Fear God, and give glory to Him

From Marcus to the saints scattered around the world

05:56 PM, Friday, February 29, 2008 .. Posted in Bible Studies .. 0 comments .. Link

We're continuing to rejoice in the Lord's mercy upon us daily. It's such a privilege to "Hold forth the Word of life" in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation, and to shine as lights in the world. Yes, we can shine as lights! We can be separate from this perverse generation! We can keep Jesus' words even while no one else does! We can walk worthy of God who has called us into His kingdom and glory!

I preached a message recently from Jesus' words in Mark 8:38. "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Jesus knew that our generation was going to be that way - adulterous and sinful. He knew how hard it will be to keep his words, but his verdict doesn't change - it's in the verse of the song "There is not a friend like Jesus; bid the scoffing world adieu, for if you're ashamed of Jesus, He will be ashamed of you."
I'm amazed in my preaching and in my trade as an automotive and appliance mechanic, how those who say they are evangelical Christians and/or have had some kind of "neat experience" with the Lord can so easily lie/shade the truth when it's convenient. Or how angry they get when someone offends them, doesn't pay, or lies to them. Their women clothe themselves with form-fitting dress, half-transparent and walk around bare headed! They even hang bright objects from their ears as they follow the world. But they say they are Christians - hermanos y hermanas. What a lie!

I expect the world to lie, but it still surprises me sometimes. Twice in the last two weeks I was stopped for a traffic violation. Since it's my desire to obey the law I am glad for the reminder and am ready to pay my fine. But when I refused to just tip the police off and gave testimony of my commitment to the truth because God is watching, both times the policeman said he couldn't give me a ticket without towing away my vehicle as a guarantee I'd pay. Both times they handed back all my documents and said a tow truck was coming. Both times the policeman roared away and left me wait and wait on a tow truck that never came. Both times people standing near told me to hop in my vehicle and go for it, to get out of problems. Both times, to be true, I was obligated to look for other policemen and after they were found, explain my situation and ask permission to get the suburban and go. Both times they granted it.

Then the brothers David and Wilbur shared with me what happened in Monett the other week. They were preaching with signs at an intersection until a policeman forced them to quit, saying it's not allowed to preach anywhere on the street in Monett without a permit. Just a little over a year ago in Monett when I preached against divorce and remarriage on the street outside a football game, someone got angry and called the police. A policeman and two sheriffs came, asked for my identification and wanted to hear my story of what happened. When I told them what I was doing, the police handed me my driver's license and said, "You're just fine! Keep on." I had the sign, "Repent, sinner. Fear God!" and the two sheriffs noticed it and as they were leaving, I heard the one say to the other, "I think all that happened is that the sinners got angry at the preacher's message."   Praise the Lord!

What happened to the brethren now is just corruption in another way. But NOW, go back and read the first two paragraphs of this letter again. Praise the Lord! He actually CALLED US! He actually chose us to hold forth His word in THIS generation.

Here's something encouraging I'll share from Joaquín, even though he is still counting the cost of taking up his cross, and is not meeting with us lately. He had this conversation recently with a Pentecostal couple, who are living together in "common law". The conversation lasted about three hours, and for every bit of light he shared, the woman had a big old excuse. She went as far as to say this: "I know I'm a vile sinner, and when I get to the gate of glory, God is going to read down over the long list of my sins, and look up and say, "Is this you?" And I with shame will respond, "Yes." BUT IN THAT VERY MOMENT JESUS IS GOING TO COME ON THE SCENE AND SAY, "BUT FATHER, REMEMBER THAT I DIED FOR HER?" AND RIGHT THERE MY LIST WILL BE ERASED AND I WILL BE LET IN TO GLORY.

Joaquín denounced this evil lie and they asked him, "Don't you consider us then your brethren?" Joaquín: "I hate to offend you, but I have to say NO." They were horrified and said, "Are you then not a Christian? Come on, tell us if you're a Christian or not."  Joaquín: "No, I confess that I am not a Christian yet. The reason why? I have come in contact with a Christianity that has shown me clearly that I am not one yet."

God bless you, brethren. Pray for us.

                   --Your servant, Marcus, wife Monica, Megan, Maury, Randall, Roger, Clayton and the saints here

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