| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church Many years later, as a brand new Christian, in the midst of a month long Baptistacostal spell, ready to charge hell with a water pistol, being all zeal and no sense, I remember sitting up in bed, saying “good morning” to Jesus, then I purposed in my heart (human heart) to be good for Him that day. To Repent. To be something He would be proud of. I did. I made it for about ------ five minutes. I would liken the crash to the DTs. So what do we do? Most give up. “IT’S NOT POSSIBLE. I’M ONLY FOOLING MYSELF. NO ONE CAN DO THIS.” Satan wins. Some just resign themselves to the idea that this is how everyone is, and so God must understand, and will love me just the same. This is true. He does understand - But, — I love my kids always; this doesn’t mean I approve of what they do. So what does God say about Repentance? We don’t preach it nearly enough, or clearly enough. Do you hear about people doing “supernatural things”, or dealing with things in a “supernatural” way? Do you think they are nuts but really wonder? What about the Bible Characters? Did they really do these things or not? If they did, why don’t we see these things happening today? Jesus told his disciples they would do “greater things” than they saw Him do. So What’s Up? It will take us a couple of weeks to iron this out, but here is a foundation for you to ponder. In the Great Commission, Jesus told us to go into all the world, preaching, baptizing, making disciples, and “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” - Matt. 28:20. He gave us many, but the first recorded command is found in Matt. 4:17, and says: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to teach and to say ‘repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand’”. The last commandment from Christ is in Rev. 3:19, and says: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent”. I see a pattern developing here. Repentance is woven throughout the Old and New Testaments, and is overlooked or neglected by mainline Christianity today. Aw Tosier said: “UNTIL WE ALLOW THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SIN TO WOUND US, WE WILL NEVER DEVELOP A FEAR OF EVIL”. This doesn’t mean fear the thug, I don’t. It means to fear the effects of evil/sin in your life, and how it Will effect You, as well as your family. Is Repentance even possible? Yes; and we will both Define and Apply it in the next couple of weeks. Pray about it till then. God Bless. |
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