I’m going to share some advice today that will probably be one of the more questionable, if not arguable and controversial statements that I have ever offered up here in these daily messages of mine. (And you just thought my repeated lessons from scripture suggesting an abiding believer can be free of sin and actually ‘go and sin no more’ was radical!) What I’m about to say here is different, and it may give some of you ‘pause’ and might even make you suspicious of me, but I’m going to share it anyway. So at the risk of losing some of you...here it is:

If you have had a ‘come to Jesus’ experience, maybe even recently and possibly as a result of examining much of the scriptures I have shared with you here the past 4 years...I would not be in a big rush to run off and ‘join a local church’...until you have first...come to learn and recognize the voice of Jesus.

Yes, you read that correctly. I know...shock waves and heresy in the making; but I said what I said and I stand by it. Believe me...when this ‘dropped in my spirit’ a few days ago, I was a bit reluctant to share this myself. But...for those who are at least willing to give me the benefit of the doubt and will allow me explain what in the world I mean by that...thank you; I will do that now.

We hear it all the time when folks ‘walk forward and accept Christ’, maybe at a city-wide revival service or youth camp or whatever the circumstances were that led them to making a decision to turn their life over to Jesus: “Now go find yourself a good Bible believing church where they teach the word of God line by line and verse by verse” (or something similar).

“Get plugged in and busy serving”...they tell us. “Forsake not the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some...” we are reminded. “There are no ‘lone rangers’ in the kingdom of God”...many will make the case for. And yes, I know we are all ‘members of one body’ and we cannot survive outside of or ‘detached’ from that body (John 15:4-5); but my point is we better be sure ‘whose’ body we are a part of...because not every group out there who places a steeple over their local meeting place is a true representation of the body of Christ. And if one is not careful, they could find themselves being blindly led into a place where, in the words of Jesus...they would be made into a ‘two-fold child of hell’ (Matt. 23:15; 15:14)

So let me say it again: A new ‘convert’, one who has recently had a genuine ‘come to Jesus experience’...would do well to first learn to recognize and follow... the voice of Jesus before they join some random ‘church’ that is nearby. I don’t care how big it is and how nice the people seem to be and how well the preacher teaches...or if they have some of the most beautiful singing you’ve ever heard; nothing...could be more important than learning to first hear and know His voice... and then follow Him.

Whether you’ve been around church your whole life...or have never set foot in one...I’m thinking you may be familiar with the first few lines of this well-known 23rd Psalm...

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Please underscore that last line...”HE LEADS ME... in the paths of ‘righteousness’ (doing what is right in God’s eyes).

I don’t think I have to tell anyone ‘who’ this ‘shepherd’ is...but just in case...please turn to John 10 where Jesus told those around Him: “I ...am the Good Shepherd.”(11,14)

He made that declaration after a brief lesson on sheep management, explaining how the sheep come to hear and know the voice of their shepherd and when he calls his sheep by name...they know his voice and will not follow a stranger’ (1-5). In verse 16 Jesus mentions ‘other sheep’ of His and how He will be bringing them in to ‘one flock’ or fold. (Eph. 4:4-6)

Now...read vs. 27 where Jesus makes it clearly known: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.” [Let. That. Sink. In.]  And may I also point out here...these are the ‘sheep’ that Jesus promises that ‘no one will be able to snatch out of the Father’s hand’ (28). And who exactly...are the ones we are told are the true ‘children of God’, according to Romans 8:14? Go look that up now. Then look at John 8:37-44 where Jesus had to get blunt with some religious experts who were convinced...they were ‘children of God’...only to be told differently by Jesus in vs. 44.

Most professing believers will echo in agreement when the statement is made that ‘church membership won’t save you’. And given the abundance of churches that are out there today, with some 400+ denominations all flying under the same supposed banner of ‘Christianity’...of course everyone is convinced that ‘their church/pastor teaches the truth’; I mean...why would they be going there if they thought otherwise? And yet look how divided and at odds so many of these groups are with one another.

Did Jesus not warn repeatedly to be on guard against widespread deception where ‘many would come in His name’ and lead people astray? (Matt. 24:4-5,11,23-25). Did He not talk about how false teachers (wolves dressed in sheep clothing) would appear, and to be mindful of the fruit they bore? (Matt. 7:15-21) Or what about those folks who seemingly had lots of ‘spiritual giftings’ working in their lives...yet were told by Jesus that He did ‘not know them’? (Matt. 7:21-23). And what did those folks continue to do in spite of all these great works? - They continued to practice sin. Oh...who are the ones that Jesus ‘knows’, again? You might look at John 10:27 once more for that answer. Then...there is those first three verses in 1 Corinthians 13 that spells out how active and busy and dedicated one might be in the church world...but if they are lacking the true nature and character of Christ (love) in their hearts...all those other activities ‘profit them nothing’.

And let’s not forget the startling assessment Jesus offered up to the church at Sardis who apparently had quite a reputation of being a church that was really ‘alive’, yet Jesus told them they were ‘dead’...and how they needed to ‘repent’! (Rev. 3:1-3)

Now if you are in a place of just beginning this walk of faith as a new ‘follower’ of Jesus...don’t be discouraged or throw your hands up in despair. I just want you to know upfront what scripture points out...and then to reassure you that the Lord is more than able and willing...to speak, lead...and also ‘reveal’ Himself to you where you will know that you know that you know...that He is real and ready to take you by the hand and lead you into all truth. (John 14:19-24; 16:12-13; Mark 8:23; 1 John 2:27).

Tomorrow (Lord willing) another chapter from the early days of my own conversion that I will share how Jesus was doing this with me and I hope it will encourage you as well.