"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4)
I heard a pastor on television briefly yesterday. He spoke of the trend toward liberalism, which I too have observed over recent decades, among the so-called evangelicals. Whatever his conclusions, the reality is that much of the modern evangelical movement has adopted a "silence" on the Blood Covenant, the Cross, holiness, and the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ, to name just a few.
Our text speaks of a great temptation, which is really nothing new, in the Christian community, the temptation to speak, "as pleasing men...," that which sells rather than that of which our Lord Jesus spoke concerning the Holy Spirit, Who, convicts, "the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." The one absolutely surrendered to Jesus Christ, will, "speak...as pleasing God...who tests our hearts."
It does not take even a "careful" reading of the Scriptures to realize that much of what is contained therein is not, "pleasing men." But it is all, "pleasing...God." And if you and I have a heart which is after Jesus Christ, a heart hungering and thirsting, not for for "flesh-pleasing", but hungering and thirsting for God-pleasing, then when, "God...tests our hearts," we will be found even as Enoch, "For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God."
Father, in Jesus' Name, my greatest desire is to be, "approved by [You]." Amen.
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ATTENTION: Read Why Merkel Believes Germany will become Islamic State: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
I heard a pastor on television briefly yesterday. He spoke of the trend toward liberalism, which I too have observed over recent decades, among the so-called evangelicals. Whatever his conclusions, the reality is that much of the modern evangelical movement has adopted a "silence" on the Blood Covenant, the Cross, holiness, and the Return of our Lord Jesus Christ, to name just a few.
Our text speaks of a great temptation, which is really nothing new, in the Christian community, the temptation to speak, "as pleasing men...," that which sells rather than that of which our Lord Jesus spoke concerning the Holy Spirit, Who, convicts, "the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." The one absolutely surrendered to Jesus Christ, will, "speak...as pleasing God...who tests our hearts."
It does not take even a "careful" reading of the Scriptures to realize that much of what is contained therein is not, "pleasing men." But it is all, "pleasing...God." And if you and I have a heart which is after Jesus Christ, a heart hungering and thirsting, not for for "flesh-pleasing", but hungering and thirsting for God-pleasing, then when, "God...tests our hearts," we will be found even as Enoch, "For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God."
Father, in Jesus' Name, my greatest desire is to be, "approved by [You]." Amen.
***************************
ATTENTION: Read Why Merkel Believes Germany will become Islamic State: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
