Do you have voice mail…? Most that have cells fail to use it properly. Not being a medical professional ‘on call’ or law enforcement… there is “No Excuse”, to leave it “Off!” Most would find themselves having more time, to do what they want to… instead of being… ‘Shackled to the Cell!’ While shopping a Wal-Mart… I was just about run over by a woman driving and texting. While in the store another woman, ran into me, while texting and not looking where she was driving, her shopping basket.
http://www.car-accidents.com/cell_phone_car_accidents.html
Most of us post somewhere… on the internet. Face Book, Multiply and various other sites take some of our free time. I have friends on most continents and regularly communicate with them. Because I am a ‘Born Again Christian’… I readily share the… “Good News / Bad News”… with all that I communicate with. Did you know that the “Good News” also had a “Bad News” component…?
The Good News…
(John 3:16-17) For God = so loved the world = that He = gave His only-begotten Son, [Christ Jesus] = that whoever = believes in Him = should not perish = but have everlasting life.
(John 3:17) For God = did not send = His Son into the world [this time] = to condemn the world, = but so that = the world might = be saved through Him.
The Bad News…
(John 3:18-19-20) He who believes = on Him = is not condemned, = “BUT” = he who = does not = believe = is “condemned” already, = because = he has not believed = in the Name = of the only-begotten Son of God.
(John 3:19) And this is = the “condemnation”, = that the Light = has come into the world, = and = men loved darkness = rather than the Light, = because = their deeds were evil.
(John 3:20) For everyone = who does evil = hates the Light, = and = does not come to the Light, = lest his deeds = should be exposed.
One Cannot Properly… share the Gospel… without presenting ‘Both’ aspects of the Gospel. Do you remember seeing a ‘foot ball’ game with the sign… “John 3:16”… hanging from the seating area? One time I heard the TV announcer make a disparaging remark about it. Was he justified in doing that…? No he wasn’t, but just a wrong… are the Christians that applauded the ‘John 3:16’ sign.
*** (Matthew 7:6) Do not = give that which is holy = to the dogs; = nor = cast your pearls = before swine, = lest they trample them = under their feet = and = turn again = and tear you.
Many have the misunderstanding… that all the Christian has to do is ‘Shove a Bible verse’ in front of someone and they will somehow ‘magically’… turn to God. Not So…! Perhaps it is because they have had some ‘wrong’ teaching or maybe they do not properly ‘understand’ what Evangelism is or even what the ‘Gospel’ really is. In its simplicity… it is that Christ Died for our sins… to set us free from the ‘Penalty & Power of’… Sin/Sins. But that belief must be founded on the Scriptures. There is an ‘eleven part blog’ on Evangelism – 101… that you can read here.
http://truth459.blogspot.com/2009/09/evangelism-101-1-of-blog.html
Most do not realize… that all that ‘Mock the Bible’ or do ‘not’ believe in God, are blinded by Satan. Do you speak… “Urdu”. Well, neither do I. But if you did, you could understand the ‘nuisances’ of that language. It is that way, with the Bible. No one can even ‘begin’ to understand God and His Word… “Until the Holy Spirit”… begins to open their Spiritual Eyes, Heart and Mind. It is a lot like being in a cave. I remembering visiting “Mammoth Cave” and the tour guide had everyone sit down. He told us not to move and turned out the lights. It was so dark… that I could not see my hand in front of my face. So ‘like blinded’, are those that do not know God!
*** (2Corinthains 4:3) But also = if our gospel = is hidden, = it is hidden = to those = being lost,
(2Cor 4:4) in whom = the god of this world [Satan] = has blinded the minds = of the unbelieving ones, = so that the light = of the glorious gospel of Christ = (who is the image of God) = should not dawn on them.
If you are a Born Again Christian… you know what is being spoken about. Religion in the unsaved ones… is a false hope. They ‘cannot understand’ the Bible and the Truth of the Word of God, means absolutely ‘nothing’ to them. The complete utter darkness of that ‘cave’ or your ‘inability’ to speak and understand…‘Urdu’… has left “Them”… wanting and unable to comprehend, God or His Word, the Bible.
*** (1Corinthains 2:12-13-14) But we = have ‘not’ = received the spirit = of the world, = but = the [Holy] Spirit from God, = so that we = might ‘know’ [and understand] = the things = that are freely given = to us = by God.
(1Cor 2:13) These things = we also speak, = ‘not’ in words = which man's wisdom teaches, = but = which the Holy Spirit teaches, = ‘comparing’ = spiritual things with spiritual.
(1Cor 2:14) But = the natural man = “does not” = receive = the things = of the Spirit of God, = for they are = “foolishness” = to him; = neither = can he “know” them, = because = they are spiritually discerned.
http://truth459.blogspot.com/2009/03/which-bible-101.html
Many times… I hear people speak about… “Blind Faith!” In all reality there is ‘no’ such thing! Why do you think that… God… gave us the Scriptures; that foretold of the Messiah, Who was to come, to be savior of the Word? He did so, in order that we would not have to have a, ‘blind faith’ without validation. Christ Jesus even said Himself, that belief in Him, must be according to the Scriptures… “John 7:38-39”. Does that sound like, blind faith? Absolutely Not!
*** (John 7:38-39) He who = believes on Me [Jesus], = as the Scripture = has said, = "Out of his belly = shall flow rivers = of living water."
(John 7:39) But = He spoke this = about the [Holy] Spirit, = which = they who believed on Him = should receive; = for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, = because Jesus was not yet glorified.
*** (Isaiah 1:18-19-20) Come now, = and = let us = reason together, = says Jehovah [God]; = though your sins = are as scarlet, = they shall be = as white as snow; = though they are ‘red’ like crimson, = they shall be [white] like wool.
(Isa 1:19) “If” = you are willing and obedient, = you shall eat the good of the land;
(Isa 1:20) but = “if” = you refuse and rebel, = you shall be devoured with the sword; = for the mouth of Jehovah [God] = has spoken.
Many times I post… on the various Blog and Discussions sites on Face Book and other sites. Over the past six months the “Atheists”, “Agnostics” and “God Mockers”… have flooded the pages with their posts. Some choose to answer and some choose, not to. Recently when answering a post, someone asked, “When ‘do’ I answer and when do I ‘not’ answer. Are there some principles in the Word of God that can be used to answer that Question…? Here are a few that I chose to use. Remember this simple rule. We are “Not Required” by the Bible to answer ‘each & every’… general or mocking question.
*** (1Peter 3:13-14-15) Who will harm you = if = you are devoted = to doing what is good?
(1Pet 3:14) But = even if = you should suffer = for doing what is right, = you are blessed. = Never be afraid = of their threats, = and never get upset.
(1Pet 3:15) Instead, = exalt Christ as Lord = in your hearts. = Always be prepared = to give a defense = to ‘everyone’ = who asks “you” = to explain = the hope you have.
First, these verses… are addressed to “You”, personally and not, to a ‘general question’ or ‘a mocking’ posted to a Bible Question Site or bulletin board. Since I have my email address posted, occasionally I will receive a question, directed to me, about a Bible topic. I take that request seriously and answer it with the Scriptures and explanation. Not so, are those general questions posted there on FB, Yahoo or Other sites. Simply use these principles… ‘prayerfully’… and you will know which ones to answer.
*** (Romans 8:14) For = as many = as are led = by the Spirit of God, = they are = the sons of God.
*** (2Timothy 2:23) But “avoid” = ‘foolish’ and ‘unlearned’ questions, = knowing = that they give birth = to strife [confusion].
*** (Proverbs 26:4-5) Do ‘not’ = answer a fool = ‘according to’ = his foolishness, = lest you also = be like him.
(Pro 26:5) Answer a fool = ‘according’ to = his foolishness, = so that he = may ‘not’ be wise = in his own eyes.
*** (Titus 3:10) After the ‘first’ =and = ‘second’ warning, = “reject” = a man of heresy,
*** (Jude 1:3-4) Having made = all haste = to write to you = about = the common salvation, = beloved, I had need to write to you = to exhort you = to “contend earnestly” = for the faith = once delivered to the saints.
(Jude 1:4) For certain men = crept in secretly, = those having been of old previously written = into this condemnation, = ungodly ones = perverting the grace of our God = for unbridled lust, = and denying = the only Master, God, = even our Lord Jesus Christ.
*** (Ezekiel 3:18-to-21) When I [God] say to the wicked, = You shall surely die; = and you do not = give him warning, = nor speak to warn = the wicked from his wicked way, = to save his life; = the same wicked one shall die in his iniquity; = but I will require his blood at your hand.
(Ezek 3:19) Yet = if you warn the wicked, = and he does not turn = from his wickedness = nor from his wicked way, = he shall die in his iniquity; = but you have delivered your soul.
(Ezek 3:20) And = when the righteous = turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, = and = when I lay a stumbling block before him, = he shall die. = Because you have not = given him warning, = he shall die in his sin, = and his righteousness which he has done = shall not be remembered; = but his blood I will require at your hand.
(Ezek 3:21) But = if you warn the righteous = so that the righteous does not sin, = and if he does not sin, = he shall surely live = because he is warned; = also you have delivered your soul.
Often times… after reading a question or post, I will choose ‘not’ to answer. If I am led by the Holy Spirit of God to do so, I will. If I am ‘not’ led so, then I must choose… how to spend my free time. Those “Repeat Offenders & Mockers”… have nothing better to do with their time. One last thing, if you are led to answer their question… you then need to “pray earnestly” for their salvation and spiritual growth. Ask God to give them… a real Holy Spirit Repentance…!
*** (2Timothy 2:24-25-16) But = the servant of the Lord = must not strive, = but to be gentle = to all, = apt to teach, = patient,
(2Tim 2:25) in meekness = instructing those = who oppose [God], = if perhaps = God = will give them = ‘repentance’ = to the acknowledging = of the truth,
(2Tim 2:26) and = that they = awake out of the snare of the Devil, = having been = taken captive = by him, = so as to do the will of that one [Satan’s slave to sin].
*** (2Peter 3:9) The Lord = is not slow = concerning His promise, = as some count slowness, = but = is long-suffering toward us, = not purposing [willing] = that any should perish, = but that = “all” = should come to repentance.
*** (Acts 17:30-31) Truly, then, = God overlooking = the times of ignorance, = now = He strictly commands = “all men” = everywhere = to “Repent”,
(Acts 17:31) because = He has appointed = a day = in which He is going = to judge the world = in righteousness = by a Man [Christ Jesus] = Whom He appointed, = having given proof = to “all” = by raising Him = from the dead.
*** (Psalms 119:18) Open my eyes, = so that I = may behold = wonderful things = out of = Your Law [Word].
Thank you for Your EAR! [Job 12:11] Roger //Email// atruth459@yahoo.com
Home Page: http://truth459.blogspot.com/
Ende…!
