"Acts 26: 24-28 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Here is a letter I received the other day. I believe this is one of saddest stories in the Bible. The king was almost Home. He was almost persuaded to make a heart commitment to Jesus and live with Him eternally in Heaven. Many of us have loved ones and friends who are almost persuaded to be a Christian. We need to search our heart and see if our actions and words to our family and friends are turning them away from Jesus. If we want our loved ones to make that final commitment to Jesus, then we need to pray for them and extend the Love of Jesus to them on a daily basis. Sometimes we get so busy with our schedules during the day that we dont make the time to fellowship with our loved ones and friends. How would we feel if Jesus didnt make time for us on a daily basis? Lets live so that others will never say to us, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" Joanne Lowe. September 3, 2005. King Agrippa, believed the prophets but he couldn't bring himself to believe that the words of the prophets had come true in his lifetime. Thats the way it is today. Many are almost persuaded to believe in Jesus but because of one thing or another they have decided to wait. Politics, religion, peer pressure are all getting in the way of many that otherwise would be persuaded to join in on the Family of God. I've heard from many around the world that are confused by their friends, and religious people that know nothing of the intent of God in the lives of mankind. This world is not what it used to be and never will return back to that place and time that many of us remember. Too much has changed, too much has happened, to ignore the signs of the times. We preach love and compassion but there comes a time that love and compassion will not work. Fear and dread of the destruction of this earth will have to be used. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Can this happen? It already is happening, there are many that preach the Bible that denigh the Jesus Christ actually exist, some preach God only, some preach Jesus only and others preach what their congregations want to hear to appease man. Not accounting for the salvation of their listeners. We cannot persuade anyone by preaching one above the other, for as with Jude, he states, denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Here we see again the separation of the two even thou they are one. We must persuade those that are lost by using the entire Scripture. Telling the truth and getting by man made doctrine. We have, The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost, as was stated by Jesus. How can we denigh this? The plan of salvation come to us in three steps, The Father sacrificing His Son, The Son Sacrificing His Mortal Life and The Holy Ghost leading us into all truths. Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. [1Co_9:19-22.] Mat 19:21-22; Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Almost persuaded, riches became this mans god, his idol, his life, and rather to give heed to the will of God by distributing all that he had to the poor he chose to keep his type of religion and go about his ways. Observing religious practices from his youth up was by no means salvation. Many get into habits that become second nature to them and become more of a spectacle than worship. If a man is not born again of the spirit he has not attained salvation. If he has no circumcision of the heart there is no change. Religious practices are not what Jesus wanted from this man and neither from us. He wants mankind to worship God in Spirit & Truth. Baptism without repentance is useless. What was this young ruler actually missing? The Love of God over all, he was violating the first two commandments, Mat 22:37-40; Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Isa 1:11-15; To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Again; We must persuade those that are lost by using the entire Scripture. Bring no more vain oblations, for what kind of sacrifice can you bring before God? There is none that can satisfy Him except the Blood of the Lamb. Persuasion of the lost by the word of God, not choosing what you want and letting the rest go, but using all, showing a pattern of useless situations that God will no longer accept, false religious practices, false religion, false doctrine, false prayers, willing to be heard above the crowd but not meaning any of the words coming from your mouth. We must persuade by example, by acts, by faith, by demonstration of Power of the Holy Ghost. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Are you almost persuaded or are you still in-doubt, God says come to Him and reason with Him, ask Him any question on salvation, tell Him the reason that you refuse to serve Him and He will answer all your questions. God is willing to go another step with you if you are willing to listen. All the answers to all the questions are in the Bible. There is nothing covered that will not be shown, nothing hidden that will not be reveled and nothing said that will not be shouted out from the house top. Its all there. Are you listening to your friends, do you believe that everything is one big party, do you believe that you can escape the judgment, or have you listened to Satan telling you that, there is no God, no Heaven, no Hell, no Judgment? Who are you listening too? Seek out your own salvation, seek out the God that has created and can destroy. Don't die and wake up in Hell saying,I was Almost persuaded. |
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