Thursday, February 2, 2012

Proverbs 24:11 Rescuers


Proverbs 24:11 (AMP) Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom].
The word of God is clear for those of us who claim to be Christ followers. Our love of God demands expression that is tangible, verifiable, practical and active. We cannot sit idly by and watch people walk to their death whether physically or spiritually. We have been called to RESCUE others, to work in concert with the Holy Spirit in accomplishing God’s will on the earth. 
Isaiah 58:6-7 (AMP) 6  [Rather] is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke? 7  Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house--when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood? 
James 2:18-20 (AMP) 14  What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?15  If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,16  And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?17  So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).18  But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.19  You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man’s hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!20  Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?
It is hypocritical to say that we have faith and do nothing to help the poor and broken. I am thankful for those men and women of courage that have proved their faith in birthing ministries such as World Vision, Compassion Internation, the Salvation Army, Second Harvest, and numerous other missions organizations, churches, and outreaches that are involved in sharing the Gospel in tangible ways. Lives are being rescued by the thousands. Those of you who contribute in any way share in an eternal reward. God bless you!
Our expression, the proof of our faith must also extend to those poor souls that are being “drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter.” The apostle Paul and James give clear instruction that we are to reach out in an attempt to rescue those who wonder from and oppose the truth, others who are being overtaken by misconduct and sin.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 (NLT) 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Galatians 6:1 (AMP)  BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
James 5:19-20 (NIV) 19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
We cannot relegate this task exclusively to the clergy. Every believer is called of God to be involved without exception! We are all His ministers to our individual sphere of influence and beyond.
Dear God, break my heart with the things that break Yours! Shake me out of my slumber and awaken me to the glorious call of the gospel. Give me courage, wisdom, understanding and discernment as I walk into the harvest field of humanity. Help me to rescue others. Amen

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