The Holy Spirit, given His way, will never allow us to be stagnant, but will continually raise the bar of service. I have not arrived yet, but I am moving. Hard words are words that demand faith and perseverance. We cannot be satisfied with with the status quo. God forbid that in this critical hour that we should be found standing still and not investing our lives in lost and wandering sheep. God forbid that we should desire the things the world desires; that we compliment preachers for great services and Sunday morning entertainment, God forbid! May I never be able to write another word if I am not moved to grief with the witness of such man made, choreographed, patented acts of worship, that produce no fruit for our God. God forbid that that grief does not demand an investment on my part, and that I am found to be only a man with a keyboard, a monitor, and a chair.

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.”

(Psalm 137:1-6)

Steve Blackwell

In any case, what you’ve said is true and I commend you for voicing it. We ARE to be God’s hands and feet, not just when we’re sitting down. And I appreciate Thoreau’s comment also. I am sure Paul would say “It is a true and worthy saying!”.

Yes those are hard words, but true, and truth is welcome here always, even if it hurts.

Steve B.

Yes. it is my Father’s pain. My Father is in pain. My Father is in pain. How many of us want to enter into the agonies of His heart? We could not bare it. No, not even for a moment!! The very fire of it would burn us to ashes.

Steve, you could be damned for heresy and apostacy by quoting Henry Thoreau. But I certainly won’t do that.

Social reformation was the most likely outcome, the true fruit, following the “Preaching and the living of the Gospel/Cross” by John Wesley and William Booth, men who knew,
“No greater love has a man than he lay down his life for a friend”.

Woe unto you Christians who say ‘bless you brother” and do not lift a finger to help their brother in need.

There came down a priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And a Levite, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave it to the host, and said, Take care of him; and if you spend more, when I come again, I will repay you.

Or is this just for the “ministry of helps?”

No more of your ‘homeless shelters”, your “soup kitchens”, and your “good works” that are on constant display before men, that degrade a man, a woman, a child and rob them of their dignity.

How ineffective these “good works” are in the furtherance of the gospel. How counter productive in assisting these people back to that place of self respect and dignity that Jesus so desires for them. Our Father is in pain over this you know.

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues.

Do you have a spare bed in your house? You will have the visitation from God you so desperately need if you become a “living epistle” and open the door of your home and wallet to these people. If each middle class Christian brought one homeless person to Christ and stayed with that person until complete healing and restoration, you would then have your revival. That would be revival!!! But no, you self seeking Christians and pretenders of the gospel, have left it up to your Government agencies and they don’t have the Truth. But you do, don’t you? Shame on you who have the gospel. REPENT!!! Perhaps the Lord will have mercy on you or perhaps He will not. Have you no fear of God? You sit and debate over “doctrines of men” and “heresy” and “eschatology” while millions of unevangelized homeless are already living in hell (figuratively).

It’s not a popular message is it? And most comfortable Christians don’t want to hear it. It’s too pure, too simple, too holy. Too unworldly, too other wordly. You would rather have your “soup kitchens” and “shelters for the homeless” and then go back to the warmth and security of your homes. Where is the cross in this?

You complain about rising food prices & petrol costs and interest rates. How about complaining about living with rats. Try this one if you’re a young girl living on the streets. “Will I get raped tonight? Will I get beaten tonight?” If you’re a mother on the streets. It’s not, “am I giving my children the best education?” It’s , “can I keep my children alive tonight? Can I keep them dry and warm? Can they eat today? Can I protect my children from the predators that roam the streets? How can I stay awake all night so I can watch them and protect them?”

Will I understand if you don’t post this? No, I will not. It’s a hard word isn’t it? And many turned away. Like they are now…passing them by, turning away. Do you not know that when you do this to the least of my brethren you do it unto me.

Are you willing to enter into the fellowship of His sufferings? Are you willing for the joy set before you?