" Preach The Word "

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" PREACH THE WORD "

There have always been men in the pulpit who gather crowds because they
are gifted orators, interesting storytellers, entertaining speakers, dynamic
personalities, shrewd crowd-manipulaters, rousing speech-makers, popular
politicians, or erudite scholars.
Such preaching may be popular but far from powerful.

No one can preach with power who does not preach the word.
And no faithful preacher will water down or neglect the whole counsel 
of God.
Proclaiming the word - all of it - is the pastor's calling. 

"So preaching the Word must be the very heart of our ministry."

Preaching the Word is not always easy !!!
The message we are required to proclaim is often offensive !!!

Christ Himself is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (Romans 9:33; 1Peter 2:8).
The message of the cross is a stumbling block to some (Gal.5:11), and mere foolishness to
others ( 1 Cor. 1:23).

Why do you suppose Paul wrote, " I am not ashamed of the gospel" (Rom.1:16) ?
Surely it is because so many Christians are ashamed of the very message we are 
Commanded to proclaim.

Today more than ever we need preachers that will stand in the pulpit and handle their
calling with fearless abandonment, to preach the Word of God, to preach Jesus Christ
crucified.
"The ultimate power of the cross"

This is certainly no time for weak men, weak messages, and weak ministeries.

What is needed is moral strength and courage and uncompromising proclamation of the
TRUTH that can SET PEOPLE FREE !!!

Preachers, we must Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort !!!
The preacher who fails to reprove and rebuke is NOT FULFILLING HIS COMMISSION !!!

Peoples deepest need is to confess and overcome their sin......................
So preaching that fails to confront and correct sin through the Word of God does NOT
MEET PEOPLES NEED.

Reproving, Rebuking, and Exhorting is the same as preaching thee Word, for those are the
very same ministries Scripture accomplishes:  " All Scripture is breathed out by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" ( 2 Tim. 3:16)

"Preachers and Teachers please make a commitment to stand in the pulpit and preach the 
Word of God and Christ crucified"
"Be Fearless, Bold, Direct, not people pleaser's, but use your gift to correct and build up."

Stand Firm and Preach the Word, there is nothing else to preach !!!!!!!

" Sound Teaching - Fearless Preaching "

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Do Not Compromise Sound Teaching & Fearless Preaching !!

As we read through the book that Paul wrote to Timothy we see Paul's charge to
young Timothy.

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but they have itching
ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Tim.4:3).

2 Timothy 4:3 - 2 Timothy 3:1 - 1 Timothy 4:1   Three passages of Paul's warnings to younger 
Timothy that difficult times were to come.
Notice that all these passages are referring directly to "those in the church" not outsiders or UNbelievers.

Therefore FEARLESS PREACHING is all the more necessary in such 'dangerous times'.
When people 'in the church' will not tolerate the truth, that's when COURAGEOUS, OUTSPOKEN PREACHERS are most desperately needed to speak it and teach it.

Why are people unwilling to endure 'Sound Teaching' ??
Simply because of their "Love For Sin."

SOUND TEACHING & FEARLESS PREACHING, as we all know and have seen, 
confronts and rebukes sin, and people in love with sinful lifestyles will not tolerate such
Sound Teaching.
They only seek to have their ears tickled and to hear what they are comfortable with.

Paul employs the expression "SOUND TEACHING" in 1 Timothy 1,, in verses 9 and 10 of this
chapter, he speaks of the law as being "for the lawless and disobedient", for the ungodly and sinners,
for the unholy and profane, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever
else is contrary to sound doctrine".
A society filled with these people will in no means be tolerant of 'sound teaching'.

Notice this "Pastors and Teachers",       Paul does NOT suggest that the way to reach such a 
society as this would be to 'soften' or 'adapt' the message so that 'such people' will be comfortable
with it.
Just the exact opposite is true !!  Such ear-tickling is abominable.
Paul urges Timothy to be 'willing to suffer' for the truths sake and to keep preaching the word
BOLDLY and FAITHFULLY and FEARLESSLY.
That is the ONLY WAY intolerant people can be exposed to the truth, which alone can soften
their hearts.

Isn't this precisely the state of the church in our society today ??

In fact marketing experts are pointing out to church leaders the whole basis of 
their philosophy is that people don't want to hear the truth proclaimed; they want to be entertained !!

The majority of today's society cannot stomach sound doctrine.
They would never tolerate for two weeks strong biblical teaching that refutes their doctrinal error,
confronts their sin, convicts them, and calls them to obey the truth.
They do not want to hear healthy teaching.  
Why ?  Because people in the church want to own God without giving up sinful lifestyles, and they
will not endure someone telling them just exactly what God's word say's about it.

What do they want to hear ??
"Having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to 'suit their own sinful passions". (v3)

Ironically, they seek out teachers. In fact, they heap to themselves teachers - but in no way sound ones.
They choose the ones that tell them exactly what they want to hear without confronting them of their sinful lifestyles.

Preachers we need not be afraid to offend, you are not in the position of preaching and teaching
to make friends or chase the numbers by drawing in sinners by the thousands with, film, musical shows,
worldly performances, skits, etc.

If you are going to stand in the pulpit in today's society you must be Bold, Fearless, Sound Teaching,

The truth of God does NOT tickle our ears, it BOXES them.
It BURNS them. It first reproves them, rebukes, convicts - then exhorts and encourages.

PREACHERS OF THE WORD MUST BE CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THAT BALANCE !!

Lastly, read the message in (John 6), after Jesus delivered a hard message, scripture tells us that
crowds left, disciples turned back, (v66).
Notice that there is a difference between true disciples and hangers-on.........Do not be afraid to find them apart.

Until next time,
Love and Peace...................

" The Church As A Pub "

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" The Church As A Pub "

Never will I say I am right and you are wrong;
but I will contend to share the "TRUTH" with you.

(1 Cor 12:27) Tells us the church is the body of Christ, 
and church meetings are for corporate worship and instruction.

The church's 'only' legitimate goal is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry",
for "building up the body of Christ" (Eph 4:12) - vital growth, not mere numerical expansion.

The notion that church meetings should be used to tantalize or attract non-Christians
is a relatively recent development.   Nothing like it is found in scripture;  in fact, the
apostle Paul spoke of unbelievers entering the assembly as an exceptional event (1 Cor 14:23).
Also (Hebrews 10:24-25) indicates that church services are for the benefit of "believers" not
unbelievers. 
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together".

Acts 2:42  Shows the pattern the early church followed when they met together,
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Note that the early church's priorities clearly were dedicated to 'worship God and uplift
the brethren.'
The church came together for "worship and edification"; then it "scattered to evangelize the
world."

Matthew 28:19 Our Lord commissioned His disciples for evangelism in this way:
"GO therefore and make disciples of all nations"
Notice that Christ made it very clear that the church is NOT to wait for, or invite the world to
come to its meetings, but to GO TO THE WORLD.

How can one fulfill his obligation to 'be the light in the world' if we are focusing on remaining inside
the four walls ?
We will therefore fall short of (Matt 5:16) being the light in the world.

I emphasize that the preaching of Gods word is to be central in the church,
"In season and out of season" it is the task of Gods ministers to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort,
with complete patience and teaching "  (2Timothy 4:2).

The pastor who sets entertainment above forceful preaching neglects the primary responsibility
of an elder.
"Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound
doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict it". ( Titus 1:9).

The church's strategy has NEVER been to 'appeal to the world' on the worlds terms.

Churches aren't supposed to compete for the consumer on the same level as Miller Lite
or M.T.V.  
We can't stimulate GENUINE growth by clever persuasion or inventive techniques.
Acts 4:27 teaches that it is the Lord and Him alone that adds to the church.

We must return to the basics, the true forceful Godly preaching of Gods word and His gospel !!

Forget all the puppetry, lights, smoke and mirrors, simply preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified !!

Don't allow church to become a country club for the masses !!!!!!!!

" The True Gospel Must Be Proclaimed "

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" The True Gospel Must Be Proclaimed "

The Gospel is the POWER of GOD for Salvation. 
                                                                     (Romans 1:16)
And the preaching of the gospel is the great means and methodology of
missions.
The gospel is,  first and foremost, God in Christ reconciling the world
unto Himself.
                               (2 Corinthians 5:19).

It answers the eternal question of how a just God can reconcile  wicked
men (Romans 3:26).
It points to Christ alone, who bore the sins of His people upon the cross,
was forsaken of God, and crushed under the full force of His wrath against
sin.

The Good News of the Gospel is that through Christ's death,
the justice of God was satisfied, and salvation was won for a Great Multitude
of people.

This is made evidenced by the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD.

" He who was delivered over because of our TRANSGRESSIONS, and was
raised because of  OUR JUSTIFICATION "    (Romans 4:25)

" STUDY AND UNDERSTAND THE "FULLNESS" OF THE "GOSPEL TRUTH" !!!
THEN GO OUT AND "PROCLAIM" IT FROM YOUR LIPS !!!

LOVE AND PEACE TO ALL, AND GOD BLESS AND FAVOR YOU............

" Law of Sin and Law of Death "

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Please do not be careless when reading and studying the word of God.

In Romans 7, in addition to the law of sin there is another law - the law of death.
If we are careless we can easily mistake them for being one in the same.

But actually they are in fact very different.
Sin refers to ones defilements, while death refers to ones impotence.

Willing to do good but being able to do so is the operation of the 'law of sin',
whereas to will to refrain from evil  but not being able to refrain from it is the
operation of the 'law of death'.

Sin leads one to involuntarily do what he does not want to do, whereas 'death' prohibits
one from doing what he wants to do.

We are 'delivered' from the 'law of sin' through 'our death with Christ', and we are
delivered from the 'law of death' through our 'resurrection' with Him.

Romans 7  shows us not only the 'law of sin' and also the 'law of death'.

If we are 'careless' and 'sloppy', we will easily miss these truths.
It is therefore obvious that only those who are very careful and accurate
can study the Bible well.

I say this because I am guilty of it myself, and if I don't approach the Bible
with extreme care when reading I will stumble as well.

I hope this opened your eyes to the 'Law of Sin' and the 'Law of Death'.

Love and Peace..........................

" Complete Salvation "

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God’s Complete Salvation (2)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bible Verses~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rom 8: 29  Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated
to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the
Firstborn among many brothers;  30  And those whom He
predestinated, these He also called; and those whom He called,
these He also justified; and those whom He justified, these He
also glorified.
Phil 3:21  Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation to
be conformed to the body of His glory…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Words of Ministry~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The third stage, the completing stage, is the stage of
consummation. This stage is composed of the redemption
(transfiguration) of our body, conformity to the Lord,
glorification, inheritance of God's kingdom, participation in
Christ's kingship, and the topmost enjoyment of the Lord. In
this stage, God will redeem our fallen and corrupted body (Rom.
8:23) by transfiguring it into the body of Christ's glory (Phil.
3:21). He will conform us to the glorious image of His firstborn
Son (Rom. 8:29), making us wholly and absolutely like Him in our
regenerated spirit, transformed soul, and transfigured body. He
will glorify us (Rom. 8:30), immersing us in His glory (Heb.
2:10) that we may enter into His heavenly kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18;
2 Pet. 1:11), into which He has called us (1 Thes. 2:12). He
will cause us to inherit His kingdom as the topmost portion of
His blessing (James 2:5; Gal. 5:21), even to reign with Christ,
to be His co-kings, participating in His kingship over the
nations (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:4, 6; 2:26-27; 12:5), and sharing
His royal, kingly joy in His divine government (Matt. 25:21,
23).

Thus, our body will be freed from the slavery of corruption of
the old creation into the freedom of the glory of God's new
creation (Rom. 8:21), and our soul will be delivered out of the
realm of trials and sufferings (1 Pet. 1:6; 4:12; 3:14; 5:9)
into a new realm, full of glory (1 Pet. 4:13; 5:10), sharing and
enjoying all the Triune God is, has, and has accomplished,
attained, and obtained. This is the salvation, the salvation of
our souls, which is ready to be revealed to us at the last time,
the grace to be brought to us at the unveiling of Christ in
glory (1 Pet. 1:13; Matt. 16:27; 25:31). This is the end of our
faith. The power of God is able to guard us unto this that we
may obtain it (1 Pet. 1:9). We should eagerly expect such a
marvelous salvation (Rom. 8:23) and prepare ourselves for its
splendid revelation (Rom. 8:19).

" Our Spiritual Inheritance "

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3.) His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining
to life and godliness.

4.) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent
promises, so that by them you may be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

                                                                                                          2 Peter 1:3-4 (NASB)



When we have come to know the true God, both our bodies and souls will become
immortal and incorruptible.
We will enter the kingdom of heaven, because while we lived on earth we have 'acknowledged
heavens King'.
As friends of God and coheirs of Christ, 'we will not be controlled by evil desires or tendencies',
nor by any sickness of 'body or soul', because we have become divine.

You may suffer evil as a person, and God allows it because of your humanity;
however, God has promised you a share in 'every one of His attributes'when
you have become deified.

The saying 'know yourself' means that we should recognize and acknowledge the
image in which God has created us, for if we do this, we will in turn be recognized
and acknowledged by our maker.

God showed His love for us in the beginning when He fashioned us in His own image.
If we learn to  'obey' His holy commands and learn to 'imitate' His goodness, we will
be like Him and He will in turn honor us.
God is NOT SELFISH, and has given us a share in His divinity for the sake of His own glory.

God has provided us with such an honor, yet it is completely up to YOU as a person
to take share in your part of His Image by obeying and conforming your life and behavior
into direct obedience to His commands.

God has given us everything we will ever need in the Holy Spirit, we need only to
listen and to obey each and every command.
Search yourself daily that you might come to 'KNOW YOURSELF'.


Read 2 Peter 1:1-14, for yourself and apply its teaching to your own life.
You will in turn inherit the Kingdom of God and His holiness.

Love and Peace...................

"AUTHOR OF SALVATION AND REGENERATION "

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                                         " THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION "

Lets take a look at - Ezekiel 36:24-28 -
For I will take you from among the nations,
gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean;
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My Statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
you shall be My people,
and I will be your God.  ( Ezekiel 36:24-28)

Now its gonna take us a while to diesect exactly what God
has revealed to me through these 4 verses.

This is God's divine motive for seeking salvation of wicked
people, 
we will also be able to consider the actual work of CONVERSION in the individual believer.

This is one of the most beautiful and powerful Old Testament
prophecies concerning the new covenant that was to be
inaugurated by the coming of the Messiah.

It also provides us with one of the clearest illustrations of the
doctrines of regeneration and conversion found anywhere in
the scriptures.

For the believer who understands the content of this text,
it has a twofold purpose.
This text teaches us that genuine conversion is the result of a
supernatural work of God,
by which the very heart or nature of a person is changed,
making him responsive to the will of God.

It shows God's ongoing work of Sanctification and a growing
submission to His will marks the life of the truly converted.

Second, this text is an inexhaustible source of joy, consolation,
and comfort.

The first great truth that we will consider from this text is 
that God is both the author and finisher of our salvation.
He initiates it, sees to its perseverance, and brings it to its
ultimate consummation on the day of Christ Jesus.

The sovereignty of God is here brilliantly displayed as the
foundation of the believers hope and the source of his strength.

The certainty of which God speaks is unmistakable.
This is apparent in the following phrase,
Notice the use of the pronoun " I " 
(God is the one who acts)
Followed by an unconditional promise (He will not fail)

"I will take you from the nations."
"I will gather you from the lands."
"I will bring you into your own land."
"I will sprinkle clean water on you."
"I will cleanse you from all your filthiness."
'I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you."
"I will take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
"I will put my Spirit within you. "
"I will cause you to walk in my statues. "

Hers God is not speaking about what He would do if He could
gain our cooperation.
Rather, He speaks as one who " does whatever He pleases"
and who "works all things according to the counsel of His will"
(Ps.115:3; Eph.1:11) Notice God is not telling what He will
do in the life of every Christian,
but He is also Gauranteeing the outcome of His work.

"You shall be clean."
"You will walk in my statues, and you will keep my statues and do them.'
"You will dwell in the land that I gave your fathers.'
"You shall be My people and I will be your God."


HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN US WILL FINISH IT"
 The power of God and the salvation of His church !!!!!

This is not a denial of human responsibility in salvation
or of the Christian's great struggle against sin.
There will be great loses as well as victories in our striving
for conformity to Christ.

However it does assure us that God has set out to make for
Himself a people, and by His own power,
He will see it done.
All whom He calls will come to Him, not one will be lost. (John 6:37,39)
Through the blood of Christ, we are justified, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are regenerated, sanctified,
and led. (John 3:3-8)
 Although each may grow at a different pace and also to a different degree some may seem to fly to maturity while others
barely crawl, they will all, nevertheless, progress toward the upward call of God in Christ and demonstrate in word and
deed that they are His people and He has become their God. (Philippians 3:14)


MORE TO COME "AUTHOR OF SALVATION"

" WHY DOES GOD SAVE US ? "

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There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one (Rom.3:10-12)

If God finds no reason in us to save us, they why does He do so ?

" I do not do this for your sake.......but for My holy names
sake," and again, " I will sanctify My great name........and the
nations shall know that I am the Lord."

God has determined to save us people for Himself from the
midst of the nations, and He has determined to do so for His
own glory, for the sake of His own great name,
and for the sake of His praise, that all might know that He
alone is God.

Listen how God declares it through the prophet Jeremiah;

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.
Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them;
they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it (Jer.33:8-9)

Here God clearly communicates to us His motive for the salvation of His people: for all the goodness He shows them,
He will gain for Himself praise, glory, and reverence from
those who hear of it.

" ARE YOU REALLY A CHRISTIAN ? "

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JESUS' MESSAGE.............

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
                                      Matthew 5:3

The Beatitudes do not tell us how to become a Christian.
They tell us what a true Christian looks like.

The message is not: "If you humble yourself, mourn your sins,
submit yourself to God, and get an appetite for righteousness,
then you'll get into heaven".

Salvation by works is not the teaching of the bible,
nor is it the teaching of Jesus.

Here's His message: Many people profess to be Christians,
but the church is a mixture of genuine Christians and people
who deceive themselves.

How do you tell the difference ?  The ones who are saved seek to imitate His life.

Jesus invites us to measure ourselves against the marks of the
Beatitudes,
(1) Do you mourn over your sins?
(2) Do you humble yourself before God?
(3) Do you submit yourself meekly before God?
(4) Do you have an appetite for righteousness?
Use the Beatitudes as a tool for discerning your spiritual condition.

As you do this you may come to the conclusion that you are
not yet a Christian.
But don't worry, there are Christians all around the world that
would say: I used to think I was a Christian.
I was a good person.
I attended church.
Then I started listening to Gods word, and I realized that what
Jesus is describing is not true of me.

If this is Christianity, "I am not yet a Christian."

One of Satan's greatest strategies to keep people out of
heaven is to falsely assure them that they are indeed a Christian.

Only when you know that you're not a Christian are you in a
position to become one.