A Crucified Life - - Lives To Convince Others

 

2 Corinthians 5:11

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well. 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3982

Persuade: have confidence, urge

From the Greek word ' peithó' (pronounced pi'-tho): to cause belief in a thing, to convince with words.

THE LORD PERSUADES

    Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

    1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

    Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    1 Corinthians 13:30

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

    Mere words alone cannot convict an unbeliever into believing. The words spoken must have the power of God in them. And the Spirit of God must be in the words being spoken. 

    Knowing, however, that many preach without power and too many sit in their congregations believing their souls are fine and everything will be hunky-dory when they reach heaven's gate. This is so untrue. 

    Read your Bible. Don't just let it sit there. It wasn't meant to be a dust catcher or a table decoration; Bibles are printed to be read. Like any good book it has adventure, romance, battles and a happy ending. Unlike other good books though, we can ask the Author to reveal the meaning in what we are reading and He will show us.

    God reveals Himself in His Word. His Word is Love. His Word is Jesus Christ. And in Christ is our salvation. 

THE POWER OF GOD CHANGES HEARTS

    The power of God conquered death, hell and the grave forever. The power of God washes sin from our hearts when we believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ for our salvation. John 3:16, a much loved verse and known by even those who have not yet believed: "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."

    The Word of God has power to save the lost, the lost in the darkness of this world. It has power to save the humiliated, the lonely, the bullied and the bully. The Word of God has power to save the thief, the murderer, the embezzler, the adulterer and the fornicator, the liar. In fact any transgression against God can be forgiven as long as the heart is sincere in turning away from the wickedness that entangles it. 

    How do I know this? In the Old Testament we read about King David. King David lusted after a married woman in his kingdom, had an affair with her and got her pregnant, had her husband killed upon thereafter he married the woman. Then their son got ill and died because of David's sin. But David repented and God forgave him. 

    In the New Testament we read about Saul. After the 120 became filled with the power of God, they immediately set about preaching the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ the power of God. Whereupon Saul began to persecute the new sect, the Way, condemning their belief and having them stoned. But God persuaded Saul to change his heart mind: God changed Saul's heart. God even gave him a new name: Paul. 

    The power of God also changed women in the Bible, too. One was delivered from demonic possession. At least two that we read of (one in the OT and one in the NT) were delivered from prostitution. Hadassah was elevated from her lowly stature in her Uncle's family to a position of influence when God made her Queen in Persia. And God changed her name, too: Esther. 

    The power of God changes a person's heart. The power of God fills a believer's heart that we may live for Him, in Him, with Him. If God has yet to change your heart, come first to the cross and then into the garden. See my Jesus? God has raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand where He intercedes for us. Even now. 

    Can you feel that tug at your heartstrings? That's the Holy Spirit calling you to salvation in Jesus Christ. For the Spirit and the Bride, like a strongly built lighthouse, shine out over the rocky shores of life to the wandering vessels, warning them to avoid danger and come to the harbor where they will be safe. 

    Come to Jesus. We want you to join us. Come as you are to the cross and lay down every thing that weighs you down. Give it all to God and allow Him to change you. Talk to God. He wants to hear from you.  

PERSUADED

    

Guard Your Heart - - Fruitful Faith

 

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 

Faith: belief, trust, confidence, fidelity, faithfulness

From the Greek word 'pistis' (pronounced pis'-tis) and is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In Scripture, faith is God's warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass. Faith is Divine Persuasion. 

Romans 8:24

For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

    We are always confident, not in and of ourselves, but in God and His promises to us. God keeps all His promises and there are thousands of promises in The Scriptures. His promises hold true whether you believe them or not. And if a person chooses to not believe God and not walk in His ways, there are promises regarding disobedience, as well. 

    As for this faith which God has given each person who believes on the name of Jesus Christ for salvation and life eternal, He places a 'measure of faith' (Romans 12:3) within each of us. It's up to us to exercise that measure, that portion,  and watch it grow, bud, bloom and be fruitful faith. 

    Who plants a fruit tree and expects fruit within that same year? No farmer who knows what he's doing, that's for sure. I love cherries. One year I planted three cherry trees along the length of the drive on a farm I lived on. Though I moved before seeing them bloom and then have fruit, I knew that someday they would. That's how faith works. 

    Fertile ground receives viable seed but only after the ground is dug up and prepared to receive the seed. Had I set the trees up on top of the ground, instead of digging holes wide enough for the trees to take root, the trees would have died. 

    So it is with our hearts. We need to be in a place where we are ready to receive The Word, that God may distribute the portion of faith which He has set aside for each of us into us. How do we get this faith? Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith comes to us from hearing The Word of God, whether that Word is spoken directly to us, or spoken by a preacher from the pulpit, or in a God-given dream or vision.     

    It's why we need to be in a God-centered, Full Gospel preaching, Holy Spirit-filled church. That we may hear what God wants to say to us and be able and ready to receive The Word of Faith into our hearts. Go to church expecting to receive this Word of Faith: pray for clarity in seeing God move, understanding what is being said, and wisdom to apply what you have heard.

    Go to the altar, the place of prayer and worship. Go obediently. "When the Spirit of The Lord moves in my heart, I will dance like David danced," is a song I learned about 25 years ago. But it talks about being obedient to the moving of The Holy Spirit. That's faith. 

    We can't see what is going to happen before it happens. But having lived without God for so long before we first came to Him there is no way I, nor many others, want to do anything we do apart from Him. So, by faith one night, I made my way down to the altar during a revival when I was seven years old. And I received Christ into my heart. But I received Him without discipleship, so I wandered away and for many years after that I did my own thing, 

    But God had placed a measure of faith within me. He was just waiting for it to grow. By faith, many years after that, I found myself making my way down to another altar. God found me in a very dark place and He made Himself known to me, lifting me up out of there and bringing me to a place of His choosing. And I declared my love for Him and wanting to live a righteous life. And just like that, I found myself divorced. With kids.

    But God. He led me to a sweet little church where I began to grow. Every tree requires both sun and water to grow efficiently. When the rain began to fall during a revival being held there, I found myself at the altar again; there He filled me with His Holy Spirit; there the Rain fell in my soul and the fertile ground where the Seed of Faith had fallen received it gladly. And my faith grew.

    The closer we are to God the greater our faith will grow. We are trees of righteousness, the planting of The Lord (Isaiah 61:3); it is He who causes us to grow in Him, in His Word, as The Word of Faith (Romans 10:8) grows in us.  We believe that this is true because "the Bible tells me so". 

     We know in our hearts the veracity of God's Word. We live in our lives the blessings of God's Word. We share with all the knowledge of God's Word. We pray God's Word when we pray. I like to pray Ephesians 3 over my children and the people they interact with. 

    Where we read John 3:16 and God so loved the 'world', I learned to insert my name there. God loves you and I so much that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus the Christ to this earth to minister to the people, die on the cross and rise from the dead that He might become Friend, Savior, The Resurrection & The Life for us! 

    I believe this and it is counted unto me for righteousness. I have a measure of faith that is greater than when I first received Christ into my heart. For with this hope of salvation rising up within me and filling me with Joy, I can pray in faith knowing that my faith in God's promises will be the faith of all who receive Christ. For my prayers will be answered. 

    Proverbs 15:29 "The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous."

    Proverbs 15:8 "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is His delight."

    Proverbs 10:24 "What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted."

    Fruitful trees get pruned. Dead branches are removed to make room for more fruitful branches. Does this cause pain to the tree? Yes. But it's not only necessary, it's brief. The area cut heals and the tree keeps growing. So it is in our Christian walk with Christ. As we grow in Him, The Spirit removes what is not necessary for growth from our hearts and our lives that our tree may become increase with sweet fruit. 

    You better get ready for rain, 'cause I'm praying for you. 

 

HOLY SPIRIT RAIN DOWN   by Alvin Slaughter

LET THE WEIGHT OF YOUR GLORY FALL by Paul Wilbur

WHAT FAITH CAN DO by Kutless

INCREASE MY FAITH by Brian Courtney Wilson

CHANGING ME by Anna Golden

BROKEN THINGS  by Matthew West

EVEN WHEN IT HURTS by Hillsong United

BELIEVE YOU WILL by Jeremy Rosado

I know this is quite a list of songs today, but I was led to each one and couldn't stop until I reached the last one.