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Acts 4:12, Mark 16:15, Titus 1:9, Acts 2:38, 1 Timothy 4:6
Summary: The church was established by the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim the message of salvation to a lost and dying world. We need to remember that and repent of proclaiming anything else.
Ignorance is not listed as a gift of the Spirit. It is vital in these last days to know why you believe in the message of the Gospel and what makes up the essential doctrines of the faith. The Gospel is constantly being attacked by the forces of evil each passing day. Too many Christians have no idea of how to confront this wave of vicious hatred toward Jesus and the free offer of salvation only He can provide (Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 17:11; 1 Peter 3:15).
Much of this ignorance lies at the feet of “preachers” who neglect to feed their flocks the good food of the Word. They don’t want to “upset people” or be seen as “intolerant” and “unloving,” or don’t believe what the Bible has to say about the world and its evils in the first place. They “tickle ears” and forget that they will be held accountable by God as to why they did not possess the “holy boldness” that He expects from pastors and elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Our so-called “Christian ” nation has been fed “junk food “consisting of self-centered “best life ” drivel that has produced a harvest of religious pagans obliviously walking into hell (Luke 17:2; Acts 20:28-31; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; James 3:1; 2 Peter 2; Jude 1; Revelation 20:11-15).
Let us drop what the world wants to hear and return to what needs to be heard. The apostles undertook this responsibility seriously and with a sense of urgency. Souls were at stake, and nothing else mattered.
After being empowered by the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room, no threats, intimidation, or persecution stopped them from proclaiming that there was no salvation outside of Jesus Christ, that He was the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and that His act of redemption for our sins was the only way to pardon us and appease the wrath of God who will not allow sin in His presence. The apostles were commissioned to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. The world would hate them as it hated Jesus (John 15:18-19), but none of that mattered. They would not be silenced by opinions or anything else.
This should be our attitude today. We need to quit being a bunch of scared rabbits and not allow the world to dictate how we should act or proclaim.
Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 is a solid and serious Biblical message that hits the heart and shatters the darkness. Let us ask forgiveness from the Lord Jesus if we have said anything behind a pulpit or lectern (Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 1:8-10) to the contrary.
What message did Peter preach that resulted in winning 3,000 souls that day?
- The age of fulfillment has dawned, the latter days as foretold by the prophets.
- This has taken place through the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- By virtue of the resurrection, Jesus has been exalted at the right hand of God as the Messianic head of the house of Israel.
- The Holy Spirit in the church is the sign of Christ’s present power and glory.
- The Messianic age will reach its consummation in the return of Jesus Christ.
- An appeal is made for repentance with the offer of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and salvation.
Pastor, when was the last time you preached such a message from behind the sacred desk where you are to shepherd the flock, protect them from the wolves, and be aware that we must give an account of our work before the Chief Shepherd? (John 10:28-30; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Peter 5:1-11).
The same Holy Spirit who pierced the heart of 3,000 souls that day is still with us today. Let’s return to the guidance of the Lord and square ourselves to the task of gathering the harvest while there is still time. The world is going away soon. We need to keep eternity in mind.
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The post The Proclamation of the Church: Part 2 :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard appeared first on Rapture Ready.
