I Got Your Inspiration Right Here!

Since I stepped on the international mission field  back in 07', I noticed a growing practice among my peers. In its self it is not bad or harmful to the individual believer. Though the need for fresher prospective is needed from time to time, it can not replace our mission which it's self is more than sufficient as our inspiration. I am talking about the gospel. The mystery that is ours as believers to reveal to the world and teach to its recipients. (Matt.28:19; Col.1:25-27)The practice that I am referring to is the need to read the newest inspirational, radical, loving, captivating, selfless christian book to become filled to do what Jesus commanded. I know they all mean well and their hearts are to point people to God but the early church had a big problem with people trusting in more the philosophy of others over the gospel. There I said it.

I must always address those who don't know me very well who are reading this. No, I am not the guy who hates the church. It's to the contrary. I love the church and its heart that beats for Jesus. I only try in every way to keep a Christ-centered prospective on things. With the spreading of the gospel and its responsibilities that follow, as our duty to God through love. No, I do not despise education. I love to learn. I read about History for fun. I'm in Bible school right now and hoping to earn a TESL certification someday. Again I am not anti- anything dealing with christian literature, I just try to defend the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Who doesn't have their favorite Christian authors? Chambers, Piper, Lewis, Eldredge are some of my personal favorites. But I have always been weary of those believers who float around an idea trying to bring themselves to a place were they can get excited again about their meaningless, boring, directionless lives in Jesus. Isn't the Word of God, Love of God and it's message to the world enough? How about the function of and our relationship with the Holy Spirit? This past Saturday I had the privilege to share the gospel to a family member at our local Chick-fil-a. In reviewing to him the basic truths about our salvation, justification, regeneration, sanctification,(any other -tion you want to add) through believing in the gospel message I was reminded of how amazing is our life as believers in Jesus Christ.

Look at some of the scriptures about the gospel. Romans 3:23, "all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" and as a result the "wages of sin is death"(Rom. 6:23a) We are not even suppose to be holding any hope but "the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"(Rom.6:23b) Eternal life given to us who have no business in eternity, for free. Romans 5:8 should cause your heart to over flow because it says, "But God demonstrates His own Love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God shows His Love for us by physically getting involved with the process of coming down to earth to die for a people he created, who killed him, and deny Him as creator and savior. If any person genuinely receives this to be true and puts their faith in and believes that Jesus died for our sins and resurrected then we are saved.(Rom.10:9-13) Romans 5:1, "There, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 8:1, "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." I now can have a peaceful relationship with a Holy God whose wrath would still be on me had it not been for the spilling of Christ's blood.(Hebrews 9:22) There is nothing that can separate me from that Love. (Romans 8:38-39)

This truly moves me to live my life for Him. I don't need anything else. This is all made possible because of the Father's love, Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection and the Holy Spirit's presence in me.

So here are my questions; Is the gospel not enough? Is the Bible not current enough? Does the Holy Spirit not have a place? Are you afraid to share the gospel?

I was inspired this a morning when I read the Apostle Paul's letter in 2Thessalonians 2:13-17,"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ..."