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"I'm just not being fed
over there."
MP3
How many times have you heard others utter this lament? Maybe
you have uttered it yourself. What does it mean? Is it a
valid complaint?
I have always taken this phrase to be part of a condemnation of a
particular church organization. Fact is, a church is either a true
church of God or it is not. You were either called by God to the
church organization or you were not. As we discuss this topic, we
must always keep in mind our Godly calling.
Let us talk about "being fed." Imagine for a moment that I told
you that the only physical meal you could have in any given week was at
Sabbath services. Think you could survive? I suspect that
you would begin losing lots of weight. It is conceivable that one
could even shrivel up and die. Why would you think it any
different with spiritual food? If the only spiritual food you are
receiving is from the church on the Sabbath, you are indeed in the
process of shriveling up and dying. The
hard spiritual fact of life is that YOU are responsible for FEEDING
YOURSELF!!
Jesus said to Peter three times, "feed my sheep." He did not tell
Peter to cram the food down their throats. The church is
responsible for setting the table. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
FEEDING YOURSELF. The minister presents his sermon, but
you must take it home and study further. The church can distribute
sermon tapes, booklets, articles and provide a web site, but it is you
who must take advantage of these things and consume them. You are
responsible before God to do your own feeding in the form of study,
meditation, prayer and fasting. How many times have I said that
the weekly sermon is merely an invitation and encouragement for you to
study your own Bible.
No one can stand before Jesus Christ, the head of this church, and offer
the excuse that they are not being fed. We are each responsible
for our own salvation
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and
election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 3:14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent
that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling.
1 Thessalonians 1:3-4
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and
patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our
Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
We can easily see that the feeding is our duty and responsibility.
We will be judged on what we do and there will be no excuse. There
is enough food on our two web sites right now to keep any church member
busy "eating" for the rest of their lives. If anyone reading this
still feels unfed, contact me personally. I will give you a
lifetime's worth of food to digest.
Chris Cumming
chriscumming@gtatv.org
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