Listen to Him!

“I gave her time to repent…and she did not repent.”      Rev 2:21 NKJV

Paul told the church at Ephesus, “I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you” (Ac 20:20 NIV). A surgeon saves your life by cutting out what threatens you, and God’s Word does that with us. One of Christ’s warnings to the church at Thyatira was: “I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds” (Rev 2:21-22 NKJV). When you are heading over a cliff’s edge, someone who truly loves you will try to stop you. And nobody loves you like the Lord! But you cannot keep ignoring His warnings. The Prodigal Son’s father welcomed him back home, but he still lost his family inheritance. Every day you live, you put another building block in place. What are you building? One day you will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul describes it: “The fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames” (1Co 3:13-15 NIV). Your friends may think your disobedience is no big deal. But God, who knows the extent of your ultimate loss, will “get in your face” and tell you to repent while you still have time. Today, if He is speaking to you about a certain issue, listen to Him! Obey Him!

http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/listen-to-him/

What Kind of Example Are You? (7)

“Be an example…in purity.”                                              1Ti 4:12 NKJV

This word “purity” refers to that which is not polluted. Pollution causes disease and death. The products on the grocery store shelf may be beautifully packaged, but when food-borne illness results, we must go back to the source and find the problem. What is it? Careless, cost-cutting methods that not only permit disease but promote it. Consider this: some of the things that entertain us today would have shocked our parents and grandparents. Is that because we are more enlightened? Look around you and judge for yourself! While living under his father’s authority the Prodigal Son was well off. But in search of enlightenment and entertainment, he ended up in a pigpen. Yes, he was forgiven and welcomed back home, but he lost a lot in the process. Today the world of politics, education and entertainment are battling for your mind, your attention and your allegiance. So here’s a Scripture you need to think about carefully: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Php 2:5 NKJV). In other words, submit your thoughts to God. If He approves them—they’re okay. Paul writes: “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2Co 10:3-5 NLT). If you don’t “capture” wrong thoughts and submit them to the test of scriptural truth, they’ll lead you in the wrong direction

http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/what-kind-of-example-are-you-7/

Why People Leave the Church (1)

“The younger son…journeyed to a far country.” Lk 15:13 NKJV

The story of the Prodigal Son is especially applicable to backsliders. It speaks to those who have been raised in church, know God’s Word, have felt His presence, understand His claims, and once served Him. But like the Prodigal, they’ve “gone to the hogs.” Notice, he’s not called the Prodigal Sinner but the Prodigal Son, because he still belongs in the family. For the next few days let’s look at why people leave the church. First: Because the blessings of Father’s house become commonplace. Notice, he didn’t appreciate what he had until he lost it. Notice also, his father didn’t kick him out of the house, “[he] took his journey into a far country” (KJV). He left of his own free will and came back the same way. What’s the point? If God’s love can’t hold you, His power won’t force you! It’s your willing obedience that God finds pleasure in, not conforming to a set of religious rules because you are afraid of going to hell. Jesus told the story of a king who planned a wedding feast and invited different guests. What a privilege. “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business” (Mt 22:5 NKJV). Are you too busy for God? Have you gotten used to His blessings and decided you want something different? Be warned, the road you are on leads to one place only: the hog pen. Stop, turn around, repent and come home while you still can. No matter how badly you have failed, your Father is waiting to take you back.

http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/why-people-leave-the-church-1/