SCRIPTURE: "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:"  Acts 15: 15,16 (KJV)

Before we begin this morning let me just remind you to say a prayer for the families of the over 200 people who lost their lives in the 8.8 Earthquake in Chile yesterday. The analysts are saying they were fortunate that it wasn't worse - however there are several other countries who are going to possibly feel the power of that quake in places like China and Japan and Russia as well as other places in the form of a 60 ft wall of water, or a Tsunami much like that in Indonesia which took over 250,000 lives in less than half an hour a few years back.

Now, I'm not going to get off-text here this morning but I just have to say that we are seeing windows of the future, with these earthquakes and Tsunamis, and it makes it easier to understand how some of the death tolls mentioned in the prophetic books of the Bible will top hundreds of thousands even into the millions all in one fail swoop. But as I said, that's the source of another message and I need to focus on the WORD for today although it is prophetic in itself.

The other day, I listened to a brother in the Lord talk about how coming to his church means having your needs addressed. He referred to his church as a hospital for sick people, and he made it very clear that he has no problems with people bringing their "stuff" (meaning their "sin" sickness) into his church, but he quickly declared, "But don't be afraid to go under the scalpel."

I like that thought, and I would agree with it. The problem is, there are too many uncertified physicians in most churches. They like to do a lot of "cutting", but their bedside manner and their technique often leaves the one being "operated on" infected - and often they die right on the table never being seen or heard from again.

I believe that it is good for the Pastor to take a stance of accountability for each of his parishioners, but in so doing, he needs to commit to the healing, or health processes of the patient (parishioner) all the way to the recovery room.

Revival and Restoration seems to be a lost art in the church world today. Many preachers and members of the laity, come across with the same kind of attitude as the men spoken of in our scripture reading for today. While they were picking on circumcision, it is clear that what they were really attacking was the office of Christ and whether or not we are saved by His righteousness, obtained for us "by faith alone". Sounds a lot like what several are doing in the secular world today to discount Christianity altogether. But I need not get started on that today or I will end up preaching a whole different sermon.

In the text for today, the Pharisees decided that what they would do was to discount Paul and Barnabas and thereby "Christianity" by saying that those of the Gentiles that had been saved and healed by their ministry, needed now to follow Jewish customs and get circumcised. Why? Well you got to read the whole chapter but... what God did through them amongst the Gentiles was that He brought them on their way to the church in Jerusalem by a Gentile "not so scenic" route. When I say "not so scenic" I mean the areas that they were led through were places that were not "Jew friendly" Places like Phoenicia and Samaria... and on their way they declared the goodness and grace of God to not just the Jew, but to also the Greek. And we see there by the 3rd and 4th verse they had such results that they "... caused great joy to the brethren". It didn't stop there, when they arrived in Jerusalem and were received of the church and the apostles and elders... they declared all of the things that God had done with them. (ref., Acts 15:3,4)

So here are the Pharisees, having hoped that murdering Jesus would stop the Christians; having hoped that beating the apostles and placing them in jail would stop them; having hoped that to threaten them within an inch of their lives would stop them... yet here they are proclaiming the Glory of God in WORD and deed.

"...they declared all things that God had done with them". Acts 15:4 (KJV)

So the Pharisees decided to stir up such dissension - stating that the Gentiles who had believed and were now converts became despondent at the thought of having to succumb to the ritual of circumcision. They had been "told" that it was by their faith alone in Jesus Christ that saved them.

I mean - let's face it even Moses' wife Zipporah disliked the procedure of circumcision, and she detested that it must be performed on a child at such a young age - let alone al of the grown men who had never before been circumcised. Yet we find her taking care of the procedure herself, since Moses had brought anger on the entire family by not following the ordinance of God.  (ref., Ex.4:25,26)

Well, the problem had nothing to do with circumcision: when Jesus came He became the NEW "MORE PERFECT" COVENANT and it was through His blood that all men were set free and released from the entanglements of the flesh.

Okay... I'm running out of time here this morning so I'm just going to cut to the chase. There are those in our CHURCH WORLD who are just plain murderous with their tongue, leaving no room for the "Godly discovery" of the wrongs in one's life, let alone the chance to make it right: let alone be given the opportunity to return to the fellowship of the believer, as one who is restored having experienced the Grace and Mercy of God by the total removal of "His" Judgments on their lives. But no... there's always someone who wants to bring up the past, and what "should" have been... even when God has already forgiven it, and forgotten it.

That's why the Prophecy that James was reading here in verses 16,17 speaks of "building from the ruins thereof". God isn't interested in building a new person, He is interested only in restoring the old. To build a new person would be "a soul lost". But to restore the old person is always a soul saved, revived and restored!

Our "Tabernacles" have fallen - because we have gotten out of the "Soul Saving" business. It seems easier to just discard the problem church-goers, and let him/her sink or swim. Many Ministers will come right out and tell you that they are too busy with the building campaign to deal with depression and wounded lost souls that are nothing but a detriment to "their ministry" anyway. GOD HELP US!

What they don't realize, is that the building, and the foundations they are building will soon crumble. We've seen a lot of buildings crumble in these recent earthquakes... but the restoration of the "lost souls" are the foundations of a life that will last forever.

Let's Pray,

Father God:
Help us to see what we are doing - IN YOUR NAME. We bring injury and even death by flippant remarks, and judgmental attitudes that we have falsely designed in our own mind to make us feel better about our own sin. I ask today Father , that you would give me the mind of Christ, allowing me to see "the person" behind the problem: "the soul" behind every crisis. Allow me through your Holy Spirit to "connect"; and then guide me step by step as I deal with the recovery and rescue of one more soul in your Name. For it is in the Name of Jesus I Pray. Amen.