by Dave Miller
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Conclusion - The Lump In Your Throat
It is time to own the label image-bearing ambassador with all its rights, privileges, responsibilities, sufferings and mockeries. Paul wrote:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:7-11).
Sounds like Peter, John, and Paul owned the new creation identity Jesus died and rose from the dead to give them. If you knew Peter, John and Paul you knew about Jesus. They were one agenda men. Honestly, what keeps you from owning the label of one who has been with Jesus?
There was no mistaking that voice. The strong, bold, prophetic voice crying in the wilderness. Yes he was a little rough around the edges. Yes he was a little more in your face than Facebook could handle. I am sure there would have been more than one YouTube video flying viral of encounters with those religious elites. But none the less there was a voice preparing the way of the Lord.
There was no mistaking his reputation, the mad man out of his mind, spending his life naked among the tombs, foaming at the mouth, unable to be subdued even by shackles and chains. He was the kind of man you avoided but couldn’t keep from staring. Now? There was thisstory ,Jesus man-handled the demons and the demoniac was clothed in his right mind. He has been going from town to town telling of all Jesus had done. Not the preacher you would expect? The voice of one preparing the way of the Lord.
They weren’t part of the team. The twelve had been traveling from town to town casting out demons, healing the sick, and declaring the kingdom was here, repent and believe. But these men had not been chosen to walk day in and day out with the Messiah, shouldn’t they be silenced? Shouldn’t the message of the kingdom be reserved for the chosen few? Absolutely not! Do not stop them Jesus said, “For the one who is not against us is for us.” The voice of one preparing the way of the Lord.
She was that woman who couldn’t keep her vow with five men, let alone one. Going out the to well at noon kept the judgmental stares and hushed conversations to a minimum. Yet the one who spoke at the well was nothing like the other men. “Could he be the Christ?” she proclaimed. “He told me everything I ever did!” The voice of one preparing the way of the Lord.
It is time. Time to be the voice of one preparing the way of the Lord. The kingdom is here to stay! Repent and believe.
Up Next: Men are God's Method
Until there's #NoPlaceLeft...
Sentergy: When Jesus, People, Practice and Theology Collide
Chapter 1: The Glory of God
Chapter 2: The Glory of God in Jesus
Chapter 3: The Glory of God in the Gospel
Chapter 4: The Glory of God in Disciple Making
Chapter 5: If You Love Me You Will Obey What I Command
Chapter 6: Monday Morning Disciple Making
Chapter 7: Monday Morning Disciple Making Part 2
Interlude: The Father's Heart
Chapter 8: All Scripture All People All Places by Carter Cox
Conclusion: The Lump In Your Throat
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