That is an interesting thought...While I don't think I am at specific fault for not redeeming the time, sometimes I wonder if that call to live "quiet and peaceable lives" allows more lack of participation than we should?
God deliver us from false brethren!"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
(Luke 13:24)
Back in the time of the Apostles, how else was any hazard taken on account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but largely at the hands of Judaism.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(2 Timothy 3:12)
Jumping ahead into the present, yet never leaving v-12, if I were to ask today what greater percentage of perpetrators would rail, even generate mild persecution against the sower of the cross in a land where the FULL message is preached daily, whom would you instantly begin to exclude, if you get my point?
Of course! Just as our forerunner brethren warned against, an inexcusable wrinkle – false brethren.
‘But Mike-mike, you shouldn’t accuse but forgive.’ If that is the standard by which we should conduct looking after the integrity of the word, to let ourselves be brought into the error-bondage of fools, yes, there is a call for a time of temperance, but soon, softness will illuminate the loss of repentance or not.
On the one hand, exuberance for goodness and seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness is undoubtedly that fully accepted practice. But once again I fear, one part of that the Church has chosen to stray from, and that is not addressing the slander false brethren continue to hijack the public message over those exhibiting godly prudence, such as,God deliver us from false brethren!
Jesus,be revealed through us!What worries me a lot is what perception non-believers have of the Christian faith, what message we are getting across to them, and whether we are doing enough to challenge some of the erroneous teachings that are being espoused in the name of Christ.
Many people today do not have a Bible at home. Most people do not go to church and have not attended Sunday school. What they learn about the Christian faith is what they see on television, on radio and on social media.
When we switch on the TV, we hear stories of fundamentalist groups picketing the funerals of gay people, those who proclaim hatred and intolerance against people whose lives are different to their own. We hear about uber-wealthy evangelical preachers boasting how God has blessed them with extravagant wealth, while many people in the world are starving. We hear about stories of faithful men and women of God courageously coming to terms with illness and bereavement, or some significant life event or experience, yet they are belittled by those arrogantly claiming that their condition is a result of a lack of faith. We hear Christians showing judgement and contempt because because they do not agree on theological matters. It is often claimed that whether or not you are a "true" Christian is based on what politician you support. Absurd and heretical teachings are cropping up everywhere with some claiming that Christians are "little gods", others denying the hypostatic union of Christ's humanity and his divinity, with grevious errors of doctrine on the deity of Christ, the incarnation, and the atonement. We hear messages from preachers claiming that all people will be saved with no prospect of judgement. We hear others who are so fixated on hell and judgement, that there is no room for love or forgiveness in what they preach.
I guess we should all spend more time befriending others, sharing our faith, our testimonies and telling them how much God loves them. We should be telling them that whatever their circumstances, God cares passionately about them and longs for them to come to Him.
The Holy Spirit has always asked the believer,This is where I wish all those naysayers concerning the Baptism with the Holy Spirit would come down from the lofty ideal to understand the importance of not only claiming sinners but pray for filling them too.
I will take a shot at this. A person who is believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the moment the repentance occurs. This is the position of most churches be they Baptist or Pentecostal or whatever. I believe you are referring to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues as seen in the Book of Acts. Recall the words of Christ to His disciples paraphrased here, I must go but I will ask the Father and He will send the Holy Spirit reference John 16:7. The Holy Spirit had not yet come but He did come and filled the Disciples and all believers. The question is now that the Holy Spirit has come does He fill us when we believe. Most Christians believe we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at conversion as evidenced by 1 Cor 12:13, Ephesians 1:13 and many other scriptures. The disciples had a job to do and in order to do that job they needed to be charged so to speak. God still can work that in people today or He can work in people who are not experiencing a filling of the Holy Spirit in that way. But we have all we need when we turn away from sin and the world and turn towards God. But He can give us more through the Holy Spirit if needed.
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