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| Preaching on Sin Equals Persecution! |
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Have you ever wondered why you are not persecuted?
When you read the Bible you see all the apostles going through extreme persecution. Peter was killed upside down, some were sawed in two, some were boiled in oil, James was beheaded and the list goes on and on. Our heroes in the New Testament were all killed. Why?
3:12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, Will be persecuted? Why did they kill our brothers and sisters? They hated them. See Jesus promised us if they hated Him, they will hate us! 15:18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
So have you ever wondered why nobody hates you? Matter of fact they all love you. Why? When you begin to preach about sin and what people are doing is evil, some will hate and persecute you just like all of our heroes in the Bible including our master Jesus. 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
Why? Because we testify that their works are evil? So what are you preaching? What is your message? Would people want to kill you if all you told them was God loved them? I think not. Are you a politician trying to get everyone to love you? 6:26 "Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Let's get back to following and preaching the biblical gospel which is preaching with love in our hearts the truth that every person is infected with the disease of sin and are in need of the cure, Jesus Christ.
Join our group SOS(Soulwinning Outreach Stories) and share what the Lord is doing through you in the area of evangelism and come back often and be encouraged as you read real-life heroic acts of ordinary believer's attempts to reach a lost humanity.
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| I already did. Thanks friend. |
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Procyon |
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December 21, 2007 at 4:20am |
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God bless your work of soul-winning. Yes, when we preach strongly against sin and complacency and smugness and selfishness, there will be Persecution. The word is PERSECUTION. All who live a godly life in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. |
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MaKelly |
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December 21, 2007 at 4:33am |
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Great Blog Jeff
yes will will be persecuted because,sin will always be an offensive word. We can talk openly and impersonally about crimes like rape and murder; we can make statistics of our adulteries, unwed pregnancies, and divorces; we can trivialize greed, selfishness, and lust-or raise them as cultural values-but to call anything sin makes us uncomfortable. The word sin implies the violation of an objective and absolute standard or code of behavior established by God. We almost instinctively feel this to be an infringement on our rights. Yet such an attitude displays a terrible misunderstanding of sin and an underestimation of God. When a doctor correctly diagnoses a disease in our body, we do not accuse her of impinging on our freedom; rather, we are grateful because we know diseases can destroy our lives. The Bible teaches that God is concerned about sin-not to limit our freedom and enjoyment of life-but because sin is a disease of the soul that destroys our lives and leads to spiritual death.
PERSECUTION WHY DOES GOD ALLOW HIS PEOPLE TO BE PERSECUTED?
BIBLE READING: Matthew 5:1-16
KEY BIBLE VERSE: God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too. (Matthew 5:11-12)
PERSECUTION BUILDS CHARACTER.
Jesus said to rejoice when we’re persecuted. Persecution can be good because (1) it takes our eyes off earthly rewards, (2) it strips away superficial belief, (3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure, and (4) our attitude through it serves as an example to others who follow. We can be comforted to know that God’s greatest prophets were persecuted (Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel). The fact that we are being persecuted proves that we have been faithful; faithless people would be unnoticed. In the future God will reward the faithful by receiving them into his eternal kingdom where there is no more persecution.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 24:1-51
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13)
PERSECUTION STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH.
Jesus predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm, and continue to live for Christ.
BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 1:1-12
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. (1 Peter 1:6)
PERSECUTION BRINGS MATURITY.
Peter mentions suffering several times in this letter: 1:6-7; 3:13-17; 4:12-19; 5:9. When he speaks of trials, he is not talking about natural disasters or the experience of God’s punishments, but the response of an unbelieving world to people of faith. All believers face such trials when they let their light shine into the darkness. We must accept trials as part of the refining process that burns away impurities and prepares us to meet Christ. Trials teach us patience (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-3) and help us grow to be the kind of people God wants.
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Procyon-Looks like I missed that spelling class huh? thanks.
thanks MaKelly and Doyle. Let's preach the gospel of the book of Acts. |
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MaKelly |
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December 21, 2007 at 7:36am |
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Jeff what do you mean Exactly I do belive what I wrote lines up with your blog, or are you starting another topic please let me know then I will responed | (Let's preach the gospel of the book of Acts.) |  |
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LorenDP |
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December 21, 2007 at 7:44am |
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Ok. So here's a question.
After we're persecuted and hated for preaching about sin, then what? What follows next? |
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MaKelly-I was just agreeing with you.
Loren-Not sure if I understand your question. If you are saying what if they are humbled by our preaching on sin, obviously the cross and resurrection of Christ is next. If they won't listen to us, we dust off our feet and go find someone who will. Always praying for our enemies in hopes that they will come to repentance and rejoicing that we were considered worthy to suffer for the Name! |
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LorenDP |
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December 21, 2007 at 8:23am |
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"enemies"? Not sure that calling the unregenerate "enemies" is something that is a scriptural principle. Maybe the prinicipalities and powers and evil forces that work behind those people. Those are our true enemies.
I think our concepts about preaching on sin differ Jeff...that's all. I think that sin is best discussed between two or three. And always tempered with love, grace, and humility. The only time in the bible that I see sin being addressed coprorately is when the Apostle Paul is addressing an entire church trying to cover up the sin of one of its members. Never in the sense that we're preaching to the unregenerate trying to do the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. I don't think the scriptures ever tell us to preach like that.
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The Bible says pray for your enemies! Loren, what do you think Jesus was talking about in John 7:7, I tell them that what they do is evil, and what about John the Baptist in Matt 14:4 where he tells Herodias that what he is doing is unlawful? Why did Christ have to come? To save sinners!! Loren, Jesus promised us persecution and that we would be hated! The Holy Spirit uses the foolishness of preaching to convict! Hope that helps a little! 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
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Yeah, the problem in the world today is this (didn't you know there was only 1? lol): No one wants anything that makes them feel bad about the choices they make, the things they do, or the way they live. They want everyone to get trophies, for everyone to get a job, everyone to be accepted regardless of whether or not it makes sense. They don't want their feelings hurt. They don't want to feel bad about mistakes they've made. They want health without diet and exercise. Spirituality without sacrifice. A God that loves unconditionally and forgives all without changing their way of life. If you tell someone that they are a sinner without explaining it (meaning, you just point and say they're going to hell) - you deserve persecution. Jesus NEVER did that sort of a thing, though, as God in human form, He could have. He identified the HOW and why the person transgressed the Law (offended God) and went from there. Some people preach God without sin. Some preach sin without the Law. Some preach the law without salvation. All three are wrong separetely, but right together. |
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MaKelly |
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December 22, 2007 at 7:37am |
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I understood that and thank you I just though you were changing the subject I apologize
Your Blog is OUTSTANDING |
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| You are so on the mark, Jeff. Just giving people the word: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV) brings defensiveness. To mention specific sins (without the sinner, just the sin) causes persecution. To share His word in some other countries and you have prosecution! |
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| Persecution comes when you just start preaching on the sins. As an evangelist, you have to exhort the people to "repent". Repent of what? You have to point sins in their lives. When the evangelist opens his mouth and exposes the sins, the Holy Spirit convicts them of their sins. The Holy Spirit needs your mouth to speak. |
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| Before we can begin to preach about sin we, frist need to know what sin is! 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. |
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| Before we can begin to preach about sin we, frist need to know what sin is! 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. |
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| Amen Pastor Bob. That is what Paul said in Romans 7:7. Many Christians are still living in sin forget showing a sinner a way out. Thanks for the comment. |
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