The theme of this note is about reaching out all over the world. Not only for here in America, Egypt, Syria, India, Indonesia, Mongolia or every place around the world. Jesus said that the Gospel must be preached and then the end shall come. Many would say that the Gospel doesn't like much from reaching everyone everywhere around the world. Many would say that with the likes of DayStar, CBN, TBN, Jimmy Swaggart, Billy Graham and other well known evangelist that there's not many places left the Gospel hasn't been. But the question is, was it the TRUE gospel or Kingdom. The reason we use these men is because most of them held revivals and crusades back in the 60's, 70's and 80's. To say that would almost be calling Jesus a Liar. With billions and billions around the world, doesn't mean that DayStar, TBN, CBN, Swaggarts, the Grahams or any of the others are reaching anyone everywhere. What do I mean by that? Just because they claim to be a Preacher, Pastor or Evangelist of God doesn't mean that their word is getting across or it's of God. It's like everyone has a word especially the false prophets, false prophetesses and teachers in the world. Everyone has a different word like everyone has a different gospel or doctrine and the church world grabs ahold of every hook, line and sinker. God's church doesn't consist of 10,000 different denominations or 50,000 different word or views or beliefs, (that is not of God). Why would I come out and say such a thing with me being a evangelist/preacher?
All scriptures are from NASB
It is because of this.
1 Corinthians 14:33 --- 14:33 for God is not {a God} of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
This tells us that God is not of what confusion as in all the churches of the saints. Many thinks that since it say that God, is a God of peace to all the churches of the saints doesn't or does not mean God is talking about about 10,000 different churches or 50,000 belief. The bible tell us that Jesus established one Church at pentecost, and one gospel. Then the church grew and the Lord added daily such as should be saved.
Acts 1:1-47 verse 46&47 ---
2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
As we said at the beginning of this post, The title is Set another place at the table. A little later we will talk about the title. But first we must try and cover all the basics as God through the Spirit has lead me. I really don't mean or intend to be harsh about Television Evangelist but actions speak greater than words, or the great crusaders of revivals and gatherings around the world. (Grahams, Swaggarts, Paul Crouchs or any of the others.)
We posted the other day there are Four types of Christians.
NASB Matthew 13:18-23 ---
13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.
13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil {one} comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
13:21 yet he has no {firm} root in himself, but is {only} temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
13:22"And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
13:23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
And as we write this about the Televison crusaders and evangelists, we can't forget about us that reaches out to the lost. This hits home with many of us today the little people who are those who are working behind the scene. As we see from the the Four types of Christians we have to be held accountable ourselves.
We all have seen millions upon millions through the crusades come and profess to give their lives to Christ. Read the parable again of the sower.
Matthew 18-19-23 --- 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil {one} comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
- The seeds falling on the road represent those who hear the word but dismiss it straight away - the synoptics state that the wicked one, (Matthew's wording), satan, (Mark's wording) is what takes the word away.
13:20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 13:21 yet he has no {firm} root in himself, but is {only} temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
- The seeds falling on the rocks represent those who hear the word, but only accept it shallowly - the synoptics state that these sorts of people reject the word as soon as it causes them affliction or persecution
- The seeds falling on thorns represent those who hear the word, and take it to heart, but allow worldly concerns, such as money, to choke it.
The seeds falling on good soil represents those who hear the word, and truly understand it, causing it to bear fruit.
Jesus said that not all will know the truth and He thanked the Father for not revealing the truth of God to all the wise and prudent. I will tell you this though, if the Mega Preachers and Churches preached the truth of the early Church of God, the true gospel, there wouldn't be multitudes of denominations, doctrines or Mega Churches. There's not much money in the truth of God, but blessed are those who find the truth and keep it.
Again the title --- Set another place at the table.
In the times in which we live it is getting harder to find anyone who will except God's word, the Bible. There are more leaving the church than there are joining the church. But we must realize that this has been happening for generations to generations, year after year.
NASB 2Timothy 3:1-7 ---
3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
3:5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
3:6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
3:7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Even in gospel times there would be perilous times; on account of persecution from without, still more on account of corruptions within. Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man. When children are disobedient to their parents, that makes the times perilous. Men are unholy and without the fear of God, and unthankful for the mercies of God. We abuse God's gifts, if we make them the food and fuel of our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents are without natural affection to children. And when men have no rule over their own spirits, but despise that which is good and to be honoured. God is to be loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity against him, prefers any thing before him, especially carnal pleasure. A form of godliness is very different from the power; from such as are found to be hypocrites, real Christians must withdraw. Such persons have been found within the outward church, in every place, and at all times. There ever have been artful men, who, by pretenses and flatteries, creep into the favour and confidence of those who are too easy of belief, ignorant, and fanciful. All must be ever learning to know the Lord; but these follow every new notion, yet never seek the truth as it is in Jesus. Like the Egyptian magicians, these were men of corrupt minds, prejudiced against the truth, and found to be quite without faith. Yet though the spirit of error may be let loose for a time, satan can deceive the nations and the churches no further, and no longer, than God will permit.
This is why it is so hard to reach people with the truth because they have be taught a lie for generations. The word of God is not preached or taught in the world's church or the congregations of satan. We will continue, those who stand for the Gospel, an even harder battle to reach the lost at any cost for they do not want truth. But one thing is for sure God's word doesn't and has never lied to those who will listen or those who choose to listen to the Spirit as it reaches out to those worthy. The church world has become a state of Pharisees and truly are Sadducees.
But eventually some will see and hear what the Spirit is bringing forward..As the parable of the sower in the verse 23 of Matthew 13 .There will be seed that will bring forth good seed, good ground and bring forth much fruit.
NASB Matthew 16-17 -- 16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
The Bible tell us in Luke 15:6-7 ---
15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
I believe when one soul, just one single soul that finds Jesus as their Lord and Savior it opens up the oppurtunity of them recieving the Holy spirit and their ears ,eyes hearts and minds shall be be open.
As it says in Luke 15:7 ---
15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
I truly believe that when one soul is saved and delivered, He is he who the Son set free.
Why would I use such a title for a post? It is because when one lost soul comes home or returns home there is a homecoming. "The kingdom of heaven we may compare to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
Matthew 22:1-14 ---
22:1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying,
22:2 "The kingdom of heaven we may compare to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
22:3 "And he sent out his slaves to call those who had received invitations to the wedding feast, and they expressed unwillingness to come.
22:4 "Again he sent out other slaves saying, 'Tell those who have received invitations, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock I have all butchered and made everything ready; come to the wedding feast."'
22:5 "But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business,
22:6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them.
22:7 "But the king became enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.
22:8 "Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding has become ready, but those who received invitations did not prove worthy.
22:9 'Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.'
22:10 "Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall filled with dinner guests.
22:11 "But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who did not dress in wedding clothes,
22:12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man became speechless.
22:13 "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there people will weep and gnash their teeth.'
22:14 "For many have received the calling, but few will become chosen."
There is coming a day a day called the wedding feast of the Lamb
It should be obvious that the setting of this parable is not "the marriage supper of the Lamb" when Christ returns and marries His bride (Revelation 19:9), but thepreparations for it. God has been sending out the invitations throughout history.
Salvation is a process. Once acceptable for the wedding, God does not judge a person at the doors of the wedding supper. Peter says in I Peter 4:17 that judgment is now on the house of God, spiritual Israel, the church. Revelation 11:18 further shows that Christ will not judge His saints at His return, but is coming to reward the saints and begin the process of judging the nations who have not yet had opportunity at salvation—during the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment.
Everyone that we win for the Lord is setting another place at the table of the great wedding feast of the Lamb. Rejoice and praise God almighty for being able to reach a lost or backsliding soul. Because once their home one more setting is set at the table.
Praise God let us help set another place at the table when a soul comes home.
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