five gift ministries that Jesus gave to the church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Unfortunately, most churches have rejected the key roles provided by the apostles and prophets claiming they are not for today; just as they reject the supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 – For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
When God ordained leadership is rejected, and the work of the Holy Spirit is also rejected, then the church has lost the power to change the world. (This is particularly true in churches that follow the corrupt Calvinist Doctrine.)
3. Why is this power denied or rejected in so many churches today?
It is because man wants to be in control of any organization under his leadership. Regarding the church, when man is in control then the Holy Spirit is not able to move or operate. When the Holy Spirit operates, man’s leadership needs to yield to what God wants to do. When the Holy Spirit sovereignly moves such leaders feel that they have lost their influence on the people and they do not like that to happen.
For example: the Nazarene Church was originally Pentecostal and allowed the manifestations of the Holy Spirit to operate in their services. However, in a national convention, back in the early 20th century, (I think it was 1928), they decided that the leadership needed more control over their services. They ended up rejecting the moving of the Holy Spirit and prevented the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit. They then called the second experience “Sanctification” rather than the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. For many years, the emblem of the Nazarene Church has been the Dove, which is representative of the Holy Spirit – still seen in many Nazarene Churches today.
When church leadership denies the power and operation of the Holy Spirit then divine assistance and direction is missing. People then tend to migrate toward fleshly and worldly lusts. One reason for this is that there is no Holy Ghost conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment.
John 16:8-11 – And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The apostle Paul described what the outcome would be with the rejection of the Power of God working though the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:1-4 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
This is behavior that Paul saw would be in churches in the last days; this is because his ministry was to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was his main concern. Proof that he was addressing the church in the last days is in the next verse:
2 Timothy 3:5 – having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Where do you have a form of godliness? - in churches! Notice what Paul goes on to say about such a church – they deny the power thereof. Then Paul further states, from such turn away. Paul is speaking of the power of the gospel that changes lives in addition to the power of the Holy Spirit who works with the gospel to prove its effectiveness.
Mark 16:19 – So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 – For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Romans 15:19 – through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
If you are in a church that dilutes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and denies the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the wonderful supernatural power and working of His divine Gifts, then you are in a POWERLESS church. You need to turn away and find a church and leadership that embraces the full gospel of Christ along with the power of the Holy Spirit.
However, in your quest to find such a church you need divine guidance because there are counterfeits masquerading as the Holy Spirit which is the spirit of antichrist, as the apostle John warned. This spirit focuses on the things of the world and the flesh and not on Jesus Christ
1 John 3:1-5 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
One of the key ways to recognize these false preachers, prophets and teachers that are led by the counterfeit of the Holy Spirit is what they preach, teach and prophesy. They promote the worldly things that appeal to the lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eye and pride of life. This will also be evident by the fruit of their lives – the way they live:
Matthew 7:15-16 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
1 John 2:15-16 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 – If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
In these last days we desperately need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and with us to complete the task that Jesus assigned to us as His representatives here on earth. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not only to continue today, but they are to continue up unto His return.
1 Corinthians 1:4-7 – I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We need the POWER of the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel so that the Body of Christ is NOT POWERLESS in these last days! We need this power because we are also fighting evil forces of Satan that are operating in every institution of man! The battle rages, but our God has given us the victory in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit over the world, the flesh, and the devil!
