An Effective Witness Part Two

I love the changing colors of the autumn.   How lawns and concrete sidewalks are temporarily decorated with festive warm colors that are shed from the standing trees above them.  These eye-feasting days are the evidence that another beautiful fall is upon us.   And just as we observe the changing colors that represent "Fall" we must also take note of the messages God is giving His pastors and people to share with His people, for they too are showing us the season in which we are living and heading in to.  Just as the seasons tell us what time of the year we are living so are the messages God gives to equip and ready His people for what is ahead and is to come.

God has always prepared His people for what is to come- since the very beginning.

“Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;’” Genesis 1:14 NKJV

And now…

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree.  When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near.  Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.”  Matthew 24:32-33 NLT (READ Matthew 24 when you get a chance.)

Present Messengers Messages

The messages and even in my studies with the Lord, there has been an emphasis on these themes:

1.     Jesus’ coming is near.

2.     Jesus is preparing and securing his people in himself before he comes.

3.     Persecution of bible believing Christians is going to increase.

Under preparing and securing his people are questions like these: “Are you really saved?” and “Do you know what it means to be saved?”

Why would God have his messengers ask such questions?

•  People accepting false teachings.
• People fallen into human understanding.
• People not living the way they should.
• People not educated in how one is saved.
• People are worried and uncertain in their salvation in Jesus Christ.
• God doesn’t want anyone to perish but have eternal life in heaven with him. (Note: 2 Peter 3:9)

If we are offended by such questions we should ask ourselves why?  I think we should be grateful to have such questions asked.  Such questions help us to refocus on what is important in this life and strengthen our faith in God.  God wouldn’t ask us these types of questions if he didn’t care, would he?

Someone might ask, “I go to church, doesn’t that make me a Christian?” I can stand in the produce department at the grocery store does that make me an apple, orange, banana or a grapefruit...? Hopefully not a grapefruit. :)

There were many times when I was persuaded to go to church - I got some “la la la” and then some “blah, blah, blah” but nothing really stuck.   My heart didn’t change and certainly my mindset didn’t change. 
 

 It wasn’t until I gave my life to God did the change take place. That is when I became a Christian.

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them.  I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead.” Ezekiel 11:19

I do many good works but does that make me a Christian?

Does a fire fighter, a law enforcement officer, a teacher, a medical physician, an athletic coach, do good works? Does that mean they are all Christians?

Even individuals in false religions do good works but do they believe Jesus Christ as being LORD and Savior?  Is Jesus Christ God of them? Is Jesus Christ – The WAY into heaven?  Are they depending on Jesus Christ to save them?

The word of God says, “ All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.  No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins.” Isaiah 64:6-7 NIV

If one depends on their own so-called “righteous acts” to try save themselves instead of Jesus Christ, their “good deeds” are worthless.  Their “good deeds” are filthy rags to God.  They are done in the wrong motive to only benefit the doer in temporary human praise and deny Christ as Lord and Savior.  This type of person becomes prideful, puffed up, legalistic, ignorant, jealous and foolish in their thinking.   It is the very opposite in how God works in our life.  (Note 1 Corinthians 13 & Galatians 5:16-26)

Our good deeds do not save us.  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

We don’t do good works to be saved but walk in good works because of what Jesus Christ has done in our lives. 

I haven’t killed anyone, done drugs, or stolen anything?  I consider myself a good person.  Does that make me a Christian?

Being a good person, does that give me right of passage into heaven?  A good person… according to whom… me, others, you or God?

“For all have sinned: all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty.  He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment of our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us.   We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us….”  Romans 3:23-25

Without Jesus Christ, whatever you thought would secure you a place in heaven will vanish before your eyes and you will fall into the pit of hell.   Don’t be tricked.

Do you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior of your life?

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but ends in death.” Proverbs 16:25

Jesus said, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and it’s gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.  But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. - God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”  Matthew 5:10

Jesus said, “Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.   The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

Jesus said “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.  For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life- that I should raise them at the last day.” John 6:37-4

Life is short.  The devil only has a short time as well.  He wants to convince people of many different philosophies of thought concerning heaven but God has made it plain.  You and I can't have eternity in heaven unless we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   It wasn't some false prophet or ordinary man that split his blood for all of humanity but it was God's blood.  Jesus all man and all God.  Pure and without sin.  He was the sacrifice for our sins.  God's blood...  only God's blood can cover our sins.

I know sometimes in life to find real answers, we have to find no solution in us and/or humanity.   We have to be in a dark pit of sorts where we relinquish our life to God and God makes a way where there seemed to be no way.

God has made way- where there seemed to be no way and that is through Jesus Christ.

This message is not just important for those who haven’t got to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior but it is important to Christians as well….  It is a reminder that we cannot be an effective witness for Jesus Christ (a Christian) if we have something other then Jesus or added to Jesus as our foundation of our salvation.  Too much sand, too much water and the concrete will crumble.  This applies to everything in our life as well.  We not be consistent in all our ways unless our focus and trust in him.  God is always consistent.   He is always faithful.  Jesus needs to be our salvation in entirety- nothing more and nothing less.

Again Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, is preparing and securing his people in himself before he comes.

Before we know it all the colorful leaves will have fallen to the ground and disappeared.  It will be winter and if we don't take the messages we are given to heart, what will warm our hearts in the cold of winter? Is eternity with Jesus set in your heart?

I am anxious to see my Jesus are you?

I hope this speaks to you