CANDIDATES AND LEADERS: TO THE CHURCH OF AMERICA, WITH LOVE
45 Days of Praying for the Elections-Day 17
SCRIPTURE: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16
If we accept that "The just shall live by faith.", according to Romans 1:17, then what could be more faithful and just to do, than to put what is most basic to being justified in the sight of God before the many, the good news of Jesus Christ? Obedience requires we front-load all outreach with that which saves, otherwise our outcome settles upon folks having their earthly, temporal needs met to the exclusion of getting into heaven for eternity. We expect the world to grumble about our sharing, and our sacred priorities. Let 'em. [and share the Gospel anyway] What chance have they to believe if they have not heard?
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God." [Matthew 4:4] Meeting the needs of the material man is important, but not to the exclusion of having life eternal in the presence of God. An umbrella offered on a rainy day, or a hamburger for a hungry man does not trump God's expressed mercy. It's just not enough to have a fish emblem on your car bumper, or to say 'Merry Christmas' instead of 'Season's greetings'. 'John 3:16' on your tee shirt alone won't cut it.
Imagine a fellowship gathering of Christians, having a great time in the Lord, dining, singing, interacting, and sharing to then have an interruption in the form of a cadre of masked and armed assailants. Everyone quiets as the leader speaks up. 'Y'all Christians, huhn?' Meanwhile the others collect money, wallets, phones, and jewelry. 'Whatcha got that we don't?' One soul steps from the Christian gathering while the others observe anxiously, saying "I'll tell ya exactly what we have," to then reach for something from the table to offer... "Swedish meatballs or fried chicken?" Now this would certainly seem to be an odd thing to offer an 'obvious' group of sinners, and yet many of us will invest more energies over church carpet colors, or choir robes than how to share Christ. It's like the tail wagging the dog. A familiar saying offers us to, "Preach Christ, and use words if you must." Brothers and sisters, we must. Giving the gospel requires its housing in a conversation. It's imperative! Beware the sin of silence.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God! [Romans 10:17] The gospel is the heartbeat of 'the word'. What better time than now for the opportunities erupting all about us, with competing worldviews?
If you doubt that this is not the time, I'd invite you to revisit the opening ceremonies of this year's Olympics, or just consider our unravelling world in current events, even our own political contests. Pray for our political candidates and leadership that the spiritual blindness ends. Pray Christ, and use words. Share ye Him! Church, it's time to care bravely...beginning with the sharing of the grace message of the Gospel.
Prayer: Dear LORD, prick your church to be the fruitful church of Your intentions here in America, and especially now as these elections put us squarely and uniquely in the center of the world's gaze. Move us to be, at all levels, great and small, Your ambassadors. Save those afar off, and save those on the margins. This I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Deacon Brockington
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God." [Matthew 4:4] Meeting the needs of the material man is important, but not to the exclusion of having life eternal in the presence of God. An umbrella offered on a rainy day, or a hamburger for a hungry man does not trump God's expressed mercy. It's just not enough to have a fish emblem on your car bumper, or to say 'Merry Christmas' instead of 'Season's greetings'. 'John 3:16' on your tee shirt alone won't cut it.
Imagine a fellowship gathering of Christians, having a great time in the Lord, dining, singing, interacting, and sharing to then have an interruption in the form of a cadre of masked and armed assailants. Everyone quiets as the leader speaks up. 'Y'all Christians, huhn?' Meanwhile the others collect money, wallets, phones, and jewelry. 'Whatcha got that we don't?' One soul steps from the Christian gathering while the others observe anxiously, saying "I'll tell ya exactly what we have," to then reach for something from the table to offer... "Swedish meatballs or fried chicken?" Now this would certainly seem to be an odd thing to offer an 'obvious' group of sinners, and yet many of us will invest more energies over church carpet colors, or choir robes than how to share Christ. It's like the tail wagging the dog. A familiar saying offers us to, "Preach Christ, and use words if you must." Brothers and sisters, we must. Giving the gospel requires its housing in a conversation. It's imperative! Beware the sin of silence.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God! [Romans 10:17] The gospel is the heartbeat of 'the word'. What better time than now for the opportunities erupting all about us, with competing worldviews?
If you doubt that this is not the time, I'd invite you to revisit the opening ceremonies of this year's Olympics, or just consider our unravelling world in current events, even our own political contests. Pray for our political candidates and leadership that the spiritual blindness ends. Pray Christ, and use words. Share ye Him! Church, it's time to care bravely...beginning with the sharing of the grace message of the Gospel.
Prayer: Dear LORD, prick your church to be the fruitful church of Your intentions here in America, and especially now as these elections put us squarely and uniquely in the center of the world's gaze. Move us to be, at all levels, great and small, Your ambassadors. Save those afar off, and save those on the margins. This I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Deacon Brockington
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
Recent
CANDIDATES AND LEADERS: Godly Advisors
October 11th, 2024
CANDIDATES AND LEADERS: The Elephant in the Room
October 10th, 2024
CANDIDATES AND LEADERS: Choose The Perfect Policy Rather Than the Perfect Person
October 9th, 2024
CANDIDATES AND LEADERS: TO THE CHURCH OF AMERICA, WITH LOVE
October 8th, 2024
CANDIDATES AND LEADERS: Need Our Prayers
October 7th, 2024
2 Comments
Halleujah!!! Yes, LORD give us boldness to share You as someone had the boldness to tell us!!!
Yes Lord, give us courage to be embassadors to a dieing world. Amen Dea. Brockington