Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
In about two months, Luis Palau will be visiting our town and he will be preaching and proclaiming the Lord in front of thousands of people. I know Palau is a great Christian and has led many to Christ. However, I can only say from two visits he paid to our city, I feel bitter-sweet. As I said, it's great to hear about people coming forward claiming salvation in Christ, but I have to ask that if you have three hundred people for instance come to proclaim Christ, how many of those will actually produce and lead more people to Christ?
So, thus began my reading of Jesus' parable found in Mark 4:1-20. Here, the Lord tells the audience (His disciples were part of it) this parable of four different places a farmer's seed fell. Christ tells us in the first example that some seeds fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up. What does this mean? That Satan would immediately have those people (seeds) forget the message and go back into the world and live the way they always did.
The second example is not much better. Some seeds fell on rocky places where there was not much soil. Since the soil was shallow, it sprang up quickly, but soon the sun scorched the plants and as a result the plant withered because it had no root. In today's terms, it's like walking away from Palau's speech, proudly proclaiming Christ during the festival, then when the going gets tough (persecution, trouble...), then they quickly turn away and go back to their usual routine.
Next is still far off the mark. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Imagine walking away from Palau's festival, proclaiming Christ and perhaps becoming a born-again Christian, but one important problem. Your mind is always on worries, or how to get rich with the assortment of programs out there, etc. and limit your spiritual growth.
Now we know there are seeds that fall on good soil and they spring up very healthy. They produce a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times. This is when you walk away from Palau's conference and you are not only saved, but you also start to grow by reading the Bible and studying it and also praying. Then you grow over time and start to reach out in the ministry that God gives you. The result is that many more people accept Christ as Savior. That's what I believe is Palau's goal.
Where do YOU fall? I'm praying in the fourth group. I often ask myself why does this nation find itself in this current situation if it's true that there are about 65-70 percent Christians as proclaimed to be. Unfortunitely, I don't think we have a true 65-70 percent of Christians as claimed. This explains why our country votes for politicians more for the pocket book rather than on issues such as abortion, etc. So, where do YOU think your seed has fallen?
Is it on the path where the birds can easily eat it?
Is it on the shallow soil where it can't take root?
Is it on the thorns where your growth is being choked out?
OR is it on the good soil where you're producing a harvest?
I have heard once that perhaps to find out the true percentage of committed Christians there are in the U.S., it would take a strong persecution. Chew on that for a moment.
Thank you very much for your time and God bless you.
So, thus began my reading of Jesus' parable found in Mark 4:1-20. Here, the Lord tells the audience (His disciples were part of it) this parable of four different places a farmer's seed fell. Christ tells us in the first example that some seeds fell on the path and the birds came and ate it up. What does this mean? That Satan would immediately have those people (seeds) forget the message and go back into the world and live the way they always did.
The second example is not much better. Some seeds fell on rocky places where there was not much soil. Since the soil was shallow, it sprang up quickly, but soon the sun scorched the plants and as a result the plant withered because it had no root. In today's terms, it's like walking away from Palau's speech, proudly proclaiming Christ during the festival, then when the going gets tough (persecution, trouble...), then they quickly turn away and go back to their usual routine.
Next is still far off the mark. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Imagine walking away from Palau's festival, proclaiming Christ and perhaps becoming a born-again Christian, but one important problem. Your mind is always on worries, or how to get rich with the assortment of programs out there, etc. and limit your spiritual growth.
Now we know there are seeds that fall on good soil and they spring up very healthy. They produce a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times. This is when you walk away from Palau's conference and you are not only saved, but you also start to grow by reading the Bible and studying it and also praying. Then you grow over time and start to reach out in the ministry that God gives you. The result is that many more people accept Christ as Savior. That's what I believe is Palau's goal.
Where do YOU fall? I'm praying in the fourth group. I often ask myself why does this nation find itself in this current situation if it's true that there are about 65-70 percent Christians as proclaimed to be. Unfortunitely, I don't think we have a true 65-70 percent of Christians as claimed. This explains why our country votes for politicians more for the pocket book rather than on issues such as abortion, etc. So, where do YOU think your seed has fallen?
Is it on the path where the birds can easily eat it?
Is it on the shallow soil where it can't take root?
Is it on the thorns where your growth is being choked out?
OR is it on the good soil where you're producing a harvest?
I have heard once that perhaps to find out the true percentage of committed Christians there are in the U.S., it would take a strong persecution. Chew on that for a moment.
Thank you very much for your time and God bless you.
I believe many people mean well but think that if you just accept Christ as your savoir that is enough to be saved. God's word the Holy Scriptures is clear in what He expects of you. God wants your exclusive devotion and loyal servitude toward Him. Part of this is sharing God's word with others not just keeping up on it for yourself.
What the new believers must know is that after accepting Christ that life isn't suddenly a bed of roses. There will always be thorns and through these tests, new believers will need churches and Christians to lean on for encouragement. That's why I love to welcome new members because it gives me a chance to encourage them to grow stronger in the Lord and that's what He wants me to do.
Encouragement is the best gift to give a new believer.