Some people are 20 minute a week Christians. They go to church on Sunday morning as if it is their requirement to get into heaven. And if the preacher should preach longer than they think he should, they complain.
After I was born again in 1975, I wanted to go to church and hear Bible. I wanted to talk with people who spoke about God. I wanted to speak continually about God.
Paul says:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
It certainly feels to me like a "reasonable service" to give my life since God gave me life and raised me from the dead. And really the only life is God. This world is only a pastime between things of God.
But I really want to hear from God.
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I know some people have a short time clock when it comes to God. But really I'm not affected by them. I speak (or write) as long as the Holy Spirit brings subjects to my attention.
We have an example in the Bible where Paul spoke all night! He knew his time with that group was short and they needed so much and Paul gave to them so they could be perfected as he was perfected.
Acts 20
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
Paul knew he would only be with that church group a short time and there was much to say to them and they needed what he spoke from God so Paul often spoke "a long time."
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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Paul instructed Timothy as follows:
2 Timothy 4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
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I pay very close attention to the instructions given in Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 10, in two sections of scripture:
Hebrews 3:12-14 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
So I write exhortations "daily" on our blog and I record "daily" podcasts.
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And in one section of scripture it says exhort "even more" as you see the day of the Lord approaching.
Hebrews 10
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
So sometimes I will write several exhortations that day as I see the sin increasing on TV and as I have more words from God to say.
Exhort: urge earnestly by advice and warning
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