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Message from the Monthly Flyer from November 2006

What is your response to the Gospel?

That’s Not For Me
(I Reject)
A pastor was troubled by one of the members in his church. This man was lazy and refused to live correctly. The pastor, hoping that the Word of God would bring a change in the man, preached a sermon designed with him in mind. As the man left the church, he commented to the pastor, “Pastor, you really told them today!”

One day it happened. It rained so hard that no one showed up for church, except the troublesome man. The pastor was so excited. Today the man would know that the message was for him and he would hopefully respond accordingly. The pastor began preaching with great enthusiasm against all of the shortcomings of the man. As the man left the church that day, he said to the pastor, “Oh, pastor! If they had been here, you would have really told them today.”

Many times people allow the preaching (of the gospel) to go over their heads and hit their neighbor instead. Our response is, “This is for someone else. It is not for me!” But, the gospel is for YOU!

Don’t call me! I’ll call you!
(I Neglect!)
"…Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” (Acts 24:25) This man in the Bible neglected the truth the preacher had given him and procrastinated (put it off until a later time). He was shocked by the penetrating power of the gospel, but when he saw the price of the commitment, he put it off. He wanted the preacher to go away and leave him alone. We call his response the “don't call me, I will call you” response. People like this neglect and put off a response until it is a more convenient time. That time never comes! Neglect can be fatal. Some say, “I will not make a decision right now. I will decide later.” Without realizing it they have actually made a decision.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation...”? (Hebrews 2:3)

Almost Persuaded Means Not Persuaded
“King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?… Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (Acts 26:27-28) Agrippa claimed to be “almost” persuaded. Some other words or phrases for “almost” are “nearly, not quite, just about, on the edge of, close to.” However, “almost” is not good enough. We must be both “almost and altogether” (Acts 26:29) persuaded just like Paul. “To almost become a Christian is to remain a sinner.”

Consider this:
To almost be clean is to be dirty.
To almost believe is to doubt.
To almost tell the truth is to lie.
To almost win is to lose.
To almost be right is to be wrong.
To almost be straight is to be crooked.
To almost be saved is to be lost.

That’s For Me! Now is the Right Time!
(I Accept!)
“...Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37) (This is one of the important questions in Acts.)

How Can You Be Saved?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)

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