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1st Reading Luke 16: 10 -17
Song from Sankey 642 – When we walk with the Lord.
Caption : Be a Christian or an unbeliever.
Something to meditate on from today’s message :
The biggest possible obstacle to getting to heaven is syncretism. The entire world is drowning in that ocean and often we call it civilization.
Let us get into some definitions of the word to help us navigate:
Syncretism is the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
When we get to “interfaith dialogue we can easily slip into syncretism, which is the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
For example : the combination of different forms of belief or practice .
A christian who combines his faith with idol worship is syncretic. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s is paving the way to idolatry and God at the same time.
A cry for restoration:
The psalmist cried:
51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me
51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. (Psalm 51 :11 – 13 )
Possible Evidences of Syncretism :
Sinning in things of pleasure is like giving lip service to worshiping God. Defending what we do outside the faith is syncretic. Not being serious, because of the things we love to do is combining of the faith in Christ.
Some one told me he is “chrislam”, which means he is a christian and a muslim. He bends to this and to that perhaps in line with what he wants to get from members of the two faiths at each point in time.
In this Jesus said:
16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)
It is better to be one : either serve mammom or serve God.
Many could be refused the gospel, because of syncretism. A hypocrite can be syncretic.
Jesus said this:
12:4 God hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12 : 4).
In the time of Jesus on earth His people resisted Him and God was bent to deal with them. Often we feel God will always forgive and many.have shifted their conversion to an ideal time. There can never be an ideal time for repentance. In fact repentance should be now
Felix wanted an ideal time:
24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24 : 24 – 25).
THE CALL FOR REPENTANCE.
At the miracle at the Beautiful. Gate, the Jews seeing the miracle done by Peter in the name of Jesus, Peter called them to come to repentance.
3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3 : 19)
Brethren let us not be.slippery over our faith. Let us be christians, if we desire heaven.
May God give us salvation.
Miracle Valley Sermons August 7th 2022.
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Website: www.mvgmng.org.