A post for men to consider...
In 1 Corinthians 16 there is a great exhortation from Paul to men. It gives us a great pointer on how to be men of God. I first learned this verse in the King James Version, which is below.
1 Cor 16:13 (KJV) Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Amplified Bible
Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith. Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!
NIV
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
NASB Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
This little phrase means, to render one manly or brave; to show oneself a man; that is, not to be a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but to be bold and brave. We have a similar phrase in common use: “Be a man,” or “Show yourself a man;” that is, be not mean, or be not cowardly.
COURAGE, n. [L., the heart.] Bravery; intrepidity; that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.
BRAVE, a. Courageous; bold; daring; intrepid; fearless of danger; as a brave warrior. It usually unites the sense of courage with generosity and dignity of mind; qualities often united. The brave man will not deliberately do an injury to his fellow man.
MANLINESS, n. [from manly.] The qualities of a man; dignity; bravery; boldness.
It is my prayer that this little verse provides a big key for all men. May the reading of these definitions stir something in your heart and cause you to not only consider what it means to act like a man – but rise up and act differently. To make a conscious choice to hear and follow Paul’s exhortation to us to be men.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Saturday, March 10, 2007
New Life and New Hope
This post contains thoughts that the Lord has been giving to me about this year (2007). This is going to be a year of new things in the people of God. A year of leaving the religious and entering into a new and powerful place of ministry. Jesus is going to break forth with new life and new hope in His people this year.
Acts 2:46-47
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
A new time to go house to house. God will add to the church, and it will not just be those who go to Sunday Morning chruch services, for many will come to homes and house churches and experience new life and community in Christ. We are going to see a new growth of the Church, not the Sunday morning church times, but a new growth of people who believe and rally together with other believers.
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
God is giving a new boldness and a new confidence, but not in a religious way or by using religious methods. The people in the world are going to notice something new in the people of God, they are going to notice that they people have been with Jesus. We are going to see God move in our prayer times, our quiet times, and our times of study - and it is going to show to the world.
1 Thess 1:6-8
6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,
God is moving in our lives as we are becoming real followers of Jesus and because of that we will be examples of a relationship. And the news is going to go out. And there will be no need for advertisement, people are going to see things and experience things, and they will pass it on to people they know - and it will happen over and over until people from all around will know that God is moving in the lives of His people.
1 Thess 1:9-10
9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
People will see that lives are being changed, that people are being freed from idols, freed from bondages (TV, internet, pornography, drugs, alcohol, food, etc..) and that people (the Christians) are being fulfilled by serving the Lord, the people of God, and those in the world around them. Christians will expereince new freedom as they leave the bondages of the world and enjoy a new liberty in becoming a servant of Christ.
2 Cor 5:17-21
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are new creatures in Christ, and there will be a new pouring out of a true and real and powerful ministry of reconciliation. People will come to Christ as Christians stop playing Church, as they stop being religious, and start living as ambassadors of Christ - being His representatives and His agents of grace and mercy and love.
Col 1:27
Chirst in you, the hope of glory
Christ is going to shine forth in His people as new hope, real hope, is shown forth in the lives of the people of God.
1 Pet 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
As the hope of Christ is alive in our lives we will start living ready, and we will see new opportunities to speak forth and show forth (demonstrate) the reality of the hope of God.
He is alive in the world today! He is alive in the world in the lives of He people.
God bless you all
Acts 2:46-47
46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
A new time to go house to house. God will add to the church, and it will not just be those who go to Sunday Morning chruch services, for many will come to homes and house churches and experience new life and community in Christ. We are going to see a new growth of the Church, not the Sunday morning church times, but a new growth of people who believe and rally together with other believers.
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
God is giving a new boldness and a new confidence, but not in a religious way or by using religious methods. The people in the world are going to notice something new in the people of God, they are going to notice that they people have been with Jesus. We are going to see God move in our prayer times, our quiet times, and our times of study - and it is going to show to the world.
1 Thess 1:6-8
6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,
God is moving in our lives as we are becoming real followers of Jesus and because of that we will be examples of a relationship. And the news is going to go out. And there will be no need for advertisement, people are going to see things and experience things, and they will pass it on to people they know - and it will happen over and over until people from all around will know that God is moving in the lives of His people.
1 Thess 1:9-10
9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
People will see that lives are being changed, that people are being freed from idols, freed from bondages (TV, internet, pornography, drugs, alcohol, food, etc..) and that people (the Christians) are being fulfilled by serving the Lord, the people of God, and those in the world around them. Christians will expereince new freedom as they leave the bondages of the world and enjoy a new liberty in becoming a servant of Christ.
2 Cor 5:17-21
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are new creatures in Christ, and there will be a new pouring out of a true and real and powerful ministry of reconciliation. People will come to Christ as Christians stop playing Church, as they stop being religious, and start living as ambassadors of Christ - being His representatives and His agents of grace and mercy and love.
Col 1:27
Chirst in you, the hope of glory
Christ is going to shine forth in His people as new hope, real hope, is shown forth in the lives of the people of God.
1 Pet 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
As the hope of Christ is alive in our lives we will start living ready, and we will see new opportunities to speak forth and show forth (demonstrate) the reality of the hope of God.
He is alive in the world today! He is alive in the world in the lives of He people.
God bless you all
We Are Not Victims
So often the Christian testimony we hear is negative, with so much emphasis being placed on an immediate hurt or problem. This commentary is not to minimize pain or troubles, for they are often too real in our lives. Rather, this post is about looking to the Lord and not letting the circumstances we are in defeat us and cause us to lose our hope.
In Heb 12:1-2 we are exhorted to look to Jesus and to run the race with endurance; to put down our burdens and get our focus on the Lord – not the circumstances.
If we look only to the circumstances we can be tossed to am forth and feel like our life is sinking in an overwhelming sea of issues and problems and deadlines. Instead we are to look to Him, to look to Jesus, and to stand on His Word. For as we stand on the strength of the Word and as we are confident in our relationship with Jesus, we do not have to be at the mercy of the world around us, nor do we need to be victims of all the waves of circumstances around us. Heb 6:19 tells us that we have hope because Christ is our anchor, the anchor that is hooked into the very presence of God.
In Ps 40 the Psalmist tells us how he was lifted out of the miry clay and set upon a rock. The Lord picked him up and set him on a solid foundation, even putting a new song in his mouth.
He is the glory and the lifter of our head; He is our hope and our confidence. He has made us to be the Head and not the tail (Deut 28:13), in Him we are more than overcomers (Rom 8:37-39), and through our relationship with Christ we are seated in heavenly places, far above all earthly powers and principalities. If Christ be for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31). Greater is He within us that he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Here are a couple lines from some old songs that help make this point;
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness…On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
We are not without hope in this world; in fact we have hope in the very person of Jesus Christ and the personal relationship we have with Him. Col 1:27 – Christ in you the hope of glory
Having reviewed all of this we can do something about the circumstances, for we can turn them upside down. We do not have to live under the circumstances, for in Christ we are above all circumstances. The best thing we can do is to stop complaining and start proclaiming, start proclaiming about how you are free in Christ, how He has given you victory, and how He has made you to be an overcomer. A powerful scripture for us to remember and to make our practice is 1 Peter 3:15. In this verse we are told to always be ready to speak of the hope that is within us. Let’s turn this world right side up by speaking the truth of His word. By doing this we will find that we are no longer victims of the circumstances, and we will see and experience the victory Christ has given to us. But that is not all, for as we boldly proclaim His truth and we let His victory be established in our lives we because shining examples and witnesses of His glory and His hope in the earth. Not only does He save us, but He puts in us the Word and the hope that can reach those in the world around us.
God Bless you all
In Heb 12:1-2 we are exhorted to look to Jesus and to run the race with endurance; to put down our burdens and get our focus on the Lord – not the circumstances.
If we look only to the circumstances we can be tossed to am forth and feel like our life is sinking in an overwhelming sea of issues and problems and deadlines. Instead we are to look to Him, to look to Jesus, and to stand on His Word. For as we stand on the strength of the Word and as we are confident in our relationship with Jesus, we do not have to be at the mercy of the world around us, nor do we need to be victims of all the waves of circumstances around us. Heb 6:19 tells us that we have hope because Christ is our anchor, the anchor that is hooked into the very presence of God.
In Ps 40 the Psalmist tells us how he was lifted out of the miry clay and set upon a rock. The Lord picked him up and set him on a solid foundation, even putting a new song in his mouth.
He is the glory and the lifter of our head; He is our hope and our confidence. He has made us to be the Head and not the tail (Deut 28:13), in Him we are more than overcomers (Rom 8:37-39), and through our relationship with Christ we are seated in heavenly places, far above all earthly powers and principalities. If Christ be for us, who can be against us (Rom 8:31). Greater is He within us that he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Here are a couple lines from some old songs that help make this point;
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness…On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
We are not without hope in this world; in fact we have hope in the very person of Jesus Christ and the personal relationship we have with Him. Col 1:27 – Christ in you the hope of glory
Having reviewed all of this we can do something about the circumstances, for we can turn them upside down. We do not have to live under the circumstances, for in Christ we are above all circumstances. The best thing we can do is to stop complaining and start proclaiming, start proclaiming about how you are free in Christ, how He has given you victory, and how He has made you to be an overcomer. A powerful scripture for us to remember and to make our practice is 1 Peter 3:15. In this verse we are told to always be ready to speak of the hope that is within us. Let’s turn this world right side up by speaking the truth of His word. By doing this we will find that we are no longer victims of the circumstances, and we will see and experience the victory Christ has given to us. But that is not all, for as we boldly proclaim His truth and we let His victory be established in our lives we because shining examples and witnesses of His glory and His hope in the earth. Not only does He save us, but He puts in us the Word and the hope that can reach those in the world around us.
God Bless you all
A Simple Theology
While Christianity is deep and powerful, and can take a lifetime to study, at its core it is simple and basic. It is about the Lord reaching out to mankind with His love to redeem us from the curse of the law, and to restore us to relationship with Him. God loved and He gave His son Jesus so we could be saved. Christianity is about Jesus Christ and the personal relationship each and every person can have with Him.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
3 key things
• Loving the Lord – being devoted to Him and worshiping Him
• Loving one another – as Christians encouraging each other in the Lord
• Loving those without Christ – reaching out with the love of God
This is subscribing to the KISS principle – Keep It Simple Saint.
Deut 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Mark 12:29-31
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
As Christians let’s not be religious, judgmental, or critical, always being against something, or always finding something wrong. Instead, let’s find ways to be positive and loving, and look to make a difference in the world today. If we would practice the three simple steps that I have outlined, I believe things in our world would be different. If the Church (the Body of Christ, those called by His name, the people – not the buildings) would practice love and demonstrate grace and forgiveness, we would not have to work so hard with programs and fund raising and evangelistic campaigns. If we would simply represent the light and love of Christ, then we would see more people come to Jesus. It’s about us not making things complicated. Rather, it's about being simple and doing things based on love and relationship with Jesus. This is not about works or religion.
Let’s be a part of changing this world and let the love of God flow as it never has before.
God bless you all.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
3 key things
• Loving the Lord – being devoted to Him and worshiping Him
• Loving one another – as Christians encouraging each other in the Lord
• Loving those without Christ – reaching out with the love of God
This is subscribing to the KISS principle – Keep It Simple Saint.
Deut 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Mark 12:29-31
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
As Christians let’s not be religious, judgmental, or critical, always being against something, or always finding something wrong. Instead, let’s find ways to be positive and loving, and look to make a difference in the world today. If we would practice the three simple steps that I have outlined, I believe things in our world would be different. If the Church (the Body of Christ, those called by His name, the people – not the buildings) would practice love and demonstrate grace and forgiveness, we would not have to work so hard with programs and fund raising and evangelistic campaigns. If we would simply represent the light and love of Christ, then we would see more people come to Jesus. It’s about us not making things complicated. Rather, it's about being simple and doing things based on love and relationship with Jesus. This is not about works or religion.
Let’s be a part of changing this world and let the love of God flow as it never has before.
God bless you all.
Lets Be For Things, Not Just Against Things
In my days as a younger Christian I was somewhat caustic and judgmental, thinking I knew what the right way was and pressed my version of what following God was about. As I am growing older I have started to understand a lot more about the grace of God and how it is better to focus on the positive and look to the future. If we are always seeing things that are wrong it is so easy to be critical and negative. I believe that as Christians we need to be "for" things, not just 'against" things. Also, if we always look to the past and focus on what we should have done, or could have done, we lose the fresh new perspective of what the Lord has for us.
In this world of PC (political correctness) and more controversial issues, there has come a real division, or polarization of views. It has gotten to the place where a Christian perspective is identified with an extreme right (conservative) philosophy that is filled with harsh criticism and judgment. It grieves my heart to see so many Christians, Christian groups, Christian denominations, etc prove these points by showing how biased, narrow sighted, and dogmatic they are. I have seen things in the news and witnessed them first hand where the so called conservative Christian is spewing out a doctrine of legalism and hatred – yes, I said that. As I said it grieves me to see what is supposed to be hatred for sin come out as simply hatred.
Don't get me wrong, I am for sanctity of life (pro-life), and I am for the Biblical definition of marriage (one man and one woman). My point is that I believe we need to highlight the positive and be filled with love and grace – not just being negative, critical, and always against this or that. Too often some of these extreme conservative positions get so strong that the message sounds like it is from a hate group.
Sin is wrong, and those who stay in sin will suffer the ultimate and eternal judgment of hell and the lake of fire. Yet, God does not lick His chops and look forward to sending those dirty rotten sinners to hell. Rather He is longsuffering and longs that none would perish and that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God so loved the world that He sent Jesus that all would have eternal life (John 3:16). And He demonstrates His love in that while we were sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).
I think my father in law had God's heart when he shared with me the old phrase, "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Do we come across to sinners as ones who are full of honey, or full of vinegar? Is our mouth and speech filled with grace and kindness or with criticism and judgment?
As the Church, as the Body of Christ, we need to be for things. We need to be lifting up the light of Christ and showing the way to eternal life, not just taking a position against sinners.
In His days on the earth Jesus was criticized by the religious community for associating with sinners and publicans. But all of us who are Christians are eternally grateful for the love and tolerance and patience of Jesus, that He extended grace to us and do not just say, "the hell with you." However, that is exactly the position we take when we judge those who are caught up in their sin.
Our hearts need to be breaking for those in sin, and we need to be praying for them and reaching out to them. Criticizing them and condemning them is the same thing that the Pharisees did. Are we becoming a Church full of modern day Pharisees?
While I hate abortion (it is murder), and I hate the lie of homosexuality – I do not hate those who have had abortions, those who did abortions, or those who are caught up in homosexuality. We are called to preach the Gospel and show the love of Christ. Sure, there will be those who reject what we say and reject the message of the Cross – but do not let it be us that are the ones doing the rejection.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul shares powerfully about extending the love of Christ and being forgiving and full of grace.
1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul preaches the truth that those in sin will not have eternal life – and he goes on to say that we were all that way, but we have been washed and sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus. You will also notice that he does not just say the homosexuals are condemned, but all sort of sin are mentioned here, including those who covet or have idols in their lives. Who are we to say that one sin is worse than the others? Who are we to say that just because we were not homosexuals, that our sin was okay to forgive but not theirs?
As I said at the start of this, we need to be for things, not against things. Just think what kind of world we would have if the Church, if the Body of Christ, if all Christians, would stop hating and criticizing – and simply start loving, showing grace, and being understanding. Wow, just think if we practiced compassion instead of criticism, would a change we would see in this world. It is my belief that if we started acting this way, that we wouldn't have enough room in our Churches, our Bible Studies, and in our homes – because people would be flocking in, because they would see love and acceptance, they would see Jesus.
As Christians, each of us need to do a full self assessment of what kind of spirit we are of, that we need to be seek God and repent for the judgment and hatred that we have held in our hearts. We need to turn from our pride and our self proclaimed righteousness, and simply start sharing and demonstrating the love, the hope, and the new life there is in Christ. Let's be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19), let's be poised and ready to speak of the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15), and let's demonstrate the abundant life there is in Christ (John 10:10).
Jesus came to minister and to give His life a ransom for many. He was anointed for ministry, the ministry to free people from their sins, to release them from their bondages, to bring healing, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19; Is 61:1-3)
After the days of Pentecost in Acts 2, the first Christians, reached their world for Christ, and they did it with the simple message of the power of the resurrection.
Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
We have been empowered to reach the world with the message of the Gospel, so let us go about doing good, just as Jesus did.
God Bless you all
In this world of PC (political correctness) and more controversial issues, there has come a real division, or polarization of views. It has gotten to the place where a Christian perspective is identified with an extreme right (conservative) philosophy that is filled with harsh criticism and judgment. It grieves my heart to see so many Christians, Christian groups, Christian denominations, etc prove these points by showing how biased, narrow sighted, and dogmatic they are. I have seen things in the news and witnessed them first hand where the so called conservative Christian is spewing out a doctrine of legalism and hatred – yes, I said that. As I said it grieves me to see what is supposed to be hatred for sin come out as simply hatred.
Don't get me wrong, I am for sanctity of life (pro-life), and I am for the Biblical definition of marriage (one man and one woman). My point is that I believe we need to highlight the positive and be filled with love and grace – not just being negative, critical, and always against this or that. Too often some of these extreme conservative positions get so strong that the message sounds like it is from a hate group.
Sin is wrong, and those who stay in sin will suffer the ultimate and eternal judgment of hell and the lake of fire. Yet, God does not lick His chops and look forward to sending those dirty rotten sinners to hell. Rather He is longsuffering and longs that none would perish and that all would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God so loved the world that He sent Jesus that all would have eternal life (John 3:16). And He demonstrates His love in that while we were sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).
I think my father in law had God's heart when he shared with me the old phrase, "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Do we come across to sinners as ones who are full of honey, or full of vinegar? Is our mouth and speech filled with grace and kindness or with criticism and judgment?
As the Church, as the Body of Christ, we need to be for things. We need to be lifting up the light of Christ and showing the way to eternal life, not just taking a position against sinners.
In His days on the earth Jesus was criticized by the religious community for associating with sinners and publicans. But all of us who are Christians are eternally grateful for the love and tolerance and patience of Jesus, that He extended grace to us and do not just say, "the hell with you." However, that is exactly the position we take when we judge those who are caught up in their sin.
Our hearts need to be breaking for those in sin, and we need to be praying for them and reaching out to them. Criticizing them and condemning them is the same thing that the Pharisees did. Are we becoming a Church full of modern day Pharisees?
While I hate abortion (it is murder), and I hate the lie of homosexuality – I do not hate those who have had abortions, those who did abortions, or those who are caught up in homosexuality. We are called to preach the Gospel and show the love of Christ. Sure, there will be those who reject what we say and reject the message of the Cross – but do not let it be us that are the ones doing the rejection.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul shares powerfully about extending the love of Christ and being forgiving and full of grace.
1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul preaches the truth that those in sin will not have eternal life – and he goes on to say that we were all that way, but we have been washed and sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus. You will also notice that he does not just say the homosexuals are condemned, but all sort of sin are mentioned here, including those who covet or have idols in their lives. Who are we to say that one sin is worse than the others? Who are we to say that just because we were not homosexuals, that our sin was okay to forgive but not theirs?
As I said at the start of this, we need to be for things, not against things. Just think what kind of world we would have if the Church, if the Body of Christ, if all Christians, would stop hating and criticizing – and simply start loving, showing grace, and being understanding. Wow, just think if we practiced compassion instead of criticism, would a change we would see in this world. It is my belief that if we started acting this way, that we wouldn't have enough room in our Churches, our Bible Studies, and in our homes – because people would be flocking in, because they would see love and acceptance, they would see Jesus.
As Christians, each of us need to do a full self assessment of what kind of spirit we are of, that we need to be seek God and repent for the judgment and hatred that we have held in our hearts. We need to turn from our pride and our self proclaimed righteousness, and simply start sharing and demonstrating the love, the hope, and the new life there is in Christ. Let's be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19), let's be poised and ready to speak of the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15), and let's demonstrate the abundant life there is in Christ (John 10:10).
Jesus came to minister and to give His life a ransom for many. He was anointed for ministry, the ministry to free people from their sins, to release them from their bondages, to bring healing, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19; Is 61:1-3)
After the days of Pentecost in Acts 2, the first Christians, reached their world for Christ, and they did it with the simple message of the power of the resurrection.
Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
We have been empowered to reach the world with the message of the Gospel, so let us go about doing good, just as Jesus did.
God Bless you all
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