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Proverbs 18:21 , Ephesians 4:27

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willemv:
No, I don't frequent bars at all .

At that specific event there were no drunk people ,just a social gathering ,the only available one in town . Actually quite a few of them were "Israelites "believing they were "the daughters of My dispersed from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; Zeph 3:10

Sorry about the confusion about the verse . It is 2 Tim 4:1-2 KJV-"-I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom;Preach the word; be instant in season,out of season;reprove,rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine". English is only my third language , I read my Bible in Afrikaans ,I pray in Dutch and I made a literal translation from Afrikaans into English ,that is where the words timely and untimely came from instead of in season and out of season. No wonder you could not find it.Sorry again!

Jesus was also accused of consorting with publicans and sinners (Mat 9:11)but when Jesus heard that He said unto them :they that be whole need not a physician,but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice:for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,(Mat 9 :12-13) .The word "mercy"here actually means lovingkindness in case you might think this verse is inappropriate and also the words "to repentance " do not actually appear in the original text but the inclusion in the KJV does not alter the meaning ,only makes it easier to understand. I have always understood that if I have been drawn by the Father to follow Jesus I am also a disciple and also have the responsibility to share the truth which I have been given by His Spirit.If I have to wait on some worldly person to ask me , it will most likely not happen . If we love our neighbour don't we have a responsibility toward him /her?

To quote the words of Jesus when He said His works bore witness of Him is not truly relevant to the argument that our example bears witness to the world.His works were healing the sick, the blind, the cripple,leprosy and raising the dead. Do we have those works ? He also rebuked the pharisees and others for their hypocrisy . As a result He was persecuted . Are we being persecuted?
And He said : Remember the word that I said unto you , The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me , they will also persecute you. John 15 :20 . I must say that this worries me personally to the extend that I am not even sure I am of the elect. Does this not bother you guys also?

Do not be ashamed to preach His word so that He will not be ashamed of you when you appear before the Father.( I must really get e-sword on my computer to make the references easier )

God bless you all , Wim

Kat:

Willemv, well it is certain that I cannot judge you for what you feel lead by the Spirit to do. But I do not believe it is needful for all believers to witness to the world about the gospel - which is the teaching of who the Christ was. Yes the Apostles themselves did need to spread the gospel message, but now, at this time, virtually the whole world knows of the Christ... do we really need to give witness of the gospel? and hasn't the world been blinded to the knowledge of the truth and only the few are having their eyes opened by God Himself?  "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). another thing is how in this vast world could one believer find another unless God brings us together... doesn't the forum serve that very purpose to discuss these truths with like minded believers? So we don't need to seek others to witness to.

But certainly we are a light in this world and our actions/works speak a great deal as to what we believe, without saying/preaching a word.

Mat 5:14  "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
v. 15  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
v. 16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Teaching however carries "a stricter judgment" (James 3:1) and should not be entered lightly. What I'm trying to say is that I feel it is a very special commission to preach the gospel to the world, certainly the Apostles were appointed that task and I believe Ray was as well. Now in 2nd Timothy Paul was encouraging Timothy who he had personally taught and called "a beloved son" (2Tim 1:1) speaking to him about the many difficulties there was to be an evangelist, which Timothy was.

1Thess 3:2  and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

1Co 4:16  Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
v. 17  For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

So yes if you believe you're spiritual mature and want to share this knowledge with others, maybe that is your special calling... but the body of Christ has all manners of workers and we should not feel all have the responsibility to be a teacher. God has given each of us the gift He wants us to have and that may take many years to develop. If God has appointed you for something then it will be done in/through you.

Eph 4:11  It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.
v. 12  He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

mercy, peace and love
Kat

Dave in Tenn:
Willem, there's at least one "issue" that comes to mind from what you said.  There are those who are convinced they are being 'persecuted', but what is really happening is that they are reaping the fruit of behaving badly by preaching badly "in the name of the Lord".  We've all either "been them", or "met them" or at least "seen them on TV."  Are they "preaching the word"?  Being allegedly "persecuted" isn't the sign that one is "preaching the word", otherwise those false prophets Paul named by name could claim to have been "persecuted" by him.  Maybe they did claim that, but they didn't fulfill the FIRST part of the "live godly/be persecuted" part of the equation.     

For my part, I have no problem with the traveler in your story.  But I also have no problem with the way Jesse/Extol operates in real-life.  You ask if we can do the works of Jesus.  Let me ask if we are supposed to do the works of Timothy?  We're not all called to the same "ministry".  If so, HOW?  And for whom?  I don't always know what to do, or how to do it 'right'.  But if persecution follows, then I want it to be for the right reason.

Somehow, I think we really know deep down what is going on in our own motivation, but like every other action, it's very easy to justify ourselves in our own actions both before and after the fact.  Wisdom, on the other hand, is justified of her children.     

   

 

cheekie3:
All -

Just a couple of thoughts:

1. The Scriptures instruct us to be living sacrifices and witness to ALL by the way we live and behave (i.e. what is in our hearts enters our minds which produces our speech and actions). They shall know who the Elect are by the fruit produced by the Elect.

2. Who did Paul instruct Timothy to preach to - is it to unbelievers or to the Called Out Called Out Elect.

Kind Regards.
 
Always Learning George.

lilitalienboi16:
Very much in like mind with Kat, Jesse and the others on this.

God does not need us to save anyone and while Jesus was alive He didn't convert a single person so what makes us think we can? God is sovereign and all is going exactly as planned. Like Kat has said, we  certainly don't want people to think we agree with their blasphemies but that doesn't mean we need to go further and try to convince those unwilling to listen of our perspective.  Cast not your pearls before the swine lest they turn and rend you. The sum of God's Word is truth and so consider that we are to be ready to give an ANSWER for the reason of our hope to those who ASK US. That certainly requires one to study daily and be instant both in season and out of season. Yet I don't see that to mean we go looking for trouble too. What fellowship does light have with the darkness? Come out of her and touch not the unclean things! Our lives are hid in Christ and we are to live quiet and peaceable lives. As God has said, our salvation is in quietness and stillness. We who believe do enter into rest.

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I WILL be exalted among the heathen, I WILL be exalted in the earth.

You will know them by their fruits. The fruits of the spirit then are these:

Gal5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:8-10
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

God bless,
Alex

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