Some people call me and other preachers 'narrow minded'. I used to get offended until I understood the crowd I join who have been classified as narrow minded. Let me give you just one example of what one guy said:
Matthew 7:13 (nlt) --- You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (niv) --- There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
John 14:6 (nlt) --- Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
Sounds like Jesus was pretty narrow minded. What do you think?
Here is my problem. The first verses says that the way of destruction is wide. It says the way to God and from God is narrow. Got that? Ok, those who are tolerant of the crap that world gives out and the sin of the world or will not say Jesus is the 'only way', those people make me mad. You know what? They even disagree with God and Jesus. Means they join in on some pretty sorry company.
God is raising up people, hope you and I are some of them, who are confident about our God and believe what He says. He is the only one who will make a difference. You can do all kinds of good things and give away big money like Bill Gates and still go to Hell. Yeah, I said it. Think I am narrow minded? Jesus beats me to that point and goes far beyond it.
On a softer, easier note (maybe)...I read Proverbs every day and some days head over to Psalms to compliment the instruction and wisdom God gives. In my reading this morning I was blown away by David's prayer in Psalms 20. It is a prayer of confidence, of believing God and of letting others know.
Guys and girls, we need to join David. Pray with confidence. Share with confidence. People need to know Jesus. Being narrow minded doesn't mean we have to be rude and not sensitive. It does mean we need to know the truth and let the truth guide and guard our lives. Let me remind you and me of this fact ... Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus.
Let's make a difference in our world. Be narrow minded and confident about your faith!
I will close today's devotion with some of the verses from Psalms 20, but I want to first invite you, if you are close to The Community Fellowship, to join us for a special service this Sunday morning at 10:10 as will have a memorial time for the Virginia Tech killings, a huge prayer emphasis and a challenge that finishes our series of 'Jesus in My Space.' Join us if you can ... here is Psalms 20:
(1) In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. ( 2) May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. (3) May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. ( 4) May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. (5) May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the L ord answer all your prayers...(7) Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the L ord our God. (8) Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.
Matthew 7:13 (nlt) --- You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (niv) --- There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
John 14:6 (nlt) --- Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
Sounds like Jesus was pretty narrow minded. What do you think?
Here is my problem. The first verses says that the way of destruction is wide. It says the way to God and from God is narrow. Got that? Ok, those who are tolerant of the crap that world gives out and the sin of the world or will not say Jesus is the 'only way', those people make me mad. You know what? They even disagree with God and Jesus. Means they join in on some pretty sorry company.
God is raising up people, hope you and I are some of them, who are confident about our God and believe what He says. He is the only one who will make a difference. You can do all kinds of good things and give away big money like Bill Gates and still go to Hell. Yeah, I said it. Think I am narrow minded? Jesus beats me to that point and goes far beyond it.
On a softer, easier note (maybe)...I read Proverbs every day and some days head over to Psalms to compliment the instruction and wisdom God gives. In my reading this morning I was blown away by David's prayer in Psalms 20. It is a prayer of confidence, of believing God and of letting others know.
Guys and girls, we need to join David. Pray with confidence. Share with confidence. People need to know Jesus. Being narrow minded doesn't mean we have to be rude and not sensitive. It does mean we need to know the truth and let the truth guide and guard our lives. Let me remind you and me of this fact ... Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus.
Let's make a difference in our world. Be narrow minded and confident about your faith!
I will close today's devotion with some of the verses from Psalms 20, but I want to first invite you, if you are close to The Community Fellowship, to join us for a special service this Sunday morning at 10:10 as will have a memorial time for the Virginia Tech killings, a huge prayer emphasis and a challenge that finishes our series of 'Jesus in My Space.' Join us if you can ... here is Psalms 20:
(1) In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. ( 2) May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. (3) May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. ( 4) May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. (5) May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the L ord answer all your prayers...(7) Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the L ord our God. (8) Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.
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