"Take a few minutes and write a note to Britney Spears," pastor John Weece
said in a sermon and in a blog on the church Web site. "No preaching. No
criticizing. Just love. As a church, let's love Britney the way Jesus loves
her."(source)
Answer:
Jesus has a lot of love for his people.
Nevertheless, the way Jesus expressed that love during his earthly ministry was by preaching and criticizing! To wit, Jesus preached Repent and Believe for the kingdom of God is at hand!
Mark 1:14-15
14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Matthew 3:1-2
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mathew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[John is cast into prison]
Matthew 4:12-17
12Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Light of the Gospel exposes sin: proclaim the gospel!
And Ms. Spears, if you happen to read, that means that these dear people should be loving you by explaining to you that you should enjoy the good things that God has made, in moderation. Yet more importantly, thank God, praise him for his blessings, for life is short, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Join the king, or be crushed at his return. All your wealth will be worth nothing, for there is only one lawyer that can represent you before God, if you don't have Him you'll lose, and he cannot be bought: Christ Jesus, the mediator between God and man.
Turn to him, for no one will be ashamed who does.
-Turretinfan
TF
ReplyDeletemy prayer is to God Our Heavenly Father, after His work of conjoining me to Christ because now He can because of the Work Christ did to make possible the revelation of Himself to the lost by God Our Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost.
We indeed reveal sin when we proclaim the Gospel.
The power of Death is sin.
The power of Sin is the Law.
Without the Mercy of God given to my heart by unction according to His Will, I would not come to know I covet.
I was blind. Now I see!
Without His conviction put on my heart by the Power of the Holy Ghost, that I covet and that there is no need to covet I would not incline myself to listen to the Promises of God available to the lost by the Gospel, then to actively believe them and to live Righteously in Christ Jesus engaged in the Hope of the Promises every day until the day I breathe my last in this life.
My point is simply this.
God saves us according to His Good Pleasure.
Am I to pray for the lost souls knowing fully I was once lost?
Yes, by all means.
Hell plays no favorites.
Hell is not partial or prejudging souls.
Hell is where souls go whose names are not found in the Book of Life.
I am more inclined now to listen for the Wisdom that leads me to Words such as these seeking to remain faithful in the Good Work implied in the verse:::>
Heb 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
My belief grows as does my conviction that God has plenty of Mercy for all mankind, and an abundance of Grace with the Gift of Righteousness and He does not worry where He will get the resources to provide all His Children with His Daily Bread!
Let us pray to Our Heavenly Father to give us ears to Hear what the Spirit is speaking to the Churches and do it as we follow Him in what He is doing and speaking!
Just a side note. Jesus referred to the woman as a dog! That was not very nice and undoubtedly women such as she sitting around in a Divine Service these days we live in would get up and leave in protest if the Preacher referred to them as dogs too!
"Lord, give us a heart to believe in the Promises and Abilities of Christ even when we live like dogs and not be silent or turned away from Him when He refers to us as if we are living like them".
Who God justifies he will sanctify. We are saved by grace and by grace we will follow Christ & His Law. When we do not, we show ourselves and others that we indeed were not saved at all. It is a lot easier to speak the gospel and tell other people to repent than it is to do it ourselves.
ReplyDelete--Godith