Adrian Rogers this morning: When Christmas guests walk into your home, may they say, “This is a home that loves.” Love is not only the greatest virtue; it is also the greatest commandment. Jesus Himself said that love for God is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37–40). If love is the greatest commandment, then what would be the greatest sin? It must be the failure to love, because that would be breaking the greatest commandment. Love is the greatest virtue and the greatest commandment. It is the greatest testimony!
We cannot just preach to the choir, yes, they need continued encouragement and teaching, but we need to seek new members to the choir, to the Kingdom of God. We must leave our Churches and seek. We need to carry out The Great commission, see more below in a post by Pastor Don Kimbro.
We need to awake to the fact as to what we are doing as a people is not working. I really beleive we are trying to convince ourselves that things are going to be okay.
The type of problem that we face cannot not be controlled by man. Violence will continue even with more police officers. You cannot predict crime. This is why I have said for years, JESUS is the answer. It is why I Preach! JESUS IS THE ONLY ANSWER, OUR ONLY HOPE! We are not cutting the mustard! We used that saying back home when we were not making a difference, not getting the job done, that fits us all. There has to be a shift in all people, including the Church. Can you imagine how our police officers feel? Many Officers in Albuquerque told me when they start their shift they are already way behind on calls, they cannot answer all calls. It is not only Albuquerque, but it is all over America, Satan is having his way with many, even in our small communities across the land. Thank you KOB TV for this report, digging in and giving us the facts: KOB TV Report
We are losing our City and our Country to violence. JESUS is the answer not man or woman. Sailor Kills 2 at Pearl Harbor and Himself
APS Mistake Led to Teen Being Held For Murder
Postal Worker Shot at Virginia Post Office
Minds controlled by Satan. I know that sounds far out there too many, as so many so called Christians to not beleive in Satan.
Church, we cannot give up, we have to do everything in love, but we must awake and carry out the Great Commission. We must occupy until Jesus returns. Our politics is not working, our leaders are at war with each other.
As long as we are divided as a nation, we will not get any better, just worse. the road we are going down is very dangerous. Love like Jesus commands us. You attract people with the love of Jesus, not hate.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.
–John 13:34-35
We all need a life verse to look at every morning as we get started, mine is……
“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” -Acts 20:24
A huge key is to find a need and meet it with the love of Christ. The greater the need, the greater the opportunity.
Dr. Jim Denison says: I believe God wants us to see the problems of our day as our responsibility. Since we are the only salt and light in a decaying, dark world (Matthew 5:13–16), it is our job to take the transforming light of Christ to those who need it most.
In explaining his desire to defend “mere” Christianity rather than engage in matters of academic dispute, C. S. Lewis stated: “That part of the line where I thought I could serve best was also the part that seemed to be thinnest. And to it I naturally went.”
Where on the “line” will you serve today?
We have a war on our hands here in America, Spiritual Warfare. The Truth About Spiritual Warfare
Silent Night……Silent Church?
How can this be true of a nation founded upon Christianity? Does not the motto, “One Nation under God” have any meaning today? What has happened to our beloved country? This patriot veteran, flag-waving American old man, sees at least a large contributing factor.
Someone’s stats claim that only 7% of Americans attend Christian church services on Sundays. I’m not sure about this figure, but I have seen the following played out in church after church where I have ministered through prayer revival ministry: less than 1/2 of 1% of those who attend church interrupt their busy lives praying for their homes, churches, communities, and nation. Far less than 10% of the average Sunday morning attending persons will ever darken the door of the church’s prayer meetings. Approximately three-fourths of those who will come have had little or no discipleship in prayer, as shown in the things and manner in which they pray together. Individuals and churches that see no value in prayer or developing an intimate relationship with Christ Jesus has left their First Love!
“These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:1-5).
Now, that will profoundly explain much of our nation’s problems!
Now, beloved Christian is the time to finally get serious about Jesus in intimacy, and serious about prayer! Pray! Learn how and what to pray! Pray! Pray some more! Discover what the nation, states, communities, churches, and families need to get back in God’s favor, and pray those things with fervor, fighting, contending, standing, expecting, “so that” praying, and continue until the answers come; changes take place. Real soul-saving, life-changing, revival bringing prayer!
Church, fall back in deep love with your First Love, Jesus the Christ! Now is the time to stop being silent about not only the reason for the season, but the Reason for all that has been created and redeemed.
Don’t just wish a Merry Christmas; be a Merry Christmas, and go on to explain why Christmas is “Merry” and Joy-filled! Pray On
Thank you Pastor Jerry!
What can the Church do? What can you and I do? We are commanded to carry out the Great Commission. This is not a political issue, which many make it, it is a JESUS issue, plain and simple. Pray for our Law Enforcement Officers, they face hell everyday.
“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields” (Matthew 9:37-38).
I have been a pastor for more than forty years. In the process I have started churches, led existing churches, mentored new believers and pastors, shared the gospel on the mission field, taught Arabs in Israel, worked for a well-known parachurch ministry to prisons and have started several new ministries, including one as a chaplain to auto racers. Zoom. Zoom.
But there’s one thing I have learned that stands out above everything else and that is that the ministry of the church is first and foremost to proclaim, teach, preach and share the gospel wherever we are and wherever we go to every person who will listen.
I don’t believe there are any exemptions to this calling. It is not the sole domain of the offices of the church, the apostles, prophets, evangelists or pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12). It doesn’t make any difference whether you are male or female, young or old, rich or poor, professional or blue collar, sophisticated or otherwise, a new believer or old salt, married or single, retired or just beginning your career. If you are a true believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s calling on your life is to spread the good news about what Jesus did for you through his death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
These final instructions were on the heart of our Savior as he met with his disciples during the forty days he was on the earth between his resurrection and ascension into heaven. His mandate to them was what we call the Great Commission or evangelism, which is winning the lost by preaching the gospel. The specific directions consisted of five different statements Jesus made in this regard and which he commanded his disciples to inaugurate after his departure. And they did. Aren’t we glad!
Here are those five statements Jesus gave to his followers, first in Jerusalem, then in Galilee and finally at the Mount of Olives. I call them the Message, the Model, the Magnitude, the Method and the Means.*
The Message
And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. — Luke 24:46-48
Notice the emphasis on repentance and forgiveness of sins and proclaiming that message to all nations.
The Model
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” — John 20:21-23
Notice the emphasis on sending out the disciples and receiving the Holy Spirit and to teach God’s forgiveness and judgment.
The Magnitude
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
— Mark 16:15-18
Notice the emphasis on going into all the world and preaching to everyone and the signs that would follow those who believed.
The Method
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. — Matthew 28:18-20
Notice the emphasis on going to all nations, baptizing and making disciples by teaching them his commandments.
The Means
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. — Acts 1:8-9
Notice the emphasis on receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to witness and then going to the end of the earth to do it.
Every true believer and every church that exists is commissioned to follow in the footsteps of these first disciples. We have been given our instructions. How are we doing? Maranatha!
*Dr. Marvin J. Newell, Commissioned, pp. 23-25.
To help us walk closer with God and to know Him better.
I have said for years that we are in deep trouble in this Country, that of course includes the Church. So many do not know God! I have called for the Church to carry out The Great Commission in the love of Jesus! America needs missionaries right here!!!!!!! The Church needs to get down to the business of God and not the business of man and politics. I say that politics has become a religion too many…..that is very, very sad! Too many worship politicians and not God. I asked this question last night of all of us: The WW II Generation is said to be our greatest generation ever! What will we be remembered for? The downfall of America? Now let is hear From Man of God Dr. Denison:
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