Zeal is an eternal fervor released as a force of reckoning, refusing to subside until achieving God’s desired outcome. Movements, revivals and major initiatives of change are all by-products created by those who are possessed by zeal. They come about and are birthed in the hands of singular individuals seized in its grip. One singular man consumed (hollowed out) by the fire ignited in his fervent and uncompromising love for God can start a movement. The church has come to a time for zeal, a time for true repositioning. All movements (not mobs) that are fueled by zeal will always seek God’s authority for authentication, validation and vision. read more » Romans 11:22, “Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” When I was only five years old I began to have dreams and visions of Christ. He would tell me to go to the world with the gospel. Just a short time after, He allowed me to have visions of hell and hear the screams of torment of the people there. I was a boy, still in the single digits of age, and I believed that God so wants us to save people from the coming wrath. The Church lately has been undergoing a change to be more appealing to the world. Some of this is good and some is not so good. We should try to make our preaching more relevant to our culture, but we must not take out the truth of the Word so that people will more readily accept Him. He is God. He doesn’t need us to make excuses for Him. He doesn’t need us to spend time explaining too much about why He does what He does. Our job is simple. We must proclaim that the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of His Christ has come. We must tell people the truth. God is KIND and He is also WRATHFUL. He has a dual nature. We are doing an injustice if we don’t tell the WHOLE truth. Yes, God is a loving Father but He is also a wrathful judge. Someone said to me the other day, “I punish my children but I wouldn’t sentence them to death for defying my wishes. How could God do this?” My answer was simple. God doesn’t sentence His children to death. He doesn’t send His children to hell. Many are assuming that the picture of God as a father applies to all. Jesus made the opposite clear to the Pharisees. He said, “You are of your father the devil.” I said to the person, “You wouldn’t sentence your children to death but you would sentence your enemy who is repeatedly trying to kill you and your family to death wouldn’t you?” God takes it personally when his children are attacked or killed. When Stephen was being stoned, Jesus stood up at the right hand of God to take notice and to write in His book the deeds that were being done to Stephen so that he could reward righteous Stephen and punish the unrighteous persecutors. God also takes His Son, Jesus Christ, seriously. He has appointed Him as Lord and Christ. To reject Him is to reject the Father. This is treason and is punishable by death and by the eternal fire. God will save those who will believe and he will destroy those who believe not. Pastor, don’t be afraid to tell the truth. Eternity depends upon you telling the truth. This also gives us great motivation to fulfill His calling around the world—the Great Commission. Jude says, “Save some with mercy who are doubting; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” It will take the preaching of both the goodness of God and the severity of God to win a world for Christ. THIS IS WHAT I CALL THE FULL GOSPEL. I love the book “Radical” by David Platt. He knows the purpose of the church. He was a missionary and is now a pastor of a large church in Birmingham, AL. He wrote a simple little book and now millionaires who have read it are radically changing their lives. They found out that what they had was not just for them, and now things are changing so rapidly—millions and millions of dollars are being pumped into the kingdom—miracles are happening and lives are being radically transformed. They got a hold of the revelation of what Jesus was trying to tell us in Luke 12:16-21. Those millionaires will tell you for the first time in their lives they’re free. read more » I’m a missionary and I love the world but I also love America and any time there are some things that are not right in my country, it hurts me. Yes, God wants to move around the world, but there are some things He needs to do in America. I’ve been challenged and burdened over the last several months, almost as if I have received an assignment from the Lord: Son, will you believe me for an awakening in the American Church? With the same passion that you’re petitioning me for the nations, would you ask me to bring an awakening? read more » I am often amazed when I talk to Christians who work so hard at not working. Many love to focus on the gospel of “Grace” without understanding the true definition of Grace. We understand that we are saved by faith and not of works but do we understand that we are saved by faith to do good works? Biblical grace is not unmerited favor but rather empowerment. We have grace to do what God has called us to do. We are not graced to just live in whatever manner we want. read more »
The Kindness and Severity of God
chris.harrison : October 10, 2011 2:03 am : HCI Members Blog, Missions Mobilization
Chris Harrison
Missions Mobilization Director
Harvest Churches International
Willful Ignorance – Part 2
Jerry Williamson : July 31, 2011 9:09 pm : HCI Members Blog, Missions Mobilization
Willful Ignorance – Part 1
Jerry Williamson : July 25, 2011 5:57 am : HCI Members Blog, Missions Mobilization
HCI Members Blog
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