Chapter 23 - The Work
Mat 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mat 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mat 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Bonhoeffer- 'The whole message is staggering in its simplicity and clarity, and since the cause brooks no delay there is no need for them to enter into any further discussion to clear the ground or to persuade their hearers. The King stands at the door, and he may come in at any moment. Will you bow down and humbly receive him, or do you want him to destroy you in his wrath?
'If however, men refuse to hear, they have lost their chance, the time of grace is passed, and they have pronounced their own doom.'
Heb 4:7 ... To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
'Is this ruthless speed? Nothing could be more ruthless than to make men think there is still plenty of time to mend their ways. To tell men that the cause is urgent, and that the kingdom of God is at hand is the most charitable and merciful act we can perform, the most joyous news we can bring. The messenger cannot wait and repeat it to every man in his own language. God's language is clear enough. It is not for the messenger to decide who will hear and who will not, for only God knows who is "worthy"; and those who are worthy will hear the Word when the disciple proclaims it. But woe to the city and woe to the house which rejects the messenger of Christ/ They will incur a dreadful judgment: Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities of unchastity and perversion, will be judged more graciously than those cities of Israel who reject the word of Jesus. Vice and sin may be forgiven, according to the word of Jesus, but the man who rejects the word of salvation has thrown away his last chance. To refuse to believe in the gospel is the worst sin imaginable, and if that happens the messengers can do nothing but leave the place. They go because the Word cannot remain there. They must recognize in fear and amazement both the power and the weakness of the Word of God. But the disciples must not force any issue contrary to or beyond the word of Christ. Their commission is not a heroic struggle, a financial pursuit of a grand idea or a good cause. That is why they stay only where the Word stays, and if it is rejected they will be rejected with it, and shake off the dust from their feet as a sign of the curse which awaits that place. This curse will not harm the disciples, but the peace they brought returns to them. '
My thoughts-
We truly do not like to imagine there is a WRATH OF GOD, do we? We'd much rather simply believe He's so benevolent that He just can't have a wrath that would hurt us lowly humans who don't know any better. He's too loving to have wrath. People believe love and wrath cannot exist together. They say God is NOT loving because He has wrath. It's a lie of Satan's, a lie he's used very well, very successfully.
We have to realize the truth is- those who do NOT accept Jesus Christ and His love, the Gospel of the Kingdom, will HAVE to face the wrath of God, there is no other way and it's their own choice!
God's wrath--
Num_11:33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
2Ki_22:13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
2Ch_28:11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
2Ch_29:8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
2Ch_32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
2Ch_34:21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
2Ch_36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Job_21:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Psa_78:31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
Psa_106:40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
Isa_13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Jer_50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
Joh_3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Rom_1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
Eph_5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Rev_6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb
Rev_14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
Rev_14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev_15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev_16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev_19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
*******
Do you believe Your Bible?
Do you believe in GOD?
Do you believe in JESUS CHRIST, as your LORD and SAVIOR?
If you answered, yes, then you have to believe in God's wrath as a REAL thing!
A very real thing, and His LOVE is equally as real! He couldn't have the wrath without the love.
A parent knows in some very small measure, a parent understands. And children as they get older they begin to understand. You can love and still feel anger.
God has to deal with the SIN problem, the worst problem that exists because it is the cause of ALL problems. Sin is the seed that sprouted every single agony, every single tear, every single heartache. God must get rid of sin forever so that it never rises again. The anger He must feel over sin's evil has to be worse than anything we can imagine. Sin will be gone and all those who choose sin over love will experience the wrath of God has sin is done away with once and for all.
Everyone will get a chance.
None will be able to say they didn't have an opportunity to know the LORD as their Savior.
The Holy Spirit will convict all and those who choose to believe in God and will cling to all the truth that is revealed to them.
We, as the disciples of Jesus, as workers for Christ, must be ready to do anything that the Holy Spirit convicts us to do, and do nothing on our own. We ARE NOT those who convict!
Please, LORD, help us! Teach us to obey You in all things! Let us be YOUR workers, for YOUR will and only YOUR will!
In Your LOVE!
Mat 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mat 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mat 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Bonhoeffer- 'The whole message is staggering in its simplicity and clarity, and since the cause brooks no delay there is no need for them to enter into any further discussion to clear the ground or to persuade their hearers. The King stands at the door, and he may come in at any moment. Will you bow down and humbly receive him, or do you want him to destroy you in his wrath?
'If however, men refuse to hear, they have lost their chance, the time of grace is passed, and they have pronounced their own doom.'
Heb 4:7 ... To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
'Is this ruthless speed? Nothing could be more ruthless than to make men think there is still plenty of time to mend their ways. To tell men that the cause is urgent, and that the kingdom of God is at hand is the most charitable and merciful act we can perform, the most joyous news we can bring. The messenger cannot wait and repeat it to every man in his own language. God's language is clear enough. It is not for the messenger to decide who will hear and who will not, for only God knows who is "worthy"; and those who are worthy will hear the Word when the disciple proclaims it. But woe to the city and woe to the house which rejects the messenger of Christ/ They will incur a dreadful judgment: Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities of unchastity and perversion, will be judged more graciously than those cities of Israel who reject the word of Jesus. Vice and sin may be forgiven, according to the word of Jesus, but the man who rejects the word of salvation has thrown away his last chance. To refuse to believe in the gospel is the worst sin imaginable, and if that happens the messengers can do nothing but leave the place. They go because the Word cannot remain there. They must recognize in fear and amazement both the power and the weakness of the Word of God. But the disciples must not force any issue contrary to or beyond the word of Christ. Their commission is not a heroic struggle, a financial pursuit of a grand idea or a good cause. That is why they stay only where the Word stays, and if it is rejected they will be rejected with it, and shake off the dust from their feet as a sign of the curse which awaits that place. This curse will not harm the disciples, but the peace they brought returns to them. '
My thoughts-
We truly do not like to imagine there is a WRATH OF GOD, do we? We'd much rather simply believe He's so benevolent that He just can't have a wrath that would hurt us lowly humans who don't know any better. He's too loving to have wrath. People believe love and wrath cannot exist together. They say God is NOT loving because He has wrath. It's a lie of Satan's, a lie he's used very well, very successfully.
We have to realize the truth is- those who do NOT accept Jesus Christ and His love, the Gospel of the Kingdom, will HAVE to face the wrath of God, there is no other way and it's their own choice!
God's wrath--
Num_11:33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
2Ki_22:13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
2Ch_28:11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
2Ch_29:8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
2Ch_32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
2Ch_34:21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
2Ch_36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Job_21:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Psa_78:31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
Psa_106:40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
Isa_13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Jer_50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
Joh_3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Rom_1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
Eph_5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Rev_6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb
Rev_14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb
Rev_14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev_15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev_16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev_19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
*******
Do you believe Your Bible?
Do you believe in GOD?
Do you believe in JESUS CHRIST, as your LORD and SAVIOR?
If you answered, yes, then you have to believe in God's wrath as a REAL thing!
A very real thing, and His LOVE is equally as real! He couldn't have the wrath without the love.
A parent knows in some very small measure, a parent understands. And children as they get older they begin to understand. You can love and still feel anger.
God has to deal with the SIN problem, the worst problem that exists because it is the cause of ALL problems. Sin is the seed that sprouted every single agony, every single tear, every single heartache. God must get rid of sin forever so that it never rises again. The anger He must feel over sin's evil has to be worse than anything we can imagine. Sin will be gone and all those who choose sin over love will experience the wrath of God has sin is done away with once and for all.
Everyone will get a chance.
None will be able to say they didn't have an opportunity to know the LORD as their Savior.
The Holy Spirit will convict all and those who choose to believe in God and will cling to all the truth that is revealed to them.
We, as the disciples of Jesus, as workers for Christ, must be ready to do anything that the Holy Spirit convicts us to do, and do nothing on our own. We ARE NOT those who convict!
Please, LORD, help us! Teach us to obey You in all things! Let us be YOUR workers, for YOUR will and only YOUR will!
In Your LOVE!
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