We are responsible

 We are responsible

Jesus said,

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Charles H. Spurgeon said,

"We are not responsible to God for the soul that are saved, but we are responsible for the Gospel that is preached, and for the way in which we preach it" Charles H. Spurgeon.

As true believers in Christ we are responsible to present the gospel of Christ Jesus in word and in deed. 

Francis of Assisi noted,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                              Francis of Assisi.

Whether you like it or not. If you claim to be a Christian, people are not just listening to your words but looking at your life. 

You are Christ’s representative on this earth and it is through the lense of your words and deeds that people will see Christ.

To quote Francis of Assisi again,

"The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                              Francis of Assisi.

Thus the question becomes, If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus, what are your words and deeds telling people about God?

Please think about it.

The Gospel Message

 The Gospel Message

Matthews gospel records,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

                                                                                      Matthew 28:18-20

He said to them, 

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, 

but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

                                                                                      Matthew 16:15,16

  On October 19th 2013 a faithful man died. He never became a household name but I’m sure today heaven is rejoicing.

  His name Konstantin Vladianu. He was born in Pinzaran Moldova in the former Soviet Union. He died in Hamilton Ontario Canada.

 His obituary reads in part.

 “Konstantin’s faith in God was the most central thing in his life. He was very involved in the secret underground church, and he was a gifted preacher, blessed with dreams and visions from God which directed his life. He led his family by example in sacrificial giving of his time and resources.”

  Konstantin truly knew what it was to serve God. To go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation and he did it under pain of imprisonment. Something few people here in the western world have ever experienced.

  He did this because his first love was God and he was obedient to God’s word.

  As Christians particularly here in the west we need to from time to time evaluate what we are doing for God.

  Are we truly taking the gospel message into our world, be that world within our country, our city, town or simply to our neighbourhood.

  Please think about it.

Our Job

 Our Job

In the book of Revelations we read,

“He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” Revelations 22:20,21.

I don’t know when Jesus is coming but I do believe he is coming. It is therefor incumbent on all believers in Christ Jesus to keep our eyes on our primary duty. That duty given to us when Jesus said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.

All Christians should be doing what they can to win souls for Christ. It’s that simple. We should not be mixing our faith with politics, other philosophies or anything else. We should be telling the world,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

We should be telling people that it is that black and white. Either you believe or you do not. The choice is always up to the individual.

Thus I ask you; if you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you telling this to those around you?

Please think about it.

What we should be doing

What we should be doing
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;  and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.  
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.  
Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. 
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  
 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Matthew 24:36-42
I as a Christian believe that Jesus will return to this earth to judge all mankind. Here in Matthew 24:36-42 Jesus points out not only what will happen in the days leading up to that return but crucially that no one knows the day He will return. Thus it is incumbent on those of us who believe in Jesus to be found working for him. To do our best to present the truth about Jesus and the eternal life with God he gives.
Sadly all too many Christians like to as one of my friends put it “read the tea leafs in the scripture” they look for the signs Jesus spoke about. They read the book of Revelations and other prophetic books and try to guess when Christ will return. It’s not just the current generation of Christians that does this. Each generation of Christians seem to have believers who try to predict Christ’s return.
 I can remember my first pastor who started preaching around the beginning of world war two. He told me many thought Hitler was the anti-Christ and that God was coming. They like those who speculate to day were wrong.
It is not the job of a Christian to speculate on when Christ will return. While it might be nice to speculate. Speculation amounts to nothing productive.
Our time would be better spent spreading the Good News of Jesus to the world around us. And no other generation has a better opportunity to do so that this one.
I am sixty plus. When I was born the first man made artificial satellite had not been launched. Communications satellites were unknown. The way the gospel message was spread was through church congregations, evangelistic crusades, Radio and eventually Television. All of these media while good, took a lot of planning and money.
Today however we have the internet. Anyone with a computer, smart phone, or electronic tablet can in an instant post something that can be read by virtually everyone on earth at little or no financial cost.
Thus I believe it is our obligation as believers in Christ to tell the world about the most important thing in our life, Jesus Christ.
Jesus said,

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. 

When a man found it, he hid it again, 

and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, 

he went away and sold everything he had 

and bought it

                     Matthew 13:44-46.

The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple. Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish

 but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him. 

                                                       John 3:16,17

John’s Gospel telling us,

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God— 

children born not of natural descent, 

nor of human decision or a husband’s will, 

but born of God.” 

                               John 1:12,13.

This is what Christians need to be telling the world.
Please think about it.

Note to Christians

Note to Christians
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.  
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 
Here is a trustworthy saying: 
If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.” 2Timothy 2:7-13.
Here Paul notes several important Christian beliefs, Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, he was raised from the dead and Jesus is descended from king David.
The writer of Hebrews elaborates saying,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
These are Christian core beliefs. If we as Christians are to be persecuted in any way let it be because we are presenting these beliefs to the world. Nothing else.
Paul points out
“If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
Paul was simply being faithful to Jesus and following the command Jesus gave his disciples when he said,
 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
This is what Paul was being persecuted for. This was the reason he was in prison. Paul was proclaiming the message of Salvation that comes through the Love and Grace of God.
As Christians we should be staying true to this message. For it is a message that the world needs to know.
Please think about it.

Not the Healthy

Not the Healthy,
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Matthew 9:9-13.
Here is a concept that quite often is lost on some in the church today and I think especially on many within the evangelical church today.
I’ve been in churches over the years where the soul purpose of the congregation seems to have been to have a good time singing hymns and songs and feeling good about themselves. They feel good that they can praise God and have praised God. Which is a good thing. However such congregations need to remember that the purpose of the church is not just to praise and worship God but to evangelize and make disciples.
In addition to this group I’ve also heard many calling themselves Christians speaking out against those they disagree with even to the point of trying to restrict the rights of other groups they deem not to be Christian. This should not be so.
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
“It is the Holy Spirits job to convict of sin, God’s job to judge, my job to love.” Billy Graham.
The apostle Paul said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Christians are to look after their own house if you will. Ensure that the word of God is being taught correctly. It is the Christians job to present the gospel to whoever will listen to us. To sit down and have dialogue with all people without judging them.
This is what Jesus was doing when he was sitting with the tax collectors. He who had the right to judge them did not.
Jesus told his detractors,
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice...”
As Christians we should be showing mercy toward those who do not believe as we do. Not speaking against them as the religious leaders did in this incident.
It is essential that we show love to all we come in contact with. Only in doing this can we truly reach people for Christ. Which is the primary duty of all Christians.
Please think about it.

An Example

An Example
Matthews gospel records,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, 

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

                                                                                      Matthew 28:18-20
On October 19th 2013 a faithful man died. He never became a household name but I’m sure on the day he entered heaven, heaven rejoiced.
  His name Konstantin Vladianu. He was born in Pinzaran Moldova in the former Soviet Union. He died in Hamilton Ontario Canada.
  His obituary reads in part.
  “Konstantin’s faith in God was the most central thing in his life. He was very involved in the secret underground church, and he was a gifted preacher, blessed with dreams and visions from God which directed his life. He led his family by example in sacrificial giving of his time and resources.”
  Konstantin truly knew what it was to serve God. To go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation and he did it under pain of imprisonment. Something few people here in the western world and especially North America have ever experienced.
Konstantin is not alone today there are millions of unspoken heros of the Christian faith like him around the world serving their Lord under threat of imprisonment or even death.
They do it without recognition in this world because they truly love the Lord with all their heart, mind and soul.
Men and women of God like Konstantin present the pure word of God. The message of Love for God, their neighbour and even their enemy. Unlike many in here in North America who claim to be Christians, and mix their faith with politics. Choosing to demonstrate for “their right” and protest against those they disagree with.
True Christians like Konstantin and those around the world like him today who are in harms way. In danger of imprisonment or death, are not protesting. They are simply getting on with the job of telling the world of God’s love.
They like the early church are setting the example for us all.
Christ, his disciple and those of the first century church did not protest against the secular government of Rome. They simply presented the Love of Christ to all who would listen. In doing so they turned the world upside down.
Billy Graham said of the men and women of the early church,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
This is how we as twenty-first century Christians should be.
The apostle Peter tells Christians,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:9-12.
We in the North American church need to be doing this.
If we are true Christians we need to remember who we represent on this earth. We need to be pointing people to Christ in word and in deed. Not protesting against any lawful group.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo
Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon 

some persons will hear today” 

 Francis of Assisi

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 

and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

 Hebrews 12:14

Please think about it.

Prayers of Intercession and Thanksgiving

Prayers intercession and thanksgiving

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.  
And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." 
                                                                                                   1Timothy 2:1-8.
The Apostle Paul here is living in the time of Nero. Nero was one of the most violent opponents of the church. It would be under Nero’s reign that many Christians including most of the disciple of Christ would be murdered.
This tyrant reportedly used Christians as human torches. History regards him as one of the worst despots in history. An ancient Hitler or in modern terms, ISIS.
Yet despite this Paul writes,
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
This is a call for today.
I once had a person say persecution brings out the pure believers. That may be true but Christianity is spread easiest when there is peace. So we should pray for peace in our country and in our world.
Peace allows us to get the message of Christ, which is the most important message of all time, out to the world.
Paul reminding us,
“This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 
Jesus said
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew5: 43-45.
I know it’s hard to pray for such a seemingly  satanically inspired group as ISIS. But we are called to do so. We are called to pray and have them change their ways. We are called to pray that they may find the way of salvation.
That they may let we and our Christian brethren live in peace and present the gospel to those around them.
The gospel of Mark records this,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” 
Mark 2:16,17
Please think about it.

Why I write

Why I write


Over the last year I have written about six hundred blog entries in some six different blogs. Someone asked me why I write these blogs. I found the answer in 1John 1:1-4.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  
We write this to make our joy complete.” 
                                                      1John 1:1-4
I as a Christian truly believe that I have the most important thing in the world to share with all people, whoever they are, whatever their lifestyle.
God wants all people everywhere to come and know him on a personal level. He wants to have fellowship with the individual.
This is why I write the blogs.
I have no wish to force my beliefs on anyone. I simply place what I believe out there for people to read. The decision they make is entirely between them and God.
I am not their judge. I am simply a person who truly loves God and wants others to share in that same love.
A personal relationship that offers peace that passes all understanding. That lasts for eternity.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” 
                                           C.S. Lewis.
I as a Christian believe that God knew that we could not be good enough to get into heaven, so he reached down to us. He sent His son Jesus Christ to atone for our short comings and sins.
Jesus died not for mankind as a whole but for each individual.
I believe the words of John when he wrote,
Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
John 1:12,13
  I firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. That is why I write and talk to anyone who will listen and tell them about Jesus.
Jesus said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
          John 14:6
There is one certainty in this life. That being we will never get out of it alive.
I cannot believe that this life is all there is. That when we die we simply pass into oblivion.
It seems to be that all cultures from  the beginning of time believe in an after life. It just seems to be to be in our very make up that we know there is something after death. An eternity that we will pass into.
The question is where will you spend eternity. Will it be in heaven.
The apostle Paul wrote
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                                   Ephesians 2:8,9.
In order to possess the gift of eternal life, one must first accept it. Will you accept the free gift of Salvation Jesus offers you?
Think about it?