Sleep fled from me at 3:00 am on Monday Morning and I was awakened with a verse I used in our Sunday morning message:
A prayer is burning in my heart, and as you read this letter, I pray that it will burn in your heart as well…
As I was reading this morning, I turned to the book of 1Timothy chapter 4, where Paul is giving young Timothy, a refresher course in how become a Living Letter.
It is important for us to recognize the need to cultivate and immerse ourselves in the message of faith. Realizing that God has given us His Word as a guide and a revelation of Himself, by contrast we then see the horror of the world around us. There is so much bad news in the world it is our privilege to share the Good News, the Gospel. How many of us are compelled to share our faith as the Bible teaches us? Paul says it like this in 1 Corinthians 9:
Then again, we read in 2 Corinthians 5:
From one Fisher of Men to another…
If not you, Who? If not Now, When?
I believe in you,
Cleddie Keith
"The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, AND HE WHO IS WISE, AS A FISHER OF MEN—he gathers and receives them for eternity]." Proverbs 11:30 AMP
A prayer is burning in my heart, and as you read this letter, I pray that it will burn in your heart as well…
"Lord give me a passionate passion for souls, give me a pity that yearns, give me a fire that burns unto death give me a fire that burns."
As I was reading this morning, I turned to the book of 1Timothy chapter 4, where Paul is giving young Timothy, a refresher course in how become a Living Letter.
6-10 You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.
11-14 GET THE WORD OUT. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. (Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching.) And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use.
15-16
- Cultivate these things.
- Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes!
- Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching.
- BOTH YOU AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU WILL EXPERIENCE SALVATION.
The Message Translation
It is important for us to recognize the need to cultivate and immerse ourselves in the message of faith. Realizing that God has given us His Word as a guide and a revelation of Himself, by contrast we then see the horror of the world around us. There is so much bad news in the world it is our privilege to share the Good News, the Gospel. How many of us are compelled to share our faith as the Bible teaches us? Paul says it like this in 1 Corinthians 9:
"Woe is me, if I preach not the Gospel."
Then again, we read in 2 Corinthians 5:
10 Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.
11-14 That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God.
The Message Translation
From one Fisher of Men to another…
Hear the Lord of harvest sweetly calling, "Who will go and work for Me today?
Who will bring to Me the lost and dying? Who will point them to the narrow way?"
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord, Speak, and I'll be quick to answer Thee;
Speak, my Lord, speak, my Lord, Speak, and I will answer, "Lord, send me."
When the coal of fire touched the prophet, Making him as pure, as pure can be;
When the voice of God said, "Who'll go for us?" Then he answered, "Here am I, send me."
Millions now in sin and shame are dying; Listen to their sad and bitter cry;
Hasten, brother, hasten to the rescue; Quickly answer, "Master, here am I."
Soon the time for reaping will be over; Soon we'll gather for the harvest, home;
May the Lord of harvest smile upon us, May we hear His blessed, "Child, well done."
George Bennard
If not you, Who? If not Now, When?
I believe in you,
Cleddie Keith