799.

ARE YOU STILL A "THICKET OF THORNS"
OR  ARE  YOU  NOW  A  "JUNIPER  TREE"?
(From Isaiah 55:12,13).

Most people know by word or deed whether or not we have their best interests at heart. An old adage comes to mind, which says: 'You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time.'  How often this can be applied to those who with a prepared text recite the "good news" parrot-fashion to people on their doorsteps; people who suspect they are hearing the same speech that their neighbours received. This is yet another way of stopping up the Kingdom of God before men. (Matt 23:13-15). The attitude that either the public accept having the gospel message recited to them in this manner or else they are without hope, is lamentable. Primarily, it is lamentable for those preaching the "good news" of our Lord Jesus in this way.  (Matt 24:14. 18:6,7).

For good reason, the apostle Paul addressed the following words to anointed ones: "Now there are varieties of gifts, but there is the same Spirit; and there are varieties of ministries, and yet there is the same Lord". (1 Cor 12:4,5). But if the one preaching hides behind this soulless way of communicating, then his listeners will probably do the same     which benefits no one. The number of hours spent preaching the "good news", the number of doors knocked on, and the data one enters on a record sheet, is of secondary importance and is not in itself worthy of merit. But the sincerity and fervour of one's speech, and one's care for the best interests of the listener as to the Lord, is. Sensing the joy you have in the "good news" of The Christ certainly makes for better listeners and gives them a clearer view of the love of our Heavenly Father, His purpose, and your motives. (Phil 1:15-17. Isaiah 55:12,13). One favourable response is worth more than many brief encounters.

"No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him". (John 6:44). And with this scripture in mind, I know a man who spent four hours every week for over a year questioning and cross-examining a preacher over basic scriptural doctrines before committing himself to an organized study of the Bible, and even then it was slow going. For members of the sect calling themselves Jehovah's Witnesses to suggest that a Bible study should be terminated after six months if that person is deemed to have made too little progress, is not only presumptuous, it is acting in the place of God. If such a Bible study is to be terminated, Jehovah will terminate it. Indeed, Jehovah may choose someone else to help a new convert progress further. Some may be drawn to Jehovah through loneliness, despair, or by a thirst for spiritual knowledge. (Isaiah 55:1-4). But if somewhere along the way they stumble upon the truth about God     wonderful! One should not take the premeditated step of terminating one's efforts to help gather another to God. Over such a matter one must make many supplications to God in prayer.

Furthermore, there are those who desire and expect spiritual progress of new converts far too soon     for example, in their giving up smoking or some other excess     and there are many. Besides, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 conveys some home truths as to past behaviour, and reminds us, "yet that is what some of you were". Finally, our efforts toward the fulfilment of Ephesians 3:14-19 still continues.

13/2/77.
 

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