THE MOST EXTREME MAN or WOMAN in the CHURCH

Anna Wood, the author of this piece, manages to hit the nail right on the head about the need to speak out God's truth. All too often the message that comes from church pulpits is a watered down version of the gospel, designed to 'tickle the ears' of the listener. Alternatively, and far worse are the other forms of gospel that are promulgated from many pulpits, either the 'prosperity gospel' or the 'social gospel'. None of these will point people towards repentance and ultimately salvation. They serve the world's purpose, not God's, and are not only useless, but also false. The only gospel of any real and lasting value is the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that He was sent by God as the sacrificial Lamb, to pay the price of the salvation of mankind from the depths of their sinful natures. Nothing less than this Gospel will bring people to true repentance and salvation, reconciling them to God the Father.

THE MOST EXTREME MAN or WOMAN in the CHURCH

By Anna Wood (http://annawood.wordpress.com/)

The most extreme man in the church today is the man is the one who stands on God's Word alone.

He is the "voice crying in the wilderness" of modern 'churchianity'.

It is he who dares to ask not, "Is this okay? Can we "get away with it"?", but "Is this honoring to God Almighty?"

Here is one who refuses to engage in frivolity while the world slides to hell.

Here is the man who isn't afraid to stand before men and be laughed at; he is afraid only of standing before God and being condemned.

He stands for truth in a time of compromise.

He constantly searches out the Word of God and demands a "thus saith
the Lord" in a time of me-centered, watered-down, cotton candy
teachings.

He believes that there is one way, God's Way, and he is willing to give up home, income, reputation.indeed, he is willing to give up all that he has, all that he is.in order that it may be taught.

Here is the one who knows "doing for God" must grow out of "being with God" and not the other way around.

Here is the preacher who isn't afraid to "step on toes" or make someone uncomfortable when the need arises.

He is one who will preach boldly against sin in all of its manifestations.

He is a man who constantly invites his Lord to "search me.try me.see
if there is any wicked way in me".

He is one who knows Jesus wasn't just "meek and mild" but also the Lion of Judah Who was zealous for God's house and he tirelessly seeks to follow his Master's example.

He is the husband, the father, who leads his family to go against the world-no matter how unpopular, how uncomfortable the position-rather than ride the flow that leads to hell.

Here is the young man who seeks out a woman of true loveliness, one who loves God and shows much growth in godliness, rather than one whose beauty is only skin deep.

The most extreme man in the church is the one who unfailingly takes God at His Word and then, believing, acts on it.

He teaches truth even when persecuted for it.

He sees the times and, understanding the dangers ahead, beseeches God
on behalf of the people who are failing Him.

Here is one who will lose sleep to "stand in the gap" for his family, the church, the nation.

He is not afraid of censure, of unpopularity,of ridicule but only of displeasing his Lord.

He is one who has obviously "been with Jesus".

He knows intimately the throne of grace and lives at the foot of it.

He knows the Cross of Christ for he makes his home in its shadow.

He loves God and thus loves the unlovely-even those who would cause him harm for his "extreme" positions.

Here is one to whom praying is as natural as breathing.

He is known in hell and hated for his prayers aren't prayers for personal comfort but for God's will to be done-and then, when the prayers are momentarily complete, he gets up and makes himself available to be the instrument through which God's will can be accomplished.

One who knows sleepless nights spent crying out to God that He may be known and honored among men.

A man who has absolute faith in God that His Lord is able to do all that He has promised.

Here is a man to whom the thought has never occurred to not "accept" Jesus as His Lord.

One whom, knowing his own sinfulness, is humbled by the grace-filled opportunity to serve His Lord in any and every fashion that God bestows upon him.

A man to whom God Himself is more important than any other gift that God could bestow.