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To: ItsOurTimeNow
Those who hear the word and accept it are the ones who produce fruit. The rest fall by the wayside.

First off, YOU are not the judge of the fruit.

Second, not all will produce the same volume and quality of fruit. Some are called to do more than others. Not all have the capacity to do the same.

Third, your understanding of the sower and seed is still shallow.

DO YOU DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE EVERYDAY TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF THE LORD WITHOUT ANY IDLE OR WASTED TIME OR EFFORT?

If not, you prove my point. We each have callings, capacities, and limits. Some limits may be self imposed.

Are we all eyes, ears, arms or feet? Do we all have the same position or the same mission? The new believer that is blessed to smile and pass out programs on Sunday may be fullfilling his calling just as adequately as the leader of a mega church.

Check out Jesus telling Peter to feed the flock. He's telling him to feed all the sheep, not just some of them.

248 posted on 11/22/2005 12:20:30 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: Eagle Eye

>>First off, YOU are not the judge of the fruit.<<

I never said I was. However, we are commanded to exhort (1 Thess 2:11-12), encourage (Romans 1:12) and strengthen the weaker brother (Romans 14), stir up each other in good works (Hebrews 10:24), out do each other in honor (Romans 12:10), and correct Brothers who we see are falling by the way-side (2 Tim 4:2 and Jude 23). It's accountability towards each other as Christians.

We can't do any of that without making a sound judgement on the public behavior of the professed Brother.

>>Not all have the capacity to do the same.<<

I understand that, but it was you who said that some never do at all.

>>Third, your understanding of the sower and seed is still shallow.<<

No, it is not. The parable is quite clear. The truly regenerate will produce fruit. No good tree can produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

>>DO YOU DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE EVERYDAY TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF THE LORD WITHOUT ANY IDLE OR WASTED TIME OR EFFORT?<<

No, I don't. Because I'm still a sinner and I still live in a fallen and sinful world. However, when the Lord regenerated my heart, he produced in me a desire to perform His will, and a desire to seek His word, His truths and His precepts.

You claim that spiritual laziness is a-ok. I'm merely saying it isn't.

2 Peter 1:3-11

>>We each have callings, capacities, and limits.<<

If it's the Lord's will, you don't have limits. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

>>Some limits may be self imposed.<<

All the more reason to pray for them, and to work towards mortifying them. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

Work - did you catch that? Faith is not a spectator sport.


258 posted on 11/22/2005 12:51:31 PM PST by ItsOurTimeNow (Aslan is on the move...)
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