Topics, today, include preaching the Gospel and how to accept Bible truth. By the end of April 2013, I will be displaying more than 625 categorized and tagged daily blog articles posted at eternalphnx.wordpress.com . The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using ID “Steven” (Level 1 with 107 points, a member since April 16, 2013) posted the following:
Why do Christians fail to preach the gospel?
Church is not for you it is for the lost yet it says become a place for Christians to gather and forget to find others.
THE BATTLE AXE: How To Accept Bible Truth (04/17/2013)—Accepting the divine truths of destruction and perdition for the wicked is inseparable from embracing the Gospel and good news of mankind’s salvation through Jesus Christ. (One can not “separate the wet from the water,” so to speak.) In addition to faith, believers must receive balance, “divine distance” (we say, detachment or perspective), longsuffering, wisdom and wrath against sin, that establish neutrality, objectivity and zeal in judgment. All “feelings” of being bullied or victimized by GOD are completely replaced by realization of the great weight upon GOD as sovereign above a universe under threat by sin. The imperfect, self-interested, short-lived and temporary solutions to sin that have been proposed by created beings and living creatures are immediately understood as improper, inadequate and unacceptable.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1st Corinthians 1: 18-29, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: My Sheep Hear My Voice (03/08/2013); Wanting To Have Our Way (03/09/2013); Hellfire and Brimstone Preaching (12/27/2012); The Dove (12/28/2012); The Focus of Judgment (12/09/2012); His Burden is Light? (12/10/2012); The Gospel not Logical? (09/16/2012); Unwelcome Gifts? (09/17/2012); On The Messiah (02/19/2012); All Know Gospel? (03/20/2011); Limit to Sin? (03/21/2011); Dispatch 44: Just A Closer Walk (09/23/2011)
Steven, here are some points that may be new to you that come from an older Christian’s point of view:
(1.) All believers are not spiritually endowed or equipped to preach. The many needs of the spirit body (we say, church and congregation) demand a variety of gifts through the imparted, indwelling Spirit of Jesus. Included are consolation, giving, government, healing, hospitality, miracles, prophecy and teaching.
(2.) All Christian believers are “born again” from divine substance (sacred DNA, so to speak); however, all are not yet mature and perfected. Once “born again” there are challenges to be met and “growing pains.” There must be continuous life experience, growth and acquisition of sacred knowledge. For this reason, forbearance, longsuffering, patience, mutual respect and sharing are practiced as vital within every congregation under the Headship of Jesus.
(3.) Rightly understood, the “foolishness of preaching” is more than a verbal presentation on religious subjects. It is an operation of the Spirit of GOD wherein the divine agent determines both what is uttered, and how utterance is received as spiritual awareness within the hearers. The human actors (both preacher and listener) must submit as an instrument of the Spirit having no personal agenda and private objectives.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) the Gospel of Jesus Christ is more to be shared as a non-verbal display of holy living (we say a practice of sacraments) than as a speech in a public forum. Christ is to appear active and alive upon the earth through the commitment, dutifulness, faith, flesh and bone, reverence, service and worship of every believer.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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