If there is something I love to do, it is to be with people who are seeking the truth unceasingly. So it is common in my circle of friends to talk about church, bible and theological issues at all times. This week, conversing with a friend, I realized how often we overlooked the important point: We try to impute the gospel to the people around us at all times.
This is the reason why endless debates about religion and doctrine begin. About the existence of God and his intentions towards man.
I believe there is no one on earth who can claim to know all the dreams and ways of God. Let alone one who knows how He conducts His righteousness over creation. That way, I think it’s impossible to deploy something into someone’s heart by using our strength. In fact, I think that sometimes God gives us a lesson in this matter to know that we should not act on our own understanding.
Even Paul (who is regarded by scientists today as having knowledge equivalent to four PhDs) emphasized that his understanding had no effect without the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, (5) that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God “
Give Control to God
On several occasions I hesitated to think that through what I know about religion and the Bible I could convince someone of their sin. This is not only wrong as it comes to be heresy and a tremendous disrespect to the Word of God. That says that conviction comes only through the Holy Spirit. I see many frustrated people inside the church for trying to convert people without seeing results. This is because sometimes we are talking more to the wind than praying that the Lord will reach the lost. I have learned that the priesthood, in secret, without anyone seeing, has far more effect than hours of preaching. Nowadays I have tried to give more control into the hands of God. After all, He knows much better how to do this than I do.
1Jo 5:16 “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin other than death, he should pray, and God will give life to him whose sin is not to death …”
Do not be inconvenient
Understanding that God acts in his perfect way, and it is not for us to question him. We can start to avoid spending time getting into debates that will not get us anywhere that is good. In fact, when we try to force something on someone, we produce more bad fruit than good. Meekness, patience and understanding are necessary for the work of the Kingdom to be established.
Tt 3:2 “Let no one speak badly, nor be contentious, but kind, showing all meekness to all men. (3) For we also were fools at one time, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. “
(9) … avoid foolish questions, genealogies and contentions, and debates about the law; because they are useless and vain. (10) To the man who is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject. (11) Knowing that he who is such is perverted and sins, being condemned in himself.
Do not be discouraged if you are seeing that someone close to you is not receiving the message of salvation the way you would like it to be. Maybe God is telling you to change your methods. Let him pray more, and trust more in His power, and not in His hands.
1Tim 2:1 “I exhort you that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and deeds of grace be done first of all for all men … (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. “
Do not stop teaching
Lastly, I do not want the brothers to think they should stop talking about the message. On the contrary, preaching is biblical and proclaiming the truth as well. But the way should always focus on bringing the love of the Father to the orphans. Quietly and generously. We must always take care not to base our teaching on the vanity of showing that we may know the Lord more than others.
2Tim 2:23 “And it is not fit for the servant of the Lord to fight, but to be gentle toward all men, able to teach, patient; (25) Gently instructing those who oppose, to see whether God will give them repentance to know the truth “
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ reign fully in their hearts, bringing meekness and understanding so that they may be more lost and the Kingdom established! Amen!
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