04 Jun The Terror of The Lord
You must have heard or read of the saying that when “persuasion fails force must be applied”.That is the norm and the way of the world. However as soul winners, we don’t force anyone to surrender his life to Jesus, we lead him to Christ by preaching the gospel truth. “He that believeth the on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth in him”.(John 3:36)
· We persuade men to believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God because it is written that, “ In him was life, and the life was the light of men”(John 1:4)
It was so in the time of Moses,
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
It was so in Joshua’s valedictory speech, he persuaded the Israelites to serve the LORD, “Now, therefore, fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your father served on the another side of the flood, and Egypt; and serve ye the LORD” (Joshua 24:14)
He told them the consequence of forsaking the LORD
“If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then will he turns and do you hurt, and consume you after he hath done you good”(Joshua 24:20)
Therefore:
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men….” (2 Corinthians 5:11)
We persuade men because,
· “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God “(Romans 3:23)
And
· “The soul that sinneth,it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20a)
For
· “…….it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment “(Hebrews 9:27).
Remember
· “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance “(2 Peter 3:9)
Because
· “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”(John 3:16).
However
· “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved “(Acts 4:12).
We persuade men to repent from their sins and come to Jesus Christ for salvation because though God is rich in mercy and delights in mercy (Micah 7:18) yet the long-suffering of God according to the Scripture should lead you to repentance for
· “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”(Hebrews 10:31)
Because
· “….. our God is a consuming fire “(Hebrews 12:29).
Joshua told the Israelites clearly and plainly that God will consume them if they serve strange gods and it is written that , “The wicked shall be turned into hell ,and all the nations that forget God”(Psalm 9:17)
The same message Jesus Christ preached thousands of years ago during His earthly ministry is still relevant today, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”(Mark 1:15) ,and it is the same message I am preaching to you today. However the choice is yours.
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