Right from the time I accepted Lord Jesus till this date, my perception about following Him was to imitate His ways in doing things, thinking patterns and become a better person keeping Him as my model. My ideology of Christianity was to imitate Him rather than receiving blessings ideology of life. I am aware that I miserably fail at times with my human efforts but I keep striving my best without giving up with a hope that change is constant depending on His grace.
Very quickly even I got influenced by the concept of preaching and I had been an active preacher for years soon realizing the fact that preaching is easy while sincerely practicing the same is difficult. It is so easy to give a free piece of advice to others especially through tough times. Will I be able to adhere to the same when it comes to me personally? I gave up on the concept of preaching since a few years now and I got focused on practicing my faith in my personal life. And again my intention of blogging is not focused on preaching but personal reflection with open room for others to think critically, reflect and take ideologies or concepts that suits people and their lives.
A free piece of advice is an inappropriate profession! It is the most easiest and the simplest task in this world and invariably it is FREE...
Do this...Do that...Don't do this...or that...Instead why not take that question personally.
In spite of telling someone to do something...why not we tell ourselves "Why don't I do that myself?" or "Why don't I mind my own business?"
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (PHILLIPS)
Be busy with your own affairs and do your work yourselves. The result will be a reputation for honesty in the world outside and an honorable independence.
It is ideal to change our ways of thinking, behaving and decision-making rather than wasting our time as well as others by giving a Free Piece of Advice...
Showing posts with label Preaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preaching. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Preaching the Gospel
One may ask me if you believe that people are going to come to God without preaching how on earth will the gospel spread to the world. Right question. Without preaching the gospel will not spread in this world. But today the gospel is being spread so widely both in effective and ineffective ways. What concerns me more is when the life of people sharing the gospel is contrary to their faith, then their preaching is seldom serving the purpose. Unfortunately, the percentage of this kind of folks is higher than those who sincerely live a godly life and preach the gospel in simple and powerful ways.
In my perception, God has his own ways of reaching to people's heart. Most of them come to Jesus to receive a benefit and then once that is fulfilled or their inner motives are unfulfilled they quit Him and His ways. Anyways, God knows His sheep as well as the goats. What I have observed in my years in the Lord is that if someone is really and wholeheartedly searching to know God, He knows how to guide them in knowing Him. For instance, all my life as far as I remember I had a quest for knowing the deeper meaning of life like: Who is God? What is life? What is the truth?
Years later, I found God (or rather God helped me find Him) and Jesus opened my eyes to see that He is the Life. He is the Truth and He is the way to God (the Father) (John 14:6). Each person who have a deeper thirst in knowing God, He is sure to make a way to know Him. Nobody came to me to preach the gospel, no one convinced me going to church. God has his ways of reaching a man's heart. I am not saying that one shouldn't be actively preaching God's Word. Yes, people of God are chosen to do that.
But as an ordinary child of God each one of us has a philosophy to express faith or preach the gospel in different ways. I am often reminded of what Smith Wigglesworth, a pioneer of Pentecostal Revival did in one instance. Rev. Smith was the most vibrant preacher of God. Once on a visit with his friend, he saw a group of men working on an over bridge construction. Smith walked towards them and his friend was sure that Rev. Smith would seize the opportunity and preach the gospel. However, Rev. Smith did not do so and this surprised his friend. When inquired why he did not tell them anything about Jesus, Rev. Smith replied "I have left behind the presence of God with them and I am sure this will make a difference".
Though Jesus actively preached the Kingdom of God to men, there are many instances which we see where He asked people not to tell what He did. I often wondered why? Jesus never wanted people to go behind miracles... but follow Him with an inner quest of knowing Him (the Way, the Truth and the Life).
Rev. Selwyn Hughes says that there is a deep inner thirst in each soul to know the truth about God and Life. In my opinion a soul that identifies this thirst and pursues the quest of knowing them, then God has His way of reaching that soul...
John 8:32 (NIV)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
In my perception, God has his own ways of reaching to people's heart. Most of them come to Jesus to receive a benefit and then once that is fulfilled or their inner motives are unfulfilled they quit Him and His ways. Anyways, God knows His sheep as well as the goats. What I have observed in my years in the Lord is that if someone is really and wholeheartedly searching to know God, He knows how to guide them in knowing Him. For instance, all my life as far as I remember I had a quest for knowing the deeper meaning of life like: Who is God? What is life? What is the truth?
Years later, I found God (or rather God helped me find Him) and Jesus opened my eyes to see that He is the Life. He is the Truth and He is the way to God (the Father) (John 14:6). Each person who have a deeper thirst in knowing God, He is sure to make a way to know Him. Nobody came to me to preach the gospel, no one convinced me going to church. God has his ways of reaching a man's heart. I am not saying that one shouldn't be actively preaching God's Word. Yes, people of God are chosen to do that.
But as an ordinary child of God each one of us has a philosophy to express faith or preach the gospel in different ways. I am often reminded of what Smith Wigglesworth, a pioneer of Pentecostal Revival did in one instance. Rev. Smith was the most vibrant preacher of God. Once on a visit with his friend, he saw a group of men working on an over bridge construction. Smith walked towards them and his friend was sure that Rev. Smith would seize the opportunity and preach the gospel. However, Rev. Smith did not do so and this surprised his friend. When inquired why he did not tell them anything about Jesus, Rev. Smith replied "I have left behind the presence of God with them and I am sure this will make a difference".
Though Jesus actively preached the Kingdom of God to men, there are many instances which we see where He asked people not to tell what He did. I often wondered why? Jesus never wanted people to go behind miracles... but follow Him with an inner quest of knowing Him (the Way, the Truth and the Life).
Rev. Selwyn Hughes says that there is a deep inner thirst in each soul to know the truth about God and Life. In my opinion a soul that identifies this thirst and pursues the quest of knowing them, then God has His way of reaching that soul...
John 8:32 (NIV)
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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