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Post by Apostle's Instructions on Nov 7, 2019 5:47:23 GMT -5
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 1:20-31
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Post by John on Nov 7, 2019 19:34:00 GMT -5
While most churches today are turning to church growth seminars and gimmicks to reach people, God's method has always been reaching people through preaching. Most today consider this foolish and out dated, but God's ways are not man's ways.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2019 11:16:11 GMT -5
Gimmicks don't save souls. Unfortunately we don't often see preachers preaching to the lost anymore....they have long ago forgotten what Jesus said about leaving the 90 and 9 to go seek and save lost sheep, and they mostly just stay within church walls preaching to the choir. The church has lost it's offensive ground-taking thrust that the early church used to have, so it's no wonder we are losing the battle.
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Post by John on Nov 8, 2019 11:24:51 GMT -5
Gimmicks don't save souls. Unfortunately we don't often see preachers preaching to the lost anymore....they have long ago forgotten what Jesus said about leaving the 90 and 9 to go seek and save lost sheep, and they mostly just stay within church walls preaching to the choir. The church has lost it's offensive ground-taking thrust that the early church used to have, so it's no wonder we are losing the battle. You are right about that. This is a failure of many churches. Everything is done internally. There is no outreach. Timothy was a Pastor, and a Pastor is to look after those in his congregation first and foremost, but that is not the end of his responsibility. Paul told him in 2 Timothy 4:5...
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
There are people whose primary calling is that of an evangelist, as there are others who are called to be Apostles and plant churches, but we all have a commission to reach the lost. Now, you spoke of the lost sheep. This is another matter, as it is someone who has wandered away from the fold. We should attempt to restore those who go astray. It is not always possible, as people have freedom to choose to turn their back on God, but there are some that would return if we cared enough to leave the 99 long enough to search for them.
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 11:41:20 GMT -5
And here is the KEY to all that we do , to all evangelism . ONE NAME . JESUS CHRIST . IF that name is absent from evangelism and all the good works we do and how we reach the lost , THEN ITS ALL VAIN no matter how much comfort and so called help and good works it may have .
THE TRUE KEY to OUTREACH will always be JESUS CENTERED . not good things and no TALK of JESUS , BUT TOTAL TALK OF JESUS with also the good works .
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 11:45:04 GMT -5
We must stand on the ORIGINAL STONE that was tested , tried and prevailed and not the new sand stone which is built upon the foundation of men and their sayings .
THE ORIGINAL FIRST GIVEN and FIRST TAUGHT pattern must be lived and taught diligently unto all .
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 11:50:05 GMT -5
While most churches today are turning to church growth seminars and gimmicks to reach people, God's method has always been reaching people through preaching. Most today consider this foolish and out dated, but God's ways are not man's ways.
exactly they stand on the untried SAND STONE which has been given a false whitening and whose foundation is that of men and NOT GOD . But the true lambs will not even glance , lick nor stand upon the false , BUT ONLY UPON THE TRUE STONE , CHRIST JESUS , the corner stone of the entire foundation the anchor of our soul and the HOPE of all who do love HIM in Spirit in Truth . The lambs have a massive battle that has been brewing and let all daub the walls with only the true and tested WORD and Words of the LORD and those apostels who truly knew Him . The war rages on , but the lambs have all hope , FOR JESUS IS THEIR HOPE and upon HE ALONE do they stand and trust and shall test all that they do see and hear against that which is OF HIM . BIBLES OPEN and rushing full force , with total aide of the SPIRIT , right into the battle trenches .
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Post by John on Nov 8, 2019 11:54:06 GMT -5
And here is the KEY to all that we do , to all evangelism . ONE NAME . JESUS CHRIST . IF that name is absent from evangelism and all the good works we do and how we reach the lost , THEN ITS ALL VAIN no matter how much comfort and so called help and good works it may have . THE TRUE KEY to OUTREACH will always be JESUS CENTERED . not good things and no TALK of JESUS , BUT TOTAL TALK OF JESUS with also the good works . A lot of the church world has replaced the message of the gospel and evangelism with good works. They have replaced true missionary work that is about reaching the lost with just doing good things for them like giving them food, clothes, medical care, things like that. Those things are great, but not if you aren't going to bring them the message of salvation.
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 12:05:03 GMT -5
And here is the KEY to all that we do , to all evangelism . ONE NAME . JESUS CHRIST . IF that name is absent from evangelism and all the good works we do and how we reach the lost , THEN ITS ALL VAIN no matter how much comfort and so called help and good works it may have . THE TRUE KEY to OUTREACH will always be JESUS CENTERED . not good things and no TALK of JESUS , BUT TOTAL TALK OF JESUS with also the good works . A lot of the church world has replaced the message of the gospel and evangelism with good works. They have replaced true missionary work that is about reaching the lost with just doing good things for them like giving them food, clothes, medical care, things like that. Those things are great, but not if you aren't going to bring them the message of salvation.
exactly , they might give them all things that are needful to the body , but leave them dead and give them nothing which pertains to SPIRITUAL LIFE and NECESSITY . I did that in boy scots . I could do good to the elderly , help build this or that , YET I was dead for I knew not Christ and thus my works and speeches were dead for they pointed NOT to CHRIST . Any man can do good unto others and yet be dead in sin . Do not even sinners DO GOOD unto sinners . But if the so called church wont even POINT them to CHRIST and the TOTAL DIRE NEED of salvation , THEN EVERYTHING done is naught but vain and death and shall see only the second death . THIS IS that dire important . Now I say this next thing as a reminder to us who know it and as a warning to all who do not , TO LOVE THEM TO JESUS means TO TELL THEM the ONLY NAME WHEREBY THEY MAY BE SAVED . ALL good works amount only to death , IF A MAN KNOWS NOT nor serves not JESUS CHRIST . This message will not be received well at all by an all inclusive world and religion , BUT IT STANDS AS TRUE AS IT DID THE DAY the apostels SET OUT TO TURN THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN . JESUS WAS FIRST THEN , and HE SHALL BE FIRST IN OUR LAST GENERATION TOO . WE GOING OUT just as the early church came in , with much blood and anger against us , BUT WITH ALL HOPE IN CHRIST and giving that same HOPE unto a hostile world and religions in HOPE they may hear and repent . And no matter what , whatever rises up and comes against us , cannot overcome the TRUTH nor the true lambs , for in life we win and even in death we win , FOR they overcame him by the BLOOD of the LAMB by their TESTIMONY OF HIM and loved not their lives even unto death ..
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 12:08:26 GMT -5
The word and words of GOD is a monologue and not a dialogue . IN other words they are not words that two can speak , twist and discuss and change . GOD SAID THEM , WE OBEY THEM and we do so by HIS INDWELLING SPIRIT .
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 12:11:33 GMT -5
and a small child knows that . GOD , HIS WORD and words are to be loved and obeyed . And no matter what age we in , THEY are to be lived with JOY in the HOLY GHOST , being obeyed from the heart For no matter how the world and churches do change with the times , THE WORD OF GOD WILL NEVER BE UP FOR RENEGOTIATION . THEY ARE TO SIMPLY BE HONORED IN ALL THAT WE DO in CHRIST .
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Post by frienduff on Nov 8, 2019 12:16:41 GMT -5
For the times do change , the weather does change , the seasons do change , BUT THE WORD OF GOD as GOD , DO NOT . And are the ONLY THING that shall endure TO THE END as all else shall be burned up . IN these days and in this hour let the lambs go out as the church came in , WITH ALL HOPES ABOVE , BEING FAITHFUL unto HE who has saved us and can keep us from falling . ONLY we better yield , submit UNTO ALL HIS UNCTIONS . AND HIS UNCTIONS will never transgress , but rather fufill in us the righteousness of the law . Proving always what is acceptable UNTO GOD , the very fruit of the SPIRIT DOES so , in all righteousness , goodness and truth and its the very evidence of one who is truly born again . FOR if a man is BORN of the SPIRIT then HE has the VERY FRUIT and fruits of THAT SPIRIT . Armour up , for who a man serves and obeys , HIS slave HE IS , HIS SERVANT HE IS whether its of sin unto death or of OBEDIANCE unto RIGHTEOUSNESS .
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2019 13:34:51 GMT -5
Gimmicks don't save souls. Unfortunately we don't often see preachers preaching to the lost anymore....they have long ago forgotten what Jesus said about leaving the 90 and 9 to go seek and save lost sheep, and they mostly just stay within church walls preaching to the choir. The church has lost it's offensive ground-taking thrust that the early church used to have, so it's no wonder we are losing the battle. You are right about that. This is a failure of many churches. Everything is done internally. There is no outreach. Timothy was a Pastor, and a Pastor is to look after those in his congregation first and foremost, but that is not the end of his responsibility. Paul told him in 2 Timothy 4:5...
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
There are people whose primary calling is that of an evangelist, as there are others who are called to be Apostles and plant churches, but we all have a commission to reach the lost. Now, you spoke of the lost sheep. This is another matter, as it is someone who has wandered away from the fold. We should attempt to restore those who go astray. It is not always possible, as people have freedom to choose to turn their back on God, but there are some that would return if we cared enough to leave the 99 long enough to search for them.
Jesus also spoke elsewhere of having "sheep who were not of this fold"....those who hadn't been evangelized yet. Counted as His sheep because they were elect and foreknown by God but not yet evangelized and reaped into the kingdom. In the ninety and nine passage He was making a point about there being more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who don't need to repent. So that sounds to me like an instruction that it's more important to go seek the lost than to stay behind and minister to those who are already saved...that evangelism is to be the priority rather than a secondary activity of the church.
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Post by John on Nov 8, 2019 14:51:10 GMT -5
You are right about that. This is a failure of many churches. Everything is done internally. There is no outreach. Timothy was a Pastor, and a Pastor is to look after those in his congregation first and foremost, but that is not the end of his responsibility. Paul told him in 2 Timothy 4:5...
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
There are people whose primary calling is that of an evangelist, as there are others who are called to be Apostles and plant churches, but we all have a commission to reach the lost. Now, you spoke of the lost sheep. This is another matter, as it is someone who has wandered away from the fold. We should attempt to restore those who go astray. It is not always possible, as people have freedom to choose to turn their back on God, but there are some that would return if we cared enough to leave the 99 long enough to search for them.
Jesus also spoke elsewhere of having "sheep who were not of this fold"....those who hadn't been evangelized yet. Counted as His sheep because they were elect and foreknown by God but not yet evangelized and reaped into the kingdom. In the ninety and nine passage He was making a point about there being more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who don't need to repent. So that sounds to me like an instruction that it's more important to go seek the lost than to stay behind and minister to those who are already saved...that evangelism is to be the priority rather than a secondary activity of the church. Jesus ministry was to the Jews. The sheep that were not of this fold were the gentiles that hadn't yet been evangelized. God has called different people to different ministries. An Apostle is a missionary, and their primary role is to reach the lost and establish new churches with those converts. They also oversee the new congregations. Prophets primary role is to give out direct messages from God to the church or the world and to share specific messages to a group that deals with things God knew they needed to hear. A Pastor's primary role is to be a shepherd over a congregation. Evangelism for him is secondary. Teachers have a primary role of instructing Christians into a deeper understanding of the Word. If a church encourages people to use their ministry gifts, all of these things are being done. There is ministry to the church and to those outside the church.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2019 7:56:49 GMT -5
Jesus also spoke elsewhere of having "sheep who were not of this fold"....those who hadn't been evangelized yet. Counted as His sheep because they were elect and foreknown by God but not yet evangelized and reaped into the kingdom. In the ninety and nine passage He was making a point about there being more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 who don't need to repent. So that sounds to me like an instruction that it's more important to go seek the lost than to stay behind and minister to those who are already saved...that evangelism is to be the priority rather than a secondary activity of the church. Jesus ministry was to the Jews. The sheep that were not of this fold were the gentiles that hadn't yet been evangelized. God has called different people to different ministries. An Apostle is a missionary, and their primary role is to reach the lost and establish new churches with those converts. They also oversee the new congregations. Prophets primary role is to give out direct messages from God to the church or the world and to share specific messages to a group that deals with things God knew they needed to hear. A Pastor's primary role is to be a shepherd over a congregation. Evangelism for him is secondary. Teachers have a primary role of instructing Christians into a deeper understanding of the Word. If a church encourages people to use their ministry gifts, all of these things are being done. There is ministry to the church and to those outside the church.
Dear brother I believe the "ninety and nine" scripture speaks God's instruction for itself, and that we glean a different vision for the church from the bible in general, from the traditional ways we inherited from Rome. All I know is, the church needs to be on the offensive in this spiritual war a lot more than it has been. An army doesn't spend it's entire tour of duty sitting in camp talking about the war and tending to the wounded....they go out and actually fight in the war to take more ground for their King.
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