© 16 Colin Melbourne
Fear Not: Tell it Like it is
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mtt. 10:27-29 KJV
Almighty God came to us, in the Flesh of His Only Begotten Son
Ignore Him at your peril, mock Him, and you display gross ignorance.
His words are eternal, precious, and vital to your everlasting destiny.
Trust them, believe them, obey them, and you will be at peace always.
I need your heart and mouth
Christ’s main point is that believers are to fearlessly speak for Him, even at the cost of our lives, and we rejoice to do so.
When we met the Living Christ, dying for Him, became a privileged honour, didn’t it?
Quietly tucked along with that divine command, is a New Covenant Scripture confirming Heaven is open to all God’s animal creatures.
God’s VIPs
But first, let’s embrace His teaching that; each person is very important, and highly valued by our Creator.
The Holy Ghost in Luke 12:6-7 KJV reinforces the message like this;
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Every Christian is aware of their cost to God, but sinners are clueless regarding true human worth. They expend their fleeting lives in futility; amassing wealth, indulging their sinful nature, preening themselves on their achievement: Then die without Father.
Utter waste and vanity.
How it grieves God.
The Pearl of Great Price
It need not be so, make your life count for eternity; sow it for something greater than your life: The Kingdom of Heaven. Mtt. 13:44-46 KJV;
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The treasure and pearl of great price is The LORD Jesus Christ.
You can’t buy Him, but He requires your whole heart, so following Him costs you all you have.
Sinner… Repent!
Pay it, and be happy!
And all saints shout Amen!
There’s no place for the half-hearted in God’s kingdom.
Lukewarm denominationalism fails every test.
Church attendance and Christian religion satisfy the world, but will be exposed as withered fig-leaves at the judgment.
What counts?
Are you born of God, is your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, are you following the Living God, are all your sins under His Blood?
Be certain God is your Father now: Receive His Son, and He will make you perfectly whole.
You are precious to God: He gave His Best for you.
Don’t spend another second in sin and delusion, without the Father: Get right with God, and do what He made you for.
All Creatures Great & Small
It thrills me, as a veterinary surgeon, to read that God assures us not a single Sparrow (a simile for all animals) falls on the ground without Father: All animals are dear to Him.
Each one is dear to you and me, so how could they be any less cherished by their Creator?
We grieve at the devastation wrought on the animal kingdom, as a result of man’s sin and The Fall: Death, violence, blood-shed, disease, parasitism, famine, disasters, and neglect, but Father’s pain is far more intense when any creature perishes.
It’s part of the price of being omniscient.
So it’s a scriptural comfort, knowing Christ taught that animals die with Father, in Him: Not without Him.
This earthly Creation was subject to frustration through Adam’s sin, its ruler (Gen. 1:28): The “Sparrow” isn’t to blame, yet in this life it suffers and groans under Adam’s curse, with all creation (See Rom. 8:19-22).
Father is perfectly just and gracious to “Sparrows”, He cares for them as His own; feeds them, keeps them, and delivers them after they have endured this fallen creation. Anything less would be unjust.
He does that for all the animals that were under Adam’s dominion: Praise God for His mercy endures forever.
Man Must Choose Life
People are different however, we are created in God’s image, therefore, we each have personal responsibility to respond to His Gospel call, to repent and follow Christ: Those who refuse, perish without Father.
You are more precious to Him than any animal: He gave His Only Begotten Son to die in your stead.
That is how much He wants you to receive His Life.
It’s your choice: Settle it now.
Receive Christ and follow Him, so that when you fall to the ground, it is not without the Father.
Here’s a refreshing balanced appraisal of the essential Spiritual Gifts such as discerning of spirits, Word of knowledge, prophecy, Gift of tongues, Gift of faith, and interpretation of tongues. You’ll find none better than these messages spoken decades before the charismatic revival. Smith unhesitatingly operated all the Gifts in his ministry as the Spirit led him, but was firm in ensuring services were according to biblical order: Smith Wigglesworth On Spiritual Gifts.
© 16 Colin Melbourne