Here it is only Monday, and wow what a week it has started to be. I was able to finish the book Radical by David Platt, and I have got to say, this book will make you take a hard look at your relationship with Christ and ask yourself, am I doing what I am supposed to do, but let's not get me started on that part of it. I also was busy this morning trying to get letters out to NC Sports teams asking for prize donations for the Block Party the Church is going to have on March 26th. This is going to be a great event for the community. There will be games and music, food and just alot of fellowship for all to be had. What we want to do is give the people in the community a chance to come out and here the Gospel in Music and worship with us in a way that lets them know that A)Jesus loves them, died for them and is waiting to receive them into the family; B) that we as a church are here for them and that we, as Christians Love them and do not want to see them perish in hell.
I have said for many years that the local church should be the focal point of the community. It should be the spot where we can gather as a community together and worship the Lord freely, it should be the place that we are able to run to for support when trouble comes at us. it should be a shelter in the storm as Isaiah 4:6 states "And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain."But unfortunately it has become a place of intimidation for many. That's right I said a place of Intimidation. Well how can that be alot of you are asking, others are saying Brother Bill has lost his mind, others need to close your mouths before the flies get in..lol. No Seriously, it has. Do you know how many people will walk in a church this year, and because they are made to feel like they are under dressed, over dressed, or just plain not good enough. Or they will be totally ignored by the "Christians", you know US. The ones who are supposed to be showing God's Love to EVERYONE.So how do we fix it. Well that's one reason events like this Block Party are so important to the community.
in Luke 14:12-14 Jesus says "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." In other words when the church has an event, a dinner, a special speaker, a hymn fest, a singing , what ever the special event is, don't go and invite the saved because they already know the word of God, they will know about the event because they should be at the church when planning for it is announced.But instead go out and invite the Lost, the hurting, the poor, the orphaned, the widows and widowers. GO out and invite those that have no clue and are not living for Christ, for they are the ones who need it. The saved already know, or should know, the glorious news that Jesus came, died, was buried and arose from the dead 3 days later all for us, so that we might live in Heaven, where he ascended to after his resurrection, with him. They are the ones who need to know that the CHURCH IS ALIVE. They are the ones who need to know that we truly care. They are the youth that are being deceived by the money and the drugs of the streets, they need to know that their is another way. This my brothers and sisters is what Events like this are for, not just for us to gather around and look at the same old faces and hear the same old stories, We should be out there in "the highways and hedges and compelling people to come in, that his house may be filled." Luke 14:23
Brothers and Sisters, I challenge you to take this one step further, I challenge everyone reading this, including myself, to go out this week and talk to a stranger, a lost loved one, a lost neighbor, anyone you know who is not serving Christ, and I challenge you to tell them about Christ and to invite them to attend worship service with you this weekend. If they go with you then may God work on their hearts and may they give their life to Christ. If they don't go, or they go and don't get saved, then don't stop there, ask them back and talk to them. Tell them of Jesus Sacrifice for them and tell them what a difference he has made in your life. If you continue to be faithful in your witness and you continually pray for them, for Isaiah 55:11 says "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it."
I leave you with that challenge and I Pray that God will help us to realize that everyone of us has a job to do in the kingdom, and everyone one of us is responsible for telling others of the good news of Christ. May he bless you this week in all you do and may his love be your warmth in the cold days ahead. God Bless and Good night
In Christ's Love,
Bill
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