Hear the greatest preacher that ever lived as Christ began his earthly ministry after undergoing 

40 days of temptation.  Matthew 4:17 -- "From 

that time Jesus began to PREACH and say, REPENT; for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." These are the first recorded words of our Lord immediately upon returning from being tempted of Satan in the wilderness.

Hear Peter on the day of Pentecost after the upper room experience where the disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit -- Acts 2:36 & 38 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ." Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

In this generation Christians have become accustomed to hearing only the sweets of God's word. His negative attributes such as judgment and wrath and anger are forgotten and outright ignored.   We somehow have fallen into a pattern that surely is abominable to the Lord God Almighty. There are verses of scripture that the church would do well to paste over its doors and then in the hearts of its people -- Jude 22 and 23-- "And of some have compassion, making a difference, AND OTHERS SAVE WITH FEAR, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." -- Paul tells us "Therefore knowing the TERROR of the Lord we persuade men." --II Corinthians 5:11 and later in Hebrews 12:29 Paul writes, "For our God is a consuming fire."

We have forgotten the examples of Ananias and Saphira who lied to the Holy Spirit and were immediately struck dead  and of the time Paul spoke to a "Son of Satan" who was immediately struck blind.  We ignore the warnings of scripture that tells us over and over that the unrighteous shall be doomed to eternal punishment, and unrepentant sinners will perish and be forever cast into a lake of fire.

It is far past time that prophets of God (not those promising more coats and boats) but the Elijahs and Elishas of old stand in our midst and declare the Holiness of God in all His manifold attributes and His intolerance toward those who spit upon His gift of grace.  We need to proclaim once again that there is a time when those who shut God out of their lives will pass the point of no return as those who hardened themselves and did not like to retain the knowledge of God as preached in Romans 1:28.

Yes God is love, and those who have received His pardon should never forget that it is His love and mercy that kept us from the wrath we should justly experience. Yes it is God's love and mercy that are renewed to us every morning as told in the book of Lamentations 3:22 and 23, and we should be eternally grateful for His never-ending faithfulness. --BUT--God is far more than love and mercy.   WE'VE BEEN COMMANDED THAT WE ARE TO TEACH  "THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD"  not just the parts that we like or that we feel are palatable to those around us in this age of the seeker-friendly church.

Let's get back to preaching the whole Bible - not the fragmented Bible taught in most evangelical circles today!   While some will respond to the Love of God, I remember one person who spoke with me years ago who told me this -- "A friend of mine tried to tell me of the Love of God shown through Jesus for 20 years, and I just ignored him and laughed at him.  One day in frustration he said to me, if you don't get right with God before you die you will split Hell wide open!    When I realized that I was headed to Hell forever I prayed to received Christ as my Savior." Ministers must remember that the Bible teaches, "Some save with fear, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

There should be a balanced preaching of God's word to this generation - they should be able to hear of God's love AND God's wrath. We stand guilty of robbing people of what they have the right to hear and what the church has a responsibility to preach.

LET'S CHANGE THE MODERN DAY PREACHING TO BIBLICAL PREACHING!  (For the sake of all who hear). We will have no excuse on the day of judgment if we withhold God's Word from those who need to hear it as it is written!

C R Lord © 7/25/2014