GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
I often hear people talking about a Grace Revolution taking place in the church today. I think it is more of a “Grace Reformation” that has the potential to sweep throughout the whole world!
Jesus said, ”And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.” —Matthew 24:14 (AMP)
Jesus did not say that the Gospel should, could or might be preached. He said this Gospel of the kingdom WILL be preached! Never in all of history has it been more possible for this scripture to be fulfilled than in the time we are living in today. The question we need to ask ourselves today is this:
“Will we be the ones to preach it?”
Are we ready to take this challenge to boldly go into all the world and preach this gospel as a witness to all nations?
The religious world is suspicious of the Gospel of Grace because they feel that they are losing control. That’s why Paul wrote to the believers at Galatia saying,
In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. — Galatians 5:1 (AMP)
Most of us are not easily hampered or ensnared by the scare tactics of condemnation, guilt, judgment and shame any longer. There are, however, other methods of hampering being used to try and restrict people today: the threat and accusations of heresy, false doctrines and error. Many men and women of God have become afraid to preach the Gospel of Grace and Peace because of the potential accusations that could be leveled against them!
The Word of God assures us that if we stay focused on Jesus and God’s love for people, there is no fear of deception, delusion or error!
Are we ready to take this challenge to boldly go into all the world and preach this gospel as a witness to all nations? Just like in the days of Paul and many other men of God throughout history who have preached this gospel in times of reformation, there is mounting pressure to compromise
this message. It’s a pressure warranting “so-called” balance, referring to the message of the gospel as hyper-grace, sloppy agape and greasy grace!
In Jesus is all Truth!
Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus, said;
“But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as all Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him]” — Ephesians 4:20-21 (AMP)
Even in the book of John, Jesus taught extensively on the Truth and the Truth being in Him! (John 14:6)
If we keep our focus on Jesus as the Christ, as the one and only reason and solution for our redemption and salvation, we are abiding in the truth, and the truth is in us!
The Guarantee of God
In the book of First Corinthians, Paul assures us of God’s ability to hold, keep and maintain us to the end!
“And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)”. 1 Corinthians 1:8 (AMP)
The Holy Spirit of God
When we live in the awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and on us, it becomes impossible to go into error.
“But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”— John 14:26 (AMP)
I’m not making light of heresy or error in any way. What I’m saying is that a fear of error will hinder us from the freedom of peaching the Gospel fully. God assures us that He will keep us from falling into error through the leading of His Holy Spirit that dwells in us!
Keep the Message Alive
Jesus said, “Staying with it – that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” — Matthew 24:13 (MSG)
If we are going to be the generation who is going to preach the Gospel as a testimony and witness to the whole world, we are going to have to keep this message alive!
So my charge and encouragement to us all today is this:
Stay with it to the end. Keep this Gospel alive! Do not give in. Do not give up. Do not go back. Do not recant!
President Trump has made his conflict with the media very public, though he has his own version. It is not the first time elected officials have fought with the media.
We are bombarded with the vitriol of the fighting. Many of my friends have stopped listening to any of the news outlets. It seems that anger and frustration are stirred any time we stop long enough to listen to the spin. The media are either blamed or praised for moving society ideologically according to an agenda commonly held by its proponents. It is inevitably biased according to the ideology being promoted.
Objectivity is an ideal, but is not achievable by biased people. What is reported is interpreted by those doing the reporting. Those who agree with the bias are glad, while those who disagree claim "foul." For some time now, the mainstream media has embraced an ideology far different than the one that held sway for centuries. Secularism has been exalted as the religion of the day. Some who are deeply disturbed by that direction are looking for an alternative media. There is one I suggest.
God gave the church to the world as his media. The followers of Christ were and are commissioned to proclaim news -- good news. It is the news that gives a framework of interpreting all events in history. Understanding the story of creation, fall into sin, and redemption allows us to participate in earth's story in a meaningful way.
The church has been silenced by its own cowardice. Refusing to address the issues that matter in current society, it has been thwarted by the religion of secularism.
The problem we currently face is that the church has dropped the ball in this area. When no alternative voice is heard, the secular voice rules supreme.
The church has been silenced by its own cowardice. Refusing to address the issues that matter in current society, while claiming success in numbers and buildings, it has been thwarted by the religion of secularism. To become relevant, it has adopted a message of human compassion without divine power. This form without power is embarrassed by the claim that all are broken and that the resurrection of Jesus Christ can transform anyone. And an increasing number of people are leaving it because of this hollow message.
Reduced to a marginal role in a society that features civil government as the power to respect and fear, the church -- though still tolerated by some -- is mocked by many.
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Without competition in announcing news, the secular media are dominating the field. For a long time, movies and TV shows have depicted preachers as weird, judgmental, and irrelevant characters, while villains are heroes. The foibles of some TV preachers have added to the cynicism that makes mocking so easy. It is no wonder that recent surveys reflect a growing trend to disassociate with church-going.
But, beware! The true church is the body of Christ, and it is empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
Jesus put his reputation on the line when he declared that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church. Just as the demonic religion of the Jewish leaders and the tyrannical power of Roman government could not prevent Jesus from rising from the dead, neither can the intimidating forces of secularism keep down the true church, whose head is Jesus Christ the Lord.
God emphasizes the household of relationships rather than structures and rituals. He works through his children to bless all people.
God builds his church with his children, not programs and buildings. (Psalm 127) He works through human partners. He always has. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus testify that God has linked his work on earth to humans who relate to him as Father. In his gracious salvation, he offers all a second chance at a healthy childhood. All who receive Jesus as God's only solution to human alienation become children of God. (John 1:12-13)
God emphasizes the household of relationships rather than structures and rituals. He works through his children to bless all people. He gives them access to him and promises to hear their prayers. (John 14:13-14) Finally, everyone has a chance to enjoy a healthy family life where the inevitable wounds of natural family dysfunction are healed.
As the darkness of deception grows, the children are waking up, suiting up, and showing up. No longer afraid of being mocked, they are standing in the gates of the city, and proclaiming the radical good news that there is a way -- not only to heaven, but to living a life of meaning now. They are finding that their unity is not in race, ritual, or rage, but in sharing the same life with the Father and the Son.
It has happened before in history when most thought the church had gone out of business. It had just gone underground, only to explode into life that honors the one who is the head.
It is our time. The media are ruling now, but the source of news -- good news, is making his voice heard again. Listen, join the news service.