Find your own way ---TO HELL!
John 14:6 (KJV) 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I guess I must be one of the old school pastors, I believe that every word in the Bible is true. I am like Paul in many ways. But the most important is "God said it, therefore it is true period!" 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (TLB) 16The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. 17It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.
The one central focus I do see in the word of God is that from the very first verse in Genesis to the very last verse in Revelation it points us to our Father in Heaven and His Son.
Oh, yes the Bible is a great book of history and the Bible gives us windows into the future. But, most of all the Bible leads us to a better way of life or should I say living. Just like Paul said Philippians 1:21 (KJV) 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Do you fully understand this concept? Paul goes on in Galatians 2:20-21 (TLB) 20I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I am not one of those who treats Christ's death as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping Jewish laws, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Ok, do you get it yet? Each and every day I get hundreds of "prophetic" words about the future. I see hundreds of stories about how the Bible prophecies are being fulfilled faster then ever. But, the one thing I do not see is a cry from the followers of Christ for souls. There are numerous web sites dedicated to the coming rapture and how soon it will be. There are thousands of new prophets telling us thousands of different messages. The preachers are preaching the end days. Sometimes the Church (true Christians) today misses the point of its whole existence. Let's just look at the second chapter of Joel the "Spirit filled" church's battle cry. Which I happen to think is one of the most misunderstood verses. Joel 2:28-32 (NLT) 28"Then after I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. 29In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike. 30"I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth-blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. 32And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved. There will be people on Mount Zion in Jerusalem who escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called. What is the most important thing this verse says? I am willing to venture that most of you will miss it. Verse 32 is the most important part. "32And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." Mary and I in the last few years have been given so many visions of what is to come, if we did not keep journals we could not even keep track. Just last night Mary was given a vision concerning the American economy and the other day I was given a dream of preaching to crowds that did not want to hear the true Word of God! But, do you see either one of us placing these dreams or visions on the web or sending them out to our "Elijah List"? No, why? because verse 32 of Joel's prophecy is what is important to us. We see what Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-8 (NLT) 37He said to his disciples, "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. 38So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." Think about it! If Jesus was saying the Harvest was great 2000 years ago, what must it be like now!
My friends, if we truly believe that the end is near and that the Bible prophecies are being fulfilled, then why are we not preaching and teaching everyone who will listen to us about Christ's love. Instead we see the main stream church softening the gospel. We see the find your own way and worship with us. We see the love them into the church. What is wrong with the Bible thumping, Hell and damnation believing Christian? Have they all been assimilated by the lukewarm darkness covering our world? What would happen if Christians would spend more time sharing their deep love for Jesus and what He has personally done for them? When Jesus walked the earth He did not "love" people into following Him. No, He showed them that He was real and offered a better way. Is He real to you? Has he shown you a better way? An old pastor I once read of called every trial and tribulation a "new testimony". Why? because of his unshakeable faith that His Savior would prevail and rescue him. Yep. Jesus always came to his rescue and he did have another testimony to tell someone what Jesus had done for him.
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Do you feel that you cannot live in this world without His Help? Has He personally rescued you and answered your prayers? Do you feel as comfortable talking to Him as your best friend? Do you always think in every situation "WWJD" what would Jesus Do? If you cannot answer yes to each question then how can you tell anyone else that they need Jesus. The reason the 12 apostles were so successful in leading lost souls to Christ was that Christ was very, very real and personal to each one of them and they could not live without that. The reason Paul was such an "on fire for souls evangelist" was because he met Jesus up and personal.
When Smith Wigglesworth was a very young pastor our Lord taught him a very important lesson. I praise the Lord He also allowed Mary and I to learn that lesson. 1 John 5:13-15 (NLT)13I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. 15And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for. But, how can you have confidence in Jesus or anyone else for that matter, without intimate knowledge of them, a perfect union with them and relationship between you and them? Smith once said " The moment you pray you find that the heavens are opened. If you have to wait for the heavens to be opened something is wrong." That something is us not God! We are the ones who put a stop to so many things the Lord would like to do in our lives; like witnessing!
My friends if we truly do believe that we are in the end times again I ask; "why are we not on every street corner preaching the word of God?" Is it that we do not really believe? Is it that we do not really trust God at His word? Why? my friends Why? When Jesus walked this earth He said Luke 2:49 (KJV) 49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? The Greek here for business is the act of binding or to bind. So what is Jesus saying the Father's business is? Well, in this humble pastors opinion, when these words of Jesus along with the rest of the scripture is considered Jesus was sayimg that the Father's business was and still is bringing (binding) souls to the Kingdom of Heaven. So if Jesus' 33 years of life 3 years of ministry, 3 days in the grave were all about souls for heaven, then why isn't that good enough for us? If we believe the Word of God Galatians 2:20-21 (TLB) 20I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. " and Christ lives in us why do we not have the same drive, passion, heart felt sorrow for souls as He did?
I believe we are in the very end days of our world as we know it. The Lord has shown both Mary and I many visions that confirm this. But we need to have that total confidence in our Lord that he will either take us out of the trials or carry us through them. More than that we need to have the same heart felt need to bring just one more soul into heaven. Nowhere in the New Testament does it tell you to be a preacher or evangelist. NO! it tells you to share Jesus. Remember the song we sang as kids Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so! Well you may be the only Bible some people every read. Again I ask you; Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Do you feel that you cannot live in this world without His Help? Has He personally rescued you and answered your prayers? Do you feel as comfortable talking to Him as your best friend? Do you always think in every situation "WWJD" what would Jesus Do? If you cannot answer yes to each question then now is the time you need to renew your relationship with Christ before it is too late. We are in the end days. Whether it is tomorrow who knows, next year maybe, a few years cannot tell or the next moment ARE YOU READY? This world needs Jesus more than ever but if you cannot give Him to them until you truly find Him yourself.
Put it into prospective my friends! What is more important, the latest prophetic message or the soul of the stranger you meet today. I hope you just answered the soul of that stranger.
To quote a recent top ten Christian song. "People get ready! Jesus is coming!"
Are you ready my friend? If not get there!
God Bless
