LOST IN THE CHURCH PART ONE At the beginning of my Christian journey, I used to ask myself some difficult questions. Some of them took me a very long time to find answers to. One of those questions was this: How was it possible for Satan to become lost while he was in heaven, in the very presence of God? For someone who truly wants to know God and does not want to become lost, I believe it is impossible to avoid asking questions like these and seeking their answers. Many things that were written in the Scriptures were written for our learning, so that we may learn from them and avoid repeating the same mistakes. If the idea of being lost in the Church sounds surprising to you, then you should be even more surprised by the fact that Satan became lost in heaven. When you carefully think about what happened to Satan, you will discover that his fall in heaven, in the presence of God, is not completely different from what happened to Peter when he began to sink into the sea in the presence of the Lord. Matthew 14:28–30. If you look closely, you will notice that both of them were connected by one important thing: they took their eyes off the Lord and began looking at something else, even though the reasons were different. Peter took his eyes off the Lord because of fear when he saw the strong wind. Satan, on the other hand, took his eyes off the Lord because of selfishness, desire, envy, and pride. We often enter into serious and dangerous mistakes when we take our eyes off the Lord and begin looking at other things. When we do this, in a way, we are saying that the things we are looking at are either more frightening than the Lord or better than the Lord. And that can become a form of IDOLATRY. Worshipping Idols Anything that takes the place of God can become an idol. Many of us are very careful about external idols, but there is no idol more dangerous than an idol that has been carved inside a person's heart. There are many things that the Lord has given us to help us come closer to Him. However, He never intended for those things to take His place or for us to worship them. Some of these things include: The Church, worship, God's servants, angels, prayer, the Word of God, fasting, good works, commandments, laws, and many others. None of these things, by themselves, can save a person if that person places his or her trust in them instead of in God. This means that, using our natural human ability, a person can go to church every day, fast regularly, do good works, and even keep the commandments, yet eventually still end up in hell. By saying this, I am not saying that I despise the commandments or that I am teaching people not to obey them or do good works. Absolutely not! What I am saying is that these things should be done by someone who is already living in God's love and has been born again. Otherwise, all those efforts become meaningless—like trying to feed yourself with the wind. Even more seriously, serving God in such a way can become dangerous. There may come a day when Satan asks you: “My brother, my sister, in whose name are you doing these things?” And on that day, there will be a very painful cry. The Apostle Paul explained this very clearly in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3, saying: «“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I give away all I possess to the poor, and even give my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”» Christianity is not simply about keeping commandments or performing certain good deeds. Christianity is about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. And that relationship is built on love. My brother, if you do not have that relationship with Jesus, then no matter how good your actions may be, they will not save you. God cannot be bribed with money or good works. This means that a person can go to church every day and still not be a Christian. A person can keep all the commandments and still not love God. A person can know all the Scriptures and even understand the mysteries of the Kingdom, yet still have no real relationship with the Lord. I sincerely pray that people will hear and understand these words while there is still time. The Way and the Life are not a thing, an object, or a physical place. The Way is a Person, and that Person is JESUS CHRIST! John 14:6. Therefore, if you do not have a living relationship with Jesus, you may spend all night in church, and you may even call yourself a Pastor, Apostle, or Prophet, but you still do not know the Way to Heaven. The idols that were physically carved during the Old Testament were relatively easy to destroy. A person could break them and turn away from them, just as the children of Israel broke the golden calf they had made. But destroying the idols of our generation—the idols that are carved in people's souls and hearts—is much more difficult. Nevertheless, the Word of God still has power. It is alive and powerful, and it can bring down every stronghold and every idol that has raised itself against our Lord Jesus Christ. HALLELUJAH! #ToBeContinued... Sir. Ernest +255616609885 #Exodus2034 #GodFirst #WorshipGod #NoOtherGods #WholeheartedDevotion #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #PutGodFirst #WalkByFaith #Lordsbook

🙏 God alone deserves our worship, devotion, and first place. 📲 Share this with someone who needs encouragement to keep God first. #Exodus2034 #GodFirst #WorshipGod #NoOtherGods #WholeheartedDevotion #FaithInChrist #ChristianLiving #PutGodFirst #WalkByFaith #Lordsbook

❤️ Examine your heart and choose to serve the Lord with undivided loyalty, knowing that He is the only Master who will never fail you. 📲 Share this with someone who needs the reminder to keep Christ above everything else. #Matthew624 #ServeGod #GodFirst #WholeheartedDevotion #KingdomPriorities #TrustInGod #FaithInAction #ChristianLiving #HopeInChrist #Lordsbook

💔 A divided heart will never find lasting peace, but wholehearted devotion to Christ brings true freedom. #WholeheartedDevotion #Matthew624 #ChooseJesus #FindTrueFreedom #LordsBook

HALF-BAKED CHRISTIAN A half-baked Christian is a believer who is not fully committed to God. Just as a cake that is baked on one side and raw on the other is unfit to eat, a Christian who is partially devoted to God and partially devoted to the world is spiritually unhealthy and ineffective. Hosea 7:8 “Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.” (KJV) God desires mature, committed, and fully surrendered believers. Christianity is not meant to be lived halfway. Jesus calls us to wholehearted devotion. Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot... because thou art lukewarm... I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Characteristics of a Half-Baked Christian 1. Divided Loyalty A half-baked Christian wants both God and the world. Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters...” James 4:4 “Friendship of the world is enmity with God.” Such believers attend church but still cling to worldly values and sinful habits. 2. Inconsistent Prayer Life They pray only when problems arise but neglect fellowship with God during normal times. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” Luke 18:1 “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” A healthy Christian maintains a consistent prayer life. 3. Selective Obedience They obey the Scriptures they like and ignore the ones that challenge them. John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” James 1:22 “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Partial obedience is still disobedience. 4. Lack of Spiritual Growth Years may pass, yet there is little evidence of maturity. Hebrews 5:12-14 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again...” God expects believers to grow in faith, wisdom, and character. 5. Love for Sin A half-baked Christian struggles because they refuse to completely abandon sinful practices. Romans 6:1-2 “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.” 1 John 3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not practice sin.” Dangers of Being a Half-Baked Christian 1. Spiritual Deception Such people often think they are spiritually healthy when they are not. 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2. Loss of Spiritual Power Without full commitment, spiritual effectiveness is greatly reduced. Acts 1:8 “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” 3. Vulnerability to Temptation A weak spiritual life makes one an easy target for the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil...” 4. Loss of Eternal Reward Though one may be saved, careless living can result in lost rewards. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 God wants believers to finish their race faithfully. Biblical Examples of Half-Baked Christians 1. Lot Lot was righteous, yet he became entangled with the sinful culture of Sodom. Genesis 13:12 “Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain...” 2 Peter 2:7-8 His divided focus brought great loss to his family. 2. Demas Demas started well but later abandoned the faith journey because of worldly attractions. 2 Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...” 3. The Laodicean Church They were neither hot nor cold spiritually. Revelation 3:15-17 They appeared prosperous but were spiritually poor. How to Avoid Becoming a Half-Baked Christian 1. Surrender Completely to Christ Romans 12:1 “Present your bodies a living sacrifice...” God wants complete surrender, not partial commitment. 2. Develop a Consistent Prayer Life Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” 3. Study and Obey God's Word Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 4. Separate Yourself from Worldliness 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Come out from among them, and be ye separate...” 5. Stay Filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18 “Be filled with the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live victoriously. Conclusion A half-baked cake is unfit for the table, and a half-hearted Christian cannot fully fulfill God's purpose. God is calling His people to move from lukewarmness to spiritual fervency, from compromise to commitment, and from partial obedience to complete surrender. Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Today, examine your heart. Are you fully committed to Christ, or are there areas where you remain "half-baked"? God is ready to strengthen and transform every believer who wholeheartedly seeks Him. Prayer Father, deliver me from spiritual lukewarmness and half-hearted devotion. Help me to love You with all my heart, obey Your Word completely, and grow into spiritual maturity. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit and make me a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen. Pastor Abiodun Kadri #HalfBakedChristian #SpiritualMaturity #WholeheartedDevotion #Faithfulness #ChristianLiving #WalkWithGod #BibleStudy #SermonOutline #KingdomLiving #ChristianGrowth

📘 Bible Trivia — June 2 ❓ Question: According to Mark 14:8, Jesus said the woman had done what she could. What does this suggest? #LordsbookDailys #BibleTrivia #Mark148 #BibleQuiz #GetInTheWord #DailyInspiration #FaithOnline #GrowInFaith #WholeheartedDevotion