I'm an ex………alcoholic, drug addict, criminal, hustler, womanizer, fighter, liar, manipulator, player, drug dealer, thief, abuser, hypocrite, and a worldly, confused individual.

My name is Ben Lively. I'm not who I was before.

I'm a born-again child of the Most-High God!!  Anointed, Chosen, Set Apart and called to represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I teach Christians the Truth of Gods' Word.

I'm a mouthpiece for the Lord Jesus Christ.

I will not compromise, play any games, or waste time with this mission from on High. I know that in and of myself I am Nothing. I need God for every breath I take and every move I make.

I have Christ living in me and I'm burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, I'm different now and forever more.

This earth is not my home. I know that and I declare it, boldly.

I'm strong in prayer, praying in Power and in the Spirit.

I will preach, teach, deliver, evangelize, prophesy, baptize and build up groups of believers as God allows. HE IS working through me as I'm surrendered to His service as an instrument of righteousness.

And if you know me or get to know me you realize that I take no credit for this but God gets ALL the GLORY. In Christ, I live and to Heaven, I will rise...

 

 

 

Thank you so much for tuning in and Welcome everyone – Hope you’re well!  I’m your host, Ben Lively, and you’re listening to “Shaken Awake” – Episode #18!  

 

I just want to thank you for tuning in, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing right this very moment.  And listen - If you find any value in today’s episode – please pass the news, pass the podcast name and link to a friend, family member, or colleague that you feel would benefit from this show, and become blessed as you are through the words that the Lord shares through these messages.  

 

Don’t disconnect early today, as I’m announcing next week’s episode at the end of this one, and it’s going to be on one of the most controversial subjects in Christianity today – don’t miss the announcement!

 

For now and today, I promise you another great show – But, more than anything, my HOPE for you today, and always, is that you have an actual encounter with the Lord - He’s is always right there with you, even when you think He’s not.  So, let’s get ready to invite Him in with us, right here, right now and allow Him to speak directly to your heart and minds.   

 

So here goes, here is today’s topic: “You Don’t GO to Church – You ARE the Church”

 

 

The point of today’s episode that God’s placed on my heart to speak with you on today stems from an awakening and movement of the body of Christ to fall back into the roots of biblical doctrine, not of modern-day heresy.   My hope is you will have a better sense of expectations of Jesus, as stated in scripture, and not continue dwelling inside the box you’ve been in most or all of your life, any further.  Of course, I’m only going to put a rock in your shoe – God has to do the rest, with your obedience and willingness to seek Him and His truths.  

 

Most people I know or have known, including myself, have been blinded – and I believe it’s a tool straight out of the toolbox of satan – to the fact that church was never meant to be the following:

 

A place where you feel obligated to go, get dressed up and put on your fake smile, talk to people you don’t know, appearing to be a ‘10’ on a 1-10 scale, sit in a pew and sing pre-arranged songs to then listen to upcoming events and announcements, to then sit quietly without speaking a word to anyone while one person in the entire building is putting on a performance to the best of their God-given talents and abilities, while everyone sits and has no input, as the pastor/preacher/minister speaks on a pre-arranged sermon that takes very little, directly from the Bible (or more than a few verses) and proceeds to give a pre-timed delivery of mostly his and sometimes her impression and/or interpretation of the Bible and on the subject matter they’re speaking of.  Some tithing happens, some call to action, then perhaps song or benediction and then a farewell blessing before everyone puts back on their smiles and walks away.  If this sounds like “Church” to you, then you can easily say that my podcast is church, as well.  The only difference is, you’re not in a building called a “Church”, and you’re listening on a device.  If this description bothers you – IT SHOULD!!!!!

 

My pastor once told us – “If the only time you worship, praise, and love on God is on Sundays, then He’s not your God; He’s your Sunday idol.”  That’s a truthful analogy I will never forget in this lifetime.  But, it’s true no matter how you look at it.

 

The place of worship was never meant to be inside a building.  It was meant to be out in the mission field!  I’m going to back up everything I say, as usual, from your Bible so that it’s not from my point of you, but rather God’s.  

 

The church is people

What is the church according to the Bible?  The very first mention of the word church in the whole Bible is in Matthew chapter 16.

In Chapter 16, verse 15, Jesus brings His disciples outside Jerusalem and asks them who they think He is. Peter responds by declaring, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” In verse 16, Jesus tells Peter that he received this revelation from God. After such an important revelation, we might think the Lord would speak more about it. But instead, as soon as Jesus confirms this revelation, He responds by declaring: “Upon this rock I will build My church.”

The revelation of the church here is of such importance and significance to Christ that He couples it with the revelation of who He is.  Therefore, we need to find out, what is the church that Christ reveals to us here in Matthew?

Let’s look at the word church in the original language of the New Testament.  The Greek word for church in this verse is ekklesia, which means out-calling, or assembly of called out ones.  So the church, the ekklesia, is the assembly of all people who have been called out of the world by God.  The church isn’t a physical building; it’s a group of people.

Who are the called out ones?

The church, the ekklesia, is the assembly of people called out by God. But what makes a person one of these people?

Let’s take a look at 1 Corinthians 1:2:

“To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, the called saints.”

So, “To the church of God” equals “to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus.” This firmly states that the church is a composition of the saints and that the saints are the elements of the church.  The two should not be considered separate entities. Individually, WE are the saints; corporately, WE are the church.”

Both phrases refer to the same thing but have a different importance. The phrase the church of God tells us Paul is addressing the ekklesia, the assembly of called out people, and the phrase those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus tells us something about those called out people.

The people who comprise the church are not simply a group of people who believe the same doctrines or have the same ideas and preferences. They aren’t even a group of people who have decided to meet together to worship God. No, the people who compose the church have been sanctified, that is, made holy. So, how then are they sanctified? The verse says they are “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” 

How wonderful! It’s in Christ that we’re made holy, that is, separated unto God, and thereby become elements of the church.  So, the church isn’t composed of people who have attained some certain standard or who have fulfilled rules or regulations. The church is composed only of people who have received Jesus Christ through their faith in Him!

When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are reborn or born again, with the eternal life of God.  This life, which is just Christ Himself, is the sole condition for our membership in the church. There is no other way. The church isn’t a club or an organization of like-minded individuals that we can join.  It isn’t even a group of people who are knowledgeable about the Christian religion. The church is the assembly of all the people from all of time who have believed in Christ and received the life of God; therefore, we must be born into the church through our regeneration.

WE are the church!  YOU are the church!

If you are used to hearing things like, “Where do you go to church?” or “I went to this or that church on Sunday.” – you’re not alone.  But according to the Bible, all of us who’ve received Christ Jesus are the church. We are part of this magnificent, central ekklesia that Christ values so highly. 

My Brother in Christ, Ethan VanScoy – was guest on this show a few episodes ago, turned me onto a book called “Pagan Christianity”.  I’m not going to lie, from the sound of it, it was tempting NOT to read it as it didn’t sound like something I wanted to read outside the Bible – HOWEVER, I trusted Ethan to provide holy sources of reading, and also wanted to see what this author had to write about what was so “Pagan” about Christianity.  I could make a series of podcasts on those subjects alone – I’m still trying to process and regroup with all I learned, but in essence, the book goes over many of the things the body of Christ does today, the history of how it came to be, and how very minuscule or almost completed obsolete it is from the origins of the time of Christ and those of the first church.  Meaning, the origins all have pagan beginnings and like many things in life, we just do it because we always have and no one questions it.  It was a real eye opener to be crystal clear – everything from communion, to the pews, to the stage, to the offering, to the way church services are held, to the way sermons are delivered.  There’s nothing WRONG with serving the Lord in a building, but there’s so much more to it that it needs to be addressed.  What is the church? The church consists of God's people. It is the assembly of believers in Jesus Christ. The physical buildings facilitate the fellowship, worship, and ministry of God's people, but it is not the church. The early Christian church was persecuted. Christians did not congregate in large physical buildings but met in secret in the homes of other Christians.

 

I’m starting with the most important today, as I had been blinded my whole life, as have most of you, unknowingly and I’m sure with the best of intentions.  I’m here to break satan’s deceptions today and give those with eyes to see and ears to hear something to pay attention to and seek guidance from – directly from His Word.  Remember, never take MY word for anything – it’s HIS WORD that counts and ONLY His Word.

Let’s take a look at what the Word says about the true body of Christ – that’s you and I.  1 Corinthians 17 – 31 states:  

So, we each have gifts from the Holy Spirit to use as a functioning member of the body of Christ, which is the true Church.  

Think about Paul’s “amazement” in Galatians 1:6-7: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

 

He rebukes not the pastors, but the members, and tells them to reject even apostles or angels who teach a false gospel.

What this means is that you and I are responsible to study the gospel and know it. Not to rely solely on the speech of man, unless that speech is directly quoted from the Bible, which alone is God’s Word.  

As an example, can you summarize the gospel in 60 seconds or less? Can you explain the relationship between faith and works? Can a Christian live in unrepentant sin? Why or why not? Why is it important for a Christian to affirm the doctrine of the Trinity? What role do good deeds, fellowship, and hospitality play in promoting a church’s gospel ministry? What’s the difference between regret and repentance?  You see, the answer to everything in this life and the next, and our instruction manual that has stood the test of time sits between the first and last page of your Bible – the living breath of God.  It’s not front stage in a staged setting.  

How do I know?  For one, the Bible’s told me so.  Secondly, the Holy Spirit has shown me so.  Thirdly, I’ve learned more about Jesus and truth in one pass-through of the Bible that I had my entire life at Sunday school, church, Christian camps, or vacation Bible schools.  Did they teach me anything incorrect?  NO!  Absolutely not and I encourage participation in each one of those for everyone.  But what they failed to teach me or unintentionally kept out of their teachings and sermons was what almost cost me an eternity in hell.  So much was never taught – so much!  90% of what I now know came from the Bible, not the pulpit!  By digging into God’s Word, God has SPOKEN to me – not through another man, but from HIS OWN MOUTH, and so has His Holy Spirit.  Guys, I’m not saying not to go to church to praise and worship God – in fact, GO!  But don’t let the building be your church when Jesus has commanded that YOU be the church!

Jesus is only recorded as talking about “church” twice (Matthew 16:18 and Matthew 18:15-17).   

On the only occasion, Jesus talked about HIS church, He was talking to Peter:  "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Matthew 16:18)

On the second occasion (Matthew 18:15-17) Jesus gave clear instructions about how we, his followers, should behave if we have a problem with someone else in the church community.  This is important but it does not give us any guidance as to how we should organize our communities or our community activities.

We can get a better understanding by looking at other verses.  For example:

“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50; see also Luke 8:21).

Jesus’ church is a family whose members are dedicated to serving God.

We are members of Jesus’ family and church.  But Jesus did not leave any instructions as to how we should organize ourselves.  Perhaps, he did this so that members of his family in different places could develop ways of meeting that are appropriate to their own cultures and their own needs.  Of course, Jesus wants us to do this carefully, prayerfully and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ family and the church is defined, not by particular organizational structures, but by our love for God and for each other, and by our obedience to his teachings.  So, perhaps, another reason Jesus didn’t leave us any instructions about how to organize ourselves is that he doesn’t want us to organize ourselves.  Perhaps he just wants us to be communities without formal organization, like families.

Jesus had a clear vision for his family/community.  It is displayed in His prayer in the garden, just before Jesus is arrested:

“I ask not only on behalf of these (that’s the disciples), but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word (that’s us), that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23).

Jesus wants us, his global family/church, to be one.  And it is our unity and togetherness that will show the world that God sent Jesus.  Today, obviously, we do not appear to be ONE or in unity – we appear to be split into thousands of denominations and groups, many of which contradict and conflict.  But members of Jesus’ true community and true body of Christ (His church) are found inside every denomination and, also, outside any denomination.  And we are one.  We are one with all our sisters and brothers who are members of Jesus’ family, both those who are part of a denomination and those who are not part of a denomination.  We are one.

 

So, with all that said, and the fact that WE are THE CHURCH, what does God command us to do as THE CHURCH?  What does He command YOU and I to actually DO?!?  Isn’t that what truly matters?  Not attending a 90-minute show once a week.  I’m not putting today’s church down, which amounts to a service-in-a-building down, I’m telling you what the bible instructs is the REAL CHURCH and what the REAL CHURCH is instructed to do.

Here’s what it says – follow it now:

First, we have a Christian duty to serve each other. The Bible says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10 ) It is in our service that all will see God's grace in action as we demonstrate our faith. Service is the embodiment of Christian love toward others.

 

Secondly, we have a Christian duty to encourage one another. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up."  It is too easy in this world to become discouraged because of work, relationships, and finances. It is only through encouragement that people can rise up and overcome any obstacle they may encounter if they believe in Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. So, it is our Christian duty to help them believe, overcome and stay faithful in a discouraging world that’s ruled by satan.

 

Has anyone looked outside lately????  Has anyone read a newspaper or newsfeed or the news lately????  This world is falling apart around us, as Jesus and others’ warned us about in the Bible, and many quote, unquote Christians are relying on this world, sugar-coated with a 90-minute service-in-a-box on Sundays to help them navigate life and become the Christian that God has called them to be!!!!  We cannot and are told not to allow this to happen!!!  I just read it straight from the Bible – God has commanded His Church – YOU AND I to do that.  It is no longer US that live, but Christ that lives in US!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thirdly, we have a Christian duty to help carry the burdens for others. Galatians 6:2 states, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." Nobody should have to walk alone in the valley of being burdened. We need to walk with others and share in and lighten the heavy load many carry on their shoulders. Jesus removed our greatest burden at the cross. Therefore, we -- just as Jesus did -- need to help our brothers and sisters who are lost in the valley.

Lastly, we have a Christian duty to pray for each other. James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." The heavy loads we carry just don't stay in the natural world, but also belong in the spiritual. We must pray for each other. Sometimes when we are tired and burdened and we just don't feel like praying. Therefore, we as Christians must intercede and plead for our brothers and sisters and pray on their behalf. Powerful and effective prayer will make all the difference.

To whom much is given, much is required – this was another verse that had shaken me awake when I first heard it 2 years ago for the first time in my life – again, were was this preached my whole life or growing up in the church???  To whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48). If you have heard that wisdom, you know it means we are held responsible for what we have. If we have been blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, it is expected that we benefit others – that is being THE CHURCH in the MISSION FIELD of LIFE!!!!!  

As Christians, we have a duty toward others. It is not simply a choice, but it is REQUIRED. Therefore, be encouraged we’re talking about this today and take your post as a soldier in God’s army and serve God and others to the fullness completeness of your duty. For if you do not take your post and do your duty as God has instructed, who will?

Each one of us has the personal responsibility to “repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15) and then to glorify the Lord with good works (Ephesians 2:10). “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). Those who choose to reject the truth of God “are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). We cannot avoid our personal responsibility to exercise faith in Christ.  As the Bible clearly states that Jesus said – Faith without works is DEAD.  What do you think a Lukewarm Christian has?  Faith without works would be one.  As Jesus stated so plainly in Revelation 3:15-16. “Because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  How can one misinterpret or sugar-coat that?!?!?

 

 

So, you may be asking by now – WHAT Faith and Actions am I required to do?

14 My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you? 15 Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat. 16 What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”—if you don't give them the necessities of life? 17 So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.

18 But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” 19 Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear. 20 You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is dead?  21 How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. 22 Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. 23 And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend. 24 You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.

25 It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

26 So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

My final statement is this:   

To be involved with other believers is vital to a fruitfully spiritual life with God – He backs this up when Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 18:20 when He said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  More proof that gathering with believers is encouraged, but not necessarily limited to a physical building called a church as a check-the-box item off your spiritual life’s To-Do list!

 

God gives us our checklist of life – one of those is to BE THE CHURCH.  Use your time, gifts, talents, and heart to give to others.  If Jesus came to save the world, yet spent His entire 33 years of life being a servant, literally washing the feet of those that loved Him…..it leads me to my final question to you today……

 

Whose feet are you washing today or tomorrow?

 

 

So, before we end today’s show, I just want to thank you all again for tuning in and I HOPE you were touched by God through today’s message and scripture.  I’d like to ask you a favor only IF you received any value out of today’s show – would you tell at least one person you know – call them, text them, email them, talk to them – tell them to give this show a listen.  It may just help them in their walk with Christ.  

 

Also, I really need your support - If you could give me a quick star-rating on your phone app - it takes literally 3 seconds.  I’d love that help and support for you guys, which will allow the Lord and the Holy Spirit to reach even more lives through this broadcast.

 

If you’d like to get ahold of me, you can write me a note on www.shaken-awake.com/contact you can also email me directly at ben@shaken-awake.com or even call or text me directly for any reason at (407)-493-3208 (repeat).  I want feedback, questions, ideas, requests, criticisms, corrections, - if it’s important to YOU, it’s important to ME.  

 

Also, If you’d like to be a guest of this show, please reach out to me, as well.  If you have a life and/or eternity-changing story you’d like to share, please let me know and I’ll schedule you in.  We don’t hear enough of the TRUTH these days or the POSITIVE ways of God and Jesus Christ these days, and this podcast is going to help change that up – I'd love your help with this where you can.

Next week's episode is another powerful and DO-NOT-MISS episode – thanks for joining!  

Until next week, take great care of yourself and each other, and God Bless You all.  

 

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