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Double-Edged Sword — 8 Comments

  1. My prayer is that The Lord will teach us to pray and be living examples of His love and mercy to each other.

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  2. Strong and needed point. If we let the people in; our church will be filled with the unchurched. That is a challenge for us all. Everything will be different.
    Strife on meaningless things will end, and there will be a situation of confrontation with real issues.
    What can we do to advance that "opening" ? Some sugesstions ?

    The servants went out on the streets and rounded up:
    " everyone they laid eyes on " !

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    • Good stuff coming out from the banquet story,look at this,the master sent his servants just to invite,when the guests came he took upon himself to approve the garment,we too, we are not to base out duty on the garment of others, let them come the way they are....And allow the master to do the interlogation over the garment.

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    • Goran, to answer your question I would say that Jesus gave the answer by both precept and example. Philippians 2 tells us He came as a Servant. Throughout scripture we see promises to the "servants of the Lord".

      In Matthew 25 we have the formula that Jesus demonstrated, given in proper order. In this chapter we are shown how to "watch" until Jesus returns.
      Notice how it is those who serve who are placed at His right hand. They can only truly serve if filled with the Oil that gives Light to the otherwise dark and empty lamp.

      We have been told that if we have the truth, God will send those looking for truth to us. I think in Matthew 25 we are shown that the truth must fully possess us, or it is a farce.

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  3. Lillianne, your article reminds me so much of what Paul told the Jews in Romans 2 after he lowered the boom on the Gentiles:

    Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
    2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
    3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
    4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
    5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
    6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
    7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
    8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-- indignation and wrath,
    9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
    10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
    11 For there is no partiality with God. (Rom. 2:1-11 NKJV)

    As for the bully, many of them are dealing with issues in their lives which we are unaware of that find expression in what they do. I think what we need is less condemnation and judgment in our thinking and more pity and mercy as Micah tells us (Mic 6:8). As it was in the times of Jesus when they hung Him on the cross He could only pray, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Lk. 23:34 NKJV).

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  4. It's really wonderful to know that the teachings of the Lord is really focus on loving and caring for everyone no matter who and what kind of a person he/she is. We are always encourage to share and care for those individuals who are not yet members of the church.

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  5. There is Hope

    Thank you for illustrating the message of Amos with a chisel cutting both ways, reminding us of Scripture piercing our conscience and convicting us of sin for repentance (Hebrews 4:12). Yes, Amos is directing this instrument against the surrounding nations (see also Psalm 83:5-8) as well as on Judah and Israel (Amos 2:4.6). The prophet is rejecting a cock-sureness of election on the basis of living in continual transgression turning election into a cloak for sin to be punished with judgement (Amos 3:1-2).

    This catastrophical event is compared with a shepherd proving the total loss of a sheep to its owner by producing two legs or a piece of an ear (Amos 3:12; Genesis 31:39). The message is aiming at awakening them from false security, preparing them to meet their God (Amos 4:12).

    Then the way will be open for rebuilding the fallen tabernacle of David in Revival and Reformation in the context of Pentecost with the early and the latter rain of the Holy Spirit (Amos 9:11; Acts 15:15-17). Then the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2). Then all kinds of sinners will come in to be healed of all wounds sin has inflicted. Then the church will be a place of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7). There is hope inmidst of that radical message of judgement preached by the prophet Amos.

    Winfried Stolpmann

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  6. Robert, thanks for answering. Both ideas of senssles good and opening were well recieved in my sabbath class.

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