This isnt a pity party sermon so dont perceive it to be such. This is me not having anything to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather exposing them ~ Ephesians 5:11. The enemy hates salvation. The enemy despises faith. It never fails...every time I preach and teach on salvation the devil rears his ugly head. Someone attacks the message. Someone resorts to labeling me a false teacher. Salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most detested messages there is. Why? Because the Gospel of salvation is the Power to save. If the devil is poised to attack the messengers he stands a chance in discouraging them from presenting the truth of the Gospel; the Good News. And he will do everything within his power to distract us from spreading the Word of God. I use commentaries, articles, blogs, etc. People attack the use of such, citing...and I quote: Blank source is not the Bible. They fail to discern that whether the Word of God is found in Scriptures, on a billboard, on a park bench, in a speech or sermon, in a post or thesis, or anywhere its presented...ITS STILL THE WORD OF GOD, IT DOES NOT CHANGE, HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Bible teaches salvation by faith. This angers some people. I have been accused of teaching salvation by faith rather than teaching that we must be born again. Heres something that the enemy loves: an argument based upon ignorance where the disagreement isnt a doctrinal difference, but a lack of understanding (maturity) difference. The New Birth John 3:1-21 New King James Version 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.[a] 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but[b] have eternal life. 16 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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” Being born again is a post-faith event. We cannot be born again prior to believing in Jesus Christ for salvation. The belief has to come first. Being born again, as a teaching, is not something that a believer has to personally accomplish. We cannot go off somewhere and become born again. Being born again is when we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a seal of redemption. This occurs the moment we believe. Belief activates the process of being born again. I dont have to teach or preach that we need to be born again because its like saying that we need to be saved in order to have eternal life. Salvation is eternal life. Being saved is salvation. And we are saved; have eternal life; are recipients of salvation because we were born again. Why are some people trying to make this a separate thing? Its all the same. Its all relative. There is no need for any confusions and name calling over such a petty non-issue. Its like arguing over why someone is saying the Messiah instead of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ IS the Messiah! I cant control how people act or what they think or say, but I can preach and teach against the behaviors as per the Word of God. Let us progress in order that we may mature and move pass persecuting one another and doing the devils bidding. This is for those who have an ear in their hearts to hear. Those who dont have an ear in their hearts to hear will merely view this message as yet another false teaching. Im okay with that. Isaiah 5:20-25 NKJV 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! 22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, 23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man! 24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. Proverbs 17:10-20 NKJV 10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool. 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. 15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. 16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it? 17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend. 19 He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. 20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing. Jesus declared that the 2 greatest commandments are to Love: to Love God first and to Love one another. If we cant even walk in Love then nothing else we do will even matter. So, why witness, preach, teach or operate (journey in our faith walk) without it? Hating one another shows our contempt for God and His Word. May the Lord richly bless you. Agape.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 06:42:38 +0000
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