From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17)
It is difficult to speak plainly in today’s sensitive
culture. The efforts to create a civil and accepting society keep us tied to a
very general language about our relationship with Jesus.
As we strive to be relevant and engage those who have long
rejected the traditions of the church, we speak a language that can easily fog
up the glass that the lost must look through to see the love of Jesus.
The voice of Jesus was so clear. He simply stated the
eternal reality of those who would follow Him, question Him, judge Him, and beg
Him for help. The voice of Jesus brought clarity to those who were open to the
message. But here is the tough part. His voice confused those who were hardhearted and unwilling to trust Him.
So even though His words were clear and precise, much of the
impact had to do with the listener. If their hearts were not ready, then Jesus’
words seemed like lunacy. This presents an interesting challenge for us as we
reach out to others.
Our job is not to make the message relevant as much as it is
to speak truth. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of those who are ready to
accept His words and waits patiently for those who are still struggling.
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"We
are debtors to every man to give him the gospel in the same measure in which we
have received it"
-- P.F. Bresee
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Prayer Requests
-Pray for Pastor Byadayi and his wife as they fight charges of forcible conversion of Hindus to Christianity in the state of Karnataka. They have been ordered by police to close down their church building
-Pray for God's grace day by day. Satan is working overtime
to discourage all of us and to prevent the vital work of this and many other
ministries working within India.
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