Are you a fan of religious culture or are you walking in obedience to Christ?

FAN OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE:
1. Attends church at least once a week or more
2. Loves the emotional music
3. Loves emotional and feel-good sermons
4. Joins an area of service that they like
5. Leave the church mainly talking about how they were made to feel

FANS OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE:
1. Grew up attending church
2. Some grew talent wise enormously with skill that catapulted them to greatness
3. Believe that they know God
4. Serves the world with their talent
5. They can return to church anytime and perform
6. The local church doesn't discriminate, applauds them and their worldly accomplishments

FANS OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE:
1. May not be saved. It is assumed that if a person mentions "God", they are saved.
2. Don't appear to be readers of God's Word. Their conversation shows their lack of biblical knowledge with the exception of some Bible verses they remember, but there's no depth.
3. They mix the world and church. They bounce between both, comfortably without a godly conviction while attaching God as being the author of what they do.
4. Some have become influencers. The ones who have succeeded by this world's standards are in the public giving their twist on Christianity.
5. The world loves them and celebrates them. The Bible clearly states that the world hated Jesus, including the religious world and its leaders. It also says that the follower of Christ would be hated, too. So why are worldly people comfortable around them?
6. Their talent and or behavior doesn't promote Christ primarily and singularly. They have a form of godliness but without the power of God behind them. They show that the Holy Spirit has no control over their lives. They are carnal and worldly and comfortable with it.

ARE YOU A FAN OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE?
CAN SOME OF THESE THINGS BE SAID ABOUT YOU FROM ON-LOOKERS?
ARE YOU SITTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD DAILY READING HIS WORD IN ORDER TO HEAR HIS VOICE SPEAK TO YOU?
ARE YOU PRAYING TO HIM AND COMMUNICATING WITH HIM? 

ARE YOU TAKING YOUR BURDENS AND PROBLEMS TO HIM SO HE CAN NAVIGATE YOU THROUGH THEM AND DELIVER YOU?
HAVE YOU COMMITTED YOUR TALENT AND SKILL TO HIM SO HE CAN SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHY HE GAVE IT TO YOU AND WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO WITH IT?

DO YOU WANT FAME AND FORTUNE OR DO YOU WANT GOD TO BE GLORIFIED IN YOUR LIFE?

THESE QUESTIONS MAY HELP YOU TO SEE IF YOU ARE A FAN OF RELIGIOUS CULTURE OR A TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.

John 15:18-19
"If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

"My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready."  John 7:6

I love this account in scripture because it sets a right perspective on things I am so familiar with. We do well to pay close attention to what Jesus responds with where his blood relatives and brethren are concern.

Jesus' brothers told him point blank that if he wanted people to 'See' what he could do and if he wanted to be 'Known' for what he could do, he needed to go to Judea. Let's put that in today's terms. I have been told repeatedly that if I wanted to be seen and known in the 'Art World', I needed to go where the people and situations are in order to gain success. That's essentially what Jesus' brothers were alluding to with Jesus.

The world's perspective and ways of doing things are not the same approach the Lord God takes with His children. Jesus' brothers didn't even believe in Him at that time. They saw the works He did, but they didn't believe in Him. It wasn't until after His resurrection that James, one of His brothers, came to faith. 

Jesus told them that His time hadn't come yet. He wasn't talking about going to Judea. He was really referring to the Cross, the Cross of Calvary. That's where He would be lifted up before men and three days later, resurrected. 

The world tells you and I that in order to be seen and known, we must be on the platform that would put us in the running for success. God says differently. We are first, and foremost to follow the Holy Spirit's leading with everything that pertains to our life. He will guide and direct as He sees fit. How God spells success is different to how the world spells it. Believe me, I know firsthand about this. If you want what God has for you, wait on Him. 

The other point to this portion of scripture is this, Jesus' brothers wanted him to go to Judea with them at that given moment. Jesus didn't say that He wasn't going to Judea. He simply said that his time hadn't come yet. Jesus did go to Judea shortly after, but in God's time for him to go. Here's my point, God's will for you and I may very well be that thing we're petitioning Him for, but the timing has to be right. Often, we think we know when the right time is for what we want, but so often, we're wrong. It's best to wait on God's timing. His timing will involve a host of things that need to come together in order for us to meet with success.

Always remember that in this world, anytime is the right time. Make sure you're listening for the voice of the Lord God. There are a lot of voices out there whispering in your ear including your own voice. Wait on God and the leading of the Holy Spirit before you act on anything.