The Half-Hearted Effort

Persistent Faith

by C. A. Brewer

A popular gospel song from the past states, "Prayer is the key to Heaven, but faith unlocks the door." While there is certainly truth in these words, something else could be added.  It is not feeble faith or wavering faith that opens the way into the presence of God.  It is bold, persistent faith that makes the difference.  It is often knocking at the door over and over until the answer arrives.

     Persistent faith is like the widow petitioning the unjust judge day after day until he became bone weary of her coming.  Unrelenting faith is like Elijah on top of Carmel praying "until"---until his servant saw the cloud the size of a man's hand, the portent of a mighty downpour on a desperately dry land.  Importunate faith is like the man who went to his friend's at midnight and pounded on the door until he received the three loaves he needed.

     Motivational speakers of our day often encourage their listeners to persistently believe in themselves, instructing them, "You can do anything you want to do." The truth, however, lies not in what we want to do on our own.  It lies in what we will believe God to do in and through us.  Jesus said, "If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20).

A half-hearted effort will never bring the complete victory God plans for His people.

Those who seek to know God for the value of the relationship itself, who obey His Word in good times and bad, usually develop a passion for God that casual observers can never understand.  That passion compels them to follow the voice of God even when He demands things that seem pointless or unnecessary.  It is as if they, like Jeremiah, have a fire burning inside that demands to be freed and they can shout with the prophet, "But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not" (Jeremiah 20:9, NKJV).  That passion forces entrance into a realm where service and obedience become passageways into holy places not accessible by humanly constructive means.

Our half-hearted ways not only effect us, but they effect others in the body who depend on each member to move in the same direction.. We must strive to have more then temporary gains and victories as a body due to those who may not be as whole hearted as you.  It is obvious in the result how much passion was used during the process.  How strong is your passion for the up building of God's kingdom? 

"And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice" (II Kings 13:19).

We can stay focused on the task at hand and refuse to give up.  Life offers little too those unwilling to struggle.  God's promises do not apply to those who will not fight to receive them.  Steadfastness and determination are essential for every Christian's success.

God hates bland disinterest.  "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16). A passionless believer simply going through the motions may be blessed because of God's covenant with his fathers, but he will have no spiritual heritage to pass on to his own children.  At best his victories, like Joash's, will be temporary pauses in the enemy's march to total authority.  Every believer should earnestly pursue a passionate relationship with God.

Authored by: Sis. Joy Jones

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

References: Davis, Richard. Lessons from History for Christian Living. Spring 2013 Hazelwood: Word Aflame Publications, 2013. 42-44. Print.

The Strength of God

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith."

Romans 1:16-17

After carefully pondering on this portion of scripture one can not help but to ask. What is it about the gospel that made the Apostle Paul so unashamed and to what manner or extent did it affect his life?

What is the gospel

Def: Gospel (Greek:euaggelion) - Good tidings or Good news

How good is this good news? 

1) The angel of the Lord speaking the shepherds declared this good news saying "behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" after this a multitude of heavenly hosts praised God saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men". The Gospel is for all People. Luke 2:10-14 

2) King Solomon put it ever so beautifully saying "as cold water to a thirty soul, so is good news from a far country". The gospel is Refreshing. Proverbs 25:25

3) Paul wrote that the "goodness of God leadeth thee unto repentance". The gospel has eternal purpose attached to it. Romans 2:4

The Affects of the Gospel

What could make a man endure persecution, heartache, pain, abandonment, beatings, imprisonment, trials, and ultimately beheading. What could make a person so bold? Apostle Paul endured all these thing and more and he revealed to us how he did it, he wrote it is "the Power of God".

Paul's character was that of a pharisee, these people were leaders in the Jewish synagogues. They were the traditional teachers of jewish law. They also held to deeply rooted traditions passed down through "oral law". Jesus Christ would reprove them for esteeming this oral law as much as the commandments of God, at times they would even go as far as neglecting the commandments of God for the traditions of men (Mark 7:1-13). Before his conversion, Paul was more zealous then the rest of the pharisees, the scriptures show that he fervently persecuted the church thinking that it was the will of God. One day he had an encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:4) and three days later he was converted (Acts 22:16). 

Paul's Suffering

"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness". 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Could you imagine this happening to you today? Being stoned almost unto death? (Acts 14:19-20)

In spite of these things Paul boldly declared, "none of these things moved me" Acts 20:24 How did he endure it? It was the Power of the Gospel! This word power literally means strength or might. It is the strength that propels one unto salvation. It is a literal force, who's author is Jesus Christ. What he did for us is life changing if you apply the gospel to your own life. Paul had a real encounter with the Savior and his gospel and he used his faith to apply it.

Application of the Gospel

A vehicle frame is useless without an engine, and an engine is useless without a vehicle frame. Alone they serve no real purpose, but when you install the engine into the vehicle it can accomplish its intended purpose. The Gospel works in the same manner with humanity. It must be applied to our life in order to be effective because the gospel was accomplished by Jesus for humanity.  

The Gospel (good news) is the publishing of what Jesus did to redeem us. It is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We apply the same principle through the plan of salvation. We Die to self (Repentance), get Baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ (Burial), and we rise in the newness of life by the power of the Holy Ghost (Resurrection) (Romans 6:3-5). Peter made it plain, giving instruction on how to be saved he said to "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". Acts 2:38

Paul experienced this same plan of salvation and preached it as well (Acts 9:17 18) and (Acts 22:16). Every New Testament church had the gospel applied (Repentance, Water Baptism, and Holy Ghost), thus qualifying them to be called saints (Romans 1:7), brethren (Colossians 1:2) and churches (Galatians 1:2). 

Daily application

After our Christian conversion the principles of what Jesus did for us are also vital aspects to holiness living. The love that Jesus displayed for us in his death is so tremendous and life changing, how could we overlook it and not love our neighbors? The forgiveness he showed toward the very people that were crucifying him is the model for us today, we should not even hesitate to forgive others and love our enemies.

Gospel Power Houses

Truly the gospel is the "Strength of God" unto salvation. Like Paul, it will literally transform your life, making you into a gospel Power House. The power of God will flow through you and it will touch others; its contagious, its electrifying!  This Gospel has an eternal purpose attacked to it, it is not temporal nor will it leave you weary in well doing but it will position and project you into salvation and an eternal inheritance with Jesus Christ. Although we endure various trial and tribulations, the strength of God will leave us also with the very same testimony as the Apostle Paul, "None of these things move me" Acts 20:24

Authored by:

Min. John W Jenkins

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church  

God Hates Sin

Would a loving God Judge Me?

How many times have I heard individuals ask, “Would a loving God really send someone to Hell?” Actually, as I have heard some minister answer, it is more like “God allows them to choose that destiny.” It really is about personal choice, with which God has empowered all humankind. Hell is a real, eternal destination; and many people will choose to go there by choosing to live sinful lives on earth, separation from God’s will and purpose. Still, to suggest that God’s love and His judgment are incompatible aspects of His nature is simply untrue. God loves us all dearly, even those who choose to exclude Him from their lives and thereby choose Hell as their final destiny.

       In his article “Would a loving God judge me?” author Davis Wilson writes, “So what is God like? Well, most people today would happily declare that God is love, and this is indeed a biblical description of God … But that is not the whole story. The Bible tells us that God is holy … When Isaiah … heard the angels crying ‘Holy, holy, holy,’ he responded by saying, ‘Woe is me, for I am undone …’ (Isaiah 6:5).

       “The Bible also tells us that God is just … Unfortunately, this creates a major problems … because if God judges us according to His righteous standard, we would all be destroyed … The only way God can be just and forgives us our sins is if the penalty we deserve is borne by someone else …"

        Jesus Christ has paid the price for the judgment of our sins, but we must accept His gift and embrace the salvation He has provided.

By Richard M. Davis

God loves the sinner, but will not tolerate the sin. If anyone goes to Hell, it is because they earned their way there. Hell is their reward for living a sinful life while they were alive on earth.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Character

• God is jealous over His deity (no other gods before him). He is the only God that should be 
worshiped. There are no other gods beside him.

• God is jealous over His sovereignty (no other power above him). God is the creator of all things. There is no problem that he cannot solve.

• God is jealous over His own people. (We are His people). God wants us to love and trust him. He wants us to fully rely and trust in Him.

With God’s help

• All our sins are forgiven. When we ask God to forgive our sins they are forgotten, gone, removed, done away with and therefore nonexistence

• God gives us power to tread upon our enemies. God will fight every battle with us. During the battles He will never leave us. We will have the victory at the end. 

• Death cannot keep us from God's presence. The reward for sin is death. The FREE gift from God is everlasting life.

God’s ways are equal

Ezekiel 18:21-23 “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.

God does not want anyone to die in their sins, but He wants everyone to freely turn to Him for everlasting life. 

Matthew 24:14 “This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come.

Everyone will have the opportunity to turn to God at least one point in their life! Life is short, but eternity if forever! Where will you spend eternity?

Created by: Jocelyn Jones

Last Days Ministries Apostolic Church

References: Davis, Richard. Lessons from History for Christian Living. Summer 2013. Hazelwood: Word Aflame Publications, 2013. 48-52. Print.