My friends, those I know and don't yet know, please take a moment to read this post. As I said in the introduction to this blog, I am not an alarmist. But, I have read Brother David Wilkerson's message in his blog concerning the danger this country is coming under for turning from God. I have to agree.
For the last four years, I have had a message to those I have the opportunity to preach to that I have the compelling urgency to say it is time to gather the sheep.You know, we as a church body seem to let folks slip away from us without much worry in trying to gather up those that are lost.
I feel the time is getting short, and for our family members, brothers and sisters in Christ, and all those that don't know Christ as their Savior, it is time to get off our "Blessed Assurance" and do what Jesus commanded us to do, speak of Him. It is up to us to give the message of the Gospel. It it not up to us to force anyone to accept what we believe. The Holy Spirit will convict the person or not. Our job is tell others of Christ and His sacrifice for them, His love for them, and their need for Him because we are all born in sin.
If you know someone who is not going to church like they once did, someone who was a fired up Christian but has now fallen away, speak to them, Jesus still loves them, just as He did the prodigal son.
If you have family that are lost, now is not the time to become complacent on them. Pray like you've never prayed before. Do not compromise in your actions or words around them. They will either accept Christ or not, but THAT is not up to you. You are to pray and show Christ lives in you, just as He promised. He never beat it into them, His example is clear. He spoke only the truth, and it was up to them to accept the truth. But He, nor Stephen, ever gave up on those who did not believe. They both, while dieing, asked God to forgive those who were killing them, for they did not know what they were doing. (Luke 23:34 Acts 7)
No matter where the sheep are wandering, if God has put them before us, He wants us to lead them back to Him.
Gather the lost flock, for the time will not last forever.
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14,15,16 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
In Christ's love,
Terry
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
A Father, Fishing, And Confidence!
Although I have never used it, I opened a page in “52 New Testament Sermon Starters” and read this in part of the chapter :
In Romans 8:31 the phrase “If God be for us” is poorly translated. The particle εi does not provide for a supposition, but for a certainty. It is not a condition, but a conclusion. It should really read, “since God is for us.” Because it is certain that God is for us, the conclusion follows, “who can be against us?”
There are some things that, at times, open whole new worlds for my fuddled brain to see. Just a word, placed in the right place, makes me feel more secure and confident.
It’s like the day your dad showed you how to put that worm on the hook correctly. Now when you throw it in, every little nibble won’t take your bait. They have to try harder for that worm, thus making them grab that hook, and you hooking them! It made you, as a child, more confident of your fish catching ability. I’m sure your dad said “here, you will catch more fish if you put your bait on this way”. Then you had no doubt that, if you did it like dad showed you, those fish would be jumping on your hook! Its call a confidence builder.
God gives us confidence builders through out the bible. But we are told to study. If things were up front and easy, then there would be no reason to study. That is why I like the KJV bible. I often have to go to a Strong’s Concordance to look up the meaning of a word. I very often find a totally new meaning to a verse than what I though it was. That is why I feel more confident when I see little things like this revealed to me. Not all Christians are alike. Some are stronger in areas of their walk where others are not.
I should have known my Father in Heaven would clarify a question I had. Now I have more confidence to go fishing!
In Romans 8:31 the phrase “If God be for us” is poorly translated. The particle εi does not provide for a supposition, but for a certainty. It is not a condition, but a conclusion. It should really read, “since God is for us.” Because it is certain that God is for us, the conclusion follows, “who can be against us?”
There are some things that, at times, open whole new worlds for my fuddled brain to see. Just a word, placed in the right place, makes me feel more secure and confident.
It’s like the day your dad showed you how to put that worm on the hook correctly. Now when you throw it in, every little nibble won’t take your bait. They have to try harder for that worm, thus making them grab that hook, and you hooking them! It made you, as a child, more confident of your fish catching ability. I’m sure your dad said “here, you will catch more fish if you put your bait on this way”. Then you had no doubt that, if you did it like dad showed you, those fish would be jumping on your hook! Its call a confidence builder.
God gives us confidence builders through out the bible. But we are told to study. If things were up front and easy, then there would be no reason to study. That is why I like the KJV bible. I often have to go to a Strong’s Concordance to look up the meaning of a word. I very often find a totally new meaning to a verse than what I though it was. That is why I feel more confident when I see little things like this revealed to me. Not all Christians are alike. Some are stronger in areas of their walk where others are not.
I should have known my Father in Heaven would clarify a question I had. Now I have more confidence to go fishing!
Monday, June 1, 2009
A Free Offer Not "AS SEEN ON TV"
Isaiah 55: 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Look at verse 1 in the top left hand corner. “Ho” says the Lord, a word to get your attention. In yesterday’s slang it meant “Hey, listen up! I have something very important to offer!” And what he is offering is mercy without cost to us, His creation. Of course we know everything has a price, and His cost was His son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. But, because God paid the price, he offers His grace and mercy freely to all who will receive. You do not have to suffer on the cross, Christ already has, though He desires us to pick up the cross and follow Him.
So He asks the question in verse 2, “Why are you wasting money and time on things that are not of God?” Stay focused on God’s free gifts and blessings, they are worth more that all the gold there is. They are life eternal with God. May God Bless you!
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Look at verse 1 in the top left hand corner. “Ho” says the Lord, a word to get your attention. In yesterday’s slang it meant “Hey, listen up! I have something very important to offer!” And what he is offering is mercy without cost to us, His creation. Of course we know everything has a price, and His cost was His son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. But, because God paid the price, he offers His grace and mercy freely to all who will receive. You do not have to suffer on the cross, Christ already has, though He desires us to pick up the cross and follow Him.
So He asks the question in verse 2, “Why are you wasting money and time on things that are not of God?” Stay focused on God’s free gifts and blessings, they are worth more that all the gold there is. They are life eternal with God. May God Bless you!
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