Speaking to Please God

"but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children." (1 Thessalonians 2:4-7, ESV)

Saying what needs to be said from the pulpit is one of the joys and curses of ministry. I'm sure that anyone who has ever preached has had an argument with themselves when they are faced with speaking words that might offend. I know I have. There have been times where I was to speak about something that was sensitive subject matter and I had to determine in my heart... do I speak what I believe God wants me to speak or do I skirt the subject and go on to something else? In these situations I am reminded of the words above written by Paul to the Thessalonians when speaking from the Word of God. "so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."(vs. 4)

We need to be reminded that preaching is not intended to please people. Hopefully the words we do speak from the pulpit do please people not because the pastor spoke with eloquence or tcreativity but because the truth was preached. The sad truth is he gospel message is offensive to many and if pastors continually preach it they will offend. Since this is the case we cannot let that affect the message we preach. Pastors have the great privilege to preach from God's Word, yet we are also held to higher standards in what we say BECAUSE we are "approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel."

However, this does not give us permission to be abusive or manipulative in the words we speak from the pulpit. We are to be "gentle" in our delivery and let the Word of God speak for itself. Our job is to deliver the Word of God to the people and if it offends some realize it's not because of us. They are offended by God and there is nothing we can do about that.

In conclusion, whether you are a pastor preaching from the pulpit or a believer who has been commissioned by Christ to preach the Word (As all Christians are commanded) then remember "Speak not to please man, but to please God..."

The Essentials

In my sermon prep this week I have been contemplating the following thoughts about the essentials of Christ. In my thoughts, prayers and research I have come to this conclusion...

1) If Jesus were not born of a virgin he would have merely been an average boy born out of wedlock.
2) If Jesus only came to this earth to show humanity the way to heaven that would have just made him a prophet; a false one at that.
3) If Jesus only came to die on the cross that would have only made him a martyr.
4) If Jesus didn't rise from the dead that would make him a rotting corpse/skeleton tucked away in a desolate cave.
5) If Jesus never ascended to heaven He could not be God.
6) If Jesus never gave his Spirit then Christians would be powerless religious lemmings serving a distant God who does not care about us.

I find it hard to believe that people who once professed Christ can actually believe all of this. I am not a scholar, nor have I exhausted my research scientifically, archaelogically, nor historically to know if the Bible and it's claims are true. However I find the evidence overwhelming that God's Word is accuarate, and it ultimately boils down to faith in something or nothing.

So to confirm my faith I say...

I believe Jesus was born of a virgin
I believe Jesus came to the earth to show us the way to God
I believe Jesus died on the cross for the sins of humanity
I believe Jesus rose from the dead conquering death and sin
I believe Jesus ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father
I believe the Spirit of Christ dwells in all who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
I believe.

Serving God and the second coming

"and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:10, ESV)

Sorry, I went off track for a few posts. I have had a lot on my plate and I have been trying to hash out some thoughts with my previous posts. Now I'm back in I Thessalonians and glad to be back...

Since the Thessalonians have turned from idols and worshiped the "living and true God" they now anticipated Jesus' return. They were living with the hope that Jesus would return soon and they anticipated the day. I can understand how they felt. I too look forward to Christ's return.

I know there are a lot of "theories" on how and when Christ will return. You have the Premillenial view, Postmillenial view and the Amillenial view. Theologians have argued for years about how and when Christ will return and I have my beliefs and convictions. However there are people who have predicted dates and they have been wrong, others play it safe and predict an era or a generation when he will return and even others have made a nice living getting people all worried about the idea that we are living in the "end times". The truth is we don't know when Jesus will return. God's word says, only God knows the day, the hour and the time. We get our boxers in a bunch arguing about when, where and how and I think we just need to live our lives as though Jesus may return any day. I don't know if I am being irreverant or even blasphemous but I don't really care how or when Jesus returns. I just want Him to return and I live in anticipation of that day.

Will there be a rapture? Will it be pre, mid or post trib? Will Jesus come back tomorrow? Will He be back today? I honestly don't know. I have actually stopped filling my mind with end times scenarios. All I know is Jesus will return some day (as the Bible says) and it will be a glorious day for the believer and it will be horrific for those who do not believe.

Random thought: Don't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. Live your life in anticipation of the Lord's return today and be ready.