Evangelizing is spiritual warfare. It is hard work, however hard is not bad, it’s just hard. The point of Evangelicals is to evangelize, but that puts them on the front lines of the spiritual battle. We know, as Paul and Ezra explained, that there is a specific number of the seed of the adam. There is a predetermined number of people who must be saved before the next dispensation starts, when blindness leaves the Jews. There is also a predetermined timeframe which Jesus, Paul, John, and Barnabas explain, which will take place at the precise interval, not sooner, not later. Yet most of the Body of Christ is very comfortable to sit in their hometown churches, which are lovely buildings built for the comfort of the attendees, with a ninety year old woman leading worship on a Hammond B3. It is all so clean, religiously sound, and congenial. Not so for the evangelizers. Evangelicals do not care much for their own personal comfort, the mission of getting people saved (and spirit-filled as well, if they are Charismatic Evangelicals) is first and foremost. John the Baptist is a perfect example of doing all one can without the trappings of comfort. Putting ones self on the front lines means heavy spiritual attacks and many mistakes made, but it is all worth the salvation of lost souls.
Billy Graham started preaching around 1937. He was eventually able to fill stadiums and lead many people to Jesus Messiah. Not everyone could fill stadiums, but other people were able to mobilize and start evangelizing in their own communities. Some went door to door witnessing, while others stood on street-corners and talked to people. Evangelists were always pushing for a way to find the lost. Evangelicals used to go to the seedier parts of town to witness, to do healing evangelism, and to reach out to those in need. Pubs, biker bars, pool halls, and psychic fairs were the top places for evangelism. Entire families, parents and children, went out into the world looking for the lost. Walking in love and setting people free from sins and demons was a weekly outreach that was sometimes organized and sometimes organic. Times have changed, the streets are far too dangerous to bring children along. In some communities Christians are now persecuted by government authorities for speaking about salvation or praying outside. People become demonically stirred up and violent. Evangelists are not deterred.
How does one get the unsaved to come to church? If Sunday service is upbeat, with exuberant worship, then people will come to check it out. The unsaved usually do not make an effort to visit Sister so-in-so’s Hammond B3 morning gospel choral or evening vespers due to the cultural divide. There is a place for the old time traditional services, but the unsaved are not flooding in. In some cases, if they did turn up they would be told that they would have to bathe, dress a certain way, and attend formal discipleship classes before they could become a member and give their money to the church. The Evangelical churches are open doors, appealing to people whether they bathe or not, and do not put restrictions on attendance. We call Evangelical churches “seeker friendly” because they are. Sunday’s look crazy. If they are Charismatic churches then there might be dancing, cartwheels, flags, and jumping for joy like King David.
Unfortunately, the more society becomes corrupted the more the evangelicals have to stretch toward the unsaved to get people saved. If a woman who has had an abortion comes to a church, they are already carrying that burden, so to condemn them does not help get them saved. Evangelicals are not hosting abortion clinics, but they realize that that sin is no different than any other sin. Jesus still loves the individual and there is repentance and forgiveness for that woman. But she has to be reached in love, not condemnation. The same is true for the transgender person who is searching for Jesus. What is the right approach? To block people from the church, or to open the door and bring Jesus’ plan for salvation to them? Aren’t we to love the unlovable?
Certainly we can cloister in small communities and bible studies (“we four and no more”) but that is not the call for the evangelist. The Evangelist must live among all people. The Evangelizer must talk to everyone. The Evangelical must do the hard things to call people to Jesus. “Repent and be baptized” is the message that has to be delivered, without strings attached.
This is frontline warfare. This is the place where Satanas spends most of his ammunition. This is the place where the preachers are spiritually beat upon, the saints and their families are repeatedly attacked. The Evangelists also take bullets from behind, from the pious, neat and clean, traditional church attendees who would never allow a homosexual to worship among them. Evangelical churches look messy, and unclean, and the saints look bloodied and bruised. How does your armor look? It it neat, clean and polished, or is it dirty, broken, and dented? The war for souls is real.
Matthew 4:16 G3588 The G2992 people G3588 G2521 sitting G1722 in G4655 darkness G1492 beheld G5457 [2light G3173 1a great]; G2532 and G3588 to the ones G2521 sitting G1722 in G5561 a place G2532 and G4639 shadow G2288 of death G5457 light G393 arose G1473 to them.
17 G575 From G5119 then G756 Jesus began G3588 G* G2784 to proclaim G2532 and G3004 to say, G3340 Repent! G1448 [6approaches G1063 1for G3588 2the G932 3kingdom G3588 4of the G3772 5heavens].
3340 LSJ Gloss:μετανοέω to change one's mind
Dodson:μετανοέω I repent, change my mind I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.
TBESG:μετανοέω to repent
G:V
μετα-νοέω, -ῶ
[in LXX for נָחַם ni.,
to change one's mind or purpose, hence, to repent; in NT (exc. SYN.: μεταμέλομαι, q.v (AS)
Thayer:
1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
For Synonyms see entry G5862
μετανοέω
metanoeō met-an-o-eh'-o From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction) KJV Usage: repent.
The people who are sitting in darkness saw a mega-light. A light arose to the people in the shadowy place of death. If people in darkness see a mega-light and people in the shadowy place of death see light arising, then something is changing. The law and the prophets were until John the Baptist, a new administration started with Jesus preaching ‘repent the kingdom of heaven approaches’.
The old way of going to the temple and bringing a sacrifice is not going to help people get to the kingdom of heaven. One must repent unto salvation with remission of sins. Change the mind to follow Jesus and not sin. However, if sin occurs after salvation, repent and ask forgiveness. We do not need a temple, we do not need the blood of an animal. Jesus was our sacrifice, once, for all.
The chief priests and elders challenged Jesus in the temple courts, as usual, and Jesus asked them if John’s baptism was from heaven or men, and they could not answer. Jesus then tells them about two sons, one who says that he will not do his fathers will but changes his mind and does it. The other son says that he will do his fathers will, but then changes his mind and does not do it. Jesus asks which one did the fathers will?
Matthew 21:31 G5100 Which G1537 of G3588 the G1417 two G4160 did G3588 the G2307 will G3588 of the G3962 father? G3004 They say G1473 to him, G3588 The G4413 first. G3004 [2says G1473 3to them G3588 G* 1Jesus], G281 Amen G3004 I say G1473 to you, G3754 that, G3588 The G5057 tax collectors G2532 and G3588 the G4204 harlots G4254 go before G1473 you G1519 into G3588 the G932 kingdom G3588 G2316 of God.
32 G2064 [3came G1063 1For G4314 4to G1473 5you G* 2John] G1722 in G3598 the way G1343 of righteousness, G2532 and G3756 you did not G4100 believe G1473 him, G3588 but the G1161 G5057 tax collectors G2532 and G3588 the G4204 harlots G4100 believed G1473 him. G1473 But you G1161 G1492 having seen G3756 did not G3338 repent G5305 afterwards G3588 G4100 to believe G1473 him.
3338 Dodson:μεταμέλομαι I change my mind
(lit: I change one care or interest for another), I change my mind (generally for the better), repent, regret.
TBESG:μεταμέλλομαι to repent
G:V
μετα-μέλομαι
[in LXX chiefly for נָהַם: ni. ;]
to regret, repent one: Refs †
1) it is a care to one afterwards
1a) it repents one, to repent one's self
For Synonyms see entry G5862
μεταμέλλομαι
metamellomai met-am-el'-lom-ahee From G3326 and the middle of G3199; to care afterwards, that is, regret KJV Usage: repent (self).
While the tax collectors and the harlots did not start out doing the Fathers will they came to the Father later after hearing John’s call to repent. The religious leaders started out doing the Fathers will but refused to repent and do the Fathers will even after seeing John. This tells us what Evangelical churches look like. The religious do not enter into Evangelical churches, the sinners do. This makes church messy and chaotic. If the hometown church with the Hammond B3 gets one or two converts a year then they can handle the disruption to their religious balance. But one well run production about the crucifixion of Christ can bring in thousands of new converts, and that is happy joyful chaos. After that time of many salvations, most Evangelical churches do a baptism service. Not a baptism funeral, but a happy, upbeat, joyful, celebration of the outward decision and dedication to Jesus Messiah. Singing, dancing, and celebratory revelry encourages people as they make their decision to follow Jesus Messiah with immersion.
Luke 5:31 G2532 And G611 answering G3588 G* Jesus G2036 said G4314 to G1473 them, G3756 No G5532 need G2192 [3have G3588 1 do the ones G5198 2being in health] G2395 of a physician, G235 but G3588 the ones G2560 [2illnesses G2192 1having].
32 G3756 I have not come G2064 G2564 to call G1342 righteous ones G235 but G268 sinners G1519 unto G3341 repentance.
3341LSJ Gloss:μετάνοια after-thought, repentance
Dodson:μετάνοια repentance, a change of mind repentance, a change of mind, change in the inner man.
TBESG:μετάνοια repentance
G:N-F
μετάνοια, -οίας, ἡ
(< μετανοέω), [in LXX:
after-thought, change of mind, repentance: Heb.12:17; of repentance from sin,
(AS)
Thayer:
1) a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done
μετάνοια
metanoia met-an'-oy-ah From G3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision) KJV Usage: repentance.
The ones needing the physician, Jesus Messiah, are the ones called to repent. This is why seeker friendly churches exist. Jesus tells us that heaven celebrates.
Luke 15:7 G3004 I say G1473 to you G3754 that G3779 thus G5479 [2joy G1510.8.3 1there will be] G1722 in G3588 the G3772 heaven G1909 over G1520 one G268 sinner G3340 repenting, G2228 than G1909 over G1767.3 ninety G1767 nine G1342 just G3748 ones who G3756 [2no G5532 3need G2192 1have] G3341 for repentance.
If heaven is celebrating while sinners are repenting, shouldn’t we celebrate them as well?
Luke 15:10 G3779 Thus G3004 I say G1473 to you, G5479 joy G1096 takes place G1799 before G3588 the G32 angels G3588 G2316 of God G1909 over G1520 one G268 sinner G3340 repenting.
Angels are joyful over one sinner repenting. It is a celebration for one sinner to repent. What if hundreds or thousands repent and confess Jesus Messiah in one night? Evangelicals think of salvation and confession of Jesus Messiah as an accounting spreadsheet. How can we get more people in the door to hear about Jesus? How can we get more confessions of Jesus as Lord and believers who believe that he rose up on the third day? What if those new converts have messy lives? People are not always neat and orderly. Babies need food and clean diapers, and new converts need coaching. Just do it.
On the day of Pentecost many people were infilled with the Holy Spirit with the outward manifestation of speaking in individual unacquired languages in the temple courts. Peter tells the religious leaders to repent and they can have the Holy Spirit as well.
Acts 2:38 G* And Peter G1161 G5346 said G4314 to G1473 them, G3340 Repent, G2532 and G907 be immersed G1538 each G1473 of you G1909 in G3588 the G3686 name G* of Jesus G5547 Christ G1519 for G859 a release G266 of sins! G2532 and G2983 you shall receive G3588 the G1431 present G3588 of the G39 holy G4151 spirit.
39 G1473 For to you G1063 G1510.2.3 is G3588 the G1860 promise, G2532 and G3588 to G5043 your children, G1473 G2532 and G3956 to all G3588 the ones G1519 G3112 far away, G3745 as many as G302 should call on G4341 G2962 the Lord G3588 G2316 our God. G1473
Repentance is for salvation and remission of sins which can lead one into the kingdom of heaven, but also for receiving the Holy Spirit. This is why the spiritual battle is so fierce for the Evangelists. Imagine how hard all the hordes of hell fight the Evangelist and the new converts. They can’t stop people from confessing and believing Jesus is Lord and that he rose up on the third day, but they can try and keep people from hearing about Jesus. They can also try and stop believers from utilizing the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Who wants to sign up to evangelize others knowing that the fallen sons of God are looking for ways to attack and destroy us?
Peter reminds us of the upcoming events in the world. We have the Day of redemption which keeps us from the tribulation, the tribulation itself, the millennial reign, and the new heavens and new earth. While we wish that the Lord would hurry up and bring it all to pass, Jesus would prefer that people repent and be saved.
2 Peter 3:7 G3588 But the G1161 G3568 present G3772 heavens G2532 and G3588 the G1093 earth, G3588 the one G1473 of his G3056 word, G2343 are treasured up G1510.2.6 G4442 for fire G5083 being kept G1519 for G2250 a day G2920 of judgment G2532 and G684 destruction G3588 G765 of impious G444 men.
8 G1520 But this one thing G1161 G3778 G3361 let it not G2990 be unaware G1473 to you, G27 beloved, G3754 that G1520 one G2250 day G3844 with G2962 the Lord G5613 is as G5507 a thousand G2094 years, G2532 and G5507 a thousand G2094 years G5613 as G2250 [2day G1520 1one].
9 G3756 [3 is not G1019 4slow G3588 1The G2962 2Lord] G3588 G1860 of promise, G5613 as G5100 some G1022 [2slowness G2233 1esteem], G235 but G3114 is long-suffering G1519 towards G1473 us, G3361 not G1014 willing G5100 for anyone G622 to perish, G235 but G3956 for all G1519 [2for G3341 3repentance G5562 1to have space].
“Space for repentance” means to have room or time for repentance. Jesus is not in a hurry, he wants to give people the room they need to repent. This is why it is better to repent now, receive the Holy Spirit, and be counted on the Day of Redemption. But if one refuses to repent before that day, then that one has time to repent after that day, except that then the surrounding events will be perilous as they lead up to the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
2 Peter 3:10 G2240 But shall come G1161 G3588 the G2250 day G2962 of the Lord G5613 as G2812 a thief G1722 in G3571 the night, G1722 in G3588 which G3588 the G3772 heavens G4500 by a loud noise G3928 shall pass away, G4747 and the elements G1161 G2741 being destroyed by fire G3089 shall be loosed; G2532 and G1093 the earth G2532 and G3588 the G1722 [2in G1473 3it G2041 1works] G2618 shall be incinerated.
11 G3778 These things G3767 then G3956 all G3089 being loosed, G4217 what kind of persons G1163 must G5224 you be G1473 G1722 in G39 holy G391 behavior G2532 and G2150 piety,
12 G4328 expecting G2532 and G4692 hastening G3588 the G3952 arrival G3588 of the G3588 G2316 day of God, G2250 G1223 by G3739 which G3772 the heavens G4448 being set on fire G3089 shall be loosed, G2532 and G4747 the elements G2741 being destroyed by fire G5080 shall melt away?
13 G2537 But new G1161 G3772 heavens G2532 and G1093 [2earth G2537 1a new], G2596 according to G3588 G1862 his declaration, G1473 G4328 we expect, G1722 in G3739 which G1343 righteousness G2730 dwells.
What kind of a person should we be before all of these things are let loose? Before the elements and heavens pass away we should be holy and pious. Righteousness will dwell in the new heavens and new earth.
We call out “repent” to the unsaved, and evangelize our communities with joy and celebration. We know a terrible day is coming, the Day of the Lord. The only redemption for the average person who would come to believe on Jesus as Messiah during the tribulation is martyrdom. That will be the time when the partial blindness will leave the Jews. We know the numbers of people dying during that time period are set in writing and will not be altered. The last days on earth before Jesus comes with his armies, Satanas will muster the people in order to fight to overthrow Jesus, the Creator. On the Day of the Lord the armies of the Lord will cleanse the earth and prepare for the millennial reign of Jesus. Repentance now is a great benefit to the individual. But we should remember that repentance is not just a one time thing. Repentance unto salvation is a one time thing, but repentance unto remission of sins should be a regular practice. Why? Because it covers sin with blood and there is no longer a place of accusation against us. Satanas accuses us before the throne of the Elohim day and night, but repentance covers our sins, washing them away by Jesus blood.
There is one more reason to make repentance a habit in our lives after we are saved and spirit filled. Jesus tells us to repent because the kingdom of heaven is at hand, which tells us that repentance will set us right so that we can enter the kingdom of heaven. Remember, there is a difference between the kingdom of the Elohim and the kingdom of heaven. We can repent unto salvation, repent for remission of sins, and repent for entering the kingdom of heaven. In repentance we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These are our three points of repentance.
Something that happens in the Evangelical realm is that as the culture moves further into satanism, whether people realize it is satanism or not, the Evangelicals stretch to reach these people. Having an open door church policy means that sometimes there will be chaos and corruption. All people are messy. It is the nature of missions. We allow people to come in, but at some point they may sway the church in a wrong direction. Jesus tells us in his seven letters to the seven churches that he knows what they are doing and they should repent. Jesus knows what the honest saints are doing and he knows what the intentional disrupters are doing. The seven churches are a parallel to us today in several ways. They are a type of church existing today, and they are also a timeline of the Body of Christ. Three of the seven churches have people leading others astray, sometimes even the leadership fall. Two of the seven churches have allowed distractions to take their focus in the wrong direction. This is another tactic of our spiritual war. Two of the churches were being persecuted but they held their ground and were commended for it.
In Ephesus:
Revelation 2:4 G235 But G2192 I have G2596 against G1473 you, G3754 that G3588 the G26 love G1473 of yours, G3588 the G4413 first, G863 you have left.
5 G3421 Remember G3767 then G4159 from what place G1601 you have fallen, G2532 and G3340 repent, G2532 and G3588 [2the G4413 3first G2041 4works G4160 1do]! G1490 But if not, G2064 I come G1473 to you G5036 quickly, G2532 and G2795 I will move G3588 G3087 your lamp stand G1473 G1537 from out of G3588 G5117 its place, G1473 G1437 unless G3361 G3340 you should repent.
The church saints lost their first love. They were so busy with the work of the ministry that they forgot about Jesus. This happens in Evangelical churches all the time because their goal is winning the lost, so much so that it becomes a business of winning the lost. A steady influx of people is the goal, but the compromise is that liars, deceivers, and people oppressors might enter in. Ephesus did well with this but the business of outreach was causing them to forget Jesus himself. One of Satanas’ tactics is to push people ahead so fast that they lose their footing because they are so busy attending to all the newly saved.
In Pergamum:
Revelation 2:14 G235 But G2192 I have G2596 against G1473 you G3641 a little. G3754 That G2192 you have G1563 there G2902 ones holding G3588 the G1322 teaching G* of Balaam, G3739 who G1321 taught G3588 G* Balak G906 to throw G4625 an obstacle G1799 before G3588 the G5207 sons G* of Israel, G2068 to eat G1494 things sacrificed to idols, G2532 and G4203 to commit harlotry.
15 G3779 So G2192 have G2532 also G1473 you G2902 ones holding G3588 the G1322 teaching G3588 of the G* Nicolaitans G3668 in like manner.
16 G3340 Repent! G1490 But if not, G2064 I come G1473 to you G5036 quickly. G2532 And G4170 I shall wage war G3326 with G1473 them G1722 by G3588 the G4501 broadsword G3588 G4750 of my mouth. G1473
Saints were being martyred and Satanas had a stronghold in that community. Like Balaam, conniving people are always looking to find a way around what is right and true for their own gain. If Yahweh says one thing, they try and work the system. The people oppressors are also in Pergamum, the ones who have rules, albeit man made rules, that bind others. They seem religious but they are oppressors. The slight distortions to the church snowball. Jesus knows. Correct the direction these people are leading the church body. Watch for hyper-religiosity being sown into the congregation and the leadership. Don’t allow Pharisaical sin consciousness into the church.
In Thyatira:
Revelation 2:20 G235 But G2192 I have G2596 against G1473 you, G3754 that G863 you allow G3588 G1135 your woman G1473 G3588 G* Jezebel, G3739 which G3004 calls G1438 herself G4398 a prophetess, G2532 and G1321 teaches G2532 and G4105 misleads G3588 G1699 my G1401 bondmen G4203 to commit harlotry, G2532 and G2068 to eat G1494 things sacrificed to an idol.
21 G2532 And G1325 I gave G1473 to her G5550 time G2443 that G3340 she should repent; G2532 and G3756 she wanted not G2309 G3340 to repent G1537 from G3588 G4202 her harlotry. G1473
22 G2400 Behold, G906 I throw G1473 her G1519 into G2825 a bed, G2532 and G3588 the ones G3431 committing adultery G3326 with G1473 her G1519 into G2347 [2affliction G3173 1great], G1437 unless G3361 G3340 they should repent G1537 from G3588 G2041 her works. G1473
23 G2532 And G3588 G5043 [2her children G1473 G615 1I will kill] G1722 by G2288 plague; G2532 and G1097 they shall know G3956 in all G3588 the G1577 assemblies G3754 that G1473 I G1510.2.1 am G3588 the one G2045 searching G3510 the kidneys G2532 and G2588 hearts; G2532 and G1325 I will give G1473 to you G1538 each G2596 according to G3588 G2041 your works. G1473
The woman with the controlling spirit is making false prophesies, teaching fornication, and eating the sacrificial animals from the satanic temples. Reign it in, call it out, remove the sinners if they will not repent. Yes that means the numbers of souls goes down, but these people are not truly turning their lives over to Jesus Messiah, they are playing church not living it. Make sure leaders in the church are strong and well seasoned to be able to fight these spiritual battles.
In Sardis:
Revelation 3:3 G3421 Remember G3767 then G4459 how G2983 you received G2532 and G191 heard, G2532 and G5083 give heed, G2532 and G3340 repent! G1437 If G3767 then G3361 you should not G1127 be vigilant, G2240 I will come G1909 upon G1473 you G5613 as G2812 a thief, G2532 and G3766.2 in no way G1097 should you know G4169 what G5610 hour G2240 I will come G1909 upon G1473 you.
The problem in Sardis is not confessing Jesus as Lord and believing that he rose up on the third day out loud. People have to use their mouth and say it out loud. They were not telling people to confess. There are still denominations that do not expect their people to confess Jesus as Lord out loud. Confessing Jesus out loud and believing that he was raised on on the third day is being born again. If Evangelicals compromise here in their church then they do not have a congregation of believers. Remember how you/we received and heard? We were told about Jesus, we believed, we confessed out loud, we repented and were baptized, and received the Holy Spirit. Do that with others.
In Laodicea:
Revelation 3:15 G1492 I know G1473 your G3588 G2041 works, G3754 that G3777 [2neither G5593 3cold G1510.2.2 1you are] G3777 nor G2200 boiling hot; G3784 ought G5593 [2cold G1510.3 1you should be] G2228 or G2200 boiling hot.
16 G3779 Thus, G3754 because G5513 you are lukewarm, G1510.2.2 G2532 and G3756 not G2200 boiling hot G3777 nor G5593 cold, G3195 I am about G1473 to vomit you G1692 G1537 from out of G3588 G4750 my mouth. G1473
17 G3754 For G3004 you say G3754 that, G4145 I am rich G1510.2.1 G2532 and G4147 am enriched, G2532 and G3762 [2no G5532 3need G2192 1have]. G2532 And G3756 you do not G1492 know G3754 that G1473 you G1510.2.2 are G3588 the G5005 miserable, G2532 and G3588 the G1652 pitiable, G2532 and G4434 poor, G2532 and G5185 blind, G2532 and G1131 naked.
18 G4823 I advise G1473 you G59 to buy G5553 gold G3844 from G1473 me G4448 purified G1537 by G4442 fire, G2443 that G4147 you should be rich, G2532 and G2440 [4garments G3022 3 with white G2443 1that G4016 2you should be covered], G2532 and G3361 [4should not G5319 5be made manifest G3588 1the G152 2shame G3588 G1132 3of your nakedness]; G1473 G2532 and G2854 [2collyrium G1472 1rub] G1909 upon G3588 G3788 your eyes, G1473 G2443 that G991 you should see!
19 G1473 I, G3745 as many as G1437 I should G5368 be fond of, G1651 I reprove G2532 and G3811 I correct. G2206 Be zealous G3767 then G2532 and G3340 repent!
Unfortunately Laodicea is like many of our churches today. We are happy where we are. We have built ourselves a nice big building, we have nice stained glass windows and comfy chairs. We have everything we need here in Laodicea and we do not need any more people. Look at us, we are all rich. Satanas does not mind showering people with riches if they forget about Yahweh and serving Him. Many people are distracted with the comforts and riches, making them lukewarm, not hot for the Messiah. The point of church is not our own comfort or our own riches or our own elevation in knowledge, it is to save the lost. But Satanas would like us to have the attitude that the lost will somehow find their way to us, and that we can do the things that we like while they make their way to us on their own. Satanas whispers ‘why bother making an effort to get the unsaved saved? Whoever is supposed to be saved will be saved someday, just relax and enjoy life’. Meanwhile Jesus is calling for a great purging by fire or we will be vomited out of His mouth.
Martin Luther had a great plan for Christian churches. He believed that every town should have a centralized large church building, where there would be worship, prayer, a teaching, and an altar call. As people come in who are newly saved they grow in their faith. Then as they mature, people move on to home groups to go into deeper learning. It is a great idea but revenue was lost when people went into the home groups. When churches became governmental institutions there was no room for lost revenues and the governing officials needed more control over people. But here is where our good ideas and good intentions come to die. The sacred worship of Yahweh Elohim should not be turned over to secular institutions, or secular people, for secular control, for secular reasons. We should not expect our government officials to become our religious leaders.
The two churches not told to repent are Smyrna and Philadelphia. Smyrna was told not to fear that some of them would be imprisoned and some put to death, but that Jesus would give them a crown of life. They would be martyred. Evangelists are martyred all over the world. Do not fear.
The Philadelphians endured, not denying Jesus’ name to the phony Jews from the synagogue of Satanas. They are told that they will be kept from the tribulation because they did not deny His name and they kept His logos. People today who do not deny Jesus’ name, and keep his word will be harpazo’d as well. Many churches are persecuted, even to the point of burning down the building with people inside. Stand strong.
The balance of Evangelicals is to keep the doors open, but not let the satanists take over, and not to take the focus off Jesus. Satanists are sent to churches to cause these types of disruptions, it is intentional. It is their mission. This is the front lines, this is where the battle for lost souls takes place. This is where Satanas focuses his armies to stop the Evangelists. The purpose of evangelizing is for people to repent, and become disciples. Church is not a place for us to just be comfortable, it is for the lost. It does not matter if church is held in a barn, a bunker, a park, or a cathedral. The accommodations are not for the saved, but for the unsaved. As Martin Luther intended, we take our Bible study home and in small groups so that we grow in depth and knowledge at our own pace. But we take our message of “Repent” to the streets for the unbelievers.
There are three reasons for repentance. One is for salvation. One is for remission of sins. One is for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The gift given to those who repent is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is the power source of the believer to be able to fight spiritual battles and win the lost souls for Jesus Messiah. Evangelism is messy. There are no rules or prescribed dogmas, each lost person is won on an individual basis. It is messy, it is uncomfortable, it is dangerous, it is necessary. We are all called to evangelize. Therefore find a way, talk to strangers, minister to the hurting, love unconditionally. Jesus died so that we all might live eternally, repent, confess Jesus as Lord, believe he rose up on the third day, and repent regularly, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
