Post by Les Brewer on Jul 19, 2012 13:03:59 GMT
John Wolf
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified
From the Pastor's desk....
Good morning to all my family and friends.I pray that all is well and that you are being blessed on a daily basis.But,not only that,but that you recognize as well,where these blessings are coming from.God is so good to everyone of us,and ...always so much more than we deserve.I shudder to think sometimes,that if we all received what we really deserve,Heaven would be empty of people and Hell would be overflowing.Praise God for His limitless grace and mercy....Amen.
I would like to preempt the study of Psalm 1 to bring a thought to you.It really hurts deeply when someone close to you,makes a remark about your faith in God,that those who believe in Someone who can not be seen,have in some way,been "brainwashed".Over the years,I've been called many names,and have had a lot of insults hurled at me from all kinds and types of people,but when an insult comes your way from someone you love,who is offended at the Cross because of their desire to continue living as if there is no God,it hurts even worse.
I suppose even deeper than having our feelings hurt,which happens so often as a child of God,by those we love,a bigger question comes to mind,which I will get to in just a moment.As a Christian,one who really does seek to introduce Christ to a Christ-less person,often times,just the mention of the name of Jesus Christ will send demons into a fit.I do not know if this individual that I'm speaking of is demon possessed,but they certainly are demon influenced.Whenever Jesus approached the demoniac of Gadderra,they immediately recognized Jesus Christ and began to manifest themselves.We must be prepared to undergo insults,harassment,and even persecution to some extent by anyone and everyone who rejects Christ as Lord and Savior.This comes with the territory.Jesus said if they hate you,it's because they hate Me.........So,Here's the big question:Are Christians "Brainwashed" into believing in Someone who can not be seen? Are we "Brainwashed" because we choose to accept the historical and Biblical evidence that exists of a Man who lived,died and then rose again from the dead three days later? I'll be the first to admit,there are those in the world who for whatever reason,bring a stinging reproach upon the name of the Lord by being exposed for sexual perversion or some type of other impropriety.But does this really effect the truth of the Gospel,that Jesus did in fact raise from the dead? I think not!
The world says "Show me God,and I will believe!" But the answer from God is this,"Believe and I will prove My existence".To believe is equal to having faith.To choose not to believe,is unbelief,or no faith,or dead faith.Hebrews 11:6 says,"without faith (in God),it is impossible to please Him...." This same attitude of unbelief was staring Christ in the face as He hung between Heaven and Earth for our sins. The angry crowd of unbelievers,stood watching as Christ bled out,jeering at Him and taunting Him with the words,"If you be the Christ,come down off the Cross and save yourself,and then we will believe" Because of the hardness of their heart and lack of faith,they didn't realize that He was not on that Cross for anything He had done wrong,He hung there because of what we had done wrong.Our wrong is called SIN.
The Bible tells us in II Cor.4:4,"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,,who is the image of God,should shine unto them." To be called "Brainwashed" is a pretty hurtful insult,especially coming from someone you love and care about.But it is also comforting to know that it is really they who are blinded to the truth of Christ because of their unwillingness to see the "light".The god of this world,Satan,specializes in keeping men's hearts from seeing the "Light".And the best way a person knows who rejects Christ,to keep the light from shining in their eyes is to redirect it back onto the one who turns it on.
I Cor.1:18 says,"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish,foolishness;but unto us which are saved,it is the power of God." It's utter foolishness in the minds of those who reject Christ,to see the simplicity that is in this one event in human history.This is the plan of Satan,to blind men's minds (brainwash if you will),into not accepting Christ.So in reality,it is the mindset of the lost,who do not want the "Light" to shine on them,to think of others as "brainwashed".
John 3:18-20 explains it best," He that believes on Him,is not condemned:but he that believeth not is condemned already,because he hath not believed (unbelief) in the name of the only begotten Son of God.And this is the condemnation,that light (truth) is come into the world,and men loved darkness (sin) rather than light,because their deeds were evil.For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light,neither comes to the light,lest his deeds should be reproved." These are the words of the Savior Jesus Christ,He said it,and I believe it.If mankind will come to Christ in faith,their sins will be reproved,forgiven,cleansed,and forgotten.Or you can choose to go your own way and take a chance.The choice is yours,I pray you make the right choice.
In closing,I love this person and will continue praying that their mind will be opened one day.I speak the word of God over this person and believe God's promise to me that they will be saved and come to Christ.....Tomorrow,Lord willing,I will continue with the study of Psalm One............In Christ,John.
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified
From the Pastor's desk....
Good morning to all my family and friends.I pray that all is well and that you are being blessed on a daily basis.But,not only that,but that you recognize as well,where these blessings are coming from.God is so good to everyone of us,and ...always so much more than we deserve.I shudder to think sometimes,that if we all received what we really deserve,Heaven would be empty of people and Hell would be overflowing.Praise God for His limitless grace and mercy....Amen.
I would like to preempt the study of Psalm 1 to bring a thought to you.It really hurts deeply when someone close to you,makes a remark about your faith in God,that those who believe in Someone who can not be seen,have in some way,been "brainwashed".Over the years,I've been called many names,and have had a lot of insults hurled at me from all kinds and types of people,but when an insult comes your way from someone you love,who is offended at the Cross because of their desire to continue living as if there is no God,it hurts even worse.
I suppose even deeper than having our feelings hurt,which happens so often as a child of God,by those we love,a bigger question comes to mind,which I will get to in just a moment.As a Christian,one who really does seek to introduce Christ to a Christ-less person,often times,just the mention of the name of Jesus Christ will send demons into a fit.I do not know if this individual that I'm speaking of is demon possessed,but they certainly are demon influenced.Whenever Jesus approached the demoniac of Gadderra,they immediately recognized Jesus Christ and began to manifest themselves.We must be prepared to undergo insults,harassment,and even persecution to some extent by anyone and everyone who rejects Christ as Lord and Savior.This comes with the territory.Jesus said if they hate you,it's because they hate Me.........So,Here's the big question:Are Christians "Brainwashed" into believing in Someone who can not be seen? Are we "Brainwashed" because we choose to accept the historical and Biblical evidence that exists of a Man who lived,died and then rose again from the dead three days later? I'll be the first to admit,there are those in the world who for whatever reason,bring a stinging reproach upon the name of the Lord by being exposed for sexual perversion or some type of other impropriety.But does this really effect the truth of the Gospel,that Jesus did in fact raise from the dead? I think not!
The world says "Show me God,and I will believe!" But the answer from God is this,"Believe and I will prove My existence".To believe is equal to having faith.To choose not to believe,is unbelief,or no faith,or dead faith.Hebrews 11:6 says,"without faith (in God),it is impossible to please Him...." This same attitude of unbelief was staring Christ in the face as He hung between Heaven and Earth for our sins. The angry crowd of unbelievers,stood watching as Christ bled out,jeering at Him and taunting Him with the words,"If you be the Christ,come down off the Cross and save yourself,and then we will believe" Because of the hardness of their heart and lack of faith,they didn't realize that He was not on that Cross for anything He had done wrong,He hung there because of what we had done wrong.Our wrong is called SIN.
The Bible tells us in II Cor.4:4,"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ,,who is the image of God,should shine unto them." To be called "Brainwashed" is a pretty hurtful insult,especially coming from someone you love and care about.But it is also comforting to know that it is really they who are blinded to the truth of Christ because of their unwillingness to see the "light".The god of this world,Satan,specializes in keeping men's hearts from seeing the "Light".And the best way a person knows who rejects Christ,to keep the light from shining in their eyes is to redirect it back onto the one who turns it on.
I Cor.1:18 says,"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish,foolishness;but unto us which are saved,it is the power of God." It's utter foolishness in the minds of those who reject Christ,to see the simplicity that is in this one event in human history.This is the plan of Satan,to blind men's minds (brainwash if you will),into not accepting Christ.So in reality,it is the mindset of the lost,who do not want the "Light" to shine on them,to think of others as "brainwashed".
John 3:18-20 explains it best," He that believes on Him,is not condemned:but he that believeth not is condemned already,because he hath not believed (unbelief) in the name of the only begotten Son of God.And this is the condemnation,that light (truth) is come into the world,and men loved darkness (sin) rather than light,because their deeds were evil.For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light,neither comes to the light,lest his deeds should be reproved." These are the words of the Savior Jesus Christ,He said it,and I believe it.If mankind will come to Christ in faith,their sins will be reproved,forgiven,cleansed,and forgotten.Or you can choose to go your own way and take a chance.The choice is yours,I pray you make the right choice.
In closing,I love this person and will continue praying that their mind will be opened one day.I speak the word of God over this person and believe God's promise to me that they will be saved and come to Christ.....Tomorrow,Lord willing,I will continue with the study of Psalm One............In Christ,John.
