Playing Without the Ball !!

[stephen]

VANISHING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

WHEN A GROUP OF SMALL BOYS out to play ball, arrived at the play ground, they discovered that no one had brought a ball. "Forget the ball," said one impatiently. "Let's get on with the game."

We are trying to play without the ball when the Church tries to evangelize before she has repented. The Church can do many things after she has repented but nothing until first she repents.

If God ever visits us again in real revival, there will be many red faces as churchmen and religious leaders blush and hang their heads in shame for the silly and stupid ways in which we have tried to promote the work of God in the energy of the flesh by the help of the world.

Drama will be unnecessary. We may not even need great preachers!

Gospel jazz will slink away, and we shall be chagrined that we ever sank so low as to tolerate it. All this will vanish in the blinding light of the holiness of God, and no flesh will glory in His presence.

Vance Havner (1901-1986)

 

[jiggyfly]

Good article brother Stephen, the first sermon that John preached was "repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). The pharisees and most of Israel had a religious paradigm that was in direct conflict with God's plan of reconciliation (John 1:10&11). The pharisees knew the scriptures and yet because of their religious thinking they couldn't recognize that the scriptures were talking about Jesus (John 5:39&40).

We need repentance today more than ever, but not just in the form of remorse. We need a change in the way that we think and for this we need to yield to the teacher sent down from heaven, HolySpirit, and He will lead us into the Truth.

In this article the boys could try and play the game with an imaginary ball and in the beginning it may even be fun, but soon enough the game will become rediculous and very conflicting for the players let alone the spectators. Then in an attempt to remedy the issues the game will become very complicated with a new set of rules and in the end we have something that is a ball game in name only and possessing very little if anything of the characteristics of the original. Now we can keep deceiving ourselves and continue to play imaginary ball, we can incorporate the ball back into our (new) game or we can back up, and start all over (with the ball this time) and play the game as it was intended from the start.

 

[Coconut]

Reminds me of the song lyrics..."and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace"

"Forget the ball," said one impatiently. "Let's get on with the game." ...

very good analogy...too many for too long have said "forget the ball, lets get on with the game"....if not in word, then in action. This truth is evidenced by how much is done in the name of Christianity, that has nothing whatsoever to do with the person of Christ, or His personal desire....that we would know the depths of His great love!

But still, no matter how many ways He says it, or writes it down, or expresses what HE wants, we gots to be runnin `round His courts trying to impress Him with our performances, like He had`nt already settled that score. (forgive my lapse into bad english) :embarasse

Eph 3:19 Yes, may you come to know his love---although it can never be fully known---and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.

The Church can do many things after she has repented but nothing until first she repents.

We need repentance today more than ever, but not just in the form of remorse. We need a change in the way that we think and for this we need to yield to the teacher sent down from heaven, HolySpirit, and He will lead us into the Truth.

amen and amen.