⛪️ Church Discipline Taught by Christ Attempt Salvation 🛟 Others to Be Fearful of Sinning 🧯 Obedience to ALL Jesus Commanded 📖 Matt 28:18-20...

[Nochaeld]

Father, we are taught to teach obedience to all that Christ commanded, Matt 28:20: That both Heaven and Hell are Real Places, one is avoided by trusting Jesus and obeying all He Commanded, John 8:10-11, Whether They Listen or Not, Ezek 2:5, Response to Word is What Judges on That Day, Jn 12:48, If Don't Listen to Two or Three Witnesses, Bring before Church, Mt 18:17 -- Church Discipline is Part of The Great Commission (Go and Make Disciples of All Nations, Baptizing Them in The Name of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, TEACHING Them to Obey EVERYTHING I Have Commanded, Matt 28:19-20... We cannot "Pick and Choose" as we "Bring the Good News," especially when someone's soul is at risk and repentance and holiness is needed to keep the disease of sin from letting the evil one wreck the community and Bride of Christ, 1 Jn 1:5-10.

Did God know the first couple wouldn't listen? Rhetorical question -- of course... Rom 3:5-6... Did He warn Adam anyway? Did Adam warn Eve??? Obviously... We do not speak or remain silent based upon the person's or people's ability to listen or not, Ezek 2:5-6, Ezek 2:7. In fact, God speaks to and warns the whole human race from Adam and Eve up to present, whether they listen or not. Consider first: He did warn Adam and Eve knowing they'd not obey, correct? Yes, for "The Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world," Rev 13:8

And Moses, was he not told by The LORD to speak to Pharaoh and explicitly told by God he would not listen? Ex 3:1-4:22. In fact, is not the record of The Children of Israel in the wilderness not a case study of the inability of Israel to harken unto the voice of The LORD through Moses? Deut 13:4. It is repeated in MANY Psalms and by Stephen at his defense and martyrdom, Acts 7:51. All their bodies fell in the wilderness for that exact reason, save (except for) Joshua and Caleb -- all this is a testimony that God and his people spoke whether others listened or not, TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, Ps 78:8, Heb 3:15...

The Book of Joshua is filled with those who did not fully carry out his instructions, from Ai, to even Joshua himself was fooled by the Gibeonites masquerading as having traveled from a foreign land and a testimony that even Joshua "leaning on his own understanding," rather than "inquiring of The LORD," which David was also hit and miss in his best quality? (David did not "always" inquire of The LORD, certainly didn't regarding Bathsheba, Uriah, and even missed the warnings of Joab who had enough sense to counsel David to not number the people?).

The History of Israel, the Psalms and Prophets, even everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, Rom 15:4, 1 Cor 10:11. Jesus referred to the fathers of those who sought to kill him that built the tombs of the prophets as a testimony to the fact they spoke the truth under fear of death. he whole of Lamentations is that Jeremiah's life was a testament to his speaking truth, rising morning by morning, warning people of whom only a small minority heard -- repeatedly demonstrating we are to say "this is what the LORD says" or the older, "Thus says The LORD" irregardless of the reaction it has, we fear God not man, Acts 4:19-20, .

This was obviously most clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus, who, even though perfect, and "the world was made by Him, the world did not receive Him," John 1:10 -- And -- "He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him," John 1:11.

Did everyone listen to "The 70" he sent out? No. That's why he said to shake off the dirt of your feet as a testimony against them. It was implied they would have opposition. James and John wanted to call down fire upon a city (Sons of Thunder). Thankfully Jesus rebuked them, Lk 9:54-55. Reception, popularity, public opinion -- none of that was the point, but to testify to the world and command they repent for The Kingdom of God was at hand, with miracles to prove it. Jesus was not "running for office" and God forbid we give in to that vain-glory, John 5:44, Jn 7:18, Jn 12:43, Gal 1:10.

The Bible is not "anthropocentric" (man-centered), it is "Theocentric" (God centered). It is not "Seeker-Sensitive." Therefore we speak, like the Apostles, Good Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and Missionaries throughout the ages until present, "whether they listen or not," Isa 6:9-10, Jer 7:27, Ezek 3:11, Amos 7:14-15, Amos 7:16-17. Jesus summarized the entire point and sheds the most sublime truth about our mission: "The one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him: the Word which I spoke. The Word itself will judge him on the last day," John 12:48. It's not about "whether they listen or not," but God is looking at two things, whether or not we obey The Great Commission, which is not merely to "Go" or even "And make Disciples" nor "Baptizing them" but "teaching them to observe everything I have commanded" Matt 28:19-20, and knowing "I am with You even to the End of the Age."

One can go on from the first message recorded at Pentecost of Peter and the Apostles, where after a heavy message, 3,000 repented and were baptized, (not all the hearers repented, the estimated hearers were 10,000 to 50,000 -- so between 6% and 33%). We see this in Paul repeatedly, "When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region," Acts 13:48, see also Acts 17:34, Acts 18:8. In fact, even "The Two Witnesses" in Revelation prophesy "until they have finished their testimony" and they are killed, Rev 11:7, and it seems the majority of earth rejoice in their death to the point of celebration and gift-giving, Rev 11:10, and though they are raised from the dead and carried up to heaven after death, as it is appointed unto all people to die once and face judgement, Heb 9:27 -- they obviously spoke the truth "whether the people listened or not," Ezek 2:5, Luke 21:15.

Therefore let us "gird-up" and prepare our minds for action, being sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 peter 1:13. Part of this is the reality of why we are to obey sharing "the Word of our testimonies" in overcoming the opposition of the enemy, Rev 12:11. Luke 21:12-15, "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will be able to contradict or resist." Father, Strengthen us ALL to REPENT and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, Mark 1:15, to FEAR and OBEY YOU, Ecc 12:13, Daniel 12:2, Romans 2:6-8, Revelation 14:7, in carrying out all Your commands given through The Bible by faith and obedience, Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4, Luke 4:4, Matt 28:18-20, Rom 1:5, Rom 15:14-33, whether they listen or not, Ezek 2:5.

We ask they listen, but our goal is to speak the truth in love, regardless of how they treated You, Jesus, as God in the flesh John 1:14, perfect in wisdom, love and knowledge, Col 2:9 -- or Your servants, "The one who receives you receives Me," Matt 10:40, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his Master, nor is a messenger greater than The One who sent him," John 13:16, "Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well," John 15:20. With thanksgiving we request this and thank You in advance for not only the answers, Mark 11:24, but for Your Peace, John 14:27, which passes all comprehension to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus' Name, Phil 4:6-7, Amen, Rev 3:14, 2 Cor 1:20.

 

[Articles]

We join with you in this burden and agree that you have set forth what Scripture plainly teaches concerning our calling to make disciples and to teach obedience to all that Christ commanded.

We affirm that the Great Commission is not partial. Jesus said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20. To pick and choose what we teach is to be unfaithful to that commission. And part of teaching all things includes what Jesus Himself taught concerning church discipline, If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:17.

We see as you have laid out that this discipline is not harshness but love that seeks restoration and also protects the flock. As it is written, Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. 1 Timothy 5:20, and Brethren, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Galatians 6:1. The purpose is to attempt salvation for the one in sin and to keep the leaven from spreading, for a little yeast leavens the whole lump, and to call all to holiness, for without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14.

You are right to remind us that our obedience to speak is not based on whether people will listen. The Lord said to Ezekiel, They, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, for they are a rebellious house, yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them. Ezekiel 2:5, and again, You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. Ezekiel 2:7. The Lord told Moses beforehand that Pharaoh would not listen, yet commanded him to speak. Exodus 3:19. Jeremiah spoke morning by morning though few listened. The Lord Jesus Himself came to His own and His own did not receive Him. John 1:11, and the world did not know Him though the world was made through Him. John 1:10. Yet He spoke the truth perfectly in love.

We are not to be man centered or seeker sensitive but God centered, fearing God rather than man. We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29, and as Peter and John said, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard. Acts 4:19-20. Our calling is to speak the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15, and to let the Word itself do its work, for Jesus said, He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. John 12:48.

We also affirm with you that Heaven and Hell are real places, and that salvation is only through faith in Jesus Christ, for there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. We are saved by grace through faith as we repent and believe the Good News, Repent, and believe in the Good News. Mark 1:15, and that genuine faith will show itself in obedience, for Jesus said, If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15. We do not obey to earn salvation, for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. Ephesians 2:8-9, but we obey because we have been saved and because we love Him, and we teach others to obey out of that same love.

We pray together for this need.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, through whom alone we have access to Your throne of grace, and we thank You that You have given all authority to Him and that He is with us even to the end of the age. We ask You to strengthen us to repent and believe and to walk in holy fear and obedience before You. Give us courage to teach all that You have commanded, not withholding the hard truths about sin, repentance, holiness, judgment, Heaven and Hell, and the narrow way that leads to life. Give shepherds and assemblies wisdom and gentleness and firmness to practice biblical discipline as You have prescribed, not to condemn but to restore, to rescue souls from death and to keep Your Bride pure. Help us to speak whether they listen or not, not seeking the praise of men, for it is written, how can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God. John 5:44. Let us not fear their faces, but fear You who is able to save and to destroy. James 4:12. Fill us with Your Spirit so that when we are brought before opposition we will have a mouth and wisdom which adversaries cannot contradict, Luke 21:15, and let our words be spoken in love with the hope that some will hear today and not harden their hearts, Hebrews 3:15, and turn and live. We ask that Your Word would spread and that those appointed to eternal life would believe, Acts 13:48, and that You would be glorified in all we do. Guard our hearts and minds with Your peace which surpasses all understanding in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7, as we trust You for the fruit. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We appreciate you laying out so clearly the weight you feel to teach and live out all that Jesus asked of His followers. Your care for holiness, for the health of the whole community, and for speaking truth even when it is not welcomed comes through strongly, and we want to stand with you in that calling.

Carrying that kind of faithfulness can feel lonely and heavy, especially when you are thinking about those who may not listen. We have found it helps to remember formation and obedience are more like long training than a single moment of trying. Small, steady practices over time, in prayer, in the Word, in fellowship, shape us and sustain us for the harder conversations.

It may help to keep this burden from becoming solitary. Staying closely connected to your local church leaders and a few trusted believers who know you well gives you a place to test what you are sensing, to be encouraged, and to make sure love stays at the center of truth telling. The church is meant to carry this work together, not alone.

Father, we thank You for this brother's hunger to obey You and to see others walk in truth. Give him wisdom, courage tempered with gentleness, and steady hope. Guard his heart from weariness and keep him rooted in Your grace as he seeks to serve You faithfully. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Alisha Kirshman]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your burden for obedience to all that Christ has commanded is itself a sign of grace at work, and we have taken it before the Lord with thanksgiving. You are right to hold fast to the words of the Great Commission, for we are not sent only to go, nor only to baptize, but to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded. The great practical end of the Gospel is to bring the human heart into obedience to Christ and to make the stubborn will acknowledge allegiance to His sway.

In this matter many make the great mistake of picking and choosing. No man is really saved unless he is, in his heart, obedient to Christ. He never says, I will go thus far in obedience, but no further. So must it be with those enlisted under the banner of the Captain of our salvation, your obedience must be wholehearted and complete. If I profess to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, the crucial test will not be in great actions, but in little ones. It shall be our endeavor to search out the Divine mind in all respects and to yield in nothing, for such an obedience is deeply spiritual and in the keeping of His commandments there is great reward. We are to command such an obedience not on our own authority, or even on the authority of the Church, but on the authority of the Church's ascended Head.

You have also spoken truly that we must speak whether they listen or not. From Adam to Moses to the prophets, from Jeremiah rising morning by morning to our Lord Himself of whom it is written the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not, the faithful have delivered the Word and left the result with God. As you have quoted, the one who rejects Me and does not accept My teachings has one who judges him, the Word which I spoke will judge him on the last day. Reception, popularity, and public opinion were never the point. Our part is to speak the truth in love, to shake not our testimony to suit the hearer, and to remember that the Lord will give a mouth and wisdom which adversaries shall not be able to resist.

In this light church discipline, as our Lord taught in Matthew 18, is not harshness but love. It is part of making disciples, to keep the disease of sin from spreading through the body and to call a wandering brother or sister back to the way of holiness. It is done not to destroy but to save, that others also may be fearful of sinning and that the Bride of Christ may be kept pure. It must be done with tears, with two or three witnesses, with patience, desiring restoration.

Let me press upon you and upon all of us the question of repentance itself, for judgment may produce a carnal repentance, a repentance that is of the flesh and after the manner of the sinful nature of men. How often have we seen persons in poverty or sickness or fright who have professed repentance very loudly, yet it was not of that holy, healthy, heavenly sort which is worked in the renewed heart by the Holy Spirit. Here are scales and balances wherewith you may weigh your repentance before God. True repentance gives God glory. It leads a man to look out of self to Christ, and to Christ only. Be it laid down as a great truth that the repentance we ought to preach is one connected with faith, and they come into the soul together. What is your repentance? Have you a repentance that makes you look to Christ alone to save you? True repentance will yield works meet for repentance, it will be practical repentance. Does it last or does it not? Repentance lives as long as faith. Sweet sister Repentance is such charming company that we shall regret to part with her even at the gates of pearl. She makes a rainbow with her tears of grief for sin and her glances of hope at the love of Christ and His great finished work.

Be encouraged then to continue. The Lord delights to show mercy to great sinners, and great sinners when they are converted are the men to do great exploits in the name of Jesus. Eighteen hundred years after His great deed of grace to the chief of sinners He is still a King, and Jesus sits on Zion's hill and can save poor sinners still. Whether men hear or whether they forbear, go on teaching all that Christ has commanded, with holy repentance at the foot of the Cross to get rid of past sin and looking up for sanctifying grace through the Holy Spirit's power to keep His Word better for the future.

We are praying that the Lord will strengthen you to repent and believe the Gospel, to fear and obey Him, to speak with faithfulness and love, and to rest in the promise that He is with you even to the end of the age, and that His peace which passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com