Christian Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

'The long road' priorities?

M

MrVersatile48

Guest
Evangelical leaders now highlight international justice:-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 35.80.html

Headline says 'for the next 50 years', so those evangelical leaders need to wake up to the urgency of this 'fig tree generation' of Matthew 24 being the climax generation of all history

& to the clear fact that Jesus promised it will be 'cut short' by the instant airlift Rapture rescue of Matt 24: 30-31 etc

Therefore we have less than 11.5 years: quite likely substantially less

& we need to stick, 1st & foremost, to Jesus' top priority prime directive to complete our Great Commission in this mass media generation, to hasten His return & cut short the awful persecution of so many of our brothers & sisters in Christ worldwide

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.


Matt 28 & Mark 16 underlined in Jesus' Matt 24 agenda too, yes?

3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,[a]' and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.


Must go

God bless!

Ian
 
Q&A: strategic, practical advice from Richard Stearns of World Vision:-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 38.27.html

Just to make it clear that I do encourage practical help: emphasising priority of Christ, which is also the best practical empowerment for making a real difference

Worth saying that good works don't earn a ticket to Heaven: we serve out of gratitude for what God has done for us, not out of debilitating anxiety to 'make sure we're OK'

When the Bible contrasts those led by the Spirit to those led by the flesh - (selfish desires/ambitions) - it says the Spirit gives & brings life

As born-again, Spirit-led Christian folk my age & older have always pointed out, from decades of experience, involving difficult testing, human 'love' is very selfish: only God's Spiriit produces the fruit of true love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control, etc - as in Galatians 5

Ephesians 5:18 is very practical indeed

Ephesians 5:18 (New International Version)


18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The Greek means, go on continually being filled: we need regular top-ups in these 2 Tim 3 'terrible times', yes?

2 Timothy 3 (New International Version)

Godlessness in the Last Days

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truthâ€â€men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.


So don't burnout, burn bright with the Light of the World, OK?

Like the 5 wise virgins of this climax generation, in Matt 25

Matthew 25 (New International Version)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.



The oil, as in other Scriptures, pictures the Holy Spirit


God bless!

Ian :-D
 
CT links several articles @ priorities in various areas

Missions:-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 22.74.html

Youth:-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 20.74.html

The local church..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 18.72.html

Politics..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 24.78.html

Broadcasting/publishing..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 25.80.html

theology..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 27.75.html

culture..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 29.76.html

evangelism..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 30.76.html

higher education..

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 34.76.html

Links to international development & relief etc already posted here

Can ya see what's missing? :o

REFEREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :roll:

Right back... :wink:


Ian :-D
 
'SAVE THE E-WORD!

Interesting analysis of public perceptions/misconceptions about evangelism & what needs to be done here:-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/200 ... 42.39.html

It doesn't make the simple point that, from the Greek, an evangelist means a good-news spreader

The 59% who are hesitant to identify themselves as evangelicals need to realise that only the glorious good news gospel of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ can turn the worst of news into blessing by proclaiming the good news angle

Don't forget God's 'many precious promises'

"I will turn your mourning into dancing..give you the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness"

"Whatever the enemy throws at you, intending your harm, I will turn to your good"

"All things work together for good to those who love God, who walk according to His purposes" - Romans 8:28

Altogether now..

123...


How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news:

proclaiming peace, announcing news of happiness:

Our God reigns!!

Our God reigns!!

Our God reigns!!

Our God reigns!!

Our God reigns!!

Our God reigns!!
 
Back
Top