Matthew 18:10-14
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven [For the Son of Man came to save the lost]. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.
14 So it is not the will of my [your] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Haters gonna hate.
What are going to do with today's evangelism? Sincerity.
If you look at 3 decades ago tapes of famous evangelism - you see some terrible fake, cheesy grins plastered on their faces. You just know the fruit from the tree is wholesome, but lemme tell you, I've wanted to write sincerely and say - please - Stop with the look. Yuckkkk. Let love be sincere.
Let us hear the reality - when your family had a fire in the house - people yelled at each other.
And I've seen some "peace-seeking, I'm Okay, You're Okay"s turn rabid over Christian viewpoints. Woooow. Joshua was told - be centered on balance - Jesus.
So... who is the hater..... the deist, the universalist, the humanist, the Christian?
Consider this - the Christianity that is rapidly fading away - is - the denominations who debunk the Bible! Hater Churches of put down fail to keep and hold. Fake uptight have failed to Love. The 1970 and 1980 Churches of perpetual optimism have fallen short of Sincerity and failed to reach Truth. The Easy Grace Churches find that in hard times - they fail to hold their easy come faith.
Where God's Love and Encouragement Churches to Hope in Him with help facing the difficulties of life - in sincerity - Grow. Where the Holiness of God is encouraged.
We get to be the Best Church we can deliver. Our small lives - make the Church. Reach out in Love and never, never, never, never, never surrender the Good Fight to say God is Love.
What we need to abhor with understanding is the one who would pull God away from us.
Saying we are sad people who need an invisible friend. Run from people saying all of this is hypocrisy. Saying God would never lift His finger to help. Incorrectly saying the Bible is not the Word of God. Those who ridicule faith in God. Or debunk thinking God would not provide God Opportunities for us. Then we need to be counted as - sometimes silent - but always praying. God tells us not to fight because a useless quarrel is useless. But Prayer is not wasted. When the right to be heard is someone in the room needing to hear faith - Definitely SPEAK.
We get to pick Our Attitudes DAILY. Are we iron sharpening iron. We get decide to rise above or sink with bad attitudes wearing us down. We get to feel the Mercies of God renew each day. And pray with open hearts and open hands for loving hearts to continue on His good Path - Pleasing God.
Mostly in our evangelism - work to the teachable moments.
I watched a savvy Minister on TV speak to really neutral to skeptical reporters.
There wasn't dealing with a hater, but extremely different viewpoints of looking at Salvation. The Minister enjoyed talking to the bulldog, lock jawed reporter. He was amused at the tactics of the reporter - the Minister had game. The reporter could tell the Minister was amused and made witty come backs, the interview was going wellll; the reporter was happy. Later, the Facebook people made open minded, Scriptural comments. It was interesting and upbeat. Very unusual for a Salvation discussion.
When we look at the Law... who gets in to Heaven....
Luke 19:
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
It becomes more easy when we acknowledge this: we are never going to walk down the street, look up in a tree and be able to know the soul of a stranger. Religion is out. Relationship, not with human opinion, but with Jesus Christ has begun.
Who gets the shot at Salvation?
Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
On that day, of Salvation, every single one of us will be known like Zacchaeus who lived in Jericho where Jesus was passing by.
Don't you believe with me that on the Day of Salvation - Jesus will tell us what He has seen in us that in our personalities, histories, lives and opinions He has rejoiced with us?
~ What about good men, who didn't know of Jesus. Will they be saved? Jesus never met the Centurion. Or his servant. What did Jesus do? He Found the Centurion in Faith and matched Faith for Faith.
Salvation....
1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
And this is for all people....
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
It does Not say, work out the Centurion's salvation. What role do the others play in the centurion's salvation?
Luke 7:
3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
Intercession with prayer and Jesus.
Salvation.... it isn't a religion, it is a relationship.
Father God, Glory to You in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom Your favor rests. Because of Your grace given; the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Your Son, we are Your beloved. Help us to walk humbly with You and not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to. Help us look to You in all circumstances as the light of the world, increasing our measure of faith You've given us.
There are different kinds of working, but You are the same God working in all men. Equip us, please, with everything good for doing Your will. Please work in us what is pleasing to You. You daily load us up with Your benefits, please let us see them with grateful hearts, enlighten our eyes in faith, that our souls and beings may rejoice in Your hope and salvation. For the people we love and pray for, our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, friends, Churches, State and Nation. We lift to You in expectation all of our prayer concerns. Amen. through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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