Is My Hand Shortened At All, That It Cannot Redeem? Isaiah chapter 50 vs 1-3 purpose-driven/seeker-sensitive slick marketing and trickery Bill Hybels (Rick Warren stole his thesis from Bill Hybels) admitted a couple of years ago that his methods didn't work... many in attendance, but no real discipleship he didn't know the right thing to do, but he was sure that the methods he had been pushing for decades were wrong seed faith | prosperity | name it and claim it | etc. Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Rev 3:17-19 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Toronto blessing (man, I'm getting old), Pensacola so-called revival, Lakeland (Todd Bentley), Mobile Benny Hinn, other patently false teachers: we sit watching on the sofa every day, and keep sending them money vs 4-9 (what Israel had, what the church had) Peter's shadow had the power to heal the sick day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, 3000 saved... in chapter 4, 5000 saved Jesus still walks on the water, and he can still calm your storms 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. Act 3:6-12 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? It's our job, our God-given command to preach the gospel and win the lost before it's too late Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. vs 5,6: brokenness and suffering, humility, the beatitudes Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. again, the mission of the church is to preach the gospel to the world, but we must forsake ourselves and wholly rely upon Jesus vs 10,11 Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Isa 1:16-18 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah chapter 55 vs 1-3 grand invitation * the church's message to the lost John 4:28-29 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? * God's message to the church Jesus (and Jesus alone) satisfies the soul works won't do it, denominational affiliation won't do it, self-righteousness won't do it, pride and self won't do it Judges 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. vs 4,5 Christ the King of Israel, and Israel a light to the gentiles because of the Lord in the midst of her Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ...etc.