Post by Les Brewer on Oct 12, 2012 11:13:30 GMT
John Wolf
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified
From the pastor's desk....
Good morning my friends and loved ones! Just a word from the Lord Jesus Christ......."I Love You......" and then He stretched out His arms and died!
As I minister and witness to the saving grace of Christ to non-believers,I often find that most opposition comes from those who just refuse to believe and be saved.The question is: Why is this? If you can manage to gain their confidence in you long enough for them to be honest with you,you'll find it to be a unwillingness to surrender their will to the will of God.Jesus said in John 7:17,"If anyone wills to do His will,he shall know concerning the doctrine,whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." It is plainly a matter of our will to trust Jesus Christ,or,to trust in one's self.
Rebellion is bound in the heart of evil men,but one day a cruel messenger will be sent to correct him (Proverbs 17:11).The problem then is it could be too late to do anything about it! We,as frail,faulty,fallen,sinful humanity,all have the same problem.We refuse to admit to anyone,including ourselves,that we are wrong most of the time,if we are honest with ourselves,and don't want anyone telling us what to do or how to live our life.We somehow think,"this is my life,and I'm going to live it the way I want to,and no one is going to tell me any different!"
The biggest problem with this line of thinking is that,deep down inside a person,they already know what the right thing to do is,but often times resort to doing things against even their own better judgement. Why does this occur? One word sums it up nicely...Sin. The apostle Paul talked about it a great deal in the book of Romans chapters 6-8.In chapter 7 he draws the comparison between the struggle of the sin nature against the divine nature within us.This is not to say that man is in any way,deity,but rather that once we have accepted Christ into our lives,the Holy Spirit resides within us.And we soon find,if we are truly saved,a struggle between doing what we know is right and our sin nature,which will always lean toward doing what is wrong.
All of this stems from our "will". After all the questions are answered that people often pose as a "legitimate" reason for not following Christ.We come down to this one issue.Most people refuse to believe on Christ because they want to hold onto some little sin that brings them pleasure.My friends and loved ones,I hate to be the bearer of bad news,but,this could cost you your eternal soul.I Samuel 15:23 says,"For rebellion is as (the same as) witchcraft,and stubbornness is as (the same as) iniquity and idolatry...." The problem is a universal problem.It effects all of mankind,and there is only one remedy for it,death! We must die to self and take up the cross of Christ and submit to His will,then and only then,will we know that His doctrine is the true way to life!
Jesus came to destroy sin,self and Satan's power in our lives to do things our own way rather than God's way. There are only two choices: God's way by submitting to His will,or your own way,by refusing to submit to Him.One thing is certain,we can not have it both ways.All people,everyone,will one day bow the knee to Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and Christ,you can do it now and be saved,or you can do it later at the Great White Throne Judgement,just before being cast into outer darkness,torment and misery.
It's your choice...choose wisely......Love to all in the name of Jesus....pastor John.
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified
From the pastor's desk....
Good morning my friends and loved ones! Just a word from the Lord Jesus Christ......."I Love You......" and then He stretched out His arms and died!
As I minister and witness to the saving grace of Christ to non-believers,I often find that most opposition comes from those who just refuse to believe and be saved.The question is: Why is this? If you can manage to gain their confidence in you long enough for them to be honest with you,you'll find it to be a unwillingness to surrender their will to the will of God.Jesus said in John 7:17,"If anyone wills to do His will,he shall know concerning the doctrine,whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." It is plainly a matter of our will to trust Jesus Christ,or,to trust in one's self.
Rebellion is bound in the heart of evil men,but one day a cruel messenger will be sent to correct him (Proverbs 17:11).The problem then is it could be too late to do anything about it! We,as frail,faulty,fallen,sinful humanity,all have the same problem.We refuse to admit to anyone,including ourselves,that we are wrong most of the time,if we are honest with ourselves,and don't want anyone telling us what to do or how to live our life.We somehow think,"this is my life,and I'm going to live it the way I want to,and no one is going to tell me any different!"
The biggest problem with this line of thinking is that,deep down inside a person,they already know what the right thing to do is,but often times resort to doing things against even their own better judgement. Why does this occur? One word sums it up nicely...Sin. The apostle Paul talked about it a great deal in the book of Romans chapters 6-8.In chapter 7 he draws the comparison between the struggle of the sin nature against the divine nature within us.This is not to say that man is in any way,deity,but rather that once we have accepted Christ into our lives,the Holy Spirit resides within us.And we soon find,if we are truly saved,a struggle between doing what we know is right and our sin nature,which will always lean toward doing what is wrong.
All of this stems from our "will". After all the questions are answered that people often pose as a "legitimate" reason for not following Christ.We come down to this one issue.Most people refuse to believe on Christ because they want to hold onto some little sin that brings them pleasure.My friends and loved ones,I hate to be the bearer of bad news,but,this could cost you your eternal soul.I Samuel 15:23 says,"For rebellion is as (the same as) witchcraft,and stubbornness is as (the same as) iniquity and idolatry...." The problem is a universal problem.It effects all of mankind,and there is only one remedy for it,death! We must die to self and take up the cross of Christ and submit to His will,then and only then,will we know that His doctrine is the true way to life!
Jesus came to destroy sin,self and Satan's power in our lives to do things our own way rather than God's way. There are only two choices: God's way by submitting to His will,or your own way,by refusing to submit to Him.One thing is certain,we can not have it both ways.All people,everyone,will one day bow the knee to Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord and Christ,you can do it now and be saved,or you can do it later at the Great White Throne Judgement,just before being cast into outer darkness,torment and misery.
It's your choice...choose wisely......Love to all in the name of Jesus....pastor John.
