JD, why is it that whenever someone
resists a message in the OT they simply pass it off by saying “That was
just for the Jews”? Is Jewish nature different from Gentile nature?
Is God a respecter of persons? The truth is unrepentant, unsaved sinners
are the same, nomatter their race or creed. They are not inside God’s
love barrier—which is crossed only by repentance in Christ’s
redemption—but on the outside. That is why prophets must warn them of
where they are. Those with tender hearts respond by heeding the message,
and are saved. Izzy
Prov 18:10 10The
name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 6:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Bulk] [TruthTalk]
Street Preaching
I personally have reason to respect Ruben
Israel. My comments are not personal. But
--- "different strokes for different
folks" is my response
to Ruben's
defense. What is in evidence, I suppose, is that preaching
(including "street preaching") is an acceptable vehicle for
spreading the message of hope. Except for the Noah example, what we
have is a series of examples of how the message was presented to the
children of God ----------- the Jews. We
are repeatedly reminded that among these people of God, few would
respond. Perhaps Heb
6:4-6 explains why. No doubt, preaching the message of God's love apart
from His disappointment (His wrath) gives one something less than the
full picture. I incorporate the message of love in my ministry
becau se of the information I find in the letters of the apostles and
prophets. The commands that bear repeating in I John are
"love God" and "love the brethren." We are
reminded that " no one has seen God at any time -- but if we love
one another, God abides in us" I J 4:12. In fact,
"if God loved us, we should love others" ( I J 4:11). I
include the radical notion of love in my ministry because I see it in the words
of Paul -- "I become all things to all men so that
by all means I might save some." The fulfillment of the Law
gave us liberty -- but Paul reminds us that we are constrained
by -------------------------- aaaaaahhhhh love !!
" The gospel of John presents the very reason for the
Incarnation -- "Because God loved the
world ...." The Fatherhood of God is an exclusive New
Testament consideration. At the centre of
Fatherhood is this thing we seek to exclude ---------
love. We dare not forget the very essence
of God -- expressed in the statement "God is love."
The letters of the apostles are full of considerate dialogue and loving
guidance. Paul reminds us that knowledge has its limitations, but if
we love, we are known by God. Where harsh straight talk may
be the way to the Jewish heart, it certainly was not the norm in
other venues. I include love in my ministry because
people need to know about it. Salute.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ruben Israel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sun, 15 May 2005 14:46:34 -0700
Subject: Re: [Bulk] [TruthTalk] Street Preaching
To
those that wish to comment on "street preaching," take note:
Noah was called a "preacher of righteousness" during his time slot he
preached righteousness to a perverted people and did anyone get saved? Would it
have been more prudent for him to use his three sons and maybe start a band,
singing to sinners in that wicked generation and using this friendship
evangelism rather than preaching?
Isaiah was told to "Lift aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a
trumpet, and shew my people
their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins" (Is.58:1). Do we
find Isaiah preaching a message of God wants you just the way you are? Find out
how many messages he preached using the word "Woe" vs. "God loves you".
Jeremiah was told to go and cry out against cities, people, individuals and a
temple, his message was about as in your face as one can get. Should he have
possibly just tried to get to know everyone, maybe coffee and pie, perhaps this
result would have been fruitful and the message would have been accepted? In
retrospect was it all Jeremiah's
fault?
Ezekiel, now here is someone I enjoy reading, this man uses more visual aids
with his preaching (see Ezekiel for details) and again where do we find this
message of God loves you even once in forty eight chapters? He was the watchman
warning sinners of their sin. Ringing the bell, sounding the alarm, echoing
caution, pointing out the sin trying to get into the camp (Ezk. 3 & 33).
These are just a few men that preached in public a message in an ear that no
one wanted to hear and that is why these men were persecuted, jailed and killed
for it. When God sent someone like these individuals out of the bull pen you
best take heed and understand that this is your wake up call. Is that only Old
Testament?
Well let's see, enter John the Baptist and his message was not "I love you
and so does God." He name called, preached a hard message to the
religious, warned about God's wrath with fire, and demanded fruit meet for
repentance (Mt.3:5-12). And must I note that he was a voice "crying in the
wilderness" which is not weeping or lamenting but crying out loud.
Understand that one must do it the way God wants it done. Noah did not just
build a boat, nor were four walls lifted and called a temple. But these were
done the way God specifically wanted it done, we have consistency in both Old
and New Testaments.
Did Jesus ever preach God loves you just the way you are to anyone? That is
common today, was it with Jesus? His message was repent (Mt.417) and our Lord
did raise His voice (see John 7:28, 37) also read feeding the thousands and
teaching them. Without raising the voice? Jesus preached more on hell fire than
the love of God , and talk about name calling read Matthew 23, or he condemned
whole generations for being faithless and adulterous. He "Woe'ed" three cities that now
no longer exist, He upbraided
those cities that did not repent (that is the strongest form of rebuke) and if
His whole life was preaching love and forgiveness why would they kill Him? Did
he not tell the disciples "The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it,
that the works thereof are evil." This is the reason they hated and killed
our Lord. He testified that the world was evil which our job is as public
preachers, not to gain favor with people. We expose sin in the public place
where it parades and offer the remedy to the problem. Who cares if I offend the
whole world, my hope is not to offend God.
Acts chapter two we find Peter on the day of Pentecost lifting up his voice as
he preached (Acts 2:14) and no where do we God loves you preached once but many
verses on judgment. Why is it so common today? What the common message has always
been is "Repent" which means a change of mind, heart or
lifestyle...so much for God wants you just the way you are. Let us look at Stephen's public sermon to find God
and Jesus loves you. Acts chapter seven we read that Stephen gave a history
lesion and ended saying "Ye stiffnecked
and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost as your
fathers did, so do ye." Of course they attacked him and killed him. Maybe
if Stephen proclaimed more on Gods love he could have ministered longer, maybe
all the apostles should have done this so they would not have been persecuted,
beaten, jailed and killed for their faith. SIDE BAR: (even the book of Mormon
has a picture of a man preaching or yelling to people below shooting arrows at
him) SIDE BAR OVER.
Does the Book of Acts have an ending or should that style of preachin g
continue today? ....Selah....
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may
know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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