text: If you’re a parent and you’re on a sinking boat. You’re kids are somewhere on that boat. Rescue is in mid-way. Other ships are coming to assist but that doesn’t mean you have all the time in the world. In actual fact you don’t. You’re running out of time.
  Picture it. Boat is sinking. You’ve gotta save yourself and your kids. Your kids are somewhere on the boat lost and trying to find their way off. You’re jostling back and forth as the crowd stampedes past you heading for the life rafts.
  Rescue workers are also in the middle of everything directing people down the right corridors. Managing the chaos. Keeping people in lines. Stoppng fights and helping people maintain order for everyone’s protection and safety.
  To make it worse. You’re best friends kids are on the boat. You’re neighbours and their kids are also on the boat. Your families bumped into each other during the cruise.
  As the rescue workers shout at you to make you’re way to the lifeboats. You spot one of your neighbours kids.
  What do you do? Do you stop and grab the kids and run with them to the lift raft hoping you have time to come back for your kids? Or do you leave the poor child cowering there in a corner crying knowing full well that they’re too afraid to make it on their own and that without your help they’ll go down with the sinking ship?
  Whats this scenario about?
  Well who do you want to make it?
  Yourself?
  Your kids?
  Your best friends kids
  Your best friend?
  The neighbours? (lets pretend you get along with your neighbours and you like them)
  Who, if you could help, would you help get off the boat and take advantage of limited space? Limited seats? Limited time?
  I think sometimes we see our beliefs and love of God as something nice. Something nice to have. Not life or death.
  You’re on this sinking ship and there are limited spaces.
  How important is it for you that your children discover Christ? Is it a nice idea 🙂 ? Is it a family tradition? Is it expected? What about when you’re separated from your kids by life and them just growing up. College. Career. etc What if they’re out there somewhere and someone has the power or the chance to save them in a life and death situation…wouldnt you want that person whoever they are to take the chance to save your kids? What if you were at home and your neighbours and their kids were on a cruise with your children. If something went wrong, wouldn’t you want them to help your loved ones get to safety?
  Do you know there are people out there who look at you, us, like that? They look at this Christian thing we have, and they see a chance for themselves and their loved ones to live. To be rescued. To be better. Live better. They hear us talk about prayer and about the word…and they envy us sometimes! Imagine that. There are people in your congregation…who envy your walk. Now we’re not going to get into whether that’s good or not in this email. I’m just stating the fact that some people in your life find you inspiriational on many levels. Including spiritually.
  But many a time, we see…a building. Worship styles. Denominations. Nice sermons or boring sermons. What does that even mean? Boring? Is church meant to be entertainment? Or a spiritual experience? Are you going there to listen to a man or woman or are you going there to hear words… Words which have power. Words which through the interaction of the speaker with the Bible (which is spirit filled with living Words) an interaction such that the specific combination of scripture and certain words used by the speaker may provoke a spiritual experience for you. Are we going there to unlock the spiritual realm, to encounter the Holy Spirit or are we going there to hear hymns verses choruses? Is the order and efficient impeccable flow of the service as important as the contents of the prayers and hymns? What’s more important that the preacher wear a tie or that the preacher in jeans has fasted for 10 days and has come with an anointing?
  So I ask again… Is what we have divine, miraculous or a club. A meeting. A gathering. Is this some sort of charity drive or social movement, or we are meeting God on a mountain who’s top is covered with the flames and smoke and rumblings of the glory of God.
  Where am I getting all this from and where am I going?
  Lets test what we have
  1 Corinthians 9:22-241 Corinthians 9:22-24
  English: World English Bible - WEB
  301 Moved Permanently Moved Permanently The document has moved .
  WP-Bible plugin (New King James Version)
  22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
  [Paul is challenging us to style ourselves after who we’re trying to save. Not compromise, but learn to communicate. No forsake God’s law which is paramount. But to forsake comfort and prejudice and preference, so that we can bring the lost into God’s presence….JESUS put on a the body of an angel in the form of Michael (we’ll deal with that another time) so that the angels could get Him. He put on the appearance of a commander of the Lord’s armies so that Joshua, the leader and man of war for Israel would know how to approach Him. But more beautifully, Jesus Christ, Word of God, was made flesh, so that flesh, you and I, could identify ourselves with God….
  Are you Adventist, Baptist, Charismatic, Pentecostal, when you speak to people about Jesus, or are you just like the person you’re speaking to about Jesus? Which is it. Is it more important to be part of a group of people or is it more important to be like the people you’re trying to reach. Is it more important to be “us” or more important to be “we”?
  Even politicians understand this. When they are campaigning for president, they campaign as being one of us. A regular citizen. A man of the people. We all believe politics is actually filthy or a dirty game. So much so many Christians believe its to be avoided. But question I have is why does it seem politicians can clearly win the hearts of people easier with just words and style of speech than Christians can reach the many people who live and die in the streets.
  Something’s wrong….do we care?
  2 Timothy 2:9-112 Timothy 2:9-11
  English: World English Bible - WEB
  301 Moved Permanently Moved Permanently The document has moved .
  WP-Bible plugin
  9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
  [ Check that out, I endure all things…for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain….
  Back to the boat illustration. Paul is the kind of parent, who will go back. Get stepped on. Crushed. Beaten. Bruised. Broken…to save his neighbours kids cowering in the corner. Why? He doesn’t want them to drown. Its not that he doesn’t care about his own kids (the jews), but he also cant leave anyone behind (the gentiles). Paul cant watch YOUR kids die. He simply cant.
  Is being saved really life and death? Are you ok sitting in that life raft, while you can see kids crying on the balconies of the cruise ship a few stories above your head. Can you really sit there and be comfortable? Can you really sit there? You’re safe and that’s all that matters?
  You know what…you’d better hope that someone on the other side of the boat is willing to give your kids their seat or at least help your kids get to another lifeboat. Practical terms? Had it not been for someone preaching someone inviting you, some of us wouldn’t be saved. Fine we predominantly came from Christian families. But some of us left our family beliefs and had to make mistakes and struggle and find our own paths. And along the way, God used someone to speak to us. That person had to be willing to be used by God to help us get to a lifeboat. Youre parents prayed over you, hoping God would following with goodness and mercy all the days of your life.
  So you’re saved. Then what?
  To anyone who doesn’t work for God, do something for the gospel, I honestly challenge your value and opinion of what it is you believe in. If you really did believe eternal life is possible and that what you have is precious. If you really did APPRECIATE someone being sent and going out of their way to help you find your way….you wouldn’t warm benches.
  I’m sorry. It sounds harsh. I’m saying…plainly, bluntly…regardless of whether your ready cause you never will be, regardless of whether you know what your talents and gifts are cause even in the movies when they call swat these guys arent always carrying guns around, they pick them up on the way out. They don’t sleep in their bullet proof vests or wear their walkie talkies on a necklace around their necks! No God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called. Do doctors walk around with surgical tools? Do firemen take the firetrucks home and park them in their driveways just incase? So why would God behave in such a crazy way? Yes I know you’re shy or scared or feel inadequate…but whats keeping you from getting over that inadequacy might be either…you don’t know or really value what you have (salvation) or you don’t know or really value God like you should. Very harsh I know. I’m sorry. But I say that cause if you rally valued and appreciated eternal life and being heir with Christ you wouldn’t be stingy with it or if you really were in love you wouldn’t be quiet about it.
  When you fall in love with a man or woman you tell your friends or your friends NOTICE something’s different about you before you even say something…..
  Can you’re friends tell your saved? Can your office mates?
  Last piece. Its also heavy.
  Christianity…real Christianity…doesn’t mind suffering as long as someone finds Jesus. We compromise cause we don’t like to suffer. Or are afraid to…
  Do you know what you’re doing?
  That’s like either
  giving someone on that sinking boat the wrong directions to where the lifeboats are
  slinking, sneaking off to the lifeboat no one knows you’ve hidden on the other side of the ship
  Either way…because of you either sending them the wrong way “compromising” or because of you NOT sharing your secret or your “lifeboat”….people are gonna drown.
  Read it again
  “ 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, “
  This wasn’t a nice to read devotional. It wasn’t motivating. It was cool or exciting.
  It was an illustration.
  When you really love God?
  You cant hide it
  You have to share it
  Its life or death
  You’re willing to suffer so that others can also have Jesus
  You’re willing to come out of your comfort zone, you’re willing to be a “we” not us versus them, all things to all men, to win one
  Anything that doesn’t act like these 5 points…just might simply be a form of religion.
  …
  Now let me not scare you.
  1 Corinthians 3:14-151 Corinthians 3:14-15
  English: World English Bible - WEB
  301 Moved Permanently Moved Permanently The document has moved .
  WP-Bible plugin (New King James Version)
  14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
  You will make it to heaven. Because believe Jesus is God. And you need a saviour. But you won’t have much to give Him cause you’re life will have been a lot of waste. When you love someone, you give them a gift on their special day, even if you have no money your heart makes you look for a way to demonstrate to them they mean a lot to you.
  So you’ll make it.
  But not have much to show for it.
  Like the person in the lifeboat who doesn’t drown. But could have saved others. Makes it on their own. Could have taken people with them. Could have saved someone else’s children. Strangers. No ties no love no strings just an act of kindness.
  Most of the preachers in your life don’t and still don’t know you intimately. Most of them. TD Jakes has no idea who you are. Walter Veith doenst have your cellphone number. Joyce Meyers is never coming to your house for lunch. Nancy van Pelt wasn’t on your wedding invite list. But you’re in God’s house today cause of them.
  Is what you received of such little value or are your own personal hangups of such importance that you cant share your boat your seat?
  When you survive and get home…survivor! When your partner takes you into their arms…and you’re kids cry out with relief and delight that you made it, are you gonna be at peace when they ask you….”did you have that boat all to yourself? How come there was no one with you?”
  We could do so much more.
  Me included.
  People are dying out there. Being lost. Drowning…
  God in you and me can just stand by and let it happen. Find a way to save a soul
  Be a good friend
  Be a good spouse
  Parent
  Preacher
  Teacher
  Confidante
  Neighbour
  Brother
  Sister
  … Find something no matter how small and help someone discover Jesus
  Gospel
  Grace
  Jesus
  Leave a Reply Cancel reply
  You must be logged in to post a comment.
  Subscribe to our blog
  Leave This Blank: Leave This Blank Too: Do Not Change This:
  Your email:
  Featured Video
  Daily Spiritual Food
  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
  John 7:38
  DailyVerses.net
  Facebook
  Facebook Posts
  This message is only visible to admins.
  Problem displaying Facebook posts.
  Click to show error
  Error: Server configuration issue
  ActivatedJesus Tweets
  Follow @ActivatedJesus
  ActivatedJesus
  @ActivatedJesus
  one person followed me // automatically checked by fllwrs.com
  about 2 weeks ago
  one person unfollowed me // automatically checked by fllwrs.com
  about 2 months ago
  one person followed me // automatically checked by fllwrs.com
  about 3 months ago
  2 people followed me and one person unfollowed me // automatically checked by fllwrs.com
  about 3 months ago
  one person followed me // automatically checked by fllwrs.com
  about 3 months ago
  Article Categories
  Adam aliens believe character choices christian life christian walk courtship crucifixion endurance evidence faith featured forgiveness God gospel grace Holy Spirit human nature imagine impossible insurance Jesus judgement justification love languages mercy mercy. love miracle new life series prayer meeting race relationships resurrection revival or riot roswell Science sin substitution ufos wisdom youth