I am very excited about the new Bible study that the college-age small group from our church is going to be starting this month. Called The Truth Project, produced by Focus on the Family, it seeks to help Christians adopt a Christ-centered worldview. One of the things that struck me while the Hubster and I were doing the leader training online tonight: the trainer urged us to pray about who God would lead to this home study. That was not so telling, but this was: he said that we should not invite our friends or unbelievers. The last one sort of stopped me in my tracks. If you are studying about The Truth, wouldn't that be "a natural" for someone who is seeking the truth? The program developers' rationale is that the 12-session course is not intended to be an apologetics (defense of the gospel) course. Maybe they will produce one of those next.
All this reminded me of some of the words of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 12:30-32 (and echoed in Luke 11:23) (The Message) - - -
"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy.
If you're not helping, you're making things worse.
There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven.
But, if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God's Spirit,
you are repudiating the very One who forgives.
If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you,
but when you reject the Holy Spirit you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting,
severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives."
There are many heartbreaking things about this life. Just tonight, for example, I ran across this statistic in Planned Parenthood's 2013-14 Annual Report, a slick publication with beautiful pictures and testimonials. One of those stats, buried deep within the document is this: 327,653 abortions were performed by this monstrous organization over the course of the year. That's 327,653 murders. Online, one person commented that such a high figure is "disgusting"; I commented that it is an abomination in the sight of God. Heartbreaking.
As heinous as that statistic is, however, it serves to emphasize the true nature of the battle in which we, as Christians, are engaged. And as sickening as this example, which probably offended some of you readers, this is not the most horrific of all!
Even killing one's own child pales in comparison to killing one's own soul. THE WORST, the most devastating thing that I can contemplate is that some of you reading this post may be rejecting Jesus. You have heard the gospel. You may even believe in a "historical Jesus" - - - - that He lived and died, and that's it. But, Jesus does not give you the option of being complacent or indecisive or moderate about Him. You are either for Him; or, you are against Him. Jesus stated it plainly: there is no neutral ground.
That's pretty abrupt, isn't it? That declaration does not fit nicely and tidily into our politically correct society. Jesus goes on to warn those who are trying to straddle both sides of the fence: every moment of every day in which you brush Him aside, push Him away or outright reject Him, you are doing so at your own peril.
Honestly, if I were not a Christian, those words would scare the hair off of my head! If this describes you, I beg you to reconsider. Please don't waste any more time. Your eternal destiny is at stake.
If you are a Christian, and you are practicing sin, deliberately holding on to some sin that you just don't want to give up, you are offending the Holy Spirit. You know what to do: confess it and get right with your God.
If you are a Christian who is doing your best to follow Jesus in obedience, and you know someone in either of the two situations I just described, pray for them! They have been taken prisoner, captive, by the enemy. One of the things that impressed me tonight about the training for home Bible study leaders of The Truth Project is the centrality, the absolute necessity of ongoing, fervent prayer for all who will be involved in the study. I don't understand at all how prayer works or why it moves the heart of God; but, it does! If you have any doubt that prayer is a mighty, potent weapon in our war arsenal, consider the words of Jesus from Mark 9:29. The disciples had been trying to cast a demon out of a man (trying to help the man break free from spiritual prison). They were unsuccessful, and asked Jesus "why". His reply is very revealing, regarding the power of prayer:
He said to them, “This sort cannot come out by anything except by fasting and by prayer.”
Wow. So, let's be diligent, mighty warriors of Christ! Let's pray for those who are seeking the neutral ground that cannot be found. Let's pray for those who are unabashedly calling God a liar. Nothing is impossible with God!
Good morning, Father! I am grateful that you put it to us so plainly in the Scriptures, inspiring the writers to hammer this point home about who You truly are. And, I'm beyond grateful for the grace that saved me. Dear Father, Your lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting for the hearts of men. Your love for us defies description. I pray for those whose spirits You are dealing with, needling, provoking, seducing today...that they will exercise their free will to embrace You completely, as their everlasting Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
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