1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
The ministry of the Gospel of Christ should always be one of exhortation. The definition of the word is to persuade someone to take action, or to encourage them to continue doing something that are already doing. It means to admonish and to encourage.
The Apostle Paul was a Gifted exhorter and as we study his ministry we find his constant encouragement to believers. He admonished them to keep on, stand firm, speak the Truth, study the Word of God, seek more, hear more, learn more, keep learning and never quit. Oh my! What a word for today!
Paul could teach this and preach this because he lived it. No matter how horrible his circumstances were, he never deviated from his message or his mission. He learned to find contentment in all circumstances. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)
Allow me to exhort you today to keep seeking more of God. Read and study His Word more. Ask the Lord to show you more and expand your ministry to others. No matter how knowledgeable we become, we can never exhaust the Word of God. There is always more to learn and more to experience. The revelations we receive from our study are astounding!
John the Baptist was a great exhorter of the people. He was an odd man who dressed funny and ate strange food. However, he was Called by God to be the forerunner for Christ. He exhorted the people to repent because the Kingdom of God was at hand. The people listened to him and they believed him because God had sent him. Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His Hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire. And with many other exhortations he preached to the people. (Luke 3:15-18)
In those days, the people were eager for the Messiah to come. They listened to John the Baptist as he exhorted them to repent and prepare themselves for the coming Messiah. The Word is the same today! We are eagerly awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church.
He IS coming back! Are you ready? The call on the Church today is the same as the call on the people in the days of John the Baptist. Repent. For the Kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 3:2) Jesus said, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:19)
Repent! Jesus is coming back to……….turn the tide……….in this world!
Thank you Lord for the Gift of Repentance, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
