Wow, this was posted on my friend Lyn's Blog, and it resonates, hard to find such solid teaching today that cuts to the heart, and is a message that is much needed for our healing today. If we do not feel sorrow when we see these things all around us, if we do not feel compassion and a desire to pull a few out of the fire from these things, or to warn anyone and everyone possible of the progression of this condition, the blight, in our land, it makes me sad that the church has become that luke-warm and uncaring, and only concerned about self instead of wanting to sound the alarm.
I hope anyone who stumbles onto my little blog will take the time to listen to the warning, hear what the Spirit says, and carry the message to a nation that is in it's death throws:
Sermon on Romans 1:28-32
The pastor mentions that today we cannot be a faithful Christian without being called "hateful" or "homophobe" or "ignorant" (I forget the exact labels he gives that we get labeled, but you get the idea). How true. We would much rather be called "loving" and "everyone's friend" etc, because then we can "feel good about ourselves"... but is that what Jesus called us to? Didn't He say that we would be hated, and that people would want to kill us and think they were doing a good thing for God?
We need to sound the alarm, send that life preserver out to anyone who might be listening.
Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
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Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Is it a sin to want only to accept praise and not want to "make waves"? To isolate ourselves and pretend that "he is not my brother, God will do what He will" and wash our hands of it, and pretend it doesn't touch us? I pray that the Lord will strengthen us each one to the task of praising the Lord in the midst of adversity, speaking of His healing and cleansing blood, in a violent and ugly world that is bent on destruction. Let us not remain quiet and seemingly approve of the things that should have us say something, anything, that will warn, convict, bring godly sorrow. Otherwise our hands will have the blood on them of those who could have been warned by us.
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
I have been guilty of joking about things that shouldn't be joked about, things that are shameful, that should bring sorrow, not joking. I pray for the strength and wisdom to not only not joke about such things, but to speak up about what is right, and what is wrong, and to hold high the standard so others see the light, not keep His light covered, so that my own light of "self-righteousness" (and receive people's approval, but not God's approval) seems brighter to others. I pray this for others as well. May the Lord shine His light through us even if (and especially when) it makes us look unpleasant in the eyes of others. Speak the truth, in love, out of concern for a lost and dying world who hate what is true.
The truth reveals our stubborn vanity which is our desire to do only what is pleasing to our flesh, and will gain us man's approval and false "love". Let us seek to do what God wills to the denying of our flesh. Let your light shine before men so that men will praise God, not you or me or our "goodness", which is nothing, it is false, it is a facade. Only God's goodness counts. His goodness cleanses and heals a lost and dying world to the forgiveness of sins. This world will pass away. He will save a few out of it. Let us rejoice if we ourselves might have been used by a holy God to cause even one to repent and turn from the evil of this world. I pray in Jesus name, and for HIS sake, amen.
I hope anyone who stumbles onto my little blog will take the time to listen to the warning, hear what the Spirit says, and carry the message to a nation that is in it's death throws:
Sermon on Romans 1:28-32
The pastor mentions that today we cannot be a faithful Christian without being called "hateful" or "homophobe" or "ignorant" (I forget the exact labels he gives that we get labeled, but you get the idea). How true. We would much rather be called "loving" and "everyone's friend" etc, because then we can "feel good about ourselves"... but is that what Jesus called us to? Didn't He say that we would be hated, and that people would want to kill us and think they were doing a good thing for God?
We need to sound the alarm, send that life preserver out to anyone who might be listening.
Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
****************************
Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Is it a sin to want only to accept praise and not want to "make waves"? To isolate ourselves and pretend that "he is not my brother, God will do what He will" and wash our hands of it, and pretend it doesn't touch us? I pray that the Lord will strengthen us each one to the task of praising the Lord in the midst of adversity, speaking of His healing and cleansing blood, in a violent and ugly world that is bent on destruction. Let us not remain quiet and seemingly approve of the things that should have us say something, anything, that will warn, convict, bring godly sorrow. Otherwise our hands will have the blood on them of those who could have been warned by us.
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
I have been guilty of joking about things that shouldn't be joked about, things that are shameful, that should bring sorrow, not joking. I pray for the strength and wisdom to not only not joke about such things, but to speak up about what is right, and what is wrong, and to hold high the standard so others see the light, not keep His light covered, so that my own light of "self-righteousness" (and receive people's approval, but not God's approval) seems brighter to others. I pray this for others as well. May the Lord shine His light through us even if (and especially when) it makes us look unpleasant in the eyes of others. Speak the truth, in love, out of concern for a lost and dying world who hate what is true.
The truth reveals our stubborn vanity which is our desire to do only what is pleasing to our flesh, and will gain us man's approval and false "love". Let us seek to do what God wills to the denying of our flesh. Let your light shine before men so that men will praise God, not you or me or our "goodness", which is nothing, it is false, it is a facade. Only God's goodness counts. His goodness cleanses and heals a lost and dying world to the forgiveness of sins. This world will pass away. He will save a few out of it. Let us rejoice if we ourselves might have been used by a holy God to cause even one to repent and turn from the evil of this world. I pray in Jesus name, and for HIS sake, amen.
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