NowTHINK!AboutIt

Avoiding Hackneyed...Making Sense

God Is Personal Means What

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Does the holiness of God completely trump His personal response?

God Is Fully Aware
And Personally Responsive

Every Bible believing system I know of refers to God as Personal.

But then, after saying that, these same systems suggest things that defy the concept, like God doesn’t hear the prayers of sinners.

Begs the question. Several actually.

What do they really mean by Personal? Or better yet, what impact would Personal have on beliefs about God if taken to the logical end? The answer is profound.

Let me explain.

Whatever is done Personally is done in person, by a person and for a person. It’s relational.

Saying God is Personal means He acts as a person and relates to people individually. He hears individual prayers. He saves individuals. He isn’t relationally challenged.

Tell me. Has God ever sent a message His Spirit didn’t personally infuse?

God’s blessing on any nation, culture or geographical area is largely based on His relationship with the individuals. In other words, God is God to the whole group one person at a time.

Generally, everyone agrees with that, but extrapolating the idea draws fire. [Read more…]

Where Is Jesus? How Can I Connect?

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No ritual, ceremony or procedure required.

Anyone
Anywhere
Anytime

One question people often ask is, “Where Is Jesus?”

It’s a good question that deserves attention but I need to expand on the idea a bit.

To do that I’ll ask a few more questions:

  • How is it that people make a connection with Jesus? What are they thinking and feeling?
  • What exactly is happening to make the connection? Is something special being said or done?
  • Where are these connections usually made? Is geography a part of the formula?
  • When are these connections likely to occur? Young, old, before, after – what?

These are even better questions but the most common answers don’t agree with the facts.

Let me clarify. [Read more…]

What Kind Of Savior Is Jesus? Secure!

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The only answer to attitude is quiet resolve.

Jesus Acted With Urgency
Not Aggression

Jesus wasn’t any more inflated by the people who cheered Him on than He was deflated by the people who opposed Him.

He was secure.

Jesus knew who He was. He was convinced that the world needed what He had to offer, whether they understood that or not, accepted it or not.

Jesus said what He needed to say. He did what needed to be done. He didn’t consult with the religious leaders, His family or His disciples. He spoke up. He acted.

Consensus in this situation was the same as asking permission to save a life. He came to save those who were ready, not argue with those who weren’t.

When people didn’t understand what He was doing, and that often was the case, He didn’t respond with frustration. When they argued against His teachings, He didn’t become defensive.

He didn’t try to explain what He really meant. He didn’t use the but what about this and don’t you think that arguments.

Jesus showed us that the only answer to attitude is quiet resolve. But it takes a very strong, secure person to live by that rule.

He was secure in Himself. He didn’t answer every contrary response. He expected us to figure it out.

His own disciples doubted almost His entire ministry. [Read more…]

What Kind Of Savior Is Jesus? Ready!

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Everlasting Life: guaranteed now, enjoyed later.

Jesus Saves At Any Time
In Any Place

Jesus isn’t a tardy Savior. He doesn’t wait. He is never late. He works immediately. His response is without hesitation.

We always talk about Jesus being a willing Savior, and He is, but that isn’t the entire message. He’s more than just willing. He is constantly ready.

He described Himself as seeking the lost, which means He doesn’t sit in one place and wait for people to come to Him.

Jesus wants to save. His desire never wanes.

Even in His human state, dragging around a physical body, His need for rest never got in the way of ministry (Mark 6:31-44).

And now in His glorified state, He never tires. Jesus is ready to save 24/7/365.

There’s no afternoon slump. He’s never bored with the humdrum of life or put off by the unexpected. According to Him, He is always ready.

Truly, truly, I say unto you. He that hears my word and believes on Him that sent me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life.

In other words, [Read more…]

7 Proofs Jesus Favored Quiet Evangelism

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Jesus wasn't a talking head

Evangelism Should Be Bold
Not Noisy

Jesus epitomized the statement “Actions speak louder than words.”

He did say things, yes, and we hold His words dear but it was His actions that stimulated responses more than His words. It was John who alluded to this truth in the last verse of his Gospel.

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25

Note that John was focused on the actions of Jesus not His words. I’m sure John recorded everything Jesus said that we needed to hear, leaving nothing out but what he couldn’t record, because of the sheer volume, were the countless things Jesus did. John portrayed a “doing” Jesus not a talking head.

It is also interesting to note that much of what Jesus did was done quietly in the background, without commentary. He didn’t do things to draw attention to himself. He was bold not noisy.

Consider the following: [Read more…]