The Message

Don’t confuse black and white steel riding on four tires with black and white rectangular steel on a post stuck in the ground.  One is the law and the other is but an enforcer.

Don’t confuse 6’2”, 37 years old, attractive, Under Armour clothing, fluid speech, catchy phrases, great illustrations, and a dynamic platform presence with the message: “God now commands all men everywhere to repent,” Acts 17:30.

Don’t confuse smoke, lasers, technology, cutting edge tools, new music, and pretty people with the truth:  Luke 13:4-5, The tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Don’t confuse Luke 2:11 with Luke 2:12 – one is the message and the other is the sign.  The sign is not the message, it only verifies the message.  Don’t shoot the messenger because you don’t like the message and don’t embrace a messenger with a message contrary to God’s truth.

Today many are throwing out the message from our Founding Fathers because as messengers they owned slaves.  Because the messenger was not perfect, the message is to be rejected?   Let him without sin cast the first stone, John 8:7.

Because the pastor’s grammar is not always right or his presentation not always smooth, is his message to be negated?  Paul said in II Corinthians 11: 5-6, For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.  Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge.

Don’t confuse man’s take or opinion with God’s Word.  Statements such as, “Your best days are now” or “I can do all things” or “God helps those who help themselves” are not Scripture.  Acts 17:11, They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Don’t confuse God’s voice with that of the world or a snake (in the garden) or the boss!  Don’t confuse self-agenda with God’s agenda.  Don’t confuse God’s small voice with your own loud voice or that of others or advertisers when making decisions.  Don’t confuse truth that tickles the ear with truth that steps on toes.

The message can at times be gold, at times frankincense or myrrh.  The myrrh is often rejected as too negative or harsh – wrong!  Acts 20:27, I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.  Too often we only want the gold – especially when it promotes self or gives a pathway to being blessed.

The message: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, John 3:16.  There is a God, Jesus is God and died, and belief in Jesus is critical for life or a judgment looms!