Hi Friends!
This week at Connections we will be looking at some of the Apostle Paul's instructions to his protege' Timothy.
See (I Timothy 6:11 ff) where Paul instructs Timothy to flee the false-teachings of the world and follow the the true-teachings of Jesus Christ. Paul goes so far to tell Timothy to fight for the faith and to finish the fight without wavering.
These are lessons we are teaching our young people in the series "Raising Inspiring Kid's" and they are equally applicable for all. Consider the example of the Mayor of New York who is banning Pastors and Prayers from the Tenth Anniversary Observance of 9-11 at Ground Zero.
I believe we should flee from that false-teaching and run to the true-teaching of Jesus Christ who encourages us to call upon His Father's name, especially in times of need (see Matthew 5-7). Join me in praying that others will join in the fight for the cause of Christ and be found faithful to finish without compromise.
Now the fight I am talking about is the cultural war that is going on in our country that allows any one to say anything under the agenda of "political correctness." Problem is while every one is saying anything they would like in the public square, the message of Christ and the Cross is being regulated and relegated to the privacy of one's home.
Friends, the church is the body of Christ and if you are a Christ-follower you are a part of it (see I Corinthians 12). I'm simply encouraging Christ-followers to speak freely about their worldview even as we allow and encourage others to share their worldview.
This is the fight I am talking about and the one the Apostle Paul encouraged in Scripture. He spoke freely in the public square about Jesus (see Acts 17) and he was persecuted for it (see Acts 17 and ff) and ultimately died for it.
Summary: the battle I'm talking about is a Spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of mankind, not a physical battle. The message I'm fighting to share is that Jesus loves you and died an atoning death on the cross for your sins and walked out of the grave to give you eternal life.
And so my prayers are for peace for all mankind and my sympathies are to all who lost loved ones at the hands of our nation's enemies on September 11, 2011. May we unite at the Cross and reconcile our nation and world to the peace that is only available through our great Savior and Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:11).
See www.afa.net for updates regarding the petition to allow Pastors and Prayers at the Tenth Anniversary Memorial Service of 9-11 in NYC.
God's Peace,
Jeff
1 comments:
There is not a time when we are finished fighting those fights, as long as we draw breath. Satan wants to win, and will try end runs, sneak attacks, and full frontal assaults to get us to crumble. And if we try to do it in our own strength, we will falter and fall. Galatians 2:20 says "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me", and it is on Christ's strength that we must depend.
The fight goes on at many levels, and in many places. Thank you for leading Connections through our battles to become more Christ-like and evangelical. Thank you for being a good example for me as you live your life.
-Steve
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