The Church is Under Attack…

 

PastorJDO3

For years we have declared, ” ‘The church is under attack’
but I believe that ‘The church is being critiqued!’ “
Johnny Ogletree, III

I know what you’re thinking, Critiqued! What sinful being dares critique the righteous church? Honestly, millions upon millions of sinners, and rightly so.

Jesus said in John the 17th Chapter His prayer was that we “would be one” just like He and the Father were one. Jesus knew that the lost world would be watching the church closely, making an assessment of what they were witnessing. He experienced walking the earth, the examination of the crowed, understanding the challenge of enlightening others and making believers from the skeptics.

Amidst the miracles and the magnificent messages, was the close examination of the actions of Jesus. People wanted to match the message of Christ with the laws of the Kingdom. His deity was on display, but His…

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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.

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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.

 

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Additional reading

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

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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

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Proclaiming: a task given to Christians

Christians get their title by their baptism in the Body of Christ (the Church). By receiving that title normally they are supposed to recognise Jesus Christ as the Messiah and to be willing to follow him.

In this world we do find lots of people who call themselves Christian but do not follow Christ and often even do not keep to the teachings and ordinances of their so called church or denomination. We may find lots of people who say they are a Christian but who live contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Their lives are rooted in the world. They keep to heathen festivals and when they worship some one it are a three-headed god and saints, instead of keeping to the only One True God of Israel, the God of Jesus. By living a contrary life Jehovah God will not know them and they will not be saved. There are people that go to churches that teach doctrines contrary to the Bible and by continuing to go to them they are distancing themselves from the Only True God.

A lot of christians do not mind to keep their faith for themselves, not sharing it with others. They forget that the Nazarene master teacher Jesus wants his followers to help connect all people to the life-giving message of him. Jesus wants as many as possible to experience God and having them to find freedom, have them to discover purpose and to make a difference in our world.

Jesus wants us to say on each day

“Give thanks to Jehovah; praise Him and proclaim His name! Celebrate His works among the peoples – make his deeds known. Tell the nations how glorious how great He is and declare that His Name is exalted. {Isaiah 12:4}

All people should come to know that authority has been given to Jesus (in heaven and on earth) and therefore we should not hesitate to proclaim the message of the Good News, and should also make disciples of^[f] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything Jesus has commanded his disciples. {Matthew 28: 18-20}

¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “Go everywhere in the world, and ·tell [preach; proclaim] the ·Good News [Gospel] to ·everyone [all creation]. ¹⁶ Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who does not believe will be ·punished [condemned]. ¹⁷ And those who believe will be able to do these things as ·proof [signs]: They will use my name to ·force [drive; cast] out demons. They will speak in new ·languages [tongues]. ¹⁸ They will pick up snakes and drink poison without being hurt. They will ·touch [lay hands on] the sick, and the sick will ·be healed [recover].” {Mark 16:15-18 EXB}

Believers in Christ and his God should not be afraid of the badness which may surround them. They should show that they might be stronger than it when trusting in the Most High God. Not by our own means can we do things but we must count on the power of the Holy Spirit (God’s Force).

It is no difference than in the time of Jesus Christ. There is no reason at all to think there has to be done no preaching any more. The opposite, today it is even of more utmost importance than in the time of Christ Jesus. When Jesus was walking around in the planes of Jerusalem and Galilee he could perhaps encounter much more believers in the Only One true God than we can today in our regions. Today, around us are much more unbelievers and worshippers of binary, trinary and other multiple godheads, than in the region where Christ walked around.

Today there is also a much more hostile environment for those who want to worship the Only One True God, Jehovah. Already by hearing the Name of God lots of people raise their voice.

Let us take at heart what Jesus said to his disciples:

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve men with the following ·order [instructions]: “Don’t go ·to [^Lon the way/road of] the ·Gentiles [non-Jewish people] or ·to [^Lenter] any town where the Samaritans live. ⁶ But go to the ·people of Israel, who are like lost sheep [^Llost sheep of the house of Israel]. ⁷ When you go, ·preach [announce; proclaim] this: ‘The kingdom of heaven is ·near [at hand].’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead to life again, ·heal [^Lcleanse] ·those who have skin diseases [^Tthe lepers; see 8:2], and ·force demons out of people [^Lcast out demons]. ·I give you these powers freely, so help other people freely [^LFreely you have received, freely give]. ⁹ Don’t ·carry [or acquire] any money ·with you [^Lin your belts]—gold or silver or copper. ¹⁰ Don’t carry a ·bag [traveler’s bag; or beggar’s purse] or ·extra clothes [^Ltwo tunics] or sandals or a ·walking stick [staff]. Workers ·should be given what they need [deserve to be supported; ^Ldeserve their food/sustenance].

¹¹ “When you enter a city or town, ·find [seek out] some ·worthy [honorable; respected] person there and stay in that home until you leave. ¹² When you enter that home, ·give it your blessing [^Lgreet it; ^Ctypically, “Peace be with you”; see Luke 10:5]. ¹³ If the ·people there welcome you [^Lhouse is worthy], let your peace ·stay there [^Lcome upon it]. But if ·they don’t welcome you [^Lit is not worthy], ·take back the peace you wished for them [^Llet your peace return to you]. ¹⁴ And if ·a home or town [^Lanyone] refuses to welcome you or ·listen to you [heed your words/message], leave that ·place [^Lhome or town] and shake its dust off your feet [^Cin protest and as a warning of judgment]. ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, on the judgment day it will be ·better [more bearable/tolerable] for the ·towns [^Lland] of Sodom and Gomorrah [^Cevil cities destroyed by God; Gen. 19] than for the people of that town. {Matthew 10:5-15 EXB}

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Preceding

To proclaim the day of vengeance

Not all christians are followers of a Greco-Roman culture

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Additional reading

1. The Nazarene master teacher learning people how they should behave
2. As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude
3. Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people
4. Breathing to teach
5. Blogging in the world for Jesus and his Father
6. Sharing thoughts and philosophical writings
7. Going deep into cultures to reach lost people
8. Engaging the culture without losing the gospel
9. How do I know if I’m called to ministry?
10. Priest, scribes and others with authority
11. Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
12. Oratory Style
13. What Should I Preach ?

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Further reading

1. 1. What Does the Lord Require? :: Prayers of the People
   2. A Day in Capernaum: Proclaiming Release to the Prisoners
   3. Send us Out
   4. Evangelize: Downtown Boise With Love
   5. Feed on His Faithfulness
   6. Attitude is Everything
   7. When Does Grace Run Out?

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• Sunday reflection: Matthew 28:16-20 and John 17:1 – 11
• Synagogue Church Attack: Christian youths demand probe, compensation for T.B Joshua
• Women Who Work for the Mormon Church Can Now Wear Pants
• Southern Baptists vote overwhelmingly to condemn ‘alt-right white supremacy’

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.

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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

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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

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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