Praise the Lord everybody, let everything that has breath praise ye the Lord!! The praises of the Lord will continually be in my mouth. Like Job I say "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!" I have been shut in since January due to snow and a broken elevator but I have learned to be content and accept what God allows. God knows what's good for me and I'm learning to accept this. I pray everyone out there is also growing stronger in their faith and trust in the Lord.
As I was studying the other day I was thinking about how great it must have been to preach the Gospel back in the early church, not easy but great. Great to be bringing a fresh, new message to the people. Only true believers, men zealous and sold out for the Lord would even dare to be associated with "Christians" let alone preach the Gospel.
The Apostles were such men, fully converted, Holy Ghost filled men of God who's faith was unshakable and everywhere they preached signs and wonders followed. They were men of authority, appointed by the Holy Spirit. When Peter was walking into the temple at the gated called Beautiful they exhibited such power in Acts 3:1-8 3 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
The power of God was able to flow freely then. The Church had not yet become THE Church. The Gospel was fresh and new and people came out just to hear the "Good news" and be forgiven of their Sin and saved. Yes, those must have been good times, all you had to worry about was being able to practice your beliefs freely. There were no "Christian theologians" to contend with no "Church folk", no usher or Deacon boards or self-indulgent old timers and backroom power brokers wanting to be "shot callers" in the body of Christ.
There was no "Gospel-lite" a Gospel that has been so watered down over the past 2000 years that in some Churches it is hardly recognizable. Paul said to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
People no longer want to hear the pure, full council of God and Pastors want to keep their sanctuaries and their offerings full. So today you find that most preachers have entered into an agreement with their members, "you keep coming and paying your tithes and offerings and I will give you some "ear candy" every Sunday.
Thanks be to God that Heis raising up a remnant of Holy Ghost filled, full Gospel preaching men of God, Who are preaching Holiness and are not trying to build their own empire. They are true Kingdom builders, the Kingdom of God that is. These men are like John the Baptist, voices crying out in the wilderness. We need to again flock to these voices and HEAR the word of God and then we need to become these voices. My Pastor is one of these voices, some call him a legalistic, hardliner and a separatist homophobic. But the truth of the matter is that he is an uncompromising holy man of God who believes in preaching and teaching the full council of God's word. There are others out there and they need our support, not our disdain.
God bless you all, Brother Darrell, Speaking Off The Wall
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