Preferring the Profane
Good evening sisters!
We are rejoicing in the Lord for the hope of eternal life that awaits those who are faithful to Him.
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
I'm thankful for this time for ministry and am catching up on a some topics that have been brewing in me to share with you.
As I type this we are out being fishers of men. We shall see if the Lord brings someone who is seeking the truth and if not, we are getting a lot of ministry work done this evening. As we are here in a public place, we suffer the profane things of the world (gossip on the tv, vile immodesty both men and women, foolish and coarse jesting etc.) but we are not about that business. We simply continue to go about the Lord's work, looking past, ignoring and not letting it distract us. We don't moralize the culture and try to change their sinful habits as only the gospel can do that, which is why we are here...to share it.
But on the other hand, the culture is out to quench the gospel and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
A while back when we were traveling, we were able to cross paths with a brother in the Lord, it was a great day of witnessing. In that day, both brother Jim and this other brother were speaking to the father of another brother. (See if you can follow that:-) So we were sitting in a public establishment off to the side, facing away from everyone and they were talking at a regular conversational level.
We were actually facing out the window away from everyone.
The conversation went on for a while when all of a sudden....
A man, that had been sitting by the vile, blaring TV, jumps up, stomps over and yells at the brothers. He didn't want to hear the things of God but instead preferred the profane....tv.
Last week we were traveling south to our place in Missouri and along the way we took a day for ministry and 'fishing'. (For those of you who do not know, we go 'fishing' for people in public places by leaving a bible on the table by us while we work. It draws people who want to talk about the things of God.) While we were there, sitting in a booth to brother Jim's back (I could look over his shoulder and see) there were a bunch of older ladies and a couple older men all crammed into a booth.
We were quietly working on ministry and I couldn't help but overhear the conversation. It started out with some of the ladies talking about 'church' and then a pagan shrine someplace, then on to some moralizing about doing good in the culture and it wasn't long when the profanity, vulgarity and gossip started. Yes, profane, vulgar, vile words coming out of their mouths at a level that many people in the place could hear.
Romans 1 talks about our culture...
They prefer the profane over the holiness of God...and the wrath is coming. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
And often we find these such people just came from going to 'church' and they get mad about the things of God but will relish in vulgar conversations and activities.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
(Isaiah 5:20)
There's a small town close to our place in Missouri where we've done a lot of witnessing and exposing of false religious places. In that town is a great place for us to sit and work on ministry while 'fishing' and it's also a place where most of the regulars hate us because of all that witnessing.
One day I told brother Jim that it's rather unnerving to walk through the place when all those people glare at you. It's like running the gauntlet. So...I dug out a little bit of the boldness from the old Deb...yup... and used it for God's glory:-) I find I need to do that more often as time goes on. It's amazing because God can use what used to be a sinful characteristic in me, for His glory.
It can be rather daunting seeing the world against you but we are not to be setting our eyes on those who are against us, we are to set our eyes on the one who is coming back for us.
We are rejoicing in the Lord for the hope of eternal life that awaits those who are faithful to Him.
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
I'm thankful for this time for ministry and am catching up on a some topics that have been brewing in me to share with you.
As I type this we are out being fishers of men. We shall see if the Lord brings someone who is seeking the truth and if not, we are getting a lot of ministry work done this evening. As we are here in a public place, we suffer the profane things of the world (gossip on the tv, vile immodesty both men and women, foolish and coarse jesting etc.) but we are not about that business. We simply continue to go about the Lord's work, looking past, ignoring and not letting it distract us. We don't moralize the culture and try to change their sinful habits as only the gospel can do that, which is why we are here...to share it.
But on the other hand, the culture is out to quench the gospel and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
A while back when we were traveling, we were able to cross paths with a brother in the Lord, it was a great day of witnessing. In that day, both brother Jim and this other brother were speaking to the father of another brother. (See if you can follow that:-) So we were sitting in a public establishment off to the side, facing away from everyone and they were talking at a regular conversational level.
We were actually facing out the window away from everyone.
The conversation went on for a while when all of a sudden....
A man, that had been sitting by the vile, blaring TV, jumps up, stomps over and yells at the brothers. He didn't want to hear the things of God but instead preferred the profane....tv.
Last week we were traveling south to our place in Missouri and along the way we took a day for ministry and 'fishing'. (For those of you who do not know, we go 'fishing' for people in public places by leaving a bible on the table by us while we work. It draws people who want to talk about the things of God.) While we were there, sitting in a booth to brother Jim's back (I could look over his shoulder and see) there were a bunch of older ladies and a couple older men all crammed into a booth.
We were quietly working on ministry and I couldn't help but overhear the conversation. It started out with some of the ladies talking about 'church' and then a pagan shrine someplace, then on to some moralizing about doing good in the culture and it wasn't long when the profanity, vulgarity and gossip started. Yes, profane, vulgar, vile words coming out of their mouths at a level that many people in the place could hear.
And not one person came over and told them to shut up.
And each one of them looked at our bible when they walked by.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
They prefer the profane over the holiness of God...and the wrath is coming. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Guess what?! Most of the culture professes to be 'Christians'.
But they lie...
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth (1 John 1:6)
And often we find these such people just came from going to 'church' and they get mad about the things of God but will relish in vulgar conversations and activities.
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
(Isaiah 5:20)
There's a small town close to our place in Missouri where we've done a lot of witnessing and exposing of false religious places. In that town is a great place for us to sit and work on ministry while 'fishing' and it's also a place where most of the regulars hate us because of all that witnessing.
One day I told brother Jim that it's rather unnerving to walk through the place when all those people glare at you. It's like running the gauntlet. So...I dug out a little bit of the boldness from the old Deb...yup... and used it for God's glory:-) I find I need to do that more often as time goes on. It's amazing because God can use what used to be a sinful characteristic in me, for His glory.
It can be rather daunting seeing the world against you but we are not to be setting our eyes on those who are against us, we are to set our eyes on the one who is coming back for us.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)
Praise God, Halelujah! We have a job to do here...shining the light of the gospel in a profane world. Our callings are all different but we shall do them all as unto the Lord and for His glory until He calls us home.
Amen.
Have a joyous evening.
Love to you in Christ,
Sister Deb
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