Post by Les on Sept 18, 2018 17:19:26 GMT
PREACH ON SIN IN THE CAMP!
Within this new age of promiscuous behavior in the body of Christ; many have decided to not preach on sin in the camp but rather pamper those who are involved with encouraging messages that massage their sins instead of convicting them. When I was actively involved in street preaching one of the most common responses I got for not wanting to come to church or give their lives to Christ was “the church is full of hypocrites”. Some of us act like the world can’t see our hypocrisy but they can clearly see that many Christians don’t live what they profess. Yet there are those who are living their lives totally surrendered to the Word of God and the God of the Word. The bible reassures us that those that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
(15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
(16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1st Peter 4:12-19
Please read this text carefully because within it are two dynamics; persecution for righteousness and judgement for hypocrisy. Today we as Christians stand against perversions of the sexual revolution; yet adultery and fornication are rampant within the body of Christ. People which are living together out of wedlock are just as much a perversion as the other perversions in the world. Yet in many churches it is overlooked as normal because of the modern times. Our churches are filled with adulterers in pulpits yet many don’t even bat an eye at this perversion of Christianity and even many defended wholeheartedly. Then preachers who should demand integrity in our ministers and members continue to pamper the sinners. Even now anyone who calls themselves a Christian can do anything they like and justify by saying “mercy trumps judgement”. Grace was never meant to be sleazy! In the above passage verses 17-19 stand out as an indictment of greasy grace which allows anything and everything without dispute. “If the righteous scarcely be saved” is a pretty powerful statement to me. Let me remind you of what is considered unacceptable in the sight of God.
(19) Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
(20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
(21) envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. Galatians 5:19-21
This list is not exhaustive by any means but gives us a good idea of what is damnable offences and exclude us from heaven. Yet I see these sins continually displayed in the body of Christ in these days. I knew of one church where only a few of the ministers were actually married and many of the ministers were living in fornication, yet: actively involved in the pulpit ministry in that church. I could not believe how many people I knew personally just excuse it and did not break fellowship. Why don’t people preach on sin in the camp? One thing is it’s a fulfillment of prophecy!
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1st Timothy 4:1-2
You can’t fall away from something you were never a part of! Heresy is a departure from a faith once held to embrace a lie and then propagate that lie to others. When we start to compromise the Word to accommodate the flesh or fear losing tithers we are on the path to apostasy. Every sin begins with a compromise and blurs the clear lines of demarcation of scriptural principles, precepts, and protocols. We cannot shortcut holiness for holiness is who God is and wants to be in and through us. If we fail to address sin in the camp we are destined to be hypocrites when preaching the gospel to the lost. There is a law which is called the perfect law of liberty; this is law of Christ Jesus who fills us with the Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome sin in our lives. God’s path of righteousness is a redeeming path of liberty setting us free from our old man that we might live in the blessings of the righteousness of Christ. The way of righteousness is the way of discipline.
(6) for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives."
(7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?
(8) But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons.
(9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
(10) For truly they chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
(11) Now chastening for the present does not seem to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.
(12) Because of this, straighten up the hands which hang down and the enfeebled knees.
(13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
(14) Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord;
(15) looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, or lest any root of bitterness springing up disturb you, and by it many are defiled, Hebrews 12:6-15
AFFLICTIONS, SUFFERING, PERSECUTION, AND DISCIPLINE IS ALL PART OF OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
Many in the body of Christ belittles those who go through the trying of their faith; they become accusers of their brethren thinking or saying they must have sinned to or they’re out of God’s will or they would not be going through what they’re going through. Brethren the contrary is true. Many of us go through trials, tribulations, and temptations because God sees something in us he wants to eradicate or perfect. The bible teaches us to never judge according to the appearance of things; but to judge righteous judgement. Yet many act like they never judge anything or anyone from a carnal perspective. This is not true with any of us; we are on the road to perfection being perfected every step of the way as we yield ourselves to the word, will, and ways of God. We begin to see the real us as God sees us especially when he chastens us for our own good.
When God puts an uncompromising minister in a pulpit which does not pull any punches it is for the good of the body not for the dismantling or disenfranchisement of them but to correct them and empower them to follow peace with all and holiness; without which not one shall inherit the Kingdom of God or see the Lord. Brethren we need for preachers to rise up in holy furor and preach a balanced gospel that addresses sin in the camp too. It’s great to be encouraged but not in sin! It’s great to hear about salvation, healing, deliverance, and blessings! But the gospel should never be compromised to appease the flesh. We are living in the last days; the trump of God could sound at any time; it would behoove us to be diligent in our walk with Christ and know what the will of the Lord is because the days are certainly evil. Remember these words my preacher brethren!
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Ap. D.R. Ritchie (Emissary)
Within this new age of promiscuous behavior in the body of Christ; many have decided to not preach on sin in the camp but rather pamper those who are involved with encouraging messages that massage their sins instead of convicting them. When I was actively involved in street preaching one of the most common responses I got for not wanting to come to church or give their lives to Christ was “the church is full of hypocrites”. Some of us act like the world can’t see our hypocrisy but they can clearly see that many Christians don’t live what they profess. Yet there are those who are living their lives totally surrendered to the Word of God and the God of the Word. The bible reassures us that those that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
(12) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
(14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
(15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
(16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1st Peter 4:12-19
Please read this text carefully because within it are two dynamics; persecution for righteousness and judgement for hypocrisy. Today we as Christians stand against perversions of the sexual revolution; yet adultery and fornication are rampant within the body of Christ. People which are living together out of wedlock are just as much a perversion as the other perversions in the world. Yet in many churches it is overlooked as normal because of the modern times. Our churches are filled with adulterers in pulpits yet many don’t even bat an eye at this perversion of Christianity and even many defended wholeheartedly. Then preachers who should demand integrity in our ministers and members continue to pamper the sinners. Even now anyone who calls themselves a Christian can do anything they like and justify by saying “mercy trumps judgement”. Grace was never meant to be sleazy! In the above passage verses 17-19 stand out as an indictment of greasy grace which allows anything and everything without dispute. “If the righteous scarcely be saved” is a pretty powerful statement to me. Let me remind you of what is considered unacceptable in the sight of God.
(19) Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
(20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
(21) envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. Galatians 5:19-21
This list is not exhaustive by any means but gives us a good idea of what is damnable offences and exclude us from heaven. Yet I see these sins continually displayed in the body of Christ in these days. I knew of one church where only a few of the ministers were actually married and many of the ministers were living in fornication, yet: actively involved in the pulpit ministry in that church. I could not believe how many people I knew personally just excuse it and did not break fellowship. Why don’t people preach on sin in the camp? One thing is it’s a fulfillment of prophecy!
(1) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1st Timothy 4:1-2
You can’t fall away from something you were never a part of! Heresy is a departure from a faith once held to embrace a lie and then propagate that lie to others. When we start to compromise the Word to accommodate the flesh or fear losing tithers we are on the path to apostasy. Every sin begins with a compromise and blurs the clear lines of demarcation of scriptural principles, precepts, and protocols. We cannot shortcut holiness for holiness is who God is and wants to be in and through us. If we fail to address sin in the camp we are destined to be hypocrites when preaching the gospel to the lost. There is a law which is called the perfect law of liberty; this is law of Christ Jesus who fills us with the Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome sin in our lives. God’s path of righteousness is a redeeming path of liberty setting us free from our old man that we might live in the blessings of the righteousness of Christ. The way of righteousness is the way of discipline.
(6) for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives."
(7) If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?
(8) But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then you are bastards and not sons.
(9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
(10) For truly they chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
(11) Now chastening for the present does not seem to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it.
(12) Because of this, straighten up the hands which hang down and the enfeebled knees.
(13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
(14) Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord;
(15) looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, or lest any root of bitterness springing up disturb you, and by it many are defiled, Hebrews 12:6-15
AFFLICTIONS, SUFFERING, PERSECUTION, AND DISCIPLINE IS ALL PART OF OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
Many in the body of Christ belittles those who go through the trying of their faith; they become accusers of their brethren thinking or saying they must have sinned to or they’re out of God’s will or they would not be going through what they’re going through. Brethren the contrary is true. Many of us go through trials, tribulations, and temptations because God sees something in us he wants to eradicate or perfect. The bible teaches us to never judge according to the appearance of things; but to judge righteous judgement. Yet many act like they never judge anything or anyone from a carnal perspective. This is not true with any of us; we are on the road to perfection being perfected every step of the way as we yield ourselves to the word, will, and ways of God. We begin to see the real us as God sees us especially when he chastens us for our own good.
When God puts an uncompromising minister in a pulpit which does not pull any punches it is for the good of the body not for the dismantling or disenfranchisement of them but to correct them and empower them to follow peace with all and holiness; without which not one shall inherit the Kingdom of God or see the Lord. Brethren we need for preachers to rise up in holy furor and preach a balanced gospel that addresses sin in the camp too. It’s great to be encouraged but not in sin! It’s great to hear about salvation, healing, deliverance, and blessings! But the gospel should never be compromised to appease the flesh. We are living in the last days; the trump of God could sound at any time; it would behoove us to be diligent in our walk with Christ and know what the will of the Lord is because the days are certainly evil. Remember these words my preacher brethren!
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(18) And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(19) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Ap. D.R. Ritchie (Emissary)