True Christianity Embraced
Amos 8: 11, 12
" Behold, (Look) the days come, saith The Lord God,
that I will send a famine in the land,
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing The Words of The Lord:
And they shall wander from Sea to Sea,
and from the north even to the east,
they shall run to and fro to seek The Word of The Lord,
and shall not find it. "
John 3: 34 Jesus said:
" For he whom God hath sent speaketh The Words of God:
for God giveth not The Spirit by measure (limitation) unto him."
John 12: 21
".... Sir, we would see Jesus. "
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Many years ago (as we see in the lead-in text above)
the Prophet Amos prophesied the very days we are now living in.
This Bible Prophecy defines our world and the church, now and up ahead.
Ezekiel 33:2 ~ 6
" Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, ..
When I bring the Sword upon a land,
If the people of the land take a man of their coasts,
and set him for their watchman:
If when he seeth the Sword come upon the land,
he blow the trumpet,
and warn the people;
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet,
and taketh not warning;
if the Sword come, and take him away,
his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet,
and took not warning;
his blood shall be upon him.
But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the Sword come,
and blow not the trumpet,
and the people be not warned;
if the Sword come,
and take any person from among them,
he is taken away in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. "
John 16: 13, 14 Jesus said:
"Howbeit when He, The Spirit of Truth, is come,
He will guide you into all Truth:
for He shall not speak of Himself;
but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak:
and He will shew you things to come.
He shall Glorify Me:
for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. "
Many 'spiritual leaders' in our churches today have resorted to doing things that they feel
will appeal to the satisfaction and comfort of the unsaved in our world.
Whether with genuine desire to attract and reach lost souls, or,
to increase their membership in numbers ~
All the more reason that the Anointed preaching of the Bible must be spoken forth.
Our fleshly methods of reaching souls is not recorded in the Book of Acts.
It is The Holy Spirit Who draws people unto God
as they hear His Word and Jesus being preached.
John 6: 44, 63 Jesus said:
No man can come to Me,
except The Father which hath sent Me draw him:
and I will raise him up at The Last Day.
It is The Spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing:
the Words that I speak unto you,
They are Spirit, and They are Life.
Our Bible examples of the first Christians, gathered daily in prayer and Bible reading,
anointed of The Holy Spirit, they taught Jesus Christ and His teachings.
Thousands believed, were 'touched by The Holy Spirit ~
came to Him, and lived and taught His truths themselves.
(see Book of Acts)
People in bondage to fleshly appetites of this world, cannot set others free.
We just cannot give to others what we ourselves do not possess!
Today, many depend totally on their preachers and teachers to teach The Bible to them.
Not forming the daily habit of studying their Bible and applying it to their self;
and, not developing an ongoing life of prayer... makes them easy prey for they are weak.
(see Ephesians 6: 10 - 24 What we each are to 'wear' each day into the world)
Such people are easily led astray and lulled into Spiritual sleep and a false security;
identifying their 'Christianity' by their fellowship with the congregation.
'Relationship with Jesus' is what we all should possess and this needs taught.
2 Timothy 2: 15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing The Word of Truth.
Colossians 2: 6 ~ 8
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in Him:
Rooted and built up in Him,
and stablished in the faith,
as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world,
and not after Christ.
When The Light of God's Word is not spoken forth,
the Spirit's searchlight cannot shine upon and illuminate
one's mind, will and lifestyle.
After all, we must see our state and situation through God's Word and tugging of His Holy Spirit,
before we can ever see our need to repent, change
and go deeper into Christ in our own 'relationship with Him'.
(No chance to change what we do not yet see and own)
Romans 10: 14 ~ 17
" How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach The Gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things!
But they have not all obeyed The Gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord, Who hath believed our report?
So then Faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by The Word of God. "
Week after week, people enter our churches bound....and leave bound.
Many even 'feel good and better about their self'
because they've 'gone to church' and what happened (or didn't happen there)
made them feel comfortable and for the moment ~ at peace.
Yet, not knowledgeable of The Word of God
pertaining to their chosen sinful lifestyle,
they leave that church service 'feeling better and like a good person'
only to indulge again in the same sins that God Judges.
The Anointed Word not being preached eliminates any chance of
the convicting Power of The Holy Spirit's working,
that produces 'sorry', compunction and repentance in hearts, and Salvation.
Deliverance.
Yes, many today are attending 'social gatherings' in 'the name of church'.
Yes, they are being 'entertained' in their 5-senses of their flesh.
(we can go to a theatre or play for that)
And, for that time span they've gathered together in that building,
they smiled, said good things and what sounded 'christian' to say,
and 'played nice' to one another.
('Man looks on the outer appearance, but God looks on the heart.')
This was not the 'preaching, teaching or curriculum' of the early Church in Acts.
No. It isn't what we are to embrace, accept or partake in either.
Indeed, we are to be a recipient of and example of Bible Christianity.
In Acts, God was real to each of them, and they were in an 'abiding relationship with Him'.
When persecution arose against them, they were dressed in The Spirit and ready to stand!
Many were persecuted, thrown into prison, tortured and killed for Christ's Name sake.
They were brave for they were 'in The Spirit' doing God's Word.
They didn't bellyache about suffering for Christ.
They were joyful to be counted worthy to suffer for His Name's sake.
Hallelujah!
Christians!
Dear hearts, be it known unto you this day,
that throughout our world right now,
God has a people that are praying for and seeking to find
those who know and will gladly validate God's Word in their own lifestyle.
Men and women who teach and preach His Word to 'whosoever will.'
The faithful are passing it onto more faithful!
Motivated by Love for God and souls,
living in the fear of The Lord in their spirit, these
God-chosen ministries teach and preach The Whole Counsel of God
without fear, apology, compromise or wavering.
For sure, we are all affecting our Lord by what we are, do and say;
by what we accept and reject.
Romans 1: 16 ~ 22
"For I am not ashamed of The Gospel of Christ:
for it is The Power of God unto Salvation
to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is The Righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by Faith.
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who hold The Truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them;
for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of Him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made,
even His Eternal Power and Godhead;
so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God,
they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations,
and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.... "
Jesus said His children are the 'Salt of the earth'
....seasoning, healing agents, purifiers.
The Holy Spirit can convince and change in a moment what years
and other methods could not accomplish.
The Holy Spirit always exalts Jesus Christ and His teachings.
The Holy Spirit always motivates us to read our Bible;apply it to our life.
Faith acts!
Whatever you want or are about to do,
whether you think it is from God or are in doubt,
weigh it carefully with The Light of God's Word - The Bible.
If it goes with God's directions...it is of God;
If it goes against the Bible's teachings, refuse it.
(this is what Paul meant when he said: 'try the spirits whether they be of God or not.')
Preachers, teachers and Christians
should be Filled with His Word ~ speaking it forth daily.
In the Bible,
we see the early Christians and spiritual leaders
actively doing this 'everywhere they went'.
Result?
God Himself added thousands to The Church daily.
It emanated from their very spirit that they had been with God.
When they went somewhere,
people felt and saw evidences of that in them.
They ~ didn't waste their time in frugal, earthly 'temporary things' and activities
because their 'heart' was not on such things.
Their ~ Joy was gathering together ... embracing, sharing and soaking up God's Word and Jesus.
Thus equipped, they went everywhere teaching and preaching God's Word and healing the people.
They were quick to believe, lay hands on the sick in prayer and see them recover. (Study Acts)
Are we ~ in God's way?
Luke 8: 11 ~ 17 Jesus said:
" Now the parable is this: The Seed is The Word of God.
(seeds planted bring forth like-harvest)
Those by the way side are they that hear;
then cometh the devil, and taketh away The Word out of their hearts,
lest they should believe and be Saved.
They on the rock are they, which,
when they hear, receive The Word with Joy;
and these have no root, which for a while believe,
and in time of temptation fall away.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which,
when they have heard, go forth,
and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life,
and bring no fruit to perfection.
But that on the good ground are they,
which in an honest and good heart,
having heard The Word,
keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
No man, when he hath lighted a candle,
covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed;
but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest;
neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. "
The Lovely Music Playing Today is Entitled, Hope
It is © Copyrighted, Composed, Performed and Used With Permission Only By
Thank You So Much For Sharing Your Lovely Artistry, Melva and Margi
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