"Its Ok To Cry" - 12-13-2010 Barrett NugentIts okay to cry!.......... Its okay to cry!......... It really is,As long as we cry to the Lord.I know from experience and from reading the Word that at times it can be hard to believe;it can be hard to see that God loves you; it can be hard to trust in the truth that God, is still and always will be there by your side. We can't see him; at times we feel him and can hear him, but then there are times where it seems like we are alone. But we are never alone!Psalm 139:7-10“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol (Hell), you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right shall hold me.”Where are you? Where have you been? Where are you going?God is with you! GOD IS WITH YOU!! Not was, IS!Look at the verses, they are statements with apostrophes not question marks or hopes. It is God's covenant to never leave or forsake his children.Please take a moment to be still and consider this.Everywhere you have been, are, and will go, God is with you!The Psalm says if you go to heaven, He is there. If you make your bed in HELL, He is there!If you run away to the “utter most parts of the sea” where no man is or has been, “Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me!”Whether you have been running from God in a state of rebellion, taken a turn that you thought was God's will and now are unsure, or are seeking God and just can't feel him and feel as if you are alone and He isn't listening.Wherever you are, God is there! Walking by your side and carrying you when you don't have the strength to walk.Its the power of His spirit that will God willing allow these words to reach in and affect your heart.So I ask you to take a few minutes to be still and ask God to move in your heart and change you.Sit down, lay down, take a walk to somewhere secluded, and be still.Talk with the Lord as if you were talking to your best friend, whether you are having a good day or bad day. Thats what friends are there for right? To be there for you?God is there for you! He is with you all the time. He wants to talk with you, He wants you to tell him about your joys, He wants you to tell Him of your fears, the things that make you want to worry.He wants you to cast your burden on Him and allow Him to carry you.Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”Are you tired? Are you weary and run down? Do you just need a break from the daily grind of life?Go to the Lord! He will give you rest.God knows the temptations and fears we face every day, He knows there is an enemy of our souls that “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”.Jesus himself was tempted and tried.Matthew 26:36-44“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is week.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”Sometimes we have to pray the same things over and over, it doesn't make them any more or less true.God still calls us to bring our petitions to the cross and submit them to the Lord.What it does confirm is that all is done by the power of God the Father and by His will.Another aspect to consider is the desperate manner in which we see God's children bringing their petitions to the Lord. The verse above says Jesus “fell on his face and prayed”.Jonah 2 - recounts Jonah's cry for help from the belly of the whale.“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.For you cast me in the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.'The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.Salvation belongs to the LORD!And the LORD spoke the the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.”Each of these examples are rather desperate circumstances, Jesus is within hours of being tortured and being crucified for sins he did not commit, Jonah is inside a fish. Not knowing why he is even still alive, yet knowing that his only hope is the LORD God.And what did he do? He called out to the LORD, “from the belly of Sheol I cried”.Both situations of desperation; both situations God was faithful to give grace and provide a way.
What situation are you in right now? Do you believe God can provide the grace to make it through?Do you believe God intends and wants to give grace? Do you believe God is working everything out for your better good?He is! Even if you can't see it now, He is!Jesus Christ was tempted in every way known to man, yet did not sin. Hebrews 4:14-16“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect had been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”“With confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”Because of what Christ has done we can draw near with confidence, without fear. Knowing“That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”Notice the word “receive”, we are given something. The verse does not say this is your best shot, or maybe this will work. Try real hard and hope for the best.Because of what Christ has done, a work completely out of your control and something you can't add anything to, we can draw near. Its a gift! Its Mercy!Mercy is defined as:“Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone who is it within one's power to punish or harm.Yes it is within God's power to punish us for our sin, but because of Christ, God shows us grace.Grace:“The free and unmerited favor of God”The verse says to draw near with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”How often do we need help? Daily! For some like myself, its every minute.So where are you? What season are you in? Where do you find yourself right now?Making it through but hoping things get better? Really tired and wearisome? About to give up all hope and end life?Wherever you feel like you are, in God's eyes you are in the same place as everyone else.A sinner who needs His forgiveness and love.And He wants to give it to you! More than anything God the Father wants you to call to Him and tell him “I can't do it on my own Lord! I don't want to do it on my own! Help me!”And He will!I believe David says it best in Psalm 30:1-5“I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”So cry! Cry to the Lord, don't let the lie that crying for help is only for those who are weak and insecure.Rather it is for those who are secure in the truth that they are weak on their own, but have a heavenly Father who is mighty to save who will hear His children's cries for help and come to their aid.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
It's Okay to Cry
Part 2
God loves you
The following is written by a good friend of mine, Barrett, who recently sent this to me. I almost cried when I heard it.
"God Loves You" - 11-4-2010
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear”
These are the words of our savior Jesus Christ, I would like to borrow them briefly and ask those who indeed have ears to hear to listen, hear what the Lord has told me and would like to once again remind His children.
It is something you have heard many times before, perhaps thousands. God willing you will hear it thousands more before the Lord calls you home. It is a simple phrase that at times completely stops a person in their tracks and breaks their heart of stone; yet at other times can be passed right on by.
Hear this please and take heart
“He Loves you! God the Father, the creator of the universe LOVES you”!
I told you, this is something you have already heard. But please do not disregard what is written above. Read it again! Think about it again, ask the Father to impress this on your heart and help you to better understand what this means for you.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
This was written hundreds of years before Christ- It was true the day it was written, it was true yesterday, it is true today, and will be true for all eternity.
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will you Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Ask the Lord! He is faithful!
What is it in your life right now you don't understand? You don't even really have to ask, there are multiple things that rush to your mind. You don't understand why you are in so much pain, physical or in heart. You don't understand why you lost your job. You don't understand why you just can't focus.
The list goes on and on.... The fact of the matter is that there is much we do not understand, but our heavenly Father understands ALL. And as the verse says He will “give good things to those who ask him”.
“Ok”, you may say “I asked God, he spoke and gave me direction and peace in my heart. But that was yesterday and today everything seems to be going crazy again! Now what? How can I carry on? How do I know the Lord is still there? Is He really there every day, every moment? Or just when things go crazy and seem to be getting out of control?”
This is the Lord's reply:
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you.”
Psalm 94:14
“For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;”
“But I messed up! The Lord gave me direction and I didn't follow through, how can He still want to be there with me? How can He still love me?”
“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, of daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgements against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:14-17
Sing! Rejoice! Dance before the Lord! The Lord has taken away the judgements against you!
God the Father rejoices over us!
Again Jesus reminds us in Luke 15 -
vs. 20b “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servant 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.”
Can you hear the celebration? Can you feel the Father's arms reaching out to meet you? Its all real!
God delights in His children and rejoices over us! And in this we can rest assured, He has us secure for ever and ever!
Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
AMEN!!! NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US!!! God's words says it!!! NOTHING!!!
Rejoice brothers and sisters! God the Father LOVES YOU!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Romans 12
A Living Sacrifice
12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, [1] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] 2 Do not be conformed to this world, [3] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [4]
Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, [5] and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, [6] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, [7] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. [8] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it [9] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Copied for ESV ONLINE
12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, [1] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] 2 Do not be conformed to this world, [3] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [4]
Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, [5] and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, [6] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, [7] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. [8] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it [9] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Copied for ESV ONLINE
Sunday, November 7, 2010
A celebration of rest!
A Sabbath rest for the people
This morning, on sunday, I was struggling and fighting with the idea of rest. I want to crack open my philosophy books and my history text book and study for my test on tuesday. The desire to work and study was very strong and discouraged I began to read my bible. The discipline of rest and the commandment of the sabbath is something I want to follow, but how can I when so many pressing assignments and chapters are squeezing me?
Promises come with obediance was my reminder, but my heart still failed me. "I can't do this! I need to read, I have so much to do and today is the only day left!" That is when the Valley of Vision hit me with joyful ecstacy on a prayer called "The Lord's day" below is the portion that hit me
"This is the day,
the heavenly ordinance or rest,
the open door of worship
the record of Jesus resurrection..."
These are the first four line of the prayer, but then I realized that today is a day of rest, and rest from our work but a day of celebration! A resting in the wonderful joyful completed work of JESUS resurrection, not to just be celebrated at easter! Now Hebrews 4 makes sense...we rest in him, we strive to enter the rest he provides!
What does this look like? How about "proclaiming the excellencies of him who called you"? (1 Peter 2:9 )Rejoicing in the resurrected Christ that this work is the foundation of all our faith so that we are not to be pitied above all people, for believing in a dead savior? (1 Cor 15). That by his resurrection we are raised with Christ, and that he has the power to raise even those who are dead in their sins..
So today is not a day to lament of not working, but rather to devot today for proclaiming his excellencies and praying for those who are still dead in sins. Praying that by his power he can raise them from the dead also.
To end here is a few lines from a song we often sing at church:
He rose from the dead, conquering fear, our prince of peace drawing us near...Jesus our hope, living for all the world to see, Lord we believe!
This morning, on sunday, I was struggling and fighting with the idea of rest. I want to crack open my philosophy books and my history text book and study for my test on tuesday. The desire to work and study was very strong and discouraged I began to read my bible. The discipline of rest and the commandment of the sabbath is something I want to follow, but how can I when so many pressing assignments and chapters are squeezing me?
Promises come with obediance was my reminder, but my heart still failed me. "I can't do this! I need to read, I have so much to do and today is the only day left!" That is when the Valley of Vision hit me with joyful ecstacy on a prayer called "The Lord's day" below is the portion that hit me
"This is the day,
the heavenly ordinance or rest,
the open door of worship
the record of Jesus resurrection..."
These are the first four line of the prayer, but then I realized that today is a day of rest, and rest from our work but a day of celebration! A resting in the wonderful joyful completed work of JESUS resurrection, not to just be celebrated at easter! Now Hebrews 4 makes sense...we rest in him, we strive to enter the rest he provides!
What does this look like? How about "proclaiming the excellencies of him who called you"? (1 Peter 2:9 )Rejoicing in the resurrected Christ that this work is the foundation of all our faith so that we are not to be pitied above all people, for believing in a dead savior? (1 Cor 15). That by his resurrection we are raised with Christ, and that he has the power to raise even those who are dead in their sins..
So today is not a day to lament of not working, but rather to devot today for proclaiming his excellencies and praying for those who are still dead in sins. Praying that by his power he can raise them from the dead also.
To end here is a few lines from a song we often sing at church:
He rose from the dead, conquering fear, our prince of peace drawing us near...Jesus our hope, living for all the world to see, Lord we believe!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Daily Reading
This passage struck me last night as I was at home doing my budget and praying for the Eteam. I believe God put it on my heart, as I was working numbers on a spreadsheet. I put the entire chapter on play from ESV online audio, but this morning this passage struck me with an "inexpressable and glorious joy"
Romans 10:1- 4
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved . I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of the rightouesness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's rigteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The end of righteousness. I began to pray for some of my unbelieving friends, that they would not seek to establish a righteousness according to their own devising, even as some proclaim to know God and could have a passion for him, but they do not know Christ. Oh Lord I pray for myself that I would not seek to do what the law recquires but rather seek what Christ recquires of me, a righteousness found only in him, and as Philippians says "a righteousness from God that depends on faith". Yes Lord may I depend solely on you oh God!
Romans 10:1- 4
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved . I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of the rightouesness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's rigteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The end of righteousness. I began to pray for some of my unbelieving friends, that they would not seek to establish a righteousness according to their own devising, even as some proclaim to know God and could have a passion for him, but they do not know Christ. Oh Lord I pray for myself that I would not seek to do what the law recquires but rather seek what Christ recquires of me, a righteousness found only in him, and as Philippians says "a righteousness from God that depends on faith". Yes Lord may I depend solely on you oh God!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Jude 1: 17-19
Jude 1: 17-19
'But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said ot you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, wordly people, devoid of the Spirit.'
"Scoffers-" to mean "playing like children"; "to mock"
Similiar texts
Acts 20:29 "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.."
1 Tim 4:1-2 "Now the spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, thugh the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared..."
2 Tim 3:1- 5 "But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unapeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people."
2 Tim 4:3-4 " For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to hte truth and wander off into myths."
2 Peter 2: 1-3 " But false prophets also arose among the people ust as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, eve denying the Master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idel, and their destruction is not asleep."
2 Peter 3:3 " Know this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.."
Jude 1:16 "These are grumblers, malcontents, following their won sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters showing favoritism to gain advantage."
Ps. 14: 1-2 "To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart ' There is no God' they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds. There is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man to seek if there are any who understand, who seek after God."
Jude 1:19 KJV- "These be they who seperate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit"
Jude 1: 19 ESV- " it is these who cause divisions, worldy people, devoid of the spirit"
KJV- seems to refered to an individual isolation where as the ESV talks about divisions, probably within the people of God. Isolation can lead to a division of sorts, and division can lead to isolation. It's probably safe to stay away from both.
Similar verses:
Prov. 18: 1 "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desires, he breaks out against all sound judgment"
Ezekiel 14:7-8 "For any one of the house of Israel, of the the strangers who sourjourn in Israel, who seperates himself from me, talking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I, the Lord, will answer him myself. And I will set my face against that ma; I will make him a sign, and a byword, and cut him off from the midst of my people and you shall know that I am the Lord."
Idols and Isolation are a BIG deal to GOD! It seems that Isolation is the medium in which Idolatry thrives; sensuality, and worldliness are bred their as well.
That is why scripture says:
Heb 10:25 "not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
In reference to sensuality-
1 Cor 2: 14 "The natural person does not acept the things of the spirit of God, for they are folly to him and he is not able to understand them becuse they are spiritually discerned."
James 3: 15 "This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthy unspirtual and demonic."
John 3: 5-6 "Jesus ansered him, "Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless oe is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit"
Rom. 8:9 " You however are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Andyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ, does not belong to him."
This is not a wishy-washy faith, on the fence, or nomanlistic faith. Scripture points out that you are either of God or you're not. And there are evidences to prove which side you are on.
'But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said ot you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, wordly people, devoid of the Spirit.'
"Scoffers-" to mean "playing like children"; "to mock"
Similiar texts
Acts 20:29 "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.."
1 Tim 4:1-2 "Now the spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, thugh the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared..."
2 Tim 3:1- 5 "But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unapeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people."
2 Tim 4:3-4 " For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to hte truth and wander off into myths."
2 Peter 2: 1-3 " But false prophets also arose among the people ust as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, eve denying the Master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idel, and their destruction is not asleep."
2 Peter 3:3 " Know this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.."
Jude 1:16 "These are grumblers, malcontents, following their won sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters showing favoritism to gain advantage."
Ps. 14: 1-2 "To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart ' There is no God' they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds. There is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man to seek if there are any who understand, who seek after God."
Jude 1:19 KJV- "These be they who seperate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit"
Jude 1: 19 ESV- " it is these who cause divisions, worldy people, devoid of the spirit"
KJV- seems to refered to an individual isolation where as the ESV talks about divisions, probably within the people of God. Isolation can lead to a division of sorts, and division can lead to isolation. It's probably safe to stay away from both.
Similar verses:
Prov. 18: 1 "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desires, he breaks out against all sound judgment"
Ezekiel 14:7-8 "For any one of the house of Israel, of the the strangers who sourjourn in Israel, who seperates himself from me, talking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I, the Lord, will answer him myself. And I will set my face against that ma; I will make him a sign, and a byword, and cut him off from the midst of my people and you shall know that I am the Lord."
Idols and Isolation are a BIG deal to GOD! It seems that Isolation is the medium in which Idolatry thrives; sensuality, and worldliness are bred their as well.
That is why scripture says:
Heb 10:25 "not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
In reference to sensuality-
1 Cor 2: 14 "The natural person does not acept the things of the spirit of God, for they are folly to him and he is not able to understand them becuse they are spiritually discerned."
James 3: 15 "This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthy unspirtual and demonic."
John 3: 5-6 "Jesus ansered him, "Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless oe is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit"
Rom. 8:9 " You however are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Andyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ, does not belong to him."
This is not a wishy-washy faith, on the fence, or nomanlistic faith. Scripture points out that you are either of God or you're not. And there are evidences to prove which side you are on.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Soul Winner
My own commentary on some of the quotes from Charles Spurgeons Book called "The Soul Winner" His quotes are italized, my commentary is in regular font. My commentary is written with the Friday Night Evangelism ministry in mind.
One thing more, the soul- winner must be a master of the art of prayer. You cannot bring souls to God if you go not to God yourself. you must get your battle-axe,and your weapons of war, from the armoury of sacred communication with Christ. If you are much alone with Jesus, you will catch His spirit, you will be fired witht he flame that burned in His breast, and consumed His life. you will weep with the tears that fell upon Jerusalem when He saw it perishing; and if you cannot speak so eloguently as He did, yet shall there be about what you say somewhat of the same power which in Him thrilled the hearts and awoked the consciences of men. pp. 194
It seems obvious to say evangelism cannot be done without prayer, without the going to God. In fact, evangelism is God's mission Yet often we fail to use this weapon of warfare. We MUST all be soaking ourselves in being alone with Christ, in preparation before/during and after fridays, and beyond. How much more ready am I, more intentional, more completly awed by God's graces when I have first tasted them in fellowship with him during the day or days before. Let us be encouraging one another more and more to press deeper into God's heart. To see him in his glory and let him be magnified in our eyes. Then the souls and plight of the lost become to use our dying passion and the needs of our brothers and sisters in keeping their souls becomes our intense desire.
Lastly brethren, I think that those sermons which have been prayed over are the most likely to convert people. I mean those discourses that have had much really prayer offered over them, both in the preparation and the delivery, for there is much so-called prayer that is only playing at praying. pp 83
In our group, and in individual evangelism there can be an emphasis on praying for the people who will be receiving the message of the Gospel. Without neglecting to do that, we should also be praying for the delivery of the Gospel to be spoken in a way most effective to the hearers.
But further, if we follow Christ, He will make us fishers of men by all our experience.
I am sure that the man who is really consecrated to bless others will be helped in this by all that he feels, especially by his afflictions. I often feel very grateful to God that I have undergone fearful depression of spirits. I know the borders of despair and the horrible brink of that gulf of darkness in to which my feet have almost gone. But hundreds of times I have been able to give a helpful grip to brethren and sisters who have gone into that same condition, which grip I could never have given if I had not know their deep despondency. pp228
How thankful I am for recent spiritual turmoil, and for trials! These have bended my knee before the cross. The Lord has brought people recently into my life that are now walking through the very thing I did, and how what joy it has been to comfort them, because I have walked through the despondency and terrors of the soul. If my trials are the avenue to bring many to Christ, than how happy I will be if my life be filled with them.
Did you never win a soul for Jesus? …We must hear the cries of those whom God has given to be born unto himself.by our means. We must hear them or else cry out in anguish, “Give me converts, or I die’..if you love the Lord, get a passion for souls. Do you not see them? They are going down to hell by thousands; as often as the hand upon the dial completes its circuit hell devours multitudes some of them ignorant of Christ and others willfully rejecting Him. The world lies in darkness; this great city still pines for the light; your won friends and kinsfolk are unsaved, and thy may be dead ere this week is over. Oh if you have any humanity, let alone Christianity, if you have found the remedy, tell the diseased about it! If you have found life, proclaim it to the dead; if you have found liberty, publish it to the captives; if you have found Christ, tell of Him to others. Pp 176
What can be added here? If we do not have an intense burning aching love for the lost, to see them come to Christ, we have nothing.
It is a horrible thing for a man to be so doctrinal that he can speak coolly of the doom of the wicked, so that if he does not actually praise God for it, it costs him no anguish of heart to think of the ruin of millions of his race. This is horrible! …Whatever I believe, or do not believe, the command to love my neighbor as myself still retains its claim upon me and God forbid that any views or opinions should so contract my soul and harden my heat as to make me forge this law of love! The love of God is first, but this by no means lessens the obligation of love to man; in fact, the first command includes the second. We are seek our neighbors conversion because we love him and we are to speak to him in loving terms God’s loving gospel, because our heart desires his eternal good. Pp 14
I am ashamed to say I have spoken coolly of the doom of the wicked, as coolly as I might say " I am having spaghetti tonight." Often I have read and studied scripture but have not allowed my affections to be kindled in the manner of love. This indeed has been a great hinderance in the sucess of the gospel. God can use this, even this, but how much more if love and affection abounded. The Gospel MUST change this in my own life, or else my proclaiming be in vain.
Whatever other price others may set upon ignorance, we are promoters of knowledge, and the more it can be spread the better shall we be pleased. but if the church of God thinks that it is sent into the world merely to train the mental faculties, it has made a very serious mistake, for the object of Christianity is not to educate men for their secular callings, or even to train them in their politer arts, or the more elegant professions, or to enable them to enjoy the beauties of nature or the charms of poetry.
Jesus Christ came not into the world for any of these things, but he came to seek and to save that which was lost; and on the same errand has He sent His Church, and she is a traitor to the Master who sent her if she is beguiled by the beauties of taste and are to forget that to preach Christ and Him crucified is the only object for which she exists among the sons of men.
..their [missionaries] is to save.The same is true of the Sunday-School teacher, and of all other workers among children; if they have merely taught children to read, to repeat hymns, and so forth, they have not yet touched their true vocation. We must have children saved. At this nail we must drive, and the hammer must come down upon this head always- the we might by all means save some, for we have done nothing unless some are saved.- pp. 199,200
After reading this I am wanted to ask; "Who is our audience, so that we might know how to drive home the hammer and nail into their hearts?"
The fisherman is a daring man...So the true minister of Christ, who fishes for souls, will never mind a little risk. pp. 234
What is risk for me? What is risk for our group? Have we gotten too comfortable in what we do, to comfortable in what we ask of God?
Oh that we were altogether rid of unbelief, that we believed great things of God, and with heart and soul so preached that men were likely to be converted by such discourses, proclaiming truth likely to convert them, and declaring them in a manner that would be likely to be blessed to the conversion of our hearers! Of course, all the while we must be trusting to the Holy Spirit to make the work effectual, for we are but the instruments in His hands. Pp 68
You my depend upon it that souls are not saved by a minister who doubts; and the preaching of your doubts and your questions can never possibly decide a soul for Christ. You must have great faith in the word of God if you are to be winners of souls to those who hear it.
You must also believe in the power of that message to save people. Pp41
It must be our intense desire that the Holy Spirit should visit our hearers, and create them anew.. a new and heavenly mind must be created by omnipotence or the man must abide in death. Pp 18
Because I do not see it, I doubt often, instaneous conversion. I expect people to come to God later after I have left, to think about it, to go home and meditate upon the news, if they come upon conversion at all. As this might be the way God saves in some, he does not always. He may use the word I have spoken to be the sickle to get the fruit, rather than the farmer who plants the seeds. I do not come to expect God to actually save the person right then, at that moment, because I feel as if it would not actually be genuine. Though we want to see geninue conversions, this thought has so hindered me, I have not expected ANY conversions, or at least any at that moment of dialogue. I do not ask of God to give them what I have been given, as oft as I should, why?
Now, in the last place, the man whom Christ makes a fisher of men is successful...For instance, here is a brother who says that he is faithful. Of course, I must believe him, yet I never heard of a sinner being saved under him. Indeed, I should think that the saftest place for a person to be if he did not want to be saved would be under this gentlemen's ministry, because he does not preach anything that is liekly to arouse, impress or convince anybody. This brother is 'faithful' so he says.
Well, if any person in the world said to you, 'I am a fisherman, but I ahve never caught anything', you would wonder how he could be called a fisherman. A farmer who never grew any wheat, or any other corp-is he a farmer? When Jesus Christ says, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men', He means that you shall really catch me, that you really shall save some. For he that never did get any fish is not a fishermen. He that never saved a sinner after years of work is not a minister of Christ. If the result of his life-work is nil, he made a mistake when he undertook it.
What does it mean to be a faithful soul winner, if none have ever been saved in your proclaiming? Even if you proclaim the gospel often?
Go thou with the fire of God in thy hand, and fling it among the stubble, and the stubble will burn. Be thou sure of that. Go thou and scatter the good seed; it may not all faill in fruitful places but some of it will. Be thou sure of that. Do but shine and some eye or other will be lightened thereby. Thou must, thou shalt succeed. But remember this the Lord's word, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of me" Keep close to Jesus,a nd do as Jesus did, in his spirit, and He will make you fishers of men. pp.235
Amen.
One thing more, the soul- winner must be a master of the art of prayer. You cannot bring souls to God if you go not to God yourself. you must get your battle-axe,and your weapons of war, from the armoury of sacred communication with Christ. If you are much alone with Jesus, you will catch His spirit, you will be fired witht he flame that burned in His breast, and consumed His life. you will weep with the tears that fell upon Jerusalem when He saw it perishing; and if you cannot speak so eloguently as He did, yet shall there be about what you say somewhat of the same power which in Him thrilled the hearts and awoked the consciences of men. pp. 194
It seems obvious to say evangelism cannot be done without prayer, without the going to God. In fact, evangelism is God's mission Yet often we fail to use this weapon of warfare. We MUST all be soaking ourselves in being alone with Christ, in preparation before/during and after fridays, and beyond. How much more ready am I, more intentional, more completly awed by God's graces when I have first tasted them in fellowship with him during the day or days before. Let us be encouraging one another more and more to press deeper into God's heart. To see him in his glory and let him be magnified in our eyes. Then the souls and plight of the lost become to use our dying passion and the needs of our brothers and sisters in keeping their souls becomes our intense desire.
Lastly brethren, I think that those sermons which have been prayed over are the most likely to convert people. I mean those discourses that have had much really prayer offered over them, both in the preparation and the delivery, for there is much so-called prayer that is only playing at praying. pp 83
In our group, and in individual evangelism there can be an emphasis on praying for the people who will be receiving the message of the Gospel. Without neglecting to do that, we should also be praying for the delivery of the Gospel to be spoken in a way most effective to the hearers.
But further, if we follow Christ, He will make us fishers of men by all our experience.
I am sure that the man who is really consecrated to bless others will be helped in this by all that he feels, especially by his afflictions. I often feel very grateful to God that I have undergone fearful depression of spirits. I know the borders of despair and the horrible brink of that gulf of darkness in to which my feet have almost gone. But hundreds of times I have been able to give a helpful grip to brethren and sisters who have gone into that same condition, which grip I could never have given if I had not know their deep despondency. pp228
How thankful I am for recent spiritual turmoil, and for trials! These have bended my knee before the cross. The Lord has brought people recently into my life that are now walking through the very thing I did, and how what joy it has been to comfort them, because I have walked through the despondency and terrors of the soul. If my trials are the avenue to bring many to Christ, than how happy I will be if my life be filled with them.
Did you never win a soul for Jesus? …We must hear the cries of those whom God has given to be born unto himself.by our means. We must hear them or else cry out in anguish, “Give me converts, or I die’..if you love the Lord, get a passion for souls. Do you not see them? They are going down to hell by thousands; as often as the hand upon the dial completes its circuit hell devours multitudes some of them ignorant of Christ and others willfully rejecting Him. The world lies in darkness; this great city still pines for the light; your won friends and kinsfolk are unsaved, and thy may be dead ere this week is over. Oh if you have any humanity, let alone Christianity, if you have found the remedy, tell the diseased about it! If you have found life, proclaim it to the dead; if you have found liberty, publish it to the captives; if you have found Christ, tell of Him to others. Pp 176
What can be added here? If we do not have an intense burning aching love for the lost, to see them come to Christ, we have nothing.
It is a horrible thing for a man to be so doctrinal that he can speak coolly of the doom of the wicked, so that if he does not actually praise God for it, it costs him no anguish of heart to think of the ruin of millions of his race. This is horrible! …Whatever I believe, or do not believe, the command to love my neighbor as myself still retains its claim upon me and God forbid that any views or opinions should so contract my soul and harden my heat as to make me forge this law of love! The love of God is first, but this by no means lessens the obligation of love to man; in fact, the first command includes the second. We are seek our neighbors conversion because we love him and we are to speak to him in loving terms God’s loving gospel, because our heart desires his eternal good. Pp 14
I am ashamed to say I have spoken coolly of the doom of the wicked, as coolly as I might say " I am having spaghetti tonight." Often I have read and studied scripture but have not allowed my affections to be kindled in the manner of love. This indeed has been a great hinderance in the sucess of the gospel. God can use this, even this, but how much more if love and affection abounded. The Gospel MUST change this in my own life, or else my proclaiming be in vain.
Whatever other price others may set upon ignorance, we are promoters of knowledge, and the more it can be spread the better shall we be pleased. but if the church of God thinks that it is sent into the world merely to train the mental faculties, it has made a very serious mistake, for the object of Christianity is not to educate men for their secular callings, or even to train them in their politer arts, or the more elegant professions, or to enable them to enjoy the beauties of nature or the charms of poetry.
Jesus Christ came not into the world for any of these things, but he came to seek and to save that which was lost; and on the same errand has He sent His Church, and she is a traitor to the Master who sent her if she is beguiled by the beauties of taste and are to forget that to preach Christ and Him crucified is the only object for which she exists among the sons of men.
..their [missionaries] is to save.The same is true of the Sunday-School teacher, and of all other workers among children; if they have merely taught children to read, to repeat hymns, and so forth, they have not yet touched their true vocation. We must have children saved. At this nail we must drive, and the hammer must come down upon this head always- the we might by all means save some, for we have done nothing unless some are saved.- pp. 199,200
After reading this I am wanted to ask; "Who is our audience, so that we might know how to drive home the hammer and nail into their hearts?"
The fisherman is a daring man...So the true minister of Christ, who fishes for souls, will never mind a little risk. pp. 234
What is risk for me? What is risk for our group? Have we gotten too comfortable in what we do, to comfortable in what we ask of God?
Oh that we were altogether rid of unbelief, that we believed great things of God, and with heart and soul so preached that men were likely to be converted by such discourses, proclaiming truth likely to convert them, and declaring them in a manner that would be likely to be blessed to the conversion of our hearers! Of course, all the while we must be trusting to the Holy Spirit to make the work effectual, for we are but the instruments in His hands. Pp 68
You my depend upon it that souls are not saved by a minister who doubts; and the preaching of your doubts and your questions can never possibly decide a soul for Christ. You must have great faith in the word of God if you are to be winners of souls to those who hear it.
You must also believe in the power of that message to save people. Pp41
It must be our intense desire that the Holy Spirit should visit our hearers, and create them anew.. a new and heavenly mind must be created by omnipotence or the man must abide in death. Pp 18
Because I do not see it, I doubt often, instaneous conversion. I expect people to come to God later after I have left, to think about it, to go home and meditate upon the news, if they come upon conversion at all. As this might be the way God saves in some, he does not always. He may use the word I have spoken to be the sickle to get the fruit, rather than the farmer who plants the seeds. I do not come to expect God to actually save the person right then, at that moment, because I feel as if it would not actually be genuine. Though we want to see geninue conversions, this thought has so hindered me, I have not expected ANY conversions, or at least any at that moment of dialogue. I do not ask of God to give them what I have been given, as oft as I should, why?
Now, in the last place, the man whom Christ makes a fisher of men is successful...For instance, here is a brother who says that he is faithful. Of course, I must believe him, yet I never heard of a sinner being saved under him. Indeed, I should think that the saftest place for a person to be if he did not want to be saved would be under this gentlemen's ministry, because he does not preach anything that is liekly to arouse, impress or convince anybody. This brother is 'faithful' so he says.
Well, if any person in the world said to you, 'I am a fisherman, but I ahve never caught anything', you would wonder how he could be called a fisherman. A farmer who never grew any wheat, or any other corp-is he a farmer? When Jesus Christ says, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men', He means that you shall really catch me, that you really shall save some. For he that never did get any fish is not a fishermen. He that never saved a sinner after years of work is not a minister of Christ. If the result of his life-work is nil, he made a mistake when he undertook it.
What does it mean to be a faithful soul winner, if none have ever been saved in your proclaiming? Even if you proclaim the gospel often?
Go thou with the fire of God in thy hand, and fling it among the stubble, and the stubble will burn. Be thou sure of that. Go thou and scatter the good seed; it may not all faill in fruitful places but some of it will. Be thou sure of that. Do but shine and some eye or other will be lightened thereby. Thou must, thou shalt succeed. But remember this the Lord's word, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of me" Keep close to Jesus,a nd do as Jesus did, in his spirit, and He will make you fishers of men. pp.235
Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)