D.J. Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)
Years ago, a dear misguided acquaintance of mine invited me to the Church he attended. I told him that I would give it some thought. One day he brought a copy of the Church program to me. On the first page at the top of the program was a congregational prayer chant. The first line was “Our Mother/Father God.” It was a very glaring sign that this Church had a shaky doctrine. Jesus is not confused as to whether God is His Father or His Mother. He always called Him, “Father.” The devil will give confusing and contradictory words (Genesis 3). God does not have an identity problem but, the devil will perpetuate identity confusion. If the messenger doesn’t know that God is Father, they are confused and cannot lead you anywhere but to false doctrine and away from the truth. It is a sure sign that they don’t know God and never met the true Christ.
“A Father of the fatherless …is God.” (Psalm 82:3)
What are you waiting to hear?
At that Church and many other religious congregations, they show no love toward their parishioners, in that they do not admonish them to live holy. Instead, they tell them that they are not sinners in need of a Savior. They cleverly preach that “You will not die… (Genesis 3)” They neglect to tell them that those who deliberately live a continuous lifestyle of sin will not see the kingdom of God. (1Corinthians 6:8-10) Endorsing and embracing their sin, unfortunately, they deceive many people. Though in bondage to sin; still, people flock to hear good feeling, ear-tickling messages of positive thinking. The religious leaders will encourage the sick to take their medicine, avoid nicotine and fried foods to protect their physical bodies but, they do not warn them about the fiery destiny awaiting those who mock God and proudly practice immorality (Revelation 21:8). So, the sinners flock to places where they teach that Jesus endorses or has no problem with their sinful lifestyle because this is what they want to hear.
There is a favorite song of the world that has a lyric “Imagine there is no heaven; imagine there is no hell…” When you choose a church or a pastor do you want to hear them say, “There is no hell?”
What are you waiting to hear?
A rich young ruler approached Jesus and asked, “What should I do to assure eternal life?” What do you suppose he wanted to hear Jesus say? Jesus said, “You know the laws …” The man replied that he had kept them from his youth. Then, Jesus said, “Sell all you have and give to the poor,” and the young man went away sadly. Do you think he went looking for the Pharisees and Sadducees to start spending more time with them? I just wonder where he went because obviously, Jesus had not said what he wanted to hear. (Luke 18: 18-23)
What are you waiting to hear?
Are you visiting churches and making your decision of membership based on whether the preacher condemns living together out of wedlock? What are you waiting to hear? The first miracle Jesus did was at a Wedding between a man and a woman. (John 2:1-8) He confronted the woman at Samaria about “shacking up.” What do you think she was waiting to hear? I know it wasn’t that. That’s why she was at the well at that time of day. However, after hearing the truth from Jesus, she and the town assured their eternal destiny with God. (John 4:16-42)
What are you waiting to hear?
In Numbers 22 we are told that the Moab and Midian nations, fearing them, strategized how to eliminate the children of Israel. Therefore, they sent messengers to Balaam to bless them and curse the Israelites. Balaam sought God as to whether he should curse the people. God said, “No.” That’s not what the elders of Moab and Midian wanted to hear. So they offered Balaam a lucrative bribe to say what they wanted to hear. For the fee, Balaam started to travel to speak to them the words they wanted to hear. But God’s angel blocked the path so that the beast Balaam rode would not go forward. Balaam started beating his ride until the beast had enough. Instead of braying, he heard the donkey speak audibly, “Don’t you see that angel blocking the path?” I know that this was not what Balaam wanted to hear. When he recovered his senses, he went to the princes and told them that he would not curse whom God had not cursed. (Numbers 23:8) You know this was not what they were waiting to hear. (Numbers 23:11)
What are you waiting to hear?
Sadly, today there are false prophets leading churches and governments who have accepted bribes and are saying what the enemies of God or the carnal Christian want to hear. They are teaching doctrines of demons. (1Timothy 4:1)
If you are chasing after fads, prophets, and preachers who promise the world but neglect to show you how to have a personal relationship with Christ and receive eternal life, test the spirit. (1John 4:1) Are they saying what the Word of God says or what you want to hear? If you read the scriptures, you may find that it’s not what you want to hear. But, it will be the truth, and God will remedy your condition and set you free from sin. You’ll become heir and a joint heir with the King and have everlasting life. Don’t just rely on what the preacher is saying. Don’t be deceived, search the scriptures, “for in them you think you have eternal life.” (John 5:39)
What are you waiting to hear?
Four men brought their friend who was sick of the palsy to Jesus. Jesus looked at the man, and said; “Your sins are forgiven.” Not what the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were there, wanted to hear. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, looked back at the man and said, “Get up, take up your bed and walk!” And the man did just that. Again, this is not what the Pharisees and Sadducees were waiting to hear but, every bit of what that man and his friends wanted to hear. The man heard the truth (“You’ve sinned, but I have forgiven you”) and his condition remedied (healed) in one meeting with Jesus. (Mark 2:3-12)
What are you waiting to hear?
Saying they caught her in adultery, several Scribes and Pharisees threw a woman at the feet of Jesus. Jesus responded, “He that is sinless, let him throw the first stone.” Not what they were waiting to hear. So her accusers left one by one. When Jesus looked up again, there was no one there but the adulterous woman. Jesus looked at her and asked, “Has no man condemned you?” “No,” she replied. Then, Jesus said to her, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” (John 8:3-12) Now, that’s not what she expected to hear but glad she did! (John 12:3)
What are you waiting to hear?
Poor shepherds were watching their flock one night. They were listening for the sound of creatures trying to devour their sheep. They wanted to hear the peaceful and quiet baaing of their sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared engulfed by the light of the glory of God. It frightened them for they weren’t expecting this. They didn’t know what they would hear next. The angel said, “Fear not; for I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Then, suddenly the sky was full of a host of angels praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2: 8-14)
Now, that’s well worth hearing!
What are you waiting to hear?
“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
That’s Today’s Single Focus
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The mountain climber George Mallory died trying to climb up the over 29,000 feet Mount Everest for the third time. Though a dangerous pursuit, climbing that mountain was his passion.
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