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Year-to-Date Posts
- ► 2012 (2)
- ► 2011 (2)
| Not Ashamed of the Gospel |
| Written by Vincent Bradshaw |
| Thursday, December 01, 2011 01:00 AM |
|
Paul was bold. He was courageous. Paul requested that others pray for this boldness of his: " . . . pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).
On one occasion a man named Peter Cartwright was about to preach when his deacons informed him that President Andrew Jackson had unexpectedly showed up. They asked him to be careful what he said. He stood up to preach and began, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is with us today, and I have been asked to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell as quickly as any other man if he does not repent!" The congregation was shocked, wondering how the President would react. At the close of the meeting, President Jackson shook Cartwright's hand and said: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16). |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:40 PM |
Comments
Reflecting on the Paul's sermons from the book of Acts I couldn't resist but to smile when picturing the reaction of the crowd and the adrenaline rush through Paul's heart. Starting in Paphos "...You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord ?..." (Acts 13:10); then in the same manner through the Pisidian Antioch "...Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly..." (Acts 13:46), and so on from Derbe to Lystra, from Thessaloniki to Berea to Athens. How much boldness may one be allowed??? "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." (1 Cor 12:9) This brings joy to my heart!!! When we focus on the power of the Holy Spirit through the truth of the Gospel instead of our appearance or performance great things take place. After all Paul would be considered a pastor with the worst resume ever, I mean thrown out of churches, jailed up for disturbing peace, causing people to go blind... you name it. Is this kind of output the evangelical society of our days would look up to? Wouldn't think so. Never the less, Paul did not preach tolerance of of the idea of God, he preached grace through the blood of our God, Savior, and the Lord of all -- Jesus Christ as the only way of life. He was blunt because Christ Himself put it in the only acceptable way "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15)
Indeed, if you ever wonder what a true evangelist has to be like and/or be ready for...
William Borden had put it in a best way in my opinion "No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets".
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