Courtyard Christians
Courtyard Christians are like buffet Christians, they pick what they want out of the Bible
and don’t remember what Jesus said when He defeated satan “man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that precedes out of the mouth of God.”
Courtyard Christians is really an oxymoron because Christian means – little Christ,
Christ likeness, anointed ones. In the courtyard was the brazen altar, on which Jesus
was crucified for the sins of mankind. Courtyard Christians accepts this. Also in the
courtyard was the basin for washing daily by the priests before they could go into the
holy place, for service. The courtyard Christians accepts this by using I John 1:9. I
John 1:9 is not for habitual sins (willful sins) as you read the Bible you see God made
provision for unknowing sins, sins done in innocents, but the deliberate sinner was cut
off from His people (put to death, stoned). Paul puts it this way, shall we continue in sin,
that grace may abound? Then he answers “God forbid” (Romans 5:19-6:2). Jesus said
it like this “many will say to Me, Lord, Lord” (Matthews 7:21-24).
The courtyard Christians stop there and don’t except what Jesus did on the cross. He
freed mankind from sin, we have a new nature (II Corinthians 5:17). They have not put
on the new man, the new man is available to everyone, but it has to be put on (Romans
12:1-2, Ephesians 4:24-32).
The Bible says draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). The
courtyard Christian knows that God heals, yet will not draw in to receive healing,
because he feels unworthy. His sin is stopping him from experiencing it. Courtyard
Christians don’t accept the righteousness of Christ, but beat themselves up and stay
trapped in their sin. They don’t cast that sin problem on Jesus, by taking the problem of
sin to Jesus for help. The Bible says in Psalms 119:11 “Your word have I hid in my
heart, that I might not sin against You”.
Courtyard Christians have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, from
such we are told to turn away from. (II Timothy 3:5). They believe in Jesus and accept
His saving them from hell, but refuse to live their lives for Him, they never get close to
God.
I use to wonder why the Israelites didn’t want to hear God for themselves, when they told
Moses in Horeb to speak to God for them and they will hear and do whatever Moses
said from God. They didn’t want to be responsible to staying clean from their sins, for
themselves; they were afraid, that they would die if they came close to God. A lot of
what the Israelites went through was because they never got close to God for
themselves. The Bible says “they that know their God, shall be strong and do exploits”
(Daniel 11:32).
There is a statement which says “if you don’t commit to something, you will fall for
anything”.
We have read above that we have to put off the old man and put on the new man, and
renew our minds. We are told to love not the world, neither the things that are in the
world (I John 2:15-17). If you sin you are not of the Father, this is not an accidental sin,
it is a continued sin without repentance. Jesus’ letters to the churches in Revelations
tells us to repent (Revelation 3:1-6, and not to be lukewarm (Revelation 3:14-19).
Don’t be a courtyard Christian, go all the way into God. The Bible tells us in III John 2
“beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your
soul prospers”. You see the key ingredient is for your soul to prosper. The soul is your
mind, therefore renew your mind to the word of God.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 3, 2006