Preach

Too many people who call themselves Christian do forget who Jesus really was and which tasks he had given to his followers. Today true Christians still should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and should proclaim the hopeful message of the coming Kingdom.

Real Christians should be heralds of the Gospel, eager to tell the people about the Good News, of salvation and about the hope for mankind given by the Grace of God.

As forerunner or herald Christians should be portent or indicators of something important or calamitous about to occur, perhaps an omen in the eyes of many, but for others an insurmountable event to look forward even when it might bring lots of suffering and an incredible violence. therefore we should warn the people of that last and third world war which is insuperable.

By sharing the agape love and bringing more people to see that Jesus is the way to God and the way to life, the Christian herald shall be able to make many stronger and secured against the coming disaster. Out of love for others we should tell others about the love of God, about what Jesus has done, but also about the return of Jesus and what to expect of that time of his return.

+

To remember

• Greek word most often translated as ‘preach’ is κηρύσσω – kérussó (Strong’s 2784) = Koine = ‘to be or act like a herald’ or ‘to proclaim’.
• role of a herald or Old French heraut from Frankish via herewald, literally ‘war-ruler’, > martial or commander > 3 distinct contemporary meanings:

1. A messenger
2. A harbinger
3. A steward (of heraldry -a rank/position at the College of Arms)

•  ‘preacher’ of the Gospel, = entrusted (stewardship) with a message of coming of the Kingdom of God.
• ‘to herald’ =  ‘sing the praises of’
• idea that a Christian should ‘preach the Gospel’= frowned upon. >  conjures images of street corner evangelists ranting at passing ‘sinners’
• Christian organisations involved in social action ministry > running night shelters, to discourage volunteers from speaking about Jesus – some even require a signed commitment to not proactively mention the Gospel.

What has gone wrong?  To paraphrase Peter (Acts 5:3), how has Satan so filled the hearts of Christians?  How is it that Christians feel confident enough to defy God and disobey the Great Commission?

Go into all the world and proclaim (kérussó) the gospel to the whole creation. (Mark 16:15)

‘preach’ is not:

• convicting people of their sin and telling them they are bound for hell
• talking down to people from a position of self-righteousness
• a slick presentation, a hectoring declamation or a well-honed argument.

Preaching = heralding = speaking joyfully of Jesus, singing his praises; telling people of how people are transformed in Christ, and how they can be also, through faith.

best witnesses to Christ = demonstrate love +  speak of its origin, which is Jesus; perhaps the Great Commission was given as command because Jesus knew that it would be challenging.

If witness speaks from love about hope + declares that Jesus = source of hope => herald will have done his work faithfully.

 

++

Additional reading

1. Two new encyclopaedic articles
2. Breathing to teach
3. “I Die Daily”
4. To create a great journey

+++

Related

 

1. What is meant by awareness, or witnessing?
2. Witnessing the Destruction of Nature around the Planet.
3. Man I sure wish I would’ve had one of my witnessing cards just now to send with a man.
4. A witnessing prayer
5. Witnessing the Secret Creator
6. ” Witnessing “
7. As the clock strikes 12…
8. Hope is an anchor
9. Reject And Correct Christian propaganda
10. Families embrace their community for the gospel
11. Bold to Witness
12. Being a One Talent Church
13. Come and see…
14. Hold Up The Light
15. Are You An Ambassador For Christ?
16. Are You Ready for the Harvest?
17. First Things First
18. Talking About Jesus
19. You Are Ready To Go – By Laurence Torr
20. Christianity’s Most Essential Verse

God Breathed Words

Raphael’s depiction of Paul preaching in Athens

Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.  (1 Thessalonians 2:9)

The Greek word that is most often translated as ‘preach’ is κηρύσσω – kérussó (Strong’s 2784).  The word in the Koine

View original post 648 more words

I have hope

I have hope
That the world will become better.
I have my reason for this hope;
I meet many kind,
Loving people daily;
Who are working
To make the world a better place.
I have hope;
That the combined effort of these
Loving souls
Will change the world.
I have hope;
That good will overcome evil;
As good is stronger than evil.
I have hope;
That the world will become
An excellent place
For everybody to enjoy.
I encourage you
Who love for an excellent world;
Keep on; persist;
Your efforts will be rewarded.
We will have an excellent world;
And everybody will enjoy;
It will take long;
But it will come.
I have hope;
And invite you ALSO to have hope.

An uncovering book to explore

Now Summer has come to us we have more time to sit outdoors and relax. Ideal time to take up the Book of books to read in it. We have the whole of God’s Word to read and inspire us whenever we feel like doing so. Though many people like to postpone Bible reading. Some are also afraid to be confronted with the words which they might find inside. To prorogue reading the Bible shall keep a lot of wisdom from them. Holding off Bible reading will withhold us from useful help. Protracting a confrontation with the Word of God shall only make it more difficult for the person to find a satisfying life which shall be righteous in the eyes of the Most High Divine Creator.

“Which Book, Holy Bible” – NARA – 516150 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To understand past and evolution to the future, our position in life, our way to follow, we could use that what is brought to us in that old library of 66 books.

Many want others to believe that it is

dang hard. {J.S. Parks Five Primers On How To Study The Bible}

but it does not have to be so hard as they say. When you start with the right open mind and good attitude you should be able to trace back those old sayings and enjoy the different genres of literature the Bible presents. Like any book we come to read we do not have to expect to see clear (in everything) straight ahead. We do need time to reflect and to let the material come into our mind, having it come to grow, like a mustard seed.

Though those writings may be written long ago for people who lived ages ago, the words still are very useful and edifying for today. Whatever mood we are in those words can enlighten us and change our mood for the better. When we are willing to have those words come unto us they shall do.

Every time you open the Bible, believe that God has something for you. Believe it. At every moment, good and bad, up or down, in all seasons, the Bible will speak.  The Holy Spirit convicts you of all truth. Be ready for it to push against you, to disagree with you, to challenge what you always thought was true. The Word of God is a sword that will cut you to your soul, exposing all. {J.S. Parks Five Primers On How To Study The Bible}

The Bible is much more than just the message of Jesus. It is the message of God. Some might want you to believe that as an unbeliever you are nothing with the Bible. They say, like J.S.Park, that it is crazy to those without Jesus, and want us to believe that it only can be the saving truth to believers. but the Biblical message is a message of hope, peace and message of salvation for all.

We should know that all Scripture is breathed out of God, useful for everybody and for everything we do and who we are. No matter if you believe or to have faith, confidence, or trust in this or that or do not believe in this or that or trust what one has heard. Be sure not everything what so called believers belief is true. Many, not to say the majority in Christendom belief nonbilical things. The ones who try to keep to the Bible in Christianity are often fought against and shunned by so called ‘Christians‘. Therefore it is not bad to come to see what is really written in that book of books.

To come to a real good exploration of the Bible you should start with a fully open mind, undone from the traditional human doctrines and willing to read what is really written there on those uncovering pages.

Lots of people want to get as much gain as possible from everything what comes into their hands. They should know that we are not here to  hoard treasures down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. We are better to find more useful treasures by reading in the Bible.  From those words we can learn a lot and build up a stronger character. It shall also learn us how to stockpile treasures in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars.

Your eyes are windows into your body and you have to use them to see into yourself. The Bible is your looking glass and your best tool to get to know yourself and those around you. Perhaps you will not see it at first, but given time you will come to see. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! Pulling up the blinds are the shutters you will come step by step to more insight and closer to the truth. You also shall start feeling how higher forces will come to guide you.

This doesn’t mean you’ll “feel something” every time you read Scripture. But meditate on even a tiny scrap of a verse and let it sit. The Bible has the very words of God pouring out His heart for you. He is big, but by His Word, He is so close. Hear it as a friend speaking, as a leader leading. Be encouraged and convicted. {J.S. Parks Five Primers On How To Study The Bible}

Quadruple combination opened to the Book of Isaiah – note the cross references between Biblical and Latter-day Saint scripture in the footnotes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Those writings from the old times are still of use for us. It are the Words from God and from people God wanted us to hear their voices. Words from good and bad people are written down so that we can learn from what went right and what went wrong. They are words which we should embrace and believe. They do come from the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless as in our times. (Romans 4:23-24)  Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. (Romans 15:4)

In the knowledge that  every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way, it is a major manual to guide us through life in easy and in difficult times. Knowing also that some very difficult times soon may arrive, we are better to prepare ourselves for that great war which shall come over humankind. A forewarned is forearmed.

Therefore this Summer do not hesitate to take up the Bible and let yourself be carried away by its stories. Through the Word you may be put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for you. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard — God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to the apostles who took care like the other men of God that the messengers of God their words would be told to the next generations. We do well to keep focusing on those precious words. When you are feeling blue or are not happy, feeling tired, or when you feel pleased with what you have, come to see the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

When reading it we should leave the human words, which tried us to belief certain things, for what they are, and go deeper in to study what is really written in the Bible.  We are convinced when you try to read the Bible, listening to the words like they are written there, it is not such a difficult book at all.

Good luck with it.

+

Preceding articles:

Summerholiday season time to read the Bible

Holiday making and dreaming

Home-stayers and their to do lis

Genre – Playing by the Rules

The Need to Understand Genre

A Dutch version / Een Nederlandse versie: Zomertijd ideaal op met Bijbellezing aan te vangen

++

Additional reading:

1. Catholicism, Anabaptism and Crisis of Christianity
2. A question to be posed
3. A way to look for Christ, the Bible, Word of God
4. Youth has difficulty Bible Reading
5. Some one or something to fear #3 Cases, folks and outing
6. The Right One to follow and to worship
7. People Seeking for God 1 Looking for answers
8. People Seeking for God 2 Human interpretations
9. People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions
10. People Seeking for God 6 Strategy
11. Not able to make contact with God because to busy
12. The truth is very plain to see and God can be clearly seen
13. Relapse plan
14. Being Religious and Spiritual 6 Romantici, utopists and transcendentalists
15. Being Religious and Spiritual 7 Transcendence to become one
16. Being Religious and Spiritual 8 Spiritual, Mystic and not or well religious
17. Engagement in an actual two-way conversation with your deities
18. Creator and Blogger God 10 A Blog of a Book 4 Listening to the Blogger
19. Challenging claim 4 Inspired by God 3 Self-consistent Word of God
20. Statutes given unto us
21. Written down in God’s Name for righteousness
22. Unread bestseller
23. Do Christians need to read the Old Testament
24. We should use the Bible every day
25. Daily Spiritual Food To prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of God
26. Daily portion of heavenly food
27. Feed Your Faith Daily
28. The importance of Reading the Scriptures
29. Bible, best Book of books to get to know the truth
30. Necessity of a revelation of creation 9 Searching the Scriptures
31. Necessity of a revelation of creation 10 Instructions for insight and wisdom
32. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
33. God who knows the heart
34. Jehovah God Almighty greater than all gods
35. Glory of only One God Who gives His Word
36. Necessary to be known all over the earth
37. Hearing words to accept
38. Writers needed to preach to non-believers
39. Perishable non theologians daring to go out to preach
40. Appointed to be read
41. Bric-a-brac of the Bible
42. Absolute Basics to Reading the Bible
43. How to Choose a Bible for Preaching
44. The Third Word: Scripture twisting is blasphemy
45. Interpreting the Scriptures (Part 5)
46. The holy spirit will bring back to your minds all the things told
47. Building up the spirit of the soul
48. Be an Encourager
49. God’s never-ending stream of much-needed mercies
50. Displeasure of יהוה , Jehovah the God of gods, and His wrath against all the gentiles their divisions
51. Believing in the send one and understanding that one does not live by bread alone
52. Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #3 as a Christian
53. The manager and Word of God
54. Accuracy, Word-for-Word Translation Preferred by most Bible Readers
55. The Metaphorical language of the Bible
56. Scripture alone Sola Scriptora

+++

Related articles

• What need of these things?
• Are you still hearing parables?
• Have you been shaken?
• Old language to confirm the promises
• The holy spirit will bring back to your minds all the things told

What I Hope For Is What You Hope For

The world, coming closer to the shofar sounds or the trumpet-sounds for the Last Days, shall have to face not such nice moments, undergoing violence and lots of sorrow. But those living in this world should also know we should make sound the strings and winds of the hope put in front of us.

The world may look gruesome for some, but underneath its shadow can be a bright light, hidden in the darker corners, by those who do not want to see.

In the past many promises were made, by human beings and by Some One Supreme, Who is mightier than all who said they were going to give but did not. The Divine Creator showed His Good Hands already to many. Many of His promises are already fulfilled. Some shall still have to be fulfilled, but several people living on this earth do believe they shall come reality soon.
The hope they have in their hearths is a living hope which should be given to others as well so that they too may find the light and the living hope.

Therefore let us bring the sound of hope in this world and show other how such hope can change the inner person, creating a base for freedom and peace.

May we give each other a message of hope and a message of love and spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God, where all good hope shall be fulfilled in a world of peace.

+

Please do find also to read:

1. Within despair
2. Watch out
3. Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement
4. Faith and trial
5. A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
6. Faith Over Fear
7. Signs of the Last Days
8. Hope for the future
9. A concrete picture of what is to come in the future
10. God’s promises
11. God’s promises to us in our sufferings
12. Without God no purpose, no goal, no hope
13. People Seeking for God 2 Human interpretations
14. People Seeking for God 3 Laws and directions
15. Heed of the Saviour
16. 1 Corinthians 15 Hope in action
17. Fragments from the Book of Job #1: chapters 1-12
18. Fragments from the Book of Job #3: chapters 21-26
19. How long to wait before bringing religiousness and spirituality in practice
20. Blogging in the world for Jesus and his Father
21. Putting your feelings into words and sharing them

+++

Related articles

• No circumstance is your final destination. It can be changed, even if it seems impossible (ingalizdenyte.me)
  After overcoming personal tragedy and successfully building a new  life after  losing both of my legs and the use of my left arm in a car accident, I have a passion to help others implement their goals and change/improve their lives.  I want to share with you what empowered me to change my life and achieve goals that truly seemed impossible, so you and anyone can do it too, no matter what situation is in your life. My tough, but incredible life journey shows that it’s not what happens to us what determines our destiny, but how we respond to it and what we choose to do about it. At the same time, it is a living testimony of God’s power to restore the broken and turn the impossible into possible. My faith became stronger than ever before.  I am eager to share it with the world, so anyone can experience God’s incredible power, and be an over-comer, leading a victorious life. Since my passion is to touch many people’s lives by sharing my message to inspire, empower and strengthen faith in Jesus Christ, I want to ask you: If you know someone, who you think may benefit from my blogs, would you please share it with them. Sometimes our simple act or a good word might change somebody’s life..
• Think on these things: The Faithfulness of God (revthechristianlife.wordpress.com)

  God is faithful. He is faithful to fulfill every promise in His Word. Sometimes we think God isn’t faithful because it appears He has not fulfilled a desire that we have. Sometimes we think He is not faithful because of a crisis event that seems to say God isn’t faithful. We must remember that God is more concerned about accomplishing His ultimate purpose in the life of every believer than giving us the desires of our heart. Sometimes this results in hardship.

  The Bible is full of accounts of God’s faithfulness that was often accompanied by hardship.

• The Meaning of Rosh Hashannah, The Feast of Trumpets: Wednesday September 4, 2013 (jscotthusted.wordpress.com)
  Rosh Hashannah is a time when we want to set His plan of good as our highest goal; to be those who are working Life rather than death in the earth. On this day, and during the ten days to follow, we admit our wrongs and commit to change bad patterns in our lives;  we spend more time talking to God directly and openly; we extend ourselves to others, and we give of ourselves to fill the need of our neighbor. The following is a reflection on the major elements of the traditional Rosh Hashannah service.
• It’s Not a Blind Faith (challies.com)
  Yesterday was election day here in Ontario and the results did not go the way I had hoped. We have the same government as the day before, but with a much clearer and stronger mandate. I find it a particularly troubling and even threatening mandate. In the aftermath I find my faith being tested. Can I find joy today? Am I going to believe Romans 13:2 today? “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” God knew this. God saw this. God allowed this. God instituted even these authorities. Will I believe it? Will I find joy in it?
• Is God Your Steering Wheel, or Your Spare Tire? (ptl2010.com)
  I assure you, if you lean on God‘s truths with hopefulness and faithfulness, He will return you to His land…the land He has promised… the land of healing, joy, wholeness, peacefulness, health, and blessing. Doesn’t a land flowing with milk and honey sound good to you? It does to me!
• I Need Thee Every Hour (girlfriendscoffeehour.com)
  I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby
  Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh

  I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain
  Come quickly and abide, or life is vain

• Like a Child (prayersofmysoul.wordpress.com)
  We are the children of God. He wanted each one of us to to come closer to Him. The Kingdom of God belongs to each one of us. The Kingdom of God is our destiny.

  We are the child of God. He provided all that we need even before He created man. In the words of Mother Teresa, she simplified this truth in the most basic and simple idea for us to understand and accept.

  What are the qualities of a child that God wants from us? Like a Child… God our Father ..is

  Asking us to have an absolute, unconditional, and unwavering confidence in God our loving Father, even when everything seems to be a total failure..

• Sounding of the Shofar (guapotg.wordpress.com)
  Sleepers, arise from your slumber, and those who are dozing, awake from your lethargy. Review your actions, repent your sins, and remember your Creator! Those who forget the truth with the passing of time and who waste their years pursuing vanity and folly that is purposeless and cannot save you – look into your souls and improve your ways and your deeds. Let all abandon the ways of evil and thoughts that offer no benefit.
• One Hundred Sounds (guapotg.wordpress.com)
  We learn that when the people of Israel hear the shofar sounded on Rosh Hashanah, they are brought to a level wherein they are indeed capable of bringing about the final redemption. When they sound the shofar in fulfillment of the precepts of the day, their closed hearts are opened, they regret their sins, and their thoughts turn to repentance. Satan knows the power of the sounds of the shofar. Though they might originate from man’s lips, they can well culminate with the coming of Mashiach ben David.

You'll Soon Be Flying

Hope.
Hope for tomorrow. Hope for now. Hope for more. Hope for change. Hope for what doesn’t. Hope for what must.

Hope keeps me alive.
Hope keeps me going. Hope walks alongside me when I am less than full. Hope. Hope for better. Hope for courage. Hope for our youth. Hope for the future. Hope for bliss. Hope for blissfully unaware moments. Hope for moments that last for lifetimes.

Hope for long ways home.
Hope for hometowns that never change. Hope for front doors that never close. Hope for families who seem the same. Hope for hearts that are always open. Hope for the young to learn from the old. Hope for the old to believe in the young.

Hope for happy.
Hope for what is to come. Hope for coming home. Hope for chasing hearts. Hope for catching stars. Hope for growing dreams. Hope for finding love in small…

View original post 107 more words

Asking for a Re-Blog

Who would not to have many readers on his blog? Those writing on the internet do they not want to share their words with many?
We are no exception. We would love to reach as much people as possible. We would love to bring a message of hope and peace, and show others in the world that there is much beauty to enjoy.

People should also be aware tat they can help each other and do have the possibility to play an important role in spreading some kind of writing, certain messages, either good or bad news. The world encounters already lots of messages of disasters, accidents, wars and all sorts of bad things.Why not having some more positive news. We do hope we shall be able to find enough people who want to contribute to bring more positive news.

Image via CrunchBase

In case Jason and others could help to get more readers, who would mind? Marcus Ampe does like the effort Word Press does to bring more ideas into the world. WordPress now encourages through their front page and “tips” the interaction of bloggers. And Marcus has also liked interaction and wanted to see more people co-operating. Most of the bloggers have a daily life, with a job to sustain them. But somehow they want to find time to communicate with others. That way they also want to grow. We too, would like to communicate with many readers and grow.

Lets all go for it.

Related articles

• Are Bloggers Pleased With Google Blogger?
• On A Chance Encounter with Marcus Aurelius
• No Plans Survive Encountering Your Contractor
• Blogger Applications Are Open!
• Blogger Award :O
• Sorry for screaming and yelling!
• How to Embed Google Map in Blogger Blog?
• Day 5: E is for Eastern Market
• Oh Bye, Ohio: Top 10 Blogging Lessons from Content Marketing World 2012