There is a lot of talk about how to “grow” a church into what God would have it to be. Mostly this talk revolves around programs and studies and things that others have done to increase their attendance. A better plan might be to examine why so many churches are not growing Spiritually.

For many the answer lies in our Scriptures for today.

2 Timothy 3:5 (NKJV) tells us that many will have “a form of godliness but denying its power.” A form of godliness means talking the talk but not walking the walk. Godliness has been cheapened to the point that merely going to church and being “good” is accepted as all that is required of Christians. Too few embrace biblical Christianity, and determine to take that route, preferring instead a path that will ultimately lead to their failure as disciples.

We deny the Power of God to change us by not offering ourselves up for Him to change. By refusing to trust that He can and will make us able to do all that He asks of us.

We deny His power by clinging to our old ways instead of searching for His will in our lives.

We deny His power by saying such things as “I can’t,” “That’s not who I am,” “I’m just not cut out to be that way.”

We make the Scriptures of no regard when we refuse to believe Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and John 15:5, “…for without Me, you can do noth-ing” (nothing of kingdom value).

We deny His power when we refuse to pursue and accept the Power of the Holy Spirit promised to us in Acts 1:8.

We will continue to fail as God’s servants unless we accept the Holy Spirit and His anointing and power, and not only accept but embrace and seek His anointing. He is given to us for this reason that we might be successful in building Spiritual fortresses in a darkening world. We are not here to build boy scout camps and to serve cookies and milk to the world, we are here to build a kingdom for all of God’s people, we are here to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely we have received, freely we must give,” we will never succeed without the Power of God The Holy Spirit.

The Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.