The Kind of Preaching that Makes Strong Christians
“He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.” Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”” (1 Kings 19:9-13 WEB)
After a great victory over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, Elijah fled for his life from Jezebel who vowed to kill him.
Elijah was very confused as to why his victory was short-lived, and how come a wicked one like Jezebel was allowed to live. He thought that everyone had forsaken the God of Israel, and that he was the only devout one left.
Through powerful demonstrations of a strong wind, an earthquake, and a fire, Yahweh showed Elijah that He was not in any of them.
But when Yahweh spoke with a still small voice, that was what made Elijah go out of the cave.
Elijah was paralyzed by fear when God used dramatic demonstrations of His power, but it was the still small voice that gave Elijah the comfort and assurance to move out of the darkness of the cave.
People don’t repent because of God’s judgments—they repent from the comforting convictions of the Holy Spirit.
Some preachers who don’t understand God’s heart today still proclaim that God is judging nations with natural disasters and destruction. God doesn’t do that, and it’s not even effective at getting people to repent anyway.
You can read the Book of Revelation and see that the world will still blaspheme God even after all the plagues are poured out upon them during the Great Tribulation in the future. Judgment doesn’t change a person’s heart. If they hated God before, they will still hate Him after being punished.
When one preaches that God judges people today when they sin, people are paralyzed, and they can’t even make any progress. They become so afraid to do anything because they’re so focused on avoiding God’s punishment.
However, what God is doing is convicting hearts through the Holy Spirit when the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached. It is the message of God’s goodness that has the power to make people willingly offer their lives to Jesus.
It is the freedom of the Gospel that allows people to have a secure environment to grow in and to exercise their faith. The unchanging love of God gives believers the confidence to make decisions, even if they end up failing. They know that God still loves them and that there is grace and mercy to pick them up when they fall.
If you want to make progress in your walk with Christ, you have to receive messages about God’s love and grace—not those false teachings that God judges people and nations by sending natural disasters, sicknesses and destruction today.
“Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5 WEB)
When you are established in God’s love which has been poured out into your heart through the Holy Spirit, you will even be able to rejoice in sufferings and receive the full developmental benefits of overcoming sufferings. It makes you a Christian who is strong in the Lord, not one who cowers and crumbles in hardships. God’s love makes you strong, so focus on receiving more of it!
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I am saving up in preparation for all the costs of having a second child so thank you for helping me with that! Our God will multiply your seed and give you an abundant harvest of provision. Hallelujah!
