Issue 2: When the Church Becomes a Social Club: Life Without the Spirit and Obedience

A church that operates without the Holy Spirit and not in obedience to God’s Word and instructions loses its spiritual position and purpose. It may have attendance, programs, and structure, but it lacks the living presence of God that gives power, direction, and provides transformation. It becomes weak and turns into an open market for the religious spirit to operate through man’s worship (works). 

 Timothy 3:5
“Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

The church was never meant to be an organization built on human ideas or personal agendas. It was created by the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and meant to live in ongoing fellowship and obedience with God. When the Holy Spirit’s presence and the people’s obedience are missing, the church becomes an event rather than a movement, a meeting place rather than a dwelling place.

We must analyze what gives the church life and what causes it to lose its spiritual power.

1. The Holy Spirit Is the Lifeline of the Church

Romans 8:9
“If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

2 Corinthians 3:6
“For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

• The presence of the Holy Spirit identifies the church as belonging to Christ. Without God’s Spirit, it becomes another social organization.
  
  
• Without the Holy Spirit, we can maintain programs, buildings, and crowds, but not true fellowship with God. Without fellowship with God, we do not hear His instructions or behold the fullness of His glory, leaving us vulnerable to the enemy’s plans for the church.
  
  
• The Holy Spirit empowers the church to pray, witness, serve, and love with supernatural wisdom, knowledge, counsel, authority, and strength that come from 

God. Without His power, we become social event planners resembling a ‘Jesus-like theme.’

The Holy Spirit provides life where human wisdom and effort fall short. It is God’s power that sets the captives free, not human willpower and knowledge.

2. Obedience Keeps the Church Aligned with God’s Will

1 Samuel 15:22
“To obey is better than sacrifice.”

Ezekiel 36:27
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.”

• God places a higher importance on obedience than on performance or outward expressions of sacrifice. In His view, sincere obedience shows true devotion and willingness to put Him over self. There is a reason He didn’t accept King Saul’s sacrifices, took the Holy Spirit from him, and stripped him of his throne. God wanted his obedience more than his display of ‘worship’. 
• Obedience turns worship, which is your works, from habit to holiness. When the church gets stuck in ‘church’ traditions, observations, and culture, we hinder the free flow of the Holy Spirit. He wants to go one way, but your way of doing things prevents him from proceeding. The Spirit is subject to how far we willingly allow Him to move through us.
• The Spirit and obedience work together. The Holy Spirit fuels obedience, and obedience maintains the Spirit’s presence among God’s people. Jesus had to obey the move and voice of the Holy Spirit, so must we. Jesus only did what the Father told Him to do. His obedience resulted in God’s will being fulfilled on earth for mankind’s salvation.

3. A Church Without the Spirit Becomes an Empty Structure

Psalm 127:1
“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”

• Buildings, lights, music, and organization can create an atmosphere, but only God’s presence controls the move of the atmosphere that brings genuine, life-changing transformation.
• Without the Spirit, the church becomes a social network rather than a strong spiritual organism, united by one faith, one Spirit, one God, one movement.
• The lack of community prayer, repentance, surrender, deliverance, change, and spiritual growth indicates that the Holy Spirit has been replaced by self-reliance. People attend, volunteer, and are mentally or emotionally stimulated, but their spirit-man is not strengthening; in fact, it’s dying. The church is meant to revive what is dead, which can only happen through obeying the Holy Spirit.
  
  

You can have a body without breath, but without breath, it is lifeless. So is a church without the Holy Spirit.

4. True Worship Requires the Holy Spirit and Obedience

John 4:23–24
“Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

• The Holy Spirit makes worship and God’s Word sincere, alive, powerful, and life-changing. Chains break, revelation springs forth, God’s glory falls, rivers of living water flow; the power of God is only activated through His Spirit. 
• When worship or works lack the Holy Spirit, you also lose the Spirit of Truth; it becomes performance rather than presence, life coaching rather than conviction.
• Truth: God’s Word shapes worship into obedience and reverence. 

5. Christ Must Remain the Head

Colossians 1:18
“He is the head of the body, the church.”

• The church functions properly when Christ has full authority. If Jesus is the head of the body, that means He is the brain guiding when and how the body operates. The heart didn’t create itself, and it won’t pump without neurological instructions from the brain. Yet, we often bypass Jesus and follow our feelings and agendas instead.
• When personal ambition, competition, or human opinion replaces Christ’s leadership, the church drifts into self-governance.
  
  
• A Spirit-led, obedient church reflects the character and mission of its Head, Jesus Christ.

6. The Evidence of a Spirit-Filled, Obedient Church

• Unity in purpose, faith, and obedience. (Ephesians 4:3)
  
  
• Desire for holiness and spiritual growth over works and programs (Hebrews 12:14)
  
  
• Boldness in witness (Acts 4:31)
  
  
• Fruit of the Spirit displayed (Galatians 5:22-23)
  
  
• Atmosphere of prayer, concreation, and surrender to God’s will (Acts 2:42-43)
  
  

The Spirit-filled church doesn’t need to advertise life; it reveals it through its fruit.

The church without God’s Spirit and obedience is like a lamp with no oil, a voice with no sound message, a body with no heartbeat. The Spirit is the breath of life, and obedience is the posture. When both are present, the church moves in God’s power and purpose. Only then will the church be effective against the Kingdom of Darkness.

God calls His people to return to life in the Spirit and walk in obedience so that the church can once again be a dwelling place for His glory.

Prayer:

Lord, in the name of Jesus, I come before You asking for forgiveness for our arrogance, disobedience, and mockery. Have mercy on us one more time and try our hearts again. Revive Your church with the power of Your Spirit. Restore our hunger for Your presence and our faithfulness to Your Word. Father, not our will be done but your will, not our way but your way. Remove every form of religion that is lifeless, and renew us with holy obedience. May Your Spirit dwell among us again. We denounce the spirit of religion and ask that the blood of Jesus wash over us. Make us, Your church, a living witness of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.