Warning: This article may offend you. WHEN YOUR EXCUSES BECOME YOUR REASONS And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:10-13 KJV) Im gonna shoot straight from the heart today - not a bunch of bible references. Many of you that I speak to do not need the references; You know the bible better than I do. We often read Matthew 24 yet over look the prophecy that in the last days, many shall be offended. I want to speak directly to those who have been offended in one form or another. So much so that you have either left the church, or your passion and zeal are being imprisoned by your anger. I wish I could apologize on behalf of all preachers, churches or organizations that have ever hurt you. But I know that would not be sufficient in most cases. I, too, have felt offended more than a few times in my Christian walk. But here is my question to you today: Is there any offense too big, that we should ever turn away from serving our God with 100% of our mind, heart, and strength? Too many good people, who were once on fire for God - with a zeal that was for real - have either thrown in the towel or have become a mere shell of their former self. But why? These are the top 3 excuses I have heard for people leaving the church or becoming uncommitted spectators in the house of God: 1. Ive seen too much. Theres just too many hypocrisy in the church. 2. Ive heard too much. You wont believe some of the things Ive heard about some church people. 3. I know too much. If you only knew what I knew about Bro. Smith or Sis. Jones, you wouldnt go to that church. I would like to challenge you today to change your mind. I would like to challenge you to reverse the curse of offense and let the very same excuses for leaving the church become the very same REASONS for staying IN the church: 1. Youve seen too much. You have seen way too many healings, deliverances, and transformed lives to doubt how real and powerful God is. 2. Youve heard too much. Youve heard way too many powerful, anointed, masterpiece sermons to doubt how God used the ministry for reaching the sinner and perfecting the saints. 3. You know too much. You know way too much to turn around now. You KNOW Acts 2:38 is the original plan of Salvation. You KNOW Jesus is the only name that saves. You KNOW that youre not once saved, always saved. You KNOW you need to makes things right with God again. I once knew of a young man who felt a call to preach. He had a meeting with his Pastor. He expressed his feelings to him. To his shock, the Pastor did not leap for joy. The seasoned Pastor merely said, son, if I can do anything to discourage you from pursuing the ministry, I will. As the young man sat quietly stunned, the Pastor finished his remarks, but if I am able to discourage you from pursuing the ministry, you werent really called of God. There was a time and place where Jesus called you to follow him. Maybe it was at an old fashioned altar, maybe a Sunday School room, or maybe at the camp grounds. But that didnt cause Satan to stop throwing these three common devices at you: The failures of others, The faults of the ministry, and your own personal weaknesses. Friend of mine, If God called you, He is faithful to equip you. If He promised, He is faithful to keep you. Like Paul, you will become persuaded that NOTHING shall be able to keep you from the love of God, which is found in Christ. Like Peter, after you have received forgiveness for your failures, you will follow until the very end. There came a time when Jesus looked at his disciples and said, Will you also go away? Their reply should be our reply: Where would we go? You have the words to eternal life! This article wasnt for everybody. It was written for my precious brothers and sisters who are merely a shell of their former selves. Please dont let iniquity abound. Please dont let your love grow cold. Endure til the end. Turn your excuses into your reasons. I exhort you in the name of Jesus Christ to get back in this thing with all of your heart. Bitterness has hindered potential long enough. Forgive as you have been forgiven. The hour is late, and Jesus still needs workers in the fields. Sincerely, your brother, Rick Flores p.s. That young man I knew, were still tight. I see him in the mirror every day. And believe me, he has seen too much, heard too much, and he knows way too much. @Back on Track Bible Studies - Rick Flores
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 15:26:20 +0000
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