1 Thessalonians 2:3,4
For our exhortation was not
of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guild:
But as we were allowed of
God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not
as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the
preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto
us who are saved it is the power of God.
Romans 1:16 For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek.
The Holy Spirit-filled
Christian who preaches the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ
is considered a hate-monger in today's lifestyles. We preach a gospel
of love; a love so astounding many reject it, because it just does
not seem logical that anyone's king would sacrifice himself for the
people he rules over. It just isn't done in this world. This worlds
kings and leaders sends its own people into conflict, knowing there
are more people to replace the ones who die or become too injured to
serve.
But we are not of this
world; we who believe are of the world to come, and as such we will
become rulers of nations in that world. But before that happens, this
had to happen:
John 3:14-18 “And as Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up:
That whosoever believes on
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son
into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him
might be saved.
He that believe on Him is
not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because
he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.”
This is our King. In His
years of ministry He not only fed thousands from little, and healed
the many ill, raised the dead: He forgave sins. Blasphemy! Only God
has the power to forgive sin. And while a few recognized and believed
in Him as God's Son, many did not. It was the many that sought to
kill Him; twice they attempted to stone Him, but it was not His time
yet. His time of death was on the cross, after being brutally
tortured and publicly humiliated. And the ones who sought His death?
He forgave them, and He asked His Father, Almighty God, to forgive
them also. Even in death, the King of kings was giving us an example
to follow: forgive those who persecute you.
Our King preached the gospel
of salvation while He walked this earth. Now He waits for God to tell
Him when to come and get His people. Now He waits for His people's
time to be at an end. He waits for the gospel to be preached
throughout all the ends of the earth. Now He intercedes with His
Father on our behalf. Now He prepares a place for us after we are
done with our work here.
By studying the words and
works of our King, we see and learn how to be just like Him in
ministry, in life. We study to show ourselves approved by Him. We
preach out of love for Him and in Him, with joy and patience. We pray
in His Name for God's will to be done. We seek them who are lost in
the dark, bringing them to the light of His love and His glory, that
they too might see Jesus for who He really is: The Only Begotten Son
of God, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, the mighty Lord of
battle...and many many more Names and titles God has bestowed upon
Him.
We are not ashamed to share
our the message of our King with you. He was not ashamed to die for
us, we will not be ashamed to die for Him, either. Nor are we ashamed
to live for Him. 'Living for Jesus a life that is true, Striving to
please Him in all that I do.' A beautiful song written to God's
people for God's glory. Everything we do, we do in His Name. For it
is Christ who lives in us and we in Him. As such, we are compelled by
The Holy Spirit to preach the gospel, to share our Jesus, our King
and Friend, our Savior and Redeemer, with everyone who will listen.
We are not ashamed to live
our lives according to His standards. When we say we walk in His
Word, we are saying we know His Word and take our steps accordingly.
When we say we stand on His Word, we are saying we will not back down
from what we believe, from the Truth of the Word of God.
It is Christ we preach and
not ourselves. It is not my word I expect you to believe, it is God's
Word I hope you will believe. That your soul would be saved from
eternal condemnation and damnation; from everlasting separation from
God, never having another chance to receive His pardon through His
Son's death and resurrection. That your soul would be reborn by your
faith in God, by believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins; that
He walked out of the grave and into His Father's arms, until such
time as He is allowed to return.
It is Jesus we preach and
not ourselves. It is not me, it is not my family; though they and I
might be witnesses of His grace. That our testimony, our faith that
is built going through trials and tests, would draw you to Him.
Surely many of you wonder how we can smile when there appears to be
nothing to be smiley about. You ask us and we tell you; some believe
and some do not. Yet, it is our earnest desire that all believe on
the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
It is the hearts of the
believers that aligns itself with God's heart for the unbelievers:
that all would be saved and none would be (for ever) lost. After
death, there is no way you can seek God, t here is no way you can
even begin to reach God. When you die in your sins, there is no
coming back. While you may have regrets, or wish that your family
would follow after Christ, though it is too late for you, your wishes
may not be granted.
Luke 16:19-31 tells us of
the beggar and the rich man. In life the beggar sat outside the rich
man's house, yet was never seen by the rich man. But he was seen by
God's servants, who led him to God. But then he died. Soon after the
rich man died. Because Christ had not accomplished God's full will
yet, those who died and went to Paradise could be seen by those who
died and went to hell. The rich man could see the beggar sitting near
Abraham.
Instead of wanting what the
beggar had, he wanted the poor man to cool his burning throat with a
fingertip of cool water. In death he was just as selfish as he was in
life. When he was told this was impossible, he wanted Abraham to send
the beggar back to the rich man's family and tell them of their
coming destination. But if the rich man did not see him, it was a
given that his family would not either. He was told by Abraham that
if his family refuses to hear Moses and the prophets, then they would
not believe the words of any who rose from the dead.
Do not let it be too late
for you. Who you are in life and what you believe and how you behave
is what you take with you when you die. If you die in your sins, you
die alone. But if you die in Jesus, you die reaching for His extended
hand, to be held in His arms; you don't die alone, you take your last
breath in this world and your next in the world to come.
I am not ashamed of what and
who I believe. I am not ashamed of the gospel of salvation, for it is
the power of God unto salvation. This pleases God. And I am content.
We Are Not Ashamed
We Are Not Ashamed
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