THE BURDEN OF MY HEART.

It is often said of some Preachers, “He only has one sermon, and simply changes the text”, or that “He only has one string in his bow”. I have been thinking about this statement of late, and there may be some truth that some Preachers, are not good students of the Word of God, and therefore do not read read and meditate on the Word of God to the extent that God places a “word” in their heart to preach.

Some who fall into this category want to talk about “THE GOOD OLD DAYS” and believe that is the total answer to our problems !!!!!

Or could it be that God has put a PASSION & A BURDEN upon a ministry and that is the driving force of their preaching and teaching..

I am also reminded of the great old hymn, “Tell me the old old story” one line of the hymn says “TELL ME THE STORY OFTEN FOR I FORGET SO SOON”

I have said all the above because, I sincerely want to be both balanced in my ministry but also true to the passion and burden that is on my heart.

It would seem down through history, by the third generation after a “revival” backsliding and deception starts to become common place. The Old Testament tells us of the many backslidings of the Jewish people, and that God would raise up a Prophet to challenge the people to repent.

The New Testament writers, warned much regarding backsliding and accepting teaching and practice that was contrary to the Word of God.

By the time we come to the “Dark Ages” there was hardly a fundamental Biblical truth left in the “so called church of the day”. I read of a woman this week who was martyred because she had seen there was no reference to “holy water” in the Scriptures and refused to used it.

We thank God for for the Reformation that began the return to New Testament Truth, but again sadly, it was not many generations before “deception and compromise” began to raise its ugly head. Again God in His awesome love for us, continued to Restore truth and seek to revive His people, and there has been numerous mighty revivals that have been the produced this. Whether there is more “truth” in the Word of God that the Holy Spirit needs to restore and re-emphasise to His people I do not know, but I do know we must keep reverting BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD and seek to preach and teach the unadultered Word of God. What a challenge we have today?

I read a statement recently that really challenged me written by Mike Wells (1952-2011) of Abiding Life Ministries International, he said.

A DEPARTURE FROM TRADITION TO RETURN TO THE SCRIPTURES IN NOT COMPROMISE, IT’S REVIVAL !!!!!!

I wrote a blog 4 days ago entitled “2 BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES TO CONSIDER” highlighting how easy it is to start using business principles and practice that work very well in the business world, but are actually in conflict with the Word of God, It is subtle and easily deceptive to do this.

I am reminded of the words of Jeremiah 6:16 N.L.T. Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.

AMP. O.T. Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

MESSAGE Go stand at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for directions to the old road,
The tried and true road. Then take it.
Discover the right route for your souls.

Sadly, Jeremiah’s hearers rejected his call. I trust we are not living in a similar generation, but as we read in Revelation the ending of each of the 7 letters to the Church in chapters 2 & 3 HE THAT HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS.

Many have said over the years, WE NEVER LEARN ANYTHING FROM HISTORY, it just repeats itself!!!!!!!!!!

I trust my readers will hear my heart today, and not shunt me away as an old man ranting and raving, but hear someone, who believes we are closer to the Lord’s return than ever, there seems to be “signs” everywhere declaring this.

I am reminded that Paul tells us the sort of Church Jesus is coming for, we read in Eph. 5: 26-27 N.L.T. He gave up his life for her (THE CHURCH) to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

PASSION For he died for us, sacrificing himself to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God. All that he does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure, until we become a source of praise to him—glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy, without fault or flaw.

May this blog be a blessing and encouragement to you.